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Articles from the January 25, 2024 edition


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  • Candidate filing opens for 2024 races

    Annie Wooden|Jan 25, 2024

    The filing period for candidates opened in Montana last Thursday, with dozens of people filing for statewide and local offices that first day. Candidates have until 5 p.m. March 11 to file for office. Local elected positions on the ballot this year will include Clerk of District Court, County Attorney, Coroner, and Clerk & Recorder / Treasurer / Superintendent of Schools, as well as Commissioner, District 1. As of Tuesday, Dan Rowan had filed for re-election as county commissioner for District 1, Cynthia Neste for re-election as Clerk of...

  • Schools address email threats

    Annie Wooden|Jan 25, 2024

    Some Sanders County school districts received email threats late Tuesday, but law enforcement said the threats were 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 ke...

  • Restaurant destroyed by fire

    Jan 25, 2024

    The Hereford Bar and Grill near Noxon burns late Wednesday. Noxon Fire Department responded to the blaze, which completely destroyed the building. The restaurant had been closed for about three years when it was purchased in 2020 by Kim Syth and Pete Kobilansky. That December, the restaurant burned to the ground, and the family re-opened in 2022. No cause has been determined in last week's fire. Sanders County Sheriff Shawn Fielders said the fire is under investigation....

  • Local bowlers get tips from pro

    Shannon Brown|Jan 25, 2024

    Professional bowler Rhino Page from Bigfork was in Thompson Falls last week to give individualized bowling lessons. Ginger Ward, the bowling association manager, said she set up the lessons to be held at the Rimrock Lanes last Monday. People pre-booked their lessons two months in advance, according to Page. "Bowlers from Thompson Falls traveled to Bigfork to my bowling alley, Grizzly Lanes, and asked if I could come to their town and give lessons," Page said. He gave seven lessons at the Rimrock...

  • Plains teens build igloo in park

    Ed Moreth|Jan 25, 2024

    They're probably not going to go into the igloo realty business, but for a first time snow building, it wasn't bad. Two Plains teenagers built the igloo on the basketball court at the E.L. Johnson Memorial Park in Plains last weekend. Nick Hill and Greg Tatum started the project Friday by shoveling the snow into the center of the basketball court. Liam Lyman helped them on the first day. Once done, Hill and Tatum burrowed out the inside of the mound of snow. The structure was about 14 feet...

  • Our Viewpoint: Getting back to the big game

    Annie Wooden|Jan 25, 2024

    When Justin Timberlake performed during the Super Bowl halftime show in 2018, I joked with everyone that they were going to try and play football during the Justin Timberlake concert. I’ve been making the same joke this year because one of my good friends loves Usher (the 2024 Super Bowl halftime entertainment) just about as much as I love JT. However, this year, with the possibility of the Kansas City Chiefs making the big game, there’s a whole new level of celebrity surrounding football. In case you’ve been under a rock this NFL seaso...

  • Sunday's Snapshots

    Sunday Dutro|Jan 25, 2024

    Earlier this month, Annie Wooden wrote an editorial about trying new things, about surprising ourselves with what we can accomplish when we step out of our comfort zones and do things we could fail at. Perhaps you’ve heard the encouragement to “fail spectacularly,” a quote that seems to be attributable to multiple sources, none of which are familiar to me and all before I was born. Still, I love this bit of advice and try to live my life with it in mind. When I watch my children try something new, going all in, I’m reminded to be fearles...

  • SCCHO hopes to add housing

    Jan 25, 2024

    Sanders County Community Housing Organization, doing business as Community Housing is an independent, non-profit organization that was formed in 2003 to provide affordable rental housing solutions for working and retired individuals and families in Sanders County. Community Housing currently has ten rental units in Plains that house members of our community. Sanders County, along with much of Montana, is experiencing a housing shortage for renters as well as buyers. Affordable housing is the backbone of community, housing essential workers as...

  • Remember When?

    Sherry Hagerman-Benton|Jan 25, 2024

    8 YEARS AGO JANUARY 12, 1944 THE DAYS OF GOLD Golden Days Recounted Continued from last week… Mrs. Hattie Coleman who is still living was one of the first teachers in the schools here. Judge W.E. Nippert, who had been educated abroad, has a place of renown in the history of the town as one of our first teachers, who established education here on a firm foundation. His methods were simple. He first whaled hell out of the tough kids who were in school then who had a tendency to challenge authority and after he had them pacified he somehow m...

  • Question of the week

    Shannon Brown|Jan 25, 2024

    LYNETTE NIELSEN, Hot Springs - “I like making lots of pasta dishes. They are comfort food.” PAULA STOBIE, Hot Springs - “Fresh soups and chowders, especially Texas Chicken Tortilla Chowder.” GEORGE HEINSELMAN, Hot Springs - “What I do the most is make a huge kettle of vegetable beef soup with all the fresh vegetables available. Or a chicken noodle soup.” CHRISTINE WALSVICK, Hot Springs - “My grandma’s Beef Stroganoff.” CHEYANNE WARD, Hot Springs - “Granny’s Chicken and Dumplings.” LEONARD LARSON, Plains - “Chili homemade by me, and cornb...

  • Not guilty plea entered for felonies

    Stephanie Molzhon|Jan 25, 2024

    James Vernon Day, Jr., appeared before Judge Molly Owen on Tuesday for his initial appearance. Day entered a plea of not guilty to felony charges of theft, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted person, removing or falsifying a vehicle identification number, criminal mischief, and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. Day also pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor charges of theft and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Judge Owen set this matter for jury trial on June 24, 2024. According to the filed affidavit, on...

  • Justice Court

    Jan 25, 2024

    Montana Highway Patrol Carson Taylor, 19, seatbelt violation, $20. Jaden Story, 19, failure to carry proof/exhibit insurance in vehicle, 2nd offense, $385. Bernard Groshong, 64, basic rule - reasonable and prudent, 1st offense, $120; operating without liability insurance in effect, 1st offense, $285; seatbelt violation, $20. Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Marty Billmayer, 50, operating without liability insurance in effect, $335. Stacy Hofstetter, 48, disorderly conduct, 1st offense, $235, deferred imposition of sentence. Donnie Croft, 60, c...

  • Sheriff's Log

    Jan 25, 2024

    Ambulance: Plains, 11; T. Falls, 5; Trout Creek, 4; Hot Springs, 2; Paradise, 1; Noxon, 1. Monday, January 15 Suspicious activity, T. Falls. Motor vehicle crash, Noxon. Fire, Trout Creek. Welfare check, Dixon. Motor vehicle crash, Plains. Livestock, Plains. Animal stray/lost, Plains. Request for welfare check. Suspicious activity, Paradise. Business contact, Plains. Business contact, Plains. Tuesday, January 16 Automated alarm call, Plains. Body found/coroner, T. Falls. Drugs/narcotics, T. Falls. Welfare check, Trout Creek. Motor vehicle...

  • Group faces bitter cold for annual march for life

    Ed Moreth|Jan 25, 2024

    A 16-degree temperature with snow and a chilling wind didn't deter a group of Thompson Falls residents from showing their commitment to their determination to end abortion. The Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade - a federal law that protected the right to have an abortion - two years ago, but it allowed individual states to determine whether abortion was legal or not. Steve Snell, one of the primary organizers of the annual march down Main Street at Thompson Falls Friday at noon, said they...

  • Panel discusses elections

    Annie Wooden|Jan 25, 2024

    The Sanders County Democrats earlier this month invited a group of panelists to discuss election integrity. “Elections: Integrity and Involvement” was attended by about 30 community members on January 14 at the Paradise Center. Mindy Ferrell is the chairperson for the Sanders County Democrats and welcomed the speakers. First to speak was Jesse Mullen, a candidate for Secretary of State, who discussed election integrity in the state of Montana and the training that elections staff undergoes. “We have to do more work as a state and even withi...

  • Dorothy (Dot) Bras

    Jan 25, 2024

    Dorothy (Dot) Bras, age 87, peacefully passed away on January 15, 2024, in Polson, MT, surrounded by loved ones. She was born on March 28, 1936, in St. Ignatius, MT, and was the daughter of Jess Miles and Lona (McDonald) Olson. Dot spent her formative years joyfully growing up in St. Ignatius and Dixon, MT, alongside her older brother and sister, creating memories along riverbanks and railroad tracks. The family later moved to Hot Springs when her mother took on a role at the Camas Bathhouse....

  • Jeannine Orpha (Blanchard) Marjerrison

    Jan 25, 2024

    Jeannine Orpha (Blanchard) Marjerrison entered into eternal rest on January 15, 2024. She was 94. Jeannine was born into the Haskell family on April 30, 1929, in Libby, Montana. Her mother Orpha died during childbirth and Neil and Ethel Blanchard adopted her. She was married to Fred Marjerrison on March 7, 1949, and he preceded her in death. She is survived by her seven children: Neil Marjerrison of Missoula, MT, Jerry Marjerrison of Plains, MT, Carole Morden (John) of St. Louis, MO, Gordon...

  • Students thank Plains school board

    Ed Moreth|Jan 25, 2024

    The Plains School Board was recognized last week for its community service by the student body with senior Brandt Snead delivering a speech in their show of gratitude. "It was important to recognize the board for sharing their time and talents to support our schools and work toward building a strong learning community in a world that is sometimes very selfish," said Dr. Kathleen Walsh, the school superintendent. "It is good for us to model appreciation and thankfulness. It costs nothing to share...

  • Carroll College students honored

    Jan 25, 2024

    Carroll College in Helena has announced students listed to its 2023 fall semester dean’s list. To be included on the dean’s list, a student must receive a 3.5 grade point average or higher on a 4.0 scale and take at least 12 graded credits in a semester. Sanders County students include: Plains: Audrey Brown Thompson Falls: Megan Baxter, Elizabeth Baxter. Trout Creek: Jasmine Pearson....

  • Bowling Scores

    Jan 25, 2024

    OVER THE HILL GANG W L Com’bak Kids 39.5 36.5 Leftovers 39 37 Roll’n Along 38.5 37.5 Jokers Wild 38.5 37.5 Mixed Nuts 36.5 39.5 Fun Team 36 40 Team Scr. Game: Fun Team, 698; Scr. Series: Fun Team, 2066; Hcp. Game: Roll’n Along, 899; Hcp. Series: Fun Team, 2519; Mens Inv. Scr. Game: Ron Beaty, 219; Scr. Series: Ron Beaty, 615; Hcp. Game: Ron Hawkinson, 275; Hcp. Series: Ron Hawkinson, 674. Wms Inv. Scr Game: Ginger Ward, 166; Scr Series: Wendy Kelley, 446; Hcp. Game: Kristy Beaty, 240; Hcp. Series: Kristy Beaty, 666. INDUSTRIAL LEAGUE W L Howar...

  • Wrestlers grapple for Kato glory

    Skye Hill|Jan 25, 2024

    As a first-time wrestler watcher the 28th annual Ted Kato Invitational was a perfect start. There was no shortage of great wrestling there. I think I even saw the definition of determination, as a wrestler got his dislocated shoulder popped back into place to not only finish his match but win it as well. Sanders County had two wrestlers take the top spot at the Thompson Falls wrestling tournament, including Blue Hawk Weston Block, an eighth grader who won the 103-pound bracket, and...

  • TF adds Kato girls' tourney

    Ed Moreth|Jan 25, 2024

    While the boys were battling it out at the Ted Kato Memorial Tournament in Thompson Falls Saturday, the girl grapplers were hitting the mat at Plains, where eight teams from Montana and Idaho wrestled for some three hours. The Thompson Falls Lady Hawks had five girls from eighth grade to senior competing in the meet. The Lady Hawks had five wins and six losses for the day. There were nearly 40 wrestlers, including Thompson Falls, along with the Arlee Scarlets, Darby Lady Tigers, Whitefish Lady...

  • Devils beat Hot Springs in OT

    Skye Hill|Jan 25, 2024

    NOXON 58, HOT SPRINGS 53 The Noxon Red Devils took things to the next level last Saturday with an exciting overtime win over the Savage Heat in Hot Springs. Swiftly the Red Devils came out putting the first points on the board, and Hot Springs was unable to answer back. Noxon had an early 10 point lead, but a Red Devil foul would put Hot Springs on the free throw line for their first points in the game. The Savage Heat were able to gain another basket, and catch the foul to put more points on...

  • Plains host four teams for Friday mixer

    Ed Moreth|Jan 25, 2024

    The Plains-Hot Springs Savage Horsemen had a prosperous night at their wrestling mixer at Plains Friday night with 11 victories and only four losses. The Plains-Hot Springs team was joined by wrestlers from Arlee, Whitefish, Darby, and Powell County (Deer Lodge) for three rounds of matches, including just over a dozen girls, though Plains-Hot Springs has no girls on its team this year. It was also "Senior Night" for the Plains grapplers, who were presented to the crowd with their parents before...

  • TF mixer preludes Kato

    Annie Wooden|Jan 25, 2024

    The Blue Hawk wrestling team got a good look at some of the Ted Kato competition on Friday as they hosted a mixer at Thompson Falls High School. Thompson Falls welcomed Priest River, Cascade, Eureka, Fairfield and Fort Benton to the Friday competition. There were plenty of matches for the boys and girls. Max Hannum had a match against Dillon Connelly of Valier on Fridday, pinning Connelly in the first period. He went on to pine Colby Crowell of Cascade as well on Friday. Hannum nearly had a...

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