Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Allowing the coronavirus pandemic to dampen the spirits of graduation of Plains High School was not a factor, according to Principal Kevin Meredith, part of the official graduation party Sunday. "We did not consider not having graduation," said Meredith, the principal since 2015 and a 1999 Plains High School graduate. He said they talked about holding the graduation on a different date, but after surveying the parents and students, they overwhelmingly decided they wanted to stick with the May 24...
It was a gray drizzly day, but the Plains Cemetery is a little more colorful now, thanks to a group of military veterans that took time out Saturday morning to honor those who served in the armed forces and have passed. Thirteen veterans and an employee from the Plains VFW placed 436 American flags on the gravesites of veterans in preparation of Memorial Day. Days prior, the post's auxiliary members put their flags on the spouses of vets there. On Saturday morning, it took the volunteers two...
The Plains pool repairs are done and this week members of the town's public works staff cleaned the pool's inside walls and floor in preparation of filling it for the summer season. Greg Welty, the director for the Public Works Department, said they'll have the entire 82-foot long by 45-foot wide pool ready this week. He and Greg "Mak" Makinster worked on cleaning the pool and did some minor repairs earlier this week and last week. He said it takes about two days to fill the pool with 200,000 ga...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, six years ago there were almost 73,000 centenarians in the United States and while the numbers are increasing, it is still a milestone, and one Plains woman just joined that elite club. Martha Vannice turned 100 years old last Tuesday. Her stepson, Wayne Vannice, and six friends gathered to sing "Happy Birthday" at her home, where she has lived for the last 49 years. "I've always said I wanted to make it to 100 years old and now I...
Getting proper medical attention is a top priority at Clark Fork Valley Hospital, but spiritual well-being is also important to the recovery process, which is why the medical facility's chaplain volunteer program is such a significant component of the hospital, according to Barry Fowler, the hospital's director of Human and System Resources. "I believe that research has shown that spirituality or faith is a factor that contributes to health in many persons," said Fowler, who added that many...
by Ed Moreth Picking up the tab for lunch is considerate, but paying $850 for nearly 60 lunches is outright generosity, yet that’s what one Plains man did. “A man from Plains paid all of the outstanding lunch bills for every family in the school district,” said Jim Holland, the Plains Elementary School principal. The man, who doesn’t want to be identified, called the school two weeks ago specifically asking if there were any outstanding lunch bills and if so, what was the total. Once he got his answer, he said he would be in the next day to...
Construction was one of the exemptions of the governor's stay-at-home directive, which is why three men are building homes, and for the most part they're building them in their own homes. "It's a good way to get your mind off the Coronavirus," said Dave Colyer, who's constructing five miniature houses for the tie plant portion of the railroad display at the Paradise Center. Colyer, Marc Childress and Mac Hall, are working on several buildings for the 26-foot long display, located on the second...
Dealing with the Coronavirus isn't just so-so, but for a group of amateur seamstresses it's more sew-sew. Nearly 45 people from the "Victory Sewers of Sanders County" are making gowns for the staff of Clark Fork Valley Hospital in an effort to protect them from the disease that has spread throughout the world, but has yet to impact Sanders County, said Janie Hom, the hospital's community health improvement specialist and the primary coordinator for the gown project. The Victory Sewers of...
A second steel horse was added to the Plains greenway along Railroad Street last week when the artist and two helpers used a crane to hoist the 600-pound sculpture onto a concrete block, which had been installed by the Plains Public Works Department the previous week. Kenton Pies has had his second horse done since March 3, when he did a little tweaking on the tail and was waiting for the hole to be dug and a concrete block placed in the ground 40 feet in front of the first horse, which was posi...
The E.L. Johnson Memorial Pool is one step closer to being up and ready for the seasonal opening now that the pool's entire plumbing system was replaced last week and pressure tested on Tuesday by Master Plumber Tye Thompson, who replaced 560 feet of pipe around the pool. Thompson, who is also a master electrician, is the owner of Christner Electric of Trout Creek. Three other plumbers showed interest in bidding for the project, but all backed out before starting work, which was supposed to be d...
DINO PROTECTION – The species of dinosaurs might be extinct, but the Plains Sinclair gas station wanted to protect its dinosaur mascot. Staff member Monica Weedeman placed a protective mask on "Claire" last week to protect it from the coronavirus....
Clark Fork Valley Hospital has had no recorded coronavirus cases as of last week, but that's not stopping the staff from making sure they're ready if it happens, according to Physician Assistant Nick Lawyer, who is taking the lead on getting special protective masks for staff members. "It's going to mean the difference between us having enough protective gear and one of our employees getting sick," said Lawyer, who's in charge of getting masks delivered from Thompson Falls High School, which is...
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, McGowan Grocery in Plains is doing its part to continue supplying residents with needed food and other supplies to survive, but they're also making it safer for customers and employees alike. The store started an online curbside service last year - "McGowan Grab & Go Powered by Rosie" - after Erika Lawyer, the store office manager, treasurer and daughter of owner Bruce Swanson, saw it at a trade show. She said it was slow at first and they almost dropped it,...
The difficulty of studies at Plains High School isn't rocket science, that is unless a student is a member of Carl Benson's physics class - then it is, and it's not an easy class. But the veteran teacher has a way of helping students understand the intricate problem solving and mathematics equations. They get to build model rockets and fire them off. Fourteen seniors, seven girls and seven boys, gathered behind the school for two days recently to launch their rockets and record their height and...
The president of Joint Operation Mariposa presented a painting to Plains Elementary School last week to replace one that the school's National Honor Society donated recently to the Veterans Administration. One hundred and sixty-eight kids from kindergarten to fourth grade and about a dozen teachers and staff gathered outside the school Thursday afternoon for the unveiling of "Untamed," the painting of a orange and black horse - the school colors - by Dave Williams, president and founder of...
An elderly doe weathers the late winter storm west of Plains, periodically dipping her entire head into the snow in search of food....
The 2020 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Firefighter Stairclimb fundraiser in Seattle was postponed due to concerns over the coronavirus, but that didn't stop two Plains firemen from doing their part for the fundraiser. James Russell and Brian Reed of the Plains-Paradise Rural Fire District were already signed up to be among the 2,000 firefighters from around the world to take part in the competition, which was scheduled for Sunday at Seattle's Columbia Center, but when they learned last week the ev...
The teachers and staff at Plains School went animal last week at an assembly in the gymnasium to celebrate the I Love To Read Program, dressing up as characters from Disney's "Jungle Book." Superintendent Thom Chisholm went as King Louie, the orangutan character, while Kevin Meredith, the high school principal, donned a Bagheera panther mask and tail. Teacher George Sherwood went with the Shere Khan tiger look, also complete with mask and tail. Teacher Jaron Laws was masked as Baloo, the bear,...
With the latest approval of a state grant, the community of Paradise is one step closer to achieving a goal of having a centralized wastewater collection and treatment system, but likely will need a loan to cover the gap, according to project manager Collette Anderson of Great West Engineering in Helena. Under the jurisdiction of Sanders County — Paradise does not have a municipal government — the Sanders County Sewer District at Paradise has secured $3,050,005 in federal and state grants, including the approval of a $561,005 grant two wee...
by Ed Moreth It wasn't the sweepstakes man coming to the door, but it was a big win for Plains School Superintendent Thom Chisholm, who received word last week that the school will be getting a $750,000 grant from the Montana Department of Commerce. "Congratulations. On behalf of the State of Montana, it is my pleasure to notify you that the Plains School District 1 has been selected for a Delivering Local Assistance award in the amount of $750,000...," reads the letter from Governor Steve...
While growing up in the Flathead valley on a “stump ranch” along the Whitefish River, I developed the passion to get out into the backcountry and experience the natural scene. However, due to the demands on my three brothers and me as junior partners in clearing more of the logged-over land for crops and in tending to the livestock, we were only able to explore some of the edges of the wild country. The remote upper reaches of the South Fork and Middle Fork drainages of the Flathead were the biggest attraction since we heard unending sto...
Members of Joint Operation Mariposa and Plains School students teamed up in Helena last week to present a special painting to the Veterans Administration Medical Center at Fort William Henry Harrison. Dave Williams, president and founder of Joint Operation Mariposa, led the Plains delegation to present a large framed painting of a horse to Dr. Judy Hayman, the VA director in Helena. The painting of a blue horse was part of the "Guardians of the Herd," which was composed of 216 colorful horses...
It might be a time to gobble up homemade chili, cornbread and pies, but the ultimate goal isn't to fill bellies, but to help children removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. The Seventh Annual CASA Chili Feed at St. James Catholic Church in Plains Thursday evening raised nearly $1,600 from the 50-plus people in attendance at the group's first fundraiser of the year. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a nonprofit organization with volunteers who advocate for the best...
Hattie Neesvig is an 8th grade band student at Thompson Falls Junior High School in Thompson Falls. Her teacher, Mr. Neil Harbel, describes her as an exemplary student. "She is polite, respectful, well mannered, and gets good grades," says Harbel. He also describes her as dedicated, driven and motivated. Hattie plays the oboe and has been an important part of the junior high band. Hattie works hard in class and practices diligently, he said. Harbel is in his first year at Thompson Falls but is...
The Plains Council voted last Monday to accept one of three plans to relocate the town's lagoon to a site that wouldn't be impacted by the Clark Fork River. Shari Johnson, the town's engineer consultant, gave an hour-long briefing to community members and the council just before the regular council meeting. Johnson gave three scenarios, which gave the estimated cost of construction and the annual operating costs. The option the council selected - "Alternative 4-Rev" - called for an aerated lagoo...
