Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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The Sanders County Fair Board met last week to recap the 2023 fair. More than a dozen community members showed up to the board meeting last Wednesday at the fairgrounds. “It was a very challenging summer for us,” board chairman Randy Woods stated. “We had a hard time finding summer help and some of the fences didn’t get fixed right and coolers didn’t get fixed.” Woods also stated the fair had issues with a phone line that affected an ATM. He also noted that the River Road East Fire prompted some people to not show up, though there was no thre...
As work continues on phases 1 and 2 of the wastewater project in Thompson Falls, there's a new highlight. Thompson Falls High School students worked last week to complete a mural on the side of a sewer lift station that sits just above the railroad tracks between the East and West ramps. Teacher Micah Grossberg and his Art 1 class took advantage of a late-summer warm day last Wednesday and painted the mural that depicts a series of pipes. The students spent the entire school day first prepping...
I was at the Sanders County Fair every day this year for various reasons. On Thursday my mom and I judged entries in the 4-H Home Ec building, Friday I volunteered for the Fair Foundation in the beer booth, and Saturday and Sunday I was there covering various events for the newspaper. I felt like I was at the fair a lot this year, though definitely not as much as the 4-H families and vendors. The Sanders County Fair is pretty special in that admission is still free and the grounds are still covered in grass. The $10 daily parking fee is more...
In a law enforcement career spanning 28 years, you're bound to learn a thing or two. On Sunday, Sanders County law enforcement, friends and family members celebrated the retirement of Lieutenant Shawna Chenoweth. "I've done so many different things and learned so much," Chenoweth told the group of about 50 people who gathered at the Elks Lodge in Thompson Falls on Sunday to commemorate the occasion. Chenoweth was joined by her husband Darrell and her son Garrett, who was 14 months old when she...
At the beginning of the summer, I wouldn't have really dubbed myself a Taylor Swift fan. But watching what she has done with her Eras tour has been pretty incredible. The singer could gross nearly $2.2 billion from this tour. I chatted with some locals who went to her concerts, and the consensus is that what she has done is incredible. Getting up on stage to perform for three hours a night, with multiple shows in each city, is pretty incredible. What's even more interesting is how she has turned her singing career into a very profitable...
A Hot Springs man was sentenced on Monday for illegally branding livestock that was not his. John E. Herman appeared before Judge Brenda Gilbert, changing his plea to guilty in the case. Herman pleaded guilty to a felony charge of illegal branding or altering or obscuring a brand. As per a plea agreement, Judge Gilbert handed Herman a two-year suspended sentence with the Department of Corrections. Additionally, prosecution was deferred for two years on one charge of theft of a commonly domesticated hoofed animal. Judge Gilbert said that charge...
The Thompson Falls City Council took permanent action on Monday to address winter parking on Main Street. Last winter, the Montana Department of Transportation had approached the council about parking overnight on Man Street and how it affected the state's ability to plow snow. The council then passed an emergency ordinance to prohibit overnight parking. At this week's regular meeting, the council voted unanimously to pass the first reading of Ordinance #358, adopting regulations for winter parking on Main Street. The ordinance prohibits...
Ledger photo by Annie Wooden Commissioner Tony Cox (left) swears in County Attorney Megan Hansen last week at the Sanders County Courthouse....
The Over the Hill Gang took their penultimate round around River’s Bend Golf Course on Monday as they prepare for the final league day September 18. This week, they enjoyed a yellow ball scramble, with the team of Dave Petteys, Mike Normandin and Scott Garr garnering the low yellow ball score of 37. Patrick Walt, Sam Bernhardt and Bruce Icenoggle combined for the lowest regular scramble score. Second place in yellow ball play went to Doug Deck, Ron Beaty and Tom Pride, while Liz Morkert, Kristy Beaty and Lana Nolen came in third. In regular s...
The wildfire season in Sanders County was in like a lion and out like a lamb. The Niarada fire, which started July 30 and burned 20,370 acres, is now listed at 100% contained.The lightning-caused fire burned four structures. The River Road East fire in Paradise as of Tuesday was 54% contained and had burned 17,310 acres. Agencies across Northwest Montana have rescinded fire restrictions. Sanders County Commissioners voted last Wednesday to remove fire restrictions and Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) also reopened access sites. FWP had closed...
Town Pump has announced plans to build a new, larger convenience store and casino in Thompson Falls. The new store will be located on land behind the current Town Pump on a site occupied by the Falls Motel. The project will be open to bids on September 1, 2023, and construction is scheduled to begin in October. Completion is expected in December 2024. "Our team is so excited to watch this new larger store be built," said Town Pump manager Angie Lowe of Thompson Falls. "Town Pump has been a part...
I was a 4-H kid for many years. I was a proud member of the Whitepine Happy Workers. I did photography and sewing and cooking projects, but no animals, even though we raised cattle and had horses at home. When I was a sophomore in high school, something had to give. Between school and work and sports and 4-H, I had to let something go, and I decided to let 4-H go. Several times over the weekend at the Sanders County Fair, I told myself that I should have stayed in 4-H thorugh high school. I couldn't really let school go and I worked at the...
With the judging for individual animal and showmanship competitions complete, a select group of 4-H members competed in the round robin event on Saturday. The event includes the top showmanship winners for each species trying their best at showing other animals. First up Saturday afternoon was the small animal competition, in which junior and senior 4-H members showed a cat, chicken, rabbit, dog and goat. Judges had the competitors lead the animals, identify parts of the animal and answer...
The rain Sunday didn't stop dozens of buyers from placing bids on market animals at the fair. After a soggy start, the weather took a break long enough for Sanders County 4-H and FFA members to parade their animals around the arena one last time. Unique to the fair this year were two turkeys, raised by Kendall and Cooper Spurr. Kendall's turkey got a high bid of $1,500 from Uffda Montana, and Cooper's brought in $825 from Burk Construction. Before auctioneer Kevin Hill opened the bidding for...
by Annie Wooden In another generation, people stayed in one job forever. In today's workforce, milestones are worth celebrating. Sanders County is celebrating some of its employees who have decided to move on. Last Thursday, the county celebrated the retirement of lead dispatcher Bill Brown, who worked for the sheriff's office for just shy of 20 years. "Bill has become one of our greatest assets in the dispatch center," Shawna Chenoweth said before presenting Brown with a custom plaque and vario...
A Trout Creek man made his initial appearance in 20th District Judicial Court on Tuesday, pleading not guilty before Judge Deborah "Kim" Christopher to three charges. Alton Steinhoff is charged with felony intimidation, felony threats and other improper influence in official and political matters, and one count of misdemeanor privacy in communication. Steinhoff posted bond and has been released. Judge Christopher set a trial date of February 19, 2024, for Steinhoff. During court on Tuesday, Steinhoff said that he has worked as a hunting guide...
The Thompson Falls and Plains cross country teams competed in one of the bigger races of the season last Friday, running at Rebecca Farms for the Flathead Invitational. The runners competed against teams from class AA, A, B and C at the meet. John Owen Jermyn led the Plains runners in the freshman race, finishing 23rd with a time of 20:02. Horseman Kalem Ercanbrack was close behind in 20:49, and Asher Seymour finished the course in 24:48. "It was highly competitive, and we were focused on...
NOXON 38, TWIN BRIDGES 6 The Noxon Red Devils put on a fantastic performance in their first home game of the football season on Friday, outsourcing the Twin Bridges Falcons 38-6 and advancing their record to 2-0 on the season. The Falcons were the first to score at Noxon High School Friday, but the Red Devils quickly answered when Antonio Lodi ran in for a touchdown and then Brian Risch threw a gigantic 64-yard pass to Ricky Williams to score. Lodi took the ball across the goal line yet again...
FLORENCE 3, THOMPSON FALLS 2 The Lady Hawks hit the road before the long weekend last Thursday, falling to the Falcons in Florence in five sets, 18-25, 15-25, 22-25, 25-17 and 7-15. Sophomore Gabi Hannum led Thompson Falls in Florence with four aces, eight kills and seven digs, while Olivia Fitchett served up four aces and added 20 set assists. Sophomore Addi Pardee led the team with seven kills and added six digs, freshman Addy Deal contributed two blocks and Sarah Koskela had six kills. The La...
Sanders County has a new County Attorney and Public Administrator. Sanders County Commissioners voted unanimously last week to appoint Megan Hansen to the position of County Attorney, which was open after Naomi Leisz resigned in July after she was charged with felony insurance fraud. Hansen will start her position next week and is excited to get started. She grew up in the Missoula area and her husband in the Bitterroot Valley, and her family has property in Trout Creek, so she has been...
When the River Road East fire erupted August 18, a community of volunteers jumped into action. With the fast-moving fire burning to the north and south of the town of Paradise, an immense coordination effort was enacted quickly to save structures. More than 15 homes and 55 structures have been lost in the blaze, which has now burned more than 17,000 acres and has hundreds of crew members working to contain it. But dozens of other homes and structures within the town were unharmed by the fire....
NorthWestern Energy's Thompson Falls dam was honored last week for maintaining VPP Star status. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) honors employers who have implemented safety and health management systems and maintain below average injury rates with the Volunteer Protection Program (VPP). According to OSHA's website, star certification recognizes "employers and employees who demonstrate exemplary achievement in the prevention and control of occupational safety and health...
Representatives from the Thompson Falls and Plains airports met last week to discuss needs and priorities. Lance Bowser and Ian Warge with RPA, an engineering firm, met with pilots, airport board representatives and county commissioners to review the capital improvement plans (CIP) for both airports. Bowser said the CIPs are updated every year to review needs of the airports and seek funding sources for projects. Dan Normandeau told the RPA representatives that a pilots’ lounge is the top priority at the Thompson Falls airport. The building w...
Three Thompson Falls High School students had an out-of-this world experience earlier this week. Team Astraeus – Rowan Ackley, Carter Marquardt and Jeremy Fausett – earned a trip to Kennedy Space Center in Florida along with their teacher, Doree Thilmony. The students studied concepts involved in the next trip to the moon, the Artemis I and Artemis II missions. Teams from across the country made the journey to Florida. They were given a VIP tour of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and lau...
The rush is on. School starts soon. High school sports teams are practicing. The great zucchini trade is on as people start harvesting their gardens. As the days get a little shorter, it seems everyone is in a rush to squeeze in last-minute vacations, days on the water and other summer activities. As we soak in the last few weeks of sunshine and making summer memories, it’s a good time for a gentle reminder to watch out for others. Driving to and from the Huckleberry Festival last weekend, several motorists had collided with deer along the w...
