Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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It started as a low rumble, then spread like wildfire across the county amongst seniors. Throughout the never-ending amendments and re-designing of insurance plans, Sanders County seniors found out that they were no longer be covered by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Montana’s (BCBSMT) Medicare Advantage Plan, as of October 4. The insurance provider chose to drop coverage in 31 rural Montana counties, keeping only nine more populated areas in their network – with a redesigned plan, featuring less coverage. To add to the confusion, Humana began off...
You may have noticed lots of blaze orange being touted around last weekend as the 2017 general hunting season kicked off. Although wildlife biologist Bruce Sterling of Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) was unavailable to comment on specific kill counts, it appears that general hunting as well as the youth hunt, which began last Thursday, is off to a pretty good start. As every Montanan knows, hunting is serious business around these parts. It is what makes Mont., well, Mont. It defines us, and investing in youth is extremely important in...
Sanders County Mental Health Center (SCMHC) has been through a lot of changes the last couple of months. Some have been great; others are creating a stressful environment. The good news is that SCMHC has been able to develop two new programs that collaborate with local schools and provide in home assistance. SCMHC replaced Altacare, who voided their contract with Thompson Falls School due to staffing difficulties, as mental health providers for children at school. Secondly, SCMHC developed an in-home program which allows treatment inclusive of...
Residents of the Clark Fork Valley Long Term Care started the holiday season by making Jack O Lanterns. Although only a handful of residents took part in the event, the day room showed the signs of Halloween with pumpkins and their insides piled on the tables. “He’s going to be a handsome fella,” said Mary Ann Thompson, who celebrated her 91st birthday last week. Thompson was making an owl cutout on her pumpkin, although she had help from Cindy Leandro, the assistant activities director. Most of the residents utilized pre-drawn sketches that th...
Neighbors helping neighbors. It’s pretty standard in Northwest Montana. Hunters have a unique opportunity to help those in need by donating their animals to the local food bank. Community Harvest Food Bank is again participating in a program to match those in need in Sanders County with meat donated by hunters. As rifle season continues through the week of Thanksgiving, many Sanders County residents will be out hunting elk and deer to fill their freezers for the year. If you have plenty of meat and can afford to donate any animals, the M...
Editor, I, and a small group of very dedicated residents of Thompson Falls and the surrounding area, have spent the last year and a half going to city council meetings, strongly encouraging the council to enforce city ordinance 327. The ordinance outlines property owner responsibility in maintaining their property in accordance with a minimum community standard. Should the property owner choose to not maintain their property so it at least meets this standard, the ordinance specifies actions to be taken by the city to get the property into...
Editor, Who, what, when, where, why is a common standard used by news organizations when reporting the news. In a recent kerfuffle between the Thompson Falls Mayor and three city council members over the selection of a Chief of Police, the Ledger did not report on the “why” in that standard. I don’t know why the Ledger decided to pass on the “why” but I suspect it was to protect both the mayor and the nominee. The reason the three council members did not attend the council meeting to vote on selecting the new Police Chief was to avoid a q...
As citizens of the United States, veterans and proud members of the community we find the actions of many Americans who show a total lack of respect for the Flag of the United States and the national anthem of the United States to be reprehensible. The Flag is more than a symbol of the country. The Flag is a monument to all of those men and women who sacrificed their lives and fortunes to found this country. The Flag is a monument to all of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who have given their time, their health and...
4 YEARS AGO • OCTOBER 20, 1977 AT 90, RANCHER STILL GOING STRONG Ninety years old and still going strong! That’s how you can describe one of Sanders County’s oldest living pioneers – Joe Garrison, who resides alone at his ranch at Belknap. Joe celebrated his 90th birthday Sept. 15 at a big family party staged by his three daughters and attended by about 35 relatives and friends. A horse trader throughout most of his ranching career, Joe has given up the horseflesh but still deals in saddles. Born Sept. 15, 1887 in Hamilton County, Ill., h...
A Trout Creek man will remain in jail until sentencing after being arrested for not following through with conditions of a previous release. Kelly Fisher was arrested after not showing up to his interview with probation and parole and not completing the required paperwork on a charge of partner/family member assault. Sentencing has been set for Nov. 14. Also Tuesday, Judge James Manley sentenced Evan Twiford to four years with the Department of Health and Human Services in a case from 2016. Twiford was charged with two counts of assault on a...
Montana Highway Patrol Elijah Taylor, 19, $120, day speeding; $175, possession of drug paraphernalia; $185, possession of dangerous drugs, marijuana, 1st offense. Graham Mapston, 56, $155, nighttime truck speeding. Rosendo Martinez, 20, $85, failure to exhibit proof of insurance, 1st offense; $175, 2 days jail, driving while privilege is suspended or revoked. Cliffton Merkle, 40, $85, speeding in a restricted zone. Catalina Mitchell, 40, $95, speeding in a restricted zone. Coby Clinkenbeard, 38, $55, failure to properly restrain a child; $45,...
Ambulances: Noxon, 3; T. Falls, 2; Plains, 4; H. Springs, 3. Sunday, October 15 Dead bear on side of Hwy. 200, Perma. Motor vehicle crash with injuries, Hwy. 200, Plains. Vehicle vs. deer, Hwy. 200, Plains. Theft from Noxon residence. Barking dog, H. Springs. Barking dog, T. Falls. Domestic dispute, T. Falls. Intrusion alarm at Dixon business. Monday, October 16 Motor vehicle crash, Dixon. Coroner requested, Dixon. Protection order violation, Heron. Theft, H. Springs. Erratic driver on Hwy. 200, Plains. Domestic dispute, H. Springs. Possible...
Sometimes big responsibilities come with a few perks. Since the announcement earlier this year that Kootenai National Forest would provide the yuletide trees that would decorate the Capitol in Washington D.C., stirrings locally have prompted workshops and activities to quilt tree skirts, construct homemade ornaments and write Christmas cards to accompany the tree on its 2,000-mile journey. With all the homespun, heartfelt contributions, it will be up to one man to make sure the tree reaches its destination safely. “The tree will be in very g...
Ask any 85 year old what they would like to do for their birthday celebration and you probably would get many answers other than, let’s go bowling! This is exactly what Rita Harper chose to do for her 85 birthday celebration. Last Saturday Harper not only celebrated birthday number 85, but she also teamed up with her friend Nancy Gressang to bowl in a tournament at Rimrock Lanes. She stated that one of the most paramount events of the day was receiving balloons that had “Aged to Perfection” printed on it. Harper said a dear friend made her d...
The City of Thompson Falls has two new police officers. Jacob Winslow and Luke Hauke. Winslow is originally from Libby, and most recently lived in Libby. Hauke is from Ohio, and has worked in law enforcement since 2009. He moved to Thompson Falls from Houston, Texas. Winslow said he has worked in two different jails, served in the National Guard, and also worked as detention officer before coming to Thompson Falls. He said he’s excited to serve the people of Thompson Falls and wants to make a positive impact on the community. Hauke said he i...
Chronic wasting disease has not yet been discovered in Montana’s wild populations of deer, elk and moose, but as the disease continues to expand to the north, south and east of the state, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park officials believe it is only a matter of time before it is in Montana. This fall, FWP is ramping up its CWD surveillance program again with financial help from the Mule Deer Foundation and The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. FWP’s surveillance plan calls for rotating surveillance efforts amongst three priority areas of the state:...
From protective angel of the planes in the sky to a shepherd tending his flock, Jim Hantz heard the call just out of college and followed the path to becoming a pastor. Decades later, Montana Southern Baptist Convention in Billings welcomed Hantz’s Open Door Baptist Church to the fold this month, and the Thompson Falls pastor is extending an invitation to any seekers to join the congregation on their path to salvation. “The church is called ‘Open Door’ because we want people to understand that all are welcome,” said Hantz, noting that a se...
Robert (Bob) Lee Burrese, Thompson Falls, died October 19, 2017 of natural causes at the age of 76. He was born in Wallace, Idaho on February 15, 1941 to Ben and Blanche Rettig Burrese. He spent his elementary school years in Noxon and Helena, and his high school years in Noxon and Libby. Bob joined the US Air Force on October 8, 1958. The first four years were spent on bases in Texas, Kansas and North Dakota. The next tours were in Southeast Asia, California, and 14 years at Minot AFB, North Dakota. In June 1980 he retired as a Master...
