Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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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. According to court records, Wood's attorney, William Managhan, had a family emergency and filed a motion to continue. Parties involved in the case met last Wednesday, July 15, and there was no objection to delaying the trial. This...
"No matter what side of the fence you are on, most people in the west have a picture of a bison on their wall," said Jon Sepp, owner of Roam Free Bison Ranch, just outside of Hot Springs. When saying this, he was referring to people who live in the west, and especially ranchers. Sepp said there are two opinions of farming bison. One group is against the large beasts, saying that they are aggressive and difficult to work, while the other believes that they are better for the environment and...
The safety plan for the 4-H/FFA portion of the 2020 Sanders County Fair and a measure designed to allow the addition of two additional members to its board were two issues approved by unanimous consent at the Sanders County Board of Health (BOH) meeting in Thompson Falls on July 16. Held at the courthouse, the meeting also included discussion about the recently enacted mask requirement from the governor’s COVID-19 order for Montana. Regarding Sanders County, the board discussed a contingency plan for keeping the courthouse open to the public a...
A wildfire is burning north of Perma along Highway 382. As of Tuesday, the Clear Creek Fire had burned 300 acres and was listed at 10% containment. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CFKT) Division of Fire is battling the blaze, which is 1.5 miles north of the Perma Bridge. CSKT released a statement saying "the fire is currently under investigation, but believed to have started by rock quarry equipment." A helicopter was among the equipment used this week to fight the wildfire, and a...
At a meeting we attended last week, some people were there in person social distancing and some were attending via Zoom video conference. Let's face it, six months ago few of us had heard of Zoom. There were issues with the audio and Internet connections during the meeting. People attending the meeting via their phones and computers were getting frustrated. The response from a board member at the meeting was "we can't fix the Internet." In another meeting, attendees were saying that they thought more notice should have been given to residents....
Dear Editor, Today I went into True Value Hardware in Thompson Falls and all the employees were wearing masks. I told them how much I appreciated that and it made me want to shop there. This is notable because I, who try and support our local businesses as much as possible, have been shopping on-line and in other counties whose stores have stricter protocols for the pandemic because I am not feeling safe in much of Sanders County. Yes, I’ve gone to other, more virus-affected areas because I feel safer - just because of masks and more a...
Cancer Network of Sanders County and First Lutheran Church in Plains are moving forward with plans for a yard sale next month. That does not come with a guarantee that it will happen. Everything is very fluid and can change very quickly. If the planning committee believes – we can’t do the sale in a safe environment and within the Governor’s guidelines, we will not do it. We plan to have a cut-off date July 31 on the go/no-go status. The current plans call for the Yard Sale to be held August 7-8, 2020, at the First Lutheran Church. Sale items w...
Last week when arriving at City Hall, I was informed of an incident that took place at Ainsworth Park. Someone had taken a CRAP on the floor of the unfinished bathroom! This is the most disrespectful thing I have heard of. I could not believe some lowlife would stoop to something like this. I know that this is too much to ask for, but I would hope that whoever did this had the balls enough to fess-up. Ainsworth is in the final stages of construction. Many years, untold hours of effort, monetary support, planning and community support have gone...
Pretty soon it looks like we are going to have to add a new group of people to the increasingly long list of those who can’t be discriminated against. I am talking, of course, of those hardy Americans who refuse to wear masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are being refused service at private businesses where masks are mandated such as Costco, Walmart and many more, and to add icing to the cake the State of Montana now requires masks in all indoor businesses and venues. True, all they w...
7 YEARS AGO • AUGUST 2, 1950 HOME WASHING MACHINES Too many clothes and too little water make for a short life for many home washing machines says Mrs. Ruzicka, home demonstration agent, who urges homemakers to follow manufacturers directions in filling the washer. Usually, she said, after the clothes are in the washer, the water should just reach the water line. When too many clothes are put in the washer at one time the machine becomes overloaded and the clothes are not washed thoroughly, Mrs. Ruzicka pointed out. Letting the water stand i...
GRACE GAMBOA, Plains - “I think that some people are definitely upset with having to wear them. Like in restaurants it is kind of different because they take them off as soon as they sit down, so it’s like is that really preventing anything; from walking in the door to sitting down?" BONNIE FIRESTONE, Plains - “I don’t think they are effecting the business much at all because everybody still needs food. We're not really making a huge issue when people come in without a mask, it’s pretty much just up to them.” GENEVIEVE DESHAMPS, Plains - “I...
Montana Highway Patrol Anthony Torres, 61, reasonable and prudent, 1st offense, $135 Michael Stocking, 40,seatbelt violation, 1 day in jail. Felicia Paz, 24, driving under the influence of alcohol, 1st offense, $735, 1 day in jail; criminal possession of dangerous drugs, 1st offense, $175. Denitra Peterson, 29, careless driving, $85; seatbelt violation, $20. Benjamin Sneeden, 27, day speeding, $70. Virgil Otto, 19, seatbelt violation, $20. Carleigh Bradley, 21, day speeding, $20. Andrea Tryon, 49, speeding in restricted zone, $65. Levi Vossler,...
Ambulance Hot Springs 4, Plains 13, T. Falls 6, Camas 1, Heron 1, Trout Creek 2, Dixon 1 Sunday, July 12 Informational case, Dixon. Theft, T. Falls. Motor vehicle crash, Dixon. Informational case, Noxon. Automated alarm call, T. Falls. Deputy responded to the report of possible vandalism, but it was unfounded, T. Falls. Civil standby, T. Falls. Burglary, caller reported a break-in on a neighbor’s property, T. Falls. Threats, juvenile with bat threatening grandparents, Trout Creek. Monday, July 13 Suspicious activity, T. Falls. Computer c...
To the CSKT Tribal Council: After reading page 2 of the June 25, 2020 edition of the Char-Koosta News that explains how the COVID-19 telief funds allocated to our tribe is going to be distributed, I became quite alarmed as an elder of the tribe. I was shocked to see that there was apparently no substantial funds directed to the Tribal law enforcement department. It saddens me to think that the Council does not think this should be the number one priority for financial aid. We have tribal members murdering each other, missing people, numerous...
Police work can be a dangerous and thankless job, especially in today's world. However, there are still those who answer the call to service. This year the Thompson Falls Police Department (TFPD) has welcomed two new officers, both of whom say that policing can also be extremely rewarding. The first officer welcomed to the department this year was Michael Derry, who was hired on February 10. Derry grew up in Thompson Falls and graduated high school here in 2002. He went to college to teach and...
A volunteer project is underway to help restore wildlife and wetland habitat along Fishtrap Creek, on the Lolo National Forest in Sanders County. Community members have volunteered to aid in the collection of willow tree cuttings that will be replanted along the stream. Volunteers for the West Fork Fishtrap Creek Road Realignment Project, which is set to run this week, will be under the direction of the Lower Clark Fork Watershed Group. Due to the social distancing recommendations that have been set in place to help reduce the spread of...
FUZZY NUBBINS are a common sight this time of year as antler-touting wildlife begin a new season of growth. The velvet is actually skin that nourishes antlers, which are the fastest growing tissue in the entire animal kingdom, according to scientists at the Smithsonian. They also state that with proper nutrition, whitetail deer antlers can grow up to three-quarters of an inch a day....
"If I can help someone so they can do their job...great!" emphasized Jennifer Ekberg. She is looking forward to providing bookkeeping services to help individuals as well as businesses stay on good financial track with her new business endeavor. JE Bookkeeping is the name and bean counting is the game. According to Ekberg, who has titled herself as "Bean Counter," she provides flexible prices on multiple financial services. These include income and expense tracking, reconciliation, financial...
Jean Marie Witters, born January 10, 1964, was called home to be with the Lord July 17, 2020. After a hard battle with health issues it was finally time for her to go home to be at peace. She is survived by her two daughters, Alissa Fisher of Thompson Falls and Jaime Witters of Great Falls; her three grandchildren, Samantha Fisher, Christine Fisher and Zayden Rummel; her parents John and Judy Witters of Florida, and three brothers, Jason Witters, John Witters and Jim Witters of Wisconsin. Jeans... Full story
19-2020 Rodney Charles Frank, 74, passed away at his home in Trout Creek on June 29, 2020. Rodney was born in Rockford, Illinois, August 6, 1945 to George and Evelyn Frank. Rodney was a long-haul truck driver most of his life. Rodney is preceded in death by both of his parents, his brother Lee and a sister Ruthie and an infant son, Ronald. Rodney is survived by a brother, Lloyd Frank of Illinois, his children, Juley (Pat), Robert (Angela), Justin (Courtney), Morgan (John) and Tyler. A private family memorial will be held.... Full story
Linda McIntyre passed away the morning of Friday July 17 2020, in Noxon, Montana, at the age of 60 from an extended battle with lung cancer. She was surrounded by her two children and husband of more than 42 years. Linda is survived by her mother, Helen Carroll, her husband, Jeff McIntyre, two children, Rachel (Chad) Peterson, Jesse (Amanda) McIntyre, and a small handful of grandchildren. The family will be hosting a private celebration of life for close friends and family, Sunday July 26, at 2 p.m. at the “Slice of Life” on the Bull Riv... Full story
History occurs everywhere, even at 6,843 feet. Patrick’s Knob, located on the Lolo National Forest, has seen a plethora of activity since its initial debut serving as a Forest Service lookout point in 1934 when a trail-only accessible, 20-foot pole tower was constructed for clear viewing and communications. Fast forward to today, and the location serves many more purposes. During the years of 1969 to 1971, Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) declared Patrick’s Knob to be a resourceful location for their cross-country microwave com...
Emergency personnel respond to a two-vehicle accident near Harvest Foods last Friday. According to witnesses, a car was traveling west on Highway 200 and turning into the Harvest Foods parking lot when they collided with an oncoming truck. First reponders used the jaws of life to get the passenger out of the car. The passenger was transported by ambulance to Clark Fork Valley Hospital. No other injuries were reported. Traffic in and out of the store's parking lot was affected by the accident...
Like the great baseball player Yogi Berra said - "It ain't over till it's over" - a group of Paradise residents haven't given up on stopping a community sewer system from being constructed. It's been weeks since the Sanders County Sewer District at Paradise board passed a resolution for a special assessment, which will be an added tax for a community wide sewer system. It seemed to be a done deal. "It's not done until they start digging," said Lee Ann Overman, a Paradise resident who's heading...
The Sanders County Fair was canceled a week ago, but the work of the fair commission goes on. With the fair out of the way, the members of the board and fair staff are concentrating their efforts on making physical improvements to the fairgrounds. "We don't need to be dwelling on what happened last week, we need to look forward to make next year's fair the best. We want the next one to be spectacular," said Fair Commission Chairman Randy Woods at the board's regular meeting last Wednesday at the...
