Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Pitching a no hitter in baseball is a feat, but driving a big rig more than 1.7 million miles without an accident is epic. And that's what Larry Spiekermeier of Plains did during his career with Whitewood Transport of Billings. The 71-year-old Spiekermeier retired from Whitewood Transport in October, but he had just one more task to accomplish to make his career complete – to drive truck in all 50 states. "I told them that Hawaii was the only state I hadn't driven in, so they organized it with a...
Monday evening more than 80 residents of Thompson Falls joined the city board in an informational meeting about the proposed first two phases of the city's wastewater system improvement project. Environmental and financial impacts as well as planned project implementation were discussed at length. In fashion with most topics that require action and financial commitment, strong arguments were made for both sides of the project. Shawn Sorenson, Sanders County Sanitarian, opened the meeting...
Less than a week into her newly combined position of Sanders County Clerk and Recorder, Superintendent of Schools and Treasurer, Nichol Scribner attended the Thompson Falls School Board meeting on Monday to address issues with school financial records. Scribner told the board that the school finances are up to date through October, but that October has not been reconciled. She said she met with all of the school district clerks in the county, and her office is working to get financial reports to schools, cities and special districts. Scribner...
“It is all around us,” Sanders County Health Director Karen Morey said referencing the influenza virus. Sanders County has only had one confirmed case of Influenza A this season, and so far, seems to be unaffected by the virus even though adjacent counties have seen a stronger presence. According to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), Sanders County is not an influenza “hot spot” yet. But they have seen an elevation of cases in Missoula, Glacier, Ravalli and Powell counties, and as we all know, the virus can spr...
"Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the things you can think up if you only try." If only Dr. Seuss were a member of Congress. We are in the third week of a government shutdown, with threats that it could go on even longer. It seems that neither side is going to budge, and we're beginning to wonder if a solution will be found. Growing up, you are constantly reminded to play nice, be kind and treat everyone with respect. You learn to share your toys, say please and thank you, and most importantly, that you don't always...
In late December I watched a CBS interview with, and performance by, a young singer named Ashley McBride, who is good enough to be recently mentioned in Grammy terms. One of her songs repeated the refrain “not bad for a girl going nowhere,” and in the interview, she talked about teachers who told her that’s exactly where she was going. Now, of course, she’s getting some sweet payback. This is a common story – the kid who does well despite the negative judgments of teachers. In fact, it reminds me of my graduation interview with a high scho...
“We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal….” My very being swells with pride when I read those words by Jefferson in our Declaration of Independence, and I think that I am no different in that regard from any other American. The marvelous thing to me is that Americans have taken the concept of equality far beyond what it meant in 1776, and that our country and the world are the better for our actions. In 1776 the “all men” who were created equal did not apply to...
5 YEARS AGO • JANUARY 9, 1969 REGULAR TRAIN STOPS SET FOR FALLS, NOXON Noxon and Thompson Falls again are regular stops for the Main streeter passenger trains operated by the Northern Pacific Railway Co., Louis W. Menk, president, advised the Thompson Falls-Noxon Chamber of Commerce. The chamber had written the N.P. in November requesting that the Mainstreeter make regular stops, instead of merely stopping when flagged at the two depots. In response to the chamber’s request Menk this week wrote Mrs. Dufresne: “At the time we improved the M...
TOM KEITH, Noxon – “I don’t think the wall will help keep the illegals out. They will just tunnel under it. I don’t think this shutting down the government will solve the problem either.” BOBBIE JO SPAHN, Noxon – “I think everybody should get out of Trump’s way and build the wall.” SHERRY SUTHERLAND, Noxon – “I think the senators and representatives should stop fighting with each other and move on. They need to put the people first and let the people go back to work.” JUDY AUGUSTINE, Noxon – “My advice to the senators is to get together...
Ambulances: Noxon, 4; T. Falls, 4; Plains, 3; H. Springs, 8. Sunday, December 30 Individual will not vacate a T. Creek business. Vehicle slide-off at Faro Lane and Big Beaver Cr., T. Falls. Multiple reports of phone and internet outage. Vehicle in water at Perma curves, Hwy. 200. Vehicle in ditch on Hwy. 200 west of Paradise. Couple creating a disturbance in hallway of apartments, arrest made for possession of dangerous drugs, T. Falls. Monday, December 31 Aggressive individual wanting to drive, arrest made for DUI refusal, T. Falls. Welfare...
Montana Highway Patrol Jacob Gullett, 21, operating without liability insurance, $85; night speeding, $70. Treydon Brouillette, 17, seatbelt violation, $20. Vineet Pande, 21, basic rule, reasonable and prudent, $85. Mike McLeod, 42, basic rule, reasonable and prudent, $85. Damon Hubbs, 32, seatbelt violation, $20. Blake McDonald, 16, day speeding, $20. Tyrel Wortley, 21, seatbelt violation, $20. Nicholaus Warren, 26, reckless driving, 1st offense, $385 and 60 days jail with 59 days suspended. Sanders County Sheriff’s Office David Martin, 59, e...
Editor, When did the voters in Thompson Falls request this sewer? Who or what agency is manipulating or dictating to our elected local city government? In my mind local elected officials do bidding of constituents who elected them, not the bidding of external councils influencing government or special interest conglomerates. Lark Chadwick, Thompson Falls...
William C. Curry was born on October 6, 1946, in Kirkland, Washington, "to be close to his parents." That's how he would tongue-in-cheek phrase it. He grew up on a 20-acre farm north of Redmond. There he experienced rural life to its fullest and loved his family, extended family and neighbors. He is preceded in death by his parents, Von and Marian Curry, his younger brother Jeff and his granddaughter Josephine. He is survived by his wife Sue and his children: Anne McBee, James, John, Robert and... Full story
Betty King, 86, passed away January 3, 2019 at her home in Noxon surrounded by her close family. She was born on January 12, 1932 in Thompson Falls at Mabel McKee's Hospital to Russell Carner and Marion Carner (McKee). She resided in Noxon her entire life. On November 5, 1949 she married the love of her life, Russell Bruce King. Together they raised four children, sons Russell A., Joel E., Andrew L. and daughter Cathy Sue. Betty is survived by her loving husband Bruce, son Joel (Leilani) King of... Full story
A passion for helping people led Thompson Falls resident Morgan Leaf to open Essential Wellness Day Spa. Leaf has been a licensed massage therapist since 2007. "I love it, I love helping people," she said. Leaf has offered massage services at other locations in Thompson Falls, but decided recently to open her own day spa. Essential Wellness Day Spa opened in December, and Leaf held an open house on Dec. 8. She invited vendors to bring in products, offered specials, and opened the doors to share...
Dave and JoAnne Colyer have a name for their new service station mascot – Claire – named in honor of their Sinclair Gas Station in Plains. Scott Dicken of Plains was one of 75 people to enter the name-the-dinosaur contest, but wasn't the only one to suggest Claire, said JoAnne. The Colyers selected the name Claire on New Year's Day, even though JoAnne liked the suggested name Herman, which was her father's name, but she didn't think it was a good name for a dinosaur. Seven people entered the...
MSU Extension in Sanders County is picking up its Lunch and Learn brown bag series this month. All classes are free and held at the state office building just east of Thompson Falls. Classes are noon to 1 p.m. on Fridays. Jeanette Allday with MSU Extension in Sanders County said participants are welcome to bring their own lunch and join in learning about various topics. Allday said the classes are taught by community members, Extension agents and specialists from Montana State University. She said that the 2019 series was created based off of...
Now you see it. Now you don't. Now you see it again... After dominating most of the way, the Thompson Falls Blue Hawk boys played peekaboo with the lead at the end before finally coming back to see through to a 59-53 win over District 7B rival in overtime at TFHS Saturday night. The Hawks led the visiting Lions 40-23 at one point early in the fourth quarter before the Lions charged back to make things interesting in the game's final minutes and on into overtime. Thompson Falls had several...
The pressure got to the Lady Hawks last week; dealing with that kind of pressure has now become Job No. 1 for coach Doree Thilmony and her young squad. Thompson Falls fell to two pressure-defense teams last week, dropping a 69-53 decision to Loyola in Missoula Thursday and losing 50-33 to Eureka in a District 7B conference game in Thompson Falls Saturday. The Hawks face two more worthy opponents with the possibility of pressure D again this week, visiting Bigfork for another 7B game Friday and...
HOT SPRINGS - Cameron Barber has been harping on defense with his team ever since he took over as the coach of the Hot Springs boys at the start of the season. And that attention to defensive detail paid off in spades Thursday night as his Savage Heat shut down the Noxon Red Devils' offense on the way to a 52-37 win over their county rivals in Hot Springs. "That's the best defense we have played this season," Barber said. "I have been telling the kids that we have to win on the defensive end...
by John Hamilton After a slow start, the Hot Springs Savage Heat girls are now off to the races for the remainder of the 2019 portion of their hoop schedule. Seeming to be in need of a jump start to their offensive engine, the Heat struggled past an equally cold-shooting Noxon squad 27-25 in Hot Springs Thursday, and then lost 48-40 to the Trotters in Plains Friday. Coach Richard Jackson and his Heat have two more District 14C games this week, at St. Regis Thursday and against Charlo in Hot...
Basketball is difficult enough without putting undue pressure on yourselves. The nervous Noxon Lady Red Devils lost a pair of District 14C conference games last week, falling 27-25 to the Savage Heat in Hot Springs Thursday and 67-28 to Arlee in Noxon Saturday. Noxon coach Ryan Weltz thinks his Lady Devils have been too hard on themselves mentally, that they are not simply enjoying the opportunity to go out there, play and well, just have fun. "I've been trying to tell them, this is just a...
Sometimes you have to fight for the right to win. Coach Tyrell Allen’s Plains Horsemen fought past District 14C foes St. Regis and Hot Springs last week, topping the Tigers 57-49 in St. Regis Thursday and defeating Hot Springs 58-47 in Plains Friday. Back in fighting form after the holidays, Allen and the Horsemen will continue their 14C conference basketball battles this week hosting Noxon Friday and visiting Two Eagle River in Pablo Saturday. The Horsemen escaped the Tigers in St. Regis last week by blowing open a tight game in the fourth qua...
The Thompson Falls Lady Hawk JV played twice last week, falling 51-21 to Loyola in Missoula Thursday and losing 63-33 to Eureka in Thompson Falls Saturday. Danni VanHuss scored seven points and speared eight rebounds against Loyola, Elli Pardee added four points and two rebounds, Julissa Bonney two points and two steals and Roni Hanks four rebounds. Against Eureka, Pardee scored 12 points and grabbed two steals and three rebounds, VanHuss had eight points, two steals and six rebounds and Bonney four points, four assists and three...
Trae triumphant! Again. Thompson Falls freshman Trae Thilmony won the individual title at 113 pounds to lead the Hawks at the Cut Bank Invitational last weekend. The 27-team tournament began Friday and ran through Saturday. The Blue Hawks finished a very respectable tenth in team scoring among the 27 Class B-C and A squads. In addition to Thilmony’s championship run, sophomore Roman Sparks won six straight matches after falling in the second round to come back and win third place at 120, Seth Alarcon grappled down fourth in the heavyweight d...
