Independently owned since 1905
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 41
Ballots for Sanders County school district elections were mailed last week, and some voters are experiencing confusion due to multiple ballots. Sanders County Clerk & Recorder staff said that they have had some calls regarding duplicate ballots, but Election Deputy Bobbi Christenson assures voters that no duplicates were mailed. In some cases, two separate ballots were sent to voters. In the Trout Creek Elementary voting district, voters were mailed two ballots, and both need to be completed and submitted to the county. The first ballot is for...
by Annie Wooden Blue Slide Road west of Thompson Falls is closed near the Blue Slide hill after part of the road washed out due to flooding. Warmer temperatures this week has creeks and rivers bank full. The creek, known as Cougar Creek, brought rocks, dirt and gravel as it rolled down the mountain. This blocked a culvert under Blue Slide Road, which then caused the creek to flow over the road. As the creek flows over the road, the water pulled dirt from under the road. Crews from the Montana...
Each one of us has extraordinary gifts, talents and abilities. Why should a disability hold anyone back from being allowed to show the world what they are made of? The Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run will take place this weekend in Sanders County, celebrating individuals who are not willing to let their disability hold them back. According to Roy Scott, Special Olympics organizer for Sanders County, the “Flame of Hope” torch will begin its journey through Montana at Highway 200, mile marker 0 (Montana/Idaho state line), starting betw...
Although Sanders County has not had flooding waters yet this spring, you can be sure high-water marks will be reached soon. According to U.S. Forest Service Hydrologist Craig Neesvig, flooding tends to begin when night temperatures reach above freezing and daytime temperatures remain consistently warm. So far spring temperatures have been on the cold side, resulting in slower snowpack melting rates. According to the upcoming week's forecast, those cool temperatures appear to be ending. When...
The Lions will be back in the derby business, but this time as guests, rather than co-sponsor of the demolition derby at the Sanders County Fair. “We can pull this off and you’ll be covered by insurance,” Sanders County Fair Manager Chris McGuigan told Plains Lions Club President Duane Highcrane at April’s fair board meeting last Wednesday. McGuigan and Sanders County Commissioner Carol Brooker have been working with Maaco, the county’s insurance company, for months to get the Lions covered for the demo derby. The good news to the Lions Club ca...
In Sanders County, several organizations help residents. The Cancer Network of Sanders County provides funds to Sanders County residents undergoing cancer treatments. Sanders County Veterans Transportation provides free rides to veterans to doctor visits and other appointments. These are just two of the many organizations in Sanders County run by local volunteers. The money stays in Sanders County and helps Sanders County residents. It’s tempting to support national charities with many resources and large marketing budgets that fill your m...
There is quite a bit of misinformation floating around about the need to increase the water and sewer rates in the City of Thompson Falls. The reasons for the rate increases are very straight forward. For both water and sewer: 1. Increases in the maintenance and operation costs. 2. There has been a finding on our audit report that is due to not charging enough to service our current debt. 3. To start a Capital Improvements Fund. This can be used as match money for grants, grant applications and repairs. This will reduce our need to borrow...
Dear Voters: I am not a resident of Montana, but I feel so strongly in my convictions regarding Deborah “Kim” Christopher, that I am compelled to write this letter in support of Judge Christopher’s re-election to your District Court bench. It is my privilege and honor to support her re-election. I am a North Carolina attorney in private practice, but almost 30 years ago, I was an Army officer in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (“JAG”). The son of a career U.S. Air Force Officer and a graduate of The Citadel, I first met Judge Christopher...
by Ed Levert Lincoln County Forester Many of you are aware of the collaborative group called the Kootenai Forest Stakeholder Coalition (KFSC), a diverse group of area citizens and groups that came together to find common ground on a diverse number of natural resource issues. It all began back in 2006, when the KFSC was born. Many of our founding group thought that this was just an opportunity to help the forest sell more timber and bring back a sawmill to Libby. But it didn’t take long before we found that there were widely varying o...
PRESTON AVENUE Preston Avenue in Thompson Falls is the street that runs west to east right above the railway tracks. I've been asked how it was named. Eugene Preston was born March 3, 1852, in Pallantine, New York. His mother was from England. Eugene was nicknamed "Pee Wee." He married Celia Ingraham in 1875. Eugene and Celia came to Thompson Falls in 1886. This was noted in the pioneer list of 1935. Preston was the proprietor of the Thompson Ferry, Livery, Boarding and Sale Stable – Rigs 1...
COLTON MUELER, (10 years old 4th grader) Noxon – “80” JEFF McINTYRE, Noxon, age 68 – “ 68. I feel old and worn out.” RACHEL PETERSON, Noxon – “There’s no set age. You are only as old as you feel.” MALIA MURRAY, Noxon – “I see ‘old’ people, but they act younger than some ‘old’ people.” CLINT HOOSER, Plains – “The typical answer would be 80-90 years old. But aging is infinitive. There’s no old, there’s no young.” JILL KAISER, Noxon – “One hundred years old. But I don’t know anybody who is 100....
Ambulances: Noxon, 2; T. Falls, 8; Plains, 2; H. Springs, 3; Dixon QRU, 3. Sunday, April 15 Disabled vehicle on east ramp, T. Falls. Arrest made for driving with a suspended or revoked license, Plains. Erratic driver, Hwy. 200, Dixon. Violation of protection order, Plains. Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, Paradise. License plates removed from vehicle by officer, tow truck requested, T. Falls. Cows out of fence, Eddy Flat. Monday, April 16 Concern for child welfare, T. Falls. Break in, Hwy. 200, Plains. Concern for child welfare, T. Falls....
Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Kelly Kramer, 51, $55, speeding in a restricted zone. Cray Keenen, 30, $55, speeding in a restricted zone. Christian Nichum, 44, $20, day speeding. Chad Fisher, 45, $20, day speeding. Jasyn Wheeler, 18, $20, day speeding. Jasyn Wheeler, 18, $285, no liability insurance, 1st offense. Terrilee Jenks, 67, $20, day speeding. Peter Warren, 60, $20, day speeding. Delcie Peters, 27, $135, failure to stop for a school bus loading or unloading child. Montana Highway Patrol Jolene Cantrell-Field, 56, $85, disobey s...
To The Citizens of the 20th Judicial District: It is election season once again. I write to provide a strong endorsement of Deborah “Kim” Christopher, who is running for re-election as district judge for Lake and Sanders Counties. Judge Christopher deserves your vote. I have known Judge Christopher for 35 years. We were law school classmates at the University of Montana. She distinguished herself as a student, she distinguished herself thereafter with military service in the United States Army as a Judge Advocate General, and she has con...
High school students from Thompson Falls spent spring break touring Central Europe acquiring a personal, first-hand experience of the role Nazis played in the region's history. For 10 days, eight students embarked on an unparalleled adventure touring the Berlin Wall, Reichstag, Berliner Dom, Checkpoint Charlie Museum, the Jewish Memorial, Jewish Museum Berlin, Jewish Historical Institute, Palace on the Island, Chopin Park, Old Town Warsaw and the Barbican, Auschwitz and Birkenau (Auschwitz II) M...
According to the calendar, it is time to start planting that garden. Mother Nature is sure to grace us with warmer weather and with any luck, a plentiful growing season. After a summer of weeding, watering and encouraging those crops to grow, harvest season will be here before we know it. Preserving the harvest is the number one way to reward yourself throughout the year for a job well done. Enjoying summer’s bounty throughout the winter months is as nourishing as it gets. Unfortunately, sometimes the job of canning can be an intimidating o...
Members of the Clark Fork Valley Elks Lodge held a free bowling day for children and teens ages 7-18 on April 21. This is the second year that the Elks Lodge has hosted bowling for the youth of the community. In previous years, only golf instruction was offered. The three-hour event included lunch from the Rimrock and a chance to bowl three games while learning the fundamentals, with hands-on guidance from Elks members. The Elks Lodge is also hosting a trap shoot that will be held at the Trap Cl...
Throughout the country, early childhood education programs such as preschools take on a variety of forms. In Thompson Falls, a program is helping families and children make education a priority. Lisa Davis took over the Head Start program in Thompson Falls in September. The program, for 3- and 4-year-olds, includes weekly home visits and two evening classes a month. The classes are held at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Thompson Falls. Davis said the program is flexible, and that they work...
Caitlynn Byers and Justin Lovell of Thompson Falls announce the birth of their son, Trevor Justin Lovell. Trevor was born April 10, 2018, wighing 6 lbs., 8 ounces and measuring 19-3/4 inches long. Trevor joins siblings Damien, Lylleah and Samuel. Welcome, Trevor....
Ember Alexandria Paquet was born at Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains on April 2, 2018, to parents Preston and Danielle Paquet. Ember weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces and measured 19-3/4 inches long. She joins a big brother, Damien....
Maxine Yvonne Montgomery went home to meet her Lord Jesus Christ on April 21, 2018. Maxine was born on February 25, 1934 to her parents George and Verne Hammonds. On January 14, 1954, she married the love of her life, John A. Montgomery. Together they raised four children and one grandchild, John L. Montgomery, Karyn D. Montgomery, Nanci G. Montgomery, Susan B. Montgomery and Eric J. Massey. Maxine and John lived their early married years in California where she performed her most important and...
Mom, Gloria Gene (Goelitz) McGann, was born to Walter and Hazel Goelitz in Rochester, N.Y., on October 21, 1920. She spent her growing up years in Rochester and later, Long Island, N.Y. She also spent one year at Colby College in Maine, before marrying Douglas McGann. Mom and Dad worked in the family candy business, Goelitz Confectionary, whose specialty was candy corn, and which later became the Jelly Belly Candy Co. Two children were born to them, Kenneth in 1942 and Lee in 1946. They were...
Leah Mae Bosker died peacefully on April 11, 2018 at her home on Bull River at the age of 93. She was born on February 10, 1925 at the family farm in Coopersville, Mich. (Polkton Township). She married Bill Bosker on September 3, 1942. The couple welcomed four children into their Michigan home. In 1968 the family moved to southern California where they lived until 1975. That was when their dream of moving to Montana came true. Bill, Leah and their youngest children Kathy and Ken ventured to the...
Plains Elementary The honor roll students for the fourth grade were Sarah Anderson, Chance Angle, Kylan Bostick, Maddie Carter, Jamie Christensen, Beau Crabb, Ayden Emerich, James Josephson, Jullian Keeney, Liam Lyman, Macey Malmend, Owen McCrea, Catalina Mitchell, Kye Muscat, Ivy Noble, Madisyn Peele, Lucille Privett, Taylor Saner, Katelyn Subatch, Kallie Tuma, Leah Uli and Ruthie Uli. Fifth grade students who made the honor roll were Zayden Allen, Madalynn Blood, Nathaniel Brown, Wyatt Butcher, Alexis Deming, Kaitlyn Ducept, Layla Harris,...
Anna Pallister, a seventh-grader, hosted the "Fight Childhood Hunger" Fun Day at Thompson Falls Dog Park Saturday, April 21. The event was open to the community to bring their dogs. Each dog was given a number so others could vote for them in six different categories. There were various prizes to win for each of the categories that included "Waggiest Tail," "Most Pawpular" or "Best Trick." Owners and their dogs who have had some experience with agility got to show off their talents and...