Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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by Annie Wooden and Shannon Brown It's so cold people look forward to getting a fever. It's so cold I saw a Greyhound bus and the dog was riding on the inside. It's so cold the sheep want their wool back. However you put it, it was cold in Sanders County last weekend. While much of the nation last week was under weather alerts, Sanders County experienced the biggest snowstorm of the season followed by some record-breaking cold temperatures. Schools, athletic events and businesses were affected...
Some Sanders County school districts received email threats late Tuesday, but law enforcement says the threats are not credible. Administrators at Thompson Falls and Hot Springs schools received bomb threat emails around 8 p.m. Tuesday. Thompson Falls Superintendent Bud Scully said he did not see the email until the morning because it went to his spam folder. Scully said the threat was not credible. “We notified law enforcement and the Montana Attorney General has been notified as well,” Scully said Wednesday. “We do everything we can to keep...
The failed sewer system in Paradise is creating frustrations for at least one resident. At the Sanders County Board of Health meeting last Wednesday at the courthouse, Seth Beech expressed concerns about property he owns in Paradise. Beech owns a lot in Paradise on which there were two existing dwellings and to which he added a trailer in December 2023. "I understood I had usage of that septic because it encroaches over the property line," Beech told the board of health. A dwelling on Beech's...
The new Sanders County Fair manager gave a surprise during her first board meeting last week. Manager Kristy Sheehan was able to find a new carnival company for the Sanders County Fair, something the board felt would be almost impossible to do. The owner of the last carnival, Paradise Amusements of Post Falls, Idaho, said they would not be returning to the Sanders County Fair because of all the complaints. Sheehan told the fair board at last Wednesday's meeting that she's waiting for a bid from...
This weekend is the 28th annual Ted Kato Memorial wrestling tournament held in Thompson Falls with 16 teams coming together, Arlee, Fort Benton, Polson JV, Darby, Mission, Plains, Superior, Priest River Idaho, Sandpoint ID, Cascade, Fairfield, Deer Lodge, Valier, Missoula Sentinel, and Missoula Big Sky. The boys will wrestle in Thompson Falls this year, while the girls will take to the mats at Plains High School. The Ted Kato Memorial is named after lifelong educator and administrator Ted Kato who taught and coached all over Montana during his...
I'm not sure you can put enough "r"s in the word "Brrr" to fully capture last weekend in northwest Montana. It was fascinating to watch the temperature go lower and lower. Saturday morning, as the thermometer was hovering at -21, I was one of the only people venturing out. I wanted to make sure the office was toasty and delivered water and heaters to some friends whose pipes had frozen. There were not many people out and about. I worry about the animals in the cold — the wildlife and the farm animals and stray dogs and cats. They were all hunke...
I finally subscribed to a local paper again after quite a lapse due to the lack of engaging content and the slant of my former small town's paper. Upon receiving my first copy of the Ledger, the first article I read is "On being worried and enraged in 2024." What an introduction! I (one who chooses to be neither worried nor enraged in 2024) feel compelled to respond. Please note, it seems appropriate to use the "new word" a couple times. I hope you won't mind. 10. I could not care less. 9. That one did make me laugh. 8. I enjoyed the use of...
Due to medical reasons, I was unable to attend the Thompson Falls City Council meeting on 8 January, but I certainly heard about it, and for all the wrong reasons. Members of the council were elected by voters to do the business of the city on behalf of citizens. Whether you voted or not, and whether or not you voted for those elected, our council members are the people elected by majority vote. As a long time resident of Thompson Falls, I am watching the behavior of those attending city and county meetings deteriorate over time. There is a...
As I write this, it is Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We have holidays to celebrate great people and great accomplishments. As time passes the great people seem to become even greater, but the magnitude of the great deeds, having been accomplished, seems to shrink as time passes, memories fade, and the participants die. As great as Martin Luther King was, there are so many others who made sacrifices of time and life whose names and deeds should also be celebrated on this day. There are...
8 YEARS AGO • JANUARY 12, 1944 THE DAYS OF GOLD Golden Days Recounted There was a large attendance of the regular meeting of the Lions Club held at the Bentley ranch dining room last Thursday (Birdland Bay). The entertainment for the evening was sponsored by Jim Adams. Mr. Adams invited Fred Haines, one of our oldest known residents in this area to give a discussion on old time days in Thompson Falls. Mr. Haines’ talk was most interesting. Although Jim Adams himself came to Thompson Falls in 1891, still Fred Haines arrived here in 1882, when t...
LINDA ZIRELLI, Plains - “The Boys in the Boat, very historical. I highly recommend it.” AMANDA MILLER, Plains - “The bible. I recommend taking it off the shelf, dusting it off and reading it.” GLENN MILLER, Plains - “An autobiography by Daniel Bodkin titled ‘My Back Pages.’ He is an old hippy who is a big Bob Dylan fan. Hence the title.” JAMIE RUSSELL, Noxon - “Fast, Feast, Repeat. I highly recommend it.” SARAH BAILEY, Thompson Falls - “FableHaven, a fun fantasy and adventure book. I read it once a year, and highly recommend.” TEENA GRA...
Ronnie Maxwell Goodrum made his initial appearance before Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher on Tuesday, pleading not guilty to a felony count of assault with a weapon. A jury trial was set for June 3, 2024. According to the filed affidavit, on December 26, 2023, Thompson Falls Chief of Police Chris Nichols received a call from Sanders County dispatch regarding a report from a resident saying that Goodrum had been at his home, making threats, and refusing to leave. The resident stated that Goodrum was attempting to locate his ex-girlfriend, who wa...
Montana Highway Patrol Tuesday Yocum, 31, failure to carry/exhibit proof of insurance in vehicle, 1st offense, $85. James Petersen, 67, seatbelt violation, $20; speeding in a restricted zone, $65. Louis Vanicek, 19, speeding in a restriction zone, $85. Hipolito Chacon, 60, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Melissa Phillips, 39, speeding in a restricted zone, $105. Wayne Trahan, 42, careless driving, $75; operating without liability insurance in effect, 1st offense, $285. Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Dean Miller, Jr., 26, speeding in a rest...
Ambulance: Plains, 12; T. Falls, 7; Hot Springs, 4; Dixon, 2; Trout Creek, 1; Camas Prairie, 1; Noxon, 1; Heron, 1. Monday, January 8 Nuisance complaints, Hot Springs. Disturbance, Plains. Fire, Plains. Inmate transport. Inmate transport, Plains. Disturbance. Motor vehicle crash, Plains. Body found/coroner, Lonepine. Protection order violation, T. Falls. Threats, Plains. Motor vehicle crash, Plains. Tuesday, January 9 Fire, Hot Springs. Welfare check, T. Falls. Protection order violation. Intimidation/harassment, T. Falls. Assist other agency,...
Mayor Joel Banham has spent the last week going through files and familiarizing himself with his newly appointed duties. He's no stranger to the workings of council, since he'd been a council member of Ward 2 for seven years, but he said he was nervous with his first council meeting in the executive position. "But that comes with any new responsibility. Just taking things one day at a time and learning as I go," he said later. Nearly 20 people attended the council meeting, including former...
On November 16, 2023, Dorothy Jean (Heise) Yandell peacefully passed away at the age of 70 in her home in Lebanon, TN. A perfect combination of her mom and dad, the dark-haired beauty was born on April 27, 1953, in Kalispell, Montana, where she attended grades one through five in a two-room schoolhouse. In the summer of 1964, her family relocated to San Pedro, California, where she studied at Christ Lutheran and later graduated from Narbonne High School. Dorothy began her career at the port of... Full story
Plains School showed its gratitude to local law enforcement last week by inviting them to the school teacher's lounge for treats and to thank them for what they do for the community As part of Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, January 9, the school staff and students showed their support for law enforcement with drawings, messages, cookies, and coffee. The school sent an invite to all law enforcement entities in the county, but Josephson was the only one who was able to be there at the school. "...
The Hawks were flying high at Plains Thursday night as they trounced the Horsemen and Trotters in their own home corral. The Horsemen junior varsity boys claimed a 30-27 victory in overtime, but that was the only win for Plains. The Lady Hawks JV team defeated the Trotters 45-21. The varsity Lady Hawks claimed a 47-35 win over the Trotters and the Horsemen lost to the Blue Hawks 55-46. Horsemen head coach Brooks Sanford had eight wins with only one loss. He saw no reason why his girls couldn't c...
by Skye Hill Though their travel plans changed a bit, the Savage-Horsemen wrestling team found some good competition over the weekend. Plains-Hot Springs was originally scheduled to travel to Choteau for a tournament last weekend, but changed plans due to winter weather and attended the John Fisher jv tournament in Missoula. PHS had several wrestlers take the top spot in Missoula. Finishing first for the Savage Horsemen were Matthew Thurston, Gavin Schrenk, Drew Carey, John Waterbury, David Chapman and Gabe Rasmussen. Brenden Vanderwall and...
by Skye Hill SUPERIOR 50, PLAINS 44 The Horsemen took on the Superior Bobcats, losing at home 44-50. Swiftly the Bobcats were able to win the tip-off. It would be the Horsemen who would earn the first points on the board. Putting full-court pressure on the Bobcats, Plains was able to take the lead quickly in the first quarter. It was short-lived as Superior was able to break past the Horsemen’s full court defense. With a buzzer beater half-court shot the Bobcats tied up the game at the end of the first. Headed into the second Plains was able to...
OVER THE HILL GANG W L Com’bak Kids 38.5 33.5 Leftovers 38 34 Jokers Wild 37.5 34.5 Roll’n Along 35.5 36.5 Mixed Nuts 33.5 38.5 Fun Team 33 39 Team Scr. Game: Fun Team, 768; Scr. Series: Fun Team, 2194; Hcp. Game: Com’bak Kids, 906; Hcp. Series: Com’bak Kids, 2550; Mens Inv. Scr. Game: Bernie Groshong, 237; Scr. Series: Bernie Groshong, 594; Hcp. Game: Bernie Groshong, 257; Hcp. Series: Bernie Groshong, 654. Wms Inv. Scr Game: Ginger Ward, 185; Scr Series: Ginger Ward, 509; Hcp. Game: Anita Brown, 241; Hcp. Series: Eileen Turk, 664. INDUSTR...
SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. MCG 4. TEE 7. ALL 8. MIAMI 10. DAUB 12. MEGAN 13. MITO 14. UHF 16. LIN 17. ARENA 19. EGO 20. EELS 21. NEIGHBORHOODS 25. OAR 26. SAG 27. MONK 29. FIFE 30. ARA 31. ARE 32. SPRING BREAKER 39. ANAS 41. RNA 42. SCALE 43. BEL 44. MEW 45. EBAN 46. BRAGA 48. DOTE 49. EDDIC 50. BEG 51. SSB 52. SSE SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. MADMAN 2. CLAIRE 3. GLUTEI 4. TIE 5. EAGLES 6. EMAIL 8. MMF 9. INNS 11. BONG 14. UGH 15. HOOSIER 18. AH 19. ERR 20. EDGE 22. BONAIRE 23. OAK 24. OAF 27. MAPS 28. ORR 29. FRB 31. AGA 32. SALADS 33. NNW 34. ES 35. ACED 36.... Full story
by Michael Scharfe Mortgage Minute – Escrow Accounts Escrow accounts are very common with mortgage loans, although not all mortgage loans require an escrow account. Escrow accounts are, essentially, a bank-controlled savings account that is used to pay the property taxes and insurance associated with your mortgage loan. If your mortgage has an escrow account, a portion of your monthly payment will be placed into the escrow account to build up enough funds to pay your property taxes and insurance. Once a year, an analysis of the escrow a...
by Rusti Leivestad, Thompson Falls Mayor What is community? Definitions…a social unit with a shared socially significant characteristic. It’s about doing something together that makes belonging matter – caring about each other. Strong communities have a sense of purpose. They promote engagement. They can be rural, urban, or suburban. Community values; respect for the rights, differences, and dignity of others; honesty and integrity in dealing with all members of the community; accountability for personal behavior. Some other words that descr...
