Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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The rain did not stop people from participating in cleaning up Thompson Falls for the annual Beautification Days. Thompson Falls Schools got their cleaning done early. Diane Hedahl from the elementary office said they knew the rains were coming on Friday so the students did their cleanup around the campus earlier in the week. The high school students cleaned up their areas of sports fields and campus on April 16. Joni Mosher, coordinator of the Beautification Days project, reported that this...
Students from Thompson Falls Junior High were given etiquette lessons and experienced hands-on training during the annual luncheons held in their honor. Last Wednesday, the seventh graders were greeted at the door by hostess Brandie Rich who was filling in for Melissa Wilson, the junior high secretary. Rich welcomed them to the Blue Hawk Cafe and directed them to their tables with place tags. Students were instructed by junior high teacher Doug Padden prior to entering the Cafe to remain...
Sanders County road district employees went back to school last week to learn more about road graders. Eighteen men from the county's three road districts attended the Caterpillar Motor Grader class. The morning session was held at the courthouse in Thompson Falls. In the classroom they watched a slideshow conducted by Jacob Lauderdale Western States Equipment Company out of Liberty Lake, Washington which sells Caterpillar equipment. They learned in-depth handling and maintenance of a road grade...
One of my favorite things about the Plains community is seeing kids walking to the river with fishing poles, often barefoot, children who have not lost their connectedness to nature. They play in the dirt. They eat dirt as babies and pile themselves with the sand on the beach or in leaves in the fall. As we grow older we are taught that that is not something we should do. “Going barefoot is unsanitary!” or “Eating dirt will give you worms!” While eating dirt may not be good for your gut, experiencing it could be. Walking barefoot grounds...
When the Noxon fire destroyed three businesses it took away livelihoods and security for the owners and townspeople. Teresa Jackson lost her business, the Angry Beaver General Store. She and her fiance Walter Borgmann were in the process of remodeling the apartment above the store. Jackson said the community has helped by way of a spaghetti fundraiser. "We raised $6,000. It will be divided equally among employees, the loss of tools for the remodel, and for the cleanup process," she explained....
DEKLYN MEYERS, Thompson Falls - “I like swimming in the pool.” KIM MILNOR, Plains - I enjoy playing in the sprinkler with my dogs.” DANNI VANHUSS, Thompson Falls - “I like to take my dogs for a walk on Thompson Falls island.” BEBE TOWNSEND, Thompson Falls - “I like to sit inside with my windows and door open to the fresh air and do crafts.” SANDRA SCHRAEDER, Thompson Falls - “My favorite thing to do is go for a walk and pick flowers.” LACY BEAUCHAMP, Plains - “I like to go for a walk by the water. It’s very relaxing....
A journey toward self-sufficiency has turned into a business for a Sanders County duo. Rogue Hen Camp Farms, located on Blue Slide Road in Thompson Falls, has a herd of goats, chickens, turkeys, and Guinea fowl. Quinn and Court Roggenkamp are co-owners and business partners who decided to change the spelling of the farm as a play on words and to help people pronounce their name correctly, Quinn explained. She and Court are animal people. The business of raw milk, cheeses and other goat products...
The Plains schools were treated to a special assembly series hosted by the PTA on Monday. Arlee native Isaac Fisher, named Dunk Master and Dunk King, joined by his brother Silas Dayrider and his uncle Les Fisher, gave a morning presentation to the high school and another afternoon presentation to the fifth through eighth grade students. They were invited by the Plains PTA to give inspirational talks as well as basketball dunking demonstrations. The presentations began with Fisher talking to his...
Artists from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) went to Hot Springs School on Saturday to teach fifth through 12th grade students about different art modalities. Sketch artist Cameron Decker from Missoula, along with his wife Aspen Decker, said this is the second school they have visited in Sanders County. "We went to Dixon last weekend," Cameron stated. "We had a weaver there teaching traditional weaving. Our idea is to bring more art education into the schools." Students can ta...
The Hot Springs School Board met last Wednesday to vote on positions for the next school year. Nineteen positions for the 2024-25 school year were approved. Principal Byron Woods K-12 principal position was eliminated, as well as one elementary teacher position. Sixteen returning teachers were approved including the counselor position. One position of a non-tenured teacher was discussed regarding her plan to complete her certification as a licensed educator for the high school. The board approved the position with one trustee against. In the...
A new coffee roasting company is open for business in Thompson Falls. Koo Koo Sint Coffee owners Sylvia and Luke Miller named their business after David Thompson "because we live up Thompson River Road," Sylvia said. The Native Americans referred to Thompson as Koo Koo Sint, she added. The couple started their business in February but Luke said he has been roasting coffee for eight years. "I began roasting beans for friends and family until one of them said I should start a business," he said....
Sanders County students put their skills on display last month at the state SkillsUSA competition in Helena. Plains had 10 students compete in the state event, and Thompson Falls took four. First-place winners from the state event qualify for the National SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta in June. Plains advisor Kyle Mitchell said most students competed in at least two competitions at state. The 10 students competed in 12 different competitions, and seven team members came home with medals....
A presentation at the Thompson Falls Senior Center last week educated citizens on how to be aware of potential scams and fraud. Presenters Blair Stapleton and Drew Czoik from the state Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Office traveled from Helena to Thompson Falls to inform the audience of potential fraud and scams via the internet and phone, primarily. The seminar, titled "Protecting the Big Sky," was designed to educate investors, seniors, and consumers to safeguard their finances....
Beverly Longoria Miller, age 95 of Plains, was born October 26, 1928, in the small town of Malone, Washington. At age seven her family moved to Seattle where her maternal grandmother lived. The population of Seattle in 1920 was 315,312. "At around 300,000 I knew my neighborhood. The houses were close together. I walked to school and everywhere. Now I don't know that I would want to walk there. I am more fearful of it," Miller said. Now the population of Seattle is over 700,000. Miller said that...
Studs Building and Home celebrated their 10th anniversary at the Plains store on Monday. Owner Joel Collett (above) served fajitas and burgers on the grill for community members. "We are thankful to still be here and for our good staff and customers," Collett said. The company had door prizes and entertainment throughout the afternoon, including prizes from vendors and Plains Mayor Joel Banham playing his guitar and singing....
KYLIEGH RUEN, Thompson Falls - “I like the Science projects that we do during STEAM Fridays.” SHEA HAAS, Thompson Falls - “Art is my favorite part of STEAM because I am better at it and I like to draw.” BELLA CORK, Thompson Falls - “My favorite STEAM projects involve Math. It is the best subject that I am good at.” ALLAN MCGANN, Thompson Falls - “I’m going to have to say Science and Engineering because they're fun and I like learning about such things as catapults and planets.” JAYDEN ANDERSON, Thompson Falls - “I like Technology because...
The annual Health Fair was hosted by Plains School on Saturday. This was the first year it was held at the school, in the new gymnasium. Dr. Barbara Steward from Clark Fork Valley Hospital gave the opening speech and did a ceremonial ribbon cutting. A variety of health aspects were presented by various groups and businesses from the Plains area. While most were from CFVH, several were not. Warrior Fitness owner Becky Fields and her son, Maverick, had exercise challenges for free prizes. Situps,...
Trout Creek School took 19 athletes to Helena last week for the National Archery in Schools State Tournament. The school brought home the first-place trophy for the third year in a row. Coach and teacher Becky Doyle said this is the third year of the program in the Trout Creek school and the second year that they have won in the middle school division. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks sponsors the program. "It is growing throughout the state," Doyle said. "Students shot 3D on Monday, then...
Sanders County Commissioners held a meeting with members of the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) last week to discuss bridges, speed limits and road chipping. Presiding officers were Dan Rowen, District 1, Anthony Cox District 2 and John Holland, District 3. . The Noxon Bridge was discussed when Commissioner Tony Cox brought up the issues of safety and overall age of the bridge. “The bridge was built in the 1920s and has metal cracks in places. It has been rehabilitated in the past,” Cox said. A velocity patch was put in when the Tro...
DEBORAH LOVELESS, Plains - “Bread because I make my own” DAVID FALK, Thompson Falls - “Bread, it smells much better.” DAN PARKS, Thompson Falls - “Bread, because of all the memories.” JIM GOFORTH, Trout Creek - “Bread, especially if Mom made cinnamon rolls.” CAROL MORRIS, Trout Creek - “Bread, because it smells like home baking.” MELISSA RUNKLE, Thompson Falls - “Bread, because I have allergies....
Sanders County students were treated to a special concert last week. JumpinJazz Kids musicians are a traveling trio from Boulder, Colorado, that recently started touring the Northwest. "This performance is directed at entertaining youth. We did a performance at the Paradise Center on Sunday for adults. We were just jazz performers there. JumpinJazz Kids is what we call our school performances," said founder Mark Oblinger. Plains High School student Jourdin Bonberger said his mom, Ricki Bullock,...
After months of gathering information, the committee to report the pros and cons of starting a sanctioned soccer team between Plains and Thompson Falls Schools presented to the boards last week. Thompson Falls School Board approved having a soccer team next year, to a packed room of parents, students and other interested parties from Plains and Thompson Falls. Those opposed to having soccer as a school sport were concerned with it interfering with the football fall schedule. The vote was 6-1 in...
Step Up to Clean Up is the theme for the 2024 Thompson Falls Beautification Days project. Students at Thompson Falls Elementary, Trout Creek School and Trout Creek Adventist School decorated posters following the theme, which were judged by community members last week. "This year marks the 22nd year of the event," said Beautification Days coordinator Joni Mosher. One poster from each grade, kindergarten through sixth, was chosen to be made into flyers that will be displayed throughout the town...
The warm weather invites us to open up the windows to clear the air in our stuffy homes. The season of cleaning is upon us. Some will scrub top to bottom making sure all the old dust collected in corners is removed. This can be refreshing for the habitants of the house. It also gets rid of stored energies that need to be flushed out. This clearing is good for everyone in the household. Stagnant air and energy can cause fatigue, breathing problems and even emotional unrest. The clearing goes deeper than scrubbing the cobwebs from the ceiling, th...
Margie Risbon-Rohwer (pronounced roar, she says) was born April 18, 1928, in Wellfleet, Nebraska. She has lived by herself in Thompson Falls for 31 years since the passing of her husband George. Rohwer said she attended 12 schools in 12 years. Rohwer’s father Gilbert Risbon was born in Pennsylvania but he was a confirmed westerner, she said. He went back to Pennsylvanica twice, then hustled back to the west. Thompson Falls is the only town her father came back to twice. Rohwer was born a year before the great depression. Her father moved his f...
