Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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by Annie Wooden Several wildfires are burning on the west end of Sanders County. The lightning-caused fires were the result of recent thunderstorm activity. The Kootenai Ranger District is referring to a group of fires as the Bull Gin Complex, which as of Tuesday encompassed 834 acres and was 0% contained.. Included in that complex is the Government Fire, which is visible from Noxon and Highway 200. The fire is estimated at more than 202 acres and over the weekend, a helicopter dumped buckets of...
Thousands of residents and visitors gathered last weekend for the annual Sanders County Fair & Rodeo. For four days, the Sanders County Fairgrounds were busy with carnival rides, three nights of rodeo action, 4-H project judging and animal shows and endless entertainment. Clockwise from left: Judge Jodi Pauly talks with South Side Sparks member Colt Browning in the junior swine competition. Rides at the Sanders County Fair give adults and kids alike the thrill of speed. Easton Deal of Thompson...
Elementary students of Thompson Falls and Trout Creek received a little extra help with their back to school shopping this year. With contributions from members of the Community Congregational Church in Thompson Falls and funding from the thrift store at Community Harvest Food Bank, 42 students received new backpacks and school supplies. With the help of Susan Cordero, Debbie O'Toole, Shelby Harmon and Evie Arend with Community Harvest Food Bank, backpacks were packed full with supplies...
Where were you? On September 11, 2001, most of us can recall where we were when we heard the news. The United States of America was attacked on our own soil by the Islamic extremist group al Qaeda. American lives were taken, not lost, but rudely and brutally taken. Buildings were destroyed and financial loss to our country ensued. Fear became a palatable part of the fabric of America. Terrorism had reached our soil in a large way, and many responded with paralyzing fear. Fear that kept them...
9 YEARS AGO • AUGUST 31, 1932 ROAD IS COMPLETED The highway between Clarks Fork, Idaho and Noxon on the north side of the river after a year or so of intensive construction, bridge building, etc. is now open for automobile traffic. This road is hard to excel any place in the country, both for the beauty of the scenery, and the fine construction work. Those who have been over the Columbia route contend that the Clarks Fork between Noxon and Clarks Fork, Idaho is equally as beautiful and fascinating to the motorist. It is a high-speed road, w...
Since the pandemic, there has been this shift in the labor market. There are consistently dozens of job openings listed with Job Service. It seems as almost every business in the county is constantly looking for help. Then comes the dilemma of how to run your business with reduced staff. We see it in businesses across the county. Restaurants have reduced hours, even closing certain days of the week due to staffing shortages. Some businesses you see a different employee every time you walk in. The workforce has changed since our parents' and...
CRYSTAL WEST, Plains - “Baling hay.” CODY WEST, Plains - “I went to the fair.” JANA LAWRENCE, Thompson Falls - “Cleaning my house. I was also learning how to ride an electric tricycle. I would much rather be outside.” CHAD SIVERTSEN, Thompson Falls - “I chased a bear out of my yard. I also trimmed trees and picked apples.” BECKY BENNETT, Thompson Falls - “Moving.” LaDONNA CULBERT, KALISPELL - “I went to the fair and did some kayaking....
Aaron Eugene McLaughlin appeared before Judge John W. Larson on August 30 for sentencing. McLaughlin in June was found guilty of deliberate homicide by a jury in the October 2020 death of his roommate, Raymond Wachlin. Judge Larson handed down a sentence of 80 years in the Montana State Prison, with no time suspended and credit for 693 days time served. McLaughlin killed his roommate in October 2020 by blunt force trauma that caused a massive brain hemorrhage. McLaughlin called 911 after the assault and said he beat the victim, Raymond R....
Montana Highway Patrol Marilyn Sisler, 62, seatbelt violation, $20. Anthony Zimmerman, 47, failure to have child properly restrained, $85. Serenity Barrus, 17, right of way violation, $85. Jacob Soennichsen, 36, violation in a work zone, $65. Derek Kloberdanz, 33, seatbelt violation, $20. Stefanie Martin, 45, speeding in a restricted zone, $105. Derrick Winslow, 29, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Shantonu Biswas, 36, passing in a no passing zone, $85. Stan Sinclair, 77, passing in a no passing zone, $85. Elizabeth Perry-Walters, 61,...
Ambulance: Plains, 13; T. Falls, 9; Hot Springs, 6; Noxon, 3; Trout Creek, 1; Paradise, 1; Dixon, 1. Sunday, August 28 Motor vehicle crash, Perma. Motor vehicle crash, Dixon. Livestock, Plains. Livestock, Plains. General animal call/complaint, Hot Springs. Child custody issues, T. Falls. Civil attempts, Paradise. Civil attempts, Dixon. Attempt to locate, Hot Springs. Suspicious activity, T. Falls. Welfare check, Plains. Monday, August 29 Suspicious activity, T. Falls. General animal call/complaint, Plains. Motor vehicle crash, T. Falls. Theft,...
Seconds after the 4-H poultry showmanship competition ended Friday and Claire Wrobleski was told she had taken the grand champion title in the senior division, her bird, "Coyote," took flight and landed in the rafters, discharging feces matter below. Doug Horner, the rabbit barn superintendent, was able to climb up and get the bird down. Poultry Judge Gordon Cummings smiled and told her that she was lucky the bird took off after the show was officially over. He said a similar thing happened to...
The Sanders County Demolition Derby was a big success with a complete sellout with 3,868 tickets sold for the three and a half-hour show. "They definitely got their money's worth, it was a great show," said Randy Woods, the fair board chairman, who received comments from dozens of people telling him it was the best derby they had seen. The fair made $121,868 on the derby alone, the biggest moneymaker of the fair. Nearly 30 cars were part of the "Carnage on the Clark Fork" Sunday evening, the...
Having a horse in a parade is not unusual, but a green one seems to stand out, especially when it's being pulled by people. The horse is a painting done by local artists to pay tribute to Green Star Families - those who lost veteran family members to suicide - an epidemic that seems to be a constant rise in the United States, according to David Williams, who created the Green Star painting four years ago with Plains resident Hailee Steinebach. Williams is also the founder of Joint Operation...
In the first Western Montana Stockmen's Association Jackpot Show in Sanders County, a Hot Springs resident received the reserve championship and a $75 cash prize. Brooke Jackson took the reserve in the cow and calf category at the association's annual competition, this time at Sanders County Fair on Saturday. Sixteen boys and girls from in and out of Sanders County took part in the near hour-long show, including Jackson and Nick McAllister, both of Hot Springs. The two 15-year-olds both...
The PRCA Rodeo at the Sanders County Fair always draws big crowds and this year was no different. Fair goers grabbed their favorite fair dishes and a quick drink from the beer garden before settling down for the show. This year's three-night rodeo saw big names and some big moves. Those who came to entertain the crowds also took home some big bucks. This year's total payoff amounted to $73,088. Announcer Bob Tallman and rodeo clown Rider Kiesner entertained the crowds between each round, even...
A crowd gathered Sunday morning during the Sanders County fair to watch the annual livestock auction. 4-H members worked hard this year on their projects bringing 18 steers, 33 swine, one sheep, two meat turkeys and one rabbit to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Auctioneer Kevin Hill greeted each 4-H member as they entered the arena with their market animal conversing with them to help ease nerves. The auction kicked off with Aubrey Tulloch's angus steer who weighed in at 1,475 pounds. Tu...
This year’s Sanders County Fair might be the end of an era for a group of men, women and children who have been a popular staple at the fair. The Sanders County Concessions Group traditionally has more than a dozen food and drink booths at the annual festival, but this year it had only one, said Don Burrell, president of the nonprofit group, who added that he is disappointed in the way the fair commission has slowly pushed the organization out. Burrell said the group used to pay 20% of the take, but now have to pay 20% of the net, which is t...
The Red Devils won and home and lost on the road last week at the volleyball season trails on. Noxon welcomed Hot Springs in a cross-county battle last Tuesday, beating the Savage Heat in four sets. Noxon went up to a quick 3-0 lead in the first set before Hot Springs sprang back to win 26-24. The teams traded leads in that first round, setting the tone for the rest of the game. Noxon came back to win three straight, however, 25-21, 25-19 and 25-16. Hot Springs led throughout the second set,...
The Blue Hawk cross country team traveled north to Eureka for competition ahead of Labor Day weekend. Thompson Falls competed in the Abayance Bay Triangular last Thursday with Libby and Eureka. Junior Faith Palmer and senior Mollie Nichols dominated the varsity girls, with Palmer finishing first in 23 minutes, 54 seconds, and Nichols taking second in 25:29. Junior Cael Thilmony led the varsity Hawk boys, finishing in second place in 19:36. Thompson Falls freshman Blake Schusterman ran a...
The Blue Hawks added a pair of wins to their season tally last week as they beat Florence in Thompson Falls Tuesday and then traveled to Loyola for another win on Thursday. The Hawks beat the Falcons in four sets, 25-14, 25-23, 24-26 and 25-23. Olivia Harnett led with 23 of the team’s 32 set assists, Natalie Roberts added 10 digs and 12 klss and Finn Walsh let the team in blocks with thee. Senior Avery Burgess led in aces and kills against Florence with four aces and 16 kills. At Loyola, the Hawks took the Heart Breakers down in four sets, 2...
by Kael Brown The Thompson Falls Blue Hawks went into their second game of the season traveling all the way to Three Forks to compete against the Wolves. While the Hawks suffered a 30-8 loss against the Wolves and are now 0-2, the team still has high hopes for the rest of the season. “I thought we progressed a lot from where we were last week. For such a short amount of time, we progressed a lot and I think we’re going to be a force for the rest of the season,” said senior captain Elijah Ratliff. The team had high spirits in the first half....
Mary Della (McLellan) Netz passed away August 11 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after a long struggle with Parkinson's disease. She was 88. Mary was born in 1934 in the small town of Sherman Station, Maine, the only daughter of Delmont and Mae (Garrity) McLellan. She grew up among the close family of her many aunts, uncles, and cousins. After high school she attended The Aroostook State Teachers College (now the University of Maine at Presque Isle) where she was crowned Beauty Queen in 1952. The... Full story
A new gift shop is opening in Heron that will bring a variety of handmade pieces, from jewelry, to sculptures and paintings, to homemade lavender products. Cindy and Kent Compton will launch their new gift shop, Montana Blends, with a grand opening on September 10. After retiring from 30 years of teaching, Cindy discovered a passion for jewelry making and credits her creativity and love of art to her mother, Barbara Mullins. "Every summer I would dabble in some kind of art," she said. "I took a...
The new school year is upon us and sending students back to class is no easy feat, especially when it comes to the price tag. The cost of school supplies can add up quickly, not just for families but for schools as well. When Trout Creek School sent out a message for help, Clark Fork Valley Elks (CFVE) answered the call. Last Tuesday, CFVE Exalted Ruler Charlie Munday and CFVE member Don Manning handed over a check for $1,000 to Trout Creek School teachers to help buy school supplies. "We had...
Joint Operation Mariposa set up its first set of American flags for the annual display on the greenway along Railroad Street in Plains last Thursday. It took the handful of volunteers only a few minutes to place the first 22 flags at the site of the display, created by Plains resident Ed Foste, a member of Joint Operation Mariposa (JOM), a nonprofit organization designed to help veterans in various areas, including getting help for PTSD. Foste was helped on the first night by Devin and Ahna...
