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Independently owned since 1905
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The Town of Plains has a new mayor as of Friday - Joel Banham - and he's anxious to get to work. One of Chris Allen's final acts as mayor was to swear in Banham at City Hall on Friday morning. Banham's first official role as mayor will be to head the town council meeting on Monday, Jan 8. More than a dozen people showed up at City Hall to witness Banham's swearing in, including council members John Sheridan and John Roesler, along with Judge Tom Collins and clerks Cathy Emmett and Jonalie...
Montana legislators voted last week to not have a special session. A majority of at least 76 legislators was needed to approve the call for the special session. Only 55 legislators (54 Republicans and one Democrat) approved the call, including 37 in the state House of Representatives and 18 in the state Senate. Sanders County legislators Bob Brown and Paul Fielder voted in favor of the special session and Representative Denley Loge voted against the special session. The Montana Freedom Caucus, a group of 21 Republican legislators (including...
Quinn's Hot Springs Resort once again rang in the New Year at midnight Sunday with a brilliant show of light and color. Rocketman Pyros of Spokane, Washington, fired off an estimated 1,300 rockets ranging from 100 feet high to around 400. For the last 22 years, the resort has put on a New Year's Eve party with drinks, special goodies, music and a fireworks display. "It was awesome," said Diane Gilliland of Moiese. "It was fabulous. We've been to a lot of different fireworks and this was one of...
Maralee Schall had an experience that forced her to take the leap and open the store that she had been wanting to for years. For eight years Scholl worked from home in her basement. She sold Lularoe clothing and then started buying and selling accessories such as jewelry. Selling the clothing and other items online, Schall said she became bored with the business. Scholl knew that she wanted to do more but was reluctant to leave the security of her home. In July 2023, the decision was made for...
There are certain things in life that you just have to figure out. We learn to problem solve, especially in a rural area. If you can't get leeks or curry at the grocery store, you learn to improvise. We also have a lot of people here who are experts at random tasks. There are people who can hem pants or fix small car issues with ease. I like being prepared. I like knowing what I'm getting into. If I am going somewhere new for an interview, I will look at the directions several times to make sure I know where I'm going in case there is no servic...
Laws in several states have criminalized criticizing American history, even when that history contains criminal acts. It is sort of like putting a happy face on American history. Look, I love my country, warts and all. I love it because, since her inception, she has offered the promise of hope, a promise of a better life for her citizens, a new way of treating citizens. She still offers that promise and, in fits and starts, fulfills those hopes, but to imagine that you can have a great nation, i...
9 YEARS AGO DECEMBER 27, 1918 DISASTROUS FLOODS OCCUR Highways Are Impassable in Many Sections The heavy rains of November and December have resulted in unprecedented damage to railroads, bridges, telephone lines, power lines and roads. The heavy rains resulted in slides, washing out the Dry Creek road, blocking the Blue Slide, washing out a dozen major bridges in the county, and an uncountable number of smaller bridges. Only three bridges on the main highway were washed out. The Thompson River Bridge was saved. At Trout Creek the county...
COOPER SPURR, Plains - “I will intend for better health, being a better person to my peers and think more about what I can do to make a change for the good. It’s a new year and I intend for each day as they come to be good.” ZOEY HALDEN, Plains - “I intend to help other people as needed. Every day is a new day to start off good and end good.” JEFF HAINLINE, Dixon - “I intend to keep improving the school lunch program with healthier and fresh locally sourced food for the kids’ meals.” MICHAELA VUKIALAU, Dixon - “I intend to be more actively eng...
Nicholas Ray Needles pleaded not guilty to six felony counts of incest before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher on Tuesday during his arraignment. As Judge John Larson has assumed jurisdiction over this matter after a motion for substitution of judge, Judge Christopher held the arraignment on his behalf. Judge Larson’s office will issue a date for the jury trial in the near future. As detailed in the filed affidavit, on November 16, Thompson Falls Police Officer Michael Derry was dispatched to a home in Thompson Falls following a report of possible...
Montana Highway Patrol Robert Johnson-Holiman, 23, reckless driving, 1st offense, $285; operating with expired registration, $75. Ashley Sanford, 27, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Brian Kester, 43, owner permitting operation of vehicle without liability insurance, 1st offense, $285. Daniel Maus, 33, speeding in a restricted zone, $55. Robert Berg, 70, seatbelt violation, $20; operating with expired registration, $85. Michael Brooks, 56, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Thomas Larson, 73, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Sanders...
Ambulance: Plains, 8; Trout Creek, 6; T. Falls, 6; Hot Springs, 5; Dixon, 4; Camas Prairie, 2; Heron, 1. Monday, December 25 Fire, Hot Springs. Motor vehicle crash, Trout Creek. Welfare check, Plains. Suspicious activity, Plains. Child welfare/abuse, T. Falls. USFS campground check, Trout Creek. Livestock, Plains. Business contact. Business contact, T. Falls. Child custody issues, T. Falls. Juvenile runaway, Heron. Tuesday, December 26 Person missing, Paradise. Fire, T. Falls. Threats, T. Falls. Livestock, Hot Springs. Motor vehicle crash,...
Richard (Dick) Browne, 88, passed away at his home in Thompson Falls, Montana, on December 28, 2023, after a brief illness. He was surrounded by his wife, his five daughters and his dog, Shadow. Dick was born June 28, 1935, in Constantine, Michigan, to John S. and Grace Browne. After graduation from Sturgis High School, he moved to Thompson Falls in 1955 and began working for the U.S. Forest Service that summer. That same summer, he met Linda Watson, and they would eventually marry in May of...
Dale Schmoyer, 77 of Plains, died December 16, 2023 at the MT Veterans Home in Columbia Falls. Services will be scheduled at a later date. Dale is survived by his sister Sharon Warner. Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is caring for Dale’s family....
Clayton and Ivy Lulack welcomed a son, Jaxon Lee Lulack, on December 11, 2023, at Clark Fork Valley Hopsital. Jaxon weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces and measured 21 inches long. He joins a sister, Avia. Maternal grandparents are Justin and Mindy Richards. Paternal Grandparents are Juan and Karrie Lulack. Welcome Jaxon!...
Stefanie Rock and Braden Starika of Plains announce the birth of a son, Sawyer John Starika, born December 24, 2023, at Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains. Sawyer weighed 7 pounds, 15.7 ounces and measured 20 inches long. Dr. Hanson was the delivering physician. Maternal grandmother is Debbie Rock of Lathrop, California. Paternal grandparents are DeDra and Gilly Bradley of Paradise, Montana, and Scott and Delemy Starika of Tooele, Utah. Welcome Sawyer!...
by Ed Moreth The Christmas spirit usually comes from the heart and doesn't involve a lot of thinking, reasoning or competitive activity, even with participants with names like "Rudolf," "Grinch," "Elf" and "Nutcracker." The last day of school at Plains on Friday was only a half day, but it came with fun with brain power and athletic prowess for the annual Brain Bash contest to signal the coming of the school's Christmas vacation. It was especially fulfilling for team "Elf," which chalked up...
Children at Thompson Falls Community Church performed "A Charlie Brown Christmas" during the holiday season....
There was no snow this year at the 42nd annual Keg Bowl, but that didn't stop 22 players of different generations of Blue Hawks from hitting the field. The men were split into two teams, the Blue team and the White team. While no real score was being kept, it would be the blue team who would kick the game off, the white team were swift to earn the ball back. After a white ball fumble the football would find itself back into the hands of the blue team. They couldn't make the play happen and...
A group of runners started their 2024 fitness goals early with the annual New Year's Day fun run in Thompson Falls. Twenty-two runners braved the damp chill and icy roads to bring in the new year with a brisk run. The runners gathered at the Elks Lodge on Monday for the 25th annual fun run, with runners choosing a 5K or a 2K distance. They took off at 9 a.m. "We used to have over 100 runners," said organizer Sarah Naegeli with the Clark Fork Running Club. Other towns started having a New Year's...
Starting Jan. 1, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will require Hunter and Bowhunter Education students aged 12 to 17 who take the online course to pass an in-person field day. Students in that age group must pass both the online exam and the field day to earn a course completion certificate. For Hunter Education, the in-person field day will require students to practice and demonstrate key safety skills related to firearm handling, the four main rules of firearm safety, and the PROVE procedure, which stands for “Point, Remove, Observe, Verify, a...
Thompson River Animal Care Shelter (TRACS) held the Jingle Paws for a Cause Holiday Raffle to raise money for the shelter. Tickets were sold at businesses in Plains and Thompson Falls through December 15. Tickets were drawn at the Limberlost Brewery on December 16 during their second annual caroling party. Silent auction items were donated, and final bids taken during the caroling party at Limberlost Brewing. The three donated silent auction items were RV repairs from CJ's RV, a $200 gift...
OVER THE HILL GANG W L Jokers Wild 35.5 28.5 Com’bak Kids 32.5 31.5 Roll’n Along 32.5 31.5 Leftovers 32 32 Fun Team 30 34 Mixed Nuts 29.5 34.5 Team Scr. Game: Fun Team, 685; Scr. Series: Fun Team, 1986; Hcp. Game: Mixed Nuts, 881; Hcp. Series: Com’bak Kids, 2484; Mens Inv. Scr. Game: Ron Beaty, 215; Scr. Series: Ron Beaty, 574; Hcp. Game: Rob Johnson, 252; Hcp. Series: Hank Smith, 640. Wms Inv. Scr Game: Catherine Hummel, 182; Scr Series: Ginger Ward, 472; Hcp. Game: Catherine Hummel, 246; Hcp. Series: Catherine Hummel, 659. INDUSTRIAL LEAGUE W...
My husband and I recently debated the definition of “reading,” and whether or not audio books count. I say they absolutely do. The audio book is exactly the same as the written book and requires roughly the same investment of time, the listener learns the same information as the person who uses their eyes or fingertips to read it…why wouldn’t it count? I wish I had the attention required to listen to books, but sadly, I’ll be twenty minutes in and realize I have no idea what’s happening cause I’ve been in my head. What do you think? Do aud...
by Rep. Denley Loge My husband and I recently debated the definition of “reading,” and whether or not audio books count. I say they absolutely do. The audio book is exactly the same as the written book and requires roughly the same investment of time, the listener learns the same information as the person who uses their eyes or fingertips to read it…why wouldn’t it count? I wish I had the attention required to listen to books, but sadly, I’ll be twenty minutes in and realize I have no idea what’s happening cause I’ve been in my head. What do...
The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) located in Plains has a long-range plan that was compiled and updated at their October 2022 meeting. “We will be having another meeting sometime in 2024,” Dillon Martini at the Plains office said. The report covers all of Sanders County and includes information from land ownership to the prioritized projects for NRCS’s financial incentive programs. The report looks at population growth in Sanders County and its effects on water usage, soil concerns and forestry. The plan combines local and regio...
