Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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by John Dowd The trial of former Thompson Falls resident Danielle Wood began Tuesday with opening arguments by the prosecution and defense attorneys. Prosecutors introduced themselves and their approaches for the trial, stating they intend to convince the jury of eight women and four men that Wood premeditated the 2018 murder of Matthew LaFriniere, 51 of Thompson Falls. In opening statements, prosecutors said Wood purchased the firearm prior to the murder and a disposable cell phone in order to...
The trial of Danielle Wood, a former Thompson Falls woman charged with deliberate homicide in the death of Matt LaFrieniere, is set to begin Jan. 19. Court officials this week held a pre-trial conference with Judge Deborah "Kim" Christopher. Wood appeared in 20th District Judicial Court with her attorney on Tuesday. Attorneys addressed concerns and discussed how to conduct the trial while following COVID-19 protocols in the courtroom at the Sanders County Courthouse. The trial is expected to last 1-2 weeks. The defense, prosecution, judge's sta...
Stephaney Hutchings, Thompson Falls - “I drive around and take photos. I shoot landscapes and like leaves, pinecones whatever.” Shane Robins, Thompson Falls - “We love playing outside: snowmobiling, snowboarding, snowball fights. The kids are in winter sports too, so we’re constantly busy.” Grant Bailey, Trout Creek - “I like to reload bullets, take care of my horses and chop firewood.” Skyler Mcknight, Thompson Falls - “To keep active in the winter months I do a lot of woodworking and shop.” Andina Markuson, Thompson Falls - “Playing outside...
In 20th District Judicial Court on Tuesday, Diamond Goforth pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and attempted escape. According to the charging documents, Goforth, who was taken into custody on October 7 for another drug related charge, had a small amount of methamphetamine found on her during the beginning of her incarceration into the Sanders County Jail. Goforth is accused of assaulting a detention officer and then trying to exit the building. Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher set at July 6 trial date for...
The Fun Run was never done like this before, and probably never will be done like this again. In the meantime however, a socially distant version of the New Year's Day Fun Run and Walk was still held, as it annually is, from the Elk's Club parking lot east of Thompson Falls Friday. Although COVID-19 forced organizers to make this year's event a self-timed, run-at-your-own-time kind of race, organizer Sarah Naegeli reports that the event was still a success. She said the race was modeled after...
As the world spins on, one trapper still remembers the old days where trapping was a necessity. Today, he still believes it is. Bob Sink trapped in Colorado professionally for nearly 11 years and has been interested in the field since he was young. He worked with game wardens, ranchers and landowners to help siphon off some damage-causing critters, and to make some money on the side. Few have as much experience, or as much shear knowledge, on the subject. He has attended numerous trapper's...
ROBIN GILE, Trout Creek - “I am looking forward to spending more time with my family. I am also hoping that the corruption is exposed and for those to held accountable and for four more years of the best president ever - Donald Trump.” BO DEAN, Trout Creek - “What I want in 2021 is for all this COVID stuff to be done with so we can back to our normal lives.” TYREL VENNE, Butte - “I’m just waiting for it to warm back up.” KATIE FRAVEL, Thompson Falls - “Spending time with my kids.” MARCUS JIMENEZ, Midlothian, Texas - “Looking forward...
Daniel Haslage appeared before Judge James Manley in 20th District Judicial Court on Tuesday, requesting a reduction in his bail. Haslage is facing charges of criminal endangerment in Sanders County after a high-speed chase on June 13 that charging documents show reached speeds of up to 120 miles per hour. Based on information presented in court Tuesday, Judge Manley denied the request. Haslage has a status hearing set for January 12. Casey McNair of Plains pleaded not guilty to a charge of criminal endangerment on Tuesday. According to...
When it comes to wintertime, along with all the winter sports and activities comes an inherent danger. Those who live their lives out in the wild enjoying nature are all too aware of the fact that things can go horribly awry and an emergency can become the reality. Getting lost in the woods in the summer can be dangerous, but in the winter the danger becomes immediately life threatening. Not only is the cold an immediate concern, but as the sun goes down that cold can worsen, and the dark of night and the snow in the northwest especially can...
Along with many of the changes happening in the year 2020, one may be an exciting shift for a local business and Thompson Falls locals. Big Bull Sports, an outdoor gear shop will be moving to downtown Thompson Falls. Now located off Highway 200 between Thompson Falls and Trout Creek, the store will be taking over the former Realty Northwest building, which before that was a bank. Realty Northwest has shuffled down, next to the Rex Theater. The owner of Big Bull Sports, Tom Kirkland, bought the b...
Traffic was blocked on Highway 200 east of Thompson Falls Tuesday morning after a utility pole was struck. NorthWestern Energy, as well as local fire and law enforcement personnel, responded to a call about 9:30 a.m. of a power line over the highway near 4 Kids Mini Storage. According to first responders, a vehicle likely ran over the grounding wire next to the pole on the mini storage side of the highway, pulling down that pole, along with a pole across the highway. The overhead utility wire...
The Masonic Lodge of Thompson Falls are giving back to volunteers in the community, as they do every year. Every year they invite their beneficiary groups to a luncheon. However, with COVID-19 the Masons had to find another way. In order to follow guidelines, the Masons decided to give $200 to each group instead. They sent out information, suggesting that the groups throw their own celebration, but the money is to be used at the discretion of the recipients. The Masons Lodge #70 recognized the teachers and staff of Thompson Falls Elementary,...
CALEB LAKKO, Plains - “In Chicago, where they did the movie ‘Home Alone.’ That house.” BRYAN LAKKO, Plains - “I like the house on Burnham Lane, in Plains.” CLAIRE LAKKO, Plains - “The lights we saw in Mesa, Arizona.” PATRICK WALT, Thompson Falls - “My favorite place to see Christmas lights was in downtown San Francisco, in the Union Square plaza. There you have a huge concentration of retail for blocks around and it’s the focal point of it all.” SHAUN FOLDVIK, Thompson Falls - “Tacoma, Washington. I know that’s hard to believe. There is a ce...
One person is dead and another injured after an hours-long standoff in Trout Creek on Friday. According to a press release from the Sanders County Sheriff's Office (SCSO), law enforcement received a call about 12:30 a.m. Friday pertaining to a 35-year-old man with a handgun and a semi-automatic rifle who had barricaded himself inside the Naughty Pine Saloon. SCSO, with assistance from Flathead and Missoula County Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams, attempted to negotiate with the suspect....
Two local women are bringing an exotic culinary experience to Sanders County. Lydia LaFriniere, who has been in the area for over 26 years, and Dagmar Wiegele, who has been living in Sanders County for over 30 years, are opening a European connection in Thompson Falls. "We just want to bring a taste of Europe to Thompson Falls," said Wiegele. The store features deli meats, crackers and breads from various old-world countries. The store will also include European chocolates, canned goods, ice...
CHYENE BAIRD, Thompson Falls - “I don’t know that I would get the COVID shot, just because in the past I have gotten the flu shot and had the flu worse than years that I haven’t had a flu shot. I think while it’s in the experimental phases probably not.” MADISON MAYFIELD, Thompson Falls - “Yes, I do intend to get the COVID vaccine. I would just like to wait a while and see if there were any side effects from other people taking it.” CHRISTIE YAW, Thompson Falls - “Absolutely not. I believe it is population control.” LYDIA NETZ, Thompson Fa...
Hot Springs resident Gabriela Pierini appeared in 20th District Judicial Court on Tuesday, pleading not guilty to charges of criminal possession of dangerous drugs. According to charging documents, Pierini and her boyfriend were arrested after a vehicle was chased through Hot Springs and out onto Highway 28, where they were clocked at over 120 miles per hour before the driver finally pulled the vehicle over. Drugs were found in the vehicle and they were both arrested. Meloney Dollar, is facing charges of felony theft and misdemeanor criminal mi...
Hot Springs Sacred Heart Mission will have a Christmas day mass at 11 a.m. Plains Plains Alliance Church presents their traditional candlelight service at 6:30 p.m. on Christmas eve. Father Jeff Benusa will hold Christmas eve mass at St. James Parish at 8 p.m. Plains United Methodist Church has been holding Zoom worships and will likely be doing the same for Christmas. First Lutheran Church of Plains and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of Thompson Falls both will have a video released on Facebook on Christmas day. The video will include a r...
The Thompson Falls City Council tackled several projects at its December meeting on Monday. The first was filling a council member vacancy that has been advertised for several months. The Ward 1 position vacated when council member Lynne Kersten moved out of state finally had an applicant who was approved Monday night. The new member, Larry Lack, is 84 years old and has been living in Thompson Falls since 1999. He worked as an outdoor guide for many years and had volunteered with the Boy Scouts for 12 years and with several schools for over 45...
As the Thompson Falls Police Department (TFPD) works to better its relationship with the community and to recruit more eyes against crime, the department held its second crime watch meeting with community members. TFPD officer Roy Scott, who is spearheading the program on his time off, presented more information last week at the Thompson Falls Community Center on how residents can better protect themselves from becoming victims of a crime. The first thing Scott mentioned was recommending the purchase of a home security system; specifically,...
As the holidays round the corner, it can be easy on an ordinary year to forget that there are those less fortunate, let alone on a year like 2020 with COVID-19 changing the way the world works. Since 1998, the Sanders County Sheriff’s Relief Fund has been striving to help those in the county who, because of financial or situational hardships, may not be able to afford a traditional Christmas. The program focuses on families with children under 18 years old and provides not only presents, but a full Christmas dinner as well. According to T...
It was beginning to look like Christmas in Thompson Falls last week as the annual Christmas on Main Street events inspired holiday spirit throughout town. The Thompson Falls Chamber of Commerce hosted a Holiday Stroll on Thursday evening. Businesses stayed open as families strolled Main Street. Three craft stations were set up as nonprofit organizations and businesses had kids create ornaments for the community Christmas tree, which was lit at the end of the evening. Christmas on Main Street...
In 1942 the first American code for flag etiquette was nationalized, however, prior to flag day several years earlier, in 1923, there were no guidelines of any kind generally recognized by the states or the federal government. After some time, the country decided there needed to be officially recognized regulation in the way the flag was handled and respected. The country has come a long way in how it treats the flag, and in Plains the respect holds strong. Every year on December 7, Pearl...
WENDY DOSSANTOS, Noxon - “I believe being a patriotic person means being one that believes in the best for your country and the best for the citizens of the country.” LEE GRESS, Thompson Falls - “Standing behind your country and your president.” NORMA KNUDSON, Arlington, Washington - “I think patriotism is for the betterment of everybody.” JASON CASSIDA, Thompson Falls - “Patriotism to me is to honor my family, friends and neighbors.” RYLEE HUTCHINGS, Thompson Falls - “I think patriotism is cool in that it’s really good that people care th...
One person is dead and another injured after an hours long standoff in Trout Creek on Friday. According to a press release from the Sanders County Sheriff's Office SCSO), law enforcement received a call about 12:30 a.m. Friday of a 35-year-old man with a handgun and a semi-automatic rifle who had barricaded himself inside the Naughty Pine Saloon. SCSO, with assistance from Flathead and Missoula County SWAT teams, attempted to negotiate with the suspect. "Although the majority of the patrons...
