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Independently owned since 1905
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Community leaders and timber representatives met last week to review projects in the Thompson Falls area. The tour was led by the Eastern Sanders County Collaborative (ESCC), formerly the Sanders County Collaborative. The collaborative recently changed their structure to focus on public lands in Eastern Sanders County. District Ranger Dave Wrobleski of the Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District said the ESCC has a diverse group of interests who come up with projects and meet the needs of the publ...
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Thompson Falls Beautification Days. The event drew 115 volunteers to help do some spring cleaning around the community. Kathy Conlin, who helps organize Beautification Days, says this year's event went very well. "The weather really cooperated, even though Thursday afternoon was kind of a 'wash' with the storm that came in," Conlin said. "It's inspiring to see so many civic groups, residents, schools, businesses, churches and the U.S. Forest Service...
Four people have submitted applications to fill the district court judge vacancy in the 20th Judicial District, which includes Lake and Sanders counties. Applications were submitted by Benjamin Anciaux, Kathryn McEnery, Molly Owen and Alisha Rapkoch. Judge James Manley announced earlier this year that he will be retiring June 1. Gov. Greg Gianforte has formed an advisory council to assist in reviewing qualified candidates. The advisory council is comprised of 12 individuals, including former Sanders County Justice of the Pease Don Strine as...
In an effort to engage students in interesting, hands-on learning experiences, Trout Creek School students have come together to build a school garden. Students broke ground last Friday morning and started planting away. "There is a need in the community for fresh produce and it's a great opportunity for the kids to learn about composting, photosynthesis and hard work," said school nurse and school garden volunteer Alicia Myers. "We are trying to get the community involved. The more things we...
I love a good discussion. Let's talk about books, whether cats or dogs are better pets, or the latest episode of "The Bachelor." I bet we can be friends after. But bring up topics such as education, public health or individual freedoms, and you probably won't make any friends. Having thoughtful, respectful discussions is what makes communities stronger. That's where you find growth and progress. Some of my most memorable conversations have been with people who I don't agree with, but can respect from where their argument is coming. Lately...
Dear Editor, I would like to express my staunch support of Ramona Jacobson for the position of school board member. Amidst all the upheaval regrading parents having a say in their children’s education, Ramona has not just expressed concern on this issue, but has also demonstrated that she truly does care about what is being taught in our schools. Recently the school health instructor introduced a textbook illustrating what would be taught in the high school health class. The instructor sent notifications home, with the students, inviting the p...
In 1970, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson elevated the concept and celebration of Earth Day which is still evident more than 50 years later. This past week there has been so much evidence of care-giving of our landscapes and our communities. Against a backdrop of so much devastation and suffering, it is indeed hopeful that so many are out there making our world a better place. Hope, unlike optimism, doesn’t deny the hurdles and difficulties ahead, but is active in its intention. I am so grateful to live in a hopeful community. Thanks to each a...
In San Francisco and other cities there is a big homeless issue. It is due to many factors both economic and drug related, but in this most liberal city solutions such as building high density housing are rejected because those neighborhoods fear that the projects would, take your pick: increase crime, lower property values, ruin the neighborhood. Living in tents on the sidewalk is common, but not throughout the city because it is restricted in “sensitive” areas which seem to be those areas whe...
4 YEARS AGO • APRIL 29, 1982 JOE DOBRAVEC, NOXON SENIOR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR Joe Dobravec is a man about town. If you have a leaky roof, he can fix it; a broken water pipe brings Joe out in all kinds of weather; TV reception not clear, Joe jumps into his truck and climbs mountains to adjust the transmitter. If the snow is too deep, you will find Joe on call 30 miles from home, plowing snow. When a senior citizen center was first proposed in Noxon, Joe quietly put his shoulder to the wheel and pushed. In November 1979 the first meeting of senior...
MARK JOHNSON, Thompson Falls - “Be true to yourself.” TIMBER GUIER, Silver Valley, Idaho - “Never give up.” MARVIN GUIER, Silver Valley, Idaho - “Be humble.” DELLA MORGAN, Thompson Falls - “Be yourself.” GARY McGRAW, Plains - “Pay attention.” GARY MEAGHER, Thompson Falls - “Be honest....
Montana Highway Patrol Diana Russell, 68, driving under the influence, 1st offense, $935. Emilly Montgomery, 23, seatbelt violation, $20. Abby Coleman, 43, seatbelt violation, $20. Steven Beck, 56, day speeding, $20. Raymond Tanner, 46, day speeding, $20. Robert Warnock, 64, night speeding, $20. Cole McKean, 20, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Lee Hensrude, 75, day speeding, $20. Desirae Knapp, 31, day speeding, $20. Pete Vickers, 57, speeding in a restricted zone, $105. Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Jessica Farris, 19, night speeding, $...
Ambulance: T. Falls, 4; Trout Creek, 1; Plains, 7; Hot Springs, 1; Noxon, 2; Heron, 1. Monday, April 18 Animal other, Dixon. Abandoned vehicle, Plains. Motor vehicle crash, Lonepine. Property damage/criminal mischief. Automated alarm call. Suspicious activity, Hot Springs. Trespass, Dixon. Threats, Trout Creek. Assist motorist/citizen, Heron. Business contact, T. Falls. Tuesday, April 19 Alarm- intrusion/holdup, T. Falls. Motor vehicle crash, Plains. Fire, Hot Springs. Theft, Trout Creek. Assist other agency, T. Falls. Civil attempts. Civil...
The jury trial for a 2018 homicide concluded last Tuesday with a guilty verdict for the charge of deliberate homicide against Cavey Little Rossbach. On October 5, 2018, the body of William “Bill” Conko-Camel was discovered shot in the road on Frank McClure Street in Dixon. Responding officers were told by the victim’s girlfriend that she and the victim had been visiting another residence when Rossbach burst through the front door and attacked Conko-Camel while shouting accusations, according to charging documents. A fight ensued, during which...
Frederick Tapia appeared before Judge James A. Manley in 20th Judicial District Court for his arraignment on Tuesday. Tapia entered a plea of not guilty through his attorney, Kirk Krutilla, to a felony charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. According to the charging documents, Montana Highway Patrol received a report from another motorist of a black SUV driving “all over the road” on Highway 28. The trooper followed the SUV, also observing erratic driving. Upon stopping the vehicle, the trooper noted that the driver, Tapia, was slu...
The Hot Springs High School Jobs for Montana's Graduates and Youth Entrepreneur (JMG/YE) class has been given the opportunity to give back to their community in a big way. Last year, the class, co-taught by Sher Loberg and Bob Neiman, took on the endeavor of rebranding LaRue Hot Springs Museum. After creating an established online presence, the response the students saw from their community gave them momentum to collaborate and tackle another project. The museum offers a glimpse into the area's...
April is Autism Awareness Month and the students at Trout Creek School are learning what the disorder is and how they can help people with autism navigate through life and the everyday challenges they face. "Autism affects one in 44 people," Lana Dicken with Trout Creek School said during an assembly Friday morning. "Autism is a spectrum disorder; it doesn't look the same on everyone. Every person with autism is different." The school has a small number is autistic students, and teachers want...
Hot Springs - Rosie Mae Swisher King passed away April 16, 2022, four days before her 97th birthday. She was born April 20, 1925, in Kalispell to Emery and Myrtle Swisher, the oldest of five children. Rosie grew up on the family homestead at Niarada, Montana, and attended the one-room Sullivan Creek School. She graduated from Lonepine High School in 1941 at age 16. Later in life, Rosie served as the Lonepine School Alumni Secretary where she kept detailed records of former students and their addresses. She was an integral part of organizing... Full story
A group of high school students are more prepared for real world employment, thanks to a two-hour exercise held last week at the school with people who are already working in the real world. Twenty-four students from Plains High School's Jobs for Montana's Graduates class and the Business Essentials class participated in mock interviews with 24 community business men and women in the new gymnasium and art classroom last Monday. Nicole Cockrell, who runs the JMG class, felt the students did very...
Eleven teams and 83 participants attended the Gary Thompson Invitational on Saturday at River's Bend Golf Course, hosted by the Blue Hawks. Junior Ellie Baxter was the only Blue Hawk to place. She tied for third with 99 strokes. Coach Doree Thilmony talked about her coaching strategy. "First, most important thing is good ball contact...They're working on fundamentals on the range." She also talked about the unique challenges of the River's Bend Golf Course; the small greens, "Probably the smalle...
The Blue Hawk softball team dropped to 4-5 after going scoreless in back to back games, first in Florence (16-0), then at home against Ennis (again 16-0) and Plains (9-6). "You focus on the positives," Coach Jared Koskela said of how he plans to bounce back and keep team morale up. "And learn from the mistakes. We made a few more mistakes than the other teams but they just hit well and found open spots. We also hit well but it seemed to go straight to a fielder. We will focus on what we can...
The Trotters beat the Lady Trojans 12-4 on Friday with well-rounded team play; solid fielding, hitting and pitching. The Trotters drew a crowd of several dozen fans including Carl Parker who attends regularly when the weather is fair. What are the Trotters' strengths? "Pitching is pretty good. Hitting is good," Parker said as pitcher Celsey VonHeeder hit a double in the third inning. VonHeeder, a senior, is a strong batter and pitcher. I asked Parker who he thought was the strongest hitter on...
Kids certainly got their kicks Saturday at Amundson Sports Arena for a complete day of soccer between Plains, Thompson Falls, St. Regis, Frenchtown, Stevensville, Libby and Kalispell. Games began at 9 a.m. with the oldest group, the U16 Clark Fork Soccer Alliance of Plains taking on the Kootenai Rapids of Libby and finishing the day with the U12 Clark Fork Soccer Alliance facing the Frenchtown Force shortly after 5 p.m. The U12 Clark Fork Soccer Alliance claimed victory in both games,...
Men’s leagues at River’s Bend got swinging last week with the first round of play, a fun night for the Tuesday. Feed and Fuel golfers Steve Clark, Mike Normandin, Dave Petteys and Doug Gunderson rallied for a low team score of 33 in the opening night scramble. Steve Fairbank hit the long putt on No. 3, Tom Holleran had the long putt on No. 6 and long drives on No. 9 went to Nathan Snead and Steve Clark. John Mosher’s drive was closest to the pin on No. 5 and Mike Tessier earned that honor on No. 8. Howard Morkert had the only chip-in of the n...
The Clark Fork Valley Riverdogs had their first shutout of their two-year existence in a 12-0 victory against the Mission Valley Mariners at Amundson Sports Complex at Plains Sunday. It was also a first for Riverdog Trenis McDonald to pitch a shutout in his two years with the team. In facing 21 batters, he had six strike outs, chalking up 43 strikes out of 60 pitches. The 17-year-old McDonald walked only one batter, hit one, allowed only five hits in the game, and caught a pop fly to end the gam...
Melissa Evans wasn't sure what kind of response she'd get when she offered a "beginning tumbling" class to youngsters in the west end of Sanders County. That was about six weeks ago. Soon after she announced the class on Facebook, she had 14 kids between the ages of 6 and 12 signed up for a four-week session of tumbling classes at Whitepine Grange. Overwhelmed with the positive response, she added an additional hour to her Monday class schedule, split her students into two groups, and added two...
