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Among the issues on the ballot in November are two initiatives dealing with the recreational use of marijuana. Initiative 190 would legalize the possession and use of limited amounts of marijuana for those over 21 years old. Initiative 118 would amend the Montana Constitution to establish the legal age for purchasing, consuming or possessing marijuana, as the law did when it established the minimum age limit for alcohol. The proposed new law might have an impact on medical marijuana providers...
A brush fire burned several acres along Highway 28 between Niarada and Elmo last Tuesday. The fire forced about 10 miles of the road to be closed to all traffic while firefighters responded. The road re-opened after several hours....
Two people are facing charges of deliberate homicide in separate Sanders County incidents that occurred last week. Aaron Eugene McLaughlin of Hot Springs is accused of killing his roommate on the evening of October 7 by blunt force trauma, resulting in a massive brain hemorrhage, according to charging documents. Sanders County Attorney Naomi Leisz stated that McLaughlin’s initial appearance was Friday in Sanders County Justice Court. He is being held on a $1 million bond and a preliminary hearing is set for Monday, Oct. 19. Rachel Ann B...
Voting is under way for the November 3 general election. Sanders County ballots were mailed last Friday, October 9, and ballots are already being returned to the county election office. Bobbi Christenson with the election office said that 8,314 ballots were issued to Sanders County voters. Of those, 39 were mailed to uniformed and overseas citizens. Sixty-one voters cast their ballots early, between September 28 and when ballots were mailed. As of Tuesday evening, almost 300 ballots had been...
To be honest, having Monday as a holiday was a little inconvenient for some of us. I checked the mail each day looking for my ballot. The anticipation was exciting. It's a little comparable to kids on Christmas morning, or many of us next week when we start to get our packages from Amazon Prime Days. I've been an absentee voter for several years, and I appreciate that our county commissioners and elections staff chose an all-mail election this year. I feel like I make more informed choices when I sit down with my voter pamphlet (the official...
Now that the election season is full upon us, I, like you, have had my mailbox jammed full with large and glossy pieces of light cardboard informing me about the merits and flaws of the various candidates. While I am glad that the post office is making money off of politicians instead of having politicians trying to de-fund the post office, I have been concerned to learn many things about the candidates that I could not have imagined just a month or two ago. This is especially disconcerting...
In the October 7 Ledger column by Mr. Blackstone there are several comments I would like to respond to. Kamala Harris made critical statements about Joe Biden during the Democratic debates earlier in the political season. Opposition research in each party makes careful notes of those types of remarks and uses them against the candidate of that party later in the campaign. Lindsey Graham, among other conservatives, is on record disparaging Donald Trump before Trump became the Republican candidate and has usually supported the president since...
8 YEARS AGO OCTOBER 9, 1940 ON DISPLAY R.D Stockton is quite proud of his potatoes this year. Potatoes all over the valley are unusually large and Mr. Stockton brought us in a couple of fine specimens weighing 2.5 pounds apiece, hard and solid, which are on display in The Ledger window. Sanders County is famous for its dry land seed potatoes. In the big potato producing sections where irrigation is used, seed potatoes are constantly shipped in from areas such as this to replenish the grades. We understand A.N. Brooks of Trout Creek has an unus...
TOM CAMPBELL, Corvallis - “Drain the water system, work on the irrigation, and chop wood.” TAMMY KESSLER, Thompson Falls - “Make sure my firewood is in, that’s the most important. Then I make sure my 4-wheel drive is up to par, and get all my canning done.” PAUL GALLO, Thompson Falls - “Make sure all my vehicles are in good, running condition.” SCOTT DONOVAN, Trout Creek - “Stock up on bourbon.” KARI LEE, Montana/Florida - “Work on the firewood.” JENNIFER METCALF, Thompson Falls - “Put away the trampoline....
Ambulance calls: Noxon, 1; T. Falls, 6; Hot Springs, 2; Plains, 3. Monday, October 5 Theft, Trout Creek. Caller states someone drilled 1/4 inch hole in his gas tank and drained his gas, Hot Springs. Intimidation, harassment, Hot Springs. Theft, Plains. Fire, Plains. Person missing, T. Falls. Tuesday, October 6 Theft, Hot Springs. Suspicious activity, Plains. Theft, Hot Springs. Theft. Welfare check, Heron. Intimidation, harassment, Plains. Fire, Hot Springs. Suspicious activity, Noxon. Animal complaint, T. Falls. Livestock, Plains. General...
Montana Highway Patrol Rajan Pawar, 30, day speeding, $40. Beverly Carbery, 56, careless driving, $50. Robert Blood, 39, day speeding, $20. Donna McDonald, 82, seatbelt violation, $20. Abel Armitage, 22, speeding in restricted zone, $135 Steven Niles, 47, day speeding, $20. Heidi Scott, 42, day speeding, $70. Jerry Shirley, 58, day speeding, $70. John Walker, 73, seatbelt violation, $20. Robert Carter, 58, failure to keep vehicle under control, $85. Caleb Nittinger, 39, seatbelt violation, $20. Kale Mosley, 48, improper passing, $85. Jason...
Hello Western Montana... This is short and simple! I know Jennifer Fielder personally. She is an honest, hard worker who cares about all of the people of Montana and has our best interests at heart. If you want someone who will fight to keep our utility prices down and service quality up... Vote Jennifer Fielder for Public Service Commission. I encourage you to fact check her background and accomplishments at www.JenniferFielder.com. Jeff Reed, Trout Creek...
The Cancer Network of Sanders County (CNSC) plans to bring the community a special treat for its “Trick Cancer” themed fundraiser this year. The annual event will take place Friday, Oct. 30, at the Sanders County Fairgrounds pavilion, with the doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. There will be silent and live auctions with Kevin Hill once again serving as auctioneer. The cost of the lasagna and salad dinner will be $25 and tickets are available at The Printery in Plains and the Sanders County Ledger in Thompson Falls, as well as Fir...
One of the most humbling things for many people as they age is the loss of mobility. For those who live in homes with two stories, the challenges can be many. To remedy this, Nick Marich Jr., from Heron, decided to take it upon himself to use his building skills to put a private, homemade elevator, into his parent's home. For Nick Marich Sr. and his wife Adrienne, the elevator their son put in has been a life saver. After fighting a serious knee infection, a collective decision with doctors has...
Last week I worked as an election judge to prepare ballots to be mailed. I was aware, typical of this community, poor consistency in the mandate for masks. On Thursday everyone was told to wear masks while in the building because there was someone that tested positive and there may be more. Some of our election judges opted out and left for personal reasons. I respected and appreciated that. I learned the number of cases of COVID-19 has been steadily increasing not just in the courthouse but in our county due to persons unwilling to comply and...
“Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.”- Bertrand Russell Life involves risks; loss, death, sickness and hardships that affect our well-being. As free citizens we make decisions and weigh costs about risks daily, like the vehicle we drive, how we drive, lifestyles we live, outdoor activity, jobs we work. Often these activities have more risk than getting sick or dying from COVID-19. Despite the lower risk, the Plains School Board and administration dec...
Last month, a new set of Outbreak Response Protocols were released by Gov. Steve Bullock as a response to suspected or positive COVID-19 cases in K-12 schools in Montana. The protocols outline practices that provide more detailed guidance for schools that allow them to promptly and safely respond to possible confirmed cases. The need for more guidance from the state came after education advocates requested help as they entered a new, but uncertain school year. Jonathan Martin, Noxon School Superintendent, represents one of the Montana schools...
Amanda Doughty of Plains helps retrieve some of the 660 American flags on display in Plains to represent the number of veteran suicides in the United States. The display, sponsored by Joint Operation Mariposa, was up throughout the month of September, which is National Suicide Prevention Month. Navy veteran Ed Foste, Amanda’s father, was in charge of the display. Twenty-two flags were put out each night in September to signify the estimated 22 veteran suicides each day, said Foste. Doughty, a P...
Cody Ward passed away peacefully in his home on the morning of October 9, 2020. He was born in Missoula, Montana on April 4, 1966, to Wes and Ginger Ward of Thompson Falls, Montana. Cody was skilled at just about anything he tried. At an early age, he found an interest in mechanics, specifically dirt bikes and could often be found in the shop repairing a motorcycle motor with his friends. During their childhood summers he and his big sister Tracy would race their bicycles down the Blue Slide...
February 22, 1931 – September 15, 2020 Viola Helen Kraus was born February 22, 1931 in Marsh, Montana, to her parents, Emanuel Irion and Matilda Schlenz Irion. She was the youngest of twelve children. Viola passed away peacefully in her home in Trout Creek September 15, 2020. She enjoyed crocheting, baking and decorating cakes, playing bingo, and spending time with her grandchildren. She is survived by her daughter, Lana Nolen (husband Bill); son, Bruce Stone; brother, Walter Irion; grandchildren; great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. S...
Karen R. Redman, 65, of Anaconda, Montana, passed away peacefully on October 5, 2020. She was the daughter of the late Franklin and Shirley Schwark. She was preceded in death by her brother Wayne. Karen was a graduate of Thompson Falls High School. She studied nursing at the University of Montana and St. Patrick's School of Nursing. Karen was a staff R.N. at Silver Bow General Hospital. After "retiring" she found one of her greatest joys was being the bus aide for "her kids." Karen is survived...
Over the past few elections, Montanans have voted to change the rules around medical marijuana, sought to impose a crime victim’s bill of rights and changed how absentee ballots can be collected. All these issues required a specific number of voter signatures to land on the ballot and now that rule is, itself, on the ballot. This year voters will decide whether to return the language in Article XIV, Section IX and Article III, section IV of the Montana Constitution back to its original language from 2002. “It’s a clean-up bill,” said Montana...
January 25, 1940 – October 3, 2020 Sandra passed away Saturday, October 3 at home in Trout Creek after battling emphysema and COPD for many years. She was a long-time resident of Troy, Montana, and worked at Roy's and the video store until she was unable to continue working and was placed on disability. She was mother to Betty Goodman (JJ) of Trout Creek; William "Bill" Logan (Tammy) of Tallahassee, Florida; and Meriam Brown (Scott) of Madres, Oregon; grandmother to Daniel Logan, Robert Logan (...
This election season, Montanans are voting on a measure that would legalize recreational marijuana. According to some local law enforcement officers, however, it could be a counterproductive approach. According to Lynn Lanzoni, who has worked with a drug dog in Sanders County since 2015 and has been in law enforcement for many years, drug use can have a huge impact on domestic violence. He mentioned that many people compare the use of marijuana with the use of alcohol, and historically how alcohol has been banned and legalized. To Lanzoni,...
Ted Vigil, a singer, songwriter and John Denver tribute artist, will take a trip down memory lane Saturday, October 24, at the Rex Community Theater in Thompson Falls. With the sound of the legendary John Denver, it is said that Vigil even resembles the late folk musician. Guests will be serenaded with Denver's popular hits, including "Rocky Mountain High," "Annie's Song" and "Thank God I'm a Country Boy." At the request of a local Sanders County resident who has seen Vigil perform in New York,...
