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Clark Fork Valley Hospital’s (CFVH) drive-up antigen testing site is seeing higher usage with the recent spike in COVID cases in Sanders County. Last week, more than 100 active cases of coronavirus were reported in the county. As of Tuesday, the county reported 59 active cases. CFVH has been offering free antigen testing at the Plains hospital since last fall. In September 2021, with the service relatively new, more than 1,100 COVID tests were administered at the hospital. In January 2022, that number was over 1,200. Of those in January, m...
The Plains Drama Club's first performance in the new school building was a big success last week, according to the club's coach Terri Henry. "It was great! Both performances were superb," said Henry, the drama coach for 30 years. "Every character was well played and held while on stage," said Henry, who added that the students' performance was "amazing." The 13 Plains High School and home school students put on two performances of "A Little Piece of Heaven" Thursday and Friday in the school's...
A coroner’s inquest held last week determined an officer involved shooting in Trout Creek last year was justified. Circumstances around the death of David Christie, who was involved in a shootout with police December 2020 at the Naughty Pine Saloon, were detailed as a jury of nine listened to testimony from witnesses. The practice is something that, according to Sanders County Attorney Naomi Leisz, is quite rare, especially in the county. However, the practice itself has been utilized for at least 100 years in Montana. She explained that a c...
MSU Extension in Sanders County has hired another agent to expand support for agriculture, horticulture and natural resources in the county. "We have always had an agent in the office that represented agriculture, horticulture, and natural resources, but with only two staff it was hard to cover all the requests we were getting from clientele in the county," said Juli Thurston, 4-H and Youth Development County Extension Agent. "Now, with another staff person dedicated to these areas, we can...
Well, it’s definitely an election year. This year, Sanders County residents will choose two county commissioners, a sheriff, a county attorney, school board members, special district representatives and other positions. Candidates are filing and developing their strategies for the June 7 primary and the November 8 general election. The Ledger’s duty is to inform the public. Journalists report the facts and provide readers with all the evidence available so that the public can make informed decisions. The journalists at The Ledger do not jud...
In an age where people are falling all over themselves to divulge their most personal information to the world at large through social media and where people willingly give their permission to internet search engines like Google to gather and sell their personal data, it seems almost absurd to worry about the right to privacy. But the difference in giving up your privacy and having your privacy taken away is significant, and that is why it is frightening to me to see elected officials in Montana and elsewhere belittle its importance and plot...
Editor, First, a confession: I seldom read the “Remember When?” column in the Ledger. But something compelled me to read it last week when Miriah Kardelis reviewed what life was like here 80 years ago, just one month after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Teachers and parents would be well advised to start reading this column to their students and children, as history is our best lesson on what can come in the future. The past couple generations have little or no concept of what it could be like to once again deal with threats of war on our own soi...
3 YEARS AGO • JANUARY 23, 1992 TRAFFIC LIGHT EYED FOR FALLS Thompson Falls could be gaining what used to be a tongue-in-cheek reference to a step towards the future. At the January meeting of the city council, Chief of Police Don Manfred made a proposal to install a traffic light at the intersection of Main and Mill streets to control pedestrian crossings near Doug’s Drug (True Value). Manfred told the council because of the changes in parking since the reconstruction of Main Street and the increase of traffic along the road, which also serves...
Charlene Miller, Thompson Falls - “My husband and I like to switch back and forth cooking and doing dishes.” Gail Lowe, Thompson Falls - “Vacuuming because it is instant gratification and it’s not wet and messy.” Janice Roberts, Thompson Falls - “Cleaning the kitchen. It just feels fresher in the house if the kitchen is clean.” Beau McCormick, Thompson Falls - “Folding laundry, because its easier than doing the dishes and stuff.” Cory Kump, Thompson Falls - “Cleaning up after my two-year-old every 10 minutes.” Michael Lockard, Thompson Fal...
Ambulance: Plains, 6, Dixon, 1; Hot Springs, 3; T. Falls, 8; Trout Creek, 3; Paradise, 1. Monday, January 24 Threats, Noxon. Motor vehicle crash, Paradise. Assist miscellaneous, Plains. Motor vehicle crash, Paradise. Livestock, Hot Springs. Theft, Trout Creek. General animal call or complaint, Hot Springs. Assist miscellaneous, Plains. Trespass, Plains. Theft, Trout Creek. Tuesday, January 25 Coroner called, T. Falls. Assault, Dixon. Assist miscellaneous, T. Falls. Protection order violation, T. Falls. Theft, Trout Creek. Nuisance complaints,...
Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Daniel Lime, 43, driving while intoxicated, 1st offense, $1,135; speeding in a restricted zone, $125. Rollin Rennick, 31, day speeding, $20. Eugene Stedman, 59, speeding in a restricted zone, $55. Allan Ullou, 47, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. George Alexandrakis, 51, speeding in a restricted zone, $55. Lampone Sakounthong, 47, speeding in a restricted zone, $55. Joel Gunz, 55, speeding in a restricted zone, $65; operating with a foreign driver’s license for over 60 days, $75. Lucas Freeman, 21, day spe...
During 20th District Judicial Court on Tuesday, Jeriko Smith-Roach changed his plea to guilty to the felony charge of sexual intercourse without consent. The victim was 14 years old and Smith-Roach 17 on March 28, 2021, when the crime occurred. His sentencing has been set for March 15. Also to appear in court Tuesday was William Sidmore, who pleaded not guilty to the felony charge of strangulation and the misdemeanors of tampering with a communication device and partner or family member assault. According to charging documents, the Hot Springs...
Additional candidates are filing for open positions within Sanders County. There are now four candidates for Sanders County Sheriff, including Lanny Hensley and Roy Scott of Thompson Falls, Chris Stough of Heron and Corey Wheeldon of Noxon. Sheriff Tom Rummel stated in an email to his staff that he will not be seeking re-election. Doug Dryden filed to retain his position as Justice of the Peace for the county, as did Coroner Pat Barber, who was appointed last year when the sheriff and coroner positions were separated in the county. No further...
Kacey F. Collins passed away at the age of 71 on January 26, 2022, surrounded by his family in Helena, Montana. Kacey was born on September 5, 1950, in John Day, Oregon, to Merle Lee Collins and Juanita Hayes Collins, and was delivered by his grandmother Laura Collins Legler who was a nurse at John Day Hospital. When Kacey was born, his mother named him after the saddle bronc rider Casey Tibbs, and true to her sense of humor and fun, his middle initial "F" stands for "the first twin out the... Full story
With everything going on in the world and our daily lives it's easy to be pulled away from our first love. From the minute we wake up, to the time we go to bed, we are racing around trying to keep up with the day and never seem to find the time to spend with the Lord. Before we know it, we are drowning in unbearable stress and burdens, barely able to keep our heads above water. Like the movie "Groundhog Day," we wake up each day to the same battles. It is no wonder we lose our joy and spiritual... Full story
Sandra Lee Cullen, 83, passed away peacefully January 26, 2022, at her home of 50 years in Thompson Falls. Sandra was born November 15, 1938, in Pocatello, Idaho to G.A. and Billie (Wilson) Lewis. Sandra married the love of her life, James P. Cullen, September 30, 1955. Their daughters, Vickie and Christina, were born in Pocatello. They left Pocatello to follow Jim's job in road construction to Sheridan, Wyoming, The Dalles, Oregon, and Walla Walla, Washington. where their son, James D. Cullen,... Full story
Matches on the mat aren't the only competitions Sanders County wrestling teams have been facing this year. Wrestlers have been battling winter storms and quarantines as they have advanced through the season, overcoming it all as they face their next challenge - the divisional tournament. Plains/Hot Springs and Thompson Falls/Noxon wrestlers will head east this weekend to compete in the Western B-C Divisional tournament at the Butte Civic Center. The Thompson Falls wrestling team got a good look...
As the regular season winds down for Sanders County basketball teams, schedules are ramping up with teams trying to make up games rescheduled from earlier in the season. The Plains Horsemen traveled to Hot Springs last Tuesday to face off against the Savage Heat. The Horsemen kept up with the Savage Heat in the first quarter before Hot Springs took a bigger lead and held on to that throughout the game, winning 76-36. Jack McAllister led the charge for Hot Springs with 20 points, and Garth...
The Blue Hawk boys went 2-0 last weekend as they beat Troy 60-21 at home and then traveled to Anaconda Saturday where they beat the Copperheads 71-57. Coach Jake Mickelson said he believes it's the first time the Blue Hawks have ever beat the Copperheads in Anaconda. "It was a good win on the road," Mickelson said. In the home matchup against Troy, the Blue Hawks were up by just two points at the end of the first quarter, 12-10. They outscored the Trojans 12-1 in the second quarter to gain a...
In the break in projects given by the winter weather, Mayor Mark Sheets wanted to explain the current situation on the infrastructure projects. The Thompson Falls mayor talked about the ongoing projects to give citizens an idea of what to expect over the next couple summers. Construction teams are working on the electrical elements and minor construction at the wastewater treatment plant, but most work on the sewer project has stopped for the winter. According to Sheets, projects will resume in full in the coming spring. As soon as weather...
The Sanders County Sewer District at Paradise had a marathon meeting last week - more than three hours - and at times it got heated between board members and members of the audience. A closed meeting after the regular meeting last Tuesday resulted in Terry Caldwell stepping down as board chairman soon afterwards. "Please accept my withdrawal from the chair position and associated responsibilities," he said in his resignation letter to the board members. "I have too many irons in the fire to be...
The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Friday, February 4, at the State Capitol in Helena. The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. There will also be a commission work session at 3:30 on February 3. The meetings will be streamed live on the FWP website and broadcast through MPAN, YouTube and Zoom. During the February 3 work session, the commission will review season proposals due to be presented on February 4 during their business meeting. The work session will also be streamed live on the FWP website. During the Friday business meeting, th...
SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. REBECCA 8. CEDES 13. ELISION 14. ABELE 15. CATERPILLARS 19. AX 20. OPT 21. MAARS 22. CPI 23. USE 24. ANNA 25. ROSE 26. PERMEATED 30. SALES 31. OGRES 32. BAREST 33. DYES 34. SONE 35. STRIPS 38. SIRES 39. CRAFT 40. DECERTIFY 44. RIMY 45. TALK 46. MIA 47. IVA 48. SARAN 49. PEW 50. PI 51. SOUTHEASTERN 55. PACHA 57. SCIENCE 58. SLEEK 59. SECEDED SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. RECOUP 2. ELAPSE 3. BITTER 4. ESE 5. CIR 6. COP 7. ANIMATES 8. CARS 9. EBS 10. DE 11. ELAPSES 12. SEXIEST 16. LANES...
Sanders County honored 12 employees for years of service last week at the courthouse. Sheriff Tom Rummel, presented first, calling on Lanny Hensley to accept an award for 10 years of service with the county. “I remember the day he signed on to be the undersheriff,” Rummel said of Hensley. “Since that time, he has worked on our ADSI system and has been invaluable in understanding the way our computer systems work.” Rummel presented an award to Debbi Rolleri for her 10 years of service. “She ha...
