Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Sanders County encompasses more than 2,700 square miles. This weekend, tourists and locals will scatter to find the best deals on the best treasures during the annual Sanders County Yard Sale-ing event. This year the event includes 68 sales, which Danielle Wood of the Thompson Falls Chamber of Commerce says is double the number last year. The Thompson Falls Main Street Committee is in charge of the event, and the chamber helps out as well. The event is sponsored by local businesses, who Wood says are excited about the event. She noted that...
The death of Thompson Falls resident Matt LaFriniere is still under investigation, according to a statement released by Sanders County Sheriff Tom Rummel this week. "This is a very active investigation and there is a lot going on behind the scenes," Rummel wrote. "All of the i's are being dotted and the t's crossed, which can be very time consuming. Rest assured, no matter how much time this investigation takes, it will be done in a professional, competent manner." In the statement, Sheriff...
Fawns and elk calves are making their way into the world around Sanders County (above). Antlers of white-tail bucks are beginning to grow. The antlers on the buck below are velvety and bulbous. Once antlers are fully formed, the hardening process begins....
NorthWestern Energy may be held liable for tax obligation penalties and fees for failing to meet the May 31 mailing deadline for this year’s first-round property taxes. “We made a mistake, but are still liable for legal penalties,” NorthWestern Energy spokesman Butch Larcombe stated. “We take property tax obligations in each county very seriously.” Larcombe stated that the tax payments were mailed out one day after the deadline. He reiterated that it was an honest mistake and “unfortunate for everyone involved.” According to NorthWestern...
Sanders County is home to many treasures. Not only is the area beautiful, but so are the residents. Perhaps it is because the locals have a certain respect for how things operate in these parts, and respect the old west “rules of etiquette.” As tourist season is upon us, we tend to notice how the rest of the world behaves. If you are a tourist to the area, here are a few tips as you mingle amongst the locals. Although the county is home to 1,733,000 acres, it seems that there are places where you just cannot get away from others. Please rem...
Community Decay is defined as a public nuisance created by allowing rubble, debris, junk or refuse, including junk vehicles, boats, RVs, trailers or other machinery in non-working condition, or refuse, to accumulate, resulting in conditions that are injurious to health, offensive to the senses, or which obstruct the free use of property so as to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or the values of property (Thompson Falls Ordinance 327). The ordinance also states “no person shall be allowed to let stand a structure found to be in s...
4 YEARS AGO • JUNE 1, 1978 PLANS BEING DRAWN FOR NEW COUNTY JAIL Bids may be called this summer for construction of a new jail and offices for the Sanders County sheriff’s office. The project is expected to cost about $300,000. The building will be built of brick and concrete masonry blocks with a partial basement under the office portion of the structure. The cell blocks will be on the ground floor and will have a capacity of 26 prisoners – 16 adult males, four females and four juveniles, plus one isolated, solitary-type cell. The cell block...
JESSICA HANSEN, Plains – “Fertilizer. I have a nice big garden. I also raise rabbits and use the droppings for fertilizer. I plant potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, beets, cucumbers and zucchini. I love to garden.” JOHN KAUFMANN, Thompson Falls – “Soil. I’m still trying to learn. I’ve got two garden sites tilled up. One is near the house and the other in the field. I want to plant more but my wife got injured and she can’t help.” MOLLY UDENBERG, Thompson Falls –“I’m not raising a big garden this year because there are too many mosquitoes...
Sunday, June 10 Caller being attacked by male, threatened with knife, Plains. Possible house fire, Hot Springs. Cows on Hwy 382. Men asked for a smoke and seemed aggressive when told no. Found window open, freezer and store room left open at Noxon Senior Center. Report of smoldering tree across power line at Little Bear Rd., Trout Creek. Male and female walking onto caller’s property, said they were looking to see if her car was for sale, Paradise. Woman who assisted man with a tow is now receiving illicit text messages, T. Falls. Monday, June...
A Plains man, Dylan Hicks, as been sentenced to 10 years with the Department of Corrections with five years suspended on an amended charge of sexual assault. Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher on Tuesday sentenced Hicks to five years with the Department of Corrections on a second charge criminal distribution of dangerous drugs. Hicks was also fined $500 for the drug charge, and will be required to register as a tier 1 sex offender. Judge Christopher gave credit to Hicks for cooperating with law enforcement and taking responsibility for his act...
Sanders County Attorney David Hartman, 38, violation of protective order, 1st offense, $185; violation of protective order, 1st offense $275. Montana Highway Patrol Corky Donnelly III, 30, driving with suspended license, $285, fail to carry proof on insurance, $275. Daniel Gazaway, 34, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Garrett Peterson, 26, displaying fictitious or altered license plates, $75; open container, $75; seatbelt violation, $20; driving under the influence, 1st offense, $685. Russell Parsons, 63, speeding in a restricted zone, $85....
Four members of the Wild Horse Plains Back Country Horsemen gathered at the Sanders County Fairgrounds last week to provide a day of education to the U.S. Forest Service's Youth Conservation Corps. The horseman club spent Friday with the YCC's three girls and four boys for the annual YCC Stock Packing Class, teaching them the proper way to load up a pack mule or horse, which would transport supplies to sites in the field. "Part of the mission of back country horse is to involve youth and to...
Two groups of cyclists made stops in Sanders County over the weekend on cross-country trips. The Journey of Hope team, a group of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity men, arrived in Thompson Falls on Friday after traveling 90 miles from Sandpoint, Idaho. The Journey of Hope group began their journey in Seattle earlier this month, and will end at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 11. The Thompson Falls Chamber of Commerce fed the cyclists dinner and breakfast during their overnight stay, and the...
The summer Art on the Walls show at Clark Fork Valley Hospital kicks off this week. The opening reception is slated for 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 21. The art show includes nine new and returning artists. Malachi Paulsen, a high school student, is featured in the show, and will share and demonstrate his graphite and charcoal art. Another Plains student, Rachel Huenink, will play the piano for guests at the reception, and the hospital food service will cater the event. For more information on the summer event, contact Clark Fork Valley Hospital...
During the months of May and June, Social Security is sending out letters to all those who, according to their records, may qualify for one of two important programs to reduce Medicare prescription costs and eliminate the Medicare Part B premium usually taken out of the social security retirement benefit each month. If you receive a letter from Social Security and CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) that states you may be eligible for help, call the Area VI Agency on Aging at 1-800-266-4188. The agency has staff in Lake, Lincoln, Mineral...
by Annie Wooden A grizzly bear that traveled through Sanders County paved the way for a newly formed group who is looking to help raise awareness and educate the community about a Sanders County wilderness area. Wayne Kasworm is the grizzly bear recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Kasworm shared a story of a grizzly who had traveled through the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness area, down the east side of the Cabinets and across to Thompson River. The bear story peaked the interest of a group of Sanders County...
Roughly a month ago, avid gardeners in the area were busy working the soil and planting those seeds. As nature takes its course, gracing the land with ample rain and sunshine, we are witnessing the beginning of a plentiful season ... hopefully. A lot takes place from planting to harvest. Many of us tend to forget the role that insects take to provide us with food. Specifically, I am talking about those little, yellow and black, fuzzy bundles of energy we are seeing as of late. Please do not...
Sanders County and the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) will commemmorate the completion of the Heron bridge project next week. Construction began in 2015, though the initial planning for the project began in 2010. The project was completed this spring and cost $16.1 million. Sanders County and MDT officials will hold a dedication ceremony on Thursday, June 28, at 2 p.m. at the bridge. Refreshments will be served at the ceremony....
The Thompson Falls High School Lifetime Wellness class took their exercises outdoors last week with a yoga session on the High Bridge. Lifetime Wellness was an eight-day exercise crash course offered funded by GearUp and instructed by PE teacher Trenna Ferris. The class gave students the opportunity to earn credit toward their diploma and included instruction in cardiovascular exercise, plyometrics, weight training and yoga....
Thompson Falls High School graduate Jacquelyn Butte recently earned a Bachelor of Science degree in echocardiography with a minor in medical sociology from Oregon Institute of Technology. Graduation ceremony was held Sat., June 16. Butte is the daughter of Yvette Hester and William Butte. Her sisters are Hayley Butte and Natalie Erwin. All were in attendance for the commencement. She will begin her career as a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer this June at the Bay Area Hospital in Coos...
The spring burn season is officially drawing to a close in western Montana as several land agencies in charge of administering burn permits have already stopped issuing permits, and the remaining agencies in this area will also soon stop issuing permits as well. The Plains/Thompson Falls and Superior Ranger Districts and the Montana DNRC have officially ceased the issuing of burn permits as of June 17 on their areas of responsibility, and the Cabinet Ranger District, headquartered west of Trout Creek, will not issue permits past June 24. BIA...
A cow elk pauses after crossing Highway 200 west of Trout Creek. Elk shed their winter coat and emerge with chocolate, velvety hair during the warmer summer months....
The Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Montana, or Thompson Falls Lodge #70, has been a large supporter of western Sanders County schools for more than 100 years. In the past, Lodge #70 has donated bikes to each of the elementary schools in Thompson Falls, Trout Creek and Noxon as an incentive for their reading programs. Donating the bikes proved very successful and the program has since been updated and split into two age groups with the younger ages still receiving a bike and helmet and the older age groups now receiving Kindles (electronic...
Trout Creek School seventh and eighth grade honor roll students were not listed in last week’s Sanders County Ledger. In seventh grade, honors went to Garth Parker, Colton Wormwood, Alexander Menzel and Serenity Barrus. Eight-grade honor roll students included Allison Braunschweig, Connor Dogan, Kaydence Menzel, Sharon Habegger, Steven Habegger, Sydney Hinchley....
A local signage project has received attention at the state level. At the June meeting of Women for a Better Sanders County (WBSC), Linda Haywood shared her experience as a Destination Development panel member at the Montana Governor's Conference in April at the Big Sky Resort. "Participating on the Destination Development panel at the Governor's Conference on Tourism & Recreation was amazing. Partly because it was held in Big Sky, a world-class tourist destination, and a place I had never been...
