Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 39
High water has put a snag in recreation opportunities on the Clark Fork River above the Thompson Falls Dam. NorthWestern Energy was forced to remove steel beams to allow more water to flow through the dam. The reservoir will need to be drawn down several feet for those beams to be replaced once the high water ebbs. With the high flows in the Clark Fork River this spring, NorthWestern Energy was forced to release several removable steel spillway beams at the Thompson Falls Dam. The action is...
Sanders County and the rest of Montana will go to the polls on Tuesday, June 5, for the primary election. Elections staff at the Sanders County Clerk and Recorder’s Office reported that 4,141 ballots were issued and as of Tuesday evening, 1,492 absentee ballots were accepted and ready for processing. An additional 28 were voided and 82 were undeliverable, said Elections Clerk Bobbi Christenson. She noted that the office attempted to contact all of the voters whose ballots were returned undeliverable. With Election Day on Tuesday, Christenson s...
While much of the focus this spring has been on the high water and flooding throughout Sanders County, the flora is in full bloom on Island Park in Thompson Falls. A stroll across the island reveals a variety of flowering plants, and you might just spy some wildlife as well....
Montana Highway Patrol responded to a one-vehicle accident just west of Trout Creek, Monday at 5 p.m., near Mile Marker 27. Trooper Jourdan Gulick was on the scene and Saint's Wrecking and Towing of Thompson Falls removed the vehicle that had rolled at least once before landing on its top. The tan Chevrolet Suburban was carrying two adults and five youth and landed nearly 20 feet from the road. Trooper Gulick confirmed that the rear wheel had fallen off the vehicle, but other factors of the...
Reduce, reuse and recycle! It is the way of doing business now days. Sanders County Solid Waste (SCSW) is once again organizing an e-waste event to share information on Montana’s recycling programs as well as helping residents recycle unwanted electronics. In collaboration with Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and Oreo’s Refining, the county will host Dusti Johnson, MDEQ Materials Management Specialist, on Friday, June 8, to discuss “Recycling in Montana.” The discussion will take place at the County Courthouse from 5:30 to...
Plains will be a hub of activity this weekend with nearly 30 activities planned for this year’s Plains Days, which will begin Friday evening, when the youth take on adults in the first Alumni Flag Football Contest, which starts at 6 p.m. on the school football field. The evening continues with the traditional Alumni Basketball Game in the school gymnasium at 8 p.m. Kevin Meredith, the high school principal and coordinator of this year’s alumni games, said they plan to have only one coed game for each sport. The alumni competition continues on...
Memorial Day and graduation are over. School will be out soon. As you’re dusting off your water skis and lawn chair, it’s time to start thinking about the next big event — election season. The primary election is Tuesday, June 5. If you’re scrambling to turn in your ballot, there may be questions about the candidates. We’re all guilty of not taking the time to research candidates or issues, or of just picking a name we recognize and filling in that bubble. Or of simply voting for an incumbent. Sometimes we spend more time in the shampoo aisle p...
Editor: We all owe a debt of gratitude to the five City Council members, who, “doing business their way” [paraphrasing Ms. Kersten], cut our water “allotment” by a HUGE 75%, from @260 gallons per day per metered residence, to a meagre 66 gallons per day. I’m sure all those with children, or home-bound elders - with piles of laundry and bathing requirements that go with parenting and care-taking - will bless our Wise Stewards. In addition, they raised our “delivery cost” (the meter, basically), from 26 dollars per month to 40 dollars per m...
New Board Chair, New Administration, New Leaf? Noxon School District #10 is getting one of those rare opportunities to start with a relatively clean slate. At a recent board meeting the teachers presented two school calendars that were rejected. The board rejected both a 165 day and a 170 day calendar option, but yet didn’t offer any guidance to the teachers. On May 22 the teachers came back and provided a compromise: a 168 day calendar. Compromise. What a concept. The board approved with dissent. It was pointed out by Trustee Weltz (and I...
Last week I visited the site of the Battle of Rosebud Creek on the Crow Reservation in Big Horn County and was reminded of the role that Native Americans have played in the U.S. military. Perhaps that seems a strange statement considering that they also had, perhaps, a more significant role fighting against the United States military, but since the Revolutionary War Native Americans have also fought with distinction for the U.S. General George Crook, in command at the Rosebud, was unusual for...
5 YEARS AGO • MAY 16, 1968 McGOWAN’S LOT SITE FOR PLAINS POST OFFICE The Post Office Department has accepted an assignable land option for the site of a proposed new Post Office building at Plains. The property is owned by the McGowan Commercial Co. and is located between the McGowan building and the First National Bank on the north side of Railroad St. The proposed building will contain 2,538 square feet of interior floor space with a 216-square feet of parking and maneuvering area. The McGowan Commercial Co. is expected to bid on the bui...
TRACY HADDEN, Thompson Falls – “Probably the Reuben sandwiches at Minnie’s in Thompson Falls. They are pretty good and my favorite.” JIM STAGNER, Noxon – “I just moved here from Texas. We had our own BBQ business and since I don’t know where to get It around here, I would tell people to cook what you want. It’s better and cheaper.” FLOYD SEARL, Trout Creek -“Blueberries from Ellers in Trout Creek. Just eat them out of your hand. That’s the best food I’ve eaten round here.” MARGIE RAWLINSON, Thompson Falls – “BBQ baby back ribs. First cut the...
Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Robert Smith, 48, $285, driving a motor vehicle while privilege to do so is suspended. Robert Smith, 48, $275, operating without liability insurance. Brandon Guseman, 18, $135, operating without liability insurance. Katherine Arpin, 29, $55, speeding in a restricted zone. Amanda Hollinger, 18, $20, day speeding. Debra Conklin, 65, $20, day speeding. Michael Mcbride, 47, $55, speeding in a restricted zone. Timothy Mcgee, 62, $70, day speeding. Montana Highway Patrol Gary Harding, 78, $20, seatbelt violation. J...
Sunday, May 20 Report of stolen dog, T. Falls. Residential alarm triggered, T. Falls. Possible gas drive off, Trout Creek. Physically combative female, Noxon. Welfare check requested, T. Falls. Civil standby requested, T. Falls. Stolen trailer hitch, Plains. Neighbors pounding on ceiling, T. Falls. Monday, May 21 Stolen paint gun and lawnmower, Hot Springs. Report of phone message, caller looking for sex partner, T. Falls. Stolen military discharge papers, Trout Creek. Report of trespassing, Plains. Missing horse, Flathead/Sanders County...
Thompson Falls Elementary School has some talented students, and they are not afraid to show it. Every spring Thompson Falls music teacher Lisa Mickelson displays student talents by putting on a "Variety Show" for fellow classmates and the community. In celebration of the show's third year, 11 acts were featured that included singing, dancing, hula-hooping, improvisation and comedic acts from emcees Diego Long and Faith Palmer. "This is such a good opportunity for students to showcase their tale...
The U.S. Forest Service is proposing the sale of an administrative site in Thompson Falls. The property considered for liquidation consists of four buildings on approximately 5 acres, located on Columbia Street in Thompson Falls. A 1,152-square-foot office building constructed in 1942 currently serves as office space for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP). Dave Hattis, Plains/Thompson Falls District Ranger, approached the Thompson Falls City Council about the sale of the building earlier this month. The City Council did not have interest...
Friends of the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness (FSPW) will be beneficiary of a Brews for Benefits event hosted by Big Eddy’s Deck Bar in Thompson Falls on Wednesday, June 13 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. FSPW will be on site to provide information and answer questions about FSPW and the proposed wilderness on the Idaho-Montana border north of Heron. A raffle will be held featuring swag and prizes from FSPW, Big Eddy’s and Draught Works brewery from Missoula. FSPW will provide appetizers prepared by Big Eddy’s and Draught Works will be on site provi...
It is an event that is becoming a year-end tradition for fifth and sixth grade students at Thompson Falls schools. A lesson in construction, velocity and impact results. A tournament of speed and design. The Egg Car Races that took place Friday had students using only paper, glue, and tape to make car bodies, and plastic push-popsicle ends for wheels and axles. The idea was to create vehicles that could transport an egg down a wooden track with enough speed to beat their competitor and keep the...
It was a clever and thoughtful effort by the Noxon senior class. Seniors Cory Brodmerkle and Caitlyn Hagen worked with their peers to create a fundraiser for a family in need of assistance – but not just any fundraiser, a Daddy Daughter Dance that the youngest of ladies would never forget. "Cory suggested doing a Daddy Daughter Dance because her former school used to do them and they created some great memories," said Hagen who helped organize the class to decorate the gym for a formal look. "...
Gary was born in Two Harbors, Minn., on May 28, 1942 to Wilfred Francis Ovitt and Mary Emma Coleman Ovitt (Pearson). He was second in a line of 13 kids. He passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family on May 19, 2018. He fought a good fight of several health conditions, but finally surrendered to complications of diabetes and heart disease. Gary grew up in north central North Dakota. He moved to Corvallis, Mont., as a teenager and eventually moved to Plains where he met his wife of 54... Full story
The Trout Creek Farmer’s Market needs some help if it is going to operate this summer. Market organizer Sarah Cooper is taking the season off and so will the market if no one steps forward. Cooper started the market back in 2012 and has continued to nourish the responsibility since. “For the last five years my family and I have volunteered to run the Trout Creek Farmer’s Market,” Cooper said in a widespread email searching for helpers. “Nurturing community is something that is a natural outgrowth of who we are as a family, it has been fun,...
Pizza, an American staple. Birthday parties, sporting events, Friday nights...there's always an occasion for pizza. My husband used to say he could eat pizza every day forever; if I hadn't planned dinner, pizza was always our go to. Since we started this diet, our freezer is no longer filled with Tombstones that we stocked up on whenever there was a sale. I have found a few delicious alternatives. My favorite recipe is with "Fathead dough." Not the lowest carb option, but it is the most similar...
One lane of traffic was open to traffic along Blue Slide Road over the Memorial Day weekend, easing travel for residents and visitors. A portion of the road was closed in early May after a creek washed out part of the roadway. The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) immediately began assessing the area and working to open the road to traffic. Construction resumed on the project Wednesday at 7 a.m. The road is now closed during the day 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. while efforts to permanently repair the road continue. One lane will re-open to a...
In last week's Ledger special section listing Sanders County graduates, Chris Rosler's picture was incorrect. Congratulations to Rosler (below), the Hot Springs High School Salutatorian, and all of the Sanders County graduates!...
It was four days jam packed with fun, excitement and sports. It was also four days that won't be forgotten by a little girl - and likely anticipated each year with excitement. Brooke Flemmer has been waiting to participate in the Special Olympics joining her uncle, veteran athlete Justin Knutson in the fanfare that takes place at the state level. Athletes must be 8 years old, making a happy circumstance as Flemmer's birthday fell just in time to participate in the regional games in Kalispell,...
