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Independently owned since 1905
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Carol Brooker of Plains has been a commissioner for Sanders County since 1994. Last week, Brooker submitted her resignation, announcing she will leave her post on December 31. “It’s just time,” said Brooker, in her 28th year leading the county. “I need to spend more time with my family.” She noted that working for the county has been “such a positive experience” and her career in public service has been rewarding. Brooker said that the county has gone through ups and downs during her tenure, b...
Montana history is ripe with stories of the many families who braved the elements and trekked northwest into the mountains. These hardy folk sought to colonize the wild, and to scratch out a living from it. Many of their descendants still call these mountains home, and teach their children to hunt, just as they were taught to, and their parents were taught to. These traditions live on in several families throughout Sanders County, and many names like Hill and Bierwagen still come to mind when...
The Sanders County Sewer District at Paradise is back in action with three new board members and with a big bundle of new money from the state. The county commissioners recently selected three people to replace those who were ousted or resigned, which now gives the sewer board enough for a legal quorum. Don Stamm replaced Sunny Chase. Dewey Arnold was appointed to fill Gary Kelly’s position and Janie McFadgen will take Rick McCollum’s spot. And last week, the county received word from Governor Greg Gianforte that an American Rescue Plan Act...
Every year Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) teams up with Avista and the University of Idaho to gillnet and capture numerous fish from the Noxon and Cabinet reservoirs for analysis. This partnership program has been happening for over 20 years and aims to add information to the toolbelts of fisheries biologists. They use this data to monitor fish health, mercury contamination, fish numbers and other stats. According to fisheries biologist Jason Blakney with FWP in Sanders County, this...
Carol Brooker has been a public servant for Sanders County for 28 years. Longer than that when you consider her service to our county prior to becoming a commissioner. For decades, Brooker has put others first as she helps run the county. She listens to people and makes sure they are heard. She may not always agree with them, but she is always there to listen. She picks up her phone, she goes to meetings even when she isn't required to for her job. She goes because she cares. What is best about Brooker, though, is the stuff you don't see. She...
This will be my last column (I can almost hear the applause from some!). I was offered a position in my former profession, and I simply won’t have the time. The circumstances surrounding this significant decision are kind of interesting and partially the result of current events. First a little background. During my lengthy career, one of my favorite and most rewarding assignments was that of K9 handler/trainer. I worked in three different K9 units (patrol, narcotics and bomb) for the Los Angele...
I wanted to take a minute to express my sincere appreciation for our county health personnel. Amid the chaos that has been created by social media and everyone’s “expert” opinion on the current health crisis in our country, they keep plugging along. They follow the guidelines that are given to them and have to do their jobs. It is not an option for them to ignore what's in front of them, or put their opinions out there. They simply do their job. Regardless of where you stand on vaccinations, masks, quarantine or your opinions about the virus...
Dear Sanders County Ledger, I am writing to ask our community for help. The last two months have been especially challenging for healthcare workers and patients in Montana due to very overloaded healthcare systems. This has significantly affected our local healthcare system in Sanders County. Sometimes I get requests asking what individuals can do to help. Here are some thoughts: 1. Maintain courtesy and civility. Remember that the healthcare workers and public health workers are also members of our community. Whether or not you agree with how...
4 YEARS AGO • OCTOBER 8, 1981 FALLS SANDERS FAMILY STEEPED IN HISTORY Talking with J. Byron Sanders is like reading the rough draft of a history book. The stories haven’t been organized yet, but they sure are interesting. Sanders, who lives on Harlow Road, is related to Colonel Wilbur Fisk Sanders, after whom this county is named. He isn’t sure what the relationship is, adding that his father explained it to him but he has forgotten. Byron Sanders was born in the Bitterroot in 1908. He spent his boyhood there, working on the family farm....
Robert Foreman, Thompson Falls - “To actually go to Alaska and go on a moose hunt.” Tyler Battles, Thompson Falls - “A caribou hunt in Alaska.” David Spratley, Thompson Falls - “I would like to go on a grizzly hunt here in northwest Montana.” John Bennett, Thompson Falls - “Mountain goat somewhere here in northwest Montana.” Gin Weber, Plains - “Elk hunting in Whitepine, where my father shot three elk one season accidentally back-to-back on a hunting trip. My dream hunt would be to bag one there also.” Seth Alexander, Thompson Falls - “A...
Montana Highway Patrol Christopher Clay, 29, driving while suspended, 1st offense, $335; seatbelt violation, $20. Isabella Diraimo, 24, careless driving, $85. Jhoushua Macnair, 36, operating without insurance, 1st offense, $285; seatbelt violation, $20. Joshua Myers-Smith, 35, day speeding, $70. Zachary Anderson, 29, seatbelt violation, $20. Brett Springer, 44, day speeding, $20. Anndreya Turner, 25, night speeding, $20. Daniel Luciano, 28, speeding near school or senior center, $140. Tina Richardson, 46, day speeding, $20. Sharmil Simon, 26,...
Ambulance: T. Falls, 3; Plains, 8; Heron, 2; Hot Springs, 7; Noxon, 1; Paradise, 1. Sunday, October 10 Assist motorist/citizen, Paradise. Livestock, Plains. Civil attempts, T. Falls. Assist motorist/citizen, Heron. Civil attempts, T. Falls. Motor vehicle crash, T. Falls. Motor vehicle crash, T. Falls. Animal other, T. Falls. Civil attempts, T. Falls. Livestock, T. Falls. Monday, October 11 Civil attempts, T. Falls. Animal other, T. Falls. Intimidation/harassment, T. Falls. Theft, theft of medications, T. Falls. Welfare check, Plains. Motor...
Editor, Sanders County is losing a dedicated public servant with the resignation of Carol Brooker. We are a much poorer community and county without Carol’s knowledge, commitment and hard work as our County Commissioner. It is disappointing, yet understandable, that her resignation has come after 27 years of good work on our behalf. The uncivil, baseless and toxic bellowing in much of our current public discourse has caused many citizens to reconsider their involvement in participatory democracy. Carol will be greatly missed and our hope is t...
Volunteers are invited to help plant trees and shrubs along the Vermilion River this fall, following the reconstruction of a portion of the river's floodplain. A 2,400-foot stretch of the river was the site of floodplain reconstruction this summer under a collaborative project of the Kootenai National Forest (KNF), Lower Clark Fork Watershed Group (LCFWG), Green Mountain Conservation District, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and Avista. The "Sims Meander" stretch of the river was recontoured to...
Elizabeth Riffle of Thompson Falls, a woman charged for stealing from a local business in Thompson Falls in 2019, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in 20th Judicial District Court. She admitted to the felonies of theft of a common scheme and unlawful use of a computer. The plea came after a long discussion by the parties before Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher on Tuesday. Prior to the court date, a plea agreement had been signed by all parties except Riffle’s attorney, Kirk Krutilla. Krutilla argued against the plea, having concerns that the dolla...
Sanders County residents will notice some changes on their property tax bills this fall. Nichol Scribner, Clerk and Recorder and Treasurer for Sanders County, said that the tax bills will show up in mailboxes later this week and next week. First half property taxes are due November 30, 2021, and payments for the second half are due May 31, 2022. On bills, taxpayers will see new information about school levies. Senate Bill 212 directs county treasurers to split out school levy information and designate whether or not the levy was voted on by...
THOMPSON FALLS MONDAY NITE GALS W L Nascar Freaks 15 5 Dangerous Dames 15 5 Talk of the Town 9.5 10.5 Dolls with Balls 8.5 11.5 Rock’n Bowl 7 13 Bye 5 15 Team Scr. Game: Dolls with Balls, 497; Scr. Series: Dolls with Balls, 1354; Hcp. Game: Talk of the Town, 668; Hcp. Series: Talk of the Town, 1972; Inv. Scr. Game: Kerry Scwarz, 221; Scr. Series: Brenda Franck, 517; Hcp. Game: Kerry Schwarz, 292; Hcp. Series: Kerry Schwarz, 707. BOWLING BEAUTIES W L The Dinkers 13.5 6.5 Lane Blazers 12.5 7.5 Aspire PT 10.5 9.5 Sunflower Gals 9 11 Elliott R...
Patricia Johnson England passed away on September 30, 2021, at The Ivy House in Great Falls, Montana. Pat was born July 20, 1949, to Otto Howard and Dorothy Johnson. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Sonya Peick. Pat attended Plains schools and graduated from Plains High School in 1967. In 1969 she moved to Alabama to marry Jerry England and start a family. She worked as a cake decorator until becoming a mother, and loved spending time with her two children, who she raised there for the next several years. After divorcing in...
Randy Panek, 61, passed away Monday, October 11, 2021, in the presence of his wife, Carlotta, at Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains, Montana, after a brave battle with lung cancer. Randy was born July 30, 1960, in St. Cloud, Minnesota, one of 11 children. He grew up to become a construction worker, a trade which took him all over the U.S., building bridges and wind towers. In fact, he met Carlotta while building a bridge on the Nez Perce Reservation in Idaho. After they married in 1999, she...
Buddy Junior Leufkens, 90, passed away peacefully on October 12, 2021. He was the only child of Emma May and Earl Leufkens, born on July 11,1931, in Seattle, Washington. Bud led a full life. He lived in Alaska as a child and joined the Merchant Marines when he was a teenager. He then joined the Army serving in the 101st Airborne Paratroopers based out of Fort Campbell. He settled in the Seattle area, where he became a successful businessman and owned his own plumbing company. Bud was a business...
SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. HIATUS 7. STALIN 13. PALMATE 14. PARADED 16. IR 17. ELEPHANTS 19. MI 20. MELBA 22. TAR 23. SETAL 25. AMIA 26. METES 28. SETA 29. SSB 30. MAT 31. SIB 33. LOT 34. EDAM 36. RECEDE 38. SARAN 40. RAGES 41. ERASES 43. PARR 44. CAT 45. TAT 47. MAR 48. ARE 51. UPON 53. CARAT 55. SPED 56. LARID 58. BUR 59. AAHED 60. AH 61. CRABBIEST 64. VA 65. ROSEATE 67. SATIRES 69. SORTED 70. ARISES SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. HAREMS 2. IL 3. AMEBA 4. TALA 5. UTE 6. SEPTET 7. SPARES 8. TAN 9. ARTS 10. LASES...
The Thompson Falls City Council officially accepted council member Ruth Cheney's resignation on Monday and welcomed a new member. Colleagues expressed their sadness that Cheney decided to step down, but excitedly accepted Hayley Blakney to fill the vacant position. Blakney was the only applicant but was enthusiastic to get involved. She has lived in Thompson Falls for seven years and is a clinical social worker. Blakney said she lives near Cheney. She first became interested in local matters aft...
Sanders County awoke to frigid temperatures Monday morning. Frost clings to a fenceposts and spider webs at a field in Whitepine....
During the regular Sanders County board of health meeting last Wednesday, several members of the community stood to give a presentation requesting that alternative COVID-19 treatments be given more serious thought and presentation to the local public. They also questioned the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccinations. The group, led by Kate Hardman, handed out information packets compiled from many months of collective research. In those packets, the group cited side effects and questions of the vaccines, as well as the information...
In a game with serious playoff implications, coach Jim Lawson's Hot Springs team traveled to face off against coach Bart Haflich's Noxon squad last Tuesday night. Heading into the matchup Noxon held a one-game advantage over the Savage Heat in the Montana 6-man western division. Hot Springs was quick to make an opening statement with an electrifying 65-yard kick return for a touchdown by quarterback Jack McAllister. The Savage Heat were able to add two more first-quarter scores courtesy of a...
