Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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One hundred and sixteen livestock animals and one big bird sold at ranch liquidation auction at the Sanders County Fairgrounds Saturday afternoon. "They were just like my kids; I was sorry to see them go," said James Kuntz of Plains, who sold the animals for his health reasons. The 83-year-old Kuntz didn't really want to sell the animals, but he wished they would have brought in more money. Auctioneer Kevin Hill fetched $33,000 in his two-hour sale, which included cattle, horses, donkeys, sheep...
Plains firefighters were able to stop a smoking blower fan motor from expanding to a fire at Rocky Mountain Bank in Plains last Sunday. Fifteen firefighters from the Plains Volunteer Fire Department and the Plains-Paradise Rural Fire District responded to the smoke detector alarm shortly after 9 a.m. “Upon entering we found that the basement was full of smoke and what appeared to be an electrical smell,” said Anthony Young, chief of the Plains Volunteer Fire Department and the incident commander. Captain Larry Neilson was the ranking per...
Last week the Sanders County dump burned a lot of the rubbish and trees from the windstorm that ripped through the area in January. According to Jason Peterson, Sanders County Refuse District supervisor, at least 50% of the pile was from storm-related debris brought in truckloads by residents. He said a pile in the Pardee pit was from dump truck loads from the city and the county. Peterson said that they had a short window, given the permits required, and they had to burn on a day with a breeze...
With some last-minute filings, additional school districts have enough candidates for an election in May. The county will mail ballots for elections to the Noxon, Plains, Thompson Falls and Trout Creek school boards. Bobbie Christenson with the county elections office said they are hoping to mail ballots on Wednesday, April 14. Ballots must be returned to the office by Tuesday, May 4. In Trout Creek, two three-year terms are up for election. Three candidates have filed, including Eric Viviano, Donald Ekstedt and Sarah Cooper. Five candidates...
When historical winter storms pummeled Texas in February, the shocking aftermath was felt all-around the country. While Texas is normally known for its heat, the state struggled with handling the storms because of widespread power outages. The state's electricity infrastructure became overwhelmed because of subfreezing temperatures, creating a domino effect causing power failures in every type of power source. When Thompson River Animal Care Shelter (TRACS) operations manager Wanda Thorpe saw...
Our question to readers this week (page 3) asks about Easter traditions. When I lived in Everett, Washington, I attended a large church. The number of people was always higher at Easter, and at Christmas. Hence why the pastor joked that it was the "C&E Club." This weekend, as people gather for church and Easter egg hunts and family dinners, it feels like one of the most normal holidays we've had in awhile. I joked with someone the other day, when they asked me about something in 2020, that I'm pretty sure last year just didn't happen. Last...
A few days ago, Georgia’s Republican Governor, Brian Kemp, signed a bill that narrows the ease and ability of Georgians to vote by saying, “With Senate Bill 202, Georgia will take another step toward ensuring our elections are secure, accessible and fair.” Meanwhile in Arizona, Republican Representative John Kavanagh, the chairman of the house government and elections committee, said, more candidly and much more accurately, “everybody shouldn’t be voting.” Kavanagh went on to say, “Not everyb...
4 YEARS AGO • APRIL 9, 1981 PIONEER MILL OPERATOR SWAN FLODIN PASSES Swan Flodin, 96 years of age died in Plains March 31. Swan was born August 9, 1884 on a farm near Sundsvaal, Sweden. His mother’s name was Emma Bjorkstedt and his father was Per (Peter) Flodin. In 1896 the family immigrated to Minnesota. Swan adapted quickly to the new environment. His father farmed in the spring, summer and early fall and worked in the woods during the winter. Swan started working in the woods with his father. Swan was good with horses and he was dri...
Mark Cronauer, Plains - “This year, helping at the Harvest Community Church. They do a lot with the kids, so I’ll be participating with that.” Noah Scharfe, Thompson Falls - “Open presents that I get and go Easter egg hunting.” Theodore Scharfe, Thompson Falls - “Eat chocolate and look for Easter eggs.” Ollie Scharfe, Thompson Falls - “Chocolate!” Lacey Scharfe, Thompson Falls - “We have egg salad sandwiches after church on Sunday.” Jennifer McCrea, Plains - “The younger kids have an Easter egg hunt, we have a big dinner, and sometimes c...
Ambulance: Hot Springs, 7; T. Falls, 9; Noxon, 1; Plains, 10; Dixon, 1; Paradise, 1. Monday, March 22 Livestock, Paradise. Fire, T. Falls. Suspicious activity, T. Falls. General animal call or complaint, T. Falls. Tuesday, March 23 Assist motorist/citizen, T. Falls. Motor vehicle crash, Noxon. Fire, Noxon. Animal stray/lost, T. Falls. Motor vehicle crash, Plains. Warrant service, T. Falls. Informational case, T. Falls. Threats, Hot Springs. Wednesday, March 24 General animal call or complaint, Plains. Livestock, Paradise. Animal other, Plains....
Montana Highway Patrol Benjamin Kanohokula, 30, day speeding, $70. Alexis Nemeck, 26, day speeding, $70. Karla Rash, 61, day speeding, $70. Christy Trotti, 43, day speeding, $120. Terry Williams, 72, day speeding, $70 Britt Wilson, 58, day speeding, $70. Devin Pomrenke-Meyer, 21, seatbelt violation, $20. Kevin Riley, 27, day speeding, $20. Kari Bauer, 43, day speeding, $20. Tanner Sundstad, 27, day speeding, $20. Chad Jones, 48, operating without insurance, 1st offense, $285. Cherokee Pierce, 46, day speeding, $20. Jeremy Richardson, 36, day...
"There are a lot of things up in the air, so any way to get information is a good thing, and I'm not too old to learn yet," said Bob Neary, a participant in the Clark Fork Valley Amateur Radio Club (CFVAR) hosted Ham Cram. The "Ham Cram" was an event held Saturday with the goal of getting more locals interested in amateur radio. Nine people attended the event to become certified as "hams," so the radio enthusiasts call themselves. The daylong class was taught by Lynn Lanzoni, who works the K-9 u...
Each spring, FWP receives calls from people who have picked up deer fawns or other wildlife. It’s important to remember that Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) no longer accepts, holds or rehabilitates moose, deer, elk and most other animals. Often times, people think they are rescuing an orphaned animal. However, it’s important to understand that wildlife care for their young much differently than humans. They have strategies to provide the highest chance of survival for their young. One strategy that some species, particularly those speci...
I feel as if I am suffering from an incurable bout of spring fever. The promise of longer days teasing me with signs of warm weather have the receptive neurons firing in my brain, telling me it’s time to come out of winter hibernation. Early mornings (coffee in hand) watching the sun rise, exploring unknown parts of the forest, naps in the hammock, long days out in the garden watching my honey bees, I’m ready for it. I decided to remedy the situation over the weekend by bringing home a car full of flower bulbs and tubers. However, the exc...
For over 30 years the Running Start program at Thompson Falls Elementary has been encouraging youth to read for fun. "It's a way to get kids to read, not just because they have to, but recreationally," said Elementary Principal Len Dorscher. On Friday morning, Dorscher gathered the kids at the playground to run a lap around the basketball court symbolizing the start of the program. Dorscher, along with other teachers, ran with the students. When students got back into their classrooms, books...
Sanders County churches will celebrate Easter with services and events throughout the weekend. Hot Springs The Sacred Heart Mission is holding a resurrection service at 1:30 p.m. April 4, given by Father Jeffery Benusa. Plains Plains Alliance Church is hosting a Good Friday service April 2 at 6:30 p.m. and a sunrise service April 4 at 7:30 a.m. at the pool park in Plains. There will also be a resurrection service April 4 at 10 a.m. The Plains Church on the Move is partnering with the Lions Club for a community Easter egg hunt at the Plains pool...
Junior Earl "Spud" Crystal, 86, of Plains, Montana, passed away on March 28, 2021, of natural causes. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 10, 2021, at Mountain View Cemetery in Athol, Idaho. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Coffelt Funeral Home of Sandpoint, Idaho. Spud was born in Kootenai, Idaho, on August 10, 1934. Spud was married to Arlene Pettit in 1966; they were married for many years until Arlene's passing in 2002. Spud worked as a laborer for Diehl's Mi... Full story
Steven Mark Pedersen, 61, of Plains, Montana was born November 30, 1959 in Berwyn, Illinois. He was Malcolm and Charmaine Pedersen's second son, joining older brother Greg. In his younger years they lived in several communities in Illinois. Spending time with his maternal grandfather, Clarence, seemed to spark his interest in tools and all that you can do with them. He fondly remembers his grandfather's sets of tools and the steam engine which he built and left to Steven. The Pedersens visited... Full story
SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. MAKER 6. BCE 9. DBMS 13. SINAI 14. ELON 15. ELAN 16. EDAM 17. ADAGE 18. LENO 19. CEREBRUMS 21. SIBIU 22. SPACE 23. BUN 24. AT 25. SBE 28. MBA 29. PALEA 31. TODD 33. STEADFAST 36. MODES 38. IRK 39. ATHOS 41. MACARONIS 44. EELS 45. SARAN 46. SUS 48. NAB 49. CT 51. MAD 52. STICH 54. HUPEH 56. DIATHESIS 60. OBIT 61. KEENE 62. AARE 63. SERE 64. RAGI 65. EDGAR 66. EDER 67. ALE 68. TSANA SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. MSEC 2. AIDE 3. KNAR 4. EAMES 5. RI 6. BLAME 7. COGS 8. ENE 9. DELINEATE 10.... Full story
AVOID THE PLASTICS & LEND A HAND! Of the top 10 most common items found on coastlines in 120 countries, seven are food-related. These are food wrappers, straws and stirrers, plastic cutlery, beverage bottles, bottle caps, plastic lids, and single-use cups and plates. The other three categories were plastic grocery bags and 'other' plastic bags (both of which could be linked to food), and cigarette butts. A press release from the ICC (International Coastal Cleanup) says it's the first time plastic forks, knives, and spoons have appeared on the...
Thompson Falls sixth graders have been building mousetrap vehicles, helicopters and a Rube Goldberg machine. If any of these sounds familiar, you have probably already guessed they are preparing for a challenge that typically occurs in the fall, in person. This year, which has been anything but typical, the annual Science Olympiad competition is taking place the first week of April via Zoom. According to Rebecka Sawyer, science teacher and Science Olympiad leader, students' projects will be...
The Clark Fork Valley Elks (CFVE) Lodge is working to update their patio area, and will host a fundraiser on Saturday, April 10. The event will feature a paint and sip event hosted by Cheers to Painting and former CFVE Exalted Ruler Michelle Blackstone. The painting starts at 4 p.m. and will be followed by dinner. The meal will consist of a Cornish game hen glazed with a mango chutney, sides and dessert. The evening will also feature a bake sale and silent auction. The event has limited seating and participants must register and pay in...
The last steel wild horse was installed on the Plains greenway last week and although the artist wishes he could have done more, he is relieved to be finished with the three and a half-year-old project. With the horse "planting" came a dedication ceremony for Kenton Pies' final horse led by the flute playing of Chilaili Wachiwi, a Native American and a resident of Trout Creek, who did a special piece she wrote called "Horses in the Grass." Twenty-one people gathered on the greenway Friday at 11...
After the year of nothing, something to finally look forward to – a real-life track and field season. Not a virtual competition, but actual almost face-to-face confrontations that we had become accustomed to seeing over the years. Until last year, that is. Twenty-twenty, the year of COVID-19, will certainly go down in the books as one we will want to forget but likely never will be able to completely erase from memory. In the meantime, 2020 has thankfully passed and Montana spring prep sports a...
When you have a tournament named after you, you are considered a living legend. Long-time Thompson Falls golf coach Gary Thompson, who was honored when officials declared Thompson Falls’ annual high school golf tournament the “Gary Thompson Invitational” back in 2019, is back to coach the Blue Hawk girls and boys golf teams once more this spring. Although he has attempted to retire from his Falls golf coaching position a few times, Thompson always seems to get lured back in. And he is liking the looks of his 2021 team, although he would like...
