Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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With the Montana primary election over, the focus now shifts to the general election. Election Day is set for November 3. In statewide races with Sanders County voters, Jennifer Fielder of Thompson Falls won the Republican ticket in the race for Public Service Commissioner for District 4. Fielder received 16,664 votes, while fellow Republicans Will Deschamps had 13,039 and Champ Edmunds 7,408. Fielder will meet Democrat Monica Tranel in the general election. Tranel received 25,886 votes to Daniel Carlino’s 7,785. In the race for Fielder’s cur...
TAKING CARE OF JUNIOR – A bald eagle father leaves to find more food for his offspring while the mother eagle stands watch. The eaglet had just devoured food that the father had just delivered. Later, the mother took off and returned with food. The nest sits nearly at the top of a tree at Swamp Creek Road west of Plains. Plains resident Orvall Kuester used to operate Horse Plains Photo Adventures and became knowledgeable about wildlife in the area, including bald eagles. Kuester said eagles u...
As soon as COVID-19 began to spread through the United States and regulations had to be put in place, citizens immediately had to give up their freedoms to congregate, to go where they want and even to work. However, one freedom that is not being discussed is the freedom to a speedy trail. Danielle Wood, a former Thompson Falls woman charged with deliberate homicide in the death of 51-year-old Matthew LaFriniere, has been waiting for her trial since early last year, when she made her first...
Officer Bob Thornhill was recognized during Monday's Thompson Falls City Council meeting for his contributions to the Thompson Falls Police Department (TFPD), as well as to the community as a whole. Officer Thornhill served in the Army for most of his life and came to Thompson Falls to settle down. He started in the area as detention officer, however, soon found himself serving as interim chief for around four months. He eventually moved into a position as the School Resource Officer (SRO) for...
COVID-19 couldn’t happen here, to anyone we know; but then it does. As some of you may be aware, I have been moonlighting from my Ledger job as a sports writer and serving as a Public Information Officer for the Sanders County commissioners’ office since the pandemic first started back in mid-March. As such, I have been intimately familiar with the local COVID-19 story from the very start, and have watched as the national infection numbers soared, first in far-away places like New York and fairly nearby locales like Seattle. Then it started spr...
We are at a good place in history, and we are at that good place because we are facing adversity together. It is sad to think that many had to die to spur us to action, but good times don’t seem to move us forward as a people, bad times do. Getting through the pandemic of COVID-19 requires working together as a people, so people are wearing face masks, not to protect themselves, but to protect others. Recognizing the injustices done to others, exemplified by the deaths of George Floyd and m...
Dear owner and writers of The Sanders County Ledger, Congratulations! In the newspaper printed May 21, 2020, I was impressed by the story and photos done by Shana Neesvig titled "Freedom Journey." Yes, I did read all the way through the story. I thought to myself, how unusual it is for a small-town newspaper to take the time and labor and effort to write and publish such a detailed and interesting story. You clearly stand out. You demonstrate how good a small-town newspaper can be with its printed stories. Also, I did take time and look...
4 YEARS AGO • MAY 22, 1980 NEW MUSEUM ON ITS WAY "We're on our way," declared Eleanor Dickinson, president of the Sanders County Historical Society, at a luncheon meeting Friday noon at the Towne House Lobby. Her reference was to the establishment of a museum in the old county jail. Mrs. Dickinson said that as soon as the county commissioners approve the three-year lease agreement, green thumb workers will be available through the city to begin clean-up, painting and other work to ready the m...
CRAIG CAMPBELL, Hawaii — “I’ve traveled to over 30 countries and, in my experience, traveling has broadened my horizons, diversified my thinking and allowed me to experience a multitude of cultures and experiences. CHRISTINA GOODWIN, Noxon — “I grew up locally and I moved away for a while, but I found myself wanting to come home and I love it here. I love my life the way it is now.” KAREN EVANS, Thompson Falls — “I definitely prefer staying in this county. I moved here in 2000 and raised our kids here. We love it here and hope to never leave....
Montana Highway Patrol Zachariah Vann, 39, driving without valid license, $290; reasonable and prudent, 1st offense, $85. Jason Potter, 49, speeding in a restricted zone, $145. Clifford Lengstorf, 67, reckless driving, 1st offense, $385. Brian Trickel, 67, reckless driving, 1st offense, $385. David Runkle, 22, operating without insurance, 1st Offense, $85; speeding in a restricted zone, $45; seatbelt violation, $20. Shane Mikes, 43, failure to carry proof of insurance, 1st offense, $85. Jesse Byler, 25, seatbelt violation, $20. Madeline...
Ambulance Calls T. Falls 7, Plains 7, Paradise 1, Hot Springs 2, Heron 2, Dixon 1. Monday, June 1 Suspicious activity, Hot Springs. Informational case, Hot Springs. Possible unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, Trout Creek. Informational case, Plains. Informational case, Plains. Informational case, Plains. Intimidation/harassment, Hot Springs. Welfare check, requested by adult protective services, no issue found, Heron. Potential fraud/theft of deposit money, T. Falls. Nuisance complaints, Hot Springs. Privacy in communication, T. Falls. Warran...
In addition to announcing scholarship recipients at graduation ceremonies, Thompson Falls graduate Lacy Pardini received a surprise that she was selected as the winner for the InvestWrite national writing competition. In one of Pardini's high school classes, 21st Century Skills, she participated in the Security Industry and Financial Market Association (SIFMA) Foundation's "The Stock Market Game." Pardini's teacher, Penny Beckman, submitted Pardini's "pitch" to InvestWrite because she believed...
Only two years have passed since I've started this journey into the homesteading world. I remember thinking to myself, this will be fun, this will be a wonderful experience. While I was correct on both of those assumptions, there have been more times than I can count, or care to admit to, where I had no idea what I was doing. I read book after book, and spent late nights that turned into early mornings reading various blog posts about gardening, raising chickens and keeping fruit trees alive. I also received copious amounts of input from...
University of Montana students from Sanders County received diplomas recently as they completed studies at the collegiate level. Moving forward to either furthering their degrees or joining the workforce are Dylan Ardiana, of Heron, with an Associate of Applied Science: Food Service Management and Certificate of Applied Science: Culinary Art; Hot Springs’ Sarah Peters with a Certificate of Applied Science: Hospitality Management; and Thompson Falls’ Dominique Holt with a Bachelor of Science in Health/Human Performance. University of Mon...
Charles Victor Hoppe passed away May 8, 2020, of complications from lung cancer. He fought a long battle and was in the thoughts and prayers of his family and church. He was born at the Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska in 1955 to Charlotte and Ugene Hoppe. Charles traveled the world, graduated from Lincoln High School in Seattle, and joined the U.S. Navy soon after. He returned to Seattle and worked at Harbor View Medical Center as a pantry chef. After retirement in 2007 he and his brother,...
Eleanor Bowen was born September 19, 1938, to parents LeRoy and Ermel Hanson. She grew up in Thompson Falls, Montana, graduating from Thompson Falls High school in 1956. Eleanor met her first husband, Bill Eldridge while she was still in high school. After their divorce, Eleanor moved to Helena with her three children. There she met the love of her life, Val Bowen. They were married on November 4, 1974, and were married until she passed on May 22, 2020. Eleanor worked for Montana State Fund for...
The local outdoor organization Project ASCENT is holding a silent auction at the Thompson Falls Elks Lodge from June 15 to June 27. Several local artists will be donating their work to the auction as well as businesses and craftsman. The non-profit has been hit hard, just as many businesses and organizations have during the COVID-19 outbreak. In order to make ends meet through the year, Project ASCENT has had to make several sacrifices, as the high time for their fundraisers has past and big events have had to be canceled, according to organiza...
Dear Editor, I was so proud to read of the Plains teens who peacefully protested last Monday and those who gathered and raced in the rain on Saturday against racism. They are courageous to be so visible and are to be commended for their patriotism. It gives me hope for our future and makes me proud of our community. Thank you, Lynne Kersten, Thompson Falls...
Anglers were back on Flathead Lake last week for the 2020 Spring Mack Days event, sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The event has been extended until June 28 after being suspended for several weeks due to COVID-19. A total of 3,631 lake trout were turned in over the weekend bringing the total to 12,925 for the event so far. There were 792 on Friday, 1,475 on Saturday and Sunday’s total was 1,364. Jason Mahlen of Kalispell continues his winning ways with more 100-fish days added to his Mack Days story. One hundred-fish d...
A man who went missing on Memorial Day showed up in Spokane a week later. James Whitmarsh, from Bonner, Montana, reportedly suffered a concussion and was severely starved and dehydrated. When he was found June 6, he was also suffering from hypothermia and was disoriented, according to his partner, Bobbi Hurley. It is believed that he went down to the water to wash his face and tripped, hitting his head on something hard and falling into the water. Hurley’s family came to help search for him, and they even got ahold of a search-dog o...
Coronavirus hasn’t hit Sanders County, but it has impacted the art world here, including the cancellation of the Sanders County Arts Council’s Artists in Paradise and the Montana Baroque Music Festival, both which were slated to take place at the end of July. Management at Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort informed the baroque festival’s artistic director, Adam LaMotte, that they would have to cancel this year’s performance because of the pandemic. “With our mostly senior festival audience we have received several cancellations, as they are genuine...
A last-minute effort brought almost 40 people to Thompson Falls last Saturday for the Race Against Racism. The 5K was organized by the Naegeli family and the Clark Fork Valley Running Club (CFVRC). At the start of the event the hosts collected donations and participants who donated received a special t-shirt for the event. The run traveled through town and around the Powerhouse Loop trail. Runners were encouraged to stay the safe 6-foot distance between each other, due to COVID-19. The race was...
What was that painfully loud howling noise heard at River’s Bend last Wednesday night? Why that was the howl of the lonesome Wild Coyote golf team – Gary Thompson, Steve Clark, Howard Morkert and Dave Petteys – who joined forces to pack up and hunt, shooting down the low team gross of 171 in weekly men’s league action. Whitefish Credit Union golfers Rick Kendall, Rutsy Sharp, Randy Hojem and Chuck Manry tried shooing the pesky Coyotes off the course with the low team net of 146 but to no avail. Ryan Ostwald reeled in weekly low individ...
Who fueled the fire in Feed-N-Fuel? Clearly fired up by something, the obviously well-fed Feed-N-Fuel quartet of Mike Normandin, Steve Clark, Dave Petteys and Dave Garr cooked up the low team gross of 180 in Tuesday Night Men’s League golfing action at River’s Bend last week. Dealing in their handicaps, Double H Dirt Works team members Ty Pardee, Scott Pardee, Russ Yeager and Jake Helvey put their clubs together to dish out the low team net of 147. Garr spurred his team to the weekly team honors with the low individual gross of 39 and Ty Par...
If it can't be real, at least it can be virtual. Cody Burk, denied his high school junior year of track and field competition in Thompson Falls due to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, has found another outlet for his shot put and discus throwing and is, in fact, now a virtual state champion as a result. Tapping into a virtual track and field program started on Facebook by a Three Forks sophomore athlete earlier this spring, Burk recently won the Virtual Track Montana (VTM) state championship in...
