Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Volunteers around Thompson Falls helped clean up the city as part of the annual Beautification Days effort. Students and staff from Wood Creek Academy raked pine needles and cones in the yard of Donna Curry, who said it's at least her fourth year of receiving help during Beautification Days. "I'm so grateful for them," Curry said. "These young men are wonderful." Bruce Donaldson of Wood Creek Academy said they help out every year. "Whatever is needed, we'll be there," he said. "The boys always...
When starting a business, finding funding sources can be a huge hurdle. On Thursday, community members learned resources are available to educate people on raising capital. The meeting was part of the Invest in Montana tour with the state Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI). Montana State Auditor Matt Rosendale visited Thompson Falls on Thursday to connect with business owners and those looking to start businesses and share information about investing in businesses. Rosendale, CSI...
PLENTY OF SNOW greets motorist on top of Thompson Pass. While the pass officially opened on Monday, vehicles could get through to Idaho over the weekend. Jon Sonju of Thompson Falls traditionally attempts to be the first person over Thompson Pass. Though he didn't get that title this year, he did report that he went over twice last weekend. Several feet of snow remain on top of the pass, and Montana Department of Transportation staff said that it took more than six hours to clear the parking...
The ballots are set for the primary elections, and now the elections staff at the Sanders County Clerk and Recorder’s office is preparing for June 5. Last week the county trained more than 60 election judges. Bobbi Christenson with the Sanders County Election Office said that though state law requires three election judges at each polling place, Sanders County likes to have at least five. Duties include greeting voters, checking IDs, having them sign in and issuing ballots. There’s also a ballot box judge, and the election judges can rot...
Over the weekend, dozens of volunteers in Thompson Falls came together for Beautification Days. The effort includes projects such as helping the elderly and disabled rid their yards of leaves and pine needles, cleaning up public spaces, and spraying and sweeping Main Street. Beautification Days committee members said there were more volunteers this year, which meant that more projects were completed. That’s a positive thing for Thompson Falls as we get ready for the busy tourist season. At NorthWestern Energy’s Island Park, several bags of tra...
Often, when I sit down to write, I have to search for a topic. It’s common for me to write three or more articles and then decide which one I want to run that week. For the record, this is version four. I figure if I’m going to write something I at least ought to be interested in it. I write a lot about politics because I was involved in it for a long time, but today’s politics is not a joyous subject. In fact, it’s downright depressing as far as I’m concerned. So, on occasions like this I tr...
The importance of having access to high-speed broadband Internet has never been greater for Montana students. When they graduate and enter the job market, they will need a deep knowledge of technology and the ability to learn new skills quickly. Technology is increasingly used in all aspects of student learning. Educators in Montana have made it a priority that our schools have first-rate access to Internet. A real gap exists today between students who have access to all the Internet has to offer, and those who live in areas that are lagging...
5 YEARS AGO • APRIL 25, 1968 BOOSTER CLUB FORMED TO BACK TF STUDENTS A booster club to support athletics, music and other extra-curricular activities at Thompson Falls High School was organized Monday night by a group of 18 parents and interested citizens. Bill Chisenhall was elected president of the club to serve during the first year. Louis H. Dufresne was elected vice president and Mrs. Richard Wilkinson secretary-treasurer. First major project of the club will be to work for construction of a new athletic field with a regulation track a...
TAMI HENESSEY, Thompson Falls – “It would be nice to have affordable dentistry, so we wouldn’t have to stand in line for hours to see a dentist on free dentist day once a year.” MARGIE KOHM, Plains – “We need more restaurants. We have a Chinese food restaurant. I think the services in Sanders are pretty good.” CAROL SMITH, Thompson Falls – “I’d like to see a McDonalds. Some kind of fast food. We have a sandwich shop and we have enough restaurants. Everybody likes McDonalds.” DELORES JOHNSON, Thompson Falls – “It would be nice to have a bigger...
Ambulances: T. Falls, 10; Plains, 1; H. Springs, 1; Dixon QRU, 1. Sunday, April 8 Arrest made for violation of a protection order, T. Falls. Power pole that appears to be smoking, Noxon. Civil standby requested, T. Falls. Monday, April 9 Violation of protection order, T. Falls. Juvenile corresponding on-line with potential predator, T. Creek. Nuisance dogs, Paradise. Theft of building supplies, Plains. Child custody issue, T. Falls. Dead livestock in pasture, H. Springs. Tuesday, April 10 Juvenile walk away from residential program, T. Creek....
Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Marcus Keller, 33, $85, speeding in a restricted zone. Daren Incashola, 47, $85, operating with expired registration. Andrew Portzen, 23, $135, criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Leah Jantz, $55, speeding in a restricted zone. Tiffany Redding, 43, $45, speeding in a restricted zone. John Bennett, 52, $55, speeding in a restricted zone. Steven Flesch, 20, $85, no liability insurance, 1st offense. Jennifer Krein, 36, $20, day speeding. Cory Clark, 33, $20, day speeding. Raymundo Aleman, 29, $85, careless d...
Kids and senior citizens got the chance to help military veterans after one veteran came up with a brainstorm to help aging veterans honor passed veterans. Each year for Memorial Day, members of VFW Post 3596 place American flags at the gravesites of veterans at Plains Cemetery, a task that isn't always easy for the members – average age 72 – to create a hole at each grave for the wooden flag staff. Instead of having to make a hole in the sometimes hard ground, this year they will only have to...
Explore the world of fly fishing, from Honduras to Alaska, Dubai to Africa, without leaving Sanders County, during the 12th annual Fly Fishing Film Tour, coming to the Rex Theatre in Thompson Falls on April 28. This is the first year the international film festival has landed in Thompson Falls, and it promises to be an entertaining and informative evening for folks who enjoy fly fishing or even just watching a good film. “The stories are compelling, and the locations are stunning,” said Reg Crawford, a project leader with Panhandle Trout Unl...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) announced this week that drawing reults for deer and elk will be delayed. The drawing is set to take place the week of April 23. According to FWP, staff is reconciling data from applications and needs to run a mock drawing to ensure the system is operating smoothly. The mock drawing is slated to happen toward the end of this week. The drawings are for mule deer buck and either sex and special antlerless elk permits. For more information and for updates, go to the MyFWP portal at fwp.mt.go...
Like many state-funded programs, the Western Montana Mental Health Center (WMMHC) budget is tight. And it recently got tighter when reimbursement rates were cut. The total annual budget, backed by the state and counties, for WMMHC is $41 million. This year, the program saw almost a 10 percent decrease in funding; an estimated $4 million cut. But that is not going to change the quality of service they provide. “I am very hopeful for the future of Sanders County,” stated Abby Harnett, Executive Director for Sanders and Lincoln County WMMHC. “Ther...
George Winston, one of the country's most celebrated pianists and piano recording artists, is coming to Sanders County to perform a benefit concert on Monday, May 21, at Paradise Center in Paradise. Winston is best known for his folk music style that crosses all boundaries into R&B, soul, Americana, country, and show tunes. He has recorded 14 solo albums in his career, several of them spotlighting the four seasons so revered in Montana, where he grew up. Currently Winston is touring the country...
State and local public health agencies are investigating several reports of E. coli O157 illnesses likely linked to chopped romaine lettuce sourced from the winter growing areas in Yuma, Arizona. Three cases in Montana are confirmed to be linked by laboratory testing to a multi-state outbreak and four more are suspected and further testing is pending. Confirmed and suspected cases have been identified in Missoula, Flathead, Lincoln and Ravalli counties. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting an additional 35 cases,...
Maurice was born in Ekalaka, Mont., on March 2, 1925. He entered into rest and into the arms of our loving Heavenly Father on April 16, 2018. He was the fourth of seven children, and at the age of 11, moved with his family to Superior and then to Dixon where Maurice attended high school. He worked as a ranch hand and then for the railroad in the Dixon and Eddy Flat areas. During WWII, he entered the U.S. Army as an 82nd Airborne paratrooper serving all over in the European theatre. After his... Full story
Steven Trent Lakey was born January 4, 1944 in Portland, Oregon. He passed away, on his own terms, April 9, 2018 at St. Patrick's Hospital in Missoula surrounded by his family. Steve was raised in Polson but moved to Trout Creek in his 40s where he built his own home from the ground up. He was a music enthusiast and performer from a young age, an avid outdoorsman, a Montana logger and a true jack of all trades. Steve considered the Trout Creek community home. He valued his family above... Full story
John and Emma Gunderson are proud to announce the birth of their daughters, Kady Jo and Kelly Grace Gunderson. The twins were born Monday, April 9, at Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital. Kady Jo was born at 12:08 a.m., weighing 5 lbs., 7 oz., and measuring 18.5 inches long. Kelly Grace came one minute later, at 12:09 a.m. She weighed 5 lbs., 9 oz. and was 17 inches long. Paternal grandparents are Doug and Connie Gunderson of Thompson Falls. Maternal grandparents are Benjamin and Jennifer... Full story
Thompson Falls students and parents helped raise more than $2,000 for new books at the elementary library last week. The annual book fair was April 9-12. Librarian Pam Peters said that 55 percent of the book fair proceeds go to the school to purchase books for the library. Peters said she looks for high interest areas that need new titles when picking out books for the library, and students add titles to the wish list. “The school district provides a budget for books each year,” Peters said, “but with my excellent readers, new books are alway...
The Paradise Center got off to a big start with its railroad display after three avid model train hobbyists gave an all-day workshop at the center Saturday, teaching local volunteers how to get train track down on a custom-made table. By 4 p.m., John Thorson, serving as the engineer of the inaugural run of the "Paradise Northern Pacific," the group was watching the HO train go around the track. Bill Taylor, Larry Brumback and Kirk Thompson, all from the Bitterroot Valley, volunteered to teach a...
Social media provides a look into the past as far as the Internet is concerned, but researching beyond the start of the 21st century can be a bit of a challenge. At the Thompson Falls Public Library, information has been available in the form of newspaper on microfilm. The technology, now outdated, allowed patrons to look through specific years of publications, but wat not searchable and finding exactly what you needed could be tedious. And with outdated operating systems on computers, the...
Illegal drug problems aren’t confined to large cities. Rural towns struggle as well, and a group of local residents and officials are aiming to educate the public about issues in Sanders County. The Sanders County Drug Awareness Seminar will explore the impact of illegal drugs on the community. The meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 2 at the Rex Theatre in Thompson Falls. “We’re all victims of the drug epidemic,” Sanders County Undersheriff Lanny Hensley said, noting that people need to know more about the local drug problem. “It’s n...
A squadron of American white pelicans were grounded on top of Thompson Pass last weekend. They are one of the largest birds in North America and can have up to a 9-foot wingspan. Their habitat is far inland and includes lakes, rivers and marshes. During the breeding season, adults grow an unusual projection on their bill....
