Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 28
Ballots will be mailed later this week for county school and special district elections. Sanders County Election Administrator McKenna Wallace said ballots will be mailed April 14 for the May 2 election. The election is being held by mail, so ballots will need to be mailed back by voters, or dropped in a drop box at the Sanders County election office. Heron Park District is the only special district with an election this spring, with one four-year park commissioner term open. Jodee Goetz and Deborah Lyman have both filed as candidates for that...
For the first time the Plains Lions Club and the Assembly of God Church moved their annual Easter Egg Hunt up one day and it was a big success, according to organizers. "I really like doing it on Saturday," said Jessica Peterson, the primary coordinator with the church. Peterson and several other members of the Church on the Move have missed Easter Sunday services for the last six years because they were setting up the Easter egg hunt, which had been held at 1 p.m. on Easter Sunday. The Plains...
Trout Creek Community Improvement Association (TCCIA) hosted their ninth annual Easter Eggstravaganza Saturday afternoon at the Trout Creek Community Park. Around 150 children registered for this year's event and gathered nearly 7,000 eggs that were stuffed by TCCIA members and volunteers with 7,000 pieces of candy. Conner Mushaney, age 8, was ready at the mark to gather as many eggs as possible during Saturday's event. When The Ledger caught up with Mushaney, who goes to Trout Creek Public...
Montana Rail Link continues to work on cleanup operations along the tracks at the site of a derailment from a week earlier, but they continue to refuse to answer some of the simple questions concerning the work. It had been reported that they removed the derailed car loaded with propane, but MRL spokesman Andy Garland refuses to confirm or deny that it was moved. Several derailed cars are still alongside the railroad tracks on the east side of the tunnel. Garland said that train traffic resumed...
I give an unapologetic sigh of relief that the Legislature’s attempts to send harmful—in my view—amendments to the Montana Constitution to the voters are in trouble. Before that became apparent, however, an opinion from former University of Montana law professor Rob Natelson made the editorial rounds. He made three criticisms of the Constitutional Convention of 1972 which are interesting to me. The first “…the decision to sit delegates alphabetically impeded the ability of the conservat...
8 YEARS AGO • MARCH 31, 1943 ROCK SLIDE A big rock slide blocked the Clark Fork highway east of Thompson Falls near Weeksville Saturday evening. The slide was about a block long. Approximately 50,000 yards of rock impeded highway traffic. The highway department had to bring in a steam shovel and it was not until Tuesday evening the road was opened for travel. APRIL 21, 1943 • A GOOD OFFER The Army has relinquished the buildings and property at the Thompson River CCC camp, to the Forest Service. These buildings were of excellent con...
Last year, it seemed as though there was some sort of bear conflict in the area just about every day. Fish, Wildlife and Parks staff was busy taking care of issues and trying to educate property owners how to reduce conflicts. The majority of conflicts last year, as in most years, were due to trash or chickens not being secured properly. I got to know FWP bear expert Kim Annis pretty well last year, and it didn't take me long to learn her key phrase of making sure garbage is secured "inside a structure with four walls, a roof and a door." More...
The Pope Who Would Be King, by David I. Kertzer, is the biography of a man placed in a position of immense power almost against his own will, and of how he dealt with that power. It’s a great read for anyone interested in the ancient tension between centralized authority and authority “of the people, by the people, and for the people”, or between conservatism and liberalism. But as with much of history, the real interest comes from considering contemporary events in the light of history’s lessons. Pius IX (Giovanni Mastai Ferretti, 1792-1878) w...
Cody Albano - “Helping my dad do firewood.” Quinn Nichols - “Going to Phoenix Arizona to see my Nana and Papa.” Isaac Milner - “Swimming, fishing, boating and tubing.” Emma Brotherton - “Running and looking forward to Easter.” Elena Buys - “Art, bike riding and I like to do my nails.” Hartleigh Block - “Going to wrestle at a big tournament....
Montana Highway Patrol Tim Southwick, 49, reckless driving, 1st offense, $335, deferred imposition of sentence. David Haywood, 51, day speeding, $20. Mark Couture, 51, speeding in a restricted zone, $105. Steven Schaller, 64, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Trevor Carter, 30, reckless driving, 1st offense, $285, deferred imposition of sentence. Daniel Lowe, 23, stop/stand/park vehicle less than 500 feet visibility to drivers, $85. Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Payton Agting, 18, partner/family member assault, 1st offense, $585, 1 day j...
Ambulance: T. Falls, 7; Plains, 5; Trout Creek, 2; Hot Springs, 2; Paradise, 1. Monday, April 3 Inmate transport. Property damage/criminal mischief, Plains. Warrant service, Hot Springs. Warrant service, T. Falls. Business contact, Hot Springs. Assist miscellaneous, Plains. Juvenile criminal, Dixon. Livestock, Camas Prairie. Fire. Suspicious activity, Hot Springs. Livestock, Paradise. Assist other agency, Dixon. Business contact, T. Falls. Warrant service, Dixon. Tuesday, April 4 Business contact, Plains. Civil attempts, Plains. Trespass, Hot...
Thirty-two people showed up for a Hot Springs community meeting last Wednesday put on by School District 14-J in an effort to educate the public about a proposed levy that the school needs in order to avoid program and teacher cuts. Hot Springs Superintendent Gerald Chouinard led the meeting, backed by Principal Byron Woods and school board members Dirk Roosma, Cam Ulvick, Julie White, Jen Christensen and Chairman Ricky DePoe. The school is asking voters to approve a $150,000 levy for the...
You can join Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness this summer as we continue the work to ensure that winter tree fall is removed, that dangerous rock fall is rerouted around or the trails width is maintained against the constant battle against flora’s encroachment. It is hard work in a variety of weather conditions, working with traditional manual tools. It also is extremely rewarding to work alongside other volunteers that love nature enough to donate “sweat equity” to ensure that these trails remain navigable for all hikers to enjoy. Visit...
On March 29 2023, the world lost a great man. Lonnie Jennings was a loving husband, father, brother, brother-in-law, son-in-law, uncle, and friend. He was 60 years old. Lonnie had been diagnosed with leukemia in November and although his battle was brief, he fought hard every day with a smile and a great attitude. He spent his last days at the home he loved and shared with his wife, Sandy, and their beloved dog, Girl. Lonnie impacted the lives of many. Whether you saw him at the store or...
Amber Alana Taylor (Drizigacker), age 52, passed away in Kalispell, Montana, on March 10, 2023. Celebration of life will be at The Rimrock bowling alley in Thompson Falls, Montana, on Saturday, April 22, 2023, from noon to 4 p.m. Amber was a beloved mother, grandmother, daughter and friend to many. She made friends wherever she went and always knew how to make someone smile. Her life's work was protecting others and assuring they felt loved and cherished. She will be greatly missed by her...
Wendy Kelley and BJ Handford racked up 7,650 points to win the GFWC Woman’s Club Pinochle Marathon for the second month in a row. Juanita Triplett and Cal Pomrenke were second in March with 6,410 points and Pat Ingraham and Nancy Gressang third with 6,030. After seven months of play, Cathay Mills and Jim Hurst are in first place overall with 38,480, Kelley and Handford are second with 37,790 and Linda Haywood and Renee Klinger sit in third place with 36,204. Other overall scores include: Pinkie Nelson and Joyce Hilt, 36,040; Triplett and P...
SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. AMU 4. PAN 7. SSB 10. REP 11. AGE 12. ALE 13. AMEND 15. RAM 16. DERMA 19. SATIATE 21. ENDEMIC 23. PRESTOS 24. SOLVENT 25. CERE 26. EPEE 27. ASSISTS 30. SESSION 34. DAB 35. ABN 36. ONESELF 41. BROWNIE 45. ALAI 46. AERO 47. DRUMLIN 50. SIERRAS 54. INSPIRE 55. ENGRAVE 56. PAULO 57. SAM 59. AIKEN 60. RET 61. SAE 62. NEE 63. PST 64. ERN 65. ODD SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. ARETE 2. MENISCI 3. UPDATES 4. PARESES 5. AGA 6. NEMESES 7. SADDLES 8. SLEEVES 9. BERME 13. ASP 14. MAR 17. MIN 18. ACT 20. TORT 22. NOPE 27. ADO 28. SAN 29. SBE 31. IAN...
Sanders County Commissioners last week approved sponsoring a grant that will support restoration efforts on the Vermilion River near Trout Creek. The Lower Clark Fork Watershed Group (LCFWG) approached the county about sponsoring the $50,000 planning grant available from the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC). Commissioners voted 2-1, with Tony Cox and John Holland voting in favor of the grant and Dan Rowan opposing. During a prior meeting about the DNRC grant, questions were brought up about the grant money as revenue affe...
The Blue Hawks softball team led with flying colors at Tuesday's home game against the Whitefish Bulldogs. By the end of the second inning the Hawks were up 3-0 and then the Bulldogs started the third inning with a gain of one run. But the Hawks quickly took charge when it was their turn to bat. With one out and the bases loaded, Gabbi Hannum hit a double and the runs surged from 11 to 14. Then Hannum stole third and stole home to make it a 15-1 point game. Still with one out and the bases...
The Blue Hawks golf team teed off for their first tournament of the season at the Indian Springs Golf Club in Eureka, where the Divisional Tournament will be held. "The Blue Hawks had a good start with the first tournament of the year," said Coach Doree Thilmony. Ellie Baxter was the team's star golfer with a score of 90, finishing 4th out of 36 golfers. Thilmony said that Baxter looked strong, had great consistency and picked up right where she left off last season. "She has been a great...
The Clark Fork Valley Soccer Alliance U12 team had one win and one loss Saturday at the Amundson Sports Complex at Plains. The U11 Flathead Soccer Club defeated the Plains team 5-1 on Saturday morning, but Clark Fork Valley Soccer Alliance bounced back Saturday afternoon and whipped the Thompson Falls U12/U11 team 9-1. The Blue Hawks were also defeated earlier in the day by the Flathead Soccer Club. Blue Hawk Assistant Coach Zac Jensen said the score "was something like 0 to ouch!" The Blue...
On Saturday the Trotters softball varsity and junior varsity teams traveled to Troy to take on the Trojans. In five innings the Plains varsity girls achieved a shutout score of 10-0. Carlie Wagoner hit a homerun on her first chance up to bat. It was a strike-out game for Maddy Blood, who pitched all five innings. She slung nine strike-outs and the last one for the win. The Trotters banked a total of ten hits. Coach Kati Mitchell said that the Trotters junior varsity team fought a hard game, but came up one run short to lose 15-14 against Troy....
An Easter Surprise and a catch of a lifetime happened for Bryan Long of Columbia Falls over the fourth weekend of the 2023 Spring Mack Days event on Flathead Lake. Instead of an Easter basket of goodies he had a large lake trout on the end of the line. He reeled in a 36.65-pound, 45.5-inch lake trout. Long said he could not believe how big the lake trout was when he first saw it. It came up on the far end of the boat and then went underneath it before he got it close enough to where he was. Once he got a look at it he started calling for the...
The American Legion in Thompson Falls is starting a new program in an effort to get more kids involved with the U.S. government and maybe spread a little patriotism. Representatives from American Legion Post 52 met with seniors of Thompson Falls High School's American Government class Friday morning to promote the Legion's new American Legion Essay Contest, which could lead to cash prizes. Bill Beck, the Legion's new post commander, Ken Matthiesen, a past post commander, and Morris "Mac"...
Scott "Tuff" Ryder, Trout Creek School Interviewed by Karen Thorson Scott "Tuff" Ryder is 14 years of age and an eighth-grade student at Trout Creek School. His artistic talent is clearly recognized by many, including Principal Preston Wenz, his teacher Ms. Jo Hanson, and fellow students (who often ask him to depict something of interest to them). He prefers graphite (pencil) as an art medium and he has mastered it, from sharp lines to soft shading. His subject matter spans from Japanese swords...
