Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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The game of golf is a popular pastime and the River's Bend Golf Course in Thompson Falls offers a scenic 9-hole course for a relaxing game. David Tallant and Rees Woolford are two friends that have been meeting up to play on the course for almost nine years. The friends met in 1985 while they were both working in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as bank examiners for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Before he and his wife Laura bought a summer home in Thompson Falls in 2007, Tallant had been...
A great blue heron visited the Welcome to Thompson Falls sign recently, perching on the rocks as it searched for a snack. "We really are genuine in nature," said Ray Marshall of Thompson Falls, who photographed the heron recently. Marshall was referring to the slogan for the town chosen by the Thompson Falls Main Street Committee. Residents in the Whitepine area have also reporting seeing sandhill cranes this week. Sandhill cranes will often be viewed in Sanders County before the start of fall...
Fire season is not really done yet, in spite of recent rains which have temporarily knocked back the danger. Warily eyeing this week’s weather forecast, which calls for a stretch of several hot summer days, local fire managers caution folks to maintain their vigilance as the 2019 fire season winds down. “We are still in High fire danger with some warm weather ahead,” Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District Fire Management Officer Scott Schrenk said earlier this week. “We expect that we could still get some new starts, and are ready to respond if...
Two weeks ago a man in Havre gave out his Social Security number to a scammer. Last week, a woman in Great Falls became another victim. Calls are being received across the state of Montana from people pretending to be Social Security Administration employees. The intent of these calls is to steal the victim’s identity and/or money directly from their bank account. The calls often sound official and are designed by scammers to get around their victim’s logic and caution by creating a sense of urgency and fear. Various versions have been rep...
Last week, we asked “Are you ready for school to start?” in our Question of the Week. With the long days of summer, most kids aren't quite ready to say goodbye to lazy mornings with days full of free time. But most of the parents we've talked to are ready to get back to consistent bedtimes and mornings, as well as the structure of school days. Summer days are fun and care-free, but having that everyday routine helps parents keep their lives organized, too. Summer seems to fly by when you're older. We spoke to a couple retired teachers who hav...
Dear Editor, I would like to thank Kevin Hill for volunteering his time and talent to the Huckleberry Festival. He also donates an ice chest with a prime rib and a bottle of wine (approximately $150 value) to one of the bidders. Every time someone wins a bid their bidding numbers is put in the drawing. At the end of the auction a winner is drawn. This year my number was pulled, and I won. I wanted everyone to know that Kevin and his wife Pat are truly assets to our community. By the way, we are not related, just share the same last name. I...
Having spent 25 years evaluating writing samples from high school students, I long ago developed the somewhat neurotic habit of being judgmental about other peoples’ writing. I no longer get paid to judge, of course, except through moments of disgust, or sometimes glee, but two categories continue to feed my habit: advertising, and political slogans. For example, on the back cover of a recent Leatherworkers’ and Saddlers’ Journal, Tandy Leather Corporation expounds “Introducing new, everyday HONEST pricing.” Now, maybe there’s some recent accus...
Years ago, when I was on the board of directors of my local hospital, I attended a seminar on the duties and responsibilities of a board member. One speaker pointed out that the board member’s loyalty was not to the physical structure of the hospital, but to the mission of the hospital; that is, our loyalty was not to the tangible aspect of the hospital, but to the idea of the hospital — what it stood for. I think that distinction is also what unites all Americans no matter how much we may dif...
19 PUBLICATION OF WESTERN SANDERS COUNTY This publication was recently donated to the Old Jail Museum WATER This valley is traversed by the Clark’s Fork of the Columbia, a mountain river with headwaters in the Rocky Mountains near Butte, Montana joined by the Flathead River near Paradise, Montana. The headwaters of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River are formed near Glacier National Park. The North Fork is in Canada while the South Fork has its beginning 90 miles south of Glacier Park. Numerous small mountain rivers and streams flow into t...
TOM MASON, Thompson Falls – “They have done so well with all the roads that I have no complaints.” ROBIN GILE, Trout Creek – “Trout Creek Bridge and the Thompson Falls bridge both need to be finished.” GRACE KAST, Noxon – ”I just wonder how they pick the different sections of the highways to be renewed.” DICK MOSHER, Thompson Falls – “Maybe Grove Street in Thompson Falls. The rain has washed out both sides of the road.” KADE PARDEE, Thompson Falls – “Probably when you get to the stretch after you can go fast on Highway 200.” ROMAN SPARKS,...
Monday, August 12 Animal, Plains. Child custody issues. Motorist assist. Theft of personal records by family member, Noxon. Nuisance complaints, Plains. Alarm intrusion/holdup, T. Falls. Disturbance. Tuesday, August 13 Nuisance complaints. Intimidation/harassment. Hot Springs. Livestock, Plains. Fire. Fire. Livestock, Dixon. Abandoned vehicle, Noxon. Suspicious activity, Trout Creek. Body found, Arlee. Disturbance, Hot Springs. Motorist assist, Hot Springs. Wednesday, August 14 Partner or family member assault, Hot Springs. Stolen and forged...
Montana Highway Patrol Robert Oliver, 50, fail to obey direction to be weighed, $85; operating commercial vehicle without commercial driver’s license, $75; obstructing a peace officer, $125; no or improper medical certification in drivers possession, $50; seatbelt violation, $20. Cody Daenzer, 31, operating without liability insurance in effect, 2nd offense, $75; criminal possession of dangerous drugs, 1st offense, $125; criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, $135; seatbelt violation, $20; driving motor vehicle while privilege to do so is s...
Competition was fierce at the National Senior Bowling Championships in Cincinnati August 6-9. A total of seven bowlers qualified from Rimrock Lanes and four others from throughout Montana. There were six divisions of women's bowlers and six divisions of mixed bowlers in the Senior Championship, with each division based on an age range. Taking home first place in the 65-69 division and earning a National Senior Bowling Championship title was Susan Sweatman of Trout Creek. Sweatman qualified to...
The Cabinet Ranger District of the Kootenai National Forest is planning a fall prescribed burn of up to 2,400 acres associated with the Minton-Trout Project. The purpose of the burn is to improve forage habitat for big game species and to reduce hazardous fuels in the East Fork and West Fork Trout Creek, and Attlebury Creek drainages. Ignition will be conducted by helicopter and will target heavy concentration of dead and down fuels. An area and trail closure will be in effect several days prior to ignition to ensure public safety. Fire plays...
One of the oldest trees in Thompson Falls was taken down this week. The Cottonwood tree behind Courtney's Floral Creations was removed by Silcox Tree Service. Falling limbs from the aging tree have caused damage to buildings and vehicles in the area in recent years. Local historians believe that the tree was planted in the early 1900s. The horse chestnut tree below the Odd Fellows Hall on Main Street was the first deciduous tree planted in Thompson Falls in 1909, planted by by Thompson Falls's...
Ruthie Luella McKenzie Bierwagen was born on August 14, 1940 in Sandpoint, Idaho. She was pre-deceased by her parents Clarence Felix McKenzie and Ella Joye Roe McKenzie and the love of her life Gordon Bierwagen. She is survived by her brother, Ervin McKenzie of Anchorage, Alaska, and sisters Carol Hopkins of Clarkston, Washington, and Linda Arnzen of Cottonwood, Idaho. She is also survived by her sons Tony (Lynn) Bierwagen of Thompson Falls, Montana and Rick (Susan) Bierwagen of Acton, Massachusetts; grandchildren Cadi Bierwagen of Sarasota, Fl... Full story
Nancy L. Willey of Thompson Falls passed Aug. 3, 2019, at Clark Fork Valley Hospital. She struggled with sugar diabetes for the last couple of years. Nancy was born May 19, 1948, in Newburg, Oregon, to parents Neil and Helen George. Nancy grew up and graduated high school in Sacramento, California, and then on to trade school for electronics. After graduating she worked for Wiltron Electronics until a girl she met from Wyoming talked her into moving back to Wyoming with her. There she met Reid Willey. They married May 25, 1969. They moved to... Full story
Remembering Elizabeth... Elizabeth (Miller) Wengerd, age 89 years, 1 month, 9 days, of Heron, Montana, went home to be with the Lord, August 14, 2019. She was born July 5, 1930, in Holmes County, Ohio, to Andy J.P. and Katie (Hershberger) Miller. She married Melvin E. Wengerd on December 20, 1951. In 1999 they moved to Heron, Montana. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and "grandma" to all. Loved by all! She leaves behind a loving family of four children: Mervin (Frieda)... Full story
Historical buildings are reminders of a community's beginning and cultural base. After 89 years, residents of Lonepine still utilize the Lonepine Community Hall for what it was constructed for. "The Articles of Incorporation listed one of the purposes of the Lonepine Community Hall as a public gathering place for the community of Lonepine and the whole of Sanders County," commented club member Cynthia Benson. The Hall continues to come alive with social entertainment in the form of dances,...
by Ed Moreth Things seem to be moving at a snail’s pace for Pat Legard, who has waited five months for the findings on his son’s death. Mark Legard was found dead in his Plains home on March 15, the result of a gunshot to his head, but the manner of death was immediately labeled “undetermined,” rather than a suicide, accidental or homicide, and that hasn’t changed, which is frustrating Pat Legard even more. “I’ve tried to be patient, but it’s gone far enough — I need some answers,” said Pat, who found his son’s body in his bed, still wearin...
The Forest Service is asking for public feedback on the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Swamp Eddy project located on the Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District, about five miles southwest of Plains. The project area, which encompasses approximately 28,000 acres, proposes to improve the forest health of the area by restoring vegetation conditions that are resilient to natural disturbances such as fire, insects and disease. Additionally, the project supports the economic vitality of local communities, maintains a suitable transportation sys...
With Project Ascent the main beneficiary of this year's event, the 11th Annual Avista Charity Scramble was played in near-perfect weather at River's Bend Saturday. The tournament featured 13 men's teams and five women's teams of four this time around River's Bend. A total of 72 golfers played in this year's Avista tourney On the men's side, the fearsome foursome team of Dylan Beckman, Mike Bates, Brett Damaskos and Brandon Damaskos put the hurt on the Bend with an out-of-sight round of 56. With...
It's a brave new world for the Thompson Falls Blue Hawk football team. The big question is: How will coach Jared Koskela and his boys adapt to the 8-Man game they will officially be playing for the first time this fall? "I am going to stay on the optimistic side of things," Koskela said. "This season is looking a lot better going in than our last few as an 11-Man team, I know that. "It (moving to 8-Man) has leveled the field for us, and we feel pretty good about our schedule," he added. "Sure,...
Being in the sweet 16 isn’t necessarily a very good deal in Montana cross country running. The top 15 place-winners in Montana State high school cross country meets automatically earn All-State status, but the No. 16 placing runner is left out in the cold. The leader of last season’s Thompson Falls high school harriers as a sophomore, junior Josey Neesvig finished in 16th place in the State B girls meet last fall, one agonizing spot short of earning All-State B honors. “You bet she remembers that,” Blue Hawk coach Sarah Naegeli said, “and ha...
Proving hungry dogs hunt best, the Wild Coyote team of Gary Thompson, Dave Petteys, Scott Pardee and Howard Morkert devoured the competition and moved into first place by shooting the low team gross of 170 last week in Wednesday Night Men’s League action at River’s Bend. While the Coyotes were busy hunting down the low gross, Ron’s Running Dinos’ team of Bruce Sterling, Darrel “Torgy” Torgrimson, Dan Kier and Mike Thilmony posted the low team net of 139. Jesse Mosher shot the low individual gross of 38 while Petteys factored in his handicap to...
