Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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In April 1981, Montana Governor Ted Schwinden signed a proclamation declaring Trout Creek the Huckleberry Capital of Montana. "The community of Trout Creek deserves the special recognition of this state because of its efforts in community development and its efforts to promote the natural resources and natural splendors of Montana," the governor wrote more than 44 years ago. The small town lived up to its selection once again last weekend for the 44th annual Huckleberry Festival. Trout Creek...
It was a happy celebration for the musicians of the Montana Baroque Music Festival, but halfway through their Wednesday performance, security entered and went to the stage to check the identification of bass player Andrew Harmon. Most of the group kept playing as Aaron Cain shined his flashlight in Harmon's eyes for identification verification. Though he was dressed for the part, when a security man arrives on a scene singing in German, it might be a clue that it's part of the performance. "I...
Ryan Busse of Kalispell wants to be the next governor of Montana. Busse and State Auditor candidate John Repke visited the Whitepine Grange last week for a campaign stop. The candidates spoke to a crowd of about 40 people last Thursday, then stayed to talk to community members and answer questions. Busse, a Democrat, stated that Republicans have made Montana "a playground for billionaires." Busse's campaign slogan is "Get your Montana back." He talked about the importance of rural healthcare...
I joke that my parents were super excited when I bought my own house because it meant that I wouldn't move back in with them again. Growing up in little old Sanders County, I couldn't wait to go out and explore the world. I branched out for college, going out of state. Then I moved home. I made stops around the country for college my journalism career. And when I got divorced, the only place I wanted to go was home. Once I got back to Sanders County, I didn't want to leave. In fact, I only leave the county once every other month or so, and...
Apologies to F. Scott Fitzgerald: “The very rich are just different from you and me.” We worry about the next mortgage payment; they paid cash for their home(s). Without insurance, medical care is only “an option” for us. For the wealthy, when insurance won’t cover it, there’s always cash. We plan for our retirement, denying short-term pleasures for long-term security. Retirement? The wealthy are born “retired”. Our wallets are full of basic credit cards with too high-interest balances; their cards are “titanium” levels without balances. O...
Several years ago I paid a visit to the Mayor of Flaxville, Montana. Her honor was not only the CEO of Flaxville, she was also the Chair of the Democratic Party in Daniels County, which was the main reason for my visit in my capacity as the State Chair of the whole shebang—the Montana Democratic Party. That’s just to explain why I was there and that’s all the politics this article will contain. So, I’m in Flaxville at a pancake breakfast put on by some organization for some good cause. Flaxville...
13 YEARS AGO • JULY 21, 1948 NEW MOTEL The new Falls Motel, located one-half block off the highway west in the city limits, is now open to the public. It is one of the finest, with eight double unit sleeping rooms, all modern and electrically heated and the quarters are nice and roomy. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Moore, the proprietors, have their living quarters and office in the first unit. Moores are to be congratulated on completion of their fine establishment. 64 YEARS AGO • JUNE 9, 1960 PICNIC PEST Ants aren’t the only uninvited guests that appear...
Ambulance: Plains, 9; Hot Springs, 5; T. Falls, 5; Trout Creek, 3; Noxon, 2; Dixon, 2; Heron, 1; Paradise, 1; Lonepine, 1. Monday, August 5 Fire, Trout Creek. Livestock, Trout Creek. Civil attempts. Road hazard/blockage, Noxon. Animal other, T. Falls. Threats, Trout Creek. Suspicious activity, Hot Springs. Suspicious activity, Plains. Suspicious activity, Heron. Road hazard/debris on road, Noxon. Motor vehicle crash, Plains. Welfare check, T. Falls. Tuesday, August 6 Suspicious activity, Trout Creek. Trespass, Hot Springs. Motor vehicle crash,...
Montana Highway Patrol Dillan Bauer, 20, operating without liability insurance in effect, 1st offense, $85. Sarah Dumont, 47, operating without liability insurance in effect, 1st offense, $85, deferred imposition of sentence. Richard Couture-Ness, 21, speeding in a restricted zone, $55. David Griffin, 57, speeding in a restricted zone, $105. Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Haileigh Current, 46, criminal trespass to property, $235, 180 days jail with 179 days suspended. Lester De La Torre Alfonso, 42, day speeding, $20. Conor Prischmann, 50, s...
Abigail Lloyd, Trout Creek - “Bluey.” Connie Scott, Plains - “Snoopy.” Lewis Eldridge, Plains - “I don’t have one.” Jim Fargher, Thompson Falls - “Bugs Bunny and Road Runner.” Cameron Baker, Hayden, Idaho - “Flapjack.” Beth Zollars, Lynnwood, Washington - “Daffy Duck....
At the age of 93, Jimme Lee Wilson, retired rancher, passed away quietly at his home in Santa Barbara, CA on August 1, 2024, where he and his wife Carolyn lived for the past six years. Jimme was born in Billings, MT, May 21, 1931, to Paul and Catherine Bender Wilson. He later graduated from Laurel High School in 1949, and played in the East-West Shrine Football Game his senior year. In 1949, he enrolled at the University of Montana where he played center and linebacker for the Grizzly football t... Full story
Margaret A. Filippi went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on July 29, 2024, at home. Margaret is no longer in pain and no more suffering. Thank you Jesus and praise be to God. Margaret was born October 15, 1935, in London, England. She moved to Paris, France, when she was 20 years old and loved every moment of her three years there. She learned to write and speak French and German fluently. She then moved to California in 1959 and was a secretary to the president of a large... Full story
Lawrence Lawson Kennedy, husband of Sandra Sitzmann and father of Chris Kennedy, left this world on November 24, 2023, at Immanuel Lutheran Nursing Home in Kalispell, Montana. Lawrence entered this world as a roaring lion, an Indiana Jones character who never took "no" for an answer. He was born in California, determined to conquer everything presented to him. He was unstoppable, his creative spirit leading him to achieve everything he wished for in life. He was a man of many talents: an artist,... Full story
The members of the Plains School took less than 30 minutes to approve two new policies and this year's school sports handbook. Some residents have questioned why the school had no dual sports policy, such as the one Thompson Falls has on hand. The Dual Activities Policy and the Activities Fundraising Policy were both unanimously approved by board members Ellen Childress, Monica Weedeman, Lana Dicken, and chairman Beau French. The two policies were written by the school's new athletic director,... Full story
Michael Feiger, District Ranger for the Cabinet Ranger District, gave a briefing to the Sander County Commissioners on last regarding wildland fires and other forestry concerns for Sanders County. Logging projects with timber sales and vegetation management were on the agenda. Recreation, wildfire and prescribed burns were updated. Feiger said the Tuscor project is a big accomplishment. “The decision was signed July 28 to put the project up for bid and it was advertised on August 8 of this year. This brings the project, from inception to f...
Artists in Sanders County last week had the opportunity to show people their work at the Paradise Center, where visitors could see and buy paintings, wood carvings, photographs, ceramic pieces, jewelry, leatherwork, or glasswork. Ten artists from Plains, Paradise, Thompson Falls, Superior, and St. Regis spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday selling their goods at the Paradise Center. Two new participants this year - the Clark Fork Valley Artists and the Iron Horse Trading Company - participated,...
The Thompson Falls Class of 1994 took advantage of Huckleberry Festival weekend to gather in Trout Creek and celebrate their 30-year class reunion on Saturday....
The Sanders County Fair is less than two weeks away, but it looks like it’s going to be packed with fun activities, food and sights, according to Kristy Sheehan, the fair manager. The fair this year will perhaps for the first time open with a concert for the first night entertainment event. Country singer and songwriter Levi Blom will kick off the fair on Wednesday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m. in the fair’s main arena. Tickets for the Butte resident are $20 for bleachers and $25 on the arena floor in front of the stage. With this year’s theme as “Hors...
When Heather Thompson picked up pickleball in April of this year, she never thought it would lead to her winning the Montana State Pickleball Singles Championship. Now Thompson has free entry to the national competition in November hosted in Dallas, Texas. "I really wasn't expecting much going into the competition, there were so many amazing competitors," Thompson said. Having played competitive tennis since she was eight years old, Thompson picked the sport up rather quickly, saying she...
Members of the Plains Town Council unanimously approved the hiring of a contractor to decommission and demolish the old sewage lagoon last Monday at City Hall. Olympus Technical Services of Helena won the bid to dismantle the old wastewater treatment plant at the end of Helterline Drive with its bid of $71,670. Olympus Technical Services was one of five companies, including one from Sanders County, to bid on the project, said Mayor Joel Banham. The liners from the old ponds will be removed and... Full story
The ladies had another stunning day of golf with Kim Pardee and Kim Sparks earning the low team gross score with 99, while Marshanna Drop and Doree Thilmony got the low team net score with 66. Doree Thilmony proved her skills getting the low individual gross score with 45, with Katie Miller getting the low individual net score with her 32. Kayla Mosher earned closest to pin on No. 1, Kim Pardee had closest to pin on No. 2, and Danice Toyias earned closest to pin on hole No. 8. Ruth Kronfuss showed her skills earning the long putt on No. 3 and...
The Over the Hill Gang had a wonderful Monday golf game with Ron Beaty getting the low gross men’s score with 36. Randy Hojem earned the low net men’s score with 29. Jan Thompson showed her skills getting the low gross women’s score with 45, while Kristy Beaty got the low net women’s score with 35. Rusty Haggard had closest to pin on No. 10, Jan Thompson had closest to pin on No. 14. Dave Tallant earned closest to pin on hole No. 17. Ron Belger proved his arm by getting the long putt on No. 12, with Rusty Haggard getting the long putt on No....
Get ready for an unforgettable journey through the heart of Western Montana's agricultural landscapes with the inaugural Clark Fork River Pedal & Farm Tour. This 30-mile bike tour, set to take place on Saturday, August 17, offers participants a unique opportunity to explore the region’s diverse farms while enjoying the scenic beauty along the Clark Fork River. Riders will meander through sunlit forests, glide along the riverbanks, and traverse meadows where agriculture has flourished for generations. The tour features visits to several s...
SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. FMC 4. PSI 7. TEG 10. LAO 11. ABN 12. ANA 13. STILL 15. RAD 16. CALLA 19. TACTILE 21. INKBLOT 23. PESETAS 24. COLLAGE 25. SISE 26. EPEE 27. DETESTS 30. SESSILE 34. ALA 35. RAN 36. SIDECAR 41. PASSAGE 45. ARNE 46. IMAM 47. POURING 50. SALAAMS 54. PANACEA 55. CHALLIS 56. BRICK 57. TAI 59. BLOAT 60. THE 61. TAN 62. LEI 63. YET 64. ARE 65. ERN SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. FLICS 2. MALTESE 3. COLITIS 4. PARESES 5. SBA 6. INDICES 7. TACKLES 8. ENABLES 9. GALLA 13. STP 14. TAE 17. LOG 18. ATE 20. LAST 22. NOPE 27. DAS 28. ELI 29. TAD 31. IRA...
