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Fire season is here; now it is a matter of getting through it with minimal impact. With no measurable precipitation recorded in this area in over three weeks now and fires beginning to break out across western Montana, fire control officials are bracing for another busy fire season, and urging people to be very careful with fire until the danger passes. All local fire agencies – the U.S. Forest Service offices in Plains, Trout Creek and Superior, the Montana DNRC out of Plains, and the BIA C...
Under the watchful eye of a resident swan, employees from NorthWestern Energy began reinstalling steel stanchions at the Thompson Falls dam this week. After the stanchions have been replaced, NorthWestern can begin filling the reservoir. Work is expected to take up to three weeks, with the reservior being filled by the week of August 13....
Paradise, a place of extreme beauty, pleasure and delight. Without proper sewage disposal, Paradise just can’t be paradise. Fortunate for residents, the current sewage disposal practices are about to get a $3.27 million makeover. According to Sunny Chase, Paradise Sewer District board member, every residence in Paradise is on their own septic system, and many were built around 1910. “When systems go bad, it means there needs to be a replacement,” Chase stated. “There is no room for replacement, because the lots are too small.” Chase commented...
A dozen artists from Sanders County gathered for the 5th Annual Artists in Paradise exhibition at the Paradise Center last week. "It was a great time for the artists and the people that came," said Karen Thorson, president of the Sanders County Arts Council, the nonprofit organization that sponsored the event last Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the center's auditorium. Thorson said that about 300 people attended the exhibit, including visitors from Missoula, Kalispell, Polson, and even some fr...
This week, Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte was banned from competition for more than a year after an investagtion by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. A photo on social media showed Lochte getting an injection of vitamins. The substance Lochte was taking wasn’t illegal, but the amount was. At a press conference Monday, Lochte accepted a 14-month suspension and took responsibility for the incident . “As soon as you get to a certain point or level, in any kind of sport career, you’re always going to have an eye on you,” Lochte said. “I think I’ve lear...
As I think of America’s current political impasse(es) there are two quotes that come to mind. Charley Russell wrote a story about a teamster who harnessed up his mules, then picked up a two-by-four and whacked the lead mule in the head. “First, you’ve got to get the mule’s attention,” he explained to a startled bystander. And the other expression my very own mother’s, “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” “Power concedes nothing without a demand,” wrote former slave and abolition...
Editor, I’m writing in response to an editorial in the July 12 paper authored by a U.S. Navy commander, Ret. From Noxon, “Sen. Tester works for veterans”. After reading this letter and hearing TV ads on how Jon Tester is for veterans, I started doing some “fact checking.” However, without knowing all the facts behind the commander’s comment, “I (himself??) began the process of getting hearing aids through the VA Choice Program.” He or himself alone can not just say, or go order hearing aids, on anything else himself. 1. See a doctor in a VA...
Yes, Major Manning, you have caught Tom blue handed. He is an actual Democrat in Sanders County. Although not the vice-chair this year. I am quite sure Senator Jon Tester has not claimed to have “fixed” anything. I do know for a fact though, that him and his crew have been working hard to give vets better access to local health care and timely payments to health care facilities. I am not a veteran and Tom would know much more than I about the veteran’s system. What I see in the public health care system is a lot of dedicated professionals, who...
4 YEARS AGO • JUNE 20, 1978 SINCE I LAST WROTE FOR THE LEDGER continued By Harry L. Billings (AKA Peanuts, TFHS Class of ’29) Eber and Barbara (Britton) Hoyt were very small. Their uncle and aunt, A.S. and Mabel Ainsworth, were awfully good to an undersized kid from the reservation. When I had chicken pox and later the mumps, Mrs. “A” insisted I stay with them while she nursed me through those childhood afflictions. Also many were the times I enjoyed wonderful Sunday dinners at the Ainsworth home. This house is located west of the Power P...
GEORGE HOILAND, Thompson Falls – “Let’s clean it up America, it’s time for some tough love.” REGINA SKOCZYLAS, Trout Creek – “Give the taxpayers the government that they pay for.” VINNY CIRAOLO, Thompson Falls – “Strengthening what we have.” TERESA BISHOP, Thompson Falls – “Treat people how you want to be treated.” TONY AUSTIN, Thompson Falls – “Reduce the political interference in our lives.” REBECCA GRIPP, Thompson Falls – “More logging so we have less fires....
Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Ashley Grounds, 31, exceeding special zone speed limit, $55. Rhienna Davis, 33, operating without liability insurance, 1st offense, $85; resident operating with foreign license, $35. Adam Tanner, 21, day speeding, $70. Guy Johnson, 43, operating without liability insurance, 1st offense, $85. Oleg Morozov, 25, day speeding, $20. Daniel Gomey, 29, night speeding, $20. Jamie Parker, 28, day speeding, $20. Derek Dembowski, 40, criminal possession of dangerous drugs, 2nd offense, misdemeanor, $385. Justin M...
Ambulance calls: Noxon, 5; T. Falls, 9; Plains, 7; Hot Springs, 3. Sunday, July 15 Officer requested for domestic disturbance, Heron. Vehicle all over road, St. Regis. Business alarm triggered, Dixon. Report of three little boys playing on highway, Paradise. Dead mule on highway, Plains. Report of possible redirection of creek, Plains. Unattended camp fire, T. Falls. Camper broken into, Hot Springs. Gray utility truck all over road, Heron. Report of female who got off motorcycle and won’t get back on, husband would like officer contact, P...
Blueberry harvest season has begun in northwestern Montana and Eller's Blueberry Farm is ready to delight everyone with a plentiful harvest for 2018. The family farm began in 1984 when Jerry and Yvonne Eller planted their first blueberry bush. Yvonne recalled that her and her late husband had been visiting a friend in Sandpoint who had gorgeous blueberry bushes. Jerry expressed a serious interest in wanting to grow them. It all began then, but little did they know they were starting a family...
Employees of the Thompson Falls Town Pump C-Store fight against underage drinking by requiring ID with every purchase of alcohol. A "sting-operation" was conducted by the Montana Town Pump corporate office, partnering with Thompson Falls law enforcement, to expose any employees who have neglected to ask for ID during a purchase that contains alcohol. These sting-operations are conducted throughout the whole state of Montana at each of the locations on a random basis. Sanders County Sheriff's...
Nearly 80 people showed up at the open house of the Paradise Center, formerly Paradise Elementary School, Saturday to see the finished Visitor's Center. The guest log displayed signatures from as far away as North Carolina, Texas, Arizona, and Washington. The Visitor's Center is one of three facets of the Paradise Center, along with the Arts Center and Community Center. It's been just over two years since the Paradise Elementary School Preservation Committee started on its vision to transform...
Live music, great food, and face-painting are just some of what was found at the annual Chicken Jamboree hosted by the Men's Prayer Breakfast Group at Power Park in Thompson Falls. The Jamboree is completely free to the community and works solely on voluntary donations from people who attend and sponsors. It is always held on the 3rd Saturday of July. Don Burrell, who helped the Jamboree run smoothly by cooking the chicken, said that the exact number of years is uncertain, but he thinks that...
Lisa and Jake Mickelson of Thompson Falls welcomed a son, Bodie Charles, Thursday, July 19 at 3:40 p.m. at Community Medical Center in Missoula. He weighed 8 pounds and measured 20.5 inches long. Bodie joins two brothers, Mason and Reed. Maternal grandparents are Doug and Karla Padden of Plains. Paternal grandparents are Bob and Janelle Mickelson of Helena. Welcome, Bodie.... Full story
SUMMER CREATURES - Hot summer days bring out flowers and crops, but also rattlesnakes in the area. This snake was about 4 feet long and found near the Butler residence along Blue Slide Road in Thompson Falls....
Hot summer days and cool cars came together for the Cool Summer Nights car show in Trout Creek over the weekend. Lakeside Motel and Resort welcomed 54 entries at the event. Charlie Shelor of Trout Creek won first prize for his 1965 Pontiac GTO. Second place went to Rick Blomdahl of Troy with his 1935 International truck, and third went to Ron an Elizabeth Petrie of Thompson Falls with a 1941 Ford pickup. Gift card prizes were sponsored by Blue Ribbon Auto in Missoula. Participants and...
The vibrant sounds of the 15th annual Baroque Music Festival filled the nearly packed convert pavilion and entertained the attendees at Quinn's Hot Springs Resort. The festival lasted three days and featured a total of 10 different performers. Guests were provided complimentary water and iced tea as well as soda, beer and wine for purchase. Each night there was a live auction for exclusive items such as a three-day sailing cruise for two in the San Juan Islands. There was also an ongoing silent...
Local veterans and members of the community took to the golf course Saturday to raise money for the Montana Wounded Warriors. The Wayside Scramble tournament was held at the River's Bend Golf Course in Thompson Falls. After the Tournament, the golfers met at the Wayside Bar and Grill in Trout Creek. A check was presented to Kristi Taylor, secretary/treasurer and representative from Montana Wounded Warriors; the total amount has not been registered yet. Marine Veteran, Jim Kuffel had a "great...
The Wild Coyotes broke loose from the pack and are now running scared but free, a little ways ahead of the rest of golf-hounds chasing them in Wednesday Night Men’s League play. Proving once and for all you can’t tame wild dogs, the feral Coyote team of Dave Petteys, Kevin Sparks, Scott Pardee and Howard Morkert broke loose and shot down the low team gross of 172 to move three points ahead of Hagedorn Land Surveying in league standings. The First Security Bank quartet of Bill Nolen, Ben Mummert, Michael Scharfe and Dan Whittenburg shot the low...
Shanks a Lot golfers don’t always shank a lot of their shots. Sometimes they send their golf balls straight and true down the fairways, and roll them right into the cup when they reach the greens. Playing golf belying their self-deprecating team name, Jenz Jentzen, Dave Garr, Charles Hooten and Rusty Haggard joined forces to shoot a mighty fine 169 last week for the Shanks a Lot team as they built a small lead in the second half of Tuesday Night Men’s League play at River’s Bend last week. Bear Muscle Fitness golfers John Mosher, Cody Moshe...
Over the Hill players like to think stroke play produces strokes of genius from its very smart – okay at least very wise – players. Undeniably the most seasoned group of golfers going right now in this area, the Over the Hill gang took over River’s Bend for another friendly round Monday morning and a good time was had once again by all the Over the Hillers. Dave Garr tamed the Bend with the best low gross round of 39, and Mike Smith (31) and Barb Wooden (33) did the best with their handicaps figured in to shoot the low men’s and women’s...
