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The Plains School Board agenda listed the school superintendent evaluation as a closed session, yet the first 30 minutes of Monday's meeting involved public comments on Dr. Kathleen Walsh, pro and con. "The superintendent is in breach of the contract for failing to meet the July 1, 2023, deadline to obtain a Class 5 superintendent's certification," said Betty Taylor, a retired Plains High School counselor. Taylor said that Walsh's failure to maintain the certification and endorsements rendered...
A group of 4-H members from Sanders County spent four days horsing around in Colorado in a combination of work, education and play. Two 4-H members from Sanders County and two from Lake County teamed up to compete in the 4-H National Western Roundup in Denver from Jan. 8-11, including Mackenzie Tulloch of the South Side Sparks, Madison Chojnacky of the Trout Creek Mavericks, and Lina Sturman and Jaylynn Buxbaum of Lake County. Six hundred and ninety-five 4-H members from 160 clubs from across...
Members of the Sanders County Fair Commission held a special meeting last Wednesday to rectify a problem that could drastically cut into their fair profits. Even though it's only January and the fair isn't until the end of August, Chairman Randy Woods said they need to get a demolition derby contractor in place right away. "That kind of stuff needs to get out there right now so the guys can start planning for what they're going to do for the summer," said Woods. "It's one of those things we...
Thompson Falls nearly had a clean sweep in facing their preeminent adversaries last week on the basketball court with their girls junior varsity and boys and girls varsity teams claiming victories against Plains. The Blue Hawks captured a 72-41 triumph over the Horsemen on Friday evening with Bryson LeCoure collecting 16 points to lead his Thompson Falls team on their home court. The Blue Hawks were on fire from the start, quickly putting Thompson Falls in double digits in the first quarter...
The Sanders County Fair Commission held their first meeting of the new year last Wednesday and selected a company to conduct the annual demolition derby, but subsequently the owner backed out, potentially leaving this year's fair without a demo derby. Tim Denson, owner of FOS Promotions and a former Thompson Falls resident, posted on Facebook last Thursday after the Wednesday meeting that he decided not to participate in the county fair's demolition derby. "As much as we have loved putting on...
It was hats off to the latest musical group at the Paradise Center, but it was hats on for the intermission entertainment. The center's featured event was Saint of Soldiers, a bluegrass group out of Missoula that spent two hours entertaining just over 50 people Friday afternoon. "This is a homegrown band from the St. Ignatius area," said Dave Proctor, a volunteer at the Paradise Center who introduced the group. Though the band has five members, two could not make it. That didn't stop them from...
The first Plains Town Council meeting of the new year last Monday was completed within 30 minutes, but its members added two people to the Planning Board and gave an update on various items to the four people in attendance. John Dossett, who was added to the council last October, volunteered to be the council's representative on the Plains Planning Board, along with Plains resident Vicki Evans. Both were unanimously approved. It was a full council with Councilmen John Sheridan and Chad Cantrell...
Members of the Plains Planning Board met at City Hall Friday in preparation for the public hearing scheduled for Jan. 23 concerning the Lewellyn Street subdivision proposal. During the 40-minute Planning Board meeting, the members discussed what information they have for the subdivision proposal and listened to the three people in the audience - Councilman John Sheridan, Kathy Abarr and Charles Bickenhheuser. Planning Board members present included Corey Booth, the board president, Curt...
It might not have been the comeback of the century, but it was one that roused Plains fans for the final game of the night Friday at home. The Plains Trotters were behind nearly the entire game against the Darby Lady Tigers, which had a record of 5-2 before the game. The score was tied for only a few minutes early in the game. The Lady Tigers had a wide lead throughout the conflict, averaging an 11-point lead throughout the second quarter. Darby led 25-18 at halftime. The Trotters started to...
Rocketman Pyros traveled almost 150 miles last week to send more than 1,000 shells into the darkness for the annual New Year’s nighttime extravaganza fireworks show at Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort. As the 167 guests at the resort’s Paradise Hall sang “Auld Lang Syne” — the traditional song to say farewell to the old year at midnight — played by the Missoula band Northern Lights, the fireworks burst to cast a myriad of colors over the Clark Fork River. The show lasted only six minutes, but received a huge applause from those at the event center an...
Plains started out the new year with big wins and a near clean sweep last week with a faceoff against Troy. The girls and boys junior varsity squads and girls varsity claimed victories, but the boys varsity was defeated. The Horsemen JV boys took down the Trojans 54-37 with Luciano Ferranti leading the team with 21 points. The Trotters JV team triumphed over the Lady Trojans 41-36 at home at Friday's game and Haydn Rice led in points with 20. Despite 13 points chalked up by Horseman Zayden...
The Paradise Center had a plan to combat the winter blues and educate people about local history with an open house. The center's volunteer staff held the open house to offer something for people to do who might otherwise just stay home at this time of the year, said Karen Thorson, the board secretary and one of a handful of guides for the open house Thursday and Friday. "We like to be open for residents to bring their families and friends during the holidays. Some area residents haven't had...
A group of Plains Junior High students had the opportunity to combine learning with fun and get in some friendly competition. It was the annual SumoBot Tournament with Lego robots trying to push each other off a 36-inch platform. The 17 eighth-graders - 14 girls and two boys - worked in teams of two, except Gary Rehbein, who worked alone, to build their projects for robotics class, an elective offered by the school. This is the third year for Kati Mitchell's eighth grade robotics class. The...
Classes at Plains School were suspended for the day, but students still had to don their thinking caps with the goal of combining reason, speed, aim, ingenuity, but mostly fun. For more than three hours, 15 teams with names like "Frosty the Snowman," "Elf," "Nutcracker," "Polar Express," and the "The Nightmare Before Christmas" competed in the annual "Brain Bash" competition at Plains School Friday morning. The teachers and staff designed contests for each of the stations. Some involved...
Plains High School had its Christmas concert a week earlier, but the music teacher and choir wanted to reach out to the community with additional holiday spirit. Music teacher Rhiannon Greenwood led her 12-voice choir in a special musical performance at Fred Young Park for the school's 2nd Annual Caroling in the Park concert last Wednesday. The 12-student choir sang nine Christmas songs, including "We Three Kings," "Frosty the Snowman" and "Jingle Bells." During "The Twelve Days of Christmas,"...
The Plains Horsemen corralled the Savage Heat in a basketball game at Hot Springs, but the Lady Savage Heat trampled the Trotters immediately following the boys game. The Horsemen took an early lead against the Savage Heat and never lost it, claiming a 52-30 victory for a record of three wins and two losses. The Hot Springs boys have two wins and three losses. It was the first home game of the season for both Hot Springs teams, coached by Mike Benson for the boys and Richard Jackson for the...
The Christmas concert at the Plains Bible Chapel is attracting more people each year and last week's performance was no exception. One hundred and fifty-one people attended the hour and a half concert, which included nearly two dozen religious and secular Christmas songs. Most were done by the 20-person choir, directed by Jeanine Croft, one of the concert coordinator, and pianist Donna Scheiter. The choir was comprised of members of different local churches, along with other members of the commu...
Hundreds of people roamed the gymnasiums at Plains Schools Saturday, including Santa Claus, though he had to be fingerprinted prior to the event because of the school's new security measures. It was the 3rd Annual Winter Bazaar at Plains School, where 60 vendors filled the two gyms with 74 tables of goods from baked goods to books, from small jewelry to custom made goods from old barrels, and even more baked goods to puppies. Catharine Elliott, one of the bazaar coordinators, guessed there were...
They were tattered, torn, frayed, and discolored and their service to the country had passed - the end of life for a national symbol - the American flag. A dozen military veterans gathered behind Horse Plains VFW Post 3596 on Saturday evening to bid farewell to a comrade they had served on active duty. It was a quiet and solemn ceremony that took less than 15 minutes. One by one, the veterans put an unserviceable flag into a barrel of flames. The barrels eventually got so hot, the vets had to...
High school art students exited the classroom last week and spent the day at different Plains businesses to bring more Christmas spirit to the community. "I think it's so wonderful that the school does this," said Emily Sexton, owner of Em's Cafe in Plains. It was her first time to participate in the school's holiday window painting project. Sexton asked if they could incorporate a moose in their artwork of several windows of the cafe. "I love mooses and we have them here everywhere," said Sexto...
The last Plains Town Council meeting of the year was short, but finished with a surprise request from a resident. Plains resident and business owner Matthew Jaramillo accused Chief of Police Brian Josephson of misusing his authority and engaging in personal vendettas. "I come to you today to raise urgent concerns regarding Chief Brian Josephson's continued service as police chief for the Town of Plains," Jaramillo said at last Monday night's council meeting at City Hall. Mayor Joel Banham gave h...
People have seen various renditions of "A Christmas Carol" on television from the 1923 to 2009 versions, but Kathleen Hubka and the Paradise Players gave a new adaptation of the old story last weekend with a lively cast of eight. Hubka's version was made especially distinct with much help by Bonnie Firestone, who created the costumes for the Charles Dickens story. Firestone has been a part of the Paradise Players since the spring of 2023 and did the costumes for "The Works: A Grass Menagerie"...
It was not a good start of the season for the Plains Horsemen or Trotters, but the coaches are confident their players will turn things around. The Horsemen and Trotters both fell to Flathead Valley Friday at home, but both games were close enough to go either way right to the end buzzer. The Flathead Valley Crusaders and Lady Crusaders both walked away with victories, defeating the Horsemen 54-50 and the Trotters 32-20. "I thought the boys played hard and did some great things; however, I also...
by Ed Moreth Dozens of small colorful boxes lit up the dark sky over Plains last weekend with sentimental messages and seasonal greetings. The annual Cancer Network of Sanders County "Lantern Launch" was held along the greenway at downtown Plains on Saturday night following the Christmas Light Parade. The nonprofit organization raised $450, which goes directly back to county residents going through cancer treatment. "Our goal is to show our local community members that they are not alone in thei...
Kris Kringle made a special stop in Plains last week, coming into town this year on a borrowed sleigh and meeting with kids along the greenway. With a little chill in the air, more than 200 people lined Railroad Street along the greenway for the Parade of Lights Christmas Parade on Saturday evening with a decorated Plains Community Ambulance leading the way. Forty-two vehicles - the biggest yet - made their way through Plains with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and their elves, Cooper and Kendall, on the...