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Independently owned since 1905
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What may have been a beautiful mid-autumn weekend, was quickly overtaken by one of the earliest winter storms Montana has seen in a long time. The snow fell and did not stop. Despite warnings from the local weather stations, a rather large and thick blanket of snow left much of Sanders County shocked; as this is quite peculiar, even for Montana weather. Thompson Falls alone, saw a foot of snow overnight. According to Missoula's U.S. National Weather Service station, the town of Plains got a...
The music of John Denver resonated through The Rex Theater on Saturday as tribute artist Ted Vigil took the stage. Vigil, from Olympia, Washington, performed for more than 100 people, most wearing masks, Saturday night. Thompson Falls High School math teacher Katrina Nygaard introduced Vigil. She told the crowd how growing up in New York, she developed a love for John Denver's music and went to one concert a year before he died in 1997. "I'm so happy there are people like Ted Vigil to keep John...
The 2020 hunting season has had a less-than-stellar start after much of Montana received a hefty early snow. “Many may have stayed home instead of getting out into the woods,” said Jeff Davidson with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP), who worked the Thompson Falls check station last Saturday and Sunday with Marc Terrazas. They said they only saw four animals on Saturday, and not many more on Sunday. A slow start, they both said. Together, Terrazas and Davidson will be working the check station every weekend, from 11 a.m. until half an hou...
If only everyone had as much passion for their community as Ray Brown. Ray was recently hired as executive director of Sanders County Community Development Corporation (SCCDC). Last Thursday, he addressed Thompson Falls Chamber of Commerce members during a Business After Hours Event. He talked about his passion for the Sanders County communities, not just Thompson Falls, where he lives. He talked about the resources available through SCCDC, for businesses, individuals or nonprofit organizations. Through the Montana Office of Tourism and...
We are living in a tumultuous time, and my bet is it will become even more tumultuous after the election. Whoever wins, the supporters of the losing candidate will be angry. There is talk of not accepting the results of the election, something that has never happened in our history. The Right is worried about retribution from the Left, win or lose, and the Left fears vigilante “justice” from the self-appointed “guardians of freedom” of the Right. It could be a mess. It doesn’t have to be, but a...
7 YEARS AGO • OCTOBER 30, 1950 HUNTING NEWS Official returns from the two checking stations, maintained by the Montana Fish and Game Commission, located at Little Thompson River and on the Cherry Creek road, reveal the following number of big game animals killed to date. In the Thompson River doe area 146 does, 25 bucks and 3 bear were checked through the station up to and including Saturday, October 21, the last day that this area was open legally to the hunting of antlerless deer. In the Cherry Creek Game Preserve up to October 24 a total o...
Robin Fisher, Thompson Falls - “I have gotten my flu shot this year, here in Thompson Falls. I get it every year.” Robert Adams, Thompson Falls - “Yes I’m getting a flu shot as soon as possible. Just something I do every year.” Dan Milligan, Thompson Falls - “No, I’ve never gotten a flu shot. I just don’t believe in taking one. I have never felt like I needed to take one, and if I catch a flu I'll deal with it. I oppose what the flu shots are all about and I’m not going to take a flu shot ever.” RJ Littlefield, Yakima, Washington - “No I...
Montana Highway Patrol Vincent Zinicola, 43, day speeding, $70. Logan Dinkelspiel, 25, aggravated driving under the influence, 1st offense, $1,085, 2 days in jail. Anthony Larson, 31, operating with expired registration, $85. Bradley Cutler, 58, exceeding special zone speed limit, $65. Jesse Claridge, 15, failure to stop for school bus, $135. Tisha Dofelmire, 40, day speeding, $70. Stewart Sacharuk, 40, day speeding, $70 Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Rans Carroll, 37, operating vehicle without proper registration, $85; Driving while s...
Ambulance: Trout Creek, 2; Plains, 2; T. Falls, 10; Dixon, 2; Hot Springs, 4; Noxon, 1; Paradise, 1. Monday, October 19 Fire, T. Falls. Theft, chainsaw, stolen Saturday night or Sunday morning, T. Falls. Trespass, Plains. Business contact, T. Falls. Informational case, Plains. Tuesday, October 20 Assault, Hot Springs. Request for welfare check, Hot Springs. Request for welfare check, T. Falls. Livestock, Hot Springs. Motor vehicle crash, Paradise. Animal abuse, Plains. Domestic/PFMA, Plains. Disturbance, Hot Springs. Protection order...
Two homicides came before the district court Tuesday. Both occurred in Hot Springs in the same week; one on Wednesday, October 7 and one on Thursday, October 8. The first defendant to appear was Rachel Bellesen, who has been charged with the murder of her ex-husband, Jacob Glace on October 8, with a firearm. According to the police report, she shot Glace least five times. During her initial appearance at court on Tuesday, Bellesen pleaded not guilty and that the act was in self-defense, protecting herself from sexual assault. According to her...
It’s no secret, this year’s Halloween will look a little different due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, All Hollow’s Eve will be giving us a very rare and spooky extravaganza to end the month. This year, October 31 brings a Halloween Blue Moon. This full moon gets its name because it is the second full moon of the month, following the harvest moon of October 1. While many may think, from the name itself, we will see a blue-tinted moon in the sky. The name actually has to do with the time the full moon occurs, rather than its actual appea...
Montana's outdoor crime-stopper help line, TIP-MONT, has an online option to report poachers and other hunting-season violators. Now alert citizens can report poaching and violations of hunting regulations by going to the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov. Click "TIP-MONT" to use the online report form. The TIP-MONT toll-free number — 1-800-TIP-MONT or 1-800-847-6668 — is the best way to report crimes that are in progress, or where immediate assistance is needed. TIP-MONT callers most often report violations of Montana's hunting rules and reg...
Lynne Kersten, who has been the Thompson Falls Public Library Director for just over a decade, will officially be retiring at the beginning of November. A seat on the city council will also be vacant, after the two years Kersten has spent as a member. Behind her, she leaves a legacy. "My life is books, I love books," Kersten said. Her passion to help people learn, as well as the excitement she feels when introducing someone to a new book, has made her time as the library director, a memorable...
There are few hunts in Montana that compare to chasing after the ghosts of the prairie. Pronghorn sheep, American antelope, speed goat and numerous other names have been given to this, the second fastest land animal in the world. Prized as one of the most exciting hunts for many reasons, including the fact that many hunters consider it one of the best tasing game animals in the continental U.S. The pronghorn is also fast, intelligent, has eyes better than most binoculars and an extremely keen sense of smell. This strong olfactory sense can be...
Kelsey Charlene (Fitchett-Howard) Cold, 25, left this world much too early on October 6, 2020, in an accident near her home in Bozeman, Montana. Kelsey was born in Dickinson, North Dakota, on March 17, 1995, to Michelle (Fitchett) Brown and Duane Howard. Kelsey was a sunny and loving child who won the affection of everyone who came into contact with her warm smile and infectious laugh. She made friends wherever she went and frequently had to be told no as she tried to bring home every stray... Full story
Robert D. Wolf moved to his new address on October 21, 2020, to be reunited with his beloved wife in heaven. He will no longer be getting robocalls, political lies or junk mail. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com. Robert David Wolf was born August 12, 1932 in Columbus, Ohio, the eldest son of Robert and Dorothy Wolf. He was raised in southern Michigan on a farm, and graduated Parma High School in 1949. He moved to Columbus where he met his beloved wife Eleanor... Full story
September daytime highs were slightly below average and nighttime lows continue the trend of being above average. We finally broke the dry spell with a rain of greater than 0.1 inch in a day on the September 19. That was 78 days without significant rainfall, the second longest dry spell behind the 93 days of 2017. September 30 marks the end of the 2020 “water-year.” Total moisture for this water-year (since October 1, 2019) is 31.36 inches compared to 36.51 inches average (14% below average). For snowfall, we had 88.1 inches compared to 115.5 i...
The Montana Commerce Department has announced the official opening for the Tourism Grant Program. Montana Commerce Director, Tara Rice, announced the department has begun accepting applications for the 2021 grant cycle that began on October 15, and will run through November 30. The Tourism Grant Program was developed to strengthen Montana’s economy through the development and enhancement of Montana’s tourism and recreation economy, according to a press release from the Montana Department of Commerce. “A total of $750,000 is available for proje...
COVID-19 has brought sickness, death, mental anguish and unemployment throughout the nation. Though Sanders County had less impact than many other places in Montana, it prompted the end of an era in Plains - the closure of the Dog Hill Bistro, a popular community hangout. Kathy Logan of Plains will shut the doors of her beloved Dog Hill Bistro along Railroad Street in the McGown Mall on Friday after nine-and-a-half years of business. "COVID-19 has taken its toll on small business, and ours is...
by Annie Wooden The popular Sanders County Christmas Bazaar, held each December at Thompson Falls High School, has been forced to cancel this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Organizer Janie McFadgen said that COVID-19 was the main factor in deciding to cancel the event, as there was not a venue big enough to host the bazaar. Thompson Falls School Superintendent Bud Scully said he talked to the school’s insurance company and the risk was too high. McFadgen said the bazaar has 50-60 vendors each year, and added the only venues big enough wo...
The beginning of this year's winter wonderland might be the finish for the little troublesome hopping creatures that have caused a bit of havoc this year in Montana, including Sanders County. They might be small, but they came in big droves and were tough to eradicate and their disappearance is only until spring, according to entomology experts. Grasshoppers were especially troublesome this year, primarily due to the warm and dry conditions throughout the state, according to Kevin Wanner, an...
Although some teams would appear to be a little more legitimate than others at this late stage, tournaments at the end of hard-fought regular seasons represent a chance for new beginnings, an opportunity for every team to finally prove their championship mettle. Hoping to avoid any surprises, Thompson Falls Lady Hawk coach Sandra Kazmierczak will guide her team into the District 7B tournament this week as the conference's No. 1 seed. The tournament will open with Troy playing at Mission Tuesday...
The District 14C volleyball tournament will be played mostly remotely but will end up in St. Regis Saturday for the championship, consolation and, if needed, challenge matches. As the No. 1 and 2 seeds, Charlo and Hot Springs will be given byes through Tuesday’s first round. The No. 4 seed, Noxon will host No. 5 Plains at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday while No. 3 Clark Fork will host No. 6 St. Regis at the same time. The winner of the Noxon-Plains match advances to a semifinal date at Charlo while the victor of the Clark Fork-St. Regis match will play a...
Already All-State, Justin Morgan upped his cross country game a few notches this season and almost became Thompson Falls' first individual champion ever. Repeating his All-State B performance from 2019, Morgan won second place individually in the boys State B portion of the Montana All-Class Meet in Kalispell Friday, finishing less than a second behind the winner during a driving snowstorm. Although Morgan's stirring run to second was the highlight for the Blue Hawks at the Rebecca Farms-hosted...
In coach Jared Koskela’s eyes, these Tigers are dark horses. The unbeaten, 8-0, No. 3 ranked Thompson Falls Blue Hawks will host the 4-2 Simms Tigers Saturday at 1 p.m. in the first round of the Montana 8-Man football playoffs. Capping their second straight unbeaten regular season with another playoff appearance, the Hawks will be hoping to improve on last year’s post season performance, where they advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion Fairview. To improve on that the Hawks will first have to get by Simms, and the Ti...
