Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Avista was back at River's Bend in Thompson Falls last Saturday for their annual charity golf tournament. The beneficiary for this year's event, which featured a full lineup of 18 four-person teams, was Sanders County 4-H. While Avista sponsors the tournament, the local 4-H clubs and volunteers gathered sponsors and silent auction items, helped promote the event, and volunteered during the event. Tournament administrator Sean Kelly with Avista said...
Due to the hot, dry weather conditions, Sanders County moved to Stage I fire restrictions on Monday. Commissioners signed a resolution last week imposing the restrictions, which went into effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday. Under Stage I, campfires are prohibited except in a developed recreation site or improved site. Smoking is also prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials. Certain...
Each year, more and more people flock to the small town of Trout Creek to celebrate the purple goodness that grows on local mountainsides. The 42nd Annual Huckleberry Festival was held last weekend, packing the Trout Creek Park with thousands of residents and visitors. Saturday started with the huckleberry pancake breakfast put on by the volunteer fire department, followed by the parade down Highway 200. Spectators said the parade was one of the biggest and best yet for the festival. After the...
Trouble with cellular service in the Thompson Falls area has prompted questions and comments from readers. Several readers have reported not being able to make a call or not having service. The Ledger has heard from Verizon Wireless customers unhappy with their service and reached out to the company. First, The Ledger contacted Verizon customer service from our Verizon phones. On a call last week, we were told by a representative that there were no open service calls in the area. The Ledger then reached out to media representatives for the...
The sounds of gunshots and screams for help echoed through the hall of Thompson Falls High School last week, but no one was in danger. Local law enforcement and first responders received training on how to respond when there is an active threat. After two days of classroom work, lectures and going through scenarios, last Thursday the 29 police officers, fire department and volunteer ambulance staff enacted four scenarios in the Active Threat Integrated Response Course (ATIRC). The course is put...
For decades, crowds have been lining up the second weekend in August for a taste of huckleberry heaven. The Trout Creek Rural Fire District pancake breakfast has had the same menu for more than 40 years: huckleberry pancakes, sliced ham and scrambled eggs. The volunteer firemen and women have it down to a science, and not much has changed through the years. Fire chief Dave Anderson said he has been with the department for 26 years. This year they had 25 helpers cooking, serving and cleaning...
It really is a small world. Two Sanders County men have crossed paths once again after attending boot camp together nearly four decades ago. Ed Moreth is a reporter for The Sanders County Ledger. You've probably seen him at various events. He primarily covers the Plains area, but ventures all over the county for stories. Moreth is a curious guy, and will ask any person any question. Earlier this summer, Moreth covered a ham radio field day event at Power Park in Thompson Falls. He spent the...
Tom Hoiland lives in Washington, but every August he comes to Trout Creek for one of his favorite traditions, the Huckleberry Run For Fun. This year the run was special for Hoiland, who is 90 years old. He was surprised with a small reunion of family members who walked the 5K with him. "This won't go on forever," Hoiland said last week as he was preparing to head to Trout Creek from Connell, Washington. He said he'll keep coming back as long as he can, but doesn't know when it will be his last...
Sam and Teri Burt moved to Trout Creek in 1993 with their four children. Almost immediately, the couple began volunteering for various organizations. This year, the Burts are being recognized for their commitment to the Trout Creek community and surrounding areas. They will lead the parade at the Huckleberry Festival as grand marshals. The couple has been involved with the festival for decades in the various organizations for which they have volunteered, and they appreciate what the festival...
Monica Huggett discovered northwest Montana while cycling to Spokane in 2003. She met Jean Morrison in her travels, and the two brainstormed the Montana Baroque Music Festival, a tradition spanning almost two decades in Paradise. Huggett was one of eight performers at the festival this year, held at Quinn's Hot Springs Resort. It was special for Huggett as she has decided to retire, and Thursday night's performance was her last. This year, in the resorts' events center along the Clark Fork...
The Thompson Falls City Council on Monday approved the second reading of the town’s zoning ordinance, which will take effect in 30 days. The ordinance sets forth guidelines for types of buildings, usage and maintenance. The zoning ordinance approved by the council sets boundaries for commercial properties and residential. It also includes details such as the number of tiny houses that can be erected per city lot, how many parking spaces are required, and what type of fencing can be used. The zoning ordinance states that marijuana sales can o...
First Security Bank and Highlead were the leaders in Wednesday night play at River's Bend last week. First Security's Michael Scharfe, Bill Nolen, Mike Thilmony and Scott Pardee shot the low team gross of 170, while Chadd Laws, Jesse Mosher, John Mosher and Steve Fairbank garnered the low team net of 143 for Highlead. John Mosher had the low individual gross round of 39, and Scott Pardee's 33 was the low net for the night. Mike Thilmony led in hole honors with the long putt on No. 12, the drive closest to the pin on No. 14 and a chip-in on No....
Montana's Best Builders did it best last week as they shot the low team gross of 174 in Tuesday night men's league play at River's Bend. The team Tuesday included Kevin Sparks, Sean Kelly, Nathan Snead and Mike Thilmony. Coming in with the low team net of 146 was Big Sky Pantry's team of Bill Nolen, Howard Morkert, Mike Lilly and Ben Mummert. Sparks had the low individual gross of 39 and was closest to the pin in three on No. 11, and Bruce Haflich shot the low net of 34 and added a chip-in on No. 17 to his round. Howard Morkert and Dave Garr ha...
It was just another beautiful round of golf for the Over the Hill Gang this week at River's Bend. Mike Normandin and Lana Nolen shot the low gross rounds of 42 and 53, while Darrel "Torgy" Trogrimson and Jan Thompson had low net rounds of 31 and 41. Four golfers chipped in shots off the green on Monday, including Rusty Haggard on No. 6, Bruce Craw on No. 7, Dave Garr on No. 5 and Sam Bernhardt on No. 4. Barb Wooden had the long putt on No. 2 and the women's longest drive on No. 9, Ron Beaty hit the men's longest drive on No. 9 and Jesse Mack...
Each August, Sanders County kids get the chance to have music lessons from nationally known musicians. Saturday morning at the Big Sky Blues Festival in Noxon, the sounds of half a dozen harmonicas echoed through Pilgrim Creek Park as youngsters learned technique from blues musician David Raitt. You might recognize the Raitt name. His sister is Bonnie, the Grammy-winning blues musician. David shared his passion for music with four Noxon girls at the harmonica workshop Saturday morning, along...
Due to the hot, dry weather conditions, Sanders County is moving to Stage I fire restrictions on Monday. Commissioners signed a resolution Thursday imposing the restrictions, which will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday. Under Stage I, campfires are prohibited except in a developed recreation site or improved site. Smoking is also prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren...
The heat didn't squash the spirits of the ladies league golfers at River's Bend last Thursday as the women enjoyed another round of league play. Tina Wheeler celebrated a milestone birthday with a milestone win as she show the low individual gross of 50 and she and teammate Jeanne Holleran shot the low team gross of 112. Annie Wooden had the low individual net of 36 and Jeneese Baxter and Barb Mosher teamed up fro the low net of 78. Wooden was closest to the pin in four on No. 11, Lana Nolen had the long putt on No. 12 and the long drive on...
There was a Mack attack last Wednesday at River's Bend Golf Course as Jesse Mack went back-to-back with chip-ins on No. 3 and No. 4 in Wednesday night league play. Mike Thilmony and Rick Hagedorn also had chip-ins during league play, on No. 2 and No. 7, respectively. Wild Coyote golfers Gary Thompson, Mike Normandin, Dave Petteys and Steve Clark teamed up for the low gross of 178, while Whitefish Credit Union's Rusty Sharp, Randy Hojem, Chuck Manry and Ray Marshall combined for the low net of 149. Paul Flemmer shot the low individual gross of 3...
They say cheaters never prosper. Not so for Over the Hill Gang at River's Bend this week, who played a game of Cheaters Golf. During their Monday rounds, each golfer got one foot wedge, one toss and one tee box mulligan. Gary Thompson was the best cheater, coming in with the low men's gross of 37. Darrell "Torgy" Torgrimson show the low men's net of 27. For the women, Jan Thompson's 44 was the low gross and Lana Nolen shot the low net of 37. The Thompson duo slammed the long drives on No. 18, and Gary had the long putt on No. 11 and his drive w...
The heat was rising and the scores were falling at River's Bend as the Tuesday men's league gathered for another round of play. Hole No. 7 was the lucky one on the evening as three golfers chipped it in. Rick Hagedorn, Scott Rasor and Bill Nolen each sank shots off the green on No. 7 Feed & Fuel's Mike Normandin, Steve Clark, Dave Petteys and Doug Gunderson shot the low team gross of 179. The Bear Muscle Fitness team of Rick Hagedorn, John Mosher, Doug Robichaud and Steve Fairbank had the low team net of 148. Kade Pardee show the low gross of 4...
Sanders County Commissioners last week reviewed a resolution they plan to have on the November ballot for county voters. Resolution No. 2022-06 details the county’s intent to have voters decide whether or not to tax recreational and medical marijuana sales at the county level. House Bill 701 passed by the Montana Legislature allows counties to impose a 3% tax on marijuana sales, but the measure must be passed by the voters in the county. HB701 applies only to counties in which the majority of voters voted to approve Initiative 190 in the 2...
Noxon will have the blues the first weekend in August, but it won’t get people down. The 11th Annual Big Sky Blues Festival is set for August 5-7 at Pilgrim Creek Park. Along with nationally known musicians, the three-day event features free workshops for kids. Musicians performing during the weekend donate their time and will instruct kids of all ages on harmonica, guitar, drums and bass. “It’s fun for the kids to learn from national acts,” said Lorne Riddell, organizer of the Big Sky Blues Festival. “It’s great to have the kids learn about...
Summer is a beloved time of year that's often dominated by time spent outdoors soaking up summer sun. But all that extra time outdoors can make people vulnerable to mosquitoes. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, mosquitoes are more than just hungry, unwanted backyard guests. In fact, mosquito-borne diseases, including the Zika virus, the West Nile virus and dengue, pose significant threats. While not all mosquitoes carry disease, even those that don't can...
The Sanders County Board of Health last week held its first meeting with new County Health Officer Ron Petrie. At last quarter’s Board of Health meeting, the board and commissioners set a work session to review the board’s by-laws. Those changes were detailed by Commissioner Glen Magera during last Wednesday’s meeting. Among the changes to the by-laws is reducing the number of board members to five. There are currently six members on the Board of Health, including the three commissioners and three community members. Magera said that when the n...
Living in northwest Montana comes with the unique experience of living among bears. Humans and bears co-existing, as well as behaviors of both species, was the topic of a presentation last Wednesday by Kim Annis, Bear Management Specialist with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP). The event was held at the Thompson Falls Public Library and sponsored by the Thompson Falls Chamber of Commerce. Annis spoke to community members with the goal of helping people understand what bears are doing and...
