Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Residents interested in changes to the 2018 and 2019 hunting seasons have an opportunity to provide comments next week. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is hosting a public meeting to discuss proposed changes 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, at the Lakeside Motel & Resort in Trout Creek. FWP Biologist Bruce Sterling said there are no major changes to the hunting season structure in this area. Hunting dates and regulations are adopted every two years for most game species across Montana. The proposed changes are for 2018 and 2019. Sterling said...
If you made a New Year's Resolution, according to historians you just took part in a tradition dating back some 4,000 years. Babylonians began the annual New Year tradition four centuries ago in mid-late March, during the first full moon after vernal equinox when seasonal crops were planted. Symbolization of the New Year's growing season was represented through a religious 12 day celebration called Akitu. Babylonians honored and vowed loyalty to their reigning king during Akitu, and addressed...
Sanders County recently adopted a permit program for wells drilled within the county. Well permitting will be phased into Sanders County sanitation practices starting January, 2018. Like wastewater systems, owners will be required to obtain a well permit before a well is drilled. The State of Montana regulates wells in several ways. Subdivided parcels must follow approvals issued under the Montana Sanitation in Subdivision Act. Wells outside of subdivisions are approved through the local site evaluation process. Regardless of where a well is...
"I'm excited about it," said Danny Rowan a few minutes after he was sworn in as the new Plains mayor by then Mayor Greg Eitelberg. A small crowd of people showed up for the swearing in ceremony at Plains City Hall last Wednesday. Eitelberg served only one term and decided against going for a second one in order to help his wife take care of her ailing parents in Washington. Because no one registered to oppose Rowan last September, he was automatically the winner based on Plains Resolution 470, s...
Well, winter is definitely here. All of Sanders County has been hit with several inches — and in many places several feet — of snow, and frigid temperatures. While it’s no fun to drive on these winter roads, it’s important that we all do our part to help out those state, county and city employees who are tasked with keeping roadways clear. The normal business routine of going in at 8 a.m. and leaving promptly at 5 p.m. doesn’t apply to those hard-working folks who get behind the wheel of snowplows and loaders to clear parking lots and roads....
Dear Citizens of Lake and Sanders County: Stewardship. It’s an old fashion word but at this holiday season and beyond, it still rings true with the obligations and the opportunities we have to be sure what we were given by those who passed before us is there in a useable way for those who come after us. It was made all the more real by the giants of the past generation who have passed recently for many of us. I have the honor and privilege of serving you as District Judge of the 20th Judicial District for Lake and Sanders Counties since b...
As a young high school American government teacher, I compared our system to an automobile that was useful if it could start, speed up, slow down and stop. When the people thought government needed to be more active, they elected liberal Democrats to press down on the accelerator. When people thought government’s role was getting too large and expensive, they elected Republicans to apply the brakes and slow things down. Our national debt is now $20 trillion and rising. That amounts to about $155,000 in tax liability for the average family of f...
EARLY RECOLLECTIONS ON THE FOREST BY BEN SAINT • 1907-1929 I came to Montana the early part of March, 1907, with my father and was just past the age of 19. We came from Kansas where farming was the chief occupation and knew nothing of the mountains and the hardships we were facing. Father purchased a homestead from one of the early settlers near Noxon. Dealing in homesteads was, at the time, quite popular and quite profitable as well. The most of the claims had not been filed on and no one seemed to know that the forest had been created, but th...
BOB OLSON, Thompson Falls – "To live another year. You never know what will happen in a year's time." RON BELGER, Trout Creek – "To stay healthy, to be outside in wide open spaces and to enjoy the outdoors." SHERRY DECKER, Plains – "That my family will be healthy, happy and that good things happen to everyone." JENNIFER SHOWEN, Trout Creek – "To have more Jesus in our lives and more family time together." CONNOR PHILLIPS, Trout Creek – "I want to start working at Costco this summer. I'm enroll...
Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Bridget Garrison, 40: 2 days jail and $110, theft; $100, driving without a valid license. Charles Bass, 59, $55, speeding in a restricted zone. Nicole Glase, 29, $285, failure to carry proof of insurance, 1st offense. Damon Wahl, 41, $70, day speeding. John Erwin, 35, $20, day speeding. William Colvin, 23, $70, night speeding. Montana Highway Patrol Teancum Roundy, 17, $70, night speeding. Ross Dalby, 23, $85, careless driving. Mahlon Lee, 45, $85, basic rule, reasonable and prudent, 1st offense. Marsada S...
Ambulances: Noxon, 5; T. Falls, 2; Plains, 7; H. Springs, 3; Dixon QRU, 1. Sunday, December 24 Disabled vehicle on Prospect Cr. Hwy. House fire, T. Creek. Suspicious activity at mail box along Blue Slide Rd. Intoxicated person causing a disturbance at Plains business. Domestic dispute, T. Falls. Domestic dispute, Plains. Monday, December 25 Domestic dispute, H. Springs. Non-injury vehicle slide-off on Hwy. 28. Criminal mischief/property damage, Paradise. Cow on Hwy. 200 possibly hit by a vehicle, Dixon. Violation of protection order, Plains....
Two of four defendants in the 2016 burglary of a Trout Creek residence appeared before Judge Kim Christopher Tuesday in 20th District Judicial Court. Jeaneatte Post entered a not guilty to burglary while her husband, Kenneth Hoskins, changed his please to guilty to a burglary charge. The couple, along with Adina Ahlers and John Hannan, were charged in connection with burglary from a home on Beacher Lane in Trout Creek between May and July of 2016. The owner of the residence caught the four on a game camera. During court on Tuesday, Hoskins’ a...
It's good to feel appreciated, and supporters of the Rex Theatre in Thompson Falls turned out with open wallets to show their appreciation for the historical venue that was the location for decades of first dates, family movie nights and, more recently, live performances and stage plays. "We are very humbled by the turnout and the generosity of the community," said Rex owner, Doug Grimm. He appeared to hold back a shrink wrapped tear (or maybe it was dust in his eye) as he reported that the...
Local 4-H clubs have new instructors on the roster who have recently completed training to make them the highest caliber mentors for youth to learn the practice of shooting firearms. December 1-2 found Robert Flansaas, Cliff Farrier, Lance Schoeman and Digger Powell in Kalispell at the 4-H Sports Shooting Leadership seminar. These grown-up students at the seminar are now qualified instructors for 4-H purposes of gun safety and enjoyment in the discipline of shotgun shooting. As a result of their qualification, Thompson Falls Trap Club and...
In the bar scene, it is known as “amateur night.” “New Year’s Eve brings out all the regulars, and all the people who never get out to celebrate – so you can usually count on some kind of crazy to go down,” said one bartender. But according to local law enforcement, this New Year celebration concluded pleasantly calm. “We didn’t have a single arrest,” said Sheriff Tom Rummel, “we had five personnel on shift, including reserve deputies and undersheriff Lanny Hensley. We are always thankful when nights like that go quietly.” Rummel at...
Plowing city streets after a heavy snowfall can be daunting, especially if there are cars parked along Main Street during snowplow worktime. Ask anyone on a county road who has had a mailbox snagged by a plow (the plow drivers verbally apologize, but no one hears at 4 a.m.), parking on the road is not an option. Although there is no law on the books, Thompson Falls Police Chief Chris Nichols shared that city crews do appreciate the savvy car owners who park elsewhere in anticipation of plows coming through overnight. “The north side of Main S...
PERFECT STORM - Icy roads, steep downhill grade, and unmoving wildlife are a recipe for disaster on Highway 200's Thompson River bridge. A rollover last weekend (unrelated to wildlife) was the most recent mishap at the bridge area....
ICY ROADS – A car overturned on Highway 200 west of Thompson Falls near Belknap, taking with it mailboxes for Mosquito Creek Road. Road conditions were treacherous throughout Sanders County....
Florence Jean Roe, 74, passed away Dec. 27, 2017 at Plains after an extended illness. She was born October 16, 1943 to Jim and Rita Robinson. Her mother died when she was a young child. Florence was a long time Sanders County resident. She began school in Trout Creek and attended Spokane schools when her family moved. She returned to Trout Creek as a teenager and lived with her grandmother Stella Smith. She finished her education at Noxon. She had one brother Bernard Robinson who is deceased.... Full story
Richard Henry Nicol of Clayton, Idaho died December 30, 2017. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, January 6 at 3 p.m. at Clayton Community Center in Clayton, Idaho.... Full story
Kevin and Daphne Boles of Plains announce the engagement of their daughter, Taylor Boles, to Carlo Pierini, son of Judy Del'Nero, formerly of Plains and now a resident of Sacramento, Calif. Taylor and Carlo are both graduates of Plains High School. The couple was engaged on Christmas morning. No wedding date has been set. Taylor and Carlo presently live in Los Angeles....
More than a dozen Sanders County families had a very merry Christmas thanks to the generosity of area residents. For more than 10 years, Sanders County Coalition for Families has organized the Adopt a Family program. According to SCCFF’s Crystal Buchanan, 17 families were helped this year, and she and the families were blown away by the response. The organization each year reaches out to families they have helped to get a list of wishes and needs for the holiday season. Buchanan said that this year, they also had three families who moved i...
When a community member is in need, Sanders County is always there to help. Volunteers from Thompson Falls and beyond are busy gathering the final items for a fundraiser set for Saturday to help Randy Pirker with his fight against pancreatic cancer. The benefit begins at 3 p.m. at the Clark Fork Valley Elks Lodge east of Thompson Falls. Pirker, a 1978 graduate of Thompson Falls High School and longtime coach in the district, was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer last year and is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Pirker has...
Making a prize winning chili dish isn't kid's stuff, unless it's at the Assembly of God Church in Plains, where 11-year-old Darren "Bud" Standeford and his sister Kaylah Standeford took first and second place at the Church on the Move 5th Annual Chili Cook-off on New Year's Eve. The Standeford siblings were among six male and four female contestants in the contest, which ran from around 7-9 p.m. in the church coffee shop. Third place was also a youngster, Jeremiah Allen, 14, who joined with Scot...
A balmy 17 degrees welcomed 39 runners who participated in the 19th annual New Year's Day Fun Run in Thompson Falls on New Year's Day. This year's run was a cold, windy and slick one. At the start line, a few runners fell due to the icy roads and there were a quite a few slips and falls along the course. Not surprisingly, there were no records set and it was a slow going race for the most part. Top overall finishers for the 2K race were Rachel Ribeiro finishing up first with a time of 12:27. The...
