Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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As the weather turns a corner and spring begins to bloom, the outdoorsman in all of us is beginning to hear the call into nature. This is the time that the prep work begins. I have not bought genuinely new outdoor equipment in years. In fact, the last time I invested in a sleeping pad, it was the kind they had that self “inflated,” yet it could not ever contain enough air to separate a person from the ground or it would burst. This last summer I went camping with a friend who had an honest-to-goodness inflatable sleeping pad that used the sto...
Most people have either watched or participated in a spelling bee sometime in their lives, but only one Sanders County student made it into the statewide competition this year. Katie Porter is 13 years old and has been competing in spelling bees since she was in third grade. According to her teachers, she has been number one in her school since fourth grade. According to Shawna Olsen, Dixon School secretary and manager of the school's spelling bee, this is "something she does every year" and...
Every month the library features an artist or hobbyist by displaying their work. For the month of March, which also happens to be national button month, Willina Lueb was chosen to feature her button collection and to talk about the hobby. "It's similar to coin and stamp collecting," said Lueb, "there are just so many areas of interest that one could go." Lueb explained that the hobby has been around a long time, and the National Button Society was established in 1938. Lueb, from Thompson Falls,...
Former Montana Senator Greg Hinkle met with Sanders County Commissioners last week to offer input on the proposed Second Amendment ordinance residents have asked for from commissioners. Several residents attended the meeting last Wednesday at the Sanders County Courthouse. “A resolution is fine, but it’s got no teeth,” said Hinkle, of Thompson Falls. He then spoke about several bills being looked at by the Montana legislature this session that could change the way the state supports the Second Amendment, creating a statewide safe haven for g...
10 YEARS AGO • JANUARY 23, 1975 BIG PONDEROSA LOGGED BY USP A giant ponderosa pine tree which was a seedling 20 years before the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, recently was harvested near Dahl Lake in North Pleasant Valley on U.S. Plywood Co. land north of U.S. Highway 2. The tree is one of the largest, if not the largest to be handled through the Thompson River log landing. The log hauled to the Flodin Lumber Co. log landing by LHC, Inc, contained 4,530 board feet. The 32-foot log measures 70 inches in diameter at the butt end and 54 i...
RONI HANKS, Trout Creek - “I consider myself a lucky person because I’m always surrounded by my family and I feel loved.” TERRI STOLTZ, Thompson Falls - “I don’t believe so much in luck, but I am lucky because I believe in providence and the Lord’s will.” BILL THOMPSON, Trout Creek - “I am lucky. I’m half Irish and half Norwegian, so I’m hardheaded and ornery. I come about it legally.” CINDY COMPTON, Heron - “I am positive and open minded, and therefore I am lucky.” SHANITA LUNDIN, Kalispell - “I feel that when I put positive energy out int...
TRAYTEN ANDERSON, Kalispell - “I don’t really have an opinion on daylight saving.” NICHOLE COCKRELL, Thompson Falls - “As a teacher I would prefer not to have it, as it tends to mess with children’s systems and routines.” IRENE GADDY, Plains - “I don’t care one way or the other because in Montana we don’t really need it.” SHERRIE FAHLAND, Thompson Falls - “I am not for keeping daylight saving time, I appreciate more light in the winter months.” SHANE McFARLAND, Roseburg, Oregon - “I do not believe that the average person needs daylight sav...
For several years there have been concerns for the welfare of a group of horses in the Trout Creek area. These concerns have been raised by numerous community members to the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office, and to other organizations in the area, like the Thompson River Animal Care Shelter (TRACS). Members from the community held a meeting at TRACS in February. Around 12 people showed up and were joined by Deputy Tim Kelly of the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office. During the meeting, the group discussed a particular property in which the own...
The sewer project will take shape this week as workers begin laying pipe, starting from the west end of Preston Avenue moving east. The project is estimated to take several weeks and progress can be followed on the city council website, under the infrastructure page. The city council spoke about funding for street repair, as the project moves along, during their meeting Monday. The city has received funds from a separate state program called the Bridge and Road Safety and Accountability Program...
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...
TODD SCOTT, Las Vegas, Nevada - “I would pay, at most, $6 for a gallon of gas.” JUDY GEISBUSCH, Thompson Falls - “Four dollars a gallon would be fair.” BRANDI TRELATSKY, Thompson Falls - “I wouldn’t want to pay more than $3 a gallon for gas!” TRAVIS CITRINO, Trout Creek - “Four dollars. That’s it.” MARY McGANN, Plains - “We have paid over $3 before for gas, so we would probably be willing to do $3.50 or $4.” KAREN DYKSTRA, Thompson Falls - “I would pay up to $4 a gallon, but it would be an emergency if I did that....
Diamond Goforth changed her plea to guilty for charges of attempted escape and criminal possession of dangerous drugs. Goforth is facing several other charges in other cases within the 20th District Judicial Court. Judge Deborah "Kim" Christopher expressed concerns about allowing Goforth’s sentences for both these charges to run concurrently, as per the plea agreement. Goforth’s sentencing has been set for April 6. Brandon Hernandez also changed his plea to guilty. He is facing charges of two counts of PFMA (partner or family member ass...
As summer is coming closer and activities pick up, Sanders County boards are looking for help in keeping projects moving. The county is looking for volunteers to join over 40 boards, with nearly half of these having vacancies and some possessing several vacant positions. Many of these boards meet once a month and some quarterly. According to Jennifer Ekberg, executive assistant to the county commissioners, anyone can apply and they “vary in degree of involvement.” Some of these board seats require less experience and participation than oth...
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...
DANIEL MOORE, Thompson Falls - “I’d say a Mexican resort.” NATHANIEL MOORE, Seattle, Washington - “If I could go anywhere, I would stay right here." AVERY JOHNSON, Idaho Falls, Idaho - “A Sicilian beach, because it’s warm and pretty.” ERIN KENEADY, Thompson Falls - “Ireland or Hawaii.” AMANDA SIOR, Trout Creek - “Tahiti.” KRYSTENA BOES, Plains - “I would go to Hawaii!...
Fauve Fergusom of Hot Springs appeared in 20th District Judicial Court on Tuesday to change her plea to guilty to charges of felony endangerment of the welfare of children. She admitted to having used methamphetamines in the home she shared with a child. Ferguson also asked to be released on recognizance, however Judge James Manley denied the request because she does not have a concrete place to stay to guarantee safe housing. She will be kept in the Sanders County Jail until her next hearing, on April 13, when she will appear for sentencing....
I would not classify myself as a very experienced skier. However, I am beginning to learn my way around the slopes. Even knowing this, it has been wonderful and humbling to introduce my girlfriend to the sport. I had forgotten how much more often one spends in or on the snow when starting versus floating over top of it, as a skier should. Skiing is widely considered a challenging sport. Unlike baseball, football or any other sport centered around the movement of a projectile, not just anyone can put on skis and hope to get to the bottom of the...
The Sanders County Community Housing Organization (SCCHO) has been working to provide affordable housing options to residents in the area for around 10 years, and recently received a donation of land in Noxon. The group has been working for about five years to procure the land, located across from the post office in Noxon. The property encompasses 12 lots and just under two acres. The project still has a long way to go, according to SCCHO Executive Director Lisa Fried de Reyes. "We are very...
Many community members are aware of the average activities of the 4-H program, where youth learn about trades and farm animals. However, few know about the 4-H Outdoor Adventures Project, which gives young people opportunities to get outdoors. One such outing was hosted by John Haun, Bob Thornhill and Juli Thurston on Eddy Flats Sunday. With a cold snap finally bringing in some cold weather, the trio organized a couple of ice fishing trips, one of which was the one this last weekend. The other w...
"I'm a romantic and I just thought that day would be a good day to get married," said Pam Brophy, when asked why she and her husband Mike decided to get hitched on Valentine's Day 50 years ago. "I think we both figured out that it would be too hard to break somebody else in," said Mike, as they laughed, talking about why they have been together so long. The couple met when Pam was a junior in high school. At the time, they both lived in Spokane, Washington. Pam threw a party with some of her...
APRIL REILLY, Trout Creek - “Anything below 20 degrees, I’m inside.” DARCY FARLAN, Thompson Falls - “When the weather is below zero, that is definitely too cold.” RICK DELANEY, Belknap - “When it is below zero, that’s too cold for me.” ROD HART, Thompson Falls - “I believe about 31 or 32 below zero, because anything below that starts to damage the lungs.” THAILA BONNEY, Trout Creek - “It would be too cold for me to go outside when I have to bundle up in layers and it’s almost to the negatives.” JOELLE MAYFIELD, Thompson Falls - “When th...
In continuing with efforts of the Thompson Falls Police Department to get the community more active in crime prevention, the department hosted its third neighborhood watch meeting on Monday. The meeting was led by officer Roy Scott, who introduced guest Jennifer McPherson, a Western Montana Mental Health Center prevention specialist for Lincoln and Sanders counties, as well as the vice chairperson for the Sanders County DUI Task Force. During the meeting, McPherson spoke about funds she has...
The Plains and Paradise Senior Center was challenged by COVID-19 this last year to continue serving the senior citizens of Sanders County. Despite these challenges, home delivered meals continued without interruption. According to the center, sit-down meals were discontinued but grab-and-go meals were implemented. Income is down considerably, while expenses remain approximately the same. The Plains Paradise Senior Center is asking for the community’s help. Last year they discovered the air conditioner needed to be replaced and the cost will b...
Ben Williams has been working construction for over 20 years and has lived around the country. Originally from Washington, he moved to the Thompson Falls area when he was young and grew up in the area. His father owned a construction company locally, and Williams grew up in the trade. "I guess you could say the first time I swung a hammer was the first time I could hold one," said Williams. Recently, Williams, with his wife Mary, moved back to the area after living away for several years, and...
Even with the weather in single digits, at least 180 riders showed up last Saturday to participate in the Cabinet Ridge Riders (CRR) annual snowmobile fun run. According to Alexis Dean, secretary for CRR, they may have lost a few people to the cold, but it was still an impressive turnout. She said that generally the event attracts anywhere from 150 to well over 200 people. This was CRR's 30th year holding this event. The Poker Run was hosted at the Lakeside Motel, where participants showed up...
