Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Sometimes the best intentions garner the most undesirable results. This is a fact that Thompson River Animal Care Shelter (TRACS) has come to help a few big-hearted animal lovers come to grips with. "Some people want to help as many animals as they can, but despite their best efforts they are not equipped with the resources to be able to adequately provide for their needs," said TRACS co-founder Wanda Thorpe. "When people try to take on large numbers of animals in their home, it often turns out...
Thompson Falls Schools and the City of Thompson Falls Police Department continue to investigate an incident at Thompson Falls High School in which a student allegedly made threats of violence during a lunch period. Superintendent Jason Slater said the incident happened Thursday, Nov. 16. He said the high school principal, Rich Ferris, engaged immediately, and that the school completed a threat assessment. The result of the threat assessment was there was no threat to any student or group of students, Slater said. The school was not locked down...
Three churches joined forces earlier this week to make Thanksgiving a bit better for families of Plains. Nearly a dozen men and women gathered at the United Methodist Church in Plains Tuesday afternoon to assemble this year's Thanksgiving Baskets for 15 families – 67 people – in the Plains area. The baskets were made possible by the United Methodist Church in Plains and Paradise, the First Lutheran Church in Plains, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Plains. Members of the...
The Community Congregational Church of Thompson Falls, Sanders County Food Bank and many local volunteers had a busy weekend preparing for Thanksgiving this year. Combined efforts successfully prepared 105 Thanksgiving dinner boxes for almost 500 individuals in need. This was made possible by the many monetary and food donations gathered from community members and churches in Sanders County. Each box contained vegetables, Jell-O, stuffing, pumpkin pie ingredients, bread, rolls, eggs and other it...
It’s hard to focus on the positive sometimes, and remember to be thankful. Especially around this time of year, the stress of the holidays can be overwhelming. But it’s important to take time to remember the good things, and be thankful for what you have. Here are just a few things we are thankful for when it comes to living in Sanders County: There are no stoplights, and the only traffic jams we encounter are caused by Canada geese and bighorn sheep. You get to know law enforcement on a first-name basis ... in a good way. You can go to the...
This past week was a very memorable and busy week for me. The Governor called the legislature back to town on November 13 to help fix the budget deficit. I am on the house business and labor committee and we were scheduled to meet jointly with the senate business and labor. I missed the Monday meeting with a higher priority, my mother’s funeral service was that afternoon. I headed to Helena at 3 a.m. the next day for the 8 a.m. committee meeting. We met and discussed several bills. The full House Assembly was called to order at noon that d...
5 YEARS AGO • NOVEMBER 23, 1967 AWAKENED BEAR SURPRISES LOGGER Rousing a big, hibernating black bear from its winter’s sleep was not exactly what Walt Dudley was expecting when he started to cut down a large spruce tree up the West Fork of Thompson River last week. According to Jack Nichols, who was sawing nearby, Dudley reported he thought he saw something black at the bottom of the tree as he began sawing. And then when a big paw reached out within inches of his hand and touched the chainsaw, Walt knew he had seen something. Dudley dro...
SAMUEL DeLEON, Thompson Falls – "We just buy it in a store. My mom puts some kind of seasoning on it. You put in the oven at 5 degrees for 15 minutes. I don't know what is in the stuffing and I like it, but the legs are the best. I never made a turkey before." ALLAN McGANN, Thompson Falls – "We are going hunting the day before Thanksgiving. When we get him home, I'm going to eat it. But first, I'll put stuffed animals in it. We'll cook it as hot as lava. I saw a wild turkey in the school yar...
Ambulances: Noxon, 1; T. Falls, 6; Plains, 4. Sunday, November 12 Injured deer on Hwy. 200, Wild Goose Landing, T. Falls. Dogs chasing deer in the Mule Pasture, T. Falls. Domestic disturbance, Plains. Welfare check requested, T. Falls. Arrest made for possession of dangerous drugs, Plains. Report of young child walking by railroad tracks, T. Falls. Hit and run at T. Creek business. Vehicle vs. deer, T. Creek. Welfare check requested, Paradise. Monday, November 13 DUI arrest made, Hwy. 28, H. Springs. Possible criminal mischief, Plains. Arrest...
Montana Highway Patrol Odd Jorgensen, 57: $735 and 180 days jail with 179 suspended, DUI, 1st offense; $275, no liability insurance, 1st offense. Wayne Scott, 68, $735, DUI, 1st offense. Kenneth Flanagan, 82, $20, seatbelt violation. James Doutrich, $20, seatbelt violation. David Haveman, 38, $20, day speeding. Bridget Holliday, 60, $20, day speeding. Dennis Spurlock, 55, $85, careless driving. Martin Koskela, 57, $45, failure to yield. Jacob Halgren, 27, $70, night speeding. Terry Smith, 58, $85, operating with expired registration. Sanders...
"This is one of our favorite things to do for our community," said Plains Lions Club president, Duane Highcrane between checking in students and assisting his fellow Lions at Thompson Falls Elementary School, Thursday. The Lions arrived at the school at 9 a.m., taking over a small room in the hallway near the secretary's office. The four members from the Plains club set up complicated-looking equipment and began lining up small groups of student in the hall. The students waited patiently as...
by Justin Harris Thompson Falls Chamber of Commerce met Thursday with plenty on the agenda in the upcoming month. By far the busiest day on their calendar will be Christmas on Main Street, which always falls on the first weekend of December. This year, the bulk of events will fall on Saturday, December 2. Getting a jump start on the festivities is the Thompson Falls Public Library, which will hold a ‘Better Book Sale and Holiday Cookie Sale.’ The sale begins Thursday, November 30 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. The event will continue Friday fro...
Everyone reaches a time in their life when they could use a helping hand. Trout Creek resident and Montana native Susan Sweatman knows this all too well, and she is willing to lend that hand. Sweatman has recently released her first book, "Healing for Your Heart: One Poem at a Time." The compilation of poems was written by Sweatman over a 47-year period ranging from 1970 to 2017. The poems are aimed at providing support, through "God's healing touch," to women who have experienced a journey of...
Joyce Lynne Burns, 69, passed away in her home Friday November 17, 2017 after a year-long struggle with an incurable nerve disorder. Lynne was born July 8, 1948 in Lovelock, Nevada. After graduation from high school she enlisted in the Navy. She served honorably from 1966 to 1969. Lynne married Robert N. Burns in 1972. They lived in Darby and Helena before settling permanently in Thompson Falls in May of 1991. She retired from the Sanders County Clerk and Recorders Office in 2013 after 22 years... Full story
Announcing the arrival of Kendrick Melvin Zimmerman, born to Dwight & Faith Zimmerman on Oct.24, 2017. He was born at the Bonner General Hospital, weighed 5 pounds, 1 ounce and was 18 inches long. He is lovingly welcomed by his three sisters and two brothers. Maternal grandparents are James and Edith Weaver of Bedford, Penn., and paternal grandparents are Melvin and Kathryn Zimmerman of Richland, Penn. Welcome, Kendrick.... Full story
Plains resident Larry Spiekermeier is driving the truck to Washingon, D.C. At stops along the route, he is a celebrity, with people wanting their picture taken with him and autographing trading cards with his picture. "This is unbelievable," Spiekermeier said. "See the faces and people being so excited, it's awesome because we're representing out part of the world." Spiekermeier called the chance to drive the Capitol Christmas Tree "the crown jewel." With Whitewood Transportation, Spiekermeir...
Fourteen National Honor Society (NHS) members of Thompson Falls High School attended a fun-filled weekend in Seattle to celebrate their classwork accomplishments and achievements. The students spent a long weekend, from Nov. 9-12, visiting the "Emerald City" and took in as many sites as possible. Funding for the trip was collected through many fundraising activates throughout the year. NHS students sell cookie dough in the fall, host dessert auctions in the winter and maintain a snack vending...
A bighorn ram took a tour of Thompson Falls High School facilities last week. The sheep was spotted east of Thompson Falls, went through the old mill site, and up Golf Street toward the high school. It then traveled across the football field and up the hill toward the high school campus. Herds of bighorn sheep are frequently spotted between Thompson Falls and Plains....
"It was something in the community that needed done, so we did it," could be the motto of the Benevolent Order of the Elks in Thompson Falls, but it is actually a quote from one of its officers regarding the lodge's latest effort. Guy Engebretson was employed with the power company when he first moved to the area in 1982. At that time, employees from the utility would put up the Christmas decorations on the street lights on Main Street in Thompson Falls. "The city already had those decorations w...
For the last 17 years, Women for a Better Sanders County (WBSC) have been hard at work trying to make positive enhancements to Sanders County. “We love Sanders County so we do not want to change it,” said Linda Haywood, WBSC member. “We just want to enhance it.” So, that is the mission they are working toward. The group started in 2010 when Peggy Johnson and Carolyn Hidy got in touch with one another. Even though they had different political backgrounds, they felt it would benefit the county if women could come together and form a non-par...
The Blue Hawk Wrestling Club wrestlers battled gamely at the Bigfoot Battle in Spokane Saturday, as nine of the club's finest competed in the prestigious youth tournament at the Spokane Convention Center. Although club coach Mike Thilmony said all of the local grapplers performed very well in Spokane, his son Trae Thilmony turned in the best result, winning six matches while losing only two in the Middle School – 102 pound division and grabbing a fifth place medal for his efforts. "Trae lost 5...
Thompson Falls senior Lexy VanElswyk and junior Maya Stiles have been named to the 2017 District 7B All-Conference volleyball team. Both Lady Hawks were named to the second team on the 7B squad. Regular season 7B champion Eureka and second place Bigfork dominated the all-conference squad. Eureka had three first team picks and two second selections, while Bigfork had two players earn first team honors and two others second team. Kassi Peterson and Liz Pacella of Eureka, and Abby Ellison of Bigfork earned All-State B recognition. The District 7B...
Thompson Falls senior Jase Sorenson has been named to the Class B All-State football team, it was announced early this week. The starting quarterback on offense and a hard-hitting linebacker on defense, Sorenson was honored as first team Western B All-Conference linebacker, and joins 13 other Western B all-stars on the B All-State team. Also a standout wrestler for Thompson Falls, Sorenson won second place at 170 pounds in the State B-C meet last winter and will be grappling for gold this upcoming mat season. Sorenson was the only Falls player...
High school football champions were crowned around Montana last week as the fall prep sports seasons came to an end. Perhaps of the most local interest, Eureka repeated as State B champs by destroying Shelby 47-7 in the championship game at Eureka. Led by Montana Grizzly recruit Garrett Graves, who was injured in the early going of the game but refused to come out, the Lions laid claim to being the best Class B team in Montana, and just maybe the best team at any level of prep football in the state. Also of local interest out here in the...
Early signups are encouraged for the ever-popular upcoming Cheers to Painting class, instructed by artist Michelle Blackstone. One of the perks for this event includes some good karma, as proceeds from the event will benefit Thompson River Animal Care Shelter (TRACS). The no-kill animal shelter is ramping up for the winter season and taking care of ongoing projects – including the reconstruction of the cattery that partially burned, leaving cat quarters scarce. The TRACS Fundraiser Paint Night promises to be a good time and will provide p...
