Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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The Little Bitterroot Services is expanding its services to the community by opening a new store in Plains. The organization purchased the former Stageline Pizza and attached gym owned by Jim and Lin Foster in June and hopes to have their new gym and thrift store open within the next month, said Shannon Benson, the executive director. "We're looking forward to having the new store. It's good for the community and for our clients," said Benson. Little Bitterroot Services, Inc. is a nonprofit orga...
The Thompson Falls Planning Board is working on creating a new growth policy for the city. The growth policy will be a community plan and guide for improving services, infrastructure such streets and sewer and to encourage new businesses and economic development. The process will include an evaluation of existing conditions in the city, identifying trends and providing goals and specific projects that can help address issues related to economic development, local services, infrastructure, housing, natural resources, and other opportunities and...
Tax bills for property owners in Sanders County will be mailed later this month, and property owners will notice a few changes on their tax bills. Sanders County Clerk & Recorder/Treasurer Nichol Scribner said the county is using a new service to mail tax bills, instead of printing and preparing the bills at the courthouse. The move, she added, is more efficient in both time and money for the county. "We are always looking for efficiencies in the county," Scribner said. "This is the best use of...
What is human trafficking? It is a form of modern-day slavery, according to Natale Adorne. It is a transaction that exchanges freedom for profit. It is "a crime that hides in plain sight," said Adorne, Program Manager for the Domestic Violence Programs at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy, because this is an infraction that you need to witness as it is happening. She added that it is an atrocious deception that takes place in our very own backyard; Montana. Last Thursday, about 40 people from...
The first quarter for local schools ends in a couple weeks. The leaves are changing. We’ve had our first snow. It’s time to start preparing for winter. Raking leaves, blowing out sprinkler systems, cleaning gutters and such. We keep noticing how our morning commute gets darker and darker each day. It’s inevitable, and we keep telling ourselves “only two more months and the days get longer again.” We’ve also been more alert of the kids walking to school as the mornings stay darker. Many kids in the county walk to school, and a little extr...
Editor: To all who are stupid, or who have never read the Constitution, or if having read it did not understand the plain language contained therein. Article 1 Section 2 paragraph 5: “The House of Representatives shall ... have the sole power of impeachment.” This includes of the President. But, it means, specifically “the House of Representatives” – NOT Nancy Pelosi, nor any of her lackeys in chairmanships of committees. It MEANS, the ENTIRE “House of Representatives.” Unless, and until, the FULL House of Representatives votes to impeach AN...
As a buddy of mine used to say as we watched the lunacy around us every day, “The hits just keep on coming!” That sort of lunacy is happening again in Washington, D.C., and as usual the Democrats are leading the charge. Some friends were encouraging me to write about the proposed impeachment hearings the Democrats are pushing. I considered an in-depth discussion but quickly realized that it just wasn’t possible in such a brief format. There are just too many moving parts. As I see it, this...
4 YEARS AGO • OCTOBER 11, 1979 PRISONERS TO OCCUPY NEW QUARTERS SOON Unlike the concern voiced by Warden Roger Crist about moving the Montana State Prison at Deer Lodge, Sanders County Sheriff Harvey Schultz doesn’t anticipate any prisoner problem when he gets the signal in the next two or three weeks to move into the new Sanders County jail. The move to the new jail, which has been built to handle up to 29 prisoners, likely will involve only two or three county “boarders.” And they should be so pleased to get into their new quarters that th...
LYNDA BRANSON, Trout Creek – "No. Definitely not. Those Democrats have been after him since he was elected. They are guilty of everything they accuse him of.” SHARON LEVINE, Thompson Falls – “Dems don't have anything to go on. It’s just to stir the pot. It doesn’t matter what he does. Trump knows what he’s doing.” PAUL LANZ, Thompson Falls – “No.” TAMMY RAINES, Thompson Falls – “Yes. I don’t think he’s done very much for the country.” VALERIE TAYLOR, Thompson Falls – "No I don’t. I don’t think the Dems have anything to go on." PETE HABBE, M...
Ambulance calls: Plains, 9; Hot Springs, 8; Thompson Falls, 7; Dixon, 1; Noxon, 1. Monday, September 30 Animal, Plains. Juvenile runaway, Noxon. Coroner. T. Falls. Assault, T. Falls. Theft, T. Falls. Welfare check, T. Falls. Livestock, Plains. Property damage, T. Falls. Tuesday, October 1 Disturbance, Paradise. Welfare check, T. Falls. Fire, T. Falls. Animal, T. Falls. Motorist assist, T. Falls. Wednesday, October 2 Property damage, T. Falls. Assault, Hot Springs. Other law violations, Trout Creek. Alarm, Hot Springs. Students with JUUL device,...
Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Latisha Muneoka, 31, speeding in restricted zone, $95. Joel Jonassen, 28, operating with expired registration, $85; operating without liability insurance, 1st offense, $275. Martin Koskela, 59, violation of protective order, 1st offense, $100. Montana Highway Patrol Lucas Tapani, 18, day speeding, $20. John Lentz, 33, day speeding, $70. Venkata Bellam, 24, day speeding, $20. Jillian Weller, 35, day speeding, $70. Nathan Currie, 22, day speeding, $20. Dreah Day, 16, operating without liability insurance in e...
The Montana Highway Patrol is looking for a person who drove a vehicle through a guardrail at the Sanders County Fairgrounds bridge early Saturday morning. A passerby motorist discovered the car, a Chevy Cavalier 2-door sedan, shortly before 6:30 a.m. Saturday, and called 911 to report the accident, but there was no sign of the driver, said Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Zach Rehbein. He believes the accident took place between 5:30 and 6:30 a.m. Raige Steinebach, the car owner, reported the vehicle stolen that morning when he was about to...
Despite the cold, rainy weather on Saturday, the community came together once again to have some fun and show their support at the Lil' Fighters Fall Festival. A yearly fundraiser full of fall themed activities and games that took place in Noxon, at Pilgrim Creek Park. This year's beneficiary and "Lil' Fighter" was Harlee Salmi. At just five years old, Harlee has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. However, hopes are kept high and energy remains positive. Harlee and her family we...
Sanders County fifth and sixth-grade students took part in the 17th annual Water Festival recently. The festival is sponsored by Eastern Sanders and Green Mountain Conservation Districts. Outside of the Conservation Districts, many supporters come forward to collaborate in providing fun educational opportunities for students to gain knowledge about water and the important role it plays in our lives. Doug Padden, Thompson Falls Junior High science teacher, has played a critical role in the...
At the Thompson Falls School Board meeting on Monday, Superintendent Bill Cain said that the school again received the GEAR UP grant in the amount of $102,000. “If you took that out, our school would look very different,” Cain said. “The professional development and opportunities for kids are awesome.” Cain commended the school’s GEAR UP liaison, Penny Beckman, for her efforts. The U.S. Department of Education awarded Montana a seven-year, $28 million GEAR UP grant last year. Montana also was awarded the grant in 1999, 2005 and 2011, according...
Sanders County Tobacco Prevention Specialist The need to fit in socially is powerful. The need for teens to erase stress is mighty, too. To address these things, "straight A" student Luka Kinard started using chew tobacco, then cigars and combustible cigarettes, then progressed to other dangerous substances. Then, thinking he was choosing something healthier, he started "vaping" electronic cigarettes. He entered the world of Juul. Juul, the e-cigarette company that holds 75% of the market,...
Sanders County Public Health invites the public to take part in Walk with Ease, a self-directed program aimed to increase overall wellness. The program is six weeks long and is constructed to benefit beginners or experienced walkers of all fitness levels. The exercise program began over a year ago and has been implemented five times during that time. According to co-organizer Sandra Gubel, during each event, there was an average of 15 to 18 participants. “We started with just about 14 county employees the first couple of times,” she sta...
George Phillip Austin was born on November 24, 1935 to Laura Strong Austin and Alvin Emil Austin in Helena, Montana, in the midst of an earthquake ... and the world hasn't been the same since. He was raised in Black Eagle, Augusta and Conrad, Montana, with his family, parents Laura (Lol) and Al, brother Ernie and sister Carol. George was a devoted son to his parents, Al and Laura, traveling hundreds of miles to do anything for them. Al worked in the ranching and later meat packing industries, a... Full story
Irene Mae Chenoweth, 85 of Trout Creek Montana passed away September 18, 2019 surrounded by family. She was the daughter of Beryl and Walter Watson. She married Doyle Dean Chenoweth and had four children: Darrell, Del, Ron and Joyce. The family started a farm in Trout Creek. Irene loved to garden, cook and spend time with her grandkids and great-grandchildren. She had a heart to help and give back to as many as she could and touched the lives of those around her. She enjoyed fishing and running the yard with her two great-grandkids Teian and... Full story
Doni was born October 24, 1944, to Donald and Lillian Boyer in Seattle, Washington, and passed away September 19, 2019, at Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains, Montana. Doni was baptized in the Ronald Methodist Church in Seattle, but later became a Seventh Day Adventist. After Seattle, Washington, and before making their forever home in Trout Creek, Montana, in 1972, Doni and her family lived in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, and Ronan, Montana. Doni, a self-taught pianist and accordionist, loved and... Full story
James (Jim) Raymond Flory passed away on September 23, 2019. There will be a private family service to be held at Porthill, Idaho, cemetery where he will be laid to rest next to his beloved parents Alvin and Janita Flory. Jim was born January 10, 1942 to Alvin and Janita Flory in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Jim was the second of four children. He was raised in the mountains surrounding Bonners Ferry, spending summers of his young years at Snyder Guard Station, where his father worked for the Forest Se... Full story
Michael George Gross, 67, of Thompson Falls passed away on October 2, 2019 at the Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs. As he liked to say, he was dancing as fast as he could in his longtime struggle with dementia with Lewy bodies. Michael was born on September 29, 1952, in St. Paul, Minnesota, the sixth child of George and Lola Gross. Although he loved growing up in the outdoors and amongst the city lights of Minnesota, Michael had enough of the winters and eventually found his home of more... Full story
Native Chucky Jack Jones, 52, of Thompson Falls unexpectedly passed away Sunday, October 6, 2019. He will be greatly missed by so many. Full obituary including date of celebration of life to be announced in next week’s paper.... Full story
The Cancer Network of Sanders County (CNSC) will now be able to help more than a dozen cancer victims, thanks to the raising of $12,288 at the annual Fall Extravaganza fundraiser at the VFW Hall last Thursday evening. "It was a successful night," said Sherry McCartney, the nonprofit organization's secretary and treasurer. McCartney said the group raised just over $6,500 in the silent and live auctions, which featured more than 50 items, including gift certificates, college football and...
The Forest Service, with the help of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and the Montana Conservation Corps (MCC), has rebuilt the Swamp Creek crossing at the West Fork of the Swamp Creek Trail on the Plains-Thompson Falls Ranger District. The project was implemented to improve public safety at the creek crossing and to improve the trail. The trail provides access to beautiful riparian scenery along the West Fork of Swamp Creek, hunting opportunities, and access to the Dee Creek trail to Penrose...
