Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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I feel as if I am suffering from an incurable bout of spring fever. The promise of longer days teasing me with signs of warm weather have the receptive neurons firing in my brain, telling me it’s time to come out of winter hibernation. Early mornings (coffee in hand) watching the sun rise, exploring unknown parts of the forest, naps in the hammock, long days out in the garden watching my honey bees, I’m ready for it. I decided to remedy the situation over the weekend by bringing home a car full of flower bulbs and tubers. However, the exc...
Students from Trout Creek Seventh Day Adventist School gathered for the second annual toothpick bridge contest earlier this month. After the success of last year's contest, students were excited to get back to building once again. "It appears to be a smashingly good time," Maurita Crew said. Started by her father in the 1970s, Crew has kept the toothpick bridge contest a long-standing tradition throughout her teaching career. Students are allowed to use up to 750 toothpicks to build their...
What would you do if you owned a theater? A question the Rex wanted to know as they work toward integrating the public in their efforts to bring the community theater back to life. After board members received a $1,300 Reimagine Rural grant from the Montana State University Extension Service, they decided to present the question to the creative minds of third grade students from Thompson Falls, Plains and Noxon. The Rex Community Theater invited students to participate in a project with the...
Local legislators met with Sanders County Commissioners and residents to issue a legislative update and address concerns regarding bills each representative has been working on and introduced to the house floor. Sen. Bob Brown, Rep. Denley Loge, House District 14 and Rep. Paul Fielder, House District 13, fielded questions from around 20 Sanders County residents. Legislators answered questions on a number of house bills for one hour Thursday at the Sanders County Courthouse. Fielder spoke about House Bill 114 he introduced in which he states law...
A new eatery is set to open in Sanders County promising a family-oriented atmosphere with made from scratch cooking. Machelle Brossman plains to open The River Roadhouse this summer. The restaurant will be located along Highway 200 between Thompson Falls and Trout Creek, near the turnoff for Finlay Flats Road. "My hope is to be open by Memorial Day weekend, with a grand opening in June. So stay turned for that," Brossman said. The owner has big plans for the old fuel station which has sat empty...
Thompson Falls High School senior Megan Baxter, nominee for the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Good Citizens Program, has been awarded first place for her essay which was submitted for a DAR scholarship. The contact allows only one senior per high school to apply. Lyn Dziergas with the DAR, said Baxter wrote her essay on citizenship and how the combined actions of many good citizens keep our nation moving forward by preserving and learning from the past. Baxter based her essay on...
Montana Senator Jon Tester held a monthly rural press call to provide updates on COVID-19 relief, vaccinations, Keystone XL Pipeline, and restoration to Amtrak services for Montana’s Hi-Line. “Once we get the folks vaccinated, we’re going to need to get our economy back in gear and the quicker, the better,” Tester said. Tester recently introduced legislation that would reinstate Montana’s furloughed Amtrak employees and restore the Empire Builder’s service along the Hi-Line. “I’ve heard over and over from Montanans that the Amtrak service...
There is a time of the year that comes right after winter and just before spring. It’s that time of the year when the snow is beginning to melt, but new life has yet to emerge. It’s that time of the year when the world begins to thaw, and your boots begin to sink. I call it, the season of mud. I’ve found this year in particular, is exceptionally muddy. I blame the ducks. I house my chickens and ducks together in the same coop. While they all get along just fine, I’m now beginning to see why this isn’t always recommended. Ducks are messy. Adorab...
The Clark Fork Valley Elks (CFVE) hosted their second community baby shower for expecting mothers and families with children in Sanders County on Saturday. "The event was made possible with Spotlight grant funds from the Elks National Foundation," said Michelle Blackstone with CFVE. Due to coronavirus health concerns, this year's event looked a little different. While food and beverages were still offered for attendees, there were no activities or games for families. However, mothers and...
The Rex Community Theater hosted their second-ever open mic night last week that brought the community out of their long winter slumber. From the sounds of a serene Native American flute, to some foot stomping country music, the Rex was the place to be Friday night. Artists and musicians of all genres showcased their talents on a stage lined with guitars and mics, each performance was met with a loud round of applause from the audience of around 50. “The outpouring of interest in our open mic ni...
Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority member Jerry McDonald met with Sanders County commissioners to report on recent progress made by the Rail Authority. McDonald shared with the commissioners he was elected treasurer for the Rail Authority and the term expires in 2023. “We’ve been forming and laying down the groundwork at our principal location in Missoula,” McDonald said. The authority has formed a resolution for adopting counties that wish to be part of the existing authority moving forward. McDonald said Carbon County has submitted their admis...
The Clark Fork Valley Elks (CFVE) are set to host a second community baby shower for residents of Sanders County. The event focuses on health, safety, well-being and literacy for the family. “The event was an overwhelming success last year,” said Michelle Blackstone with CFVE. “The participants were surprised by the items that were given to them and extremely appreciative.” Invitations have been sent out to expecting mothers and families with infants throughout the county. CFVE is expecting to provide approximately 36 expecting familie...
Stud's Building and Home is in the process of opening its second location in Thompson Falls. With the flagship store in Plains, owner Joel Collett said he has been planning to open a second location for a few years now. "It was an opportunity more than anything," he said. "The opportunity came up to buy the building from the bank, so that's how it all began." The business, located at 4879 Montana Highway 200, where Les Schwab Tire Center used to be, will be a similar model to the Plains location...
According to the demographers at the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2020 there were over 90,000 centenarians on record. Julian Lofthus, a resident at Cherry Hill Assisted Living in Thompson Falls, has now joined the elite group. "I don't really feel like I'm that old," Lofthus said. "But I don't feel like I did when I was in my teens." While Lofthus said it is harder to get around these days, he's in no hurry. "I'll get there sooner or later," he chuckled. Born on January 5, 1921, Lofthus celebrated...
Amtrak says they will work with Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority and act as a conduit in the effort to bring back passenger rail service to southern Montana. In the Rail Authority’s second-ever meeting at the end of January, Amtrak offered their support to make the idea of passenger rail service happen. Rob Eaton, Amtrak Director of Government Affairs, cautioned and encouraged the Rail Authority as they continue working towards their initial steps of bringing rail passengers across the state from Wibaux to Sanders County. “It’s going to be a...
Community representatives have worked diligently to keep Sanders County as safe as possible during the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic. Many local residents have seen the Montana Aware signage throughout the county; a campaign aimed at prioritizing the health and safety of Montana’s citizens and visitors, while keeping them up to date on the latest COVID-19 expert guidance. Leading the way in helping Sanders County residents stay safe during these times is Sanders County Community Development Corporation (SCCDC) Executive Director Ray B...
As the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) finished its 2020 phase one bridge evaluation of the Montana Rail Link bridge on Highway 200 two miles south of Noxon, the second phase for 2021 has begun and dives into bridge design. The bridge was constructed in 1957 and is in need of repairs and routine upkeep. Brent Schiller with Forsgren Associates was tasked with performing a field visit to the bridge in 2020. The firm was also tasked with an evaluation on traffic control. It was concluded the bridge, while safe to drive on, is in a sever...
In continuation with the Paradise sewer project, the Sanders County Sewer District at Paradise held a public meeting over Zoom to discuss and approve the buy/sell for property owner Bridger Bischoff. While public meetings in the past have been held at the Paradise Center, due to a spike in COVID-19 cases, the board has voted to cease meeting in person and opted for virtual meetings for the time being. A concern brought up at the meeting as not everyone has access to the Zoom platform. According to Sunny Chase, president of the Sanders County...
This year marks the 48-year anniversary of Roe V. Wade, the Supreme Court's decision that legalized abortion nationwide. A decision that, even today, proves to be one of the most controversial subjects in this country's history. Last Friday, residents gathered on the lawn of the Sanders County Courthouse to take part in a March for Life and protest against those abortion laws that were put into law in 1973. Roughly 70 people congregated at noon and began the march by joining together in song....
Anybody and everybody knows that homesteading isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s hard work. It’s a heavy responsibility. Whether you consider yourself a pro, or a beginner like myself, people will always face setbacks and loss. It’s been nearly a month now, since our area faced one of Montana’s most historical windstorms. Driving home that day, I was shocked at all the damage I saw. Trees torn up from their roots, laid across highways, roads and homes. The loss of electricity that had everyone searching for gasoline to fuel their generator...
JOSIE BRAY, Thompson Falls - “I would say chili, or soup. Something warm.” PAUL CARLSON, Trout Creek - “I’ve got about five or six favorites, can’t decide.” LESLIE ROBERTS, Trout Creek - “Some kind of soup. That’s my go-to in the winter. Maybe broccoli cheese.” CHARLIE BARRUS, Trout Creek - “I would say some kind of stew, and chicken and dumplings.” TAMMY RAINES, Thompson Falls - “Chicken noodle soup, because my stepmom would always make that for me when I was sick.” NICHOLE SCHULZ, Thompson Falls - “Beef stew, homemade though....
As the community continues to recover from the historic windstorm that swept through the county nearly two weeks ago, many of the local businesses and residents are still in the process of cleaning up from the excessive damage they witnessed. Thompson River Animal Care Shelter (TRACS), was hit particularly hard during the windstorm, and much of that damage can still be seen, even when driving by. However, not all hope is lost for the crew at TRACS, as they work diligently to get the shelter...
Gov. Greg Gianforte has issued a new directive that will lift restrictions on small businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new three-page directive replaces over 25 pages and layers of the existing directive, leading to less confusion amongst Montanans. While the state's mask mandate remains in effect, Gianforte's directive removes the 25-person limit on public gatherings and removes the capacity limitations on establishments and the operating hours restrictions on bars and casinos. “Improving our response to the pandemic has been my t...
The holidays aren't the only time for pie. A homemade pie can be a delicious treat any time of year. One ingredient that may be overlooked is the thickener that transforms the filling from a runny mess into that sought-after, sliceable filling that allows you to serve a picture-perfect slice of pie. Every recipe is different when it calls for a thickening agent. Some recipes thicken with flour, others call for cornstarch, and some use the addition of tapioca. What's the difference between each,...
Sure, avocados have received a lot of negative attention in the news lately. From their attainability, to quality, all the way to their heavy price tag. But there is no denying that the simple addition of avocado will easily upgrade pretty much everything, from a piece of toast to a bland, everyday salad. However, it's time to start talking about another use for this versatile fruit, and that is when you add it to your smoothie. A secret ingredient that will result in a smooth, creamy texture,...
