Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Voters in Thompson Falls and Hot Springs turned out this month to elect council members. A total of 270 ballots were mailed in Hot Springs and 809 in Thompson Falls. Ballots were mailed in October for the November election. While most ballots were returned by mail, voters had until 8 p.m. Tuesday to turn in ballots at the Sanders County Elections Office. In Thompson Falls, incumbents Raoul Ribeiro in Ward 1 and Hayley Allen-Blakney in Ward 3 won re-election. Ribeiro received 58 votes and...
A Trout Creek man is back in custody after fleeing from authorities following a court appearance on Tuesday. Alton J. Steinhoff appeared before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher Tuesday for an initial appearance on two felony charges of violation of a protective order, third or subsequent offense. After entering a not guilty plea, a jury trial was set for February 19, 2024, which is the same setting as another felony case involving Steinhoff that is also pending before Judge Christopher. Steinhoff’s attorney, Steve Fletcher, addressed the court r...
Photo by Linda Elliott A young deer grazes on a Burning Bush in a garden in Thompson Falls....
Christmas is a matter of weeks away, and Thompson Falls volunteers are busy preparing for the annual Christmas on Main Street festivities. The Thompson Falls Chamber of Commerce is soliciting nominations for grand marshal for the Christmas on Main Street parade. Letters of nomination, including the person or group nominated and why they should be grand marshal, can be emailed to the Chamber at [email protected] by 5 p.m. Thursday, November 16. The Christmas on Main Street festivities will kick off Friday, December 1, with the...
Local high school students got a lesson in resiliency at a presentation last week in Thompson Falls. Thompson Falls High School welcomed speaker John Parker Monday, October 30. Parker is a motivational speaker who is the president of his own company called People 1st. His motto is “Discovering Purpose and Unleashing Potential.” Police Chief Chris Nichols served with Parker in the military and is familiar with his work. “I wanted him to come to Thompson Falls to speak to our high school stude...
Halloween is over, and it seems like all the advertisements are now geared toward Christmas. As of today (Thursday), there are just 44 days until Christmas. It's time for craft fairs and shopping and all the holiday fundraisers. Last weekend I attended the Trout Creek School bazaar and the Honey Bazaar at the Whitepine Grange. What a wonderful display of craftsmanship at both event. There were people milling about at both events, and it seemed everyone walked out with at least one treasure. I got a head start on my holiday shopping. Then it got...
What if Public Policy could be “Dead Wrong”? In Mindy Ferrell’s LTE of November 2 she proclaims putting aside personal opinion to serve the public good and only and always follow public policy. Sanders County residents should be grateful their Health Board acted responsibly by their decision to no longer offer COVID vaccines. Citing safety reasons and lack of proper testing is a positive outcome that informs me our County Health Board is watching out for each of us. In addition, the Public Health Officer recommends individuals who still desir...
by Judge Molly Owen If you have seen the television show, “Jury Duty,” on Amazon Prime that came out last year, you will know that the show follows members of a jury who are tasked to decide a workplace dispute. The lawsuit and trial are fake. Everyone involved in the trial is an actor other than one member of the jury, Ronald, who believes he is serving on a real jury. The show is funny and heartwarming. It also gives some good insight into the process of conducting a trial in front of a jury. In the first episode, members of the com...
Well, the local elections are over in Montana, and I’m sure there will be some controversial results, even if there are not any. I mean, it just seems that somebody’s got to find fault with something even if it’s imaginary. I’ve been thinking about this column for over a year, ever since the Montana Election Integrity Project (MEIP) came out with their “canvass” of 4,347 Montana voters to show how screwed up our elections are. (Go to mtelectionintegrity.org/canvas) It’s taken me that long to...
TOWARDS BRIDGES AND ROADS From "Behind These Mountains" by Mona Leeson Vanek For many years John Fulks had operated the ferry at Noxon until one spring when high water tore it loose and it was gone, probably to be smashed to bits going through the Cabinet Gorge. Then a boat that had broken loose from the Green ferry upstream a year earlier was purchased from Riley Eldridge and others to be installed at Noxon for a ferry. The forest service at Noxon purchased the big cable and other paraphernalia on the Thompson Falls ferry from E. Preston and...
MARLAINA MOHR, Thompson Falls - “I am indifferent, but I like light in the morning.” BETHANY BURK, Thompson Falls - “I don’t want it to continue. I get confused on whether to turn the clocks back or forward.” CELLA VANHUSS, Thompson Falls - “I don’t understand why we have it so I guess I do not want it to continue.” ARLENE MACK, Thompson Falls - “I like the extra hour in the Fall, but don’t like losing it in the Spring.” JAN KELLEY, Thompson Falls, - “I’d like it to fall back and stay there.” STEPHANIE ASHFORD-BROWN, Clark Fork,...
Ambulance: T. Falls, 9; Hot Springs, 8; Plains, 5; Dixon, 1; Trout Creek, 1. Monday, October 30 Road hazard/blockage, T. Falls. Assist motorist/citizen, Hot Springs. Livestock, Paradise. Request for welfare check, Hot Springs. Civil attempts. Abandoned vehicle, Plains. Threats, Noxon. Assist other agency, Plains. Trespass, Plains. Property damage/criminal mischief, Plains. Trespass, T. Falls. Civil attempts. Civil attempts, T. Falls. Tuesday, October 31 Business contact, T. Falls. Suspicious activity, T. Falls. Assist miscellaneous, T. Falls....
Montana Highway Patrol Anthony Steinebach, 28, seatbelt violation, $20; speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Owen Plough, 23, operating with expired registration, $85. John Meighan, 53, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Harjinder Singh, 30, speeding in a restricted zone, $65. Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Teesha Flanagan, 38, disorderly conduct, 1st offense, $235. Dezirae Fletcher, 35, permitting unauthorized minor to drive, $85; owner permitting operation of vehicle without liability insurance, $75. Braydon Copeland, 16, night speeding, $...
Emmie Tucker, Plains Interview by Kristen Cole, Art Teacher Emmie Tucker celebrated her 13th birthday in September. She is in the seventh grade at Plains Junior High and is an art student of Mrs. Kristen Cole. She began her artistic journey at the age of 10 by drawing eyes and lips. She comments that she is now best at drawing lips. She was influenced and inspired in art by her cousin, Maya, whom she says is two years older and "really good at art." Although she personally favors use of...
With Halloween behind us, it’s time to begin to think about Christmas. At the Sanders County Historical Society Old Jail Museum, that means one thing, gingerbread! Plan to save yourself some calories by using some of that Halloween candy for the trimming on a gingerbread creation to enter in the 26th Annual Gingerbread Contest which will be Saturday, December 2. The theme this year will be “Wishing you a very Merry Christmas”. For this one day the museum becomes a festive escape from the hustle and bustle of the shopping season as we decorate t...
One week is all that is left of the 2023 Fall Mack Days Fishing Event on Flathead Lake. All fish entries must be turned in at Blue Bay by 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 12. A small awards ceremony will be held and lottery drawing winners will be posted at that time. Total lake trout entries for the 2023 Fall Mack Days event are 15,934. The total fish entered Fridays through Sundays are 12,423. Monday through Thursday totals are 3,511 entries. Last Friday’s total entries were 443, Saturday’s entries were 568, and Sunday entries were 355, for a wee...
The Thompson Falls School Board met on Monday to discuss a possible soccer cooperative with Plains Schools. Chairperson Sandra Muster opened the meeting with a reading of the procedures involving public comments. She reiterated the rules of conduct the public is required to abide by during the Public Comment portion of the meeting. “It has to be done periodically,” Muster said. As a reminder for anyone new to our meetings, she added. Plains Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Walsh and Plains School Board member Ellen Childress attended the mee...
October Pinochle Marathon players were dealt another month of fun and games while supporting the GFWC Thompson Falls Woman’s Club Blanche Hurlburt Scholarship that is awarded to a graduating senior each year. Juanita Triplett and Cal Pomrenke scored the highest in October with 5,990 points. However, Cathy Mills and Claudia Reed take the marathon lead with a total score of 11,890; and the team of Jim Hurst and Joni Mosher won their monthly match by getting 1500 Trump. October Scores / Marathon Totals TEAM A - Alan and Lorri Renard, 4800/8970; T...
NorthWestern Energy is looking for ways to help property owners as they move through the relicensing process. Company representatives met recently with residents whose property borders the Thompson Falls reservoir to discuss a proposed dock modification program to help residents update their docks. In the relicensing application, NorthWestern Energy is asking for 2.5 feet of fluctuation from full pool to operate the dam. The current license allows 4 feet. The company performed testing in 2021 and 2022 to study the effects of lowering and...
The AVA Law Group from Billings has entered into a contract with victims of the River Road East fire. More than 13 plaintiffs will be represented in a lawsuit against the defendants, Montana Rail Link, Inc. and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company. According to Ava Law, the trial will be held in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Missoula Division. “Several of our clients have lost everything they owned. Their homes. Their belongings,” Teague Westrope of AVA Law Group said. He added that whichever railway is...
Charles Richard (Dick) Komberec passed away on October 28, 2023, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, Montana, where he had received exceptional and compassionate care. Dick was born in Thompson Falls, Montana on March 18, 1947. From his early beginnings, Dick was a hard worker. Always willing to help provide for his family, one of his first jobs as a young boy was delivering newspapers up and down the hills of Thompson Falls by bicycle, mostly in the snow and in the dark before school. This... Full story
Brad Sutton, age 71, passed away Oct. 28, 2023, after a year long battle with cancer. Brad was born and raised in Middletown, Ohio. His father was an engineer for the local steel mill. His mother was a musician and operated "Betty's music makers." Brad moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, in his senior year and composed thousands of songs for his mother's company over the next 10 years. He worked as a musician all his life, starting with a band comprised of him and his two older brothers. Over his... Full story
Richard Allen Brotherton, born February 23, 1950, in Thompson Falls, Montana, went to heaven September 19, 2023, at his home in Paulden, Arizona, after battling esophageal cancer. He was 73. Richard was preceded in death by his mother, Una May Doty Brotherton; father, Floyd Gale Brotherton; and sister, Edna Grace Brotherton Barns. He is survived by his wife, Angie Marie Brotherton; children from previous marriages, Geneva Mae Brotherton of Lanton, California, Cynthia Ann Darpli of Paulden,... Full story
Edwin Dale Noll went to be home with the Lord on Sunday, November 5, 2023, at his home surrounded by family in Thompson Falls, Montana. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May of 2023, and continued to do the things he loved to do the most until late October 2023. Ed was born in Fresno, California, on May 16, 1952. Among many other jobs along the way, he worked as a pipefitter welder. He was a pipefitter welder for over 30 years. He enjoyed what he did for a living. He always pointed out... Full story
Heaven has gained a truly magnificent angel. Lola Mascorella died October 28, 2023, at her home in Columbia Falls. Lola is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, James Mascorella; her children, Derek Mascorella and Layla (Gene) Riffle; grandsons, Dillon and Justin Riffle; sisters, Linda Reilly and Leta Behmerwohld; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Lola will be forever loved and missed by so many. A celebration of life will be held in the spring/summer.... Full story
