Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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To say that the Sink family from Thompson Falls are history buffs would be an understatement. The group gives their time to helping show others the joys of exploring history hands on by living it. Wesley Sink, and his family, have been attending numerous Civil War reenactments and living history events for some time, and this last weekend they traveled to Eagle City Park near Prichard, Idaho, to do just that. The event was a last-minute battle reenactment thrown together by a man named Gene Blac...
"It's a way of life," local rancher and retired Forest Service employee Bill Meadows said. "We decided we are going to stay here and work until we die." Meadows and his wife Helen were referencing ranch life on their Little Beaver Creek homestead established 136 years ago by Bill's maternal grandparents. One of the Meadows' biggest secrets in the ranching world has been the use of QuietWean. Bill said he does not know anyone other than himself who uses the device, but highly recommends it to...
The county recorded its first coronavirus-related death last week, according to Sanders County Public Health officials. No details were provided regarding the death, which the county announced on Saturday. As of Tuesday, the county remained at two active cases of COVID-19. “As we are below the threshold of four active cases, face coverings are not currently required in Sanders County, but local officials strongly recommend their continued use,” the county health department announced. Many local businesses also continue to require masks. The...
Community Harvest Food Bank (CHFB) in Thompson Falls has expanded their board to nine members and has implemented new procedures due to the impacts of COVID-19. The food bank has not seen any setbacks because of the virus, and it is still open and ready to help those in need. “Community Harvest Food Bank is here to serve eligible people in the Thompson Falls and Trout Creek areas,” stated Hank Smith, president of CHFB. “If you are not sure if you qualify, please stop by and speak to one of our volunteers.” The food bank has not seen an increase...
Let's not talk about politics for a minute. Let's instead talk about a sense of community. We live in rural Montana. Most people see it as a positive that we know our neighbors and don't have a stop light in the county. However, that also means that resources such as volunteers and donations are stretched. We often see the same people involved in nonprofits or community events. Often, you see those same people burn out and some of the events or organizations disappear. Being involved creates a sense of community. Where can you help out? The...
It is hard for me to understand why many politicians are able to abandon principle in order to get re-elected. I know that they want to be re-elected above all else — I understand that. As a legislator I wanted to win re-election, but I like to think I didn’t have to sell my soul to do it. There is something that drives public officials to seek election in the first place, whether it is a sense of obligation to a nation that has treated them well or a belief that they can make America a bet...
I have known Bryce Bennett for 10 years. There is no one I’d rather vote for as Secretary of State. As a State Representative and Senator, Bryce fought so all Montanans, regardless of their party affiliation, had their voices heard. He was instrumental in passing the Disclose Act, our nation’s toughest anti-dark money law, and is dedicated to keeping corruption and special interests out of Montana elections. Bryce helped ensure access to healthcare for over 90,000 of our most vulnerable friends and neighbors by voting to expand Medicaid and...
I first met Diane when I moved to Montana and we were both involved with the ACS Relay for Life, but I didn’t get to know her well until after the 2016 election when she and another community member put out a call for people interested in reactivating the Mineral County Democratic Central Committee. This group quickly formed, and Diane was elected Chairperson. Over the next four years I witnessed her quiet but effective leadership and her willingness to step out and involve herself in community activities, from attending hospital board m...
7 YEARS AGO • SEPTEMBER 20, 1950 OLD-TIMERS HONORED AT COURTHOUSE DEDICATION Thompson Falls, the county seat, was crowded as visitors from every point in the county and outside guests came for Saturday's daylong celebration. The old-timers, the pioneers, were honored at a ceremony which dedicated the new $107,000 Sanders County courthouse. County Commissioner M.C. Sutherland opened the dedication program. Appearing on the speakers platform during the dedication were the following old-timers o...
Stephanie Huyghe, Plains - “I recycle old cardboard. I use it for making fire starters and burn it in my wood burning stove; I never throw out any cardboard.” Dan Schuotz, Chaska, Minnesota - “We recycle aluminum and cardboard. We have big 55-gallon bins, and they come once a month to pick that up.” Jesse Claridge, Thompson Falls - “I’m just too lazy to recycle.” Bob Hofmeister, Las Vegas, Nevada - “My wife recycles anything that she can find a place to stick it. If they’ve got a bin for it she recycles it.” Patti Whitmore, Thomspon Falls - “I...
Ambulance Dixon 3, Hot Springs 5, Plains 10, Noxon 3, T. Falls 8, Trout Creek 2, Perma 1 Sunday, September 6 Disturbance, Plains. Assist motorist/citizen, Hot Springs. Disturbance, person stating he was going to burn a house down, Dixon. Suspicious activity, T. Falls. Theft, male called to report his mother taking his keys, Hot Springs. Motor vehicle crash, T. Falls. Coroner called, T. Falls. U.S. Forest Service campground check, Paradise. Theft, Noxon. U.S. Forest Service campground check, Paradise. Informational case, Plains. Motor vehicle...
Montana Highway Patrol Eugene Doney, Jr., 58, failure to carry proof of insurance, 1st offense, $85. John Hanson, Jr., 36, day speeding, $70. Cynthia Karnes, 64, seatbelt violation, $20. Burke McCullough, 55, day speeding, $20. Brayden Good, 17, day speeding, $20. Jeremy Hageness, 50, day speeding, $20. Tara Key, 35, day speeding, $20. Bruce Semier, 64, day speeding, $70. Hunter Hardwick, 25, day speeding, $70 Dillan Sampson, 16, day speeding, $20. Peter Carey, 17, day speeding, $20. Clifford Phillips, 53, failure to carry proof of insurance, 1...
Thompson Falls man Raymond Schaefer on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to a charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs. According to charging documents, Thompson Falls Police received a call of an altercation. Police who responded found a meth pipe on Schaefer's person as well as a pipe for marijuana in his vehicle. There was also an open container of alcohol in his vehicle and it was determined that Schaefer was under the influence during the confrontation. Schaefer’s trial has been set for February 15, 2021. A Helena man, Andre Levert, a...
A new program established from Coronavirus Relief Funds allows Montana businesses to take out a new loan to support economic recovery. The Montana Working Capital program was announced by Gov. Steve Bullock at the beginning of September and began accepting loan applications Sept. 8. The Montana Working Capital program will utilize the unused portion of the $125 million that the Montana Loan Deferment program was allocated in June of this year. “We are getting money out the door to keep employees on the job, support Montana businesses, and e...
A Plains resident has penned a new children's book titled A Dog's Bucket List. Author Karen Olson found the inspiration to write this book from her dog, Nike. The book follows the true story of how her family found him at the top of Little Thompson Peak in 2003. A short chapter book that children from ages six to nine will enjoy, readers will follow along with Nike as he celebrates finding his new home by creating an unusual bucket list. Olson describes the first pages as sad, whereas Nike did...
Lake trout anglers hit Flathead Lake last week for the first days of the 2020 Fall Mack Days competition. The event, sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, runs through November 15. Anglers turned in 3,366 lake trout entries during the first week. Anglers are jigging and trolling to catch the lake trout using different techniques and lures that attract the fish. They adapt with weather, light, and time of day. Some stay in one spot all day and others will move around the lake, in search of the “hot spot.” Competition on the...
Jacqueline Kay (Larkin) Kirkland, 56, of Noxon passed away September 1, 2020 after a battle with brain cancer. Jackie was born in Sandpoint, Idaho, to Larry and Sharon Larkin on June 22,1964. She was the youngest of six children. Jackie attended all 13 years of school in Noxon. She was a member of 4-H and a cheerleader for the Noxon Red Devils. Jackie was an active member of her community as a Girl Scout leader, school volunteer and helping with Fourth of July activities. For several years, she... Full story
February 10, 1953 – August 24, 2020 Bobby Dean Sellmer was born February 10, 1953 and was the oldest of four boys. He was born in Sandpoint, Idaho, and raised in Heron, Montana, by his parents Bob and Audrey Sellmer. Bobby went to Heron Grade School and later attended Noxon High School. He joined the Air Force in 1972 and did his training in Texas. After his two years there he joined the National Guard in Libby, Montana. His father Bob taught him how to drive truck leading to a career of d... Full story
Clarence M. Fried passed away peacefully September 4, 2020 at Clark Fork Valley Hospital at the age of 89. He was born in Fisher, North Dakota, on January 22, 1931. Clarence is preceded in death by his parents Edward and Olga Fried, brothers Herbert, Arnold and Wilmer (Bud) and sister Irene (Fried) McDonald. He is survived by brother Edward Fried and his wife Ruth and sister Wilma Huber; his children, Cathy Vose (Danny), Deborah Doty (Mike), Nancy Marsh (Danny), Lisa Fried de Reyes (Octavio... Full story
December 21, 1949 – September 6, 2020 Carolyn Keller passed away peacefully September 6, 2020, in Thompson Falls with her two daughters by her side. She knew her time was coming. She couldn't wait to reunite with her husband Bill Keller. Carolyn was born to James and LaVerna Curbow December 21, 1949, in Kellogg, Idaho. She had four siblings, Ron, James, Donnie and her beloved sister Norma. Carolyn grew up and graduated high school in Kellogg. She then went to beauty school. She married W... Full story
With the help of the First Lutheran Church in Plains, a new walking trail has been created at the Paradise Center. Named the Interpretive Walking Trail, this is an easy walk around the center that allows visitors to learn about local landmarks and vegetation. The project took just three days to complete for the group of 10 volunteers that donated their weekend to the cause. Among those tasks were cementing forms for posts, painting and installing the posts, raking and leveling the gravel and...
Lorraine Mallo Sharp, age 93, passed away September 8, 2020 in Mesa, Arizona. She was born in the Town of Ford, Wisconsin, in Ben and Jewel Schoonover’s house. Her mother was Nora Mae (Schoonover) Mallo and her father was Archie Arthur Mallo. Lorraine grew up in the Hannibal, Wisconsin, area and graduated from Hannibal High School in 1944. She talked often about being a child during the Great Depression. Her father died when she turned nine and her brothers joined the military serving in WWII, so much of the farm work was done by Lorraine. W... Full story
YOUNG DEER – A fawn is framed in the velvet antlers of a young buck, probably last year's fawn near Plains....
In honor of those who died and those who worked as first responders on 9/11, the Elks organized a ride through Thompson Falls last Friday. The idea for the ride originally came from Elks member Ron Hawkinson, who thought it would be nice to do something on that day and suggested they ride down Main Street in side-by-sides. They posted about it on Facebook and spread the event around through word of mouth and were surprised at the turnout. Nearly 30 side-by-sides and over 30 vehicles including...
In response to suspected or positive COVID-19 cases in K-12 schools, Governor Steve Bullock has announced new guidance that will take public health-based measures to minimize the spread and keep students safe and healthy. The Outbreak Response Protocols are based off an outbreak response plan that was put together by the State of Rhode Island. The need to initiate a new set of protocols came after school nurses and education advocates requested guidance. “The Outbreak Response Protocols provides guidance requested by school nurses and other e...
