Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Members of Open Door Baptist Church in Thompson Falls are bringing Christmas cheer to children around the world this year. Operation Christmas Child, affiliated with Samaritan's Purse, is a program that helps deliver shoeboxes full of gifts to children in remote areas around the world. Ramona Jacobson, head coordinator for the program, has a real passion for the project. "I remember doing this as a kid," Jacobson said. "The church has been an official drop off location for the last two years."...
Plains High School art students set out on a mission to add a little extra festive color to the windows on Main Street in Plains last week. Businesses including Mangy Moose, Rocky Mountain Bank and Wildhorse Antiques all got their windows decorated with different holiday themes. "The store gives us a theme they want painted and then we get a category of options to choose from and then we start painting," said sophomore Sam Feliksa. With several of his classmates, Feliksa chose to paint some...
Sanders County Community Development (SCCD) has assembled a platform that will give community members a way to connect with community events around the area. Sanders County Events is an online calendar that allows local organizations and businesses the ability to post their events online for free. The need to create an online presence for community events began last summer, according to SCCD Executive Director, Ray Brown. “We were noticing and hearing a lot of complaints from a lot of nonprofits that they were hosting their events on the same d...
The Sheriff’s Relief Fund crew has hit the ground running and this year. Deputies and volunteers are working harder than ever to help families and children in the Sanders County community this holiday season. The tree of hearts represents all the children in the community who need a little extra love this Christmas. Wooden trees are placed in local businesses throughout the county and on those trees, you will find red and green hearts hanging from the branches. Written on each heart, is the age and gender of a child. Red hearts represent g...
A new farm and feed store has opened in Thompson Falls, promising quality products and hospitality right at home. Owners Wayne and JP Ducote opened Sanders County Feed, in the former Montana Fancy Indoor Outfitters building, with the notion of keeping the wants and needs of the local residents as their number one priority. After listening and learning from local ranchers, contractors and veterinarians, as well as bringing in a skillset from their own ranching experience, the owners felt that...
The relationship between food and art has allowed the students of Noxon to explore their creative side as well as their cooking skills. Noxon's middle school art class and Intro to Art students attended a launch party last week in the school's multipurpose room to celebrate their newly published cookbook. "Each student was responsible for writing and illustrating a recipe," said Noxon School art teacher Jessie Novak. The cookbook contains nearly 30 recipes and took the students only a week and...
The Preston Hot Springs Public Library is on the road to recovery after dealing with the damaging effects COVID-19 caused to the accessibility that public libraries offer to the community. While the library was closed to the public in 2020, once services resumed, it was apparent the need for community assistance was stronger than ever. "COVID changed the way we look at libraries, especially after finding out libraries weren't considered essential by the state" said Library Director Starla Rice....
Clark Fork Valley Hospital (CFVH) has moved their physical therapy offices to their new location in Thompson Falls. The former Old Mill building on Main Street is now home to Thompson Falls Rehab. The clinic has seen a steady flow of clients since opening on October 11. "The decision to move Thompson Falls Rehab to a new location was primarily due to the need to accommodate our expanded primary care services at our Thompson Falls Family Medicine Office," said Tonya Revier, CFVH Marketing and...
The Sanders County commissioners met last Thursday to hold a vote on a task order amendment that would involve them entering into a contract with the State of Montana and Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) to implement an immunization program for Sanders County residents. The master contract states, “the purpose of this Task Order is to reduce the burden of vaccine preventable disease within the contractor’s service area by ensuring oversight and provision of immunization ser...
In the wake of the pandemic, people saw empty shelves, increased prices and a break in the supply chain. Montana State University (MSU) Extension Office in Sanders County saw the struggles the community was continually facing as people turned to preserving their own food to help get through the challenging times. The extension officers for the county saw a need in the community and stepped in to fill it. "When the pandemic started, the shelves were pretty bare for a while," said Jeanette Allday,...
The Thompson Falls Woman's Club (TFWC) celebrated a landmark occasion last Thursday at the Old Jail Museum in Thompson Falls. 2021 marks the 100-year anniversary since the chapter became a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC). The women's community organization has spent the last 100 years serving Thompson Falls and Sanders County by supporting school programs, youth sports, the public library and many other organizations. The group has also provided several scholarships...
STEVE PERKINS, Thompson Falls - “The frontier days. No technology.” KATHY BUCK, Thompson Falls - “The 50s. I love the music. It seemed a lot simpler then.” KYLI GIFFIN, Thompson Falls - “The renaissance. The outfits, the modesty of the clothing and the respect.” ROBYN OXFORD, Thompson Falls - “The renaissance.” GRANDMA JO, Noxon - “The wild west because I love horses.” SANDY DAVIS, Noxon - “When Columbus came over. I would like to see how the clothes and food were made....
The Thompson Falls Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring their first Fall Festival on Saturday, October 30, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Ainsworth Park in Thompson Falls. The event will feature vendors with baked goods, crafts and other items. There will also be activities, games and prizes for the kids. “The chamber is excited to offer a safe, festive event for families this weekend,” said Annie Wooden, secretary of the chamber. “We have over 15 vendors and some great activities planned.” Children are invited to come dressed in their costumes for a p...
This year’s Trick or Treat, Move Your Feet will be Thompson Falls Community Trail Committee’s fourth annual 5K run and one-mile fun run/walk. The festive Halloween-themed event will take place on Saturday, October 30, and runners of all paces are welcome. “The event will be a celebration of the scenic, user-friendly trail system and to help raise funds for trail maintenance,” Kathy Conlin, event coordinator, said in a press release. The event starts and ends at NorthWestern Energy Power Park at the intersection of Maiden Lane and Pond Street. ...
There has been a shift of innovation as the world’s economy continuously moves toward a more digital direction, leading to a number of untapped opportunities for rural communities. Reimagining traditional boundaries within local businesses and organizations while continuing to create connections between opportunity and people is part of the mission for Ray Brown, executive director of Sanders County Community Development Corporation (SCCDC). In doing so, he has set out in his endeavor to create a digital economy that he says will lead to h...
Tucked away near the town of Noxon, Bighorn Botanicals, a family owned and operated company, has earned a garnished reputation by creating "sustainably wildcrafted" herbal dietary supplements and cosmetics using the natural taxane source from the Yew tree. Founded by Rus Willis, the company's journey started out by harvesting and processing Pacific Yew Bark (Taxus brevifolia) for a pharmaceutical company who was developing a chemotherapeutic drug from the naturally occurring compounds called...
A steady flow of community members strolled through Saturday's health fair hosted by Clark Fork Valley Hospital (CFVH). With around 20 vendors present, nearly 100 visitors saw a variety of health representatives as well as an array of local goods and services. Those who visited the health fair were able to partake in free blood pressure tests and blood sugar checks. Leslie Coates, CFVH registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator, said she performed about 15 blood sugar checks. "All...
The first annual Spaghetti Western fundraiser for the Rex Community Theater is set for 5-9 p.m. Saturday, October 16, at the Clark Fork Valley Elks Lodge in Thompson Falls. "Our Spaghetti Western dinner is our biggest annual fundraiser," said Deb Wilson with the Rex Theater. "Chelle Mitchell has done a phenomenal job as the chairperson recruiting community members for this awesome cause." Attendees will enjoy a live and silent auction, 50/50 raffle, Guns and Roses raffle and Diamond Shots. Guests will dine on a complete gourmet Italian dinner...
Nothing beats fall in Montana. The cooler weather and the changing of all the colors, it’s truly my favorite time of the year. While time seems to slow down, the work doesn’t stop. It’s time to harvest what is left in the garden which includes any dahlias the honeybees haven’t gotten to, all the kale – which will be a good treat for the chickens - and echinacea for tea this winter. I will also be bringing out my new apple press this year. I plan on making several gallons of apple cider to be enjoyed throughout the season. I went to the junior h...
Come and get a good laugh at the Rex Community Theater as they host their first live stand-up comedy night. Kaiser Leib, Thomas Blake and Aaron Woodall with 302Comedy will be bringing big laughs to the small town of Thompson Falls Saturday, October 9, at 7:30 p.m. When 302Comedy approached the Rex Theater to bring their live performance to rural parts of Montana, it was perfect timing because the theater has been wanting to test the waters with a stand-up comedy night. “Ticket sales have been steady and will be available at the door as w...
Doug Padden, Thompson Falls Junior High science teacher, spent last Thursday with his classes outsidemaking fresh apple juice with a rebuilt apple press. "We've got apple pickers, loaders and pressers," Padden said. "Everyone has a job." Students used a combination of Macintosh and Red Delicious apples to press Thursday afternoon and were able to enjoy the fruits of their labor after the job was done....
After a complete restructure, LaRue Hot Springs Museum board members will be heading into their winter break reflecting on the year's accomplishments and gearing up for next season. In April, the public elected six new board members to join Norah Potts and George Heinselman, who were the last two members from the museum's previous board. After Potts and Heinselman reached out for help, the town of Hot Springs convened an election. "It wasn't because of COVID that the board was restructured,...
If you are looking for a meal crafted with fresh, locally sourced ingredients giving that highly sought-after farm-to-table quality; look no further than The Foxhole Eatery. Located in Hot Springs, the new business opened in June of this year and hit the ground running. Staying true to her values, owner Heather Piper opened her business with the goal of finding ingredients for her dishes close to home. "We source our products as local as possible," Piper said. "We start with what we can get in...
Clark Fork Valley Hospital’s (CFVH) annual health fair will take place Saturday, October 2, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the agriculture building at the fairgrounds in Plains. Janie Hom, CFVH Community Health Improvement Specialist, is in charge of organizing the event and says there will be around 20 to 25 vendors providing health education and information. Hom says she has also invited visual artists from around the area to showcase their talents in hopes of expanding ideas for a healthier lifestyle. “We did have a smaller health fair last yea...
LADONNA CULBERT, Kalispell - “Getting in for free. It’s a very relaxing setting and they provide plenty of shade and good food.” RACHEL OWENS, Kalispell - “The different kinds of people. People watching is my favorite.” MIKE OWENS, Kalispell - “Getting together with friends.” VANESSA HORNER, Noxon - “My favorite part is doing all the interviews and showing my rabbits.” BRIANNA HORNER, Noxon - “Coming back this year and being able to talk and meet more people.” MELODIE COOK, Plains - “Coming back and working on the projects this year....
