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There are probably few years that will compare to the challenges faced this past year. This goes for Sanders County seniors graduating from high school over the next couple of weeks. A Thompson Falls High School alum remembers another challenging year. Joyce Jacobson, formerly Joyce Baker, attended Thompson Falls schools and graduated 78 years ago, in 1943. Her graduation took place over a month earlier than planned, as the school board elected to hold graduation May 13, during their May school...
LITTLE BITTY BIRD – A sure sign that spring is underway when the hummingbirds start showing up in droves. A calliope hummingbird takes a break on a bare branch. According to the University of Montana, the western part of the Treasure State is home to rufous, calliope, and black-chinned hummingbirds. Hummingbirds start showing up in western Montana from the end of April to mid May and will remain in Montana throughout the summer, according to the state's field guide. Hummingbirds are extremely t...
An explosion in Noxon early Monday had several residents calling 911. Around 7 a.m., residents heard a large explosion southeast of town. A structure located at 10 S. Clarks Addition Lane had caught fire. Ammunition stored in the building began going off. Minutes after the first explosion, a second explosion went off and then several smaller ones, a Noxon resident who took photos of the massive plume of smoke coming from the property. According to the Montana Cadastral system, the 20-acre...
After a 13-month post as Commander of a squadron, Peter Haynes, a 1996 graduate of Thompson Falls High School, is moving on with the U.S. Navy. The change of command ceremony was held at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. During the change of command ceremony, Haynes was also awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. According to Haynes, the ceremony is unique among the services in that the command change is so immediate. Haynes said that this is because traditionally in the Navy, sea ships needed...
This week, the first Sanders County seniors will become graduates of the Class of 2021. When we create our graduation supplement each year, it's amazing to read the future plans for each of the students. Though they are all members of small communities in northwest Montana, they all have different aspirations. When I was graduating, I said I wanted to major in journalism and computer science. I followed through on the journalism. As I look back, I'm not sure where the computer science piece came from. Maybe it was my love of MacGyver. For...
In 2014, I opened a Facebook account. I was taking a job overseas, where I thought communication would be a problem. Although I’m kind of a “technophobe,” my grandkids were in their early teens and I wanted to stay in touch. It seemed like a good idea at the time. At first, I really liked Facebook. I was able to keep up with the grandkids and really appreciated all the photos sent to me. However, as time passed, I saw what I believed to be a sinister side of the technology. I finally stopped using Facebook when I saw so many of the conversation...
Letter to the Editor I am writing today to send out thanks to the beautiful ladies at the Reflections Academy and I thought that the community should hear this shout out to the girls and the staff. I had the privilege of working with several of the students during the course of my two-year position as the Exalted Ruler (President) of the Clark Fork Valley Elks Lodge in Thompson Falls. The girls come in and work hard, always with a smile on their face and with grace and manners. I wish we could bottle their work ethic and energy! The staff at...
“When I was a boy, I was told that anybody could become President; I’m beginning to believe it.” – Clarence Darrow Dick Vinson, Thompson Falls...
6 YEARS AGO • MAY 7, 1916 BREAKING THROUGH THE THOMPSON RIVER CANYON BARRIER SOON Thompson River Road Will Open About July 1 Continued from last week The construction of this road will naturally decrease the distance between Thompson Falls and Kalispell. We in Thompson Falls can normally expect considerably increased tourist traffic, since tourists traveling west on Highway No. 2 may turn at the head of Thompson River, come downstream to Thompson Falls and go west over alternate No. 10. T...
Charee Fielders, Plains - “You’re going to make mistakes. Your friends are going to make mistakes. Support them, but don’t follow them down that road. Learn from your friends’ mistakes.” Carrie Hudson, Thompson Falls - “Always believe in yourself and don’t be afraid to fail.” Stan Cook, Thompson Falls - “Don’t rush into any relationships, try to control your finances and focus on your future.” Brian Warrington, Plains - “You can do whatever you want in America if you put your mind to it. Don’t always believe the news.” Will Shelton, Thre...
Ambulance: Plains, 7; T. Falls, 6; Hot Springs, 5; Dixon, 2; Trout Creek, 1; Heron, 1; Noxon, 1. Monday, May 10 Trespass, Hot Springs. Protection order violation, Plains. Mental health issue, Hot Springs. Motor vehicle crash, Hot Springs. Motor vehicle crash, Trout Creek. Child welfare/abuse, T. Falls. Trespass, T. Falls. Disturbance, Hot Springs. Suspicious activity, T. Falls. Automated alarm call, T. Falls. Trespass, Lonepine. Automated alarm call, T. Falls. Suicide attempts/ threats, T. Falls. Motor vehicle crash, Heron. Tuesday, May 11...
Montana Highway Patrol Alicia Martin, 32, open container in vehicle, $75. Dewayne Robinson, 45, seatbelt violation, $20; driving while suspended, 1st offense, $285. David Johnson, 54, seatbelt violation, $20. Andrew McDaniels, 17, seatbelt violation, $20. Kathleen Ancel, 58, day speeding, $70; improper passing, $85. Matthew Borgmann, 45, seatbelt violation, $20. Krista Denison, 36, failure to give notice of an accident, $235. Jason Friede, 32, night speeding, $70. David Knutson, 61, seatbelt violation, $20. Tesha Stark, 29, day speeding, $20....
Jeriko Smith-Roach appeared via Zoom in Sanders County Judicial District 20 Court Tuesday to plead not guilty to the charge of sexual intercourse without consent. According to charging documents, a reporting party called the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office March 28 to report a crime. The reporting person lives in California and said that a Snapchat friend of hers who lives in Sanders County, Montana, was speaking about being raped by Smith-Roach. Smith-Roach’s trial has been set for Nov. 15. A Libby man pleaded not guilty to charges of bur...
The Trout Creek Backcountry Horsemen (TCBH) are looking for new members. The group was started four years ago by Doc Milham and began with over 30 member families and eight individual members. Currently, the group has dropped to no more than six or seven active members. The TCBH is a chapter of the nationwide organization, Backcountry Horsemen of America (BHA) which has over $12,500 members across 13 states. The group holds training courses for both children and adults and provides special...
Montana anglers have landed six new state record fish since last August. On May 10, Trevor Johnson of Helena added a seventh whopper to that list when he reeled in a nearly 3-foot-long walleye from Holter Lake near Helena. Johnson's fish weighed in at 18.02 pounds on a certified scale, measured 32.25 inches in length, and 22 inches in girth. He caught the record-setting fish on a jig. The previous state walleye record was set in 2007 with a 17.75-pound fish from Tiber Reservoir. Other recent...
Are you or someone you know struggling to catch up on your home energy bill from last winter? There might be help available. While it has been frustrating at times throughout COVID to work through the process of applying for help, Energy Share and Community Action Partnership for NW Montana (CAPNM) in Kalispell want you to know there is help available, including one-on-one assistance when needed. Energy Share helps Montanans who are facing home energy emergencies. CAPNM processes Energy Share applications and can help you apply. Common reasons...
Youths interested in bird watching and identification are in for a special treat. “Kaniksu Land Trust (KLT) us partnering with 4-H and Montana State University Extension to lead a birding event for kids of Sanders County,” stated Marcy Timblin, KLT Director of Communications. “Learn about the birds in our local area and how to identify them by sight and sound,” Timblin referenced as the purpose of the free event. Two sessions will be held Saturday, June 19 for those interested in attending. In Thompson Falls, “Let’s Go Birding” leaders will...
Elroy Allan (Riley) Owens, 61, of Plains, Montana, passed away Saturday, May 8, 2021, in Kalispell, Montana. Elroy was born October 9, 1959 at Howard Hughes Hospital in Culver City, California to Don and Helga Owens. He attended part of his elementary schooling in Eagle Rock, California. In 1969 his family moved to Polson, Montana. His parents divorced and in 1972 his mother remarried and moved to Plains. He graduated from high school in Plains. Riley worked in road construction for a few years then enlisted in the Navy. He was assigned to an...
Kyle and Kati Mitchell of Plains welcomed a son, Miles Gene Mitchell, on April 15, 2021, at Clark Fork Valley Hospital. Miles measured 7 pounds, 14.3 ounces and 21.5 inches in length. He joins a brother, Grayson. Grandparents are Lonny and Jenny McCaslin of Port Angeles, Washington, and Dean and Joni Mitchell of Moses Lake, Washington. Miles's great-grandmother is Shirley Gregory of Sappho, Washington. Welcome, Miles....
Thompson Falls Senior Center is facing the possibility of losing funding for their nutrition program if they can’t find a cook for the facility. Sanders County Council on Aging (COA) in Hot Springs funds services that provide nearly 50 seniors a meal twice a week. A stipulation for continued funding is the senior center must find a cook to keep on staff. For the last year, the center has been without a cook and all cooking has been done on a volunteer basis. The facility is not only looking for a head cook, they are also looking to hire an a...
The Thompson Falls Chamber of Commerce welcomed the community to a Nonprofit Volunteer Fair Saturday. The event featured more than a dozen local organizations who attended to connect with each other and community members. TRACS, the local animal shelter, made perhaps the cutest connection of the event. The organization brought three puppies that were available for adoption. One puppy found a home with Ron and Yvonne Hawkinson of Thompson Falls. Ron Hawkinson, who volunteers with Project ASCENT,...
Lower Clark Fork Watershed Group (LCFWG) has been working to increase awareness and community knowledge of work they do to implement on-the-ground projects that benefit local streams and rivers as well as the many fish and wildlife species that depend on them. “Wherever you are, you are in a watershed,” Brita Olson, LCFWG Coordinator, said in a press release. LCFWG has teamed up with local conservation partners on several projects to achieve this goal, including the Sanders County Pollinator Initiative, a joint effort with landowners in the...
The Clark Fork Valley Riverdogs American Legion youth baseball team chalked up its first victories at its only home game Saturday at Amundson Sports Complex against the Libby Loggers. "They played well in all facets of the game today," said Jon Zigler, head coach for the Riverdogs. The Riverdogs nabbed a 14-8 victory in game one and an 8-2 triumph in the second game. Zigler specifically praised his boys on their pitching and defense. "We hit the ball well with men on base and our running game...
Rivalry games are important in their own right, but this one has some extra incentive built right in. The winner lives to play another day, while the loser will be forced to call it a season. The Thompson Falls-Noxon Blue Hawks were set to host their Sanders County rivals, the Plains-Hot Springs Trotters in a one-game, winner-take-all, Western B-C softball play-in game Tuesday evening (see accompanying story) to see which local team will advance on to the Western B-C divisional tournament in Flo...
All things considered, another fine effort by the Thompson Falls track and field teams. Using outstanding efforts from across the track and field in Eureka Saturday, the Hawk girls scored 104 points to win second place in the District 7B meet and the boys scored 90 to place third. Bigfork dominated both sides of the meet, winning the girls side with 277 points and the boys with 258. Eureka (104) finished second with the boys, Mission (70) fourth and Troy (16) fifth. Eureka (93) finished third...
