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Articles from the June 24, 2021 edition


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  • American Legion retires Old Glory

    Ed Moreth|Jun 24, 2021

    It took the American Legion at Thompson Falls less than 30 minutes to put more than 200 flags to the flames in a proper retirement for Old Glory last Monday. "A flag may be a flimsy bit of printed gauze or a beautiful banner of finest silk. It's intrinsic value may be trifling or great, but its real value is beyond price, for it is a precious symbol of all that we and our comrades have worked for and died for - a free nation of free men and women, true to the faith of the past, devoted to the id...

  • LOCAL CHAMPION

    Miriah Kardelis|Jun 24, 2021

    Thompson Falls resident, Shawn McKahan has officially signed his commitment to compete in the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Florida. McKahan was formally drafted in a ceremony held in the Black Bear ballroom last week. The room was filled with family, friends, teachers and Sanders County Sheriff's officers, who were all there to commemorate the moment with McKahan. Also present and showing their support were McKahan's fellow Super Hawks teammates. McKahan, 32, will compete in track...

  • City considers ARPA funding

    John Dowd|Jun 24, 2021

    The city of Thompson Falls is in the process of applying for a grant that Mayor Mark Sheets referred to as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are part of an initiative by the federal government to help communities improve water and sewer infrastructure in the state of Montana. The city plans to use these funds to continue the water project. The first part, equal to $345,543, is noncompetitive, meaning that as long as a community can provide the application and meet the requirements, it can receive the...

  • ARPA funds available to communities, county

    Annie Wooden|Jun 24, 2021

    With the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and House Bill 632 in Montana, local governments are deciding how to proceed with applying for and utilizing potential funds. According to the U.S. Treasury, counties in Montana will have access to more than $207 million in direct funding. Of that, more than $2.3 million has been set aside for Sanders County, as well as an additional $134,484 in possible grant funding. The towns of Plains and Thompson Falls also are including in the ARPA fund disbursement, with Plains eligible for more...

  • Our Viewpoint

    Annie Wooden|Jun 24, 2021

    My mom and I went to a few garage sales last weekend. I ended up getting a few things I probably didn't really need. After going through my own things to contribute to our church's garage sale this weekend, I was trying not to take more stuff home. More than searching for those amazing finds and deals, trekking to yard sales is a fantastic social event. We saw people last weekend that we hadn't seen in quite a while. I hadn't driven past the fire station up Cherry Creek Road in a couple of years, and it was amazing to see the new houses and...

  • Letters to the Editor

    Sandi Gubel|Jun 24, 2021

    Editor: During June, which is National Healthy Homes Month, I would like to commend three local entities for providing housing that is healthier, safer and cleaner because they are going tobacco-free. A few years ago, Sanders County Community Housing Organization (SCCHO) adopted a smoke-free, tobacco-free policy for their duplexes in Plains. Tobacco use is not allowed in the housing units, as well as on the properties. This limits the exposure of other tenants to the harmful chemicals in secondhand and thirdhand commercial tobacco smoke. There...

  • Montana Viewpoint

    Jim Elliott|Jun 24, 2021

    Remember the recount of the presidential ballots in Maricopa County, Arizona? Well apparently, they’re going to finish it in Montana at a mystery location near Bigfork. I’d like to think that it’s because in Montana we don’t need to take off our boots to count past 10, but I can’t say for sure. Anyway, the recount was initiated by the Arizona Senate — the Republican part — and they used $150,000 of their taxpayers’ money to hire a firm out of Florida named Cyber Ninjas. I must say they do spr...

  • Remember When?

    Sherry Hagerman-Benton|Jun 24, 2021

    7 YEARS AGO • JUNE 27, 1951 OLD-TIMERS FETED ON FATHER’S DAY Continued from last week Every town has a real fisherman, and Thompson Falls has one in the person of “Swiftwater Bill” who has caught bigger and better fish than any one he has ever met. Born William Knowles on February 22, 1875, near Rice Lake, Wisconsin, he arrived in Thompson Falls in June of 1894 on the third to the last train to come for three months, due to high water. From Pioneers and Early Settlers of Thompson Falls: Clarence “Swiftwater Bill” Edward Knowles was 19 year...

  • Where is your favorite local place to take visitors, or you have visited?

    John Dowd|Jun 24, 2021

    RACHEL FAIRBANK, Thompson Falls - “To the Thompson falls dam and to do the little walk around there. And then I also like taking them to the Graves Creek falls.” ELLIE HABEGGER, Trout Creek - “Normally we take our company from out of town either to Ross Creek Cedars, or up Chicago Peak. We like to hike back to Cliff Lake.” SANDRA GUBEL, Trout Creek - “Our favorite place to take visitors is Ross Creek Cedars. It’s so beautiful and quiet.” ALEX LESTERMORGAN, Plains - “My favorite place to take people is the lake down at Trout Creek.” ALEX VA...

  • Sheriff's Log

    Jun 24, 2021

    Ambulance: Plains, 4; Hot Springs, 2; T. Falls, 3; Dixon, 1. Monday, June 14 Motor vehicle crash, T. Falls. Threats, Plains. Request for welfare check, Dixon. Coroner called, T. Falls. Child custody issues, Paradise. General animal call or complaint, Paradise. Tuesday, June 15 Suspicious activity, T. Falls. Security check, T. Falls. Harassment/privacy in communications, Plains. Theft, Trout Creek. Coroner called, Hot Springs. Theft, report of lost/misplaced firearm, Trout Creek. Road hazard/blockage, Paradise. Disturbance, Heron. Wednesday,...

  • Suspect sought after TF high-speed chase

    John Dowd|Jun 24, 2021

    Thompson Falls Police Department officers were involved in a high-speed vehicle pursuit Sunday. About 5 p.m. June 20, a vehicle was fleeing west on Blue Slide Road in excess of 80 miles per hour. According to information released by the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) through a Facebook post, the vehicle began smoking heavily with a small fire under the hood. The vehicle pulled over and a male driver fled on foot. The female passenger was detained and was released after questioning. The suspect was not apprehended, and police say t...

  • Justice Court

    Jun 24, 2021

    Sanders County Sheriff's Office Gordon Johnson, 54, no liability insurance, 3rd offense, $585. Thomas Bour, 69, speeding in restricted zone, $65. John Mielke, 53, day speeding, $70. Judith Rheingans, 29, improper passing, $85. Sarah Cho, 25, speeding in restricted zone, $95. Montana Highway Patrol Catherine Trelatsky, 48, no liability insurance, 1st offense, $85. Jesse Melton, 24, seatbelt violation, $20. Lucas MacMillan, 30, violation in a construction zone, $105. David Mercer, 48, violation in a construction zone, $105. Jocelyn Pierson, 20,...

  • Live music livens up Saturday at the Rex

    Miriah Kardelis|Jun 24, 2021

    Live music was in abundance Saturday night, bringing the small towns of Sanders County to life. The sound of a solo acoustic guitar filled the walls of the Rex Community Theater, as local Alex Bouey opened for international award-winning duo The Teccas. A rare opportunity to see a local musician open a show, Bouey wowed the audience during an open mic night at the Rex, leading to his inaugural moment of becoming the opening act. "He was just so great, we had to put him on," stated Charlie...

  • George Gould

    Jun 24, 2021

    George C. Gould passed away peacefully at the Kalispell hospital in Kalispell, Montana, on June 12, 2021. George was 91 on April 16. He was the son of George W. and Clara Gould and was the youngest of 13 children. George is survived by his wife of 70 years, Mona Lu Holmes Gould; two sons, George R. Gould of Caldwell, Idaho, and Randal J. Gould (Corinne) of Edge Point Oregon; two grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. George lived in the Thompson Falls area for the past 80 years with the exception of four...

  • Eric E. Lindbo

    Jun 24, 2021

    Eric E. Lindbo, 66, of Jamestown, North Dakota, passed away on June 21, 2021, at Ave Maria Village in Jamestown, under the care of Hospice. Eric was born on June 14, 1955, in Rolla, North Dakota, the son of Olaf and Ella (McDougall) Lindbo. He attended Rolla Public School and graduated in 1973. He worked numerous jobs, but found his life career in construction in Plains, Montana. He spent about six months working construction in Japan in the early 1990's. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved...

  • Woods Journal

    John Dowd|Jun 24, 2021

    There are numerous ways to get out and explore the area. Sanders County alone contains several subjects for excursion. There are not a lot of Montana activities that one cannot do in and around Sanders County. First, the county is home to a large population of pilots who take small aircraft around the area’s over 6 million surrounding acres of national forest. Many of these pilots are more than willing to take people up and love being tour guides. Some will even fly a person into some of the remote landing strips in the Bob Marshall W...

  • Sanders County Yard Sale-ing Friday & Saturday, June 25-26

    Jun 24, 2021

    Heron 221 MT Hwy 200, Heron Fri & Sat 9am-4pm Pool table, Honda 7.5 outboard motor, Yamaha bike wheels, New fishing poles, Lots of fishing lures, Assorted fired brass and a lot more stuff Noxon 1031 Hwy 200,Noxon Fri & Sat 9am-4pm Corner of Hwy 200 & Hwy 56 Noxon (Clear Water Montana Properties) Household items, Camping, Lawn and garden, Office supplies, Tools. 36 E Fork Bull River Rd, Noxon Fri & Sat 9am-4pm Mi. 8 Hwy 56, 1/3 mile in John Deere lawnmower, Guns, Rifle scopes, Books, Tools, Sport...

  • City commemorates Ainsworth Park

    John Dowd|Jun 24, 2021

    Mayor Mark Sheets gave a speech christening the official opening of Ainsworth Park in Thompson Falls on Monday. During his speech, he thanked the numerous groups that had worked to finish the park. He was joined by Carla Parks, who was mayor when the foundation was being laid for the park. Parks was an integral part of the Thompson Falls Main Street Inc. organization before it became a part of the Montana State Main Street Program, which opened the project up to numerous grants. She was also...

  • Monster trucks take over fairgrounds

    Ed Moreth|Jun 24, 2021

    The four-wheeled beasts have returned to Plains and they kicked up a lot of dirt last weekend, including "Zilla," the monster of monster trucks and one of five that entertained with a crushing rampage Friday and Saturday at the Sanders County Fairgrounds. The Monster Truck Family Reunion Tour was put on by Hylite Real Entertainment, owned by Ricky Fowler of Lake Dallas, Texas. Fowler was behind the wheel of the 18-foot long, 11-foot high Zilla, a highly modified 2008 Ford 250 Super Duty,...

  • More file for city races

    Annie Wooden|Jun 24, 2021

    Additional candidates have filed for community races in Sanders County, as the filing deadline came Monday evening. Mark Sheets has filed for re-election as mayor in Thompson Falls. He was the only candidate to file for mayor, as were council members Shawni Vaught, Earlene Powell and Larry Lack for their respective positions. In Plains, two races have more than one candidate. For mayor, Dan Rowan has filed for re-election, and Michael Brinson also is running. For Ward 1, Seat 2 on the Plains council, Joel Banham and Goerge Stone have filed. In...

  • Connie, Jan team up to win

    Jun 24, 2021

    Ladies league is in full swing at River’s Bend, and the team of Connie Brown and Jan Thompson shot the low gross of 99 last Thursday, while Doree Thilmony and Annie Wooden combined for the low team net of 68. Brown also shot the low individual net round of 32 and Tina Wheeler’s 49 won low individual gross. Thompson and Laura Ganatos had chip-ins Thursday, on holes 11 and 10, respectively. Kim Pardee was closest to the pin in four shots on No. 11, Barb Petteys sank the long putt on No. 12, Kristy Beaty was closest to the pin on hole 14 and Chr...

  • Quik Stop is first half champs

    Jun 24, 2021

    The first half of the men’s golf leagues in Thompson Falls wrapped up last week, with Noxon Quik Stop members Rusty Sharp, Bruce Haflich, Shawn Wilkinson and Scott Garr taking the top spot. The foursome also shot the low team gross of 179 at River’s Bend on Tuesday. Montana’s Best Builders (Kevin Sparks, Shawn Kelly, Mike Thilmony and Tom Holleran) had the low team net of 143, while Rick Hagedorn shot the low individual gross round of 39 and Rusty Sharp the low individual net score of 32. Hagedorn also smashed the long drive on No. 18 for t...

  • Highlead smokes competition

    Jun 24, 2021

    The Highlead smoked the competition at River’s Bend, garnering the top spot in the first half of the Wednesday Men’s League season. Highlead golfers Jesse Mosher, John Mosher, Steve Fairbank and a sub shot the low team net round of 141. Whitefish Credit Union had the low gross team score of 174 last Wednesday, featuring Ron Beaty, Rick Kendall, Rusty Sharp and Wally Gibe. Ryan Ostwald shot the low team gross of 38 and Bruce Sterling had the low net score of 32. Wednesday play saw two chip-ins on No. 12, sunk by RT Brown and Gary Thompson. Jes...