Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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The Thompson Falls City Council voted 5-1 on Monday to increase water and sewer rates in the city. Beginning June 1, residents will be charged $40 for the first 2,000 gallons of water used per month and $1.50 per 1,000 gallons over the base. Sewer rates similarly increase to $40 for the first 2,000 gallons, and $4.10 per additional 1,000 gallons. Initially, the city had proposed not having any usage included in the base rate. But after a public hearing in which residents expressed their concern, the council voted in the 2,000 base usage. About...
It has been 50 years since the U.S. Marines launched "Operation No Name" during the Vietnam War in Hue. The attack began on April 7, 1968. Little did they know, they were embarking in a preplanned North Vietnamese Army field of attack. Five days later, on April 13, Private First Class (PFC) Stephen J. Hinds, along with 25 other Marines, were killed. "I'll be going out on a four-day sweep. I don't suppose I will make Easter Mass," wrote PFC Hinds in a letter to his mother, shared Heron resident...
UPDATED May 25: The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) will open one lane of alternating traffic on Blue Slide Road (S-472) over the Memorial Day weekend (May 24 - May 29). * Construction has gone well so far and crews have been able to get a 10-foot wide lane open before the holiday weekend,” said MDT District Construction Engineer Bob Vosen. “It will take a couple more weeks of work before we can get two lanes open.” * Construction will not take place over the holiday weekend but w...
The Dixon Cemetery is all but forgotten by most people, but there's one Plains couple that wants to make sure that the military veterans buried there are remembered, at least once a year. The cemetery, situated on a high bluff about one and a half miles southeast of Dixon, is mostly overgrown with weeds. Some of the headstones have fallen over; a couple of them are in crumbles on the ground. Of the near 70 people buried there – those that are visible – a handful are unmarked and only 10 gra...
It’s been many moons since most of us at The Sanders County Ledger graduated high school, but the lessons learned still resonate. Fun fact: half of our staff graduated from Thompson Falls High School. As young adults across the county prepare to graduate on Sunday, we have a little advice for the seniors. “Everything is going to be OK in the end. If it’s not OK, it’s not the end.” — Sara Czerwinski “Always do your best and give 100 percent.” — Shana Neesvig “The world doesn’t owe you anything. You have to go out there and make your own way. Le...
2 YEARS AGO • MAY 17, 1917 RIVER BOOMS; FLOOD DANGER WASHOUT ON COUGAR GULCH The chief concern of many dwellers throughout the main valley of Sanders County just now is not what the outcome of America’s entrance into the great war will be, but what the Clarks Fork river is going to do. From present indications and actions there are broad grounds for worry. The river has been steadily rising during the past week and is still on the rapid upward trend. From a normal flow of 10,000 feet per second at Thompson Falls it went to 37,700 feet las...
Dear Editor: For 20 years the citizens of Gallatin County gave me the privilege to serve as a District Court Judge in Bozeman. Before I was elected to the bench I was Gallatin County Attorney for 14 years. In 1995 I met Kim Christopher, who at that time was Lake County Attorney. In 1997 I began serving as District Court Judge and my contact with Judge Christopher ceased until she was elected in 2000 to serve as a District Court Judge for the 20th Judicial District (Lake and Sanders Counties). I then resumed having contact with Judge...
Editor, There is a scam coming from Jamaica. Your readers need to know that they might get a long-awaited call from “Publishers Clearing House” informing them that they are the winners of a brand new car and $950,000! You will be given a phone number to call and speak to the caller’s supervisor to arrange delivery of your prizes. If you do not call right away, you will get another call asking you to call the supervisor right away. When you do call, you will be congratulated on your good fortune and all you need to collect is to send $500 to co...
As a former Lincoln County Commissioner that spent years advocating for both the Rock Creek and Montanore proposals, I thought I had seen everything that could be thrown at these projects to delay their development. Seems I hadn’t. We now have our own state government attempting to derail these mines by determining that Hecla Mining is somehow a bad actor. It really boggles the mind to understand how a company that has never operated a mine in Montana can be held accountable for another company’s failure. The decision of our state’s execu...
Natalie Erwin, Trout Creek – “Live life, have fun, behave yourself.” Alec White, Thompson Falls – “Enjoy your summer, but it will be awkward if fall rolls around and you aren’t going to college.” Gary Mackey, Thompson Falls – “Go to trade school. It's faster and more useful than a college degree.” Herb Meagher, Plains – “Enjoy the moment, it only gets tougher from here.” Wes Hedahl, Thompson Falls – “Get the heck outta town.” Teresa Bishop, Thompson Falls – “Follow your dreams....
Ambulances: Noxon, 3; T. Falls, 7; Plains, 9; H. Springs, 6; Dixon QRU, 1. Sunday, May 13 Suspicious vehicle, Heron. Coroner requested, Plains. Noise disturbance, H. Springs. Disabled vehicle, stuck in snow on rural road, Plains. Report of intoxicated driver, H. Springs. Suspicious activity, T. Falls. Monday, May 14 Noise complaint from Wild Goose Landing, T. Falls. Vehicle vs. deer, Hwy. 200, T. Creek. Tuesday, May 15 Dogs running at large, T. Falls. Report of vagrant person in the basement of the Courthouse, T. Falls. Arrest made for...
A Thompson Falls man was sentenced to the Department of Corrections on Tuesday for multiple probation violations. Judge James Manley sentenced Cody Potter to three years with the DOC, recommending him for treatment programs as well. “I hope you take this opportunity for rehabilitation,” Judge Manley told Potter, “and change your lifestyle and thinking.” In court Tuesday, Potter admitted to several violations of his probation, including testing positive for methamphetamines, alcohol and THC, and not completing treatment. In December 2017, P...
Montana Highway Patrol John Savage, 35, $335, failure to carry proof of insurance, 1st offense. John Savage, 35, $20, seatbelt violation. John Savage, 35, $85, basic rule, reasonable and prudent, 1st offense. Thomas Tremper, 58, $20, day speeding. Joseph Shope, 29, $20, seatbelt violation. James Noel, 36, $70, day speeding. Gary Backus, 57, $85, speeding in a restricted zone. Louis Hodgson, 67, $20, seatbelt violation. Carson Lilja, 26, $20, seatbelt violation. Jason York, 29, $20, day speeding. Gerald Burk, 74, $55, day truck speeding. David...
Renowned pianist, George Winston, performed a benefit concert Monday at the Paradise Center in Paradise. Winston is best known for his folk music style that crosses with R&B, soul, Americana, country, and show tunes. He has recorded a total of 14 solo albums in his career. Currently, Winston is touring the country performing benefit concerts for local food banks, disaster relief and other causes that are dear to him. The concert in Paradise benefitted three local performing arts interests: the...
The Sanders County Fair Board signed two major contracts at last week’s May meeting in preparation for this year’s fair. The board unanimously voted to sign a two-year contract with Powder River Rodeo, which has entertained local crowds for more than 30 years, and a one-year contract with the Sanders County Concessions Group. Don Burrell, president of the nonprofit concessions organization, said they were surprised that the board switched from a percentage to a flat fee. Burrell said his group was under the impression that they would pay the fa...
Those interested in learning to cook with a Dutch oven can taste samples and see a cook in action at noon on Thursday, May 31 at Harvest Foods. The demonstration precedes a Dutch oven cooking class for all skill levels on Saturday, June 2. Dutch oven expert Colleen Sloan will teach the class beginning at 9 a.m. at Thompson Falls State Park on Saturday. Those who attend will receive a complementary Dutch oven. The demonstration on Thursday is free, and the class on Saturday is $60. To register, go online to www.fwp.mt.gov/ ed...
Trout Creek's afterschool program has accomplished a lot in the short three months they have been meeting. Not only have they taken on community service projects, but they have also learned the importance of being respectable U.S. citizens. Liz Glackin has teamed-up with Tara Menzel to provide a structured learning environment for kids outside of the classroom. Flower boxes have been built for the local senior center, books have been written, songs have been composed, family trees have been...
Trout Creek Community Improvement Association volunteers took time to prepare the Trout Creek Park for a busy summer. Pine needles were picked up, the stage was swept and cleaned, and weeds were sprayed....
Gary "Jay" Hanson passed away in his home in Thompson Falls, Mont., on May 21, 2018, after battling cancer. He was 78 years old. Jay was born March 2, 1940 in Columbus, Mont., and attended grade school in Mystic Lake, Mont., where his grandfather and father worked as electricians at the dam. His grade school was a single room schoolhouse for all the children of dam workers. When the school was closing in 1968 he returned to retrieve the player piano his grandmother purchased for the school...
Randy Pirker was surrounded by his two daughters and lifelong friend when he went to be with the Lord, after a heroic battle with pancreatic cancer on May 18, 2018. Randy was born on October 14, 1960, in Hot Springs, Mont. He had a blessed upbringing with his parents, Ron and Gwen Pirker. He always reminisced about his time on the farm, logging with his dad, snowmobiling, riding dirt bikes, being on the water, hanging with his siblings and everything in between. He attended K-12 in Thompson...
Dec. 14, 1932 - April 21, 2018 John William Ashcroft was born Dec. 14, 1932 in St. Ignatius and raised in Dixon, the youngest of six siblings. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea from 1950-1954 and was discharged as a sergeant. John met and married Regina Marta in Aushauffenburg, Germany. They were married for 29 years and have two children, Deborah Ashcroft of Post Falls, Idaho and Roger Ashcroft of Hayden, Idaho.John’s occupation as an operator engineer took him and his family all over the state of Montana. They finally settled in Plains f...
Shirley M. Larson was born May 19, 1932 and passed away May 15, 2018 at Mt. Silcox Assisted Living. She was born in Keeline, Wyo., to Kenneth and Lucy Cox. She moved with her family to Trout Creek in 1934. She married Donald Larson in 1951. She is survived by her husband Donald; son Roger and daughter Carrie, both of Trout Creek; grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; sister Velma Melnrick of Trout Creek and Betty Richards of Richland, Wash. She was a stay at home...
Betting on the horses is a long tradition in America, but gambling while on horses is part of the Wild Horse Plains Backcountry Horsemen Poker Run, held last weekend at the Historic Jones Ranch, nearly 10 miles northwest of Plains. One hundred and fifty-eight riders registered for this year's 11-mile poker run Saturday, but when the trail dust settled, Jacob Byrne of Kalispell won the big prize with four aces, taking home a custom made horse breast collar by Ron Rude of Plains. Second place went...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) on Friday issued an emergency closure for a portion of Noxon Reservoir bove Avista’s Noxon Rapids Dam. The closure, according to FWP, is “due to dangers from high water levels, fast-moving currents, and compromised safety infrastructures.” FWP reported that the closure is from the mouth of Blacktail Creek downstream to Noxon Rapids, and that it was at the request of the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office and Avista. Heavy debris in the reservoir took out an emergency barrier near the dam. The closure applies...
Sanders County Tobacco Prevention Specialist Sandra Gubel is recognizing "World No Tobacco Day." The global event theme is "Tobacco Breaks Hearts," highlighting the link between heart disease and tobacco use. On Thursday, May 31, Gubel has organized "Walk Around the Sanders County Courthouse Block" to combat the ill effects tobacco has on many lives. Gubel hopes to encourage people to "walk more for exercise, as well as to quit tobacco, if they use it." "Come walk around the block," said Gubel....
