Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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This year's Chicken Jamboree was held Saturday, July 15, at the Power Park in Thompson Falls. The near 100-degree temperature did not stop people from showing up for the annual event put on by the Men's Prayer Breakfast. There was a bouncy house for the children and snow cones for anyone needing an icy refreshment. This festival is free for the public. It coincides with the Christmas on Main Street Parade where free wintertime refreshments are handed out. Chicken in July and hot dogs in...
The Gambles store in Plains now has room to spread out after acquiring the lot across the street where the gasket company used to be. GOR had growing pains of its own and moved to a bigger location. This opened up the space behind Gambles for Matt and Dana Diehl to build storage shops to house maintenance equipment, overstock supplies and a general work space. August will mark their 20th year of ownership. Matt's parents opened the store in 1993. This is the store's second major expansion since...
The new bright pink coffee trailer, located on Highway 200 at 704 West Railroad Avenue next to Baldy Mountain Tire shop in Plains, belongs to MariJo Josephson and daughter Hailey Jo Kovarik. They opened for business June 1 of this year. "We wanted to start a business with our own flexible hours and for the family," said Hailey. "Family is the most important thing." MariJo added. Their location is easily accessible and seen from the highway. Being the third drive up coffee location in Plains has...
The MSU Extension Office in Sanders County is again hosting a wide range of tours to include beekeeping and grape cultivation at local wineries. Besides the summer’s horticulture and natural resource tours, there will be a free presentation focused on parents with teenagers. Parents can learn how to talk to teens about the dangers of misusing opioids and stimulants. The presentation will be at the Rex Theater in Thompson Falls on July 31 at 6 p.m.. Though it is free, registration is required. Several events and tours are happening through t...
The Ryan brothers from Plains have been performing for years. Recently they expanded their talents to St Ignatius' Purple Mountain Players. Neuman Ryan, along with Rita Tingey, directed the western melodrama and its slapstick comedy, which was recently performed at the Red Barn in St Ignatius. "Stop The Presses," a family friendly production, had Neuman as Sheriff Jack Newsworthy, Jake Ryan as Edward Torial running for mayor, and Hondo Ryan as Dusty the Pony Express rider. Their characters were...
In elementary school, Tanner Laws would go to games with his dad. People would buy him food or pay him to sing popular country songs. By the time Laws reached middle school age, he says he became self conscious and didn't want to sing any more. The saxophone became his new voice. He played in the pep band and enjoyed that musical expression. Then Laws started playing the piano. Classical music was his go-to genre. He liked playing Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven. He enjoyed feeling the music...
by Annie Wooden and Shannon Brown A murder suspect from Michigan who escaped custody in Plains on Sunday has been captured and is awaiting transport back to Michigan. Chadwick Shane Mobley was being transported from Lincoln County to another destination on Sunday when he escaped the custody of the contracted transport company during a stop at Town Pump in Plains just before 10 a.m. Sanders County Sheriff Shawn Fielders said that the transport company left Mobley alone at the Town Pump, where he...
WILL ARMSTRONG, Plains - “I wear my shades. Open windows at night and close them in the morning and go inside when it gets too hot out.” ARIEL LYONS, Plains - “Swimming with my two kids and a water table in the wading pool.” JULIE BURNS, Plains - “I have an 8-foot round by 30-inch deep pool that I take a dip in, especially after the farmers market.” KIMBERLY BYLER, Plains - “I want to have an air conditioner. I like to go swimming.” ASHLEY DALLING, Plains - “I like to go swimming and to the beach.” CHRISTIE UNDERWOOD, South Carolina/Plains - ...
The sign above the new restaurant in Plains reads, "Em's Cafe Family Dining Since 1976." The new owner, Emily Sexton, has been in the family restaurant business her entire life. Her grandfather, Dallas Sexton, opened three restaurants. Her Uncle Miles started Minnie's Cafe in Thompson Falls in 2004. Murray Sexton, Emily's dad, worked in the California locations that his dad, Dallas, opened. The first one was in 1976. Now Murray is in Plains helping his daughter. Emily studied biology and got a...
If you are looking for a place to take riding lessons, ride your horse, or board your horse, there are new trainers in the county. Tamarack Ridge Ranch has been open since February of this year. Owners Larry and Kristina Bauska have a lease partnership with Havens Stable. Sally and Matt Havens own the property and also have dog boarding kennels. The Bauskas knew they wanted to work together and get into their dream job of lessons and training. Both have a background in teaching. Kristina taught...
After 38 years of public service, Martin Spring has decided to hang up his badge. He first came to Sanders County 18 years ago when he was hired as an undercover police officer for the drug task force. At that time he was seen in ratty clothes and had a scruffy beard. Prior to transferring to Sanders County, Spring worked in Missoula and Texas. A retirement party was held last Thursday at the Sanders County Courthouse, Spring was honored by the department for his work as a detective in the...
The gospel and blues singer known only as Brother Music played all three days at the annual Homesteaders Days in Hot Springs last month. Though he resides in Sandpoint, Idaho, Brother Music has lived in Utah and many places abroad, including Japan and Taiwan. Stateside, his music has been heard from Ohio to California. He first played locally twenty years ago at Boondogglers in Thompson Falls and at the Sanders County Fair in Plains. In his early days, "I opened for many legends such as Tina...
Property taxes have gone up but there is a possible solution. Starting August 15, 2023, taxpayers who own property can apply for a rebate on their 2022 taxes. This can be as much as $675 for a primary residence in both 2023 and 2024. But qualifying residents need to reapply in 2024. To qualify for the property rebate persons must have owned and lived in their Montana residence for at least seven months in 2022. Property taxes must have been billed on their Montana property, and they must have paid property taxes on that residence. The deadline...
Marilyn Stonehocker, formerly of Thompson Falls, had her first book published in 2022. It wasn't a lifelong plan. But it was her lifelong experiences that brought it together, including some of her popular recipes that include doughnuts. Stonehocker started writing when she had to sit for 35 days in 2012 while in the cancer treatment center in Washington where her husband underwent a stem cell transplant. She couldn't leave due to contamination so Stonehocker decided to spend her time writing...
The Rex Theater, under the new ownership of Debbie and Eric Wilson, is now offering movies on Friday, Saturday and Monday. The Wilsons bought the theater in 2020 and started a non-profit to save the theater. The non-profit owns the building. In order to modernize equipment, $95,000 was needed for the digital projectors that replaced the old style reel to reel projectors. This work was recently completed and allows the theater to show new films. "Film itself is no longer available, even if you...
Your trash will soon be collected by Republic Services of Whitefish, as Bob Butte has decided to retire from Butte Services. “Butte Services has enjoyed the privilege of providing residential and commercial services to our customers for more than 60 years,” stated a letter sent from Republic Services that was sent to Butte’s customers. “The company is actually 64 years old,” said Butte, who took over the business that was started by his parents. He has been managing it for four decades....
Traffic increased dramatically in Sanders County last weekend with people driving like they were on a scavenger hunt to find the best deals at the annual Sanders Saleing county wide yard sale event. "Signs were everywhere," Janella Crawford from Libby commented. She drove down Friday morning to explore the sales for the first time. "All along the highway were yellow signs that I thought at first glance were real estate ads. I was amazed at how many there were. If you weren't sure where to go all...
The last day of the first summer school session ended with an Elementary Art Show. The show was held Thursday, June 22, at the elementary gym in Thompson Falls. Several classic artists were emulated by the students who attended this session. Kindergarteners through sixth graders were learning the masters' styles. Included in this exhibit were Wassily Kandinsky trees. He pioneered abstract painting in the early 20th century. There were Pablo Picasso style faces, Claude Monet water lilies and brid...
TAMARA KETCHELL, Plains - “My stainless steel Cabela’s coffee maker.” DAVE KETCHELL, Plains - “French fry cutter. I’ve been looking forever.” BONNIE FULLER, Superior - “Shoes, cute little sandals. I’ve found six so far.” DENNIS OLSON, Plains - “A chainsaw. If it’s got wheels or a motor, I like it.” LIBERTY KIFER, Hot Springs - “Some chicken art for my chicken bathroom. I have a small bathroom full of chicken decor.” ARYA KIFER, Hot Springs - “Clothes....
On Sept. 14, 2022, County Attorney Naomi Leisz began her term, appointed by Governor Gianforte, as a council member on the Western Elder Justice Council. This one-year appointment was presented to Leisz, along with six other appointees, to expand the existing Montana Elder Justice Council. Due to the rising population of senior citizens, the governor saw a need to create the four regions across the state. Region 3 consists of Flathead, Granite, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Ravalli and Sanders counties. The Council receives confidential information a...
Sanders County is having its annual yard sale event on Friday and Saturday, June 23 and 24. Over 60 participants have signed up to have their sales on the list this year. The list of sales can be found in this week’s Valley Press and Ledger or on the Thompson Falls Chamber of Commerce website. Sales will be going on across the county from Hot Springs and Dixon to Noxon and Heron. They will encompass 130 miles. For yard sale enthusiasts, there will be plenty to attend. This will be the second year that the chamber has been in charge. Since t...
MATT WEBER, Thompson Falls – “The Maldives/Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. I would relax on the beach, snorkel, scuba dive, and stay in a bungalow over the ocean.” PAT JOHNSON, Plains – “I would go on a cattle drive anywhere in Montana.” JENNIFER ENCINAS, Thompson Falls – “I would go to Hawaii and see my cousin.” COOPER LILLY, Thompson Falls – “I want to go to Hawaii for the warmth, and the ocean. I want to go snorkeling and see the volcanoes.” SIERRA LILLY, Thompson Falls – “A cabin in the woods, anywhere, is all I want. Next to a lake with m...
Thompson Falls High School is having a new building erected to be used as a multi purpose facility. Superintendent Bud Scully said the building will be used regularly for shop classes to include welding, wood working, and small engine repair, in half of the 7,000-square-foot space. The other half will be the new lunchroom. This will give more room for eating, as the old lunch area was outside the gym. "It may also encourage more students to eat hot lunches," Scully said. This other half will have a commons area that will provide room for other...
The Orvis International Fly Fishing Film Festival was held Saturday, June 17, at the Rex Theater in Thompson Falls, in honor of veterans local and abroad. Many attendees were visiting the area with the PB ABBATE, Return to Base group. This group is led by local U.S. Marine veteran John Torres. Patrol Base is a safe place for service members and veterans to rest and re-acclimate into their local communities, according to their website. It gives them tools to carry on and survive. ABBATE is the...
The restaurant Big Eddy's is under new ownership. Connie and Matt Weber recently took over the business. They decided to leave Missoula and move to Thompson Falls in January with plans to buy the restaurant in February. But things did not happen as quickly as expected, so Connie bought the Farmhouse Blooms floral shop. The Webers are excited about being a part of the community and making some family friendly changes to Big Eddy's. These will include longer hours, expanding the outdoors and food...
