Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Thompson Falls School District administrators held the first school board meeting covering a full week of school on Monday evening. The big shindig on the horizon is Homecoming week, set for September 24-29, with the annual parade taking place on the Thursday before the volleyball game (Sept. 27), rather than the usual Friday before the football game (there is no school Friday). Principals from each school presented the trustees, superintendent and clerk with their reports regarding kicking off...
When people reach the golden years, a little nostalgia goes a long way. For long-term care residents at Clark Fork Valley Hospital (CFVH), sprucing up their surroundings to make life more comfortable or aesthetically pleasing with vintage interior design is a bright spot for many. And attending a car show featuring classic cars and unique vehicles can be an entertaining way to walk down memory lane. CFVH was the location of the 3rd Annual Wild Horse Plains Car and Bike Show on Saturday, Sept. 8....
Hepatoblastoma is a rare liver cancer that affects infants and toddlers. The idea of someone so young struggling with something so heavy is a scary thought, but that's the situation little Aiden Miles of Thompson Falls was in at just 11 months old. Aiden's father, Kyle, was staying with his parents while in the process of a divorce. Aiden was very fussy going to bed in November 2016 and his stomach seemed to be bloated and swollen. "I don't think Kyle or Aiden got much sleep that night," said...
It’s a throwback to the golden oldies, in more ways than one. Clark Fork Valley Hospital’s Long Term Care (LTC) Activities Director is inviting the public to join in the fun at the 3rd Annual Car and Bike Show in Plains, this Saturday. The event is a fundraiser to help bolster the day to day living of the “classic” population living at CFVH. “The money raised all goes to improving their lives here,” said LTC Activities Director Del Smith. “Whether it’s more comfortable furnishings to make it feel like home or for bus rides and outings – it al...
In a move to support local music and promote their upcoming performing arts season, Sanders County Arts Council (SCAC) enlisted the help of D&D Good Time Music and Fire Creek Band. Both are local favorites who make the rounds in the county venues and help when they can for benefits and fundraisers. To kick off their Tapestry Season of performances, SCAC booked Fire Creek Band to play Big Eddy's Deck Bar in Thompson Falls on Friday, and D&D Good Time Music on Saturday. "We had a great turn out...
With Sanders County students returning for school, districts are welcoming new staff in their ranks. Plains School saw a slew of retirements and one departure, leaving many empty positions to fill. Dixon School had no turnover and retained all their educators from the previous year. Thompson Falls School District’s new staff were featured in last week’s issue of The Ledger. Plains superintendent Thom Chisholm said things went well filling their vacant positions. “We had all the teaching positions filled before the end of the school year, and a...
It was an idea with a vision for local brews and live tunes that has gained momentum in the last year. The Beer Parlor – Barber Shop was created by couple Nick Barber and Abby Coleman at a time when they were looking to sell their building on Main Street in Hot Springs, in 2016. "We just didn't see the need to keep the building, but then a beer and wine license came up and we had an idea," shared Barber, who always loved the music scene in Hot Springs and wanted a venue of his own, "we looked i...
Happenings at the old Paradise Elementary School building have kept it as busy as it once was before the school closed for education and reopened for visitors and events. Now known as the Paradise Center, the Paradise Elementary School Preservation Committee has been hard at work to make improvements to the property while hosting musicians, art galleries, meetings and instructional workshops. The ball is really rolling, and the committee has announced that the establishment will be open regularly as a visitor center and a side-stop for those...
A swearing in of new reserve deputies brought the pool of available reserves to a total of five. Bryon Ekberg and Josh Ward were sworn in with the Sanders County Sheriff's Office, Monday afternoon, to assist the Sheriff and full-time deputies in their law enforcement endeavors. With the height of fire season and the county fair right around the corner, the help is coming right on time. The new reserves successfully completed an 88-hour classroom course under the direction of Deputy Tim Kelly, as...
In Sanders County schools, the foreign exchange program has been a long tradition that has resulted in lifelong friendships with an “out-of-towner,” and unique memories and experiences for the students visiting. Nancy Winebrenner of Hot Springs has been working with International Cultural Exchange Services (ICES) for years, assisting visiting students in finding temporary local homes, giving them a school-year-long glimpse into American life and Montana culture. This year, Winebrenner is down to crunch time trying to find willing families to ta...
For the fashion conscious, there is one event that stands out above all others – New York Fashion Week. For fans of chic couture in the county, that event might as well be on another planet. But for three lucky girls, that dream is becoming a reality. Tiffany Brown took on one of the many “make money from home” opportunities out there, in the form of Red Aspen, a company that takes on sales reps around the country to be distributors of their faux eye lash line of products. Natalie Eichert of Heron and Jenny Lyght of Thompson Falls are also...
Wednesday was an informational meet and greet for both sides, as youth from the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) met with Sanders County commissioners to share their experience in the summer work program with the Forest Service (FS) and learn a little more about the role of the county's executive branch, once nicknamed the "County Dads." Plains/Thompson Falls District Ranger Dave Hattis and county commissioners agreed that the youth summer program is the number one project the district wanted...
Much of Sanders County enjoys a cycle of tourists each year to boost business, but there is also an annual influx of tourists on cycles who come through with that purpose in mind. Ride Idaho bicycle tour brings hundreds of cyclists from 43 states to the county for an overnight stay before pedaling their bikes up Thompson Pass to arrive at their destination in Post Falls – which is also their starting point. "We really like to support the communities and the businesses there when we pass t...
Rumors and speculation on social media muddled facts about an incident that took place Thursday, July 26. Those with an ear to the scanner or in the area were aware of patrol vehicles responding to a call in the rural Trout Creek area. Sanders County Sheriff Office (SCSO) Deputy Martin Spring agreed to comment and clear the air regarding details of the incident. “When we arrived, the caller explained that he had been away from home running errands and returned to find the lock on his gate had been cut,” shared Spring. “As he pulled up to his h...
Last month, Ronan Police Department issued a public statement regarding counterfeit bills turning up in the area. Often, once the fake bills are found, the criminals move into surrounding areas to try to their scam. In 2015, First Security Bank of Thompson Falls reported that at least three fake bills had come through the area, sharing that it was a lot for that small town to see. Ronan Police Department reported that the current bills found in circulation are actually “prop” money, used in movies and sold online. The texture of the paper use...
Two helicopters were needed to assist a logger who was clipped by a falling tree near Calico Creek up Thompson River, Thursday, July 26. Around 9:30 a.m. a caller reported a logging accident with instruction that a company vehicle would meet the ambulance where Thompson River Road meets with Highway 200. Life Flight was summoned with an expected arrival 30 minutes later. According to the Sanders County Sheriff’s log, Life Flight arrived around 10:30 but was unable to help. “The extraction of the injured man was too dangerous for the Life Fli...
With a head count of around 500 attendees at its peak, Wild Coyote Days at Wild Coyote Saloon went off without a hitch, according to owner Karen Ferguson. "We had a great crowd, no drama and plenty of fun," shared Ferguson, who noted that this was the tenth year of the three-day event. Throughout the decade of Wild Coyote Days, entertainment and events have changed over time from "gun fighter" re-enactments to Jell-O wrestling, "We do our best to keep it interesting," shared Ferguson, "and as...
Thompson Falls was a familiar name to William Cain, who recently took the position of superintendent for the Thompson Falls School District. "I remember when I was coaching wrestling we drove through and I saw a bighorn sheep staring down from a rock ledge – I made it a point to remember the name of the town because it seemed like a great place." He said he checked job availability across the state periodically, so when he saw an opening in Thompson Falls it was a no-brainer. Especially since h...
A fatal crash between Plains and Hot Springs on Saturday marked the 75th and 76th deaths on Montana roads in 2018. Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) responded to a one-vehicle accident at 12:44 a.m. near mile marker 9 on Highway 28. Both the driver and passenger of the westbound vehicle were deceased on arrival, according to the incident report on the MHP website. Road conditions were clear and there did not appear to be any outside factor causing the Jeep Cherokee’s crash. Alcohol and drugs are undetermined factors, but excessive speed is t...
Paradise Center will be celebrating the fifth year of the “Artists in Paradise” gallery, as well as the grand opening of the rehabilitated structure as a visitor’s center with historical exhibits. The Artists in Paradise event is a three-day art showcase of local artisans, painters, sketch artists, photographers and creative minds of various media. Volunteer local musicians are also featured throughout the event. The art extravaganza is a joint effort of the Paradise School Preservation Committee and the Sanders County Arts Council’s (SCAC)...
Some people never stop playing with toys. For seventh grade students, it is the cusp of a rite of passage for those who have spent their early childhoods playing with Legos and young adolescence in Lego robotics competitions – the Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) based league that introduces youth to robotics and computer programming. Thompson Falls science educator Erik Nygaard is in his fifth year coaching competitive robotics, including building with Legos in the First Lego L...
It is not a "wilderness group," but their interest in the continued reasonable use of wild lands is second on their priority list. Presently, the number one goal of Cube Iron Cataract Coalition (CICC) is to create awareness of the backcountry mix of roadless areas, connecting backcountry, and lands bordering National Forest. Membership and support from the group enjoys an overlap with the Backcountry Horsemen, Montana Wilderness Association and Montana Backcountry Hunters and Anglers – many o...
Based on the amount of local business support and involvement, it will be a block party to remember. Highlead Saloon is organizing a Summer Party for Saturday, July 7 from 4-8 p.m., and the parking lot that supports Christmas on Main Street will host the event with hot weather, instead of hot chocolate. “A lot of this is up in the air at this point. But based on the interest from businesses and organizations who want to be present, there will be plenty to do for all ages,” said Highlead’s Cody Mosher, who noted that for the event the Sheri...
In addition to independence and freedom, safety and festivities will be a part of the county’s Independence Day celebrations. As in years past, the ban on fireworks in Thompson Falls is in effect, but consumer pyrotechnics are still welcomed one day a year at Wild Goose Landing along the reservoir. This lift on the ban is specific to that area only and ignition is only allowed from 7 p.m. until midnight. Safety and common sense are encouraged as the limited space in the area becomes quite populated. Plains also has a restriction on f...
It is said that cats are connoisseurs of comfort. If so, a new cat abode will likely be known as "the cat's meow." Thompson River Animal Care Shelter (TRACS) suffered a blow when the building housing felines caught fire last year. Although insurance kicked in to help, it wasn't nearly enough to cover the logistics of caring for the cats at a separate location and the additional wrenches thrown in the routines of staff and volunteers at the shelter. With fundraising down for the year, TRACS...
