Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Mortgage broker Renee Konstantine opened Montana Home Loans in Thompson Falls in January of this year. Notably in today's housing market, people are unaware of where to turn when they are unable to secure a loan through a bank or credit union. "I am a full-service brokerage," Konstantine said. "I can do a lot of things that some types of banks and credit unions are not able to do for various reasons." As a mortgage broker, Konstantine has the flexibility to shop around and find the right...
Three people were transported to Clark Fork Valley Hospital (CFVH) Thursday afternoon after a two-vehicle accident. The incident occurred about 1:15 p.m. Thursday on Highway 200 east of Thompson Falls, near Grocery Surplus, when a dump truck heading west struck the left side of a Thompson Falls ambulance. The ambulance was transporting a life flight patient to CFVH. Thompson Falls Rural First District (TFRFD) and Sanders County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the scene to sweep up debris...
Nestled at the base of the Cabinet mountains and quietly tucked away in the remote hills of Trout Creek sits The Shire of Montana, home to the Hobbit House. For lovers of J.R.R Tolkien, the 1,000 square foot house built into the hillside allows fans of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" to completely immerse themselves into Tolkien's world. Proprietor Steve Michaels has now expanded his love for fairy tales and fantasy by diving into the world of J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter." A tour on...
The Rex Community Theater in Thompson Falls is getting a new roof. According to Deb Wilson, the roof has been leaking for quite a while. They have awarded the contract to a local company and were given a total of $15,000 to fix the damages. “A new roof allows us to start working on the back of the theater which needs a lot of love after years of water damage,” Wilson said. Work needed in the back of the theater includes plumbing, electrical, new insulation and drywall. “As well as everything else that comes with a full remodel, including the ki...
After a year of pandemic cancellations, Fourth of July festivities returned to Noxon. With this year's theme of "Celebrate Freedom," a full day of activities were planned including a parade, turtle races, a pie contest and the annual fireworks show. Noxon's fireworks display attracts people from all over the area every year. According to Larry Wanamaker, coordinator of the fireworks display, 2021 marks the fifth year for the show. After reaching out to the county for help for funding the...
Community Harvest Food Bank (CHFB) continues to reach out with open arms to those in Thompson Falls and Trout Creek who are in need of a little help. While CHFB saw its way through the pandemic without hindrance to operations or food supply shortages, board members are now seeing a decrease in numbers of those they serve. “I think the decrease started in 2019 after COVID hit,” said Hank Smith, CHFB president. “We expected to see more clients coming in with schools going online and loss of unemployment, but that didn’t happen. I think recently,...
On their way to Under the Big Sky Festival in Whitefish, Hogslop String Band will be making a stop at the Rex Community Theater in Thompson Falls. The four-piece band comes straight out of Nashville, touring all over the country, and bringing with them a high energy, southern American sound. Randy Roberts of Thompson Falls helped book the band. “I heard them in 2019 at the Under the Big Sky Festival,” Roberts said. “Out of three music festivals my wife and I went to that year, these guys were the most fun to watch.” While Under the Big Sky Fes...
In collaboration with Graybeard Films based in Austin, Texas, Whitefish Credit Union (WCU) has designed an authentic approach to stay connected to its community in the form of a series of short documentaries spotlighting long-standing credit union members. Each member's story is said to be approximately five minutes long. Two Sanders County residents were nominated by Thompson Falls WCU to be featured in the short films. Elizabeth Kozar, WCU brand marketing specialist, whose vision initiated...
Every now and then I find myself stressed with my morning routine. Maybe I slept in or I have a lot of work scheduled on the calendar, but I notice a sense of frustration as I am rushed to get my “farm chores” done so I can get on with my day. Watering the gardens, planting seed starts, collecting eggs, getting breakfast to all the animals; this all needs to be done before the heat of the day hits. Not to mention, this is all happening before the coffee has even had a chance to kick in. I start to wonder why I decided to go this route. The who...
A small group of Thompson Falls High School (TFHS) students began their summer break by diving into the world of filmmaking. In partnership with MAPS Media Institute, a nonprofit organization based out of Bitterroot Valley, students had the opportunity to participate in a five-day filmmaking camp. With assistance from MAPS film instructor Dan Molloy, the students wrote and produced their own film titled "Dragonfly." MAPS, originally known as Media Arts in the Public Schools, began in 2004 as an...
Avista and nonprofit organization Project ASCENT have partnered to build a new playground in Noxon's Pilgrim Park. Working with Dakota Playground, Avista and Project ASCENT designed a space that will offer durability and ADA accessible features. An Avista press release stated that the playscape offers features for a broad age range while also adhering to Project ASCENT's mission to help children increase their awareness and understanding of their natural environment. "We're assembling from the...
Thompson Falls resident, Shawn McKahan has officially signed his commitment to compete in the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Florida. McKahan was formally drafted in a ceremony held in the Black Bear ballroom last week. The room was filled with family, friends, teachers and Sanders County Sheriff's officers, who were all there to commemorate the moment with McKahan. Also present and showing their support were McKahan's fellow Super Hawks teammates. McKahan, 32, will compete in track...
Live music was in abundance Saturday night, bringing the small towns of Sanders County to life. The sound of a solo acoustic guitar filled the walls of the Rex Community Theater, as local Alex Bouey opened for international award-winning duo The Teccas. A rare opportunity to see a local musician open a show, Bouey wowed the audience during an open mic night at the Rex, leading to his inaugural moment of becoming the opening act. "He was just so great, we had to put him on," stated Charlie...
The streets of Hot Springs were lined with visitors last weekend as people from all over Northwest Montana came to celebrate the 71st Annual Homesteader Days. The general consensus among business owners was an agreement that the crowds taking over their little town was a welcome relief after a year of hardship due to COVID-19. Charlie Scott, owner of Fergie's Pub and Grill, was happy with the success of this year's event. "I thought it went really well," she said. "We had a lot of attendance...
Screenwriter Craig MacLachlan has completed the final draft of his film, “Sunshine Girl,” a project based on the real-life story of his late wife, Tina. The film tells Tina’s life journey as she navigates a stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma diagnosis at the age of 13, and stage 4 metastatic breast cancer at the age of 44. The film dives into the abusive relationship Tina had with her mother, as well as an insight into her life and marriage to her high school sweetheart, Craig. MacLachlan, a Thompson Falls native, has spent the last year working on the...
Mark and Katrina Campbell, owners of Big Eddy's in Thompson Falls, have taken on a new venture by opening a taco trailer and tequila bar in the yard behind the bar and grill. "We were always planning to do more in the backyard and when COVID hit, we converted the deck into a dining area, but we didn't want to miss out on this area," Katrina said. "It has its own vibe back here." With outdoor seating and serene views of the river, the soft opening the owners hosted over Memorial Day weekend was a...
The Thompson Falls Woman’s Club (TFWC) is celebrating their 100th anniversary this year. To commemorate the occasion, they will be publishing a cookbook. The Centennial Cookbook will be a retrospective reprinting of a community cookbook from the 1960s with additions from current members,” said Lorraine Renard, TFWC secretary. “The idea was inspired by COVID in a way, we’ve been trying to create new fundraising ideas. This has been a fun project to work on.” TFWC, which is part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, has been operating as a...
After a three-year hiatus, Plains Day returned this year, proving the successful event was missed by community members. "The event was spectacular," said Connie Foust, a Plains Day coordinator. "We worked hard on this and we received a lot of positive feedback from the community. Even Mineral County commented on how patriotic it was." People filled the streets as they enjoyed a day full of activities that took place along the greenway on Railroad Street. Around 50 vendors were set up, ranging...
ALY TITUS, Thompson Falls - “Going to Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, tubing with friends, riding on the boat.” DONNA PEARSON, Trout Creek - “Camping at the lake.” TRACY McGANN, Thompson Falls - “Going to the public pool, my siblings and I lived there.” MADALYNN FISCHER, Thompson Falls - “My mom just finished battling cancer. That’s a happy memory for me.” ROBIN FISHER, Thompson Falls - “I would always be at my friend’s house.” RICH SCHONENBERG, Thompson Falls - “Riding bikes around the neighborhood with my friends and exploring the...
The 71st Annual Homesteader Days Celebration will be lighting up the town of Hot Springs for a three-day event beginning Friday, June 11. The event draws in residents and visitors alike, as they are promised a full weekend of fun catered to the whole family. Friday and Saturday, vendors featuring arts, crafts and food booths will line Main Street. The grand parade is set for noon Sunday and will feature Nadine Magera as its grand marshal. Saturday, registration for the car show begins at 9 a.m. on Wall Street between Buck’s Grocery and Wall S...
The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) honored Montana Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel from several cities around the state, including Victoria Russell of Thompson Falls, during an awards ceremony May 19 at the Capitol Building in Helena. The event was part of National Emergency Medical Services Week held May 16-20 and EMS for Children Day on May 19. Gov. Greg Gianforte served as the keynote speaker and presented awards to each recipient. He addressed attending...
A new gym opened this month in Thompson Falls. Heather Thompson, owner of Work It Out Health and Fitness, says she felt there was a need for another gym in the area. "The doors just opened for me," Thompson said of the reason why she decided to open her own business. An advocate for holistic health, Thompson says this approach will be how she builds her business. The space, located in the basement of the Clark Fork Title building on Main Street, is ADA accessible and has several possibilities...
Thompson Falls women scored big at Montana's 2021 United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Women's Championship in May. The five teams that represented Thompson Falls Bowling Association competed against more than 2,700 teams from around the country. This year's tournament marks the 101st edition of USBC's Women's Championship and served as quite the comeback after the 2020 tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to USBC, the last time the Women's Championship was not held w...
The Hot Springs gymnasium was full Sunday afternoon with family and friends who gathered to honor the graduating class of 2021. Graduating senior Steven Yother welcomed attendees and a salutatory address was given by Bert DeTienne. Valedictorian EmmaRae Rasmussen spoke of her future at University of Arizona and gave an eloquent speech to her fellow graduating classmates, leaving them with a few words of inspiration. "Never stop dreaming, always believe in yourself and step out of your comfort...
Noxon third-grade students earlier this year took home a $1,200 grant from the Rex Community Theater after being the winners of the theater's "What would you do if you owned the Rex" challenge. The students continued their celebration last week as they headed to the Rex for a showing of "The Wizard of Oz." Students lined up to grab soda and popcorn before finding a seat. Tagging along for the adventure was Mrs. Owen's second grade class. Students stunned audience members in March when they sang...
