Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Upon arriving at the home of Muriel Simbro in Clark Fork, Idaho, I was greeted with a smile that warmed my heart and a generous cup of coffee to warm my insides. Simbro and I sat down to chat about her life story. I was certain the conversation was going to be amazing, and she did not disappoint. Just as we began talking, the phone rang. Simbro's youngest daughter, Jenny, who lives in Arizona, called. Simbro excused herself and answered, telling Jenny that she was just beginning her interview. I...
It is that time of year again when Thompson Falls counselor Jodi Morgan is hard at work prepping seniors for their awaiting journey. From September 26 through October 22, students will be getting their plans in order. "We try to give them all the tools we can to get them to college," Morgan stated, adding that all colleges have resources available to assist students once they attend at that level. The main goal for her is to plant the seed of furthering education beyond high school and watch it...
The vision for Thompson Falls is about to become reality. Step by step the end will result in a beautified gathering space connecting community together. Ainsworth Field is about to embark on its journey which began in 2012 when a volunteer City Park Board began brainstorming and fundraising for a new facility they knew had potential. Monday evening, the City of Thompson Falls and the public met to discuss the status of the park. At this meeting, it was disclosed that final designs and cost...
This fall will be the third time Lil' Fighters, an organization dedicated to helping terminally ill children in Sanders County, will donate 100% of their proceeds to a family needing sustenance. This year, Lil' Fighters will award earnings from their Fall Festival to the family of 4-year-old Wren McDonald of Plains. She has been diagnosed with bladder reflux and will battle this disease for the rest of her life. Unknowingly, recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs) evoked permanent damage to...
For the last three years, the academic proficiency of Sanders County students in third through eighth grades has been tested by implementing Smarter Balance Assessment (SBAC) exams. The results are used along with ACT scores for high school students, to determine trends and Montana academia proficiency levels. According to Montana’s Office of Public Instruction (OPI), the 2017-2018 statewide assessments show little variation in the SBAC scores over the last year, but there is a decline in the last 5-year ACT scores. “The 2018 average ACT compos...
For 16 years, fifth and sixth grade students in Sanders County have participated in the annual Water Festival. The event is geared toward providing kids an outdoor learning experience while gaining knowledge in aquatics. The event will take place October 2 at Thompson Falls State Park. Students from Noxon, Plains, Thompson Falls, Trout Creek, Dixon and Hot Springs will rotate through the park while visiting stations including: Fisheries, hosted by Marc Terrazas and Harvey Carlsmith of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP); Tracks, taught by...
Noxon School hosted Sanders County Local Advisory Council last Wednesday evening for their second presentation of "Stronger Communities, Stronger Sanders County: Keeping our Communities Healthy." The audience was small, but the message was massive: Teens in Sanders County communities need guidance and must know there are adults who care about them and are concerned about their wellbeing. Abby Harnett, Director of Western Montana Mental Health Clinic, opened the forum stating, "We decided to host...
The Blue Hawk Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) inducted new members for the 2018-2019 school year Monday evening in Thompson Falls. Inductees include: junior Erik Melendez, and sophomores Megan Baxter, Jolia Buchanan, Cody Burk, Jody Detlaff, Faith Frields, Sierra Hanks, John Hensley, Justin Morgan, Josey Neesvig, Nathan Ostwald, Gabriella Pallister and Riley Wilson. These thirteen inductees joined current senior members of the Chapter Nathan Burwig, Sarah Detlaff, Melaina Goodman,...
No doubt about it...growing up is hard. It seems as generations progress, so does the level of difficulty associated with surviving those younger years. Noxon School District understands that social pressures are real and can be detrimental to the well-being of students. Last Wednesday, John Williams, founder of "Life that Counts," visited the school to lead a discussion guiding students with the organization's mission statement, "Help students make better decisions for healthy outcomes." "John...
Montana State Extension Office is planning an event to assist you in planning for your financial future. They are offering Solid Finances, an online webinar program of composed of multiple classes which begin on Wednesday, October 3. The main features of the courses are insurance, debt, financial record keeping, mutual funds and annuities. There will be 17 classes in the series and participants may choose to partake in as many of the classes as they wish. The webinar will start off with a class on auto insurance. The class will discuss...
It was as loud Sunday night at the Sanders County Fairgrounds as the ever-popular Demolition Derby entertained fans once again in Plains, Montana. Recognition of military members and families kicked off the event and was followed with a moment of silence for those who have fallen while fighting for freedom. After that, silence was a thing of the past. Paradise resident Lisa French presented a beautiful rendition of The National Anthem and then, the engines of basic stock cars roared. The top fin...
Sanders County’s Local Advisory Committee (LAC) for mental health is organizing another “Strong Communities, Strong Sanders County” event to take place in Noxon. The event will include discussion on youth tobacco use, underage drinking, cyberbullying, sexting and internet security and will take place Thursday, Sept. 13, in the Noxon school multi-purpose room. Attendance is free, and refreshments and door prizes will be available. The committee is dedicated to spreading awareness and educating county residents, so the event is a repeat of the o...
Cabinet Peaks Clinic at Bull River is ready for its grand opening scheduled for next Monday, September 10. Staff is in place and ready to provide family practice, urgent care, occupational health and physical therapy services. Robin Trull, RN, BSN, MPH, PA-C is the medical provider for the clinic. She is a resident of Thompson Falls and has multiple medical certifications including advanced cardiac, trauma, pediatric, and comprehensive life support. She is a Kansas native and has spent 29 years...
Sanders County Solid Waste Department board members recently met to discuss modifications to their recycling program. Rising costs associated with the transfer of collected mixed paper, along with low market conditions, have become an economic problem for the county. “There are a number of things going on in the fibers market right now,” Mike Wolf of Pacific Recycling commented. “Earlier this year Chinese export restrictions all but eliminated the export market which is what was keeping the prices up, so the prices are awful. Mills are full and...
Summer is winding down. Kids are back to hitting the books and fall sports are in full action. This time of year, life gets quite exciting... and extremely busy! Trying to chase everyone down and accommodate multiple schedules, who has time for preparing healthy meals? Some tips to make your week less hectic are, preparing all weekday meals on Sunday then refrigerating or freezing them until needed, making large quantities so you have leftovers for a quick reheat, cooking smaller and thinner sec...
Need a reason to have a celebration? Become a centenarian a you will have 100 reason to do just that. The Plains Library has reached that magical age and held quite an event for its many supporters and friends last Saturday. Library Director Carrie Terrell and her staff made quite an impression on those who came to rejoice the milestone. With balloons bobbing and streamers shimmering, it was hard to not be drawn in by all the glitz and glamour. "We wanted to share this with the community and to...
Thompson Falls Jehovah’s Witness organization is facing a legal battle for the allegedsexual abuse of children dating back to 2004. The case is set for a September trial with 20th District Judicial Judge James Monley presiding. Attorneys for the defendants, Thompson Falls Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc. of New York and Pennsylvania, and the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses (CCJW) have recently submitted their Final Pretrial Order related to a lawsuit claiming they failed to repor...
Fire season is beginning to make its appearance in Sanders County. Tuesday morning, an online post from Sanders County Wildland Fire Information (SCWFI) reported that the lightning caused Graves Creek Fire "is completely lined and the firefighters are busy with mop up (finding all hot spots and putting them out)." The fire was reported Monday evening and the first group of firefighters arrived around 8:45 p.m. With a total of 12 firefighters and several aerial bucket drops of water, the team...
Those on the west end of Sanders County are about to get what they have been patiently waiting for… local medical care. Cabinet Peaks Medical Center of Libby is planning to re-open Bull River Clinic. “Cabinet Peaks Clinic at Bull River will likely open September of this year,” stated Kate Stephens, Cabinet Peaks Medical Clinic representative. “Current plans are under way to offer urgent care, family medicine, occupational health services and physical therapy weekly,” she added. Hours of operation will be Monday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6...
Trout Creek is home to two angels...adoption angels that is. Craig and Beck Barrus were recently recognized by U.S. Senator Steve Daines as his choice for the prestigious 2018 "Angles in Adoption" honor. Daines commented that the Barrus' are undoubtedly deserving of the honor and should be an inspiration to us all. "With Becky having been a former foster child herself, she understands the importance of instilling family values and responsibility and embody the principle that every child...
Troy Mine, Inc. has contacted Chris Savage, Kootenai National Forest (KNF) Supervisor, and Operating Permit Section Supervisor for Montana Hard Rock Mining Bureau Herb Rolfes, to give an update on the reclamation schedule for the Troy Mine. “The legal questions regarding the ability of Hecla subsidiaries to legally operate in the State of Montana is an unforeseen circumstance warranting modification to the Troy reclamation schedule,” commented Troy Mine general manager Doug Stiles. In September 2017, the Troy Mine submitted a reclamation sch...
Sanders County was well represented, the room was packed full and extra seating had to be brought in. Everyone was prepared to address their concerns with U.S. Senator Jon Tester last Friday. Mayors from Hot Springs, Plains and Thompson Falls, county commissioners, a school superintendent, business owners and representatives, chamber of commerce members and law enforcement officials all attended the roundtable meeting to cash in on their opportunity to speak, focusing on issues they wished to...
A thunderstorm came through Sanders County late last week, with lightning sparking small fires throughout the county. In the Hot Springs a fire in Garden Creek had burned about two acres as of Tuesday, with a 10-person crew in that area. Two other small fires were being managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Near Thompson Falls, a fire in the Cherry Creek area was reported early Sunday morning. The fire, called the Lynx Fire, was held to about one acre by firefighters. A fire in the...
Hecla recently received notice that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has passed Rock Creek’s silver and copper mining Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). The next step is the USFS’s issuance of the Record of Decision for Phase I. The SEIS posted in the Federal Register on July 20. Following USFS protocol, there will be a 30-day review period before Kootenai Forest Service Supervisor Chris Savage issues the Record of Decision. According to USFS Cabinet District Ranger John Gubel, the 30-day wait period is not designed for pub...
Sanders County Aquatic Plants Task Force (SCAPTF) recently held an open forum to discuss treatment actions planned to counteract the invasion of Eurasian watermilfoil, an aquatic invasive plant discovered in the Noxon Reservoir in 2007. "Our focus has changed from big beds to public access areas," commented Kim Bergstrom, SCAPTF facilitator, addressing how the treatment areas are going to be concentrated on boat launch areas, private docks and popular fishing spots rather than where large weedy...
