Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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by Annie Wooden Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) has released results from its spring ungulate surveys. FWP surveyed white-tailed deer, sheep and elk throughout Region 1, which includes Sanders County. According to FWP Wildlife Biologist Zack Farley, the number of elk surveyed was down this year in HD 121 on the west end of Sanders County, while overall, the deer and sheep populations appear stable, and recruitment (the number of offspring surviving the winter) is up for all species in most districts. FWP uses spring survey data along with...
The Thompson Falls City Council on Monday named council president Raoul Ribeiro as interim mayor. Mayor Mark Sheets handed in his letter of resignation at the June council meeting. Ribeiro will serve as mayor until a new mayor is appointed by the council. Letters of interest will be accepted until 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 28. To qualify for mayor, a person must be at least 21 years old, a resident of Montana for at least three years and a resident of Thompson Falls for at least two years. Carrie Gardner with Great West Engineering updated the...
The Over the Hill Gang got a little crazy for their July 10 outing at River's Bend Golf Course, playing a scratch and scramble game. Dennis Gripp and Gary Moe won the round with a 31, Rusty Haggard and Charlie Hooten were second with a 33.5, and Al Luckow and Randy Hojem were third with a score of 34. John Mosher shot the low men's gross score of 41 and Hojem had the low net round of 32, as well as the only chip-in for the Gang, on No. 2, for a birdie. Hojem's drive was closest to the pin on No. 8. Lana Nolen led the ladies with a low net of...
Sanders County Attorney Naomi Leisz has resigned. Leisz submitted her letter of resignation stating she would leave her position effective Monday at 5 p.m. Last week, Leisz was charged with felony insurance fraud by the State of Montana. Charging documents were filed Tuesday in 20th Judicial District Court in Sanders County, accusing Naomi Leisz of criminal insurance fraud, a felony. "I vehemently deny the allegations against me and any implication that I acted in violation of any rule," Leisz...
The City of Thompson Falls had an unusual visitor Sunday morning. A moose found its way downtown about 8:30 a.m. The moose was first spotted by Sanders County Sheriff's deputy Tim Kelly in Rose Garden Park along Main Street. "It's the first one I've ever seen in town," Kelly said. The moose then went up the east ramp over the railroad tracks, where it turned around on Preston Avenue and headed south back over the railroad tracks on Main Street. The moose then found its way to the river, where...
Whether it’s a serious news story with the latest investigation update or an edgy meme featuring orcas and video-game controllers, we are inundated right now with information about the Titan submersible. There has been no shortage of coverage on the investigation of what went wrong as the deep-water vessel attempted to descend to the wreck of the Titanic, more than 12,000 feet below sea level. Of all the questions being asked right now, though, the one that has struck me from the very beginning is “Why?” I don’t mean “Why did the vessel im...
by Annie Wooden Sanders County Attorney Naomi Leisz is facing a felony insurance fraud by the State of Montana. Charges were filed Tuesday in 20th Judicial District Court in Sanders County, accusing Leisz of criminal insurance fraud, a felony. The charge is pending approval by a District Court judge. Charging documents allege that in April of 2022, Trooper Steven Spurr of the Montana Highway Patrol received a call from a local insurance agent regarding a possible hit-and-run traffic accident involving a member of Leisz’s family. Spurr c...
A new private ambulance service on the west end of Sanders County is asking to be included in county emergency service responses. Members of Sawtooth EMS, based in Heron, last week approached the county about bringing ambulance service to Heron. The area currently is serviced by the Noxon Community Ambulance, a volunteer organization. Commissioner Tony Cox said that the commissioners and county representatives were there to help facilitate the discussion. “Hopefully we can come to a solution,” he said. Shawna Chenoweth with the Sanders Cou...
The VFW in Plains is planning festivities on Tuesday. Heather Allen reported that the Trent Brooks Band will play at Fred Young Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Declaration of Independence will be read aloud at 10:30 a.m. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be hamburgers, hot dogs, beverages and sides for sale, and community members can partake in yard games such as cornhole, washer toss, and large-scale versions of games including checkers, tic tac toe and connect four. Noxon will hold its annual Fourth of July celebration on Tuesday with...
More than a dozen community members joined the county commissioners at the public hearing last Thursday to discuss community needs. Ray Brown, executive director of Sanders County Community Development, said the purpose of the public hearing was to find out what the needs are of each community and then to help look at different funding options. “Hearing the needs from you is really helpful for us,” Brown told the community members. “We want to identify community needs, projects and priorities.” Lisa Fried de Reyes with Sanders County Communi...
Garage sale season is in full swing. Whether you’ve just finished some spring cleaning, are making room for new items, are moving out of your house, or just want to earn a little money, selling gently used items has more benefits than we may realize. While some might poo-poo the idea of putting our junk on display (and let’s face it – sometimes it can be junk), more often than not, our items for sale are good for another round. Garage and yard sales certainly benefit us at the individual level. Obviously, sellers make cash quickly. There are no...
The dream team of Megan Baxter and Doree Thilmony led ladies league at River’s Bend last week with a low combined gross score of 99, and Baxter had the low individual net round of 45. Kelly Wheeler and Barb Petteys combined for the low net of 66, and Wheeler’s 30 was good enough for individual low net, while Petteys smashed one of the long drives on No. 9 (Kim Sparks had the other). Lana Nolen had the lone chip-in for the evening, on No. 7, Kristy Beaty sank the long putt on No. 3 and Kim Sparks took that honor on No. 6. Annie Wooden’s drive...
The Over the Hill Gang took advantage of another beautiful day at River's Bend on Monday, with Gary Thompson shooting the low gross men's round of 40 and John Torres carding the low net of 30. Lana Nolen's 49 was the low round for women, and Kristy Beaty had the low net of 32. Thompson had a birdie on No. 1, and Charlie Hooten on No. 5, each added a chip-in to their score card and Thompson won for the long putt on No. 8. Mike Normandin had the men's long drive on No. 9, Russ Wood the long putt on No. 9, Liz Morkert's putt was best on No. 6 and...
A bald eagle takes flight through the Big Sky of western Sanders County on Sunday....
The city of Thompson Falls decided Monday to not open the pool this year amid the continuing struggle to find lifeguards. The city will also be seeking a new mayor as Mark Sheets notified the council this week that he is resigning effective July 4. With the coming vacancy, the council will need to appoint an interim mayor. "I would like to thank everyone for all of your support," Sheets said Monday as he handed council members his letter of resignation. Sheets has been a major proponent of the...
A couple weeks ago, this space was devoted to moments from my weekend spent reconnecting with old friends. Our time together was full of childhood stories, spontaneous laughter, good-natured teasing and “remember whens.” When we parted, we said, “See you soon” and made promises to get together more often. Recently, I got together with another old friend. Our time together was quieter. The conversation was one-sided, the laughter subdued, and the memories all in my head. I was with Sage, our family dog. She has been slowing down the past fe...
Steven Coulson made his initial appearance in 20th District Judicial Court on Tuesday, pleading not guilty to a felony charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs. Coulson's attorney, Cheryl Copperstone, had asked Judge Molly Owen to release Coulson on his own recognizance, but Owen left Coulson's bond at $5,000. According to charging documents, Coulson was arrested November 13, 2022, after officers responded to a complaint of individuals selling drugs at Town Pump in Plains. Coulson allegedly ran from police and hid in a nearby house,...
The Over the Hill Gang was back in action following the Memorial Day break. Ron Beaty and Lana Nolen had the low gross rounds of 38 and 44 this Monday, as Dave Petteys and Kristy Beaty led the gang with low net scores of 33 and 41, respectively. Four golfers added chip-ins to their cards at River’s Bend, including Randy Hojem on No. 11, the Daves (Petteys and Garr) on No. 13 and Bary Moore on No. 18 for a birdie. Ron Beaty also had the men’s long drive on No. 18 and his drive was closest to the pin on No. 17, while Ed Mack was closest to the...
The Thompson Falls City Pool will open this summer, though services may be limited due to a lack of staffing. Mayor Mark Sheets said Monday that staff is working toward the opening. Work to the pool is being completed this month, and the city has a target opening date of June 26. “We have redone all along the gutters of the pool and are working on redoing the showers in the changing room,” Sheets said. The city also continues to work on cleaning up after the changing rooms were vandalized earlier this year. “We’re working hard to get all tha...
Summer is finally here for the kids of Sanders County. The days are longer, the weather is warmer and the next few months are full of endless possibilities. One thing it seems won’t be available for kids in Thompson Falls as much this summer is the city pool. Due to a lack of people applying to be lifeguards, the pool is planning to reduce services. So, where are the lifeguards? Actually, where are any applicants for any jobs? I’ve written in this space before about how it seems kids aren’t working as much. Places like city pools requi...
The Thompson Falls School Board met Monday, recapping the school year and extending contracts. Superintendent Bud Scully said the foundation is set for the new multipurpose building and that the structure should start being erected this week. He also said that the school had a water leak under the junior high gym, but the issue has been resolved and he is working with the city to get the water bill adjusted. Elementary Principal Len Dorscher said the campus has additional security cameras up and running, and noted that the school has 40...
The Over the Hill Gang channeled. sunny days with a yellow ball scramble at River’s Bend on Monday. Teams of three golfers rotated who played the yellow ball, while the remaining two team members played a scramble each hole. Prizes were awarded for low yellow ball score and low scramble score. Shawn Wilkinson, Barb Wooden and Chris Gross had the low team yellow ball score, while Larry Eddy, Bary Moore and Dennis Gripp had the low team scramble score. Finishing second in the yellow ball scramble was the team of Bruce Sterling, Jerry Neal and Dar...
The First Security Bank team of Ben Mummert, Michael Scharfe, Bill Nolen and Mike Thilmony was on the money last Wednesday at River’s Bend as they shot the low team gross round of 177 in league play. Wild Coyote’s Gary Thompson, Howard Morkert, Dave Petteys and Steve Clark combined for the low team net of 151, while Paul Flemmer had the low individual gross round of 39 and Nolen’s 33 was good enough for low net. Flemmer also put in the long putt on No. 3, Thilmony took that honor on No. 6, Clark’s third shot was closest on No. 2, John Mosher...
It was NLC for the W-I-N in Tuesday league play at River’s Bend last week as Howard Morkert, Scott Rasor, Mike Tessier and Mike Lilly combined for the low team gross of 185, and Custom Ventures golfers Scott Pardee, Craig LeCoure, Marcus Thomas and Zack Hannum had the low team net of 138. Thomas had the low individual net round of 29 and Kevin Sparks the low gross of 42. Thomas also won the prize for closest to the pin in three on No. 2. Ron Belger sank the long putt on No. 3, with Jens Jantzen taking that honor on No 6. Hannum was closest t...
The town of Hot Springs is looking for more control over their trash. Mayor Randy Woods and City Clerk Amy Gray met with county commissioners last week to discuss the town's interest in taking over operations at the Hot Springs refuse site. Commissioners were open to the idea. The refuse site is currently controlled by the Hot Springs Refuse District (HSRD), a special district of Sanders County. The district is managed by a board of five elected members, similar to parks, ambulance and fire dist...
