Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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More than 6,100 voters sent in ballots and headed to the polls for Tuesday's general election. Sanders County Commissioner Carol Brooker was re-elected by voters, receiving 3,102 votes to challenger Paul Fielder's 2,768. As the final ballot tallies were released Tuesday evening at the Sanders County Courthouse, Fielder congratulated Brooker on her win. "You're tough to beat," Fielder told Brooker as he shook her hand. Sanders County Sheriff Tom Rummel also was re-elected. Rummel received 4,323...
More hunters are checking in with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) at the Thompson Falls check station, despite mild weather conditions that continue to hamper hunter success across northwest Montana. Through Sunday, 812 hunters had gone through the Thompson Falls check station, which is 31 more than the first three weeks of the 2017 season. FWP has seen 21 white-tailed deer (13 bucks), seven mule deer, and 13 elk. The percentage of hunters with game is 5 percent, which is down from 6.9 percent last year. FWP Wildlife Biologist Bruce...
HERE IT COMES - The Thompson Pass road received a dusting of snow Monday evening. The forecast this week calls for an increasing chance of snow in the valleys....
In a special meeting Monday evening, the Thompson Falls City Council chose Jerry Lacy to be the new mayor for the City of Thompson Falls. Lacy retired in September with 27 years of experience as Public Works Director for the city, giving him a unique insider perspective on municipal operations. Throughout his career with the City of Thompson Falls, Lacy has worked with the council in its many forms and seen mayors come and go. He cemented himself as a go-to man for information regarding the...
The forecast is predicting snow any day now. The first winter storm of the season always seems to be followed by an increased number of accidents caused by icy roads. Sometimes, it’s as if the summer months have made us forget that ice and snow create hazardous conditions and our driving habits should be adjusted. Every time you get in your car, you’re trusting your life to all the other drivers you pass on the road. And they do the same for you. We should all do our best to earn that trust in each other. Winter roads call for much slower spe...
As we have the pleasure of talking with friends and neighbors about the CSKT Compact, the common theme is that no one understands it. The typical response is, “I really don’t know much about it. There are people I respect on both sides so that just confuses me more.” If you find yourself agreeing, you are in good company; this behemoth of a document wasn’t understood by most legislators, either. But much like the Bible, it isn’t the parts we don’t understand that are troubling, but the parts we do. Article I of the Hellgate Treaty begins, “Th...
Regarding The good and the bad Montana Viewpoint (Nov. 1 Ledger), could I just add “and The ugly” to that title by Jim Elliott. Jim’s account of good is very accurate. We all know good people in our valley and throughout the entire county that surpasses way beyond good. And it is a bad state of affairs that a newsman loses his life the way that he did. And another newsman was body slammed, and the guilt fell on “a president” because he says what he thinks, sometimes without thinking of how the fake news such as CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, Ne...
I am a white, pro-life, Christian, heterosexual male, Republican, who supports a strong immigration policy. Therefore, according to those on the left (at least those who receive the lion’s share of media attention), I, and those like me, are bigoted, misogynistic, homophobes. According to the liberal philosophy, people like me hate and fear immigrants and/or anyone who is not like us (talk about prejudice). I’m tired of being labeled a racist or a hater. Nothing could be further from the truth....
4 YEARS AGO • NOVEMBER 9, 1978 BIGHORN SHEEP PLANT PLANNED The south side of the Clark Fork River between Paradise and 14-Mile Creek is a site for a potential transplant of bighorn sheep from Wildhorse Island in Flathead Lake, according to Fish and Game Department (F&G), wildlife biologist Bob Henderson of Thompson Falls. The area above Cascade Campground on the Paradise-St. Regis cutoff is a traditional bighorn sheep range. “Oldtimers in the area tell me that sheep were in the area until the early 1900s,” Henderson reported. Hunting and l...
KEVIN VAUGHT, Thompson Falls – “Probably Life. That was our favorite game.” TAMRA RAICHE, Thompson Falls – “Chutes and Ladders. That was so fun.” MICHAEL GROSS, Thompson Falls – “Checkers probably. I’m old and not smart enough to play Chess.” JOYCE HILT, Noxon – “Probably Monopoly. I haven’t played in a long time and the game has changed several times. I play a lot of card games now.” JENNIFER FIELDER, Thompson Falls – “The game of Life because it had a lot of different things. You had a mother and a father and a boat load of kids.” JOYCE BYB...
Ambulances: Noxon, 1; T. Falls, 6; Plains, 3; H. Springs, 3; Dixon QRU, 1. Sunday, October 28 Arrest made for possession of dangerous drugs at business on Main St., T. Falls. Criminal mischief/property damage, rear tires slashed, Plains. Fish and Game requested for a wounded bear, Plains. Threats made via social media, T. Falls. Vehicle towing a camper all over the road, eastbound Hwy. 200, Plains. Erratic driver, Hwy. 200 eastbound, Plains. Theft, fuel drive-off, Town Pump, T. Falls. Monday, October 29 Vehicle hit gas pumps causing damage at...
Sanders County Sheriff’s Office James Ratliff, 39, speeding in a restricted zone, $65; driving while privilege is suspended or revoked, 1st offense, $285. Andrew Harmon, 17, speeding in a restricted zone, $105. Paul Mitzelfelt, 36, day speeding, $120. Billy Howard, 21, day speeding, $120. MT Department of Transportation Raymond Hawley, 63, driver failing to use seatbelt, $60. Montana Highway Patrol Tyrell Hicks, 29, operating without liability insurance in effect, 1st offense, $85. Kayla Fussell, 20, seatbelt violation, $20; failure to carry p...
At the behest of Thompson Falls High School's athletic director, students in the shop class have completed a project to help raise money for the athletic department. The project also wrapped up around the same time another round of products were finished, that were a year in the making. "The design is similar to past products we've made, but the decorative vents have Blue Hawk logos in place of the generic evergreen silhouettes seen in last years fire pit creations," said shop teacher Mike...
Students and staff at Trout Creek School are focusing on character virtues this school year to create a "Culture of Character." Administrators and staff have chosen to focus on the virtues of compassion, honesty, integrity, tolerance, respect, responsibility, courtesy, forgiveness and patience for the 2018-2019 school year. October's virtue was compassion, and teachers each chose a student from their classroom who exemplified compassion. The students chosen were Kamdin Hensley (K-1), Grady Dana...
There are sure to be a few nice, warm days yet this fall. What better way to spend this time then outside prepping your garden for next spring? It will not only save you time next year, but it will also improve your growing conditions. A few things should be done every fall, before laying your garden to bed for the winter, to increase the chances for a successful growing season next year. Start by trimming down the old, decaying vegetation that has called it quits. Bury or gently till these remnants into the soil, increasing overall soil...
Sunday afternoon Sanders County 4-H families met at the fairground pavilion to reflect on a successful 2017-2018 year. Participants celebrated the end of another year and were recognized for a job well done at the annual Achievement Day. Awards in the form of mugs, bowls, certificates, belt buckles and money were given to those who were high achievers in their fair interviews, projects, community services, record book keeping skills, participation and overall attitude and spirit. To show...
After successfully raising four of her own children as a homeschooling mother, Lisa Snell just embarked on a life as an empty-nester. But her days of encouraging compassionate learning and facilitating healthy growth of youth and family are far from over. Snell has recently accepted a position with Child Start, Inc., Head Start, where she will implement the home-based program in Noxon, Trout Creek and Thompson Falls. The federally-funded program allows Snell to meet families in their homes for 1.5-hour increments each week. “During that t...
Ashley and John Dalling of Plains welcomed son, Billy Aaron, Fri., Oct. 26 at 2:48 p.m. at Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains. He weighed seven pounds, 9.8 ounces and measured 20 inches long. Billy joins sister, Kimberlyn. Maternal grandparents are Doug Miller of Coos Bay, Ore. and Vickey Tuer of Hot Springs. Maternal great-grandparents are Doug and Candy Miller of Jefferson, Ore. Paternal grandparents are William and Patricia Dalling of Spokane, Wash. Welcome, Billy.... Full story
Once again, young scientists from Noxon and Thompson Falls are busy prepping themselves for the annual Montana Science Olympiad. Students have been preparing to display their scientific abilities, knowledge and skills for the last few weeks. With less than two weeks to go before the competition takes place, these kids need to focus and get busy in hopes of perfecting their science projects. In all, 42 students, ranging from sixth to twelfth grade, have spent after-school hours researching...
The 1st Annual Plains Lions Club Parade of Costumes at Fred Young Park was filled with an assortment of scary and funny characters, but it was a genie on a magic carpet that took top honors in the contest. Forty-five kids entered the competition, but when judges Lisa Larson and Cheri Minemyer were done, 8-year-old Tia Bellinger in her homemade genie apparel nabbed first place and $25 in gold Sacagawea coins. Second place went to Arrow Hyde, 10, with his gorilla outfit, taking home $10 in Sacagaw...
HOT SPRINGS – These Mustangs proved to be hard to break. Paced by a dazzling offensive attack keyed by quarterback Keenan Murnion, the Jordan Mustangs outscored the Hot Springs Savage Heat 74-57 in the Class C 6-Man playoff quarterfinals in Hot Springs Saturday. Now 9-2, the Mustangs, the No. 3 seeded team from the Eastern C will travel to Lambert Saturday to take on No. 2 seeded Eastern C Richey-Lambert in the semifinals. The winner of that game will face the survivor of the other semifinal g...
Saving their very best for last, the Thompson Falls Lady Hawks were the upset queens of the Western B divisional volleyball tournament in Florence last week and very nearly earned a trip to the State B tournament this week in Bozeman with their efforts. Coach Sandra Kazmierczak and her Lady Hawks were the talk of the Western B after scoring huge wins over Deer Lodge and Anaconda Thursday to advance to the undefeated semifinal with favored Florence Friday evening. After falling to Florence in...
As far as youth wrestling tournaments go, they don't come much bigger than the Monster Match Nationals. Wrestled in Denver each year about this time, the Monster Match usually attracts competitors from all across the country. This past weekend, there were 14 grapplers from this little part of the world participating in Denver. Coach and trip organizer Mike Thilmony said that more than 1,700 wrestlers from 29 states, including the 14 from western Montana and northern Idaho that he was with,...
The Plains Trotters completed season play at the Western C divisional volleyball tournament in Churchill last week, winning one of three matches before bowing out. Manhattan Christian won the Western C title and the Eagles and the second place Ennis Mustangs, who defeated Plains in a loser-out match Friday afternoon, now advance on to the Class C portion of the Montana All-Class tournament in Bozeman this Thursday through Saturday. Ennis defeated Gardiner in the loser-third match Saturday in...
