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Independently owned since 1905
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It appears that Mother Nature is taking it easy on us this winter. After last winter’s abundant, record-setting snowfall, this year has seemed tranquil. This is only true for some areas, according to the National Resource and Conservation Service’s (NRCS) most recent data findings. Surprisingly, early snowfall has been normal in regions along the Continental Divide in western and south-central Montana, according to NRCS Hydrologist Lucas Zukiewicz. “What’s been unique about this winter so far is that the snowpack in these regions would be belo...
Lyle Fisher is carrying the weight of Sanders County on his back in March. Fisher, a volunteer firefighter and EMT from Hot Springs, is training for the 28th annual Firefighter Stairclimb in Seattle on March 10. The event is a fundraiser for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Fisher, 29, has set a goal of raising $2,000, and said he is trying to get donations not just from his hometown of Hot Springs, but all over Sanders County. He plans to do fundraising throughout the county. "It's hard...
State Senator Jennifer Fielder of Thompson Falls is back in Helena as the 2019 legislative session gets under way. Fielder, a Republican in Senate District 7, this session is chairperson of the Senate Fish and Game Committee, Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee, and a member of the Local Government Committee. Sen. Fielder said Monday from Helena that being chair of the Fish and Game Committee takes up a lot of bandwidth for her, but she's ready for a busy session. "I'm working on a number of...
by Annie Wooden After more than 90 minutes of discussion with about 25 residents on Monday evening, the Thompson Falls City Council voted in favor of two resolutions expressing the intent to create Special Improvement Districts (SIDs) and move forward with a wastewater treatment system plan for properties above the railroad tracks. However, council members expressed to residents in attendance that this did not commit them to the project. On Jan. 7, the city held a public meeting to inform residents of the proposed project and the proposed...
This week, five of the six Thompson Falls City Council members voted to move forward with the intent to create Special Improvement Districts to fund the proposed wastewater treatment system. The system is expensive, and council members admitted to that fact. But they decided to move forward and give property owners the opportunity to express their support or opposition for the project. Some city council members say they won't move forward with the project unless additional grants and funding options are found to help residents. They said the...
Greetings to all, Just a short note to again say what a privileged it is to once again serve you in Helena and let you know what went on this first week of the 66th Montana Legislative Session. On the 7th of January was the swearing in ceremony for all legislators. Guests and family were allowed on the floor for this special occasion and I was so pleased my brother and sister-in-law came to join me. The rest of the week has been filled with schooling sessions including legislative law, appropriation training, ethics, and a study of the budgets...
“Truth is incontrovertible. Panic may hate it. Ignorance may deride it. Malice may distort it. But, in the end, there it is.” Winston Churchill wrote those words in his War Memoirs after World War II. This quote has become one of my favorites. I love it for its accuracy and simplicity. In preparation for this week’s column, I looked up the word truth in Webster’s Dictionary. Here’s their definition: “A body of real things, events, and facts (emphasis mine).” We’re in the middle of the longest...
5 YEARS AGO • JANUARY 16, 1969 BRONCO LIZ, TF DANCE HALL QUEEN ALSO DROVE THOMPSON PASS FREIGHT WAGON The heavy snow and low temperatures being experienced in Sanders County this winter had a parallel 85 years ago, according to Will John. The account of that winter in 1883 appears under the title, “Frontier Cheer,” and it is reproduced below. Snow and the temptation of new gold diggings in the Coeur d’Alene mountains in Idaho combined to make a little town close by the falls in the Clark Fork River one of the brawlingest tent villages in the...
ANSON ROWNDY, Idaho Falls –“I pay my income taxes by March.” MIKE MARICH, Thompson Falls – “I pay my property taxes as soon as I get the bill. Income taxes, the latter part of February.” KENDRA HELVEY, Thompson Falls – “I pay my property taxes in November for the full year. I pay my income taxes quarterly as soon as the accountant is done.” SCOTT RYDER, Trout Creek – “I don’t own property so I don’t pay taxes. I pay income taxes in April if there are any due.” JERRY SANDERS, Thompson Falls – “Property taxes the first of the year. I’m on Socia...
A hole in a sewage pipe near St. Regis discovered last Friday sent more than 40,000 gallons of raw sewage down the Clark Fork River, according to the state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Bill Naegeli, head of Sanders County Emergency Management, said that he was notified by the DEQ that a wastewater lagoon force main had a complete break in a section on the Clark Fork River. “It’s already flushed through here,” Naegeli said on Tuesday. He said that normally situations are reported to the state DEQ, who notify everyone downs...
A 43-year-old man entered not guilty pleas Tuesday to four charges stemming from a 911 call of a disturbance at a Thompson Falls apartment complex. Jason Krick is charged with two felony counts of criminal posession of dangerous drugs, a misdemeanor count of obstruction of a peace officer, and misdemeanor disorderly conduct. On Dec. 30, Thompson Falls Police Department responded to an apartment complex on Bighorn Drive for a report of a disturbance. According to charging documents, Krick allegedly gave officers a different name when he was...
Montana Highway Patrol James Fisher, 50, seatbelt violation, $20. Elena McAllister, seatbelt violation, $20. Catherine Norman, 51, failure to carry proof of insurance in vehicle, owner or operator, 1st offense, $85. Franklin Ross, 66, night speeding, $70. Kristopher Beech, 24, careless driving, $55; seatbelt violation, $20; driving under the influence of alcohol, 1st offense, $685 and 1 day jail. Timothy Schramm, 27, failure to keep vehicle under control on mountain highway, $85. Travis Braymer, 36, speeding in a restricted zone, $65. William...
Ambulances: Noxon 2, Thompson Falls 4, Plains 8, Hot Springs 5, Dixon QRU 1. Sunday, January 6 Noise disturbance, Plains. Very large rock in the middle of Hwy. 200, Perma. Motor vehicle slide-off, Hwy. 135. Erratic driver, eastbound Hwy. 200, Dixon. Resident chased off a prowler with a bat, H. Springs. Monday, January 7 Trailer with a totaled car on it was left in south entrance of Cornerstone Convenience, H. Springs. Dog complaint, T. Falls. Welfare check requested, T. Falls. Windshield damaged by rocks thrown from a plow truck, Hwy. 200, T. F...
Pajamas, PJs, jammas or jammies...stripes, solids, flannels, fleece, silk, cotton, nightgown, long sleeves, short sleeves, pants or shorts, footed set or a union suit? The options are endless and Noxon's National Honor Society (NHS) has honored the late Kathy Fitchett by continuing the Pajama Drive she began years ago. Under the direction of Lucas MacArthur, NHS members "put their heads together to come up with a special community service project," MacArthur shared, adding that the society...
Wolves are a hot topic in Sanders County. Despite the conflict they have caused between sportsmen, naturalists and wildlife managers in the area, on January 20, Canis lupus will be honored with the rise of a full moon – a Full Wolf Moon. January’s full moon is the Full Wolf Moon and will host a visible lunar eclipse as well, making the 2019 moon doubly spectacular. The event will begin at 7:36 p.m. on January 20 (with maximum totality at 10:12 p.m.) and will continue until 12:48 p.m. on January 21, according to timeanddate.com. According to...
THOMPSON FALLS MAIN STREET COMMITTEE members Robin Hagedorn (from left) and Carla Parks presented Christmas on Main Street decorating awards to First Security Bank, represented by Jill Lofthus and Joanne Burk; Courtney Dean of Courtney's Floral; and the Thompson Falls Ambulance Service, represented by Jim Krogman, Katie Miller and Janet Shear....
We purchased property on the hill in 1975, and have always been concerned about sewage leaving our home, untreated, and affecting the ground/river water in this gorgeous area we call home. We’ve looked forward to the day when we could tie into the sewage treatment system, have a permanent fix, and no longer be concerned about our septic tank failing. Will this proposal affect us - yes, hugely! - along with increased costs, our many years of landscaping - garden, fruit trees, blueberry and raspberry bushes, etc., will be adversely affected. B...
Dale E. Trudgen, 87, of Thompson Falls passed away Jan. 6, 2019, of natural causes. Dale was born April 7, 1931, in Butte. He attended Polson High School, graduating in 1951. Dale worked as a painter, was a bronc rider, and worked at various lumber mills. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking and ranching, and was a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Turkey Foundation and the National Rifle Association. Dale was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Gertrude (Downey)...
At the University of Montana, 2,520 students made the fall semester 2018 Dean’s List or President’s 4.0 List. To qualify, students must be undergraduates, earn a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher and receive grades of A or B in at least nine credits. Students who receive any grade of C+ or below or no credit (NC/NCR) in a course are not eligible. Sanders County students earning dean’s list honors include Aicia Curran and Blazz Wood of Thompson Falls, Holly Carlsmith of Trout Creek, William Read of Plains and Austin Johnson of Noxon (4.0 GPA)....
Katherine and Jesse Reed welcomed daughter, Amaris Josephine, November 15, 2018 at 6:30 a.m. at Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains. She weighed seven pounds and measured 21.25 inches long. Paternal grandparents are Guyla Benner and Del Ditton. Welcome, Amaris....
Rose Scoville and Juanita Triplett took top honors in the December 2018 Thompson Falls Woman’s Club Pinochle Marathon with a score of 7,710. Second place went to Linda Haywood and Maureen Kolodziej with 7,080, and third were Peggy Carlson and Arnie Carlson with 6,510. Overall scores for the season are: Rose Scoville and Juanita Triplett 15,880, Linda Haywood and Maureen Kolodziej 15,130, Peggy Carlson and Arnie Carlson 11,210, Juanita Triplett and Cal Pomrenke 18,490, Tamra Weltz and Lonna Derenburger 16,850, Cheryl Godfrey and Patty Hopkins 1...
Lorie Adams did not exactly have a good start to 2019. Unfortunately, on Jan. 1, due to an electrical outlet problem according to a Heron fire volunteer, her house caught fire and it was a complete loss. She also lost her vehicle in the blaze. Heron’s Wednesday Women have come together and will provide a spaghetti dinner benefit to help Adams rebuild. On Saturday, Jan. 19 from 5 to 7 p.m., they will serve spaghetti, salad, French bread and cake at the Heron Community Center. President of the club Caryene Bledsoe stated they are asking a fee o...
A case against State Senator Jennifer Fielder regarding an open records request has been dismissed after nearly two years. Sen. Fielder (R-Thompson Falls) released a statement Monday saying the case was permanently dismissed and no further action will be taken. In February 2017, the Campaign for Accountability (CFA) filed the lawsuit against the state’s Legislative Services Division and Fielder claiming that Sen. Fielder failed to release records requested under the Montana Open Records Act. The case was dismissed with prejudice, which means e...
Swimming pools aren't exactly a hot topic during the cold winter months, but a group of people got together last week at Clark Fork Valley Hospital to discuss the break downs of the E.L. Johnson Memorial Pool in Plains, the cost of keeping it open, and the prospect of constructing a new indoor pool. The Plains swimming pool is nearly 50 years old and has shown constant problems over the last 15 years. Members of the Committee For Safe Swimming (CSS) organized a meeting last Tuesday in an effort...
by Caitlyn Patel Community News Service UM School of Journalism Gov. Steve Bullock is once again proposing Montana launch a state-funded preschool program for those who cannot afford private pre-kindergarten programs for their children. The governor included a $30 million grant program to support high-quality preschool programs supplied by public schools, community-based providers or head start programs in his budget ahead of the 2019 legislative session. It is the governor’s third attempt at state-funded preschool, but the first to benefit f...
