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Independently owned since 1905
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The Sanders County Treasurer's Office is prepping for a remodel that county treasurer Nichol Scribner says should help keep wait times down. Starting next Thursday, Feb. 13, a local contractor will be working to move the treasurer's office workstations up to the windows, instead of having desks away from the windows, Scribner said. Construction is expected to last at least three business days. During the renovation project, two temporary workstations will be set up in the courthouse across the hall from the treasurer's office. Scribner said the...
The Cabinet Ridge Riders (CRR) group is hosting their annual snowmobile fun run this Saturday. Last year, more than 200 sleds joined the group on the 52-mile trail ride outside of Trout Creek. Registration begins Friday 5-8 p.m. at The Lakeside Resort in Trout Creek. Registration will again open at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. There is no cost to register, but participants can purchase poker hands for $5 each. Snowmobile riders will take off Saturday morning from near the Marten Creek campground and there will be card stations along the trail. “We h...
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) project to repair the Clark Fork River bridge will begin in April. MDT has completed the design of the project, which will include a full closure of the bridge for six consecutive weeks of the project. MDT said in a press release that most of the estimated $10.5 million project will include single-lane closures of Highway 200 over the bridge, but the full bridge closure is required due to structural limitations and to maintain public safety while...
A judge denied a bail reduction for former Thompson Falls resident Danielle Wood during a hearing in 20th District Judicial Court on Tuesday. Wood’s attorneys, Kirk Krutilla and Will Managhan, had argued for Wood’s $1 million bail to be reduced or for the judge to release her without bail to be on house arrest while living with her father in Washington state. Defense attorneys made the argument on Tuesday that contact with their client was difficult while she was in jail because of timing and recording of meetings. Judge Deborah “Kim” Christo...
With the new year comes a new election cycle in Montana. The filing period for state offices opened January 9 and continues through March 9. Paul Fielder of Thompson Falls, a Republican, filed January 9 for the state House of Representatives in District 13. That position is currently held by Bob Brown of Thompson Falls, also a Republican. Brown filed for the position of state Senator in District 7, which Sen. Jennifer Fielder has held for the maximum two four-year terms. Brown has served as a representative in District 13 for three two-year...
The Montana Supreme Court last week reversed a $35 million judgment against the Thompson Falls congregation of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the church’s parent organizations. The decision came Jan. 7, with the court determining that the church was exempt from Montana’s mandatory reporting law for reporting child abuse because “the undisputed material facts in the record show that Jehovah’s Witnesses canon law, church doctrine, or established church practice required that the reports of abuse in this case be kept confidential,” Justice Bet...
In the final session of 20th District Judicial Court of 2019, on Dec. 24, Justin Loehner pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of attempted deliberate homicide before Judge James Manley. Loehner was arrested earlier in December after a shooting at an apartment complex in Paradise. Also in court on December 24, Cody Best pleaded not guilty to three charges, including felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, felony engendering the welfare of children and a misdemeanor charge of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Last November, Best...
She'd catch you at Harvest Foods, Minnie's or Grocery Surplus. Some people would avoid her. Others would walk up and hug her. Either way, Jay Simons would find you, and she had questions to ask. Judith Marlene Simonson, 80, passed away on Friday, December 20, 2019, in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. She was born November 26, 1939. She was known throughout Sanders County by her pen name, Jay Simons. A staple at The Ledger, Jay worked as a contributor for more than 35 years. She started doing the Question...
Clients and staff of Bratz and Associates won't notice much change this year as tax season approaches. Well, except for a new name. Kristi Confer, an accountant with the Thompson Falls firm, recently bought the business from owner Mark Bratz. The new business, which will still be located at 303 Main Street in Thompson Falls, is called Rocky Mountain Accounting. Confer has been with the business for about four years. She and her husband John moved to Sanders County after coming through the area...
The Blue Hawk chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) hosted an event Friday that helped some Sanders County graduates relive their glory days on the basketball court. NHS hosted the 2019 Old Timer's Basketball Tournament at the high school gym. Four teams vied for bragging rights and a trophy during the event, which raised funds for an NHS trip to Washington, D.C. later this year. Between entry fees, concession sales and admission, NHS adviser Jodi Morgan said the group did well with their...
The Sanders County Commissioners commemorated the new solid waste transfer station on Tuesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new facility east of Thompson Falls. "This is the premiere site in Montana for a community of our size," commissioner Tony Cox said just before the ceremony, which was also attended by representatives of the offices of Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Greg Gianforte. Cox said the site, which cost almost $5 million, is more user friendly and efficient and "is something...
The murder trial of former Thompson Falls resident Danielle Wood has been moved to later in 2020. In 20th District Judicial Court on Tuesday, Judge Deborah "Kim" Christopher tentatively set a new trial date for April 1, with jury selection set to begin that date. The trial was originally set to begin Jan. 21, 2020, but was moved by the court. Wood is charged with deliberate homicide in the death of Matthew LaFriniere of Thompson Falls, her former boyfriend. In court on Tuesday, Wood's attorney, public defender Kirk Krutilla, requested a bail...
Thompson Falls kindergarten students got to experience the magic of Christmas on Tuesday with a ride on The Christmas Express. The train was brought to Thompson Falls by the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation and Montana Rail Link (MRL). Children boarded the train at the Thompson Falls depot with their teachers, Amy Laws and Amber Yates, as well as Superintendent Bill Cain and elementary principal Len Dorscher. They journeyed through the train cars and along the Clark Fork River, listening...
The Thompson Falls City Council met for their last time in 2019 on Monday, and it was the final meeting for council members Dennis Newman and Tom Eggensperger. Mayor Jerry Lacy presented each with a canvas print of the city and thanked them for their years of service. "Tom, I feel like you mentored me and I appreciate the advice and everything you've done for the city," council member Raoul Ribeiro told Eggensperger. Prior to the meeting, Carrie Gardner with Great West Engineering presented...
Noxon Superintendent Jon Martin notified parents on Monday of an incident at the school Monday involving a student. “I want to inform you that today an elementary student made some inappropriate and aggressive comments at school,” Martin said in a letter to parents. Martin told The Ledger on Monday that the incident involved one student and that it was taken care of quickly and no one was injured during the incident. “Our staff handled it very well,” Martin stated. “It was not a huge problem. There was no lockdown or hold in place.” H...
On Tuesday, Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher revoked a deferred sentence for Brandon Tollie and sentenced him to five years with the Montana Department of Corrections (DOC) with two years suspended. Tollie, from Bigfork, in April received a three-year deferred DOC sentence on a felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs charge. Tollie also was sentenced to 28 days in the Sanders County Jail, in accepting the plea agreement that also included misdemeanor night speeding and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia charges. Tollie was ini...
Former Thompson Falls resident Danielle Wood appeared in 20th District Judicial Court this week. Wood, who is charged with deliberate homicide in the death of Matt LaFriniere, her former boyfriend, was scheduled for an omnibus hearing on Tuesday. Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher delayed the omnibus hearing until Dec. 17, 2019, at the request of attorney Kirk Krutilla with the public defender’s office. Krutilla and another public defender, William Managhan, have taken over Wood’s defense. She was previously represented by attorneys Eldena...
In 20th District Judicial Court on Tuesday, Eugene Germain entered not guilty pleas to two felony theft charges. Germain was arrested May 21. Charging documents allege that two vehicles were reported stolen in Sanders County. Sanders County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of suspicious activity at Avista Village near Noxon on May 19. A Dodge pickup was reported stolen from Noxon and police pursued the vehicle, reaching speeds of over 100 miles per hour, documents show. A second vehicle was reported stolen from the area and charges a...
Students in Thompson Falls got to say thanks to local veterans on Monday, Veterans Day, with a special lunch. About 30 veterans had lunch at the school Monday. They had the chance to eat with the elementary students and members of the elementary and junior high student councils served the veterans. "I think it's good because of how much they help us and it's good for us to help them back," said student Kylie Huff. Darrel Marks of Thompson Falls served in the Army during the Vietnam War. He had...
Thompson Falls students last week learned what it means to be positive role models and leave positive footprints at school and in the community. Students in grades K-8 on last Wednesday attended an assembly led by counselor Rob Christensen. They watched a video presented by the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. The video encouraged students to "be an upstander to help stop bullying. Do something about it." Christensen then led kids in an activity to help them make a difference in the...
Montana’s big game hunting season opens this weekend, and local Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) staff are reminding hunters of a key change in a local hunting district. District 122, in the Thompson River area, will no longer have an antlerless white-tailed deer harvest the first and last weeks of the season. FWP Biologist Bruce Sterling said that this is unique to the 122 district. In other hunting districts, hunters can harvest an antlerless white-tailed deer with a general license during the first and last weeks of the season. Sterling s...
A Thompson Falls contractor has been awarded the contract for the Ainsworth Park Project. The Thompson Falls City Council voted last week to give the contract to Taylor Services. The award was made after a third round of request for bids. The first round received no bids and the second round received two bids higher than was budgeted. During the third round, submissions were also received by First Mark Construction of Missoula and Thompson Contracting of Libby. Taylor Services offered the lowest base bid of just under $373,000. The Ainsworth...
The Sanders County Clerk and Recorder’s office last week mailed ballots for the Hot Springs Municipal General Election. Voters have until 8 p.m. November 5 to return ballots to the election office by mail or in person. The election is mail ballot only and no polling places will be open on election day. Four residents are running for two open positions on the Hot Springs Town Council. Candidates include Crystal Graham, Renea Keough, Edwin Gail Weatherly and Mary Whitsett. County Elections Deputy Bobbi Christenson said that if Hot Springs r...
A group of residents is working on a plan to bring more services to Sanders County veterans. On Tuesday, David Williams with Joint Operation Mariposa and Sam Redfern with the United States of Hope (USOH) addressed the Sanders County Commissioners with their plan. Redfern and Williams have been working on projects for veterans for about two years. Now, they are working to a Veteran Service Office (VSO) in Sanders County. Williams said he already has someone willing to donate an office space in Thompson Falls. Now, the group is looking to add mem...
Tax bills for property owners in Sanders County will be mailed later this month, and property owners will notice a few changes on their tax bills. Sanders County Clerk & Recorder/Treasurer Nichol Scribner said the county is using a new service to mail tax bills, instead of printing and preparing the bills at the courthouse. The move, she added, is more efficient in both time and money for the county. "We are always looking for efficiencies in the county," Scribner said. "This is the best use of...
