Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Wednesday evening, the civil trial against the Jehovah's Witnesses organization came to a close with $35 million being awarded to a woman who was sexually abused by a member of the church as a child. The jury awarded Alexis Nunez $4 million for her injuries, finding that Watchtower New York, the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses (CCJW), the Thompson Falls congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses and the Nunez's mother, Ivy McGowan-Castleberry, were negligent in the case. The jury also awarded $31 million in punitive damages ($30 million...
A special funeral procession made its way through Thompson Falls Saturday. Members of the armed forces came to Sanders County to honor one of their fallen, Sergeant First Class (SFC) Kelly James Scott Brigham. Brigham attended Thompson Falls High School before moving to Beaverton, Oregon, to graduate. From there he began his career in the Army, serving honorably. When retirement time came, he chose instead to transfer into the Warrior Transition Unit. Brigham passed away this month after a...
The Sanders County Fair Board met last week to review the 2018 Fair and Rodeo, and the feedback and financial reports were mostly positive. The fair brought in just under $240,000 this year. While additional expenses were being approved at the fair board meeting on Wednesday, the fair board, manager and county commissioners were confident that the Sanders County Fair and Rodeo would end the year ahead financially. The fair board meeting offered the board a chance to critique this year’s fair. One issue of confusion for fair goers this year w...
The vision for Thompson Falls is about to become reality. Step by step the end will result in a beautified gathering space connecting community together. Ainsworth Field is about to embark on its journey which began in 2012 when a volunteer City Park Board began brainstorming and fundraising for a new facility they knew had potential. Monday evening, the City of Thompson Falls and the public met to discuss the status of the park. At this meeting, it was disclosed that final designs and cost...
This week, the tradition that is homecoming begins for Sanders County schools. The students will participate in Olympics, dress-up days and dances. Volleyball and football teams will rally for wins on their home turf, and the royalty will be crowned. Homecoming is a celebration of all things school spirit, but we feel like there’s a key component missing — encouraging alumni to come home and be a part of the celebration. It might be smart for the schools to reach out to alumni. Let’s face it, it’s easier to find people and connect with them wi...
Democrats are pulling out all the stops trying to derail the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. As expected, Kavanaugh answered the questions from both Democrats and Republicans honestly and with integrity. Now that their legitimate efforts during the actual hearing didn’t work (even Spartacus couldn’t save the day!), Democrats have come up with a letter that Sen. Diane Feinstein sat on for over two months. This letter alleges an act of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh that...
I for one am happy to see some kind of balance in the Ledger Opinion pieces with the addition of the column “Street Smart” by Mr. Blaine Blackstone. It’s gratifying to see that someone has the courage to point out that Governor Bullock’s support of Second Amendment rights was disingenuous because he now supports banning assault weapons. Of course “assault weapons” to the anti-Second Amendment crowd means any semi-automatic rifle or any weapon that holds more than ten rounds. They call these “weapons of war.” The only addition to his article...
Editor, I would like to thank you for the printing of the very intellectual and informative articles, written for years, by Jim Elliott. For example, 20 September 2018, Jim always writes with so much wisdom and research and it is so interesting that we have a person that will contribute his thoughts, experiences and such to the public via a public news outlet. I want to thank your paper for this great info. As I am a “non-political,” I say he would be a great future governor candidate even though he is a Montana rancher. Al McGuigan Tho...
When I picked my boys up from Noxon School on Tuesday, September 18, they each handed me a pocket version of the Constitution. Attached to the cover was a sticker which read, “Free Copy Courtesy of Senator Jennifer Fielder” and her address and website. I asked where they came from and they told me that State Senator Fielder came and talked to the school. I pondered this on my drive home. That evening I made some calls to determine what had happened and if this event was political/campaigning, or an educational event. The individuals I tal...
5 YEARS AGO • SEPTEMBER 26, 1968 TF QUITS DUMPING SEWAGE INTO RIVER The city of Thompson Falls has quit dumping raw sewage into the Clark’s Fork River. Thompson Falls’ new sewer collection system was placed in operation Friday and all sewer lines, which formerly dumped raw sewage into the river, have been connected into the new system. Sewage collected in the system now is pumped to the lagoon in the northwest part of town. Mayor Orin P. Kendall said some work at the lagoon remains. This includes installation of a high wire fence around the l...
CHARLES OXFORD, Thompson Falls – “Several things. I like the turning of the trees and brush. The summer heat is gone and the cool nights begin so I can sleep. Baseball season ends and football begins.” JERRIE REICHERT, Thompson Falls – “The number one thing is that football season begins. I’m a Green Bay Packer fan even though I moved away from Wisconsin when I was 3.” MARTHA OLSON, Thompson Falls –“I love the Fall colors and fresh air. Whenever it gets cool enough, the leaves turn colors. I can’t handle extreme cold or extreme heat.” MAGG...
Ambulances: Noxon, 1; T. Falls, 6; Plains, 9; H. Springs, 3. Sunday, September 16 Deer carcass causing a road hazard on Hwy. 200, Plains. Verbal altercation, Paradise. Welfare check requested, Plains. Theft of generator from Fairgrounds, Plains. Erratic driver, Hwy. 200, Heron. Man chasing and attempting to run over an individual with a car, Plains. Vehicle vs. deer, Hwy. 28 north of Plains. Monday, September 17 Vehicle vs. deer, Hwy. 28, H. Springs. Suspicious activity along Hwy. 200, Plains. Possible phone scam, Plains. Suspicious activity...
A Hot Springs man entered not guilty pleas on Tuesday to charges stemming from an alleged domestic disturbance earlier this month. Erich Ochsner pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of partner or family member assault and resisting arrest, and felony charges of assault on a peace officer and threats and other improper influence in official and political matters. According to charging documents, Hot Springs Police Department responded to a report in which a neighbor said Ochsner reportedly “drop kicked” a female. According to doc...
Montana Highway Patrol Nicholas True, 34, driving while privilege is suspended or revoked, night speeding. Justin Nottingham, 44: obstructing a peace officer, $225; driving while privilege is suspended or revoked, $275 and 2 days jail; DUI alcohol, 2nd offense, $1285 and 7 days jail. Lacie Lahr, 29, failure to carry proof of insurance, speeding in a restricted zone. Patrick Crabb, 24, seatbelt violation, $20. John Belknap, 67, seatbelt violation, $20. Bryce Henning, 29, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Mick Davison, 19, day speeding, $20....
A vocal range of nearly four octaves is impressive, but add showmanship, harmonies, near-obsessive songwriting and adept guitar playing, and you've got quite a performance. Presented by the Sanders County Arts Council (SCAC), the contemporary country music of Rebecca Folsom hit the stage of the Rex Theatre in Thompson Falls on Saturday, bringing with her the above-mentioned tools of the trade and years of experience in the traveling singer/songwriter lifestyle. Her latest two albums,...
The Plains Lions Club is helping to save an important part of the town's history. The Horse Plains Jail has a leaking roof and needed repairs. Last week, four members of the club – President Duane Highcrane, Jered Littlefield, Marv Tanner, and the club's newest member, Dan Rowan, the town mayor – rectified the problem. "It's an important part of Plains and it's part of the community's history that should be preserved," Highcrane said. The volunteer workers carefully removed the original per...
Looking for something fun, amazing and worthwhile to do the first Saturday of October? Come join a fundraiser fun run, barbeque and bake sale benefitting Lindsay Laws on Saturday, October 6 at 3 p.m. Laws was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body, according to the National MS Society. Expenses for treatments and travel will be...
On September 7, 2018, Lawrence F. "Larry" ONeil, loving husband and friend, father, stepfather, brother, soldier and all-around nice guy, finished his final tour of duty here on this earth. After over six years of a slow decline in health, he closed his eyes for the last time. A funeral mass, followed by a luncheon, will be held at Saint William's Church in Thompson Falls at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. If you wish to make a charitable donation in Larry's name, he would want the donation...
Gifts From Above Midwifery of Plains is pleased to announce the arrival of Lilliana Pearl Smith, born at home on Sept. 11, 2018 at 10:17 a.m., weighing 6 lb., 5 oz. Proud parents are Jonathan and Kayla Smith of Trout Creek. Paternal grandparents are Lori and the late Michael Smith of Thompson Falls. Maternal grandparents are Melvin & Delores Boss of Halsey, Oregon....
Tracy Hadden and Jacob Shuttle welcomed son Gunner Jeffrey Shuttle on Tues., Aug. 28 at 8:32 a.m. He weighed six pounds, 14 ounces and measured 19.5 inches long. Gunner joins brother, Warren Shuttle. Maternal grandparents are Betty Reichert and the late Richard Reichert. Maternal great-grandparents are Diane Freize and Danny Shannon. Paternal grandparents are Mareatha Shuttle and Jeff and Tessa Shuttle. Welcome, Gunner....
This fall will be the third time Lil' Fighters, an organization dedicated to helping terminally ill children in Sanders County, will donate 100% of their proceeds to a family needing sustenance. This year, Lil' Fighters will award earnings from their Fall Festival to the family of 4-year-old Wren McDonald of Plains. She has been diagnosed with bladder reflux and will battle this disease for the rest of her life. Unknowingly, recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs) evoked permanent damage to...
The 2018 Fall Mack Days on Flathead Lake began on September 21 and will continue until November 11. Anglers can fish Tuesday through Sunday. The 45-day event is the 3rd Mack Days Fishing Event sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The 2018 Fall Event after one weekend has surpassed the total of the 2002 event with 1,726 lake trout entries turned in so far by 69 anglers out of the 323 who are registered. The fishing events are used to reduce the numbers of non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake. There are two events per...
HAWK SPIRIT - Thompson Falls High School staff and students participated in dress-up days this week for the annual homecoming festivities. The freshman class were given the task of representing the 60s on Tuedsay, and teacher Jeff Wheeler added to the nostalgia by driving his 1965 Ford to school. Pictured (from left) are Wheeler, Doree Thilmony, Scarlette Schwindt, Veronica Hanks, Colin Kane, Lance Palmer, and Jaden Isaac....
Summer is over and fall is quickly moving in. I’m usually a little sad to see summer go, but for the first time ever, I’m ready for fall. It has been one long, busy and fun-filled summer, but now it’s time to relax, put on a warm sweater and some fuzzy boots and pumpkin spice everything! I’m not your typical pumpkin spice fan girl, but I enjoy a slice of pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, and it’s one of my husband’s favorites, so I set out to find a good low carb recipe. This pumpkin cheesecake mousse does the trick, and if you put it on a low carb...
It's all about the dogs for sure but, it is also all about the humans with those dogs. The Dogpaws Club, a collection of dog-training enthusiasts from around western Montana and northern Idaho, including five trainer-dog teams and an alternate from the local Sanders County Dog Training Club, are in Gillette, Wyo., this week for the NADAC (North American Dog Agility Council) National Championships. The NADAC National pre-trials were to be held Tuesday and Wednesday, with the main competition begi...
