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Independently owned since 1905
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The Plains Community Clothing Bank is reaching out to help students look good for the school prom. The clothing bank exists to give away clothes, but this time of year it provides prom dresses for the girls and suits for the boys. The prom apparel is the only loan items at the clothing bank, said Jessica Peterson, who heads the "Prom Dress Rentals Program," located at the Assembly of God Church on Clayton Street in Plains. There is no charge for the suits or dresses, but Peterson said they'd...
The wastewater project and improvements to the water system in Thompson Falls are progressing, Mayor Mark Sheets said this week. "The sewer project is on time and within budgets and there have been no real concerns," Sheets said at Monday's City Council meeting. Residents have already seen activity on Preston Avenue above the railroad tracks as the construction phase of a project to expand the city’s sewer system to residences and businesses on the hill in Thompson Falls. This week, work began to install a new forced main to the wastewater trea...
Clark Fork Valley Hospital is featuring a new podiatrist and he's no stranger to Sanders County. Dr. Brian Schenavar began as a consulting specialist at Plains Family Medicine on April 6 and will be seeing patients one to two times a month. Schenavar grew up in Thompson Falls and is a 2008 graduate of Thompson Falls High School and he has had a position as a podiatric physician at Western Montana Foot and Ankle in Missoula since July 2020. The 31-year-old Schenavar is a 2017 graduate of the...
One person was killed and another injured when a passenger vehicle struck a logging truck head-on early Monday morning east of Thompson Falls. Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) reported the accident occurred about 3 a.m. Monday near mile marker 55 on Highway 200, near Thompson River Lumber. The eastbound logging truck was struck head-on by the car, which was headed west. The driver of the car was killed and the driver of the logging truck was injured. No further details were available. As of March 22, MHP reported 43 fatality crashes on Montana...
A wildlife burned more than 300 acres last week. The CSKT Division of Fire responded to the Sinkhole Fire west of Dixon last Wednesday. Railroad work in the area is believed to have caused the fire. Smoke could be seen rolling across the prairie from cars passing on Highway 200. Fire officials stated that miscellaneous overhead, five engines a dozer and a total of 25 personnel responded to the fire, and that wind was a factor. The blaze was fully contained by midday Friday....
This week, The Ledger is publishing profiles of candidates for local school board elections. You'll find these on pages 4 and 5. Local boards and special districts rarely have contested races. This year, we have multiple candidates for several board positions. Part of our job in providing local news is making sure our readers are informed on important issues such as elections and what's happening in Sanders County towns. The first year I owned The Ledger, I missed providing the school board candidate profiles. The election snuck up on me and...
“Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?” – Chico Marx Sometimes it seems to me that everything we do in life is an attempt to solve mysteries. While that includes how a crime was committed, it also applies to things from “what is life all about”, to putting a jigsaw puzzle together, or figuring out how to do something we have not done before. We look for solutions, we look for reasons, we look for constants, we look for people who can teach us. Mostly we get things right, but not a...
This past week, Montana’s Senate passed SB 379, 27-21. It’s a bill that’s equivalent to a “Get Out of Jail Free’’ card for NorthWestern Energy. This bill legitimizes the “business plan” of NWE to directly charge its ratepayers for the buy-out and repair costs for its deteriorating Colstrip plant. ‘Mom and Pop’ ratepayers would pay a minimum of an additional $600/year for 20 years. Yep! You read that right. So even if the Colstrip plant closes – expected by 2030 - each NWE ratepayer would continue to pay out a total of $12,600 through 2042....
I am writing in response to Jim Elliott’s column from April 1, regarding his comments about recent changes to voting laws. One take was that it is difficult and expensive to obtain photo ID for some, and for Montanans, you need a state-issued picture ID (or US passport) which requires a fee to obtain, thus resulting in having to pay a fee to vote. After a quick internet search about how to vote in Montana, I was directed to the Montana Secretary of State website, clicked on the Elections tab, and easily found answers on how to register to v...
"TIMBER-R-R-R OOP DA HILL..." From interviews conducted by Mike Scott "Timber-r-r-r oop da hill." With this traditional warning, a huge ponderosa began to sway and crack as the tree fell to the ground with a thunderous roar. "Yesus! That vere a big vun." The remark came from Ole Vickner, who with his partner, Ben Monas, formed a falling crew for the Montana Logging Company in the Lynch Creek operation from 1929 until 1940. An estimate of the amount of timber taken from western Sanders County...
Cheryl Fraser, Thompson Falls - “Yes, I think it’s a very good idea. I think it will save lives.” Karen Dykstra, Thompson Falls - “Yes, I really think they should have the drivers ed class. I think there are a lot of kids who live in town that really don’t have a chance to practice ahead of time.” Pam Stralser, Trout Creek - “I believe that 15-year-olds need additional education training in order to get their learner’s permit. All the experience they get makes them better drivers and the community safer.” Kyle Berke, Helena - “I don’t believe t...
Ambulance: Plains, 5; T. Falls, 6; Hot Springs, 4; Trout Creek, 1; Dixon, 2; Paradise, 1. Monday, April 5 Theft, Trout Creek. Assist other agency, Plains. Fire, Dixon. Trespass, reporting party states tenant was not supposed to be on property, Hot Springs. General animal call or complaint, Trout Creek. Threats, Thompson Falls. Welfare check, Plains. Theft, T. Falls. Property damage, criminal mischief, Dixon. Animal other, deer vs car, T. Falls. Informational case, Dixon. Informational case, Plains. Tuesday, April 6 Person missing, Hot Springs....
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Jason Clark, 42, hunt or fish without license, $135. Motor Carrier Services Justin Stephens, 39, log not current, $185. Robert Gardner, 40, operating without special permit, $135. Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Korey White, 33, failure to display driver license, $225; operating without insurance, 1st offense, $275; failure to show registration receipt, $85. Dexter Tice, 34, night speeding, $70; driving while suspended, 1st offense, $335. Kevin Kragt, 51, speeding in a restricted zone, $65. Mark Hewitt, 51, d...
While in agreement with the editors statements about the need for, and value of, interested folks running for school boards, the statement got me thinking about the other side of the coin. We, the constituents, need to be aware of, and recognize, the service provided by the people we elect. I’ve attended Thompson Falls school board meetings for around 30 years, with Bud Scully the sixth superintendent during that time, and more board members than I can remember. The last three years have been the most challenging I’ve observed, and our sch...
The Montana Arts Council does not supply grant funding toward farmer’s markets, small farming equipment or aid meatpacking businesses. Federal grant funding from USDA is used for rural development. The Montana Arts Council is a source of funding for organizations who are applying for grants to be used toward arts and theater and venue performances. The information was incorrect in an article in last week’s Ledger. Any organization who could not attend the March 31 public hearing and community needs assessment, and has a project they would lik...
NAME: Averie Boon EDUCATION: GED OCCUPATION: Salon owner, cosmetologist Why do you want to be on the school board? I want to be involved as much as I can. If you want to see change, you can't just sit back and wait for it to happen. What one change would you like to see implemented in your school district? I would like to see our facilities be updated and potentially expanded to better accommodate our athletic programs and extracurricular activities. If elected, how will you prioritize the...
NAME: Cassandra Hill EDUCATION: Noxon High School graduate, 2006 OCCUPATION: Stay-at-home mom Why do you want to be on the school board? Since being appointed a board member for Noxon Schools in October of 2020, my goal has always been to play an active role in making decisions that best affect the students, administration, staff, and community members of our district. What one change would you like to see implemented in your school district? Some changes I'd like to see for our district would...
NAME: Charles French EDUCATION: Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, Montana State University OCCUPATION: Engineer Why do you want to be on the school board? I have submitted my candidacy for board trustee because I want to be a more active and contributing member of our community. I grew up in this community and went to college at MSU - Bozeman. My wife and I moved back to Plains not because I had no other choice, but because I want to be here. My favorite subjects are math, physics, and engineering. I want to help improve the opportunities...
NAME: Sarah Cooper EDUCATION: Associates Degree Nursing; Bachelor of Science, Social Science with emphasis in Economics OCCUPATION: Registered Nurse, currently working as a Contact Tracer for Sanders County Public Health. I'm also a full-time mom of two kiddos, and a member of the Thompson Falls Public Library Board. Former Manager of the Trout Creek Farmers Market. Why do you want to be on the school board? The Trout Creek School has served our community for generations, and in the 15 years that I have lived in the area I have seen the value...
Robert E. Anderson died on the morning of Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021, at his home in Kalispell. He was preceded in death by Shirley Anderson, his beloved wife of 73 years, who passed away on January 6. He declared that the only mistake she ever made was to die before he did. Encouraged by her (and us) to write his own obituary, he penned the following: On the morning of November 28, 1922, an excited Swedish immigrant announced the arrival of his first son, Robert, into a family of four...
Dolores (Dolly) Evelyn Aldrich Hill Burrese was born April 14, 1933 at the Aldrich ranch on Cherry Creek, just outside of Thompson Falls, the first of four children born to Ray and Evelyn Garrison Aldrich. She died April 9, 2021 at the age of 87. In Dolly's senior year of high school, she placed third in a statewide shorthand contest. Dolly graduated from Thompson Falls High School in May 1950, while employed in the Sanders County Assessor's Office. In 1952 she worked as a telephone operator in...
The Thompson Falls School Board approved a National Honor Society senior trip this year. The group still has around $16,000 from last year and 19 non-refundable airline tickets. Last year’s trip was supposed to be to Washington, D.C., in March, but because of COVID-19 the trip was canceled. Of the 16 students in the group in the spring of 2020, six graduated. Unfortunately, those seniors will not be able to participate in the trip, according to Jodi Morgan, the high school counselor. “It’s disappointing and I feel terrible for those kids,...
Jennifer Flemmer pleaded not guilty in 20th District Judicial Court last week, to charges of felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs and criminal possession with intent to distribute. According to charging documents, March 23 a warrant was issued for her arrest after she did not appear for a drug patch change. When she was visited, drugs and drug paraphernalia were found at her residence. The charging documents say she later admitted to losing her old patch, using and intending to sell drugs in order to make some extra money. Judge...
The Thompson Falls City Council on Monday voted down an ordinance allowing residents to have chickens, rabbits, ducks and quails in the city limits. The council voted 3-2 against the ordinance. Council member Shawni Vaught, who voted against the ordinance with Katherine Maudrone and Ruth Cheney, brought up the fact that there was nothing in the ordinance about proper or timely disposal of carcasses. She said she had talked with a representative from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and to Bob Butte of Butte Services about proper disposal and fe...
A group of pinwheels fluttering in the breeze might not halt domestic violence, but members of the Sanders County Coalition for Families (SCCFF) hope they will attract attention to make people aware that there is a problem. Kayla Lehman-Torres, the supervised visitation program manager at SCCFF in Thompson Falls, and several volunteers created a field of colorful pinwheels at the Sanders County Courthouse a week ago and on the greenway along Railroad Street in Plains on Saturday. "One of the...
