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To combat the excess of dust on county-maintained gravel roads this year, the Sanders County Road Department will be implementing a new method of management with a magnesium chloride solution that is effective when sprayed on the roads. Interested residents are required to fill out an application that can be found online at the Sanders County website (co.sanders.mt.us) under the “Road Department” section. A map of the road must be included with the application as well as payment that can be sent to the Sanders County Road Department at P.O...
Sanders County schools will present their graduating classes of 2019 at ceremonies Sunday, May 26 and June 2. Noxon seniors will cross the stage Sunday at 1 p.m., while the Plains class of 2019 ceremony is at 3 p.m. Hot Springs graduation will take place at 4 p.m. Thompson Falls graduation is set for 3 p.m. Sunday, June 2. Each year, The Sanders County Ledger publishes information for each of the graduates. The special section is inside, brought to you by local businesses. Congratulations to...
Melissa Cady, the new Sanders County Fair manager, attended her first fair board meeting last week. Cady grew up in Libby and Kalispell and has prior large-event experience, growing up in the rodeo atmosphere with her barrel racing. "I love the Sanders County Fair and to be a part of it will be a great honor," Cady said. As fair manager, Cady hopes to grow and promote the events on the grounds that everyone can come and enjoy all year round. With any large-event planning there are always going...
A World War II airplane armed with a group of paratroopers invaded Holland just last week. The C-47 troop transport aircraft made four passes last Tuesday morning just west of Plains on the property of John and Dacy Holland, dropping seven parachutists that were training for a reenactment of the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of the Second World War. It was the first training for the jumpers since the 75-year-old plane was made airworthy only weeks ago. The Holland drop zone was...
This weekend, Sanders County schools will start sending off their seniors into the real world as graduation ceremonies take place. We hope all the Class of 2019 realizes what a great accomplishment this is. Hopefully you've paid attention to your teachers and parents who have pestered you to go to school, study hard, be involved and get your diploma. We have never taught, but we can imagine how tough it is to be a teacher. It's like being a parent, hoping that you are doing the right thing to make sure these little humans grow up to be awesome...
Dear Editor, In reference to Blaine Blackstone’s Column “Leadership is a Privilege,” I have a copy of the book Extreme Ownership that Blaine refers to. It was required reading by my employer for the application it offers to businesses to attain more efficient operation. I have read it, initially under protest, simply because it was REQUIRED. However, I’m glad now that I did read it. It was very enlightening, all be it graphic. It was a good read and quite applicable. It reflects the real world in which those who protect our rights and freedom...
I have never met Blaine Blackstone, but I appreciate his articles in The Sanders County Ledger. I know many conservatives that have not subscribed to the Ledger in the past because of the newspaper’s past liberal slant. It makes good “business sense” for the Ledger to now present articles, such as those from Mr. Blackstone, that offer a conservative viewpoint to the readers of the county. Recent election results show that Sanders County votes “conservative” or “non-liberal.” In the 2018 general election, 63% of the Sanders County voters voted...
I had a completely different topic in mind for this week, but when there were calls to silence me I felt obligated to respond. Thanks to the readers who wrote in support of this column. What is it about the truth or an opposing opinion that makes some people so incredibly angry? A couple of readers recently expressed their outrage at my column and went so far as to say I should stop writing. Both readers said that my column was divisive. One said that my column included inflammatory bullying...
5 YEARS AGO • MAY 22, 1969 VINSON RODEO TO LURE CHAMPION COWBOYS A matched bull riding competition between two famous Montana rodeo brothers – Benny and John Reynolds – will highlight the third annual Vinson Ranch Rodeo to be staged at the Dick Vinson Ranch here Sunday. Grand entry is set for 2 p.m. The Reynolds brothers will each ride three bulls and the winner will take a special $250 purse. Another bull riding event will be an exhibition ride by one of the few female bull riders – Miss De...
ROB JOHNSON, Plains – “Get a good job and go to college. I went to college for three years but chose to be a skilled sheet metal worker.” TANYA KERN, Trout Creek – “Make sure the thing you choose in life is what you want to do in your life in the future. Don’t just goof off.” TED SONJU, Southern California and Thompson Falls — “Get a job ASAP. Don’t take the summer off and take a vacation in Switzerland.” BOBBI HALLE, Trout Creek – “Because we live in difficult times, set goals high. Let the Lord determine your goals.” KARL WHORTLEY, Th...
Montana Highway Patrol Joshua Kifer, 45, failure to carry proof of insurance in vehicle, owner or operator, 1st offense, $325; driving while privilege is suspended or revoked, $275; reckless driving, 1st offense, $335. John Kelly, 19, day speeding, $120. Steven Workmen, 39, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Taniesha Ford, 23, day speeding, $70. Glenn Cates, 75, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Stuart Morton, 62, speeding in a restricted zone, $65. Makayla Sutor, 21, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Jacob Helvey, 38, seatbelt violation,...
It’s spring in Montana and with the warmer weather the Thompson Falls Police Department usually sees an increase in property crimes. Here’s a list of crime prevention tips to help deter these crimes: Lock all doors to your home, even if you are home. Lock all outbuildings where any valuables are kept (sheds etc.). Don’t leave garage doors open, day or night. Don’t leave keys in your vehicle (the majority of vehicles stolen had keys in them). Lock your vehicle every time (the majority of theft from vehicle, was unlocked). Don’t keep valuable...
Ambulances: Noxon, 3; T. Falls, 6; Plains, 6; H. Springs, 1. Saturday, May 11 Animal issue, T. Falls. Partner/family member assault, T. Falls. Animal issue, Hwy. 200, Dixon. Animal issue, Eddy Flats. Partner/family member assault, T. Creek. Civil standby requested, H. Springs. Sunday, May 12 Motor vehicle crash, Little Thompson River Rd. Motor vehicle crash, Town Pump, Plains. Welfare check requested, Plains. Monday, May 13 Animal issue, rural T. Falls. Civil standby requested, Paradise. Abandoned vehicle, Hwy. 200, Plains. Abandoned vehicle,...
The Plains Backcountry Horsemen held their annual Poker Ride at the Jones Ranch for the fifth year in a row. There was a total of 145 entries that registered but due to the rain and other circumstances, there were 75 total riders that showed up. Four stations were set up for a playing card to be drawn, with the fifth station being a chance to shoot a card on a board with a BB gun. The winning hand went to John O'Brien of Hamilton who drew a full house with aces over 8's. There were door prizes f...
As Montanans look to enjoy the outdoors this spring and summer, state and local public health officials urge everyone to follow a few simple steps to prevent tick bites and their illnesses: Limit, Repel and Inspect. Exactly how severe the tick season will be is unpredictable. However, each year thousands of people in the U.S. are bitten by ticks and become infected with a tick-borne illness. "To avoid becoming a victim of a tick bite, people should be aware that ticks could be in the areas...
Thompson Falls youngsters should get ready for the second annual Kids Fishing Derby hosted by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) and the U.S. Forest Service, Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District. According to FWP Fisheries Biologist Jason Blakney, Thompson Falls State Park’s pond will be the location for some hook, line and sinker action on Saturday, June 8. The occasion is an “experimental kids fishing event to showcase the newly improved state park pond,” Blakney commented. To limit crowding, children will be fishing in groups, starting...
Roberta Gayle (Johnson) Ruguleiski, age 79, of Plains, Montana passed away Sunday, January 20, 2019, in the Clark Fork Valley Hospital following treatment for a heart condition. Donald E. Ruguleiski, her husband of 59 years, was by her side. Gayle was born July 9, 1939 in Missoula to Bob and Dorothy (Powers) Johnson. She was raised in Plains with the exception of three years during World War II when the family lived in Seattle. She attended Plains schools, graduating from Plains High School. In...
Kacey VanZanten (right) and Rachel Ribeiro lead the Thompson Falls High School senior girls through the halls of the elementary school on Tuesday. The senior walkthrough is a tradition the week before graduation. A special graduation supplement featuring all of the Sanders County graduates is featured in this week's Ledger....
Peter and Glenda Milne of Whitepine ardently announce the high school graduation of their homeschooled daughter Cooper S. A. Milne. Her thoughts: "If you ever find yourself in a hard time and wonder where God is, remember the teacher is always silent during a test."...
Each spring, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) receives several calls from people who have picked up deer fawns or other wildlife. FWP advises against this practice for several reasons. The agency does not accept, hold or rehabilitate deer and elk because the animals rarely survive the stress of captivity, and because of concerns with the spread of disease. So FWP’s likely response would be to tell people to leave the animals alone or return them to where they were found. While people mean well, they may not understand that their i...
The Paradise Center has been making strides in its development. In 1910, the Paradise School was built and first serviced kindergarten through high school until later dropping down to only kindergarten through eighth grade. The school faced closing in 2013 when enrollment was a mere five students. In 2016 the building began its new life as a community, visitor and arts center. Tours of the Paradise Center are available May 25-26 from 11 a.m. through 3 p.m. Regular summer hour tours Tuesday...
Almost a dozen runners from Sanders County took part in the annual 11 Miles to Paradise run over the weekend, joining hundreds of other runners for part of the 2019 Runner's Edge Trail Race Series. Although water covered parts of the trail, it ended up being a pleasant day considering the cool, wet weather leading up to Sunday's race. The Runner's Edge, located in Missoula, sponsors the event which highlights the beauty of the Lolo National Forest trails in the Paradise/St. Regis area. They...
There are many ways of capturing the beauty of the great outdoors. Some take photographs, some download it to memory and some paint it on canvas. The Friends of the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness (FSPW) will be honoring those who paint nature at their Plein Air Art Show being held in Thompson Falls. "En plein air" is the French expression meaning "in open air." The method of plein air painting takes place outdoors to capture landscapes through natural light, giving more depth and detail to the...
THIS SWAN has been seen visiting Thompson Falls this month. Resident Jim Greaves captured the image of the swan, and researched the animal, which he discovered was raised at the Sunriver Nature Center in Oregon. It was last seen at Summer Lake Wildlife Area in Oregon in March....
In track and field, the best time for your best is when it counts the most. Turning in some of their best times, distances and heights when it was the most important, the Thompson Falls Blue Hawks responded with a flock of strong performances at the Western B-C Divisional meet in Missoula last Thursday and Friday. Fueled by strong efforts from across the Missoula County Public Schools Stadium complex, the Lady Hawks surged to a fourth place team finish with 70 points, while the Hawk boys scored...
