Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Though Sanders County hasn’t had a confirmed case of the coronavirus, life at Clark Fork Valley Hospital (CFVH) in Plains is anything but normal as administrators and staff continue to monitor the disease spread. “I don’t think people always recognize how tremendous the Clark Fork Valley Hospital staff is,” hospital CEO Dr. Greg Hanson said Monday. “There is a lot of stress because of procedure changes. The level of intensity and fear from the community has been a lot to handle.” Even so, Hanson said they have had no problem keeping the...
An orange belted bumble bee (above) climbs from one grape hyacinth to the next in the warm spring sun. One of the earlisest blooming wildflowers of the season is the shooting star (left). photos by Linda Elliott...
Parents, students and school staff are adjusting to new models of learning. Distance learning, both online and with packets of school work, is the new norm at Sanders County schools. Superintendent Jonathan Martin in Noxon said that they will hold a special board meeting Thursday where he will recommend that the remote learning continue through the remainder of the school year. He said that all of the county superintendents met and discussed options for the rest of the school year. “We actually did a survey and got a huge response back from p...
by Miriah Kardelis The town of Hot Springs gathered on Saturday morning to celebrate the birthday of one of the town's local gems, Harlee Salmi. At just five years old, Harlee was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. The county rallied together and held numerous fundraisers to help the family with traveling and medical expenses. In the time of social distancing, the people of Hot Springs found a creative approach to still adhere to the rules, while celebrating Harlee's sixth birthday; a...
The weekend was full of celebrations. A drive by parade to celebrate one 10-year old's birthday was made a success with the help of the Thompson Falls community. Brooke Flemmer, who turned 10 this last weekend, wanted nothing more to throw a birthday party so she could spend the day with her family and friends. Unfortunately, due to social distancing rules, a birthday party couldn't happen this year. Due to Brooke's special needs and compromised immune system, her mother, Colleen Knutson, along...
To our community, Thank you! Thank you to everyone who has stayed home these four long weeks. Governor Bullock’s shelter-in-place order has been difficult for everyone, we understand how much stress this has caused and how eager people are to return to normal life. People are not working, they are losing income, and are missing out on community. We are all missing our personal, social, church, and community activities. Our kids are missing school and sports too. We wish this could be over soon, but it won’t be. Please know that eve... Full story
I cribbed — and modified — that line from an old radio show, the Jack Benny Hour. Benny was a notorious skinflint who, in one episode, was the victim of a hold-up. “Your money or your life!” says the bandit. No answer. “I said, your money or your life!” “I’M THINKING!” says Benny. That, in a sense is the kind of scenario we are facing with opening up the economy by relaxing restrictions on human contact while still faced with increasing deaths from COVID-19. It is a hard, but simple choice; whic...
Nothing political here, just an observation. I went to the new landfill on Wednesday with my truck full of garbage. While I was unloading next to a truck of young men one of them came over and said “need any help sir.” I did not need any help and said thanks I got it. Don’t have a clue who he was but I got to thinking later. What a nice thing to do, offer help. So, to his parents out there, you are doing things right. He saw an old man and offered assistance. What a great community we live in. Ron Hawkinson, Thompson Falls...
To the Thompson Falls School Board of Trustees, I have four children in the Thompson Falls School District, two current students and two graduates. My husband Noel and I have been active in our children’s education and the wellbeing of our public school system. I am writing to you about the decision made unanimously by board members on the non-renewal of high school principal Rich Ferris’s contract. To my knowledge, Rich has done an extraordinary job. Our family has gotten to know him and his family through school and having sons in the same gr...
THOMPSON FALLS (County seat of Sanders County) Taken from Cry of the Homestead by Wavie Charlton, 1976 Thompson Falls is a small town but a most important one. It is the “helm and the hub” of Sanders County, being the location of the county seat. The town is located in a rather small valley in the west end of the county. It is beautified by the nearness of the Clark Fork River flowing serenely by. On either side the little community is somewhat walled in by rather high, forested mountains. It is perhaps one of the most scenic small towns in...
GARY SEARLE, Heron - “We really haven’t had any issues from this coronavirus thing, quite frankly. I just thought the toilet paper deal was funny. Still haven’t figured that one out.” JOHN KAUFMANN, Thompson Falls – “My biggest concern has been for my wife who is immune-compromised. She can’t go anywhere, and I don’t want to bring anything back home.” GREG HINKLE, Thompson Falls – “The biggest challenge has been not seeing our grandkids.” PAUL GALLO, “The biggest challenge for me has been having to drive to Whitefish and check on my mother wh...
Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Jay Smith, 32, driving a motor vehicle while privilege is suspended, 1st offense, $535, 6 months jail; owner permitting operation of vehicle without liability insurance, 2nd offense, $425. Montana Highway Patrol Dustin Gibbons, 42, seatbelt violation, $20; day speeding, $20. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Patrick Mcmullen, 25, fishing without a license, $135....
Ambulance calls: Thompson Falls, 7; Plains, 7, Hot Springs, 1. Monday, April 20 Other law violations, T. Falls. Welfare check, Trout Creek. Motorist assist, T. Falls. Fire, Plains. Fire Plains. Property damage, criminal mischief, T. Falls. Animal complaint, Plains. Tuesday, April 21 Theft, Plains. Trespass, Plains. Other law violations, Plains. Abandoned vehicle, Paradise. Fire, Plains. Fire, Plains. Juvenile runaway, Trout Creek. Fire, T. Falls. Fire, Noxon. Disturbance, Trout Creek. Wednesday, April 22 Suspicious activity, T. Falls. Theft...
by Ed Moreth Picking up the tab for lunch is considerate, but paying $850 for nearly 60 lunches is outright generosity, yet that’s what one Plains man did. “A man from Plains paid all of the outstanding lunch bills for every family in the school district,” said Jim Holland, the Plains Elementary School principal. The man, who doesn’t want to be identified, called the school two weeks ago specifically asking if there were any outstanding lunch bills and if so, what was the total. Once he got his answer, he said he would be in the next day to...
As the spread of the coronavirus moves through the country and neighboring communities, people have been taking extra precautions to help keep themselves and their loved ones safe. Avoiding crowded places, washing our hands for the recommended 20 seconds, and thoroughly sanitizing surfaces are all steps we are taking to help slow and prevent the virus from entering our homes. However, there is another step to incorporate in our new cleaning habits, and that is learning how to wash and clean our clothes. Can the virus live on clothing? If so,...
Food preparation service at Trout Creek School is on a roll making sure students do not go hungry during their time away from the classroom. Every Monday, students are greeted with nourishing goods for breakfasts and lunches for each day of the week. According to Renna Mummert, food service provider at the school, they are currently providing meals for 18 families, which is around 360 breakfasts and lunches a week. She said the food delivery truck arrives on Thursday and "we start prepping what...
The wind came up and the fire crews got busy. The Montana DNRC and the U.S. Forest Service responded to a pair of wind-driven fire starts last week and, with a little help from their cooperators, quickly put both of those fires to bed. Both fires broke out on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 23. Northeast of Plains, a fire of undetermined origin took off a couple of miles up Henry Creek and quickly grew to over 20 acres. In the Montana DNRC's area of fire responsibility, the fire was initially...
Construction was one of the exemptions of the governor's stay-at-home directive, which is why three men are building homes, and for the most part they're building them in their own homes. "It's a good way to get your mind off the Coronavirus," said Dave Colyer, who's constructing five miniature houses for the tie plant portion of the railroad display at the Paradise Center. Colyer, Marc Childress and Mac Hall, are working on several buildings for the 26-foot long display, located on the second...
Taxidermy is a dying field, with fewer and fewer practitioners opening their doors each year. A Thompson Falls resident is hoping to continue the tradition, following in his father's footsteps. Jonathan Haun, originally from Plains, has recently started his own taxidermy business. His father has done big game taxidermy professionally for over 30 years, and Haun has been helping his father out since youth. Until recently, Haun worked for the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation as a...
First there was no softball or track and field. Now there will be no all-star football games either, all thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. And coaches, athletes and fans all over the country are hoping that the sports seasons beyond this summer are not similarly affected later on this year. Montana’s all-star football games potentially affecting Sanders County athletes – the 24th annual 6-Man All-Star game at Highwood May 30, the 30th annual Bob Cleverly 8-Man All-Star game at Montana Tech in Butte June 6, and the granddaddy of them all...
With the ongoing need to follow social distancing directives, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is changing black bear reporting requirements for this hunting season. For the spring black bear season, which started April 15, all successful bear hunters are required to report their harvest within 48 hours through the FWP Harvest Reporting Line 1-877-FWP-WILD (1-877-397-9453). Unlike in years past, FWP will not require or conduct a carcass inspection, hide seal or tooth collection. This change will allow the public and the FWP staff to...
SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. Arch 5. Spouse 11. Beau 12. Aestivate 16. Lamb 17. MD 18. Laden 19. Appreciation 24. SD 25. Teeing 26. Lass 27. BTU 28. Errs 29. Term 30. Roar 31. Scads 33. Abate 34. Arabia 38. Arises 39. Nenes 40. Samba 43. Teed 44. Tach 45. Dent 49. WNW 50. Sene 51. Tailor 53. ET 54. Palatability 56. Rehab 58. AC 59. Axis 60. Proselyte 63. Tint 64. Eroded 65. Ergs SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. Ablate 2. Reaper 3. Camper 4. Hubris 5. Sami 6. Pedaled 7. Os 8. UT 9. Silos 10. Evan 13. Ad 14. Testate 15. Endures 20. En 21. CG 22. Tars 23. Ism 27. Boas... Full story
Sanders County voters mailed in ballots for local school elections, with the county elections office releasing unofficial results late Tuesday. In Noxon, Andrew Chaboya Cabaccang and Reuben Habegger were vying for a one-year position. Habegger received 260 votes, while Cabaccang received 185. Current board chairman David Pafford was running unopposed and received 336 votes. In Thompson Falls, voters chose Ryan Frields and Jacob Helvey to retain their seats on the school board. Helvey received the most votes in the district with 814. Frields... Full story
