Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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The Town of Plains might have tripled in size Saturday as people flooded in to Plains Day for its annual festival, which took place along Railroad Street, the greenway, at Fred Young Park, the lawn of MT West Dentist, and at the E.L. Johnson Memorial Park. Plains Day this year was again sponsored by the nonprofit organization the Free Americans and coordinated by Blair Blizzard, who introduced new activities and brought back an old favorite, along with traditional ones. Its theme this year was "...
Despite rumors that this would be the last Plains Day festival for the Ryan Family to put on their special potluck activity at the E.L. Johnson Memorial Park, it looks as though it will continue. "It's a great community event that brings people out to have fun," said Jake Ryan of Plains. "It lets kids have a good time the whole evening and that memory will be with them the rest of their lives," he said. Each year, more than a dozen members of the Ryan clan sponsor a potluck, dance and limbo...
The Plains Day parade this year was one of the biggest in recent years with a wide variety of units from a single person to large groups on floats. Mary Halling, the parade coordinator for the fourth year, had 50 registered entries, but believes there were about 20 additional units that did not register, but participated, such as the dozen emergency medical services vehicles - including Smokey Bear - and the Horse Plains VFW Post 3596 color guard, which led the parade. The parade lasted nearly...
Sanders County voters headed to the polls on Tuesday to cast ballots in the 2024 primary election. Voters decided against conducting a local government review. The ballot issue failed in the county, as well as in Thompson Falls, Plains and Hot Springs. In the county, 2,369 people voted against the review, with 1,603 votes for. In Thompson Falls, there were 199 votes against the local review and 150 for. In Hot Springs, the measure failed with 69 votes against and 57 for, and in Plains, 191 people voted against the review and 96 for. Several...
The 2024 graduating class of Hot Springs High School received their diplomas, remembered a friend, and received scholarships on Saturday. Eleven seniors were present with the twelfth classmate missing from the ceremony. Jody Page, who passed away last fall, was honored by teachers and classmates as they recalled memories of their friend and student who was physically absent from their final class gathering. Valedictorian Lauryn Aldridge spoke about Page in her speech. "With open hearts and open...
Thompson Falls High School's class of 2024 received their diplomas last Saturday in front of family and friends. The ceremony was held on the football field at the high school. The class chose Amanda Stewart, a 2010 TFHS grad, as their guest speaker. Stewart, who is a singer and songwriter now based in Bozeman, has released two albums and recently traveled to perform in New York and Georgia. Stewart gave a speech that showed her vulnerability, just as do the songs she writes. She encouraged the...
Earlier this year, at the request of the city, the Department of Transportation extended the 25 mph and 35 mph speed zones in Thompson Falls. With that, there was a request to add speed radar signs that warn approaching motorists of their speed. The Thompson Falls Woman's Club has taken on fundraising for the speed radar signs, which run about $5,000 each. TFWC felt that the signs were so important that they started the fundraising effort as one of their community service projects. They have solicited donations from local businesses and...
I don’t know when the Merriam turkey was introduced to Western Montana, but it was and they have prospered. I can vouch for it. In the 1980s and 90s I broke out about 65 acres of timberland into cropland and I planted a lot of oats to “tame the soil”. I put up a lot of the oats as hay and word spread fast in turkey-dom. In short-order my haystacks began to look like the rear end of a threshing machine because the turkeys scratched the bales to get at the oat kernels and popped all the strin...
6 YEARS AGO • FEBRUARY 1964 CITY TO DONATE SCHOOL SITE The city council Monday agreed to make available to School District 2 from 20 to 25 acres in the old golf course area as a future school building site. Before a formal transfer of ground is made to the school district, the city council will have to have a survey made to determine the number of available acres remaining on the old golf course. Other details of the transfer would have to be worked out between the city attorney and the school district’s legal council. The council ind...
Bill Imrie, Thompson Falls - “Going camping.” Pat Miller, Thompson Falls - “Fishing with nice weather.” Ken Montoure, Thompson Falls - “Fishing.” Ron Blacic, Trout Creek - “Fishing anywhere in beautiful Montana.” Tyler Nolan, Shelby - “Spending time with family at our cabin.” Alissa Nolan, Shelby - “Swimming with family at the hot springs....
Ambulance: Plains, 12; T. Falls, 7; Dixon, 6; Trout Creek, 4; Hot Springs, 4; Heron, 1; Noxon, 1. Monday, May 27 General animal call/complaint, T. Falls. Suspicious activity, T. Falls. USFS patrol, Paradise. Intoxicated subject, Hot Springs. USFS campground check, Paradise. Motor vehicle crash, Hot Springs. Fireworks, T. Falls. Suicide attempts/threats, Paradise. Harassment/privacy in communication, Trout Creek. General animal call/complaint, T. Falls. Nuisance complaints, T. Falls. Threats, T. Falls. Child welfare/abuse, T. Falls....
A Plains man changed his plea on Tuesday in connection with a burglary at a dispensary earlier this year. Isaac Warnes entered a guilty plea before Judge John Mercer on Tuesday to one count of felony burglary. As part of a plea agreement, a second count of tampering with or fabricating evidence will be dismissed. The incident at Top Shelf Botanicals took place on January 18, 2024. Upon investigation by the Sanders County Sheriff's Office, the owern of the dispensary valued missing product at $10,870, amount taken from a safe at $17,313 and the...
Montana Highway Patrol Leon Robbins, 46, seatbelt violation, $20. Nicholas Painter, 26, seatbelt violation, $20. Jennifer Kilbury, 48, seatbelt violation, $20. Karen Evans, 54, stop sign violation, $85. Aaron Dally, 24, reckless driving, 1st offense, $285; seatbelt violation, $20; operating without liability insurance in effect, 1st offense, $275. Darrin Kern, seatbelt violation, $20. Cynthia Jenson, 67, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Jeremiah Ketcum, 44, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Justin Sheridan, 43, careless driving, $85....
Variety is what describes the talent show presented this year at the annual Thompson Falls Elementary Show. From kindergarteners to teachers, the show had plenty of performers to entertain the audience of peers, coworkers and family. Performers auditioned for a spot in the show with music teacher Lisa Mickelson. The show began with Paraprofessional Lacey Scharfe on the piano. She was followed by the Junior High Band Ensemble performing "Feel it Still" by Portugal the Man. They were dressed in...
On May 15, students from Trout Creek Adventist School embarked on an exciting educational journey to the Montana State Capitol. The group, comprised of eager fourth to eighth graders, enjoyed a day filled with learning and exploration in the heart of Montana's government. The highlight of their visit was receiving copies of both the Montana State Constitution and the U.S. Constitution, generously provided by the Secretary of State's office. These important documents will serve as valuable...
Myrna Eleanor Bybee, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend succumbed peacefully after a valiant battle with cancer and Alzheimer's disease early in the morning of May 29, 2024. She was born to Ronald (Red) and Henrietta (Toots) Pritzkau on July 26, 1938 in Northwood, North Dakota. She was the oldest of nine children and was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Janice, Kay, John, and Laurie and her eldest son Rodney. Much of her early life was spent in T...
Robert Sink passed away peacefully in his sleep June 1, 2024, in Thompson Falls, Montana, at the age of 91. He is preceded in death by his wife Maxine and sons Lance and Jeffery. He is survived by his daughter Bambi, son Wesley and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Bob was born in Pennsylvania in 1932 and led a full and active life. He was an avid sportsman and loved hunting and being in the outdoors. Bob was interested in traditional archery and won...
Fred Shanley passed away May 27, 2024. He was born April 27, 1946, in Coeur d'Alene to George and Hilma (Peterson). Fred was the oldest of three children with brothers Tim and Bob (Vicki). Fred was the son of a logger who moved where the work was in North Idaho and Western Montana. Fred graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1964 when he then joined the United States Air Force. Fred served in the Air Force as an Armament Systems Specialist stationed in Guam during the Vietnam War. Fred then attended a semester at North Idaho College where...
The Paradise Center's newest roundhouse opened for the public on Saturday with artifacts continuing to be moved into the building. Volunteers moved an antique velocipede into the mini roundhouse last Wednesday for the Treating Plant bay of the roundhouse. It took several people - Gary Sanks, Jacqueline Colyer, Keegan Hall, Douglas Wilks, and Dave Colyer - to move the 150-pound velocipede from the center's auditorium to its new home in the roundhouse. The velocipede was donated by Charles "Ole"...
The Angry Beaver General Store in Noxon is back in business after a February fire destroyed the store and deli in Noxon. With cleanup complete at the store site, owner Teresa Jackson opened a food truck last week. Blondeez Country Food Truckin will be open 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in Noxon. Jackson said she's also working on getting a temporary building in which to open a store with limited items. Patrons sampled items such as burgers, birria tacos and hand battered...
The Clark Fork Soccer Alliance celebrated a monumental victory at the Flathead Valley 3BR Tournament, clinching the championship in a thrilling final match against Polson FC. The girls showcased their talent, determination, and teamwork in a memorable 3-0 win. The annual 3 Blind Refs (3BR) Tournament, the largest in Northwest Montana, hosted over 180 teams. The Clark Fork team impressed throughout, scoring 14 goals and conceding only 2. Last year, the Clark Fork Soccer Alliance U18 Girls took...
It was a bitter disappointment for the Plains High School alumni basketball players, who had the lead against the students until the last three minutes of the game when the Spanish foreign exchange student hit his mark. It was the 5th Annual Alumni Basketball Game in the Plains High School gymnasium Friday evening with a crowd of nearly 75 fans. The alumni team consisted of only nine players from 19-year-old Jayden Weeks of the Class of 2023 to 44-year-old J.J Blood of the Class of 1998. "It is...
It was the final sporting event of the season for Plains School and the kids showed their competitive spunk throughout the day. Nearly 200 students from kindergarten to fifth grade took part in the annual Plains Elementary School Track & Field Day, which included 13 running and throwing events and two activity stations - the parachute game and flag tag - to keep kids busy instead of waiting for openings at the other stations. Teachers, paraprofessionals, title one staff members, and junior high...
Our local trails are wild and rugged. There are endless opportunities to find solitude. Or enjoy a day with friends and family while exploring our shared public forests. The Scotchman Peaks proposed wilderness area alone offers 88,000 acres to explore, most of which are seldom traveled. “Most of us live here because we love being around and exploring truly wild country,” said Brooke Bolin, Outreach Coordinator at Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. “But getting familiar with our local trails alone can be an overwhelming feat. And the gener...
The Old Jail Museum in Thompson Falls has its annual themed exhibit, as well as regular exhibits, ready for viewers. This year's exhibit is titled Businesses in Sanders County, Past and Present. Several items have been donated to display what dry goods stores, banks, and restaurants looked like in bygone days. "People couldn't hop in their cars and drive to Missoula or Kalispell to go shopping," museum president Sherry Hagerman-Benton said. They needed supplies to be local. In Plains the...
