Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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UPDATE: A fourth case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Sanders County. As a result of Governor Steve Bullock's order on Wednesday, July 15, masks are required in public places in counties with four or more active cases. After the announcement of a fourth case Wednesdays, masks will be required in Sanders County. The first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Sanders County were confirmed late Monday. According to Sanders County Public Health, three county residents have tested positive for the...
The trial of former Thompson Falls resident Danielle Wood, who is charged with deliberate homicide in the death of her ex-boyfriend, Matthew LaFriniere, has been delayed. The trial was set to begin Monday, July 20, at the Sanders County Courthouse in Thompson Falls. No details have been released on why the trial has been delayed, and a new trial date has not been announced. Wood has been held in the Lake County Jail for more than a year since her arrest March 20, 2019. Fifty-one-year-old LaFriniere was found dead at his home east of Thompson...
The Sanders County Board of Health voted to scrub this year's county fair at a special meeting Thursday evening at the fair pavilion. Commissioners Tony Cox and Carol Brooker, along with retired Dr. Jack Lulack and retired Veterinarian Bob Gregg voted in favor of canceling the fair while Commissioner Glen Magera voted against shutting it down at that time. Magera wanted to go forward and see how the plans the fair board was working on progressed. The health board was concerned about the fair...
After weeks of being the only route for eastern and western Sanders County to connect, the Highway 200 bridge is now open to one lane traffic and Blue Slide Road will see less activity. For many it was inconvenient to have to travel the Blue Slide, but the slowed route provided beautiful scenery....
Organizations have found the biggest challenge to economic growth in Sanders County is the dire need for housing. According to the new Sanders County Community Development Corporation (SCCDC) Executive Director, Ray Brown, over the past few years the county has been conducting assessments through block grants and have found that “affordable housing is a major barrier for development.” Brown explained that the current stock of housing is either non-existent, unaffordable or unlivable and that there is no incentive for builders in the area. The...
It was a quick visit in Thompson Falls for gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte and his running mate Kristen Juras, after visiting Kalispell and Libby, on their way to Polson, as they shared their vision and plan for Montana if elected to office. Gianforte and Juras met Tuesday afternoon with a crowd of about a dozen people at Minnie's Cafe. The Montana Comeback Tour, they called their travels, as they believe they have the plan that will get "Montana open for business," both Gianforte and...
Last week, the Sanders County Board of Health decided to cancel the Sanders County Fair. The local 4-H clubs are still trying to decide how, or if, members can show and sell their animals. The Board of Health made a tough decision. Many of those are being made. Cities, counties and businesses are making masks mandatory. Some businesses have decided to close to the public. This week, we have three confirmed COVID-19 cases in Sanders County residents. The Fair Board was doing everything they could and taking extra precautions to keep people safe....
Editor: Have you heard what happened to Sex Peak last week? Some low-life individuals took it upon themselves to graffiti “Black Lives Matter” on the lookout’s exterior. My friends who discovered it when visiting the historic site with relatives over the holiday weekend did their best to rub out the graffiti, but the damage had been done. I wish someone would explain to me how defacing a beloved local site with this slogan – which, ironically, is now fomenting far more resentment than good will – furthers their “cause.” Jan Manning, Trou...
Apologies in advance for a lengthy letter that first cites a portion of Montana Code Annotated 87-6-404: “(1) (b) A person may not purposely, knowingly, or negligently permit a dog to chase, stalk, pursue, attack or kill a hooved game animal. If the dog is not under the control of an adult at the time of the violation, the owner of the dog is personally responsible. A defense that the dog was allowed to run at large by another person is not allowable unless it is shown that at the time of the violation, the dog was running at large without the...
Looking back, I’m often amazed at where and when I’ve learned some of my most valuable lessons in my life. In early 1981, I was working south Los Angeles in 77th Division. My partner and I handled a call that, although pretty routine, taught me something important. I’d like to share an abbreviated and, somewhat sanitized, story of that experience. We received a call to, “See the man. Family dispute at (can’t remember the address).” In the early 80’s, what is now called a domestic violence incide...
2 YEARS AGO • JULY 15, 1910 START MAKING BRICK Henry Florin and Edward Donlan have started to make brick on the land of the former just west of Thompson (now Solid Rock Estates), Mr. Florin being in charge of the enterprise. Some of the best brick and pottery clay in the state is found on Mr. Florin’s land, a large kiln of pottery now being ready to fire. The outlook for a heavy demand for brick in Thompson this fall and next spring is the prime factor in causing these gentlemen to start work and they hope to have several large kilns rea...
SHEREE SULLIVAN, Thompson Falls - “Yes. There’s too much of the buying of the land with a house put on it, which raises the property tax and the local first time home owners are not able to afford that cost. There isn’t any housing in town because most of those are rentals and the rent is astronomical for the amount of pay in this area. It’s not balanced out at all.” ERMAH EHEE, Plains - “Well I think the county needs more affordable housing, especially for people who come into the county.” GENE WARREN, Plains - “I think so, because people...
Montana Highway Patrol Juan Rangel, 33, exceeding special zone speed limit, $65; Operating without insurance, 2nd offense, $75. Juan Rodriguez Sandoval, 29, night speeding, $120. Charity Swain, 23, day speeding, $70. Emma Baumann, 19, night speeding, $70. Cody Evers, 30, seatbelt violation, $20. Mark Swirbul, 55, speeding in restricted zone, $95. Robert Barrera, 41, seatbelt violation, $20. Crystal Medina, 48,speeding in restricted zone, $95. Leslie Wheeler, 38, speeding in restricted zone, $65 Melinda Moshlder, 48, day speeding, $70. Julia...
Ambulance Plains 11, Hot Springs 4, T. Falls 9, Heron 2, Dixon 2, Trout creek 1 Saturday, July 4 Assist motorist/citizen, Hot Springs. Protection order violation, suspect caught on camera on property and stole items, Trout Creek. Alarm, Hot Springs. Motor vehicle crash, Trout Creek. General animal call or complaint, T. Falls. Disturbance, deputy responded to report of harassment, Noxon. General animal call or complaint, dog chasing deer, T. Falls. Animal other, dog chasing deer, dog shot and killed, dog found on private property with city all...
George Richard Hale, aka Dick Hale, passed July 5, 2020, a month short of his 77th birthday. He was born August 5, 1943, in San Jose, California. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Kathleen Hale Clark, two ex-wives, Linda Hale of Idaho and Frances Ash of California and six children; Richard G. Hale of California, Cheryl Hicks of Idaho, William Hale of California, Chad Buxton of Australia, Cindi Buxton of Idaho, and Sandi Nicholson of Idaho, as well as 12 grandchildren. Richard was an... Full story
Thomas David Peterson, 65, beloved husband, father and brother, passed away on July 10, 2020. Our dad's passing was much unexpected due to underlying health conditions. Please know, that he will never have the chance to forget who he was, but more importantly never have the chance to forget his family and friends. Since 1972 on the main street of Libby, Montana, it was love at first sight. In 1974, our parents' souls were joined by marriage to began their beautiful journey. He was an amazing... Full story
Our beloved Judy Lee Raymond was called home to be forever with her Savior and Lord Jesus Christ on June 9, 2020. Judy was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Judy met the love of her life, John Raymond, in a lumber yard where he worked when Judy and her mother were shopping for some plywood backing for their piano. John invited Judy to come and listen to him play his piano at a local music hall. John and Judy Raymond were married on Labor Day in 1969. In over 50 years of marriage, they were never... Full story
February 24, 1926 - July 8, 2020 Ella Andersen (born Ella Reich) passed away in the early hours of July 8, 2020. She spent her last days with family and in her familiar home at Buffalo Hill Terrace. She lived a remarkable life and was cracking jokes even at 94. Her warmth, humor, and sense of perspective will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She was tough, smart, and adventurous. She was born in North Dakota, the third oldest of eight siblings: Esther, Florence, Ella, Frieda,... Full story
Ken McGann is no mad scientist working in a dimly lit lab, but he is continuously experimenting to come up with new and unique life forms — at least in the world of floriculture. McGann and his wife, Mary, are the owners of Spring Fever Daylilies, located along Highway 200 about seven miles west of Plains, where they have nearly 500 daylilies of over 100 different varieties — including 30 hybrids of his own making. McGann uses a catalogue to order varieties of daylilies he wants to plant, but hi...
A Heron man is in the hospital and another in custody after a shooting on Lower River Road last weekend. According to family members, 36-year-old Edgar “ET” Torrey was shot during a neighbor dispute over garbage at a residence in Heron. The shooting happened Saturday, July 11, around 7:30 p.m., according to Torrey’s sister-in-law, Tiffaney Lewis. She said multiple shots were fired. Torrey was shot once and was recovered by family members who reportedly fired back, although Lewis said that no one else was injured. Family rushed Torrey to meet...
The Forest Service worked on a portion of a seven-mile trail near Plains to make it more accessible to the public and they had a blast - literally. Travis Pfister of the Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District set off six explosives two weeks ago as part of major operation to renovate Spring Creek Trail - aka Trail #370 - some 10 miles northwest of Plains. The Forest Service does a lot a trail work every year, but they don't normally use explosives, said Mikey Church, the recreation staff...
Dance Xplosion presented their summer program titled "Almost Famous" last week, in a two-night performance at the Trout Creek Park. Brynn Kenyon, the director of Dance Xplosion, said this year's performance will be different and more casual compared to previous years. The performance was originally scheduled for June 25 at the Rex Theatre in Thompson Falls. Due to COVID-19, the performance had to be pushed to July. "We usually pack the Rex, but because of the proximity, no one felt comfortable...
What better birthday present to give yourself than to run in your first half-marathon ever? An admitted fitness junkie, who is actually a semi-pro given the "bodybybrigitte" exercise group that she teaches, Briggite Giegling picked her birthday as the day she would attempt the most challenging distance run of her life, and did just that Sunday. Fellow fitness fiend Charlotte Milling, who ran alongside Gielgling and provided much of the spark necessary for Brigitte to commit to the big race, was...
Double H Dirt Works shot the low team gross and Feed-N-Fuel the low team net as the Tuesday Night Men’s League teed off on the second half of season action at River’s Bend last week. Led by the free-swinging Jake Helvey, who shot a 41 for the individual low gross, Scott Pardee, Ty Pardee and Tom Kirkland joined Helvey to post the low team gross of 174 for Double H Dirt Works, while Feed-N-Fuel golfers Mike Normandin, Steve Clark, Doug Gunderson and Dave Petteys added up the low net of 142, led by Petteys’ low individual net of 33. Feed-N-Fuel t...
The CU doesn’t stand just for credit union; it may also stand for “see you” later in the Wednesday Night Men’s League golf race. Whitefish Credit Union (or CU) golfers Ron Beaty, Rick Kendall, Rusty Sharp and Randy Hojem teamed up to shoot the low team gross of 175 last week at River’s Bend, giving the CU-later quartet a healthy 7.5 point lead in the second half standings of Wednesday Night Men’s League play. The T-R-L team of Jay Dowell, Jody Doyle, Wally Gibb and Chuck Manry used their handicaps to arrive at the low team net of 143. In ind...
