Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Sanders County athletes returned home Friday with nearly 75 medals after a day at the Montana Special Olympics Glacier Area Games in Kalispell. The Little Bitterroot Wildhorses of Plains and the Sanders County Superhawks of Thompson Falls and Trout Creek took part in the Special Olympics track and field competition at Legends Field in Kalispell. The Little Bitterroot Services had 12 men and eight women at the competition while the Superhawks had two men, a boy and a girl there all day. The Littl...
A BALD EAGLE leaves its perch on a log off the shore in Wild Goose Landing Park in Thompson Falls....
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) recently completed its annual spring elk population survey, and Biologist Bruce Sterling said the hard winters in the area continue to take a toll on the local population. Sterling said they viewed 1,418 elk in the 121 hunting district, around Trout Creek, and 428 elk in district 123, south of Thompson Falls. In district 121, the 10-year average for total elk is 1,492. “This wasn’t a surprise,” Sterling said of the lower elk numbers. “Adults survived pretty good because winter isn’t as hard on them, but...
Take a drive down Main Street and it is easy to see that Beautification Days has once again taken place in Thompson Falls. The goal of the annual cleanup event is to bring community members together while making common areas more appealing by collecting garbage and yard debris after a long winter. This year, there were a total of 173 volunteers who worked on the project. By 9 a.m., everyone had signed in at the courthouse, received their designated clean-up locations, garbage bags and water and...
Last week, I had the opportunity to visit with high school journalists from across the country to talk about journalism. It's inspiring to meet a new generation of journalists excited about reporting the truth and relaying the incredible stories of those around us. Each week, we present you with local news that helps you stay informed about your community and hopefully introduces you to new people and places. As journalists, we are on a quest for knowledge and love learning the unique stories of Sanders County residents. We support local...
The legislative session is now officially over. We finished last Thursday, so now the results get discussed, assessed, and scrutinized. Many of the results can not be “fairly” evaluated for days, months, or even years, but we are all hopeful to have made the right decisions. At this point, the blame game also kicks into gear. Again, I say time will tell the true story and we don’t need the blame game like we see and hear on the national level. My decisions were made to try and do the best for m...
In the early 1990s I was at a county fair when an elderly fellow — a WW II veteran and a Democrat — rushed up to me and said, “Jim, come here, you’ve got to see this!” and he hurried me to a military style tent full of anti-government literature and pictures. He took me up to a photograph, pointed to it, and said, “Read it!” The handwritten caption said, “Soviet Bulgarian tanks on Democratic Senator Max Baucus’ ranch.” I could tell that they were tanks being transported on railroad flatcars,...
Another Blaine Blackstone column straight from the Trump administration’s government mouthpiece, Fox News. Mueller failed to find sufficient evidence to conclude that the Trump campaign “colluded” with Russia. As stated in the report, Mueller’s failure to find evidence may be due, in part, to President Trump’s obstruction of justice. Mueller lays out 11 examples of obstruction of justice for Congress to decide a course of action (Department of Justice policy is that it will not indict a sitting president). As legal analysts and law professor...
I want to thank The Ledger and John Hamilton for his kind words about my past teaching and coaching. I graciously accept them. The Lord’s been good to me. I am so fortunate to have known so many fine young athletes who loved sports and honest competition. I am also extremely grateful to fellow teachers, friends and especially head coaches, Curt Kegel, Bob Crowder, Chadd Laws and Randy Pirker, who have taken me in as an assistant. I have learned from all of them. Thank you all. Gary Thompson, Thompson Falls...
5 YEARS AGO • MAY 1, 1969 SMITH-GARRISON VOWS EXCHANGED Miss Eileen Marie Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lyle J. Smith of Thompson Falls, was married Saturday evening to Charles Joseph (Chubb) Garrison, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Garrison, also of Thompson Falls in a single-ring ceremony performed in Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Missoula. The bride chose a street-length white brocade dress with a headpiece of white bridal net. Her bouquet was of white carnations and yellow roses. Mrs. Duane Vaught was matron of honor and wore a m...
PAT INGRAHAM, Thompson Falls – “The minimum wage was never intended to be anything more than for an entry level job, like for high school graduates’ first job. It is for unskilled workers. By public petition, the legislators voted to change the minimum wage every year.” ZETA MILES, Thompson Falls – “I think $8.50 is pretty good for a starting wage.” KATHY HUTCHINGS, Thompson Falls – “No. minimum wage started to help young people. I think it was not meant for them to stay in that job forever. It was for them to learn skills and experience an...
In efforts to help tax payers, Sanders County has developed a payment plan for delinquent mobile home and personal property tax payers. In the next few weeks, tax payers with any outstanding taxes over one year old will receive a Letter of Delinquency in the mail. Treasurer Nichol Scribner said that as soon as the delinquency letter is received, there will be a 30-day period for tax payers to set up a payment plan with her. If a payment plan is not developed, a Writ of Execution will be served, and the collection process will begin. “Sanders C...
Montana Highway Patrol Timothy Rogier, 32, seatbelt violation, $20. Darien Liberty, 19, night speeding, $20. Charles Oelschlager, 75, day speeding, $20. Blake McDonald, 17, seatbelt violation, $20. Nyle Griffin, 62, day speeding, $70. Robert Yoder, 36, speeding in a restricted zone, $55. Patricia Peters, 68, day speeding, $20. David King, 21, day speeding, $120. Joseph Mitchell, 56, day speeding, $20. Chad Roland, 43, day speeding, $70. Todd Shumard, 42, day speeding, $20. Michael Brinson, 73, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Dennis...
Monday, April 22 Theft of battery and catalytic converter from farm equipment at Plains residence. Juvenile runaway poached a deer, Noxon. Abandoned vehicle at Ashley Creek, T. Falls. Tuesday, April 23 Warrant arrest made, H. Springs. Sexual assault, Dixon. Theft from T. Falls residence. Property damage/criminal mischief, T. Falls. Wednesday, April 24 Juvenile runaway, H. Springs. Abandoned vehicle, Dixon. Assault, T. Falls. Welfare check requested, Plains. Welfare check requested, Noxon. Warrant arrest, T. Falls. Theft, T. Falls. Welfare...
Work began on the E.L. Johnson Memorial Pool in Plains last week with workers from Double C Construction of Missoula ripping up the old pavement so another contractor could then replace some 300 feet of pipes. Double C Construction, owned by Kurt Campbell, was one of three bidders for the job. Plains Mayor Dan Rowan said the entire project, which is divided into three parts, will cost about $30,000. Traver's Excavator Service, Inc., of Thompson Falls, owned by Ben Traver, won the bid for...
Thompson Falls High School has completed their final drill in a series aimed at preparing law enforcement, medical and first responders, school staff and students in the event of an active lockdown or intrusive shooter on campus. Officials of both the school district and law enforcement commented that "unfortunately, this is reality" in today's world. Both feel that by performing these drills, everyone involved will be better prepared to handle the situation if it were to occur. High school prin...
Aspiring to become a marine biologist, somewhere on a European coast, Noxon High School junior Michael Antonich is on the right path academically. He recently received recognition by The University of Montana mathematics department for his dedication and interest in the field of mathematics. Students who prove to be promising in studies of math and science were nominated by their teachers to attend the recognition dinner and ceremony. According to Antonich's mother, Amy Henderson, Noxon's...
Bowlers in Thompson Falls adjourned their 2018-2019 season with a banquet at the Elks Lodge on April 11. Kathy Altman prepared an authentic Italian meal for 50 bowlers and guests. Winners of the recent city association tournament received their awards at the banquet. Awards included: Men’s Team, Bernie’s Auto; Women’s team, NASCAR Freaks; Mixed team, Elbow Benders; Men’s singles, Cody Brown; Women’s singles, Susan Sweatman; Men’s doubles, Rick Hagedorn and Ron Beaty; Women’s doubles, Tillie Wollaston and Ginger Ward; Mixed doubles, Bern...
Clarence "Clar" Long of Noxon, Montana, passed away at the age of 73 Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019, at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Washington, of natural causes. He was born in Oroville, California, on January 9, 1946, to Roy A. Long and Virginia Jean (Gomes) Sarnasky, one of eight children. Raised in Oakland, California, he attended local schools, graduating high school and enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corp in 1966. He served two tours of duty in the Vietnam conflict. He... Full story
Stacy Milner of Thompson Falls Schools (second from right) presents Sanders County Detention staff Shawna Chenoweth, Denise Taylor and Shelly Wrightson with Blue Hawk gear and goodies for national Public Safety Telecommuicators week last month. Several organizations brought Sanders County dispatchers treats and goodies throughout the week to show their appreciation....
PFC Brent Charles Ziebell is attending Assault Amphibious Vehicle Mechanic school in Pendleton, California. He is a 2017 graduate of Noxon High School and completed Marine Boot Camp in 2018, graduating as Platoon Honor Graduate. His boot camp time was interrupted by fractures in both knees and a three month stay in rehab for them to heal before he was able to complete boot camp. Brent comes from a family of military men, as both brother Jake Ziebell and stepfather Patrick Guilfoyle served four...
Open burning season in Sanders and Mineral counties officially ends April 30, and burn permits will now be required until fire season begins. Starting May 1, and continuing until conditions are no longer favorable for safe burning, permits are required to burn yard debris or logging slash. Burning permits can be secured at no cost. If it is unfeasible for residents to physically pick up their permits, they can be issued by phone and/or on-site visits from the responsible agencies. In the western portion of Sanders County, including the...
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) will host a public open house on Wednesday, May 8 between 4 and 6 p.m. to discuss improvements to Highway 200 east of Thompson Falls. The open house will be held at the Sanders County Courthouse, 1111 W. Main St. in Thompson Falls. Community members are encouraged to stop by anytime between 4 and 6 p.m. MDT will provide a construction update on the Highway 200 roadwork as well as information about the innovative wildlife safety features and technology used in the East of Thompson River – East p...
Only 110 lake trout separate the Top Ten Anglers Jason Mahlen and Kolten Turner in the 2019 Spring Mack Days Fishing Event. This year anglers have turned in 31 perfect 100-fish days. There are 564 anglers registered for this year’s event, and 181 of those anglers have turned in one or more lake trout entries. This year, windy springtime weather, along with boat motor issues have caused problems for anglers, both affecting the top three angler’s total entries over the weekend. The Turner boat had motor and wind issues on Saturday limiting their...
Law enforcement officers in Sanders County have a unique bond with local Special Olympics athletes. The athletes. “The athletes really look up to law enforcement,” Sanders County Sheriff’s Office reserve deputy Brandi Jones said. Jones is taking over the Special Olympics Torch Run this year. The torch run is scheduled for Saturday, May 11. Runners, walkers, bicyclists and people on horseback will complete a relay from the state line to Plains (mile marker 75 on Highway 200) for the torch run, which has been around for 41 years in Monta...
