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Independently owned since 1905
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The warmer weather of spring brings not only people out into the woods of Northwest Montana, but also ticks. People and pets throughout Sanders County have already been spotting ticks in the outdoors. Some residents who have already in the outdoors have said they have noticed more ticks than usual this year. The National Weather Service predicts that tick season (April through October) temperatures will be above normal, with less precipitation. According to the website Pests.org, those...
Quinn's Hot Springs Resort is giving employees a bonus as a way to encourage them to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The Paradise company is not requiring employees to get vaccinated, but General Manager Denise Moreth said their part to keep their staff, guests and community safe. "We want to help us all make it past this pandemic," Moreth said Monday. Quinn's employs 127 people and is offering a $500 bonus for any who receive their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by May 10. After May 10, the...
Cancer Network of Sanders County (CNSC) is preparing for its spring fundraiser. Music for Mom will be held 7-9 p.m. Friday, May 7, at The Rex Theater in Thompson Falls. Instead of selling tickets, CNSC will accept donations at the door. The evening will feature six musical performances, including country singer Doug Grimm, the VonTraver Family Singers, Bob Sink on the fiddle, vocalist Mary Crouse, a duet by Tina and Theresa, and Keith Meyers and The Wester Sky Band. There will also be entertainment and games during the intermission. CNSC...
The wastewater project and improvements to the water system in Thompson Falls are progressing, Mayor Mark Sheets said this week. "The sewer project is on time and within budgets and there have been no real concerns," Sheets said at Monday's City Council meeting. Residents have already seen activity on Preston Avenue above the railroad tracks as the construction phase of a project to expand the city’s sewer system to residences and businesses on the hill in Thompson Falls. This week, work began to install a new forced main to the wastewater trea...
The Thompson Falls City Council on Monday voted down an ordinance allowing residents to have chickens, rabbits, ducks and quails in the city limits. The council voted 3-2 against the ordinance. Council member Shawni Vaught, who voted against the ordinance with Katherine Maudrone and Ruth Cheney, brought up the fact that there was nothing in the ordinance about proper or timely disposal of carcasses. She said she had talked with a representative from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and to Bob Butte of Butte Services about proper disposal and fe...
Clark Fork Valley Hospital (CFVH) held another COVID-19 vaccination clinic over the weekend, administering more than 800 vaccines last week. At the hospital’s clinic on Saturday, 754 people received the Moderna vaccine, which requires two doses. According to Dr. Gregory Hanson, CEO of CFVH, the hospital has administered more than 5,000 vaccine doses with approximately 1,800 individuals being fully vaccinated. “It is a remarkable testament to the national effort to develop the vaccine and distribute it in just over the one year we have been deal...
With some last-minute filings, additional school districts have enough candidates for an election in May. The county will mail ballots for elections to the Noxon, Plains, Thompson Falls and Trout Creek school boards. Bobbie Christenson with the county elections office said they are hoping to mail ballots on Wednesday, April 14. Ballots must be returned to the office by Tuesday, May 4. In Trout Creek, two three-year terms are up for election. Three candidates have filed, including Eric Viviano, Donald Ekstedt and Sarah Cooper. Five candidates...
The annual effort to clean up the Thompson Falls community, Beautification Days, is set for April 15-17. Each year, the Beautification Days committee invites elementary students to create artwork with that year's theme. This year's theme, according to Kathy Conlin with the Beautification Days committee, is "Give A Hoot, Don't Pollute." The committee reeived permission to use Woodsy Owl along with their theme. Students in grades kindergarten through sixth were tasked with creating posters using t...
Additional candidates have filed for school board races as a week remains in the filing period, while Hot Springs and Dixon school districts still have no candidates who have filed for their board seats. In Plains, four candidates have filed for two open three-year terms. Candidates include Monica Weedeman, Charles French, Brian Meaden and Amy Carey. In Trout Creek, Eric Viviano is the only candidate who has filed for a three-year term. Trout Creek School has two positions open. Five candidates have filed for the two open three-year terms in th...
by Annie Wooden Clark Fork Valley Hospital (CFVH) and Sanders County Public Health continue to administer COVID-19 vaccines to residents. CFVH has been holding vaccination clinics on Saturdays. As of Tuesday, 665 residents had received both doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, and another 1,632 had received their first dose. On Saturday, March 6, CFVH was scheduled to administer 650 vaccines, the largest clinic yet according to hospital CEO Dr. Gregory Hanson. “We are constantly monitoring state guidelines for changing distribution r...
Former Thompson Falls resident Danielle Wood on Tuesday was sentenced to 100 years in the Montana State Women’s Prison without the possibility of parole. Wood appeared in 20th District Judicial Court before Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher, who imposed the sentence. Wood was found guilty in January of deliberate homicide in the death of Matthew LaFriniere. Prosecutors recommended Wood be sentenced to a term of life without without parole. “Danielle killed for the sole purpose of taking Matt aw...
A group of Sanders County residents presented Sanders County Commissioners on Tuesday with a proposal asking that the county become a Second Amendment Sanctuary. Similar ordinances have been brought forth across the country. Montana does not have any pro-Second Amendment sanctuary cities or counties at this time. Connie Foust of Plains presented the proposed ordinance to the commissioners. She stated she is part of a group that formed after the 2020 presidential election and started working on voter laws. Foust told the commissioners and the...
Former Thompson Falls resident Danielle Wood on Tuesday was sentenced to 100 years in the Montana State Women's Prison without the possibility of parole. Wood appeared in 20th District Judicial Court before Judge Deborah "Kim" Christopher, who imposed the sentence. Wood was found guilty in January of deliberate homicide in the death of Matthew LaFriniere. Three witnesses testified at the sentencing hearing on Tuesday, including George LaFriniere, Matt's father. More details will be available in...
The Montana Supreme Court last week made a decision to uphold a permit for Hecla’s proposed Rock Creek mine issued by the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC). The DNRC issued the water right permit in January 2018 that covers Hecla’s ability to use water for operations at the proposed silver and copper mine. The Supreme Court voted 5-2 last week to overturn a 2019 judgment in First Judicial District Court. “We’re pleased with the Supreme Court’s ruling in supporting the state DNRC’s issuance of the water right permi...
With the deadline to file for special district elections passed, Sanders County school board candidates still have a month to file their intent for open positions. Bobbi Christenson with the Sanders County Elections Office stated that write-in candidates have until March 1 to file for open special district positions. If there are no write-in candidates, all of the elections for 2021 can be canceled, as all positions are currently unopposed. Local fire districts will elect trustees this year. John Morigeau was the only candidate to file for the...
Clark Fork Valley Hospital (CFVH) continues to administer COVID-19 vaccines to residents of Sanders County. On Monday, CFVH CEO Dr. Gregory Hanson said that 880 doses of the Moderna vaccine have been given at the hospital. All residents in Phase 1A (healthcare workers) have received both required doses, while 476 residents in Phase 1B (age 70 and older and age 18-69 with certain health problems) have received their first vaccine and 253 residents in Phase 1B have received their second...
"Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." - Teddy Roosevelt Sanders County has a new wildlife biologist, and he is ready to work hard at work worth doing. Mike Ebinger joined Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) in January as the local area's biologist. He replaces Bruce Sterling, who retired last year. The biologist, originally from Michigan, moved to Sanders County from Bozeman, where for the last seven years he did research with the...
After nine days of testimony and eight hours of deliberation, a jury found former Thompson Falls resident Danielle Wood guilty of deliberate homicide last week. Wood was convicted of the charge in the May 2018 death of Matthew LaFriniere, who was found dead at his residence east of Thompson Falls. Wood was arrested in the matter in March 2019. She was living in Polson at the time of her arrest and has been held for almost two years at the Lake County Jail while she awaited trial. "Justice was...
A defendant being held at the Sanders County Jail was sentenced to 15 years with the Department of Corrections on Tuesday. James Hernvall was sentenced to 15 years for two counts of felony burglary and 10 years for one count of felony theft. Hernvall had been on probation, but his probation officer testified in 20th District Judicial Court on Tuesday that Hernvall had absconded from his responsibilities with the probation office for 18 months. A petition was filed May 4, 2020, to revoke Hernvall’s original sentence on the charges. Hernvall t...
Sanders County honored employees for years of service last week during a ceremony at the courthouse. Sanders County Commissioner Tony Cox presented an award to fellow commissioner Glen Magera for 10 years with Sanders County. "He's knowledgeable and friendly," Cox said of his colleague. Lee Smith, foreman for Road District 3 at the west end of the county, was not able to be at the ceremony, but was honored for 25 years with the county. Cox said that the county was very fortunate to have Smith...
The trial of a former Thompson Falls woman continues this week at the Sanders County Courthouse. Danielle Wood has been charged with one count of deliberate homicide in the death of 51-year-old Matthew LaFriniere, a lifelong Thompson Falls resident who was found dead at his home in May 2018. Wood, 56, has been awaiting trial since her arrest in March of 2019. The trial began last Tuesday in 20th District Judicial Court with Judge Deborah "Kim" Christopher presiding. Prosecutors Daniel...
Sanders County voters will decide on several special district and school board elections this year. Trustees can now file their intent and oath of candidacy with the Sanders County Elections office. Several area special districts will elect new trustees this year. The rural fire districts in Dixon, Heron and Noxon have one three-year position open, while Hot Springs and Thompson Falls rural fire districts each have two. Trout Creek Rural Fire District has a one-year position and a three-year position up for election. As of Tuesday, John Morigea...
The state of Montana is now tracking data on those receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as the number of coronavirus cases in the state. This week, the Montana Department Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) began providing information on the number of vaccines administered in each county on its website, dphhs.mt.gov/covid19vaccine. As of Tuesday, in Sanders County 342 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine had been administered to residents, with 23 residents having received the required two doses of the vaccine. The state also tracks...
Testimony continued Tuesday in the trial of Danielle Wood, a former Thompson Falls resident charged with deliberate homicide in the 2018 death of Matthew LaFriniere. Testifying on Tuesday were employees of ZetX Corporation, a company that analyzes cellphone data. Michael Fegely of ZetX told the jury in court Tuesday that he used phone records from Verizon and Google, security video footage and photos of the defendant's car to track Wood's movements throughout the course of the day for May 2,...
Attorneys called their final witnesses on Wednesday in the trial of Danielle Wood, 56, a former Thompson Falls resident accused of deliberate homicide in the death of her ex-boyfriend, Matthew LaFriniere. The jury of eight women and four men has been hearing testimony since the trial began January 19 at the Sanders County Courthouse. On Wednesday, LaFriniere’s father, George, testified. “He was my son, my friend and in a lot of ways my hero,” George said of his son, calling him honest, hardworking and gentle. Also testifying Wednesday was D...
