Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Hot Springs has welcomed a new superintendent to the school district. Gerald Chouinard, accepted the position on July 1, of this year. As a Butte native, Chouinard's educational experience stems from his studies in educational leadership and administration from Idaho State University. He received his Masters in Education in 1998, and from there, he accepted his first principal job in Rigby, Idaho. After taking two more positions in Idaho, he finally made his way back home to Montana, working in...
Earlier this month the Thompson Falls City Council met to discuss various plans and projects being taken on to improve the quality of life and infrastructure of the community. With various projects in the works, the council brought up bringing members of the community in to help move things forward. The idea came originally from council member Ruth Cheney. She mentioned that there may be residents within the city limits who have expertise in one or more of the areas involved with the planning of these projects. Many of the council members are...
A local Sanders County resident has published a book highlighting the history of the Flodin Lumber Company. Mary Lou Hermes, found the inspiration to title the book, Swan’s Song, after her father. “That was my father’s first name, and he was one of the original owners of the mill,” Hermes said. Swan’s Song goes into detail about the everyday life and operations of a lumber mill “in the midst of the depression of the 1930’s.” As Hermes recollects her father’s story in the book, she talks about his dedication to Flodin Lumber Company, the coun...
The bad news is two wildland fires broke out early this week and were reported to still be burning in Sanders County as of Tuesday afternoon. The good news is that neither fire is threatening any structures and no evacuations have been ordered at this point. The Magpie Rock fire, estimated to be between 250 and 300 acres, burning in the mountains about eight miles west of Dixon and south of Highway 200 in the Magpie Creek area, is a lightning-caused blaze believed to have been started by a passing storm late last week. The fire is currently...
Millar Bryce, a longtime resident of Plains, celebrated his 100th birthday on July 24 with a few close friends and relatives at Buffalo Hills Retirement Home in Kalispell. Bryce spent most of his working years with the Flodin Lumber Company, of which he was a partner. Bryce might be remembered as a light plane pilot who enjoyed flying over the Clark Fork River. Bryce was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. When he was a young boy his family moved to Austin, Texas, where he grew up and...
When did it become OK — commonplace, even — to treat other people with so much disrespect? When did it become socially acceptable to attack people for expressing their beliefs? The United States used to be the cool kid on campus, the country others imitated, the place immigrants desired. Now, the squabbling amongst ourselves is almost embarrassing. Foreigners and their media mock us, question us and shake their collective heads at us. You can say that what is happening on a national level isn't affecting us here in rural Sanders County, but...
As I watched and read the news this last couple of weeks, I came to a disturbing conclusion; I don’t care anymore! I’ve been following the situation in the cities of Chicago, Portland, New York and Seattle (to name only four) pretty closely because of all the “civil unrest,” and realized, I just don’t give a damn! That’s a hard admission for me to make. People that know me well from my law enforcement background (particularly those I trained/supervised) will be shocked that I made such an adm...
Sanders County Sheriff’s department recently lost a deputy, in our opinion, who was awesome. Deputy Roy Scott worked very hard to control the spread of illegal drugs, was able to calm domestic situations, watched diligently for drunken drivers and was willing to assist other agencies with problems. His knowledge was incredible and his dedication to his position was unbelievable. Wishing him the best of everything in his next chance to keep everyone safe. Respectfully submitted, Neil and Dixie Carman, Thompson Falls...
It’s a tough time to be a cop. If you play it tough and aggressive, the political left will crucify you. If you play it compassionate and tolerant, the political right will crucify you, not to mention that in certain circumstances being nice might endanger both yourself and your fellow officers. I’m not sure why anyone would want to be a law enforcement professional right now, and I admire those many who do continue to serve and protect. Cops are caught not only between left and right, but between two ancient human reactions to any kind of opp...
7 YEARS AGO • AUGUST 2, 1950 HISTORICAL REVIEW OF WESTERN SANDERS COUNTY Early French-Canadian trappers were quick to notice the peculiar boxlike recesses in the gorge of the Clark Fork River near the present Montana-Idaho state line. To those unique formations they applied the French equivalent for cabinet, or room, and this spectacular rock-walled gash has been known ever since as Cabinet Gorge. From it the Cabinet Mountains and the Cabinet National Forest derived their names. The name of David Thompson is indissolubly linked with this r...
SUE JONES, Paradise - “I’m just not sure about having the kids go back to school because you can’t keep kids from touching their face and other kids, so I guess I’m kind of against schools opening.” JASMINE KELLER, Thompson Falls- “I feel like the school districts should do whatever they feel is best for the kids.” JACOB SAKASKE, Thompson Falls - “I think it should be the parents’ decision.” KYLE KAST, Sacramento, California - “If there’s not a lot of cases then schools should just reopen.” HELEN JOHNSON, Thompson Falls - “I think they sho...
Montana Highway Patrol Gurcharan Dhaliwal, 57, speeding in restricted zone, $55. Jim Harrell, 33, day speeding, $20. Joshua Slack, 39, day speeding, $20. Hans Groenke, 67, day speeding, $70. Christopher Hotchkiss, 30, day speeding, $70. Roy Koonce, 51, day speeding, $70. Clinton Seader, 38, day speeding, $70. Lydia Landis, 27, failure to carry proof of insurance, 1st offense, $85; seatbelt violation, $20. Cricket Orsborn, 31, seatbelt violation, $20. Cade Vanvleet, 16, day speeding, $20. Kodee McGann, 27, seatbelt violation, $20. Mark Rickner,...
Ambulance Calls Plains 22, Trout Creek 2, T. Falls 11, Noxon 1, Hot Springs 2. Saturday, July 18 Disturbance, Hot Springs. Disturbance, T. Falls. Other law violations, Hot Springs. Assist miscellaneous, T. Falls. Informational case, Hot Springs. Disturbance, Hot Springs. Trespass, Plains. Fire, Hot Springs. General animal call or complaint, Hot Springs. Assist motorist/citizen, T. Falls. Informational case, T. Falls. Disturbance, T. Falls. Sunday, July 19 Informational case, T. Falls. Informational case, Plains. Motor vehicle crash, Hot...
Clearwater Montana Properties recently donated more than $4,000 to local non-profit organizations. Since its founding in 1993, Clearwater Montana Properties has emphasized community-building as a key component of its company culture. Through its Charitable Giving Program, the company’s agents give back a portion of all real estate proceeds to the communities in which they were earned. To date, the program has produced over $600,000 in charitable donations to causes throughout Montana, Idaho and Washington. “Each year Clearwater and our age...
After a year of closure, the Circle in Plains has reopened. Due to issues with hot water damage, the Circle planned to close down early summer last year to quickly effect repairs. However, owners found that the damage was more extensive than previously thought. After a year of hard work, problems and persistence, the Circle welcomes people back into the community diner. In the process of reconstruction, the ceiling was taken out, the roof was updated and there were several internal improvements...
The Clark Fork Bass Anglers Tri-State Tournament was held over the weekend at the Noxon Rapids Reservoir, with weigh-ins taken behind the Lakeside Motel and Resort in Trout Creek. A total of 36 teams signed up to compete for this year's grand prize of $1,500, which was sponsored by Clark Fork Bass Anglers. As the boats came in, the bass were transported in live bags to holding tanks as the anglers waited for their weigh-in. The holding tanks contained a catch and release conditioner to help...
A new deli has opened in Thompson Falls. The Black Bear Bakery and Deli is bringing freshly made sandwiches, ice cream and homemade baked goods to the locals of Sanders County. The new deli, which opened in June, is already exceeding expectations. “The business is already doing incredibly well, it’s jaw dropping,” owner Daniel Moore stated. “It’s been so much more than what we anticipated.” Moore has seen a steady increase in traffic since opening and says the volume of customers is probably about 50-70% locals with 30% of the customers b...
LaRue B Melton, 86, passed away at his home on July 14, 2020 of natural causes. Born on December 29, 1933, he was delivered by Ellen "Ma" Melton, over in the Sloans-Big Bend area. His parents were William Jennings Bryan "Ike" and Villa Melton. First, he went to the Big Bend School, then Round Butte, then finishing in Ronan where he graduated in 1953. Uncle Sam drafted him in 1955 and he served his time in the U.S. and Germany. Dad was a medic and paratrooper. He loved to jump, it was "fun," he...
Hoping upon hope that it’s a go, just as all the prep athletes, coaches and fans are also hoping; the Montana High School Association (MHSA) released its plans for still conducting sports and other sponsored school activities this fall during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. If all went perfectly, sports practices and competitions (with a few exceptions) could be on schedule this fall, with many, many details included in the MHSA operating plan. Although the plan could turn out to be little more than wishful thinking depending on what happens w...
Double H Dirt Works golfers Scott Pardee, Ty Pardee, Russ Yeager and Jake Helvey teamed up to shoot the low gross of 174 as the Double H guys extended their advantage in second half standings in Tuesday Night Men’s League action at River’s Bend last week. Lakeside Motel and Resort team members Rusty Sharp, Arthur Potts and Scott Garr shot the low team net of 137. Scott Pardee led Double H with the low individual gross of 38 and Garr used his handicap to arrive at the low individual net of 33. In hole play, Ron Beaty was the man closest to the p...
Not so fast, Whitefish Credit Union golfers! The Wednesday Night Men’s League standing tightened up significantly last week as Hagedorn Land Surveying shot the low team gross of 171 and team Wild Coyote carded the low team net of 149. As a result of last week’s hot and heavy action at River’s Bend, Whitefish Credit Union’s second-half league lead was reduced to only 1.5 points over Wild Coyote as the season winds down. Ryan Ostwald, Paul Flemmer, Rick Hagedorn and Bernie Groshong canvassed the course for Hagedorn last week and Gary Thompso...
SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. CPU 4. Attack 10. HEP 11. Deadly 12. Du 14. ANS 15. Lima 16. Indict 18. Elevate 22. Scoria 23. Venison 24. Cowslip 26. ID 27. Eira 28. Refs 30. Rant 31. UTA 34. Saris 36. Nee 37. Lapp 39. Coop 40. Nepa 41. Me 42. Nauseam 48. Agendum 50. Create 51. Sultana 52. Escrow 53. Huck 54. Mir 55. PS 56. Denied 58. ENE 59. Artery 60. Net SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. Chairs 2. Pencil 3. Upstairs 4. Ad 5. Television 6. Tailed 7. Admen 8. Clavier 9. KY 12. Disc 13. Unco 17. Dow 19. Asian 20. Torne...
