Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Former Sanders County Undersheriff Rube Wrightsman had a saying when any of the rural deputies were a little too worked up about something, “A little less Barney Fife, a little more Andy Griffith.” His reference to the nostalgic Andy Griffith Show acknowledged the Sanders County Sheriff Office’s (SCSO) situation as a department quartered in a remote area, but also encouraged professionalism and an attitude of doing the best you can with what you’ve got. A new development at the SCSO will bring the department out of Griffith’s little town of M...
It's an old place with old things at a new location and a new name and it commemorated its grand opening last Tuesday by treating customers to finger foods, coffee and hot apple cider. The Wild Horse Mercantile also celebrated its opening with a special ribbon cutting ritual with Plains Mayor Dan Rowan using a pair of old garden clippers to cut the ceremonial ribbon. "We were trying to come up with a new name that incorporated our community and the type of business. We were no longer housed in a...
Members of the community banded together at Pilgrim Creek Park in Noxon on Saturday for the third annual Lil' Fighters Fundraiser. Each year, Lil' Fighters chooses a family to support and the proceeds of the event go to helping them pay medical bills and other expenses. Noxon resident Bethany Mast founded Lil' Fighters when her nephew spent some time in the hospital. "We had a lot of success the first year, so we wanted to keep it going," Mast said. This year, 4-year-old Wren McDonald was...
The fall rifle season begins this weekend, and youths age 12-15 will get the first shot at a big buck with a special youth hunt Thursday and Friday. The two-day deer hunt for the youngest hunters coincides with Montana's annual two-day teacher convention, which are days off school for most public-school students. The two-day hunt is open to legally licensed 12-15-year-olds who have completed hunter education and who are accompanied by a non-hunting adult at least 18 years of age; and properly...
This weekend, young hunters will head out for adventures in the woods, hoping for their first deer or elk. Opening-day weekend at our house started with cousins driving in from Bigfork, everyone planning the early-morning drive into the mountains, and mom making a big batch of chili. We didn’t always return with animals, but we always had stories. My first hunting season was a special one. My dad bought me a bright orange Elmer Fudd type of hat, which while I thought was dorky, kept my ears nice and warm throughout the season. And when I s...
Kim Christopher is the best candidate for District Court Judge of Lake and Sanders counties. She has excelled in this position for 18 years. She is steadfast, honest, fair and professional. How do I know? I’ve watched her in action and I’ve seen her behind the scenes. You see, Kim is my big sister. When Kim puts on her robe and sits at her bench she becomes the fair, stern, tough, experienced judge that resembles the judges we see on TV or in movies. Behind the professional, is a warm hearted, caring woman whom has raised three amazing boy...
Editor, I have had the opportunity to work with Ashley in the Polson Public Defender’s Office. As a new lawyer looking for guidance, I often turn to Ashley for her wealth of knowledge and her ideas on building a better community. Knowledgeable Ashley’s keen legal mind and knowledgeable approach to the Montana laws and Constitution are highly respected by her clients and colleagues alike. Ashley not only has a deep understanding of the law, she understands that as society evolves to face the new difficult challenges facing this modern wor...
Editor, We support the re-election of Carol Brooker for Sanders County Commissioner. Carol understands the parameters of this non-partisan position and she works fairly for every citizen in the county, regardless of their ideology or political affiliation. Carol has earned the respect of all who know her because of her honesty, integrity and her ability to get the “hard work” done that benefits all Sanders County residents. Carol is always available and willing to discuss the reasoning behind her decision making. We have known Carol Bro...
Most times I make my decision how to vote on a ballot initiative by looking to see what groups support it. Sometimes, it works the other way and I will cast my vote based on which groups oppose it. That last is the case on my decision to vote for I-135, the initiative to pay for an expanded Medicaid program by increasing the tax on tobacco products. The two major contributors (in fact, just about the only contributors) to the anti I-185 campaign are both tobacco companies — companies that h...
7 YEARS AGO • OCTOBER 20, 1948 ADVERTISEMENT Hunting Season Is Almost HERE Check your needs now: Tin Pants and Coats Red Shirts Red Hats Rubber Boots Hip Boots Men’s Waist Overalls Wool Jackets Wool Sox Pocket Knives Rope Hunting License Gloves (all types) Cameras Film We have all these items & many more – Everything to make your hunting trip a success REMEMBER Duck Season opens the 8th of October. Big Game the 15th. Our Ammunition Supply is LIMITED so be sure to get all that you need EARLY! LARSON’S CASH STORE 50 YEARS AGO • OCTOBER 2...
DAN PUGH, Trout Creek – “Chicken tortilla. We used to have salad and a roll with it. My wife makes a wonderful tortilla soup in the fall. That’s the time of the year for soup.” SAM REYNOLDS, Butte – “I have to go with cream of tomato soup, and sometimes with a grilled cheese sandwich.” KYLE SHAFFER, Butte – “Chicken noodle soup – a homemade chicken and noodle. My girlfriend also makes a 4B’s tomato soup and it’s real good.” HAROLD HUDSON, Trout Creek – “Fish heads and rice with a side of kimchi. I’ve eaten it all over the far east in China,...
Sunday, October 7 Report of theft of game camera and trespass on Sept. 19, Trout Creek. Two handguns found by hunter, T. Falls. Report of fire against hill across highway from dump, T. Falls. Caller reported daughter missing in Kalispell, is pretty sure she is in Hot Springs area. Horse found dead with bullet wounds, Plains. Caller states man came up behind him, grabbed speaker and threw it in a puddle, Plains. Report of smoke coming from behind residence, T. Falls. Caller requests officer contact regarding earlier verbal confrontation with...
Montana Highway Patrol Sierra Grinsell, 26, failure to carry proof of insurance, 2nd offense, $85. Alison Brenner, 25, seatbelt violation, $20. Cody Wedel, 21, careless driving, $85. Janet Tice, 66, seatbelt violation, $20. Seth Magoon, 34, seatbelt violation, $20. Douglas Brester, 51, seatbelt violation, $20. Matthias Raber, 32, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Lindsay Dunning, 30, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. David Gebhardt, 62, speeding in a restricted zone, $55. Neal Proctor, 70, speeding in a restricted zone, $55. Johanna Arnold,...
NAME: Deborah "Kim" Christopher EDUCATION: 2001: The National Judicial College (Reno, NV). 1989: U.S. Army Airborne School (Fort Benning, GA). 1988: The Judge Advocate General's Legal School, Charlottesville, VA. 1988: University of Montana School of Law, Missoula, MT, Juris Doctorate. 1982: University of Montana, BA in Liberal Arts, emphasis Diplomacy, History, Philosophy. Graduated Dean's List with Honors. 1978: Polson High School, Top Ten. FAMILY: Daughter of Corinne "Keenie" Christopher and...
NAME: Tom Rummel EDUCATION: Graduated from Plains High School 1981, Graduated from the Montana Law Enforcement Academy 2006, and 1045 hours of law enforcement training FAMILY: Married to Shelly for 23 years with two children OCCUPATION: Sanders County Sheriff 1. What do you think about the proposal to have teachers carry guns in schools? Yes I'm in favor of this. Why? Because Sanders County and five of the schools cannot afford School Resource Officers (Thompson Falls has an SRO). When seconds...
NAME: Bob Brown EDUCATION: High school graduate FAMILY: Wife Debbie, daughters Tiffany and Emily, granddaughter Olivia. OCCUPATION: Self-employed 1. Do you think the Second Amendment should be repealed? If not, do you think there should be any new gun restrictions? To repeal the Second Amendment would be the biggest mistake that we could make! When we talk about the Second Amendment people always want to start talking about a right to hunt and supplying food for our family. It is not about...
Donald Barry Blair was called home on Wednesday, October 3, 2018, in Thompson Falls, Montana. He was 79. Donald was born in Hamilton, Montana, on December 23, 1938, to Lee and Edith (Tabor) Blair. He attended schools in Kalispell, graduating from Flathead County High School. Donald had been married to Rene Sansom-Blair for 30 years, Alida Wright for 15 years, and the mother of his children, Caroline (Curry) Blair, for 15 years. Donald worked for Glacier National Park for 10 years, and then went... Full story
Andrew Marich passed away October 13, 2018 at Plains, Montana, surrounded by his loving family. Andy was born in Philipsburg, Montana, to John and Rose Marich during May of 1927. He was proud of his service in the army during World War II, serving in the Army in the United States and Japan. He married Letty in June of 1947. During their lifetime together Andy and Letty raised three children on their farm at Whitepine. He was a hard-working man with occupations including dairy, farming, sawmill... Full story
Jessica and John Buckingham of Trout Creek welcomed a son, Carter Bo, Friday, Oct. 5 at 12:41 p.m. He weighed seven pounds, five ounces and measured 19 inches long. Maternal grandfather is Mark Willbur of Crystal River, Fla. Maternal great-grandparents are Tom and Shirley Wilbur of Battle Creek, Mich. Paternal grandparents are James and Jay Buckingham of Juneau, Alaska. Welcome, Carter....
Are you concerned about what the future of your ranching or forested land may be? If so, “Ties to the Land,” a succession planning workshop may be for you. Montana State University County Extension Office and Kaniksu Land Trust are teaming up with the Forest Stewardship Foundation to bring the course to the Thompson Falls Community Center on Saturday, Nov. 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Succession planning is the human side of estate planning and is a way for families to maintain their ties to the land across multiple generations, building awa...
Editor, At the candidates’ forum held in Thompson Falls, candidate for Sheriff Darlene Lee stated in her closing remarks that she has “a medical retirement from the Montana Highway Patrol.” My initial thought was if she is medically (disability) unable to work for MHP how can she be able to work as a sheriff? When the forum was over, I asked her. She stated that the sheriff’s job is an “administrative” position and that her disability would not affect her performance. I told her that Sanders County has a working sheriff and not confined to the...
Yes, the U.S. is a democracy I grow tired of folks trying to create divisive issues where there are none. Yes, the United States of America is a democracy, according to the modern definition of the word. The archaic definition of democracy as “direct rule by the masses” fell out of use over 50 years ago. Look up the definition in any modern dictionary and you will see the definition includes rule by democratically-elected representatives. To merely state that we are republic is also lacking because it does not specify how those rep...
Ever thought about why vaping/e-cigarettes come in berry & bubble gum “flavors”? Big Tobacco has reportedly spent $12 million against Initiative 185/Healthy Montana/Tobacco Tax. This new line of products that appeal to the younger crowd will continue to entice them and lead them to become tobacco users, thus assuring tobacco profits for the future. Who of your family and friends are dealing with high blood pressure, stroke, lung diseases such as emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or lung cancer due to tobacco use? In Montana, 28....
Local elected positions are technically defined as “non-partisan,” but that doesn’t mean the candidates are not aligned with a political party. They are, and it is important to understand which one because there is a BIG difference in how they operate. First of all, Carol Brooker has been a county commissioner for 24 years. It’s a six-year term, so if she wins this time, she will have controlled this county for 30 years. That’s too long for any politician to hold power — Democrat or Republican. Elected people need to know what it is like hol...
History sometimes repeats itself. In Noxon, Delaney Weltz, high school student council president, is bringing back the good ol' days. She recalled being in either fourth or fifth grade when students went walking every Monday and Wednesday morning for 10 minutes before class. Her fondness of being buddied up with an upper classman and strolling around the parking lot made her want to bring back the event after a hiatus of more than half a decade. Sixth grader Haylee Wiedeman said, "We do this...
