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Area schools and organizations honored Sanders County veterans in remembrance of Veterans Day. While Nov. 11 was a Sunday, area schools made sure to show veterans their appreciation. And last Friday, the City of Thompson Falls and the Thompson Falls Main Street Committee commemorated the veterans memorial at Ainsworth Park. At Ainsworth Park, about 50 braved chilly weather to watch the U.S., Montana and POW/MIA flags be raised at the veterans memorial. Carla Parks with the Thompson Falls Main...
In Montana, one in every 10 residents is a veteran, making the state the one of the most heavily populated, per capita, in the nation, according to Veterans Affairs and Census Bureau data. Noxon students invited local Veterans to their third Veterans Day assembly honoring these services. Recognitions was given to everyone as their name and military service branch was recited. Veterans stood and received ample applause after each of the 19 names were called. Bart Haflich, Noxon teacher, read alou...
--- UPDATED FRIDAY, NOV. 16, 8 a.m. --- The Sanders County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) reports that they have arrested West Flockerzi, the suspect in the Trout Creek shooting. SCSO reported that Flockerzi, a Trout Creek resident, was taken into custody around 4 a.m. Friday. Law enforcement had been searching for Flockerzi since Wednesday evening. "Information indicated that the male was armed and anticipating a shootout with law enforcement upon service of the warrant," according to SCSO, which requested assistance from the Missoula County...
A new group of people were in charge of the Veteran's Appreciation Luncheon at Plains School this year, but the enthusiasm and heartfelt dedication to give thanks to the military veterans hadn't waivered. "It was really, really outstanding," said Joe Eisenbrandt, a Navy Vietnam War veteran who has attended the school's appreciation luncheon all five years. The program was started by teachers Keith Baker and Linda Knight, who retired last year. This year, Nichole Cockrell and George Sherwood...
As the holidays approach, the Plains Community Food Bank is striving to help people in need, but to help others the food bank needs help. The shelves at the food bank are normally stocked well, but they are finding themselves with empty shelves and without several basic food items, said Jack Dowell, one of a handful of volunteers at the food bank, located on Central Avenue across from the Assembly of God Church on the Move. Dowell said they are presently missing several items that the food bank...
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) began a project east of Thompson Falls this week to make safety improvements along Highway 200. The project is slated to be completed in two parts. The first phase, which began this week, includes stump and shrub removal along the highway, along with rock removal (also called scaling) using an excavator. The project covers 2.7 miles of Highway 200 from the Thompson River bridge going east toward Plains. According to MDT, this section of Highway 200 has a higher than average crash rate, with...
As we gear up for the holiday season, we’re reminded of the importance of helping others. We should be good neighbors at all times, but those less fortunate need extra help during the holidays. With Thanksgiving just two weeks away, local charities will be hitting the streets asking for donations for food baskets, gifts for needy kids and monetary donations to help Sanders County residents. Aside from monetary donations, many organizations are also looking for volunteers. If you can’t give money, consider giving some of your time to help mak...
I want to extend deep gratitude and appreciation to business’s and individuals in our county that contributed to renovating the kiosk in front of the courthouse. Generous donations from ACE/Inland Empire Builders, THRIVENT a community based membership with the motto of “ Live Generously” and Stud's in Plains. Like any community project without many hands this project would not have happened. Support from Jen Kreiner Community Development Director, Kim Roberts, owner of Inland Empire Builder and his staff, Susan and Andy. The owner of Stud'...
At the outset let me say that I never want to change anything that is not broken. However, when we consider the vast differences between rural and urban election results, it becomes painfully clear that something is amiss. Doctor Roger Wicke, a columnist living in the rural community of Hot Springs, Montana, published an article to his distribution that reveals an aspect of this problem, titled “ I DO NOT TRUST THE MONTANA ELECTION RESULTS.” Roger points to the difference in rally attendance numbers between Democrat and Republican rallies: “Wa...
Those philosophers who have wrestled with the concept of truth for centuries can take a break now that politicians have taken over the issue. As an example, recently a CNN reporter was accused of “laying his hands” on a female White House aide at a news conference while she was trying to retrieve the microphone from him. We are fortunate to have actual video proof showing that this really “did not” or “did too” happen; in the exact same video, no less. Some claim that the “did too” video wa...
WEBER'S STORE Charles & Bertha Weber Most people in the area know Weber's Store as the Laundromat. It was originally built as a general store and post office by Charles Weber to serve the citizens of Thompson Falls. He became the third post master of the town in 1903. Charles came to Thompson Falls in 1888 as recorded in the list of Early Settlers of Thompson Falls in 1933. In the 1900 federal census Thompson Falls, Missoula County, Montana he stated that he was a merchant in Thompson and that...
DANIEL DEPREZ, Heron – “I’d go back in time and do it all again the right way.” STACY JACK, Thompson Falls – “I would go back to the past and ask my grandparents the questions I never got to ask them." MARY FISHER, Thompson Falls – “I think I’d go back and see my loved ones who are gone.” MONA LU GOULD, Thompson Falls – “I would go back. I like the way they lived back then.” SCOTT JOHNSON, Thompson Falls – “I’d go forward to the future. By looking back you can understand what was done wrong. Going forward, you can always fail, but you can co...
Ambulances: Noxon, 5; T. Falls, 4; Plains, 4; H. Springs, 11; Dixon QRU, 1. Sunday, November 4 Arrest made for DUI drugs or alcohol, Plains. Individual walking around town screaming and looking in windows, H. Springs. Trespassing/stalking, H. Springs. Criminal trespass to property, H. Springs. 911 hang-up caused by wet phone. Protection order violation, T. Falls. Domestic disturbance, T. Falls. Monday, November 5 Vehicle vs. deer, Hwy. 200, T. Falls. Horses running down Hwy. 200, Eddy Flat. One-vehicle non-injury accident, Hwy. 212, Dixon...
Theodore Gibson Jr., entered a guilty plea Tuesday in the form of an Alford plea to a charge of possession of a deadly weapon by a prisoner in a facility, a felony. With the Alford plea, Gibson testified that he agreed strong evidence of guilt exists and that a plea agreement was in his best interest. Gibson was arrested on March 30 after a 911 call and transported to the Sanders County Jail. In the jail, Gibson allegedly had a knife as part of his belt, according to charging documents. Judge James Manley set Gibson’s sentencing for Dec. 1...
Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Delta Clark, 33, speeding in a restricted zone, $105; driving while privilege is suspended or revoked, $525; operating without liability insurance, 3rd or subsequent offense, $525; habitual offender operating motor vehicle, $1025. Steve Shuttle, 29,driving while privilege is suspended or revoked, $175 and 1 day jail; operating without liability insurance in effect, 1st offense, $175; operating a vehicle which has not been properly registered, $35. Patrick Roy, 32, negligent endangerment (substantial r...
Thank you to all the local veterans who graced our students and staff with your presence at our Veterans Day lunch at Thompson Falls Elementary School. It was truly our honor to serve you lunch as a small token of our gratitude for your service. The benefit to our students was beyond measure. Watching our students have the opportunity to converse with veterans from different eras and branches of service was both educational and uplifting. Thank you all for sharing your stories, photos, and your time with us. We hope to have started a new...
For more than 10 years Thompson Falls' Penny Hopkins has dedicated herself to growing student intellectual, physical and social aptitudes through an afterschool program called REACH (Rural, Education, Academics, Community, Healthy Lifestyles). In addition, the program provides a safe, structured and engaging setting for children of working parents. Students in grades third through eighth are welcome to attend and benefit from a vast diversity of projects Hopkins implements in the REACH program....
Mike Benson of Lonepine racked up his fifth overall Mack Days win over the weekend with just over 1,000 fish. Benson took first place with 1,005 lake trout entries and an average of 52.87 per day. Benson said that while it was his fifth win in the tournament, he has also finished second 10 times. Second place went to Felix Gauci of Stevensville (780 fish, 47.47 daily average), third was Scott Bombard of Missoula (853, 46.27), fourth was David McDaniel of Polson (689, 45.07), fifth was Sam Cusker of Whitefish (503, 33.00), sixth was Larry...
He started in the mountains of Colorado, lived in the deserts of the Middle East, moved to the swamps of Florida and soon he'll be in the Rockies of Montana as a member of Clark Fork Valley Hospital. Dr. Robert E. Blease will be the hospital's first fulltime orthopedic surgeon since the late 1990s and is scheduled to begin work sometime in mid January. "In looking for a new practice opportunity, I was seeking a smaller facility in the West, were I could provide more personalized care to my...
Hunters were more successful last weekend across northwest Montana as the big-game hunting season approaches its final weeks. Activity picked up at the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) five game check stations in Region 1. At Thompson Falls, more than 1,000 hunters have checked in, and 30 white-tailed deer have been harvested, including 21 bucks. Ten mule deer and 17 elk have been through the check station. The number of white-tailed deer is down significantly from last year, when 60 had been recorded at the check station at the same poin...
Are you in need of a getaway, vacation or holiday? If so, now may be the time to book your next adventure to Ireland or Alaska. Jenny Williams, owner of Jenny’s Travel Agency, LLC, is currently accepting clients for a June 23-30, 2019 trip to Ireland. This is a group trip that Williams will be guiding. “We will be staying in centrally located boutique hotels and staying overnight in a castle hotel and dining like Lords and Ladies at a Medieval dinner,” Williams stated. Admission to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity College (Book of Kells), Guinn...
Elizabeth J Sahinen, 92 passed away November 9, 2018, in Kalispell. Betty was born May 2, 1926, to Leslie and Mary Foerschler in Belgrade, Montana. She was raised in Helena. She attended grade school at Central School and graduated from the Old Helena High School. Betty married James G. Sahinen in 1950 at the St. Helena Cathedral. She worked at the union bank until she started raising her seven girls. After raising her girls and babysitting for friends, Betty decided to join the real world and...
The Cancer Network of Sanders County will once again host a lantern launch to honor those who have lost their battle with cancer, or friends and family who continue to fight the disease. The public can purchase lanterns and write messages on them before they are launched. The event will be Saturday, Nov. 24, at 6 p.m. at the Sanders County Fairgrounds. Sherry McCartney with the Cancer Network said that lanterns can be purchased prior to the event as well. Volunteers will sell lanterns Friday, Nov. 16, from 1 to 3 p.m. at McGowan's in Plains,...
In planning for next year, the Plains Town Council voted 5-1 to reprioritize the list of roads that need the most work and decided that Willis Street will be next to get a major overhaul. Walnut Street and Central Avenue had been number three on the town’s road work priority list, but the council decided at last Monday’s meeting to instead put Willis Street ahead due to major deteriorating pavement, excess water buildup and because of the amount of use Willis gets, according to Mayor Dan Rowan. “We get a lot of heavy traffic – heavy in volume...
The Sanders County Arts Council was pleased at the results of this year's "Do Your Bidding" fundraiser at the Paradise Center Saturday evening, raising $2,500 with their baked potato dinner and auctions. The nonprofit organization also received a $2,000 check from an anonymous Plains donor, said Cinda Gazaway, the chief organizer of the event. "It was a very successful auction. I was really pleased," said Gazaway, a Noxon resident whose oil landscape painting fetched top dollar in the silent...