Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Sanders County voters cast their ballots in the 2022 primary election this week, with the County elections staff counting 4,837 ballots Tuesday evening. The top two candidates in races will move on to the November general election. In the race for Sanders County Sheriff, Roy Scott and Schawn Fielders will advance to the general election, garnering 1,217 and 1,046 votes, respectively. Other candidates who will not advance from the primary included Corey Wheeldon with 1,014 votes, Lanny Hensley with 658 votes, Christopher Stough with 523 votes...
With spring comes blooming flowers and trees, the promise of sunshine, and the risk of attracting wildlife into your yards. Kim Annis, bear manager with Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP), reports there have been several reports of bear conflicts within the city of Thompson falls. "We have already moved two bears out of town, and two others are still getting into garbage," Annis said. The two bears were captured and relocated form the east side of Thompson Falls. Annis urged residents to help...
"The rains in Plains will fall mainly on the parade, but not this time," said Kathy Hassan of Trout Creek, one of the Plains Day organizers. Hassan was prophetic. The parade was spared, but not the turtle races, which had a constant drizzle and made the 31 turtles a bit lethargic. Yet it didn't put a damper on the spirit of the kiddie contestants, parents, other spectators, or emcee Gene Johnson, who called a blow-by-blow description as though it was a professional sport. "He's heading to the...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff (FWP) conducted spring surveys and the number of elk in the valley is in the 10-year average. Wildlife Biologist Mike Ebinger said staff surveyed elk herds in hunting districts 121 and 123 by helicopter over eight days in April. "Spring conditions were cold and snow levels were lower than normal," Ebinger said. "Late green-up and low snow levels caused the delay of the western HD-121 flights one week." FWP flew 912 miles in the two weeks of surveys. The total...
I had a friend visit from Tennessee a few years ago, and she couldn't believe the number of deer in Thompson Falls. She took a lot of pictures of deer in the yard, deer on the sidewalks, deer in the streets. It is pretty unique as we live in the wilderness of northwest Montana. We have plenty of civic duties – both as U.S. citizens and as residents of Sanders County. As Americans, we pay taxes, serve on juries and vote in elections. But our obligations here in this community are just as important, and it appears we need to brush up on one of o...
Inflation has settled in for the American consumer and it’s nowhere more obvious than at the gas pump. Not so coincidentally, the only ones who are able to stay ahead of inflation are those companies which are causing the inflation itself, the oil companies whose profits have skyrocketed at the expense of the American consumer. It’s not just the price of gas. Since virtually everything produced in America uses some kind of petroleum product in its manufacture, not to mention the fuel to get thei...
We in America have come to a desperate time in history. People coming in now from many places are not going thru the proper channels. Not like immigrants of the past. Some will create unrest. The COVID crisis has done harm and fear should not overcome us! We should as caring people protect our most innocent tiny human beings in the mother's womb. The dilemma of ectopic pregnancies can be helped thru Dr. Thomas Hilger of Pope Paul VI Institution at Nebraska. His medical institute has helped women the world over. He has corrected the serious...
4 YEARS AGO • JUNE 10, 1982 THOMPSON FALLS GRADUATES 36 SENIORS Thirty-six seniors of Thompson Falls High School received their diplomas Monday night. Members of the Class of 1982 are, Javier Alvarez, Laura Lee Becquart, Becky Ann Brown, Ellen Pyatt Bullard, Evan David Burnham, Rhonda Sue Calvert, Christine Cole, Jody Lynn Cole, James F. Doherty III, Arthur Lee Dykstra, Wayne Alex Dykstra, JoLynn Eichert, Scott F. Eichert, Charles Gardner, Janiece Hope Grimm, Diana Lee Jones, Teresa Rose Kaegbein, Michael F. LaBrosse, Steven L. Linderman, S...
TIM SUTHERLAND, Thompson Falls - “Sobriety.” ELISE STIMPFLING, Thompson Falls - “Maintaining balance in my life.” CHRISTYN McKINLEY, Coeur d’Alene - “Taking notes.” TRENT McKINLEY, Coeur d’Alene - “Learn from your mistakes.” JOHN MAXWELL, Thompson Falls - “Write everything down.” LIVIA KNIGHTON, Plains - “Think ahead....
Governor Greg Gianforte has appointed Molly Owen to serve on the 20th Judicial District Court, which includes Lake and Sanders counties. Owen fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge James Manley. “Molly is an accomplished attorney who appreciates the court’s role in interpreting laws, not making them from the bench,” Gov. Gianforte said. “A strong supporter of drug treatment courts and maximizing efficiencies in the courtroom, Molly will serve the people of Lake and Sanders counties well.” Owen has served as Deputy County At...
Montana Highway Patrol Barclay Stout, 67, driving without a valid driver’s license, $185. Duane Ovitt, 47, failure to carry proof of insurance, 3rd or subsequent offense, 10 days jail, $535; displaying license plates assigned to another vehicle, $75; seatbelt violation, $20. Kory Avery, 29, operating without liability insurance, 1st offense, $85. Brandon Goodrum, 33, operating without liability insurance, 3rd offense, $335; seatbelt violation, $20. Bridger Bauer, 17, seatbelt violation, $20. Patricia Evans, 24, operating without liability insur...
Ambulance: Plains, 6; T. Falls, 3; Noxon, 2; Trout Creek, 1; Paradise, 1; Hot Springs, 1; Heron, 1; Dixon, 1. Tuesday, May 31 Abandoned vehicle, Heron. Person missing, Hot Springs. Body found/coroner, Plains. Property damage/criminal mischief, T. Falls. Civil standby, Noxon. Motor vehicle crash, Plains. Request for welfare check, Dixon. Alarm - intrusion/holdup, Plains. Road hazard, debris on road, Trout Creek. Assist motorist/citizen, Noxon Civil attempts. Motor vehicle crash, Plains. Wednesday, June 1 Animal other, T. Falls. Motor vehicle cra...
Lately Sanders County residents have been reporting a concerning number of deer and other animal carcaases being dumped and abandoned all over the county. There are many calls concerning this issue flooding into the Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) office in Thompson Falls. Many private land owners are reporting abandoned deer carcaases found on or near land they own. It looks as though assorted Forest Service land has also become a popular place to dump animal remains, two of the most popular sites being reported by FWP being the Dry Creek and...
By building their foothold in Montana's ever growing food scene, food trucks have given foodies the chance to explore new dishes and escape traditional routine by broadening the palate. While the state is home to numerous food trucks that can be found at festivals, events or even parked alongside the road on a sunny day, one Hot Springs based food truck will be starting the season during the 73rd annual Homesteader Days during the weekend of June 10-12. FriggnFulla, owned by Hot Springs...
The county's annual E-waste event last Saturday saw old computers, televisions and other dated electronics come in to be recycled at the Thompson Falls transfer site. Every year, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) sponsors and provides licensing to help make the event a success. By 11 a.m. around 70 people had already stopped by to drop off electronics. The E-waste event usually brings in five tons of electronics that need to be recycled. "We're definitely on target for that...
July 29, 1930 - May 25, 2022 Wife, Sister, Mom, Grandmother and Great Grandmother Letty's life began in the tiny town of Circle, Montana, and most of her life was spent within the state of Montana. She raised her children on the farm at Whitepine where she and her husband Andy lived the majority of their children's childhoods. She farmed with Andy, taking care of the cooking, baking, gardening and all the things that country living requires. When the family moved to Thompson Falls, she made her...
Mark Freed was born February 2, 1954, to Mike and Joan in Hot Springs, Montana. Pretty sure he was born strong. He loved his family and friends. He was a hard worker and enjoyed his job working in the woods. He was also a mechanic for years. The lucky handful of people who were his good friends probably went fishing, shooting, tinkering on projects or talking about crazy things they did in his younger days. He had the fight of his life wit cancer. It knocked him down a couple times, but he got...
Daniel Hollenkamp, of Plains, passed away May 15, after fishing with friends at Lake Koocanusa. Dan suffered a heart attack and drove into the lake, submerging both vehicle and trailer. Dan was born October 23, 1953 in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. A celebration of Dan's life will be held at Plains Bible Chapel at 6 p.m., Tuesday, June 14....
When we look around and see all the chaos, turmoil and what may seem like the end of the world, we have to wonder where is the Lord in all of this? The answer is simple, He is everywhere. He is especially in the churches of His believers. Living in Hot Springs, Montana, is not for the weak. I found this out the hard way. Being an Independent, Fundamental Baptist (with a hint of Pentecostal), I found it very difficult to find a church that was full of the spirit and serving the Lord in their...
The reigning adult limbo champion had to share his crown and prize booty with a kid this year. With Newman Ryan of Plains and Ivan Nethercott of Bozeman manning the limbo stick for the taller class of competitors, the entire line made it through the first run. A few were bumped at their second time around, but by the fifth most were gone from the lineup. It eventually came down to Jubal Ryan, 23, and 11-year-old Ziah Hensrude of Hot Springs, who twice successfully made it under the bar at 30.5 i...
The Celtics and the Warriors are battling for an NBA championship this week, but the competition at Amundson Sports Complex last weekend was just as fierce. The sixth annual Wildhorse Shootout 3-on-3 tournament brought 66 teams to Plains for a day of basketball and fun. The weather provided a steady mist of rain throughout the day in which almost 140 half-hour games of basketball were played, but some players said the sprinkling of rain was better than past tournaments where they have played in...
Bear Muscle Fitness flexed their muscles last Tuesday at River’s Bend as John Mosher, Cody Mosher, Steve Fairbank and Doug Robichaud shot the low team gross of 182 in men’s league play. Feed and Fuel golfers Mike Normandin, Steve Clark, Dave Petteys and Doug Gunderson had the low team net of 143, while Cody Mosher had the low individual net of 34 and Gary Thompson’s round of 40 was good enough for low gross. Bart Haflich took honors for closest to the pin in three shots on No. 2, Normandin had the long putt on No. 3, and Nathan Snead sank...
Edward Jones Financial was in the money last Wednesday with the team of Dan Kier, Ed Mack, Jesse Mack and Nathan Snead turning in a low gross of 178 in men’s league play at River’s Bend. Big Eddy’s/Limberlost Brewery had the low team gross of 146. Dan Kier shot the low individual gross round of 38 and Bob Brown had the low net of 30. Kier also hit one of the long drives on No. 9. Bill Nolen’s third shot was closest to the pin on No. 2, Steve Fairbank sank the long putt on No. 3, Randy Hojem was closest to the pin on No. 5, Mike Normand...
The Over the Hill Gang made the best of a rainy Monday this week at River's Bend, with Dave Garr shooting the low men's gross of 44 and Chuck Manry the low net of 36. Bruce Sterling was closest to the pin in two on No. 1, Barb Mosher sank the long putt on No. 3, Tom Holleran outdrove the other men on No. 9, Rusty Haggard had the long putt on No. 7, and Jesse Mack smashed the long drive on No. 6 and had the longest putt on No. 8. Patrick Walt had the only chip-in of the day, on No. 5....
Twenty people attended the livestock emergency evacuation and shelter meeting last Tuesday night hosted by both Wendy Carr, MSU Extension Agent for Sanders County. The discussion focused primarily on expanding support for agriculture, horticulture and natural resources in the county, and Jeanne Rankin DVM and Animal Health and Animal Disaster Associate Specialist. "Because of a grant that we have through MSU we are able to have her here today," Carr said while introducing Rankin. Those in...
