Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Local wildlife officials briefed the Sanders County Commissioners last week on several topics, from bears and hunting harvests to According to Kim Annis with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), bears are beginning to wake up in Northwest Montana, but there have been no conflicts reported yet this year. She stated that new legislation restricts FWP from relocating grizzlies that are caught outside of recovery zones. FWP can still move bears caught within recovery areas such as the Cabinet-Yaak Recovery Zone, which encompasses more than 2,600...
Interstate travel became a little easier last week as crews finished opening Thompson Pass. It took the Montana Department of Transportation crews about a week and a half to get the pass open, a task they try to accomplish by Easter. Though MDT is used to having a little snow on the pass after it is opened, on Sunday they were greeted with about a foot of snow to clear at the top. Plenty of traffic is utilizing the pass road, which connects Interstate 90 in Idaho with Highway 200 in Montana....
Two people were killed in a vehicle accident in Lonepine Monday morning. According to Montana Highway Patrol, an SUV failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Lonepine Road and Highway 28 as it was traveling westbound on Lonepine Road and approaching the highway. A semi was headed northbound on Highway 28 and T-boned the SUV. The crash occurred at 9:20 a.m. Monday. The occupants of the SUV, a 31-year-old female and a female child from Lonepine, were confirmed deceased at the scene, according to MHP. The driver of the semi, a...
Even with heavy snow the previous day and slightly chilly weather, there might have been a record crowd at the Plains Easter Egg Hunt put on by the Plains Lions Club and the Assembly of God Church on the Move in Plains Sunday. "It was covered with snow this morning. I had to put on boots to go sloshing around in it," said Jessica Peterson of the Church on the Move and the primary coordinator of the annual event. Peterson and five other volunteers put out 6,500 plastic eggs on the lawn covered...
At the dinner table last weekend, talk naturally turned to the topic of Ukraine. Since Russia’s February 24 full-scale invasion of its smaller neighbor, most Americans have thrown their support behind Ukraine. According to a March survey from Pew Research Center, approximately one-third (32%) of Americans say the U.S. is providing the right amount of support for Ukraine, and a larger share (42%) say we should be providing even more support. Interestingly, both parties (51% of Republicans and 50% of Democrats) consider Russia’s violence a “ma...
By election of the community that resides within each school district, a trustee is granted the authority to be the voice, or the link, between the community and the school administration – the superintendents and principals; the teaching staff and assistants. By vote of the electorate, the trustee is awarded the public’s trust to represent their values and principles to set specific educational goals, establish school district policy, develop fiscal budgets, plan student services, engage parent involvement and, most importantly, adopt sou...
Editor, Our founding fathers, 234 years ago, had the wisdom to foresee that governments often become corrupt and over powerful. Knowing that such governments do not relinquish their power or correct their own corruption; they gave the states the power to bypass the federal government and make necessary corrections. They added a section in Article V of the Constitution “... to call a Convention for proposing Amendments,...” We have a nationwide organization working to have a Convention of States called to propose amendments limited to the fol...
After a short drive down Highway 200 or through any neighborhood in Sanders County, it becomes apparent an election is underway. Candidates have filed, signs are up, meet and greets and candidate forums are being held. Letters to the editor in support of one candidate or another are appearing. Some of us may wonder, “What’s the fuss about?” In the United States we are fortunate to have free elections. A right not granted to all citizens of the world and a right that was hard fought for by gener...
6 YEARS AGO • APRIL 26, 1917 LOG DRIVE STARTED SUNDAY Clean Up of Logs Along the River Now Under Way – About 20 Million Through Dam The log drive to clean up several million feet of logs lingering along the shore and on the rocks between Weeksville and Hope, Idaho, began Sunday. A gang of Blackfoot Lumber Co. river men with several boats is doing the work. It is expected that they will be in Thompson Falls the middle of next week. The men who are putting the logs through the dam here report that about 20 million feet have gone through since t...
VIVI McKEEVER, Sophomore - “So, I can help out, I like to feel helpful.” AUSTIN CAMPBELL, Senior - “I’ve lived here my whole life. It feels good to do something and help the community out. This is now part of our history.” MOIRA LONERGAN, Senior - “I think being involved is super important. I grew up here and I’ve lived here since I was four. I want to come back someday with my family and show them what we did here.” JACK McALLISTER, Senior - “It’s important to be involved, especially as a student. Not every student gets to do this kind of stu...
Montana Highway Patrol Barbara Pardee, 31, day speeding, $70. Jon McGraw, 57, reckless endangerment of emergency personnel, $335. Paul Britton, 34, failure to give notice of accident by quickest means, 1st offense, $335. Jesse Reid, 41, seatbelt violation, $20. Janiece Lake, 43, reckless driving, $335. Joshep Boyd, 31, speeding in a restricted zone, $105. Aaron Burleson, 33, day speeding, $20. Justine Willhite, 34, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. William Ryan, 19, seatbelt violation, $20. Josh Clark, 55, seatbelt violation, $20. James...
Ambulance: T. Falls, 3; Trout Creek, 1; Heron, 1; Plains, 9; Paradise, 1; Hot Springs, 1; Dixon, 1. Monday, April 11 Assist miscellaneous, Hot Springs. Theft, Plains. Livestock, Paradise. Civil standby, Plains. Automated alarm call, Heron. General animal call/complaint. Assist motorist/citizen, T. Falls. Assault, Hot Springs. Theft, T. Falls. Civil standby, Plains. General animal call/complaint. Automated alarm call, Heron. Business contact, T. Falls. Road hazard debris on road, Noxon. Tuesday, April 12 Person missing, Plains. Civil attempts....
The Heron Rural Fire District Board met last week to continue discussions regarding a potential quick response unit (QRU) within the department. More than 40 residents attended the meeting, but there were few comments regarding the QRU. Almost 50 residents had attended the March board meeting and shared comments for and against forming a QRU. After the March meeting, the board came up with a list of more than 30 stipulations that would need to be met before they would consider moving forward with a QRU. Board president Paul Overman said the...
A group of residents approached the Sanders County Commissioners last week regarding the county's communicable disease surveillance protocol. The document is reviewed each year and is a tool to assist the county in the event of a public health emergency. The meeting last Wednesday was requested by resident Kate Hardman, who stated that the protocol includes violations of constitutional rights and state law. "We're asking for you to take action," she told the commissioners. Resident Bruce Hunn...
The auditorium was dark as the actors of the Montana Repertory Theatre each stepped onto the stage to tell their story - which was also mostly dark - of their times in combat in the Middle East. The play "Reentry" was a compilation of narratives from Marines in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq during the 2000s and how it impacted them and their family back in the states. The five actors took on the lives of Marines and family members to tell their stories. Just over 30 people attended the...
GOT USED ELECTRONICS? Sanders County will host the annual E-Waste Event Saturday, June 4, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Thompson Falls Transfer Site. The event is free. Please watch for more information in the local newspapers as the event nears. GOT USED FURNITURE? Every week the receipts from our five refuse district sites pile in, showing folks taking LOTS of used furniture for disposal. It sure would be great if someone could open a used Furniture store so we could keep a good portion of these items out of the Missoula landfill! Don’t forget t...
Charles "Chuck" Sterns passed away on March 25, 2022, at St. Patrick's Hospital in Missoula after a short illness. Chuck was born at Grand Rapids, Minnesota, on October 15, 1948, to Charles and Mary Sterns. He attended high school in Remer, Minnesota. After graduation Chuck joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed at San Diego naval base. During Chuck's years growing up in Minnesota he harvested wild rice using a canoe, logged with horses, helped his uncles on their dairy farm and logged in the... Full story
Terry James Prongua, 74, of Hot Springs, Montana, passed away on April 11, 2022. Terry Prongua was born to Charles and Vena on January 8, 1948 in Kalispell, Montana. In his early years, Terry’s pastimes were reading, football, and learning about Simmental and Red Angus cattle from his parents. After graduating from Hot Springs High School in 1965, Terry went on to pursue a degree in Agriculture at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. He graduated in 1972. It was during his time at Montana State University, that he met the love of h... Full story
Thompson Falls Junior High 7th grade Alexander Barrera, Aubrey Baxter, Allie Borgmann, Addyson Deal, Teagan Dorscher, Josh Ekberg, Smantha Hertel, Kylee Huff, Michael Koskela, Arya Krick, Claire Lakko, Jason Myers, Marley Neesvig. 8th Grade Jaden Bewick, Annalise Fairbank, Emily Gravning, Gabrielle Hannum, Quin Hutchings, Solveig Nygaard, Addison Pardee, Taylor Saner, Savana Wilson. Thompson Falls Elementary 4th Grade William Albano, Mason Bartlett, Isabella Cork, Boston Davis, Madalyn Fausett, Ava Franck, Libby Franck, Chase Giegling,...
Trout Creek Community Improvement Association (TCCIA) held their eighth annual Easter Eggstravaganza Saturday afternoon at the Trout Creek Community Park. Nearly 200 children registered for this year's event. "We had an amazing turnout for such cold weather," said Liz Stender with TCCIA. This year more than 6,000 eggs were filled with over 7,200 pieces of candy. "We had close to 12 individuals that helped stuff the Easter eggs and about 12 volunteers for the day of the event," Stender said. The...
A trio of elk stands alert in a field. The cows and spike are part of a herd seen near Trout Creek. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff are conducting aerial surveys of animals this month by helicopter....
"Well, I guess the sewer project is dead," said Commissioner Tony Cox after Cody Lampman was voted in 3-1 at the Sanders County Sewer District at Paradise Board. Cox said the majority rules and that the majority of the board "appears to be hindering not helping" to get the project going. However, all five members said they are for the project, but some with stipulations. Member Don Stamm has backed the project from the start, but didn't want to comment about his hope that it would continue. Lamp...
In order to decrease congestion of parked vehicles, trailers and other debris, Hot Springs Police Department has buckled down on the town’s right of way violations. Over the last several weeks, warning stickers have been attached to vehicles or property that have been parked or stored in the right of ways of city streets for an extended period of time. “Enforcement is essential for vehicle and pedestrian traffic to move freely and safely on the road ways,” said Hot Springs Police Officer Jason Acheson. “In addition, vehicles and propert...
Whitetail deer look a bit cold when a sudden mid-April blizzard hits Sanders County. The snow stacked up, but was mostly gone by Sunday afternoon on Easter Day....
The high temperature in Thompson Falls was 38 degrees on Thursday, accompanied by strong winds that Blue Hawk coach Trenna Ferris called, "pretty brisk." Despite the weather, 14 teams attended, "the biggest T. Falls invite we have had," said Ferris. "We had to turn teams away, such as Whitefish, who were still trying to get their first meet in of the season. Our dirt track would not be able to handle 90 more athletes," Ferris continued. "We are thankful that teams still want to attend our meet...
