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Independently owned since 1905
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It was a busy Saturday for the Plains VFW. The group organized a parade that exceeded their expectations, hosted a gun show organized by the mayor who said that it was the biggest one he has ever held, and had live music and a dance that night. Vehicles and participants lined up at The Circle at 11 a.m. Saturday for the VFW parade. Over the last few weeks, the VFW sent out information and worked with the American Legion post in Paradise to contact veterans to participate. They had no idea the...
FRANCIS AULD, Elmo - “I think it still does, and that peoples’ patriotism ignites when that day comes. There are some people that let it phase past them and they will say that it happened already, why don’t we forget about it. but I’m hoping that in the country our patriotism and our awareness remains very awake.” ELLEN FRYER, Plains - “Yes, in I think it mostly impacted the safety of our country and the travel industry. Hopefully someday patriotism will be as strong again as it was on that day.” PRENTISS CAMPBELL, Plains - “9/11 is stil...
On September 11, 2001, America changed forever. Airplanes were hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Though far removed from Ground Zero, the effects of 9/11 were immediately felt in Sanders County.. Asleep after working night shift the night before, Chris Nichols awoke to his girlfriend telling him that the nation was under attack. They turned on the news to watch as the towers billowed with smoke thousands of miles away. Nichols, now...
The Sanders County Transfer Site at Thompson Falls is hosting an event on Saturday, September 19, to collect and recycle old electronics. For several years, the county has held this event to help get rid of accumulated old computers, printers, phones and more. The initiative is also working to keep tons of these materials out of landfills. Since the first collection in 2014, the event has recycled nearly 30 tons of electronic trash, taking on 9.79 tons that first year. The weight has been decreasing every year, showing that there is less and...
Since the 1950s the Yellowstone Pipeline, owned by the joint venture Yellowstone Pipeline Company (YPL), has been pumping petroleum from Billings to refineries and storage facilities across the state and into Washington. The line was closed following several spills on the Flathead Reservation between 1986 and 1993. Phillips 66, after working with the Montana Department of Natural Resources, YPL and the U.S. Forest Service, plans to remove portions of the 710- mile long pipeline in parts of Sanders County. Two of the spans to be removed lie...
For 10 years, the fish ladder attached to the Thompson Falls dam has been providing a reliable flow of information to researchers on the patterns of fish-travel around and through the dam. Connected by researchers to a network of tag detecting antenna throughout the water system, fish captured at the dam can then be tracked throughout the Clark Fork, then Thompson and beyond. Since being installed in 2010, the fish ladder has captured over 34,000 fish. According to Jon Hanson, a fish biologist...
Bonnie Nicol, Thompson Falls - “The food.” Nichole Glase, Plains - “I’m going to miss the demo derby the most.” Deanna Roseberry, Plains - “The Food!” Shannan Roseberry, Plains - “I really miss the rides, and the food.” Marilyn Saunders, Trout Creek - “The 4-H exhibits.” Sean West, Thompson Falls - "Monster trucks and the rodeo....
BEBE TOWNEND KENNEDY, Thompson Falls - “I would tell the kids their just going to have to try really hard, its not going to be easy on the parents either, but were just going to have to try and put forth their best effort. JAMES HALES, Helena - “My best advice would be for students to be kind to one another and be gracious to their teachers. Everybody is having a difficult time right now, so kindness goes a long way.” MORGAN LEAF, Thompson Falls - “Have fun and enjoy being a child, don’t worry.” BOB LOCKARD, Thompson Falls - “Just go ou...
The National Bison Range (NBR) closed access at the start of the summer due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, to the discord of the public. However, the NBR reopened its doors on Monday, August 10 to visitors under some COVID-19 protective guidelines. With the new limitations they have also released an opening plan, that can be found on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website. During the initial phase, both the NBR auto trails — the Red Sleep Mountain trail and the short winter loop — will be open between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. They also have p...
A Heron man pleaded not guilty to charges filed against him on Tuesday. Michel Dulaney appeared in 20th Ditrict Judicial Court, facing three counts of assault with a weapon. According to witnesses, on July 11 Dulaney fired a weapon at his neighbor, Edgar Torrey. Torrey was shot in the back and fell to the ground. Two men that were with Torrey returned fire at Dulaney, who took cover in his home. Dulaney’s attorney Mathew Stevenson requested that Dulaney’s bail be reduced to a level closer to what is believed he could afford. Stevenson ask...
As parents send their children back to school in Dixon this fall, they should be apprised of the plans the school is making to ensure the safety of their kids. Dixon has posted their plan on the school website, which is broken down into protocols to be followed depending on the phase the state is in. Throughout the entire plan, the school ensures the public that they will be taking every precaution and will be sanitizing and cleaning every hour. Dixon will be enforcing social distancing within classes as well as limiting the number of students...
As students return to school in Trout Creek on August 26, kids and parents alike are curious about the precautions the facility will be taking in light if the coronavirus. According to Penny James, a board member with the Trout Creek School, they will be using a “modified traditional model.” This means that school will only be held four days a week in person and Friday will be a sanitation day for the staff as well as a remote learning day for students. Friday will also allow teachers to work with students or “individuals that may benefit from...
Plains has planned far ahead to implement their strategy for reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since June, school officials and teachers have been working on a solution to meet all of the state and federal guidelines, as well as to give their students the education that they deserve. “There’s an element for staff safety that cannot be forgotten,” said Thom Chisholm, superintendent for the Plains Schools. He explained that every effort will be taken for the well-being of both students and staff. Plains’ solution is a modified school...
DONNA HAWKINS, Thompson Falls - “I look for morals and integrity.” DUANE SIMONS, St. Regis - “Honesty and integrity.” KATHY LOGAN, Plains - “Integrity, qualifications and experience.” REBECCA MURRAY, Tacoma, Washington - “The biggest number one thing I look for is transparency. Just looking back at everything they have done, just the least amount of sneakiness as possible.” KYLE REVIER, Plains - “I would just look for somebody that is honest and that I think I can trust. Somebody that keeps the general public in mind rather than themselves....
A man charged of driving under the influence for a fourth or subsequent offense pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in 20th District Court. Antonio White Quills was pulled over on April 4 this year for a taillight violation. Officers reported he was visibly intoxicated, and he told them that he had been drinking and smoking marijuana that day. When breathalyzed he blew a score over the legal driving limit and was arrested. White Quills’s trial is set for Jan. 25, 2020. Also on Tuesday, Dawn Holden appeared in court to plead not guilty to the c...
During a board meeting Tuesday, the Thompson Falls School Board publicly revealed their plan to reopen in the fall of 2020. They said that they will proceed “business as usual,” according to the Thompson Falls Superintendent, Bud Scully. However, Scully also added “our plan has to be flexible.” The board wanted to assure the public that they will be working for the safety of the kids, however, will be following the minimum requirements of Phase 2 guidelines for reopening. The meeting was attended by nearly 50 community members, gathere...
All refuse sites in Sanders County will begin requiring proof of county residency for people wanting to dump waste. Vehicles with in-county license plates (starting with 35) will be exempt from providing proof, as they are proof. All sites, including Plains, Thompson Falls, Trout Creek, Noxon and Heron will be asking for proof of residency starting this week. The refuse sites have begun to notice a major issue with out of county and out of state residents dumping into the Sanders County sites. Mineral County is private, and they have to work...
Advances in technology and the prevalance of COVID-19 are augmeting the ability of criminals to take advantage of people. There are numerous ways scammers can get ahold of vital information and money from unsuspecting victims. The confusion caused by the spread of COVID-19 gives these scammers a perfect platform to pose as officials, charities or anything that they can think of to get what they want. It is important for locals to beware of the types of scams and to use common sense to avoid becoming a victim. One such way that is becoming more...
One of the most recognizable features of the iconic Paradise schoolhouse, which is now a museum and information center, is the large metal slide running down from the second story. This unusual appendage was constructed in the mid-1930s and actually is a fire escape. Around the turn of the century, buildings were being constructed higher than ever before and close together. This led to a real problem with fire evacuation. Those on higher floors may not have the time, or the ability, to exit the...
BEBE TOWNSEND KENNEDY, Thompson Falls — “Being in the air conditioning.” BELLE COOPER, Thompson Falls — “Swimming, because you get a chance to cool off from all the hot weather and you always have friends when you’re swimming.” EMILY BIEGLER, Trout Creek — "Definitely swimming, because its really refreshing and it’s a really fun thing when hanging out with your friends.” SUSAN HURST, Elk Grove, California — “Walking to the river.” Terry Christian, Los Angeles, California — “My activity to do in the sunshine in Montana is swimming in the ri...
A Hot Springs woman pleaded not guilty last week after being charged with one count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs. Meggin Gill was detained for questioning after a warrant was exercised on June 18. The search found drugs and drug paraphernalia. During questioning, Gill admitted to hiding a bag of methamphetamine in her bra and placing it in the home, according to court documents. Also last Tuesday in 20th District Judicial Court, Sheena McCaskill pleaded not guilty to one count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and one...
Earlier this month the Thompson Falls City Council met to discuss various plans and projects being taken on to improve the quality of life and infrastructure of the community. With various projects in the works, the council brought up bringing members of the community in to help move things forward. The idea came originally from council member Ruth Cheney. She mentioned that there may be residents within the city limits who have expertise in one or more of the areas involved with the planning of these projects. Many of the council members are...
SUE JONES, Paradise - “I’m just not sure about having the kids go back to school because you can’t keep kids from touching their face and other kids, so I guess I’m kind of against schools opening.” JASMINE KELLER, Thompson Falls- “I feel like the school districts should do whatever they feel is best for the kids.” JACOB SAKASKE, Thompson Falls - “I think it should be the parents’ decision.” KYLE KAST, Sacramento, California - “If there’s not a lot of cases then schools should just reopen.” HELEN JOHNSON, Thompson Falls - “I think they sho...
After a year of closure, the Circle in Plains has reopened. Due to issues with hot water damage, the Circle planned to close down early summer last year to quickly effect repairs. However, owners found that the damage was more extensive than previously thought. After a year of hard work, problems and persistence, the Circle welcomes people back into the community diner. In the process of reconstruction, the ceiling was taken out, the roof was updated and there were several internal improvements...
"No matter what side of the fence you are on, most people in the west have a picture of a bison on their wall," said Jon Sepp, owner of Roam Free Bison Ranch, just outside of Hot Springs. When saying this, he was referring to people who live in the west, and especially ranchers. Sepp said there are two opinions of farming bison. One group is against the large beasts, saying that they are aggressive and difficult to work, while the other believes that they are better for the environment and...
