Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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The city of Thompson Falls decided Monday to not open the pool this year amid the continuing struggle to find lifeguards. The city will also be seeking a new mayor as Mark Sheets notified the council this week that he is resigning effective July 4. With the coming vacancy, the council will need to appoint an interim mayor. "I would like to thank everyone for all of your support," Sheets said Monday as he handed council members his letter of resignation. Sheets has been a major proponent of the...
The first week of June's kickoff for the Thompson Falls Public Library's summer reading program and contest had a good turn out according to librarian Crystal Buchanan. Sign-up began June 1 with 89 readers, but she hopes this summer will surpass last year's enrollment of 109 readers. Participants only need to sign up with a parent or guardian, and library accounts must be current with no existing dues. The program is targeted toward children age 4 through eighth graders. For every week that...
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte met with business and community leaders of Sanders County at the Butcher's Nook in Plains Thursday in an effort to find out what was on their minds. Twenty-one men and women from Thompson Falls, Hot Springs, and Plains gathered for an hour-long informal gathering where several people voiced some of their concerns, including Senator Bob Brown, Sanders County Commissioner Dan Rowan and Plains Mayor Chris Allen. It was the governor's third annual "56 County Tour," wh...
Kids of all ages dashed around on their bicycles at the first-ever kids bike safety event at Ainsworth Park on Saturday. Gleeful delight filled the air as kids had fun learning about and showing off their bicycle skills, with parents coming away with a little peace of mind. The Sanders County Health Department spearheaded the event. Director Debbie Lang said she wanted to create safety for young bicyclists in the community. Participants took a written pre-test about the rules of the road,...
4 YEARS AGO • JUNE 23, 1983 TC GETTING NEW MARKET, CAFE Two new additions are being made to the Trout Creek business community. The Trout Creek Market will be owned and operated by Robert Studwell, presently of Vancouver, Wash., and Sam Ross of Trout Creek and their families. The 3200-square-foot market will be a full-service store, selling groceries, produce, meat and other items. There will also be lockers available for beef and wild meat storage. Studwell said they hope to eventually install gas pumps, but not at first. He hopes to be o...
A couple weeks ago, this space was devoted to moments from my weekend spent reconnecting with old friends. Our time together was full of childhood stories, spontaneous laughter, good-natured teasing and “remember whens.” When we parted, we said, “See you soon” and made promises to get together more often. Recently, I got together with another old friend. Our time together was quieter. The conversation was one-sided, the laughter subdued, and the memories all in my head. I was with Sage, our family dog. She has been slowing down the past fe...
What is a slice of life? A glimpse, a moment, a glance at a segment of a well-lived life? As I’ve written this column for a few months now, I’ve covered many different aspects of life. But this past month I’ve been thinking often about what it means to have lived a “well-lived life.” According to a Harvard research study that followed participants for more than 80 years, the key to longevity and happiness, my own interpretation of what a well-lived life might contain, is joy. The outcome o...
Montana Highway Patrol Darryl Holm, 62, seatbelt violation, $20; careless driving, $85, deferred imposition of sentence. Michael Ewing, 39, day speeding, $20. Dylan Theademan, 17, day speeding, $20. Kevin Rau, 60, failure to yield to vehicle on through highway, $85. Donald Boose, 58, speeding in a restricted zone, $85, deferred imposition of sentence. John Crites, 69, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Vincent Huntsberger, 44, day speeding, $20. Vicenete Terrazas, 29, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Sanders County Sheriff’s Office W...
Ambulance: Hot Springs, 5; T. Falls, 4; Plains, 4; Noxon, 3; Paradise, 3; Trout Creek, 1; Heron, 1; Dixon, 1. Monday, June 5 Animal other, T. Falls. Livestock. Juvenile criminal, T. Falls. US Forest Service patrol, T. Falls. US Forest Service patrol, T. Falls. Theft, Hot Springs. General animal call/complaint, T. Falls. Suspicious activity, Paradise. Suspicious activity, Hot Springs. General animal call/complaint, Hot Springs. Motor vehicle crash, Hot Springs. Theft, Hot Springs. General animal call/complaint, Plains. Suspicious activity,...
Steven Coulson made his initial appearance in 20th District Judicial Court on Tuesday, pleading not guilty to a felony charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs. Coulson's attorney, Cheryl Copperstone, had asked Judge Molly Owen to release Coulson on his own recognizance, but Owen left Coulson's bond at $5,000. According to charging documents, Coulson was arrested November 13, 2022, after officers responded to a complaint of individuals selling drugs at Town Pump in Plains. Coulson allegedly ran from police and hid in a nearby house,...
Sandy Thompson, Plains - “How to fix a carburetor and sharpen knives.” Lance Hartshorn, Hot Springs - “Hide and watch.” Sandy Davis, Noxon - “If you're going to start it, finish it.” Jay Mock, Sandpoint - “How to make my own cooking utensils.” Shawna Thornton, Thompson Falls - “Dream big.” Judy Foster, Plains - “Accept people at face value until they prove otherwise....
Thompson Falls High School (TFHS) students have immersed themselves in the world of science and have spent the last several months solving and creating solutions to the ROADS National NASA student challenge. TFHS science teacher Doree Thilmony and her students entered into a nationwide competition called Artemis ROADS (Rover Observation and Drone Survey). Artemis ROADS is a grant funded program through Montana State University (MSU) and Northwest Earth and Space Pathways Program that allows...
The Plains Town Council passed amendments for two ordinances and a referendum, and tabled the first reading of a new ordinance at last Monday's monthly meeting at City Hall. Council President John Sheridan headed the meeting in the absence of Mayor Chris Allen. Council members Connie Foust, Garrett Boon and John Roesler were present with Chad Cantrell on a cellphone. Nearly a dozen people showed up for the meeting, which ran just over an hour. The first ordinance was created in response to a...
More public engagement and greater transparency is the goal of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ early kick off to the biennial hunting season-setting process. In the past, public involvement happened primarily in December and January. This year, public involvement will start in June and end in November. FWP will begin conducting their statewide scoping meetings from June 15 to July 15. The Thompson Falls meeting will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, at Thompson Falls High School. At this meeting, FWP staff is seeking input from hunters on r...
The Sanders County Pollinator Initiative was a great success, according to Kristen Wing from the Trout Creek district office. Green Mountain Conservation District (GMCD) and Eastern Sanders County Conservation District (ESCCD) both had a great showing at the May 13 and 17 free-seed giveaway, according to Wing. “All the yard mix is gone, but there are still two sizes of plot mixes left. They are 250 square feet and 1,000 square feet of Western Montana perennials,” Wing said. They were able to give away all of the yard mix, which consisted of...
Steve LaBelle left this life on June 9, 2023, in Plains, Mont. Steve was diagnosed with aggressive grade IV brain cancer (Glioblastoma) late last year and fought the disease courageously. Steve is survived by his parents, Gary LaBelle (father) and Rebecca LaBelle (stepmother); Vickie Labelle (mother); Chris LaBelle (brother); and his daughter, Hailey LaBelle. Steve moved to Montana right out of high school with his friend Shae Spilker and started an auto body shop in Noxon. Steve was a skilled... Full story
Merrill Kenneth Stover was born Aug. 16, 1936, in New Deal, Mont., to Ollie and Ruth Stover and grew up in Noxon, Mont., with his siblings, Helen, Marvin, Loren and Virgil. One of Merrill's fondest memories as a four year old child was attending congregation book study and the home made ice cream they had afterwards. Merrill grew up with a very strong work ethic, and his skills were varied. Merrill worked in the timber industry as well as an underwater welder and retired in 1999 after a 32-year... Full story
The 2023 International Fly Fishing Film Festival is coming to Thompson Falls on June 17 featuring 10 short and feature-length films. The screening at the Rex Theater will showcase fly fishing films from all corners of the globe. The films begin at 7 p.m. with theater doors opening at 6:30 p.m. The event is hosted by Thompson Falls Film and Theater Foundation. General admission to the event is $15, or $45 with a subscription to Fly Fusion Magazine. For information about this screening, contact the host at [email protected]. Among the...
With heavy hearts, we announce that Joseph Philip Erchul – "Jay," age 82, of Hot Springs, Montana, left us to be with God on November 17, 2022. Jay was born in Missoula, Montana, on October 26, 1940, to Joseph "Joe" M. Erchul and Virginia Erchul (Cameron). He was the oldest of three children, with siblings Mary Nell Erchul (Klawitter) & David Louis Erchul. Even in his youth, Jay was a hard worker. He'd run the John Deere tractor on his family's farm in Camas Prairie, and tend to the various a... Full story
Cindy Kay Dunks (O'Connell) passed away on May 27, 2023, at her home in Trout Creek, Mont., at the age of 78. She was born July 6, 1944, in Whitehall, Mont. Cindy attended Butte High School where she met her husband, Albert Calvin Dunks Jr. Calvin and Cindy would wed on February 2, 1963, and go on to have four children: Cynthia Rose, David Wayne, Albert Calvin (Buddy), and Shelly Marie. In the early 70's, the family uprooted and moved to Plains. Here Cindy worked at the agricultural office and... Full story
William Franklin (Bill) Hagedorn was born in Vancouver, Wash., on Dec. 30, 1938. After a childhood spent in the Fargher Lake area, including working in the mint fields, Bill graduated from La Center High School. He attended both La Center and Battle Ground High Schools. After graduating, he attended Oregon State University (Go Beavers) and graduated with a degree in Forest Engineering. During his time in Corvallis, he married his high school girlfriend, Carolyn, in 1959. After working for Weyerhaeuser for a number of years, in 1969 he started... Full story
Driving into Hot Springs this past Sunday, a right turn sign said "yoga" and a left turn went into town where parade participants were beginning to line up for the 74th Annual Homesteader's Grand Parade. The parade was scheduled for noon. But by 10:30 a.m. the Plains Pharmacy float was in que. People on the street were sitting and wandering around, listening to gospel/blues music by Brother Music, checking out the vendors, or playing yard games outside of The Barber Shop Beer Parlor. The...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is initiating public scoping on a potential purchase of a conservation easement in Flathead and Sanders counties. FWP is working with The Trust for Public Land and Green Diamond Resource Company on a potential project to place 47,907 acres of highly productive timberland in the Thompson River drainage under conservation easement. The proposed conservation easement would be held by FWP and would allow Green Diamond to retain ownership and management of these timberlands, preclude development, protect important...
The University of Montana announced the Dean’s and President’s Lists for the spring semester. Earning a 4.0 GPA and named to the President’s List were Scarlet Fausett, Kelsey Frank and Rebecca Sink of Thompson Falls, Jake Weyers of Plains and Owen Baty and Tyler Roragen of Dixon. Students with a GPA of greater than 3.5 but less than 4.0 were named to the Dean’s List for spring semester. Sanders County students on the UM Dean’s List included Freedom Contreras of Thompson Falls, Alexandra Craft and Jesse Uski of Plains, Jezriel Butler of Noxon...
Plains Paradise Rural Fire District firefighters Garrett Boon (above left) and Seth Gibbs sift through burning pine needles to ensure a blaze started by lightning is extinguished. Marc and Ellen Childress, who live across the street, saw the ground fire and knocked down the flames before firefighters arrived last Thursday afternoon. A sudden burst of rain helped the couple douse the fire. High winds also broke the tree in the background, which took out the power lines (right) and left area...
