Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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A quick thunderstorm last Wednesday resulted in a handful of wildfires throughout Sanders County. In the Plains-Thompson Falls Ranger District, the Silcox Park Fire just north of Thompson Falls was caused by lightning. The Forest Service reported that the fire creeped into piles of debris, but crews worked quickly to contain the fire at about half an acre. Another fire in the Thompson Falls area was also caused by lightning. Multiple resources, including helicopters, responded to the Wilkes...
The Hot Springs School Board last week set a date for the latest effort to pass a levy in the school district. The board last Wednesday voted to once again ask voters to approve a levy of $183,000 for the general fund. On July 11, a judge approved a petition by a school board member asking for the May 7 election to be voided. Five days later, the school board met and voted to call for a special election in accordance with the order by Judge John Mercer of the 20th Judicial District. Last week, the school board voted to have the new election on...
Republican congressional candidate Tim Sheehy made a visit to Thompson Falls on Monday. The Senate candidate spoke to more than 150 people at the Thompson Falls Senior Center. There was standing room only in the senior center as Rep. Paul Fielder of Thompson Falls introduced Sheehy. "Usually these meet and greets are held at Minnie's and have up to 25 people. We got a good turnout for you," Fielder told Sheehy. Sheehy joked that his last name is also his pronouns. "I've been a 'she-he' for 38...
A bison cow and her calf stop for a drink in Mission Creek at the Bison Range....
Last week, we installed a new sign on the front of the Ledger building. We make signs, banners, photo canvases and other items in our print shop, and our work can be seen all over town. However, the front of our own building lacked adequate signage. Someone I know who drives through town several times a week asked me recently where the Ledger was. That got me motivated to create our new sign. It only took me seven years, but now no one can say they didn't know where we are. We also recently branched out in our offerings. In an effort to...
I asked a friend of mine if he had ever known a man named Bat O’Callahan who lived in Trout Creek years ago and was married to my good friend Jessie O’Callahan. Whether that marriage ended because Bat left town or died I never did know, but since Jessie had remembered him so fondly I thought he must have been a good man. “Yeah, I remember him,” my friend said. “He used to drive home from the bar, pull off the highway onto Swamp Creek Road, turn off his car right there in the middle of the inter...
There is a saying… “You are entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts.” As Thompson Falls mayor, I do have actual facts about Wild Goose Landing contrary to some comments I’ve been made aware of on Sanders County 411. Northwest Energy has an easement signed December 2023 by Northwest Energy and the City. Thompsons Falls Public Works had maintained Wild Goose until this year. There are copies of the easement and all correspondence between the City and Northwest Energy for anyone who would care to view it. Happy to clarify any que...
I spoke with Sanders County Sheriff Fielders yesterday (July 18, 2024). The conversation concerned dispatching the ‘tax-supported’ Community Ambulance Service to emergency 911 calls within the Heron Rural Fire District boundaries. This has been a divisive issue in the Heron community for a couple of years. Last year, the sheriff halted dispatching the Community Ambulance in favor of a ‘privately owned’ ambulance in Heron, much to the dismay and anger of many Heron citizens. Sheriff Fielders told me that there were a few more ‘hoops to jump t...
The state of Montana has been “renting” our waters of the Clark Fork river from Thompson Falls to the Idaho border to Avista energy. With the two dams that they built, the Noxon rapids and Cabinet Gorge, placed 18 miles from each other. I’m not sure if somehow Montana has lessened it’s water protections or if the Avista cooperation has changed somethings with the way the operate but our river is rapidly turning into a sludge pond. There are dead fish all over the shore. The fear of being contaminated with toxic chemicals is very prevalent. Stag...
6 YEARS AGO • JULY 3, 1919 HERON GENERAL STORE ROBBED Robbers Secure $3,150 in Money and Goods on Friday Night The general store of Kinney Honberger at Heron, near the Idaho line, was robbed of goods and money valued at $3,150 by two men shortly before midnight on last Friday night and the proprietor and one customer were held up, tied up, and put in the cellar where they finally worked themselves loose and notified Sheriff Hartman. The goods stolen consisted of $1,500 in Liberty bonds, $700 in thrift stamps, $750 in cash and three cases o...
HEATHER CANTU, Thompson Falls - “ I ignore them. I prefer to stay in touch with the daily local information that matters, like fires. Plus I don’t believe my vote actually counts.” GARY VANEK, Thompson Falls - “I think they are annoying and a waste of money and they are misleading.” ELIZABETH DE NOBLE, Plains - “I’m disgusted with them all and I believe that they are all lies.” MERLE JAQUES, Thompson Falls - “I don’t have an issue with them. They are a fact of life. They are necessary for getting the word out.” JOHNNY HEDAHL, Thompson Fall...
Ambulance: Plains, 16; T. Falls, 11; Hot Springs, 7; Trout Creek, 4; Paradise, 2; Dixon, 1. Monday, July 22 Threats, Plains. Property damage/criminal mischief, Plains. Automated alarm call, Hot Springs. Property damage/criminal mischief, Dixon. Civil attempts, Trout Creek. Civil attempts, Trout Creek. Civil attempts, Noxon. Intimidation/harassment, Trout Creek. Civil attempts, Heron. Fire, Lonepine. Animal other, Hot Springs. Parking problem, Hot Springs. Other law violations, Plains. Road hazard/debris on road, Plains. Civil standby, Trout...
Justice Court before Justice of the Peace Doug Dryden Montana Highway Patrol Anna Moura, 53, aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, 1st offense, $1,135 with $400 suspended, 6 months jail with all suspended. Jacob Jonson, 33, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Max Koehn, 63, operating with expired registration, $85. Gwendolyn Lewandoski, 37, speeding in a restricted zone, $65. Leanna Bosteder, 59, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Jonathan Sepp, 37, day speeding, $70. Mace Jacobson, 17, careless driving, deferred imposition...
Nicholas Ray Needles appeared before Judge John Larson on Tuesday for sentencing in 20th District Court. In May, Needles pleaded guilty to one count of incest as part of a plea agreement. Before proceeding to sentencing, the mother of the victims read her impact statement, addressing the impact of Needles’ actions on her and the children, but also the strength she has found to help her family overcome this and move forward. “My family’s finally free from your abuse,” she stated. A brief statement from the victim was read by her aunt. Judge L...
During the hot summer months when the chance to cool off in the water arrives, it's a good reminder that building dams in creeks and streams can have negative consequences for fish. This is especially true for species such as bull trout, which ascend small tributaries in late summer to spawn. Rock dams built to create swimming holes may seem harmless, but they can accumulate debris and build-up over time. While small dams can be washed out during spring, these features often remain intact and function as a passage barrier all the way through...
The Wild Coyote Saloon on Prospect Creek Road outside of Thompson Falls was hopping Saturday with spectators who watched the always popular lawn mower races. The annual Coyote Days event was advertised as a "howling good time." The lawnmower races began at 2 p.m. with the 14 participants completing time trials for placement in heats. Brad McGuigan from Thompson Falls has been running this portion of the event for seven years. "This year we have 15 mowers entered," he said. McGuigan was busy...
The ladies had another picture perfect day at the River’s Bend golf course with Tina Wheeler and Jeanne Holleran getting the low team gross score with their 99, while Danice Toyias and Kristy Beaty earned the team low net score with 63. Tina Wheeler proved her skills earning the low individual gross score with 44, while Kristy Beaty got the low individual net score with her 31. Danice Toyias had closest to pin on No. 10, with Tina Wheeler behind her getting closest to pin on No. 11. Katie Miller earned closest to pin no No. 14, while Kelly W...
The Over the Hill Gang had a cooler Monday golf game at the River’s Bend golf course with Jesse Mack getting the low gross score for the men’s with a 40. Ray Marshall earned the low net men’s score with a 30. Rick Kendall got closest to pin on No. 10, while Gary Thompson proved his skills getting the long putt on No. 11. John Mosher earned the long putt on No. 12, while Dave Pettys got the long putt on hole No. 13. Larry Eddy had closest to pin on No. 14, while Dave Garr earned the long drive on No. 15. Randy Hojem earned the longest putt...
The Thompson Falls Chamber of Commerce is rebranding to include all of Sanders County. Dennis Spurlock, the chamber president, has reported that the organization is now the Sanders County Chamber of Commerce. “We have the name change processed with the state. We are now Sanders County Chamber of Commerce Inc.,” Spurlock said. “We wanted to be more inclusive for the county since we’re all small rural towns. We can better support all our communities as a county chamber.” Spurlock, an insurance agent with Alera Group in Plains, said the chamber w...
The Woodside Park subdivision has been granted funds for a new water system and construction is underway after years of planning. Water district general manager Dan Briggs said the system was in bad need of replacement. "The system was built in 1978. In 1992 there were nine houses on the system. Today there are 42. The park has a capacity limit of 52 maximum," Briggs told the county when he made his pitch for a new water system in August of 2021. The subdivision sits on 40+ acres, according to B...
A home in Plains was destroyed last week by a fire. According to Plains fire chief Anthony Young, the Campbell residence on Meany Street caught fire around 4 p.m. last Wednesday, and could not be controlled for several hours. Young said the cause of the fire is not yet known. "I wasn't in town when it happened but my crew has updated me," Young said. His crew reported 50- to 100- foot flames in the air. There were reports of propane tanks that "went off along with ammunition firing from inside...
Plains School Board members held a special board meeting last Thursday in order to get coaches hired before school sports start in August. Board member Lana Dicken made the motion to rehire Kati Mitchell as the head softball coach. The motion was seconded by member Ellen Childress, but before a vote could be taken Mitchell spoke up to give her resignation. "The lack of trust and support from the school board has made it increasingly challenging for me to fulfill my duties effectively as a...
A Plains man is traveling to Helena next week to defend his title at the firing range for the annual Montana Governor's 20 LE Shooting Competition. Chad Cantrell of Plains was the champion in the County Division last year and hopes to repeat his feat again on Aug. 9. "It's fun. I get to hang out with gunfighters," said Cantrell, who retired from the Sanders County Sheriff's Office as a detective in 2020 and is a member of the Plains Town Council. Cantrell is no stranger to the annual...
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and Razz Construction Inc. will this week begin repairing portions of Main Street in Thompson Falls. This work is part of the project’s warranty period. Crews will improve drainage at the approach of South Jefferson Street and Main Street. Seal and cover (chip seal) repairs will also be made along Main Street. The repairs are anticipated to last approximately one week. All work is dependent on weather conditions and other factors permitting. The Thompson Falls - Urban project was primarily c...
SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. SNOT 5. HACKLE 11. REDEVELOPERS 14. OVEREAT 15. HAILED 18. ARMER 19. DEADEN 21. STP 23. IDEA 24. TAEGU 28. NAPS 29. PH 30. BAND 32. SST 33. PRO 35. BEE 36. BAB 39. BOCK 41. AB 42. ARES 44. BAALS 46. HERE 47. AIL 49. TARIFF 52. NACKA 56. SANELY 58. PEDALED 60. ELEE MOSYNARY 62. LANAIS 63. ANON SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. SRO 2. NEVA 3. ODER 4. TERM 5. HEARTTHROB 6. ALT 7. CO 8. KPH 9. LEAD 10. ERIE 12. VEES 13. SLAIN 16. EDDAS 17. DEEPS 20. Famed cartoonist 22. PA 25. EB 26. GAB 27. UNEASINESS 29. PPB 31. DEB 34. OCA 36. BAHT 37....
