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Construction is ahead of schedule on the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) project east of Thompson Falls, with completion scheduled for mid-August. That was the message from MDT and contractor LHC, Inc., at a public open house Wednesday in Thompson Falls. "It's going really well. LHC is doing a great job," said John Schmidt with MDT. Representatives from LHC and MDT spoke with the public about the project and answered questions at the open house. One of the questions they keep getting...
Only a couple weeks ago, it seemed winter would never end. Here we are experiencing summer-like temperatures and drying conditions, reminding us another fire season is approaching. Over the weekend, a small 1.5-acre brush fire broke out in the Thompson River drainage, according to the Lolo National Forest, Plains Ranger District. Scott Schrenk, Fire Management Officer, stated that the fire was human caused. Plains District has issued burn permits through May 19, giving three full weekends of potential burning. “Other places have given p...
COLORFUL SKY – A break in spring weather along Swamp Creek west of Plains brings out a rainbow....
The Montana leg of the Special Olympics Torch Run began bright and early at 7 a.m. Saturday, May 11, near the Idaho/Montana border. Participants traveled along Highway 200 and ended in Plains, at mile marker 76. Torch Run participants included runners, horseback riders, walkers, and bicyclists. Along the path, 20 boys from Mountain Meadows Youth Ranch carried the "Flame of Hope" between horseback riders and bicyclists. There was also an escort of police vehicles and ambulances to ensure a safe...
This week our question of the week is "At what age should a child have a smartphone?" In rural Montana, we still have people with flip phones or, in rare cases, who have never had a cellphone. It's nice to be able to keep in touch with your kids when they are away at a friend's house or coming home from sports trips. A quick text or phone call to check in is helpful. There's a fine balance, however, between keeping in touch and too much screen time. The documentary Screenagers was recently shown in Thompson Falls and Plains, detailing the risks...
I had the opportunity (as did you) to attend the May 9 Sanders County Commissioner meeting on ordinance No. 2019-01: an ordinance to control barking dogs within Sanders County and to establish procedures for enforcement. Our commissioners amazed me with the patience and willingness to give everyone an opportunity to talk. What could have been a half-hour meeting took one-and-a-half hours! This is why I would not want to be a commissioner: 1. After the third or fourth person stated the same issue they had with the proposed ordinance (which was...
I was wondering when the coordinated attacks on the Blaine Blackstone column would occur and now, I see that they have started. Just like the beginning of Conservative censorship on Facebook and Twitter, or the algorithm on Google which tends to ignore conservative ideas, the “hard left” even here in Sanders County can not stand a differing viewpoint from that of their own. They call it “divisive rhetoric.” Although what could possibly be more divisive than the entire “Resist Movement” which has as its goal the removal of a duly elected pre...
I suppose I shouldn’t be any more surprised than most taxpaying Americans to discover that I paid more in income taxes in 2018 than the behemoth retailer Amazon.com; but then I didn’t have a net profit of $11.2 billion, either. Nor did I get anything close to Amazon’s $128 million tax refund for 2018. This is the second consecutive year that Amazon has not paid federal income taxes. In 2017 it paid no taxes on an income of $5.6 billion. All this from the April 11, 2019, Fortune magazine which...
1 YEARS AGO • MAY 8, 1919 BIG PICNIC AT ALGER Will Entertain All Soldiers, Sailors and Marines from Sanders County Arrangements are being perfected for the picnic to be held at Alger (near Child’s Road) on June 26, 27 and 28 in honor of the soldiers, sailors and marines of this county. The Alger Marketing Association will entertain the service men during the three days free to all Sanders county soldiers, sailors and marines, but the boys are requested to bring their own blankets. Three camps will be established – one for the civil war veter...
LARRY McBRIDE, Thompson Falls – “I think eleven or twelve before they get one. That’s the age they understand the dangers out there.” KYLE SIEVERTSEN. Thompson Falls – “When they can afford to buy their own.” SHIRLEY WINDLE, Trout Creek – “At least 18 years old. There is nothing more irritating when you are wanting to have a conversation with them and they are talking on their phones. Their folks give them a phone when they are younger and that’s all they want to do.” BRITTANY GALLOWAY, Thompson Falls –“They can have a smart phone when they c...
Montana Highway Patrol Luke Nickelson, 18, speeding in a restricted zone, $55. Clifford Galinat, 28, careless driving, $85. Zackkory Palmer, 21, speeding in a restricted zone, $55. Jesse Larson, 36, seatbelt violation, $20. Alfred Aschenbrenner, 81, day speeding, $20. Henry Gross, 26, truck day speeding, $105. Richard Hoffmaster, 74, day speeding, $20. Andrew Smith, 45, day speeding, $70. Julie White, 55, day speeding, $70. Mark Dailey, 55, speeding in a restricted zone, $65. Bruce Paulsen, 59, seatbelt violation, $20. Benjamin Sneeden, 25,...
Ambulances: Noxon, 4; T. Falls, 7; Plains, 3; H. Springs, 3; Dixon QRU, 1. Friday, May 3 Welfare check requested, Plains. Motor vehicle crash, Hwy. 28, H. Springs. Disturbance, Perma. Animal issue, Plains. Domestic disturbance, T. Creek. Assistance for an intoxicated person that had fallen down an embankment, Noxon. Motorist assist, Perma. Saturday, May 4 Motorist assist, Hwy. 28 north of Plains. Burglary, Plains. Civil standby requested for an individual collecting personal items, Noxon. Vehicle vs. deer, Hwy. 200, T. Falls. Sunday, May 5...
Wow, Mr. Blackstone really has the ladies fired up. One of them even using your first name (Annie) in a personal appeal to dump him. Pretty sure I’m a member of a silent majority in Sanders County (I checked the results of the last election) and these ladies do not speak or think for me. I’ve been a Ledger subscriber for well over 30 years (Doc Eggensperger days) and Mr. Blackstone’s opinion column is the most interesting and thought-provoking thing to appear in this newspaper in that time. Do I agree with Mr. Blackstone 100% of the time?...
Editor: The possibility of a “nuisance dog barking” ordinance has understandably raised the ire of rural Sanders County citizens on both sides of the issue. Those who live within earshot of dogs that bark for prolonged intervals day and night are rightfully upset with the resulting lack of sleep and disturbance of the peace. Those who stand up against overreaching government regulation fear the ordinance will trample on their personal rights. It’s a tough situation with no easy answer. The proposed ordinance is not aimed at your average, every...
by Ed Moreth Anyone who thinks mermaids can't run didn't go to the Mini Mermaid and Young Triton 5K at Plains Elementary School Saturday. Nearly 50 people, including a dozen Mermaids (girls) and five Tritons (boys) took part in the race, which looped around several roads before finishing back at the school. First across the finish line was Jerren Borgman, an eighth-grader, who finished in 27 minutes and 21 seconds, according to Gena Ferlan, president of the Mini Mermaid and Young Triton Club....
The Montana Food Bank Network, Inc. will be offering a clinic to assist with the process of applying for SNAP. SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, provides benefits for families or individuals on a strict budget so they can purchase healthy food options. The mission of SNAP is to fight childhood hunger and also increase food security of those in low-income households. SNAP also supports American agriculture by providing healthy food options and educating people on nutrition so they can make choices that will be the most...
The Clark Fork Valley Elks is kicking off the summer season with some fresh faces and fresh ideas. Michelle Blackstone was recently voted in as Exalted Ruler for the non-profit organization. The exalted ruler essentially acts as a president for the group, which operates a bar and restaurant east of Thompson Falls. The Elks also hired local chef Mark Oquist as its bar manager. Oquist and Blackstone are working to freshen up the Elks menu. They are now offering fresh salads and soups throughout...
About 350 Northern Lights, Inc. (NLI) members gathered at the Panida Theatre in Sandpoint last Saturday to celebrate the 84th annual meeting of the cooperative, which was the first rural electric cooperative west of the Mississippi. It turned out to be a hand-clapping, foot stomping trip down memory lane. The Sandpoint High School singers put on a show with songs from the ‘50s, which kept the audience engaged, laughing and singing along with the high schoolers as they remembered their own high school days. The Albeni Falls Pipe and Drum S...
I hiked down off the mountain at 3:44 in the morning. It was the day after the summer solstice and there was already a thin line of light blue along the horizon. I moved quickly and carefully down the trail, guided by my headlamp and the downhill movement of gravity. I stopped suddenly, pulled by an invisible force in the darkness. I looked up at the stars, twinkling in their own magic, then realized what caught my attention. Not so far away was a scraggly, uneven peak, waiting patiently for the sun to rise. And on top of that peak stood a...
The GFWC Thompson Falls Woman's Club donated two benches for visitors at Island Park in Thompson Falls. The benches match others that are in Thompson Falls at Ainsworth Park and along Main Street. The club purchased the benches and NorthWestern Energy employees installed them on the island. Woman's Club members pictured include (back row, from left) Janice Roberts, Vonn Briggs, Cletus Jacobson, Karen Gustavsen and (seated from left) Margie Rohwer (70-year member), Sandra Cullen (53-year...
It is with great sadness that the family of Mark Edward Legard announces his passing. Mark was born to Kathy and Patrick Legard, May 27, 1974. Mark would have celebrated his 45th birthday this year. He spent his childhood in the Sanders County area proving to be a dedicated and accomplished showman with 4-H and finally graduating in Hot Springs. Mark started his life as a man proudly serving his country in both the Army National Guard and the United States Marines. He received his honorable discharge in 1996. After completing his time in the mi...
Jerry Clinton Taylor passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Rathdrum, Idaho, on April 16, 2019. Jerry was born October 16, 1951. in Sandpoint, Idaho to Garvin and Jean Taylor of Trout Creek, Montana. He was raised in Trout Creek on the family farm along with his three siblings; Linda, Betsy, and Steve. The family moved to Thompson Falls, Montana in 1960. Jerry had several nice Chevrolet cars that he refurbished with the help of his dad, Garvin, at Westland Chevrolet. After...
The Rex Theatre entertained a nearly full audience for the Music for Moms event that included performances from four different groups. Keith Meyers, Trout Creek, sang and played guitar while accompanied by Dave Oliver on keyboard and Deb Oliver on bass. From Thompson Falls, mother and daughter duet Tina Fausett and Theresa McDonald played a special Mother's Day performance which included a song titled "The Mother's Day Song." Tina sang and played the accordion while Theresa sang and played the...
The City Council of Thompson Falls met May 13 for a regular meeting. Among the topics for discussion were the possibility of participating in “Neighbor Works Montana” (NWMT), brought up by Michael Scharfe from First Security Bank. NWMT provides home loans for individuals with low-income status. Borrowers can obtain loans to cover down payments and closing costs by putting as little as 1% down. Since 2008, NWMT has provided loans to housing developers in Montana to fill gaps in available housing projects. There are two basic types of loans tha...
With the passage of Senate Bill 344 into law, it is now legal to pick up and possess the skulls and horns of bighorn sheep that died of natural causes. Those who recover horns and/or skulls must report the find to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks within 48 hours and present it to FWP for inspection and plugging within 10 days. The fee for inspection and plugging is $25. Recovery of bighorn skulls and horns is still prohibited at Montana State Parks and the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge. In addition, certain restrictions may apply to...
