Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) officials are hoping to have one lane of Blue Slide Road open to traffic by the end of May. Bob Vosen, MDT Missoula District construction engineer, said that work began this week to stabilizie the road. The goal is to get the road stable enough to open one lane of traffic. He said MDT will have stoplights at each side of the construction area, and concrete barriers for safety. From there, MDT will work on a permanent stabilization project and...
Each winter, the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) uses salt and magnesium chloride as de-icing agents on state roadways. The substances are stored at facilities throughout the state. At six sites across the state, including two in Sanders County, MDT and the state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) are monitoring wells at neighboring properties due to salt contamination in groundwater. Laura Alvey, an environmental science specialist with DEQ, said that in some cases, salt from...
Rising rivers have caused flooding throughout Sanders County, and the Clark Fork River is expected to crest later this week. Bill Naegeli with the Sanders County Office of Emergency Management said that the smaller streams in the area don't seem to be a problem, but the Clark Fork River in Plains is of the most concern. Flooding is occurring River Road West and River Road East, as well as the area near the Plains sewage lagoons. Naegeli said that people need to be cautious anywhere they see...
The Thompson Falls City Council unanimously voted Monday to hire Neil Harnett as the city’s new Public Works Director. Harnett is no stranger to working for the city. He began with summer work for the City of Thompson Falls in 1993, and has worked for the city ever since. Harnett will officially start July 1, and will shadow retiring Public Works Director Jerry Lacy, who will officially retire on Sept. 24. The city interviewed two candidates for the position. Council member Shawni Vaught said that both applicants were “great, community oriented...
At Monday’s Thompson Falls City Council meeting, the Sanders County Dog Training Club (SCDTC) approached the council about expanding the dog park near the community center on Golf Street. The council unanimously supported the idea., suggesting SCDTC expand the dog park even more if funding is available. SCDTC has had a great relationship with the city. Volunteers are always working to make the park better. The area is clean and well maintained. More importantly, it’s rare that you don’t see the park being used. Not only does the SCDTC hold...
I am one of those strange people who read newspapers cover to cover every week. Something about local newspapers just seem to be a hidden reflection of the community that is the heart of small towns. Do I immediately find value or meaning in what I read? No, not always. That’s what the internet and social media are for – immediate relevance. Local newspapers are more like reading chapters in a multi-generational novel. In TV terms “A sweeping saga of many generations as they pass thru time and place.” Confession: I’ve read every line of the det...
Last week was Public Service Recognition Week, an event that seems to have largely gone unnoticed despite a proclamation from President Trump saying, in part; “Members of our Federal, State, and local workforces bring incredible skills, tireless dedication, and selfless service to a broad range of career fields. Our Nation’s civil servants include teachers, mail carriers, first responders, transit workers, and law enforcement officers. Our Federal employees underpin nearly all the ope...
6 YEARS AGO • MAY 29, 1958 HIGH WATER DAMAGES DAM, TAKES OUT BRIDGE Immediate danger to the Montana Power Co. dam at Thompson Falls has subsided considerably Wednesday following a serious threat to the dam Saturday and Sunday after the boom broke about 7 o’clock Saturday morning and crashed into the main spillway section of the dam. Flow of the Clark Fork River reached its highest point Monday afternoon at 96,250, Clarence Helman stated. After breaking the boom and damaging the bent at the extreme left side of the dam Saturday the swollen riv...
RON LANE, Thompson Falls – “Being home, that’s where I normally am.” SHANNON DOHERTY, Thompson Falls – “I’m a big risk taker. Having freedom to take risks. I feel more alive.” RANDY RAINES, Trout Creek – “At home. That’s where my family is. I love my family and feel safe at home with them.” JOEL WHITE, Trout Creek – “I can’t think of anywhere I don’t feel safe. God is everywhere so I guess I’m safe everywhere.” MARILYN CALEY, Thompson Falls – “In the arms of Jesus. When I had cancer, God was there the whole time.” JIM PAVOLA, Thompson Falls...
Ambulances: Noxon, 2; T. Falls, 4; Plains, 3; H. Springs, 4; Dixon QRU, 2. Sunday, May 6 Report of juveniles jumping off the Plains Fairgrounds bridge. Speeding vehicle headed westbound on Hwy. 200 from Dixon. Vehicle pulling an open trailer, driver talking on cell phone crossed the center line, westbound Hwy. 200, T. Creek. Suspicious activity at residence along Hwy. 200, Noxon. Stranded motorist between Sloan’s bridge and H. Springs. Tree across powerline on Cherry Cr., T. Falls. Missing dog, frightened by storm, Plains. Tree across River Rd....
A woman currently on probation was sentenced Tuesday for felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, methamphetamines. District Court Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher sentenced Alana Holmgren-Franklin to a two-year suspended sentence with the Department of Corrections. Holmgren-Franklin was arrested on March 28 after a 911 call of a Ford pickup driving erratically. The driver, Holmgren-Franklin, was arrested after officers contacted her probation officer, who requested she be detained. At the Sanders County Jail, officers found a small bag...
Sander’s County Sheriff’s Office Curtis Mallert-Graham, 22, $55, speeding in a restricted zone. Carol Brooker, 64, $55, speeding in a restricted zone. Dale Peters, 58, $55, speeding in a restricted zone. Caleb Sorenson, 23, $65, speeding in a restricted zone. Brian Moline, 42, $55, speeding in a restricted zone. Jeffrey Underwood, 68, $55, speeding in a restricted zone. Rosemary Abromeit, 64, $55, speeding in a restricted zone. Jesse Largent, 42, $55, speeding in a restricted zone. Ronald Sorensen, 58, $55, speeding in a restricted zone. Jam...
Jennifer McPherson was one of three speakers during a commuinity awareness seminar presented by the Local Advisory Committee at the Rex Theatre in Thompson Falls last Wednesday. Representing the Flathead Valley Chemical Dependency Clinic, McPherson spoke with authority on the subject as a professional and as one who is not shy about drug abuse in her past that led to her current profession. McPherson was proceeded by Abby Harnett, director of Western Montana Mental Health Center (WMMHC), which has recently taken over the mental health role at...
It is always reassuring to know that when you have an emergency, help is just a phone call away. Tina Wheeler of Thompson Falls EMT Services is doing everything she can to make sure the community has trained responders ready when needs arise. Emergency responders “are not the first ones to do CPR,” she stated. “Something has already happened, and we are the second ones to be involved.” Therefore, Wheeler feels it is so important to have community members trained in CPR, first aid and automated external defibrillator (AED) equipment. Wheeler...
GOING BACK – Thompson Falls graduates continue the tradition of walking through the elementary school encouraging youngsters to graduate from high school. Thompson Falls graduation ceremony is scheduled for May 27 at 3 p.m....
Hot Springs Bike Rodeo is ready to outfit local youth with the materials, tools and skills needed to safely ride in style this summer. The rodeo is scheduled for Monday, May 21 at the Hot Springs Elementary School playground from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students in kindergarten through sixth grade will be excused from the classroom to attend the event and learn how to build and repair a bicycle. Free Cycles Missoula, event host, will come prepared with bicycles to gift youth who do not own a two-wheeler. Youngsters who already own a bike are asked to...
Plains High School student Charlie Rehbein considers himself a bona fide Trekkie, which was evident at the school's 2018 Art Exhibition last week when he displayed his "Star Trek Captain's Chair," a rendition of Capt. Kirk's bridge chair on the Starship Enterprise. Even a "Don't Touch" note on the chair didn't stop some people from asking to sit in it, which seemed to please Rehbein even more. "I am a big fan of Star Trek and I wanted to do something from the show," said the sophomore, who stood...
Are you a Dutch oven enthusiast? Becoming and Outdoors-Woman (BOW) will be hosting a Dutch oven cooking class designed for beginners and masters alike. Colleen Sloan, a Dutch oven expert and cookbook author, will share recipes, tips, tricks and trades of the cooking method Saturday, June 2 at Thompson Falls State Park, beginning at 9 a.m. and continuing most of the day. Those who attend the event will receive a complementary Dutch oven. Products to help make the heritage-cooking skill successful will be available for purchase. Prior to...
August 7, 1967 - May 2, 2018 Extremely loved and respected, Matthew George LaFriniere was killed by an as yet unknown assailant or assailants on May 2, 2018. He was father to Sophia LaFriniere, Rebecca Derry Lafriniere and Michael Derry Lafriniere; stepfather to Tina Derry; son of Joyce LaFriniere and George Lafriniere; brother of Peggy Gene LaFriniere; and stepson to Lydia LaFriniere; all of whom are very proud of him and are ever grateful for the time he was with us on this earth. In addition... Full story
William “Bill” Obach died at his home in Plains, Montana, on April 25, 2018 at the age of 96. Bill was born on the family farm north of Zenith, North Dakota, on April 2, 1922 to Mike and Elizabeth (Kassanchuk) Obach and was baptized at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Catholic Church north of Belfield, North Dakota. He completed eight years at the Zenith country school and two more years at Belfield High School. Bill then joined the CCC program at the camp north of Medora, North Dakota. He later joined the United States Navy on March 24, 1944 in Syd... Full story
Tuesday May 8, 2018, Ronald Eugene Stonehocker at 7 p.m., surrounded by his family at his cabin on 18 Circle Drive, Thompson Falls, Montana, had a change of address. He entered Heaven to live with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, no more pain, no more needles or treatment, he is home. Ron accepted the Lord in 2007 and was baptized. His journey as a born again Christian inspired others as he took cancer and treatment with the Lord in his heart. He loved talking about his Jesus and he would ask... Full story
The commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seattle Division visited Plains Sunday to take a look at the progress and evaluate the erosion situation at the town's Wastewater Treatment Plant at the end of Helterline Drive. Col. Mark Geraldi spent part of the day looking over the two sites where riprap was placed to halt erosion by the Clark Fork River. A crew was still working on the second site while the colonel was here. Since the previous Sunday, the Corps of Engineers and contractors...
LET’S TALK ABOUT CUTTING BACK ON OUR YARD WASTE. Grass clippings alone can account for a whopping 16 percent of residential solid waste and can be beneficial to your lawn! Instead of going to all that trouble of raking & bagging, your clippings can remain on your lawn, working their way back into the soil to enrich it and save on watering. Just don’t let your grass grow too long before mowing. The clippings should be no more than inch long in order to fall onto the soil. Use a sharp mower blade (a mulching mower if you have one). The sha...
Thompson Falls Jehovah’s Witnesses organization has been ordered by District Court Judge James Manley to release all internal documents, reports, investigations and testimony pertaining to reported childhood sexual abuse instances originating from April 2004. Nix, Patterson & Roach, LLP (NPR) are legal representatives for two plaintiffs, Alex Nunez and Holly McGowan, who claim to have been sexually abused by Maximo Nava Reyes, a member of the congregation when they were children. They state that elders (those appointed to oversee the c...
Paint the town red has taken up a new meaning in Plains, although it will include a variety of other colors, now that Rick Harter and Ilene Paulsen are doing large murals on the outside wall of the Garden Gift & Floral. They might even be giving the term starving artists a new meaning because they're doing it for free. The two Plains residents are painting murals on four 180-square foot spaces on the west side of the flower shop concrete wall in an effort to help beautify the town. The two...
