Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Sanders County was entertained yet again by the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus (CMC) that came into Thompson Falls. The big tent was raised at 9:30 a.m. last Wednesday and a tour was given shortly after where spectators could get a closer look at the animals that would be performing in the two shows later that evening. CMC prides itself on the care it puts toward the animals in the performances and makes sure that Francis the lion and Delilah the tiger have plenty of free time to play with...
Rural communities throughout Montana are being highlighted and celebrated by the Red Ants Pants Foundation (RAPF) at their annual music festival in White Sulfur Springs on July 25-28. The music festival was founded in 2011 and is held every year on a cow pasture outside of White Sulfur Springs. People come from all over to gather for four nights and three days of music. In preparation, the MontANTa photo contest will feature Thompson Falls for a chance to with festival tickets. The other towns include, Harlowton, Huntley, Lewistown, Red Lodge,...
The Main St. hallway of the Clark Fork Valley Hospital (CFVH) has been given a makeover for the quarterly Art on the Walls show that runs through Sept. 17. During the first quarter of the year, students from Plains schools have the opportunity to show off their original artwork. The second, third and fourth quarters feature local artists from Sanders County. This quarter, seven local artists are displaying their works of oil, acrylic, watercolor and photographs. The works are available for...
Officer Lynn Lanzoni and his K-9 partner Max were honored by local Thompson Falls resident Judy Ripka with handmade gifts and a personal poem she wrote about police officers and the job they do serving and protecting the community, titled "A Policeman's Uniform." Ripka made two quilts for Max and a raincoat to help keep him dry and warm on rainy days. Lanzoni was honored with a personal copy of the original poem that Ripka had framed. Ripka and her husband moved to Thompson Falls one year ago...
Thompson Falls was just one of the many stops for the Journey of Hope cyclists on their way to Washington, D.C. The Ability Experience is an initiative from the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity to instill a passion for lifelong service in the fraternity members while helping to empower people living with disabilities. Pi Kappa Phi is the first and only fraternity to establish and maintain a non-profit organization. Through The Ability Experience individuals are taught how to be an effective leader and work better as a team. The journey is a total of...
August 9-11 will mark 40 years that the Huckleberry Festival has entertained crowds from all over with music, games, fun and food. This year will be no different with new acts being added to the set list and reoccuring favorites returning for another year. You can find a complete list of the schedule online at www.huckleberryfestival.com. Debb McNary will be heading up the organization of the festival for the sixth year in a row and is excited with how things are coming together this year. The schedule of this year’s festival will be similar t...
The weather was perfect for a nice ride in the woods at the annual Cabinet Ridge Riders (CRR) Cowboy Poker Ride. Eighty-two riders registered for Saturday’s ride on Lee Rasor’s homestead. The route passes through three different properties that each have deep history with Trout Creek and the U.S. Forest Service. First, the riders took Old Country Road, which was a main road used before the 1910 fires. From there they rode around the Rasors' original homestead. Dan Rasor came over to the property from Plains in 1927 and worked packing mat...
It’s always a good idea to lead a healthy life and make good choices on what you eat or getting in some exercise now and then. Highschool P.E. teacher, Tenna Ferris found the motivation to get a team together and participate in the Shape Up Montana (SUM) annual competition. SUM is an interactive team competition that lasts for three months, beginning February 1 and ending May 1. SUM encourages Montanans to develop healthy physical activity and eating habits. The SUM program invites teams of friends, family members, coworkers, and anyone else t...
In an effort to improve a sewer pipeline in Thompson Falls that had been compromised by blockages from a root system, Planned and Engineered Construction, Inc. (PEC) from Helena was hired by the city of Thompson Falls to complete repairs. Public Works Director Neil Harnett said PEC implemented a cured in place pipe (CIPP) method of maintenance. CIPP is a trenchless method of rehabilitation to repair existing pipelines using a jointless and seamless pipe within a pipe that has the capability to rehabilitate 2- to 110-inch pipes. The process of...
Skeeter the clown made a surprise visit to Sanders County on Tuesday to spread excitement and joy for the upcoming Culpepper & Merriweather Circus scheduled for Wednesday, June 19, at the high school football field in Thompson Falls. Skeeter made her way down Main Street in Thompson Falls, stopping at local businesses to make balloon animals and tell jokes to anyone and everyone. Skeeter stopped at the library to browse for any circus-related books, her favorite. She also dropped off 55 free...
In February, Lynn Bierwagen filled the position of Probation Officer for Sanders County. At Boise State University, Bierwagen had a large focus on psychology and addictions counseling. While attending college, she worked in an alcohol and drug treatment center, with individuals coming out of the Idaho State Prison entering the program prior to being paroled. Since then, Bierwagen has held several positions where she worked with individuals with addictions or victims of crime, including working...
It is always good to have a plan in place in case there is ever a dangerous situation or emergency. That’s just what Sanders County aims to do by updating and outlining their multi-hazard mitigation plan. The 2019 update to the plan is still in the draft stage and has yet to be finalized. This time around, drafting has taken nine months with an estimated finalization for late July or August. Having a multi-hazard mitigation plan in place is required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to keep Sanders County eligible for mitigation...
New owners Charlie and Christine Munday have been giving the laundromat in Thompson Falls some special attention since they bought it in November of last year. Officially named the Whistle Stop laundromat, the building has remained open during renovations. Originally from San Francisco, California, the Mundays moved to Montana for a change of pace and settled, buying a house between Trout Creek and Thompson Falls. They were in the market to buy a local business and began shopping in the surround...
The current Plains High School students pitted their skills against past graduates in the Plains Days alumni sporting events on May 31. Flag football kicked off the evening with a popular turnout. The game was played in two 20-minute halves with a running clock. The alumni team relied on a few substitutions from the current students to even out the team numbers. Admission to the game was $2 with the proceeds going to the Plains Mentor Program. There were also alumni t-shirts available for $15 that granted admission to all of the evenings...
Competition ran high on the courts of the 3 on 3 tournament that has become a popular event during Plains Days. There were 11 courts set up to host 54 teams. Concessions were open to get a bite to eat or drink. Dr. Blease, Dr Webb, and Nick Lawyer with Clark Fork Valley Hospital set up in a large tent to provide medical assistance for the players. Deb Warren of Century 21 Real Estate provided a free water bottle for all the players and spectators of the tournament. Under the tent, you could...
The members of the Clark Fork Valley Amateur Radio Club will be participating in the national Amateur Radio Field Day exercise on June 22-23 at Fred Young Park in Plains. The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for Amateur Radio in the U.S.. There are over 170,000 FCC-licensed Amateurs that are represented by the ARRL, which provides books, news and support as well as information for individuals and clubs, special events, continuing education classes and other benefits for all members. Often called "ham radio,"...
A popular Sanders County destination for boaters on the Noxon Reservoir is getting a makeover. The North Shore boat ramp west of Trout Creek will be closed for most of June to address user conflicts at the recreation site between motorized and non-motorized recreationist. The project will include the installation of a new boat ramp and dock. The ramp will extend into the water approximately 90 feet with 20 feet above high water mark. The new dock will be on the driver's side when a vehicle is...
To combat the excess of dust on county-maintained gravel roads this year, the Sanders County Road Department will be implementing a new method of management with a magnesium chloride solution that is effective when sprayed on the roads. Interested residents are required to fill out an application that can be found online at the Sanders County website (co.sanders.mt.us) under the “Road Department” section. A map of the road must be included with the application as well as payment that can be sent to the Sanders County Road Department at P.O...
Melissa Cady, the new Sanders County Fair manager, attended her first fair board meeting last week. Cady grew up in Libby and Kalispell and has prior large-event experience, growing up in the rodeo atmosphere with her barrel racing. "I love the Sanders County Fair and to be a part of it will be a great honor," Cady said. As fair manager, Cady hopes to grow and promote the events on the grounds that everyone can come and enjoy all year round. With any large-event planning there are always going...
The Plains Backcountry Horsemen held their annual Poker Ride at the Jones Ranch for the fifth year in a row. There was a total of 145 entries that registered but due to the rain and other circumstances, there were 75 total riders that showed up. Four stations were set up for a playing card to be drawn, with the fifth station being a chance to shoot a card on a board with a BB gun. The winning hand went to John O'Brien of Hamilton who drew a full house with aces over 8's. There were door prizes f...
The Paradise Center has been making strides in its development. In 1910, the Paradise School was built and first serviced kindergarten through high school until later dropping down to only kindergarten through eighth grade. The school faced closing in 2013 when enrollment was a mere five students. In 2016 the building began its new life as a community, visitor and arts center. Tours of the Paradise Center are available May 25-26 from 11 a.m. through 3 p.m. Regular summer hour tours Tuesday...
If you are looking for a new summer hairstyle, Melissa Totzauer has opened a new salon in Trout Creek called Pela 406 Salon. The salon is located at 2631 Highway 200, the second driveway after Swamp Creek Road went of Trout Creek. Pela 406 Salon is set up in a renovated space of Totzauer's garage. Totzauer offers a full range of services, aside from cutting and coloring hair, including facials, eyebrow tinting, waxing, manicures, and even wig care. She has been a cosmetologist for 35 years and...
The Montana leg of the Special Olympics Torch Run began bright and early at 7 a.m. Saturday, May 11, near the Idaho/Montana border. Participants traveled along Highway 200 and ended in Plains, at mile marker 76. Torch Run participants included runners, horseback riders, walkers, and bicyclists. Along the path, 20 boys from Mountain Meadows Youth Ranch carried the "Flame of Hope" between horseback riders and bicyclists. There was also an escort of police vehicles and ambulances to ensure a safe...
The Rex Theatre entertained a nearly full audience for the Music for Moms event that included performances from four different groups. Keith Meyers, Trout Creek, sang and played guitar while accompanied by Dave Oliver on keyboard and Deb Oliver on bass. From Thompson Falls, mother and daughter duet Tina Fausett and Theresa McDonald played a special Mother's Day performance which included a song titled "The Mother's Day Song." Tina sang and played the accordion while Theresa sang and played the...
The City Council of Thompson Falls met May 13 for a regular meeting. Among the topics for discussion were the possibility of participating in “Neighbor Works Montana” (NWMT), brought up by Michael Scharfe from First Security Bank. NWMT provides home loans for individuals with low-income status. Borrowers can obtain loans to cover down payments and closing costs by putting as little as 1% down. Since 2008, NWMT has provided loans to housing developers in Montana to fill gaps in available housing projects. There are two basic types of loans tha...
