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More than 200 Sanders County residents have received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine through Clark Fork Valley Hospital (CFVH), the hospital reported this week. Dr. Gregory Hanson, CEO of CFVH, said that Phase 1A of the vaccine distribution plan has been completed. The first phase included healthcare workers and long-term care residents. With additional vaccines, the hospital contacted each primary care provider in the area for the names of the highest risk individuals they care for, “allowing us t...
It's been a windy Wednesday morning throughout Sanders County as thousands of residents were left without power. From the Rimrock to the west end of Sanders County and Plains on the east end were without power....
The trial of Danielle Wood, charged with deliberate homicide in the murder of her ex-boyfriend, Matt LaFriniere of Thompson Falls, begins at the Sanders County Courthouse on Tuesday, January 19. Court officials met earlier this month to plan for the trial, estimated to last 1-2 weeks. The pretrial hearing included discussion on how to safely conduct the trial and everything from juror selection to witnesses and court proceedings given the current COVID-19 restrictions. The court will not allow...
A group gathered in front of the Sanders County courthouse with flags to support President Trump and to show their distaste for president-elect, Joe Biden. Organized by the Sanders County Republican Women's Club, the event brought over 100 people at noon on Wednesday in a peaceful protest, sporting dozens of Old Glory, Pro-Trump, and various American flags. The event was sparked by a message that made its way to Club President Stacey Kandel, from the Montanans for Limited government group. The...
The Town of Plains may be using eminent domain - the compulsory purchase of a property - in an effort to get the sewage treatment plant moved before the Clark Fork River overtakes it and puts it out of commission, which would have detrimental consequences for town residents. Plains faced two hurdles before the sewage facility could be moved - funding for the project and land for a new site. The town received nearly $5.2 million in a Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) grant in...
The first time I went to Washington, D.C., as a high school junior, it was for a journalism conference. We were a group of teenagers celebrating the First Amendment and the role we as journalists played in our future. Unfortunately for the three delegates from Montana, it was the year Ted Kaczynski was arrested and Montana was only known for the Unabomber. That first time in D.C., I was in awe of all the history. Seeing the Declaration of Independence gave me chills and so much pride in our country. The second time, I had the privilege of...
The Sanders County Courthouse and the Sanders County Sheriff's Office have not lowered the American flag to honor peace officers dying as a result of the assault on our democracy on January 6. Neither found honoring peace officers worth the few minutes it would have taken to lower the flag. And where are the voices of veterans, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars regarding respect for our fellow Americans and our flag? All of you who are silent are supporting this disrespect and all that goes with it. Ruth Cheney, U.S. Army,...
I want to make it very clear to everyone reading this that I absolutely condemn the violent demonstration we all watched evolve on January 6 in Washington, D.C. In my mind, there is no defending the actions of the individuals who stormed the senate chambers. It was embarrassing to our nation in general and conservative voters in particular. As in any violent demonstration, those involved should be arrested and prosecuted. I have a problem though with the way that whole event has been covered....
THE MARTIN QUINNS WERE AMONG THE EARLY SETTLERS Excerpt from Wild Horse Plains Centennial Issue - 1983 One of the more prominent of the early day settlers in the Plains area was Martin Quinn who came to western Montana as a miner but spent the greater part of his adult life as operator of a resort area known, and still operating at the present time, as Quinn’s Hot Springs. Quinn, a native of Ireland, and his wife of a few years, a native of England, arrived in the area a year after the Northern Pacific Railroad was completed in 1883. They start...
GIN WEBER, Bigfork - “I do my taxes as soon as the paperwork comes in.” MARC TERRAZAS, Thompson Falls - “I prepare my taxes well before the April 15 deadline.” KIMBERLY PATTON, Plains - “I file ahead of time. I don’t wait for the last minute for anything.” TAYLOR HUNTSMAN, Sun Valley, California - “I usually cut it close, but I try to get it in before the deadline. Just waiting on those W2s.” MARY YODER, Plains - “My husband takes care of that, but I assume he does it ahead of time.” LEEMAN MATTHEW, Plains - “I file my taxes ahead of time....
Montana Highway Patrol Samuel Stoner, 26, operating without insurance, 4th offense, $535, 10 days in jail; driving while suspended, 1st offense, $275; criminal possession of dangerous drugs, 1st offense, $175; careless driving, $75; criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, $175. Stephanie Brown, 38, driving under the influence, 1st offense, $685, 1 day in jail. Roger Foley, 53, night speeding, $70. Toby Ridders, 43, seatbelt violation, $20. Richard Schaberg, 29, exceeding special zone speed limit, $95. Kaden Gran, 19, day speeding, $70....
Ambulance: Plains, 10; Hot Springs, 4; Lonepine, 1; Trout Creek, 3; T. Falls, 6; Dixon, 1; Noxon, 1; Sunday, January 3 Assist motorist, Perma Fish and game, Plains. Motor vehicle crash, Trout Creek. Fire, Trout Creek. Monday, January 4 Person missing, Dixon. Juvenile runaway, T. Falls. Theft, Trout Creek. Civil attempts, Dixon. Threats, Trout Creek. Theft, Trout Creek. Property damage/criminal mischief, pickup hit two mailboxes and did significant damage to fence, pickup fled scene, Plains. Theft, T. Falls. Tuesday, January 5 Assist other...
NorthWestern Energy outlined their next steps toward relicensing the Thompson Falls Hydroelectric Project (Project) in a public meeting last week. The meeting, held via Zoom Wednesday, is part of the company’s effort to renew their license with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) before the 2025 expiration date. NorthWestern’s proposed study plan (PSP) was filed in response to the Pre-Application Document (PAD) submitted in July of 2020, as the company received comments submitted by four resource agencies, as well as two add...
THOMPSON FALLS MONDAY NITE GALS W L Dangerous Dames 35 25 Rock’n Bowl 34 26 Dolls with Balls 30.5 29.5 Talk of the Town 29 31 Nascar Freaks 28.5 31.5 Balls to the Wall 22 38 Team Scr. Game: Nascar Freaks, 438; Scr. Series: Nascar Freaks, 1234; Hcp. Game: Balls to the Wall, 686; Hcp. Series: Balls to the Wall, 1915; Inv. Scr. Game: Annie Wooden, 193; Scr. Series: Linde Pavlik, 509; Hcp. Game: Annie Wooden, 273; Hcp. Series: Annie Wooden, 682. BOWLING BEAUTIES W L Lane Blazers 41 23 Gardner Ranch 30.5 33.5 Sunflower Gals 29.5 34.5 Aspire PT 27 3...
Shirley Anderson, born Shirley Ann Denter on April 5, 1925, to Max and Ruby Denter, died peacefully after bidding farewell to her family, on Wednesday, January 6, of complications from a hip fracture. Shirley grew up in the mountains of Colorado. After spending the war years in Hanford, Washington, she returned home temporarily to run the family cafe and single gas pump in Big Thompson Canyon. There she met Bob, who had served in the USMC as a fighter pilot in the Pacific theatre, when he and... Full story
Wayne Lawrence Markquart, 83, was born February 15, 1937 on the family farm near Dunnell, Minnesota, the son of Lawrence and Florence Markquart. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Dunnell and graduated from Ceylon High School in 1955. Wayne entered service in the U.S. Army in 1956 and served in the 8th Army Honor Guard in Seoul, South Korea, until his discharge in 1958. He began his building career working in Sherburn, Minnesota. His adventurous spirit led him to... Full story
The snow is here, but that doesn’t mean the hiking season is over! Hiking in wintertime is a fun, rewarding experience in its own right. And once you get back home, warm food and a hot drink taste even better. The best part? For those who live near the Scotchman Peaks region, there’s no shortage of amazing places to explore. Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness has launched its winter hiking season, and there are already plenty of great outings to add to your schedule. The scheduled hikes provide a chance to explore our wild backyard on sno...
December temperatures were several degrees above normal. Nothing like the December of 1968 when the temperature dropped to -31F. The warmer temperatures meant more precipitation coming down as rain rather than snow. Both total precipitation and snow December totals were below normal. Total moisture for this water-year (since October 1, 2020) is 12.34” compared to 12.55” average (2% below average). For snowfall, we have 36.0” compared to 45.6” average (21% below average). The Poorman Creek SNOTEL station at 5100 ft reads 47” of snow on the gr...
It seems that every summer Montanans start voicing their opinions about what the winter season will bring. The last few years, smoke-filled skies left many hoping for plentiful snowfall. Early weather models indicated that was just what the current winter season had in store. According to Lucas Zukiewicz, NRCS water supply specialist, weather patterns changed in November resulting in depletion of October’s below average temperatures and above average snowfall. “Unfortunately, as we have seen in previous La Nina years in Montana, a for...
The sole laundromat in Plains is under new ownership and they plan to be on site to assist customers on a regular basis. Chad and Lynne Kavanaugh purchased the Wash Tub Laundromat at 202 South Willis Street behind City Hall last October, six months after moving to Plains from California. The couple bought the entire building, which also has three second floor apartments and an office space on the first level, from Doug Wipplinger of Plains. Wash Tub Laundromat has 14 washers and 12 dryers, all...
After a short departure, Elizabeth Haagenson will once again be Huckleberry Festival Committee chair, and has now signed on as Huckleberry Inc. president in addition. “I didn’t want to see it end,” Haagenson stated of the festival, renouncing her resignation during the recent Huckleberry Inc., board meeting. The annual festival was in jeopardy of dissolving due to lack of volunteers and someone willing to spearhead the event and committees. “We’re doing our darndest to move forward this year with the expectation that we will have a festival,...
When the Hawks get it going the points really start flowing. The explosive Thompson Falls boys improved to 3-0 overall and in District 7B play with a pair of important conference wins last week, topping the Mission Bulldogs 59-57 in St. Ignatius Friday and then holding off a strong second-half rally to defeat the Eureka Lions 64-60 in Thompson Falls Saturday. Having a chance to open 7B play with a 4-0 record, the Hawks were set to play at Bigfork Tuesday but results of that game were not...
by John Dowd The trial of former Thompson Falls resident Danielle Wood began Tuesday with opening arguments by the prosecution and defense attorneys. Prosecutors introduced themselves and their approaches for the trial, stating they intend to convince the jury of eight women and four men that Wood premeditated the 2018 murder of Matthew LaFriniere, 51 of Thompson Falls. In opening statements, prosecutors said Wood purchased the firearm prior to the murder and a disposable cell phone in order to...
