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Independently owned since 1905
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Noxon Superintendent Jon Martin said that school will re-open and the administration will follow the school calendar approved by the board. However, it will look a little different in the halls at Noxon School when students return on Aug. 26 for the first day of school. During a four-hour meeting last week, the school board decided that kids will be back in the classrooms at the end of the month, but parents will have an option to request remote learning for their child due to health concerns. The board will decide exactly how the remote...
Plains has planned far ahead to implement their strategy for reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since June, school officials and teachers have been working on a solution to meet all of the state and federal guidelines, as well as to give their students the education that they deserve. “There’s an element for staff safety that cannot be forgotten,” said Thom Chisholm, superintendent for the Plains Schools. He explained that every effort will be taken for the well-being of both students and staff. Plains’ solution is a modified school...
A Noxon student has been named a National Youth Ambassador by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Jaedyn Murray, a 15-year-old high school junior, is one of four Montana students who have been recognized for demonstrating leadership and advocating for the end of tobacco use in Montana. Murray was among 133 other youth and adult ambassadors who participated in the campaign, according to a press release from Washington, D.C. Murray said she got involved in tobacco control through Health...
A proposed RV park on the east end of Thompson Falls brought several residents and a request for zoning to the City Council meeting Monday evening. Resident Elizabeth Moore brought up the issue to the council, asking that the area around Mount Silcox Drive, near Thompson Falls High School, be zoned as residential. Moore said that there is only one entrance to the area and that many people walk the roadways. "We need to protect our investments and quality of life," Moore told the council....
If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. Ask just about any school-aged kid and they can probably explain this simple concept. But turn on the television right now, and it seems that many adults are struggling with (or have completely abandoned) this rule we learned in school. Political candidates are some of the worst offenders. Remember the days when candidates would tout their successes instead of criticize their opponents? It’s becoming overwhelming when back-to-back Senate candidate ads both spend their precious price...
I have a sign in my bar that says, “Beer; Helping white men dance since 1885.” I bought that sign because I love the humorous truth in that statement. I know I can’t dance and anyone who has seen me try will support my claim. However, give me a beer or two and I think I’m Fred Astaire (a buddy of mine swears that I once won a dance contest while trying to make it to the bathroom, but I don’t remember that!). I looked at that sign the other day and wondered how it would be received by the so call...
Candidate for state legislature, House District 13, Colleen Hinds has my vote. I have known Colleen since the early 1980’s, We worked together as nurses many years, I know first-hand her caring, kindness, compassion and integrity. Montanans need this person to speak for us on all issues. She is recently retired from 40-plus years of nursing, majority in a supervisory position. Vote for Colleen, she is a good listener and dedicated to the community. Judy Laundry, Heron...
The “civil unrest” that Mr. Blackstone refers to DID NOT all start with the “defund the police” mantra. It started with the killing of George Floyd by the police. The entire country watched videos time and again of the horrific death. This after multiple videos of other inexplicable killings of unarmed Black citizens by police. And for the first time in my life we saw at least 80% of our citizens acknowledge (often for the first time) the systemic racism that is built into American policies from education, to housing, healthcare, banking, and u...
THE HISTORY OF THOMPSON FALLS BY RUTH HARLOW WRITTEN FEBRUARY 4, 1954 Author’s Note: This information was received from Mr. W.A. Barto, a long-time resident of Thompson Falls. Thompson Falls was named after David Thompson, who explored the territory of western Montana and parts of Canada. The first wooden roofed house to be built in Montana was the Salish House, which was a fur trading post in 1809. It was located on the south side of the river, about directly opposite of David Thompson’s Monument, east of town. Thompson Falls was ori...
DONNA HAWKINS, Thompson Falls - “I look for morals and integrity.” DUANE SIMONS, St. Regis - “Honesty and integrity.” KATHY LOGAN, Plains - “Integrity, qualifications and experience.” REBECCA MURRAY, Tacoma, Washington - “The biggest number one thing I look for is transparency. Just looking back at everything they have done, just the least amount of sneakiness as possible.” KYLE REVIER, Plains - “I would just look for somebody that is honest and that I think I can trust. Somebody that keeps the general public in mind rather than themselves....
A man charged of driving under the influence for a fourth or subsequent offense pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in 20th District Court. Antonio White Quills was pulled over on April 4 this year for a taillight violation. Officers reported he was visibly intoxicated, and he told them that he had been drinking and smoking marijuana that day. When breathalyzed he blew a score over the legal driving limit and was arrested. White Quills’s trial is set for Jan. 25, 2020. Also on Tuesday, Dawn Holden appeared in court to plead not guilty to the c...
Ambulance T. Falls 11, Plains 11, Paradise 2, Noxon 1. Saturday, August 1 Missing person, T. Falls. Motor vehicle crash, T. Falls. Disturbance, Plains. Motor vehicle crash, T. Falls. Assault, Hot Springs. Disturbance, T. Falls. Animal stray/lost, Heron. Fire, Plains. Animal abuse, Hot Springs. Assist motorist/citizen, T. Falls. Assist motorist/citizen, Trout Creek. Theft from buildings, T. Falls. Fish and Game, T. Falls. Theft, Plains. Fire, Plains. Property damage/criminal mischief, T. Falls. Suspicious activity, Noxon. Harassment/privacy in...
Montana Highway Patrol Coty Wadsworth, 35, day speeding, $105. Travis Gabbert, 39, Operating a motor vehicle while suspended, 1st offense, $325; Violation in a construction zone, $135. Nathaniel Miller, 23, day speeding, $20. Maria Fitzgerald, 38, day speeding, $70. Grant Sexton, 35, operating motor vehicle while suspended, 1st offense, $275, 2 days in jail; habitual offender, $1,035, 14 days in jail; leaving the scene of an accident, $225, 5 days in jail. Gordon Wood, 70, seatbelt violation, $20. Larry Alexander, 73, seatbelt violation, $20....
Velma Melnrick passed away July 25, she was 89. She was preceded in death by her husband, Barney; her parents and her sister, Shirley. She is survived by her children, Ken, Sue, Cindy, and Barney, seven grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, as well as numerous extended family members. She will be missed by everyone who knew her. A private memorial was held August 1.... Full story
Longtime Thompson Falls resident John E (Jack) Basham passed away at the age of 94 on Saturday, August 8, 2020, of natural causes. A full obituary and information on services will be coming soon.... Full story
During a board meeting Tuesday, the Thompson Falls School Board publicly revealed their plan to reopen in the fall of 2020. They said that they will proceed “business as usual,” according to the Thompson Falls Superintendent, Bud Scully. However, Scully also added “our plan has to be flexible.” The board wanted to assure the public that they will be working for the safety of the kids, however, will be following the minimum requirements of Phase 2 guidelines for reopening. The meeting was attended by nearly 50 community members, gathere...
All refuse sites in Sanders County will begin requiring proof of county residency for people wanting to dump waste. Vehicles with in-county license plates (starting with 35) will be exempt from providing proof, as they are proof. All sites, including Plains, Thompson Falls, Trout Creek, Noxon and Heron will be asking for proof of residency starting this week. The refuse sites have begun to notice a major issue with out of county and out of state residents dumping into the Sanders County sites. Mineral County is private, and they have to work...
A small group of volunteers helped restore wetland habitats and increase wildlife access to Fishtrap Creek last week. The efforts of volunteers contributed to the West Fork Fishtrap Creek Road Realignment Project, which relocated the junction of West Fork Fishtrap Creek Road (NFSR 7609) with Fishtrap Creek Road (NFSR 516), approximately 600 feet to the north. "This will reduce sediment entering the stream and allow for the creation of enhanced stream and wetland habitat along mainstream...
A new farm stand has opened in Trout Creek. Located under the pavilion in the parking lot of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, fresh produce is available to purchase 4-7 p.m. every Tuesday. Organizer Maurita Crew, who teaches at the Trout Creek Adventist School, decided to open the farm stand because the Trout Creek Farmer's Market was cancelled this year due to COVID-19. "We didn't want this to not happen," Crew said as wanting to find a way to make this goal a reality. Funds brought in from th...
Whitefish Credit Union (CU) was recently recognized by Forbes as the No. 1 credit union in the state of Montana. Forbes partnered with Statista and surveyed more than 25,000 customers across the U.S. on their opinions of their current and former banking relationships to determine what credit unions have gone above and beyond to provide first-class financial services and top-notch care for their members. Of the 5,236 credit unions nationwide, just 3.5% made the list. Each financial institution was rated on overall recommendations and...
It's time for an adventure. A local Hot Springs woman wants to lead the way on your next Montana excursion. Tracy Dyson, owner of Travel Guide, launched her business just last month. Her goal is to take both tourists and locals on Montana outings that she herself has come to love. "These trips are little hidden gems that people don't normally see," Dyson said. Wine tasting, hiking and stunning views, Travel Guide has it all for anyone wanting to truly experience everything Montana has to offer....
The Thompson Falls Library’s summer reading program, Imagine Your Story, has commenced for 2020. The program, which ran through June and July, ended on August 4. Due to social distancing requirements, story time and several activities planned for the reading program were cancelled. Despite the setbacks, Library Director Lynne Kersten thinks this year’s program was still a success. “We weren’t sure how this summer was going to go with everything happening,” Kersten said. “I think the program helped make the summer go by, and it kept the kids re...
NorthWestern Energy has officially initiated the process of relicensing the Thompson Falls Hydroelectric Project – FERC Project No. 1869 (the Project), by filing a Notice of Intent to file a License Application (NOI), to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Alongside the NOI, a Pre-Application Document (PAD), was also submitted. The PAD, which was filed electronically on NorthWestern’s part states, “this document (PAD) describes the project proposal and existing relevant information that can be used to assess potential proje...
