Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Thirteen years ago, Lily the boxer puppy watched Carson Alexander get on the bus for his first day of kindergarten. On Sunday, Lily was there at Thompson Falls High School's Previs Field to watch Carson graduate with the Class of 2020. To make the moment even more special, it was Lily's 13th birthday. The commencement ceremony in Thompson Falls was filled with remembrance and accolades for the seniors. The class chose teacher Cory Kump as their speaker. Kump taught the Class of 2020 as fifth...
More than 65% of Sanders County's registered voters turned in ballots for the state's all-mail primary, with results coming in late Tuesday. The Sanders County Elections Office issues 7,735 ballots and 5,075 were processed by elections staff Tuesday evening. By comparison, in the last presidential primary in 2016, 47.73% of voters cast ballots. In local races, Democrat Diane Magone will move on to face Republican Bob Brown in the race for State Senate, District 7. Magone receive 930 primary votes and Gerald Cuvillier received 168 on the...
This will be a race against racism in America. If we have ever needed a race for domestic peace, now is that time. This is not a first-to-the-finish-line kind of a race, but a simple statement, a collective wish for public harmony. In what may be a first in Montana and maybe in the entire country, local organizers are planning a Race Against Racism event in Thompson Falls this Saturday. The first ever Race Against Racism is scheduled to begin out of the First Security Bank parking lot at 9 a.m. Participants will have an option of a 5k or a...
A group of Plains teenagers stood up for their beliefs Monday as they lined Railroad Avenue in an effort to raise awareness of injustice. Protests have been held across the country after George Floyd died in the custody of Minneapolis police officers last week. While some protests have been marred with rioting and looting, the Plains teens said they were there to make a peaceful statement. The group, who formed during early morning in downtown Plains on Monday, say they received some support,...
We find ourselves in a situation where there are no right words to say. There is so much unrest right now in the world. Peaceful protests have been marred by rioting and looting. We are still in the midst of a pandemic with COVID-19. In our rural area, it's easy to not turn on the television or read social media posts that are full of misinformation. But sheltering ourselves from issues that affect all Americans is not the answer. Neither is violence. Throughout U.S. cities, there have been amazing examples of Americans coming together, no...
Jim Elliott always writes an opinion piece that leaves me thinking and wanting to reply. His latest of May 28 was one of his best. Thank you Jim for pointing out how divisive politics can become. Rusti Leivestad, Thompson Falls...
3 YEARS AGO • JUNE 7, 1990 HIGH RUN-OFF PEAKS EARLY Although the spectacular rush of high, muddy water attracted a lot of attention to the Thompson Falls dam this weekend, the flow was minor compared to historic high flows for the Clark Fork. According to Steve Saint at the Montana Power Company plant in Thompson Falls, the flow of the Clark Fork across the Thompson Falls Dam was 58,000 cubic feet per second Monday and 61,830 cfs Saturday, the peak of the current run-off. And judging from historical flows, the peak may have occurred. A c...
I recently started running again and it’s hard to describe how good that has made me feel, physically and mentally. I guess I should back up a step and explain that calling what I do “running” is being especially generous with the word. My wife and I laughingly call what I do a “wog.” Something between a walk and a jog. It’s hideous, but I’m moving forward so I’ll take it. My journey with exercise has been long and mostly ugly! Growing up, I was the chubby kid. I was always picked last for...
On Tuesday in 20th District Judicial Court, Lisa Koker, a Thompson Falls woman who was the former deputy treasurer for Sanders County. Koker is charged with theft, tampering with public records and official misconduct. Koker allegedly stole $704 cash from a county deposit as well as a cash property tax payment of $1,971. Koker pleaded not guilty and her trial has currently been set for Oct 19. Anthony Waller met via video conference for his initial hearing. Waller is being charged with driving under the influence. He pleaded not guilty and his...
Montana Highway Patrol Zachariah Vann, 39, driving without a license, $290; reasonable and prudent, 1st offense, $85. Rachelle Nunez, 43, driving under the influence, 1st offense, $735, 1 day at home; seatbelt violation, $20. Callie Lee, 36, operating with expired registration, $85. Megan Holman, 23, seatbelt violation, $20. Cody Stinger, 27, seatbelt violation, $20. Jesse Byler, 25, seatbelt violation, $20. Elizabeth Kaleva, 51, day speeding, $70. Derek Todd, 62, day speeding, $20. William Troxclair, 33, failure to carry proof of insurance,...
Ambulance Plains 18, T. Falls 5, Trout Creek 3, Heron 1, Noxon 1, Hot Springs 3, Dixon 1, Sunday, May 24 Animal bite, Lonepine. Attempt to locate, Hot Springs. Alarm- intrusion/holdup, Hot Springs. Theft, T. Falls. Welfare check, Paradise. Informational case, Plains. Informational case, T. Falls. Assist motorist/citizen, T. Falls. Informational case, T. Falls. Informational case, Paradise. Monday, May 25 Disturbance, Plains. Informational case, Plains. Theft, report of a stolen generator, Plains. Abandoned vehicle, Hot Springs. Person missing,...
ANDREA CHRISTENSEN, Thompson Falls – “I think that mental health professionals are the least appreciated. I think that they are taken for granted; their accessibility and what they have to offer.” ROB CHRISTENSEN, Thompson Falls – “I think search and rescue is the least appreciated because they are completely volunteer, and we rely on them at all hours and they don’t get paid for it. They do all this major training and they put in a lot of time for us.” BEVERLY BASSETT, Thompson Falls – “I fu...
The Town of Plains now officially has a jail, though it's unlikely criminals will be housed there. The Plains site has actually been the jail home since it was built in 1904 - Plains was incorporated in 1907 - but until last week it was actually owned by Sanders County. In 2018, Plains Mayor Dan Rowan was looking up something on Montana Cadastral Mapping Project, a state operated Internet mapping system where a person can retrieve land information, when he came across the Horse Plains Jail on...
Troy and Carolyn Hidy of Trout Creek are happy to announce the marriage of their elder son, Abraham (Abe) Troy Hidy, to Alina Veksler, daughter of Igor and Natalia Veksler of Saint Petersburg, Russia. Abe is a 2015 graduate of Thompson Falls High School. Abe and Alina married May 26, 2020, in Växjö, Sweden, where both are students at Linnaeus University. Abe studied at MSU and UM, and first attended Linnaeus during a semester abroad. He spent a semester at Univ. of Applied Sciences in Wels, A...
Every year Trout Creek School celebrates their eighth grade and kindergarten graduates. Although a special ceremony usually takes place in the gymnasium, this year was a little different – graduates received their diplomas at home. With social distancing in place, Principal Debbie Phillips made house calls to every kindergarten and eighth-grade student presenting them with a graduation balloon, $25 gift card, and their diploma inside a gift bag. "We honked as we drove up to each individual h...
The man we called Barnes, Dad and Papa was a retired Supervisory Agent in the DEA, lover of sports (Go Mariners!, Go Hawks!), travel and the outdoors, passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2020, at the age of 77, due to health complications. Larry Clayton Barnes was born on Tuesday, March 30, 1943, to Jesse Clayton and Maxine M. Barnes in Bellingham, Washington. He graduated in 1961 from North Thurston High School in Olympia, Washington. In 1965, he graduated from Washington State University, remaining...
December 12, 1956 - May 16, 2020 Teri Jo Foster of Rock Springs, Wyoming, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 16, 2020, with her family by her side, at the University of Utah. She passed after battling complications with multiple heart surgeries. Teri lived in Rock Springs for the past 13 years and called Wyoming home. She was born in Hot Springs, Montana to John A. and Isabelle Welch; she graduated in 1975 and went on to beauty school in Missoula. She married Kevin Foster in 2001. Teri's...
April 12, 1954 - May 5, 2020 Laurie Jean Pritzkau, aged 66 passed away on May 5, 2020 following a heroic battle with cancer in Thompson Falls, Montana. She was surrounded by her loving children, close family and friends. We will all miss her smile, laughter, and wonderful sense of humor that will live on in our memories. Laurie was born the eighth of nine children to Ronald (Red) and Henrietta (Toots) Pritzkau on April 12, 1954, in Hot Springs, Montana. She spent her early years in the Thompson...
Merna Arlene (Rogers) Helms, 78, on Friday, May 8, 2020, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and cherished friend passed peacefully at her home in Noxon, Montana, with her family at her side. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 13, 2020 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Clark Fork Branch. She will be laid to rest with her husband Doug Helms at the Clark Fork Cemetery. Merna was born in Plentywood, Montana, on October 1, 1941, to Clarence and Mary Rogers. She was...
Sanders County Primary Results...
It has been over a week since a Bonner, Montana, man went missing while out on a camping trip with his common-law wife and her niece along Thompson River Road. On May 25, 51-year-old James Whitmarsh disappeared after his RV had a flat tire. Whitmarsh, along with his partner Bobbi Hurley and her niece, 18-year-old Autumn Morse, stopped at the corner of Montana Highway 200 and Thompson River Road. There Whitmarsh left the vehicle to check the tire and did not return. According to Bobbi, Whitmarsh...
For most Americans, Memorial Day was celebrated last Monday, but Plains VFW Post 3596 is dedicated to following the tradition by holding its ceremony to honor lost military veterans on May 30, the original Memorial Day with roots that date nearly back to the Civil War. The ceremony at Plains Cemetery was short but solemn as Post Commander Ron Kilbury led the observance at the flagpole, the centerpiece of a section of the cemetery surrounded by numerous veterans' gravesites and small American fla...
After being closed last year for necessary repairs, including new plumbing, concrete decking and showers, the Thompson Falls City Pool will open June 15. The swimming season will go through August 15. Open swim times are 1-3 p.m. and 3:15-5:515 p.m.There will be a 50-person limit per session. People who swim in the first session will be allowed in the second session if space is available. Everyone will have to sign in for each session before entering the pool. Lessons will be the focus this year, due to the pool having been closed last year....
Sports in Sanders County have been on hold for months due to COVID-19, but the pandemic didn't stop a group of girls from gathering at the Amundson Sports Complex in Plains last weekend for a day of softball competition. Just over 70 girls on seven teams from Missoula, Kalispell and Ronan - including three girls from Sanders County - played throughout the day as a "warm-up scrimmage," according to Dan Hirning, coach of the Montana Wildfire, one of two U12 teams there. On Hirning's Missoula team...
You know it’s easy, easy like a Tuesday evening… Easy Street Auto Works golfers Dave Garr, Jens Jantzen, Charlie Hooten and Rusty Haggard shot the low team gross of 178 as they maintained their grip on the Tuesday Night Men’s League lead last week at River’s Bend. Shooting the low team net of 146, Big Sky Pantry club swingers Bill Nolen, Howard Morkert, Scott Rasor and Mike Tessier kept their team in second place in the standings. Scott Pardee shot the low individual gross of 41 and Carter Meyer collected low net honors with a 35. In hole pl...
