Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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The Town of Plains has secured the last piece of funding to relocate its wastewater treatment facility. Last week, the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) announced a grant worth $5,148,500 for the project. That represents nearly 90% of the project’s funding. “The grant will allow us to finish the project and protect the Clark Fork River and save rate payers millions of dollars,” said Plains Mayor Dan Rowan. “This is the biggest part of the funding package. I was extremely excited.” In February, the Plains Council voted on...
ICE CREEPS DOWN the Clark Fork River below NorthWestern Energy's Thompson Falls dam. Temperatures will rise into the 40s this weekend. See the full weekend forecast on page 6....
One person is dead and another injured after an hours-long standoff in Trout Creek on Friday. According to a press release from the Sanders County Sheriff's Office (SCSO), law enforcement received a call about 12:30 a.m. Friday pertaining to a 35-year-old man with a handgun and a semi-automatic rifle who had barricaded himself inside the Naughty Pine Saloon. SCSO, with assistance from Flathead and Missoula County Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams, attempted to negotiate with the suspect....
A final report on the housing needs assessment study conducted earlier this year has been released, outlining the plan for developing housing in the county. A press release from Sanders County Community Development Corporation (SCCDC) and Sanders County Community Housing Organization (SCCHO), states the report is now open to the public for viewing. “We promised it and now we have it,” the press release says. “If you have concerns or potential solutions to the housing conditions and inventory in Sanders County, please feel free to reach out t...
Two local women are bringing an exotic culinary experience to Sanders County. Lydia LaFriniere, who has been in the area for over 26 years, and Dagmar Wiegele, who has been living in Sanders County for over 30 years, are opening a European connection in Thompson Falls. "We just want to bring a taste of Europe to Thompson Falls," said Wiegele. The store features deli meats, crackers and breads from various old-world countries. The store will also include European chocolates, canned goods, ice...
We have lived through so many uncertainties this year. At the beginning of 2020, there were murmurs of a new virus. Within a matter of weeks, the country was basically shut down. Then it was election season. Though we figured it would be a few days before we had results, we never imagined it would turn into this. Fast forward to December 2020. Here we are, businesses still open, schools still in session, the country still moving forward. This week, the first Americans will receive the COVID-19 vaccine. It will be months before the vaccine is...
. I’ve kind of beat this topic to death so I’ll keep this last (yet complex) story very short and sum it all up from my perspective. Los Angeles Police Department SWAT officers responded to a call of an armed suspect who had barricaded himself inside an auto body shop. During the incident, the suspect exited the building two separate times and fired at the officers, while using his infant daughter as a human shield. The situation came to a tragic end when the suspect’s 17-year-old stepd...
5 YEARS AGO • DECEMBER 25, 1970 During the last months Mrs. Kathryn E. Fessler lived as she rode down Main St. with her daughter, Mrs. Ermel Hanson, she said, "Aren't my trees beautiful?" "Her trees" are the stately conifers gracing the north side of Main Street. When she came to Thompson Falls where her husband, Dr. Fessler, set up his practice, she decided to beautify her home and the then building of the Big Pine Tourist Camp (now Little Bear). Wherever she lived, she planted a tree, so s...
CHYENE BAIRD, Thompson Falls - “I don’t know that I would get the COVID shot, just because in the past I have gotten the flu shot and had the flu worse than years that I haven’t had a flu shot. I think while it’s in the experimental phases probably not.” MADISON MAYFIELD, Thompson Falls - “Yes, I do intend to get the COVID vaccine. I would just like to wait a while and see if there were any side effects from other people taking it.” CHRISTIE YAW, Thompson Falls - “Absolutely not. I believe it is population control.” LYDIA NETZ, Thompson Fa...
Montana Highway Patrol Rebeca Teague, 33, speeding in restricted zone, $95. Danny Lindquist, 54, operating without insurance, 1st offense, $135; driving while suspended, 1st offense, $125; seatbelt violation, $20. Danny Lindquist, 54, driving without license, $135; seatbelt violation, $20. Alexander Heatwole, 30, speeding in restricted zone, $85. Jeramia Macnair, 37, operating without insurance, 1st offense, $85. Miles Vaillancourt, 22, seatbelt violation, $20. Asa Brown, 17, seatbelt violation, $20. Tyler Perkins, 24, seatbelt violation, $20....
Ambulance: Plains, 8; Hot Springs, 6; T. Falls, 3; Trout Creek, 3; Noxon, 1 Sunday, December 6 Alarm-intrusion/holdup, Plains. Civil standby, T. Falls. Sexual assault, Plains. Assist motorist/citizen, T. Falls. Monday, December 7 Disturbance, Hot Springs. Animal other, T. Falls. Trespass, Noxon. Suspicious activity, Trout Creek. Welfare check, Trout Creek. Informational case, Plains. Tuesday, December 8 Assist motorist/citizen, Dixon. Fire, T. Falls. Juvenile criminal, Noxon. Motor vehicle crash, Trout Creek. Informational case, T. Falls....
Hot Springs resident Gabriela Pierini appeared in 20th District Judicial Court on Tuesday, pleading not guilty to charges of criminal possession of dangerous drugs. According to charging documents, Pierini and her boyfriend were arrested after a vehicle was chased through Hot Springs and out onto Highway 28, where they were clocked at over 120 miles per hour before the driver finally pulled the vehicle over. Drugs were found in the vehicle and they were both arrested. Meloney Dollar, is facing charges of felony theft and misdemeanor criminal mi...
As the Rex Community Theater continues its journey of restoration, their endeavor to give back to the community who gives to them, continues as well. The Thompson Falls Film and Theater Foundation, was awarded a Reimagine Rural grant from the Montana State University (MSU) Extension Service. MSU Extension describes the Reimagining Rural Initiative as a collaborative, innovative effort to create opportunities that support small-town leaders building vibrant futures for their communities. “We went to a workshop put on by MSU Extension,” said Deb...
The infamous Huckleberry Festival held annually in Trout Creek is in jeopardy of closing according to the Huckleberry, Inc. board of directors. Current vacancies within the board are for president and secretary positions and the show cannot go on without them. “If no one steps up to fill the president and secretary vacancies, the current board decided it will dissolve Huckleberry, Inc. as a nonprofit, thereby also ending the Huckleberry Festival,” Huckleberry, Inc. said in a release after their last meeting, held in November. Only four peo...
Hot Springs Sacred Heart Mission will have a Christmas day mass at 11 a.m. Plains Plains Alliance Church presents their traditional candlelight service at 6:30 p.m. on Christmas eve. Father Jeff Benusa will hold Christmas eve mass at St. James Parish at 8 p.m. Plains United Methodist Church has been holding Zoom worships and will likely be doing the same for Christmas. First Lutheran Church of Plains and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of Thompson Falls both will have a video released on Facebook on Christmas day. The video will include a r...
Donald Anthony Orso passed away November 18 at his home in Noxon, Montana. Don was born in Carlinville, Illinois, August 17 to Joseph and Frieda Orso. He grew up in Gillespie, Illinois, graduated high school there, and went into the Navy. He served one year, then WWII was over, and he was discharged. At the age of 27 he met Geraldine Ryan of rural Gillespie on a blind date. They were married Sept. 11 in Gillespie; a union that would last for 66 wonderful years. Eventually they made their home fo...
David Kenneth Christie of Trout Creek, Montana passed away on Friday December 11, 2020 in Trout Creek at the age of 35. David was born on January 16, 1985, in Pullman, Washington, to William and Cynthia Christie. He graduated from Pullman High School, attended Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Washington, and completed Executive Security International training in Colorado. David found his home in Trout Creek, Montana. The people of Trout Creek embraced him as one their own and considered him...
The Thompson Falls City Council tackled several projects at its December meeting on Monday. The first was filling a council member vacancy that has been advertised for several months. The Ward 1 position vacated when council member Lynne Kersten moved out of state finally had an applicant who was approved Monday night. The new member, Larry Lack, is 84 years old and has been living in Thompson Falls since 1999. He worked as an outdoor guide for many years and had volunteered with the Boy Scouts for 12 years and with several schools for over 45...
COVID-19 and the devastating effects the disease had on him during a trying stay at Clark Fork Valley Hospital has compelled Dennis Haynes to come forward and tell his story. "You do not want to get this, it is a really bad deal," Haynes said last week from his home. "People need to realize how dangerous this is, and to do everything they can possibly do to avoid getting it. "Especially those with other issues to begin with," he added. "If your body is not strong enough to deal with it, this stu...
On December 21, this year’s winter solstice, Jupiter and Saturn, the two largest planets in our solar system, will appear to almost merge in the night’s sky, forming what is called the Christmas Star. A celestial show that hasn’t been seen in 800 years. The phenomenon is being called the Great Conjunction of 2020. The point at which these two planets are the closest to each other in the night’s sky as seen from Earth. While this close encounter happens around every 20 years, the last time the two planets were so close was in 1623. However...
As we close in on almost one year of COVID-19, the virus and the actions people take to manage the spread continues to affect the nation, and Sanders County as well. Some advocate for mask wearing while others say it is their right to unmask. Some people are chomping at the bit to get the vaccine while others oppose it entirely. Some are socially distancing while others are saving that for their enemies only. Most viruses and diseases come with a standard set of symptoms. With COVID-19 you can expect anything. Nausea, coughing, sore throat,...
How does Thompson Falls wrestling coach Mike Thilmony see the 2020-2021 Montana high school season going down for his Blue Hawk grapplers. "We are excited," Thilmony said. "We have a good core of kids coming back to build around and have some promising freshmen that are going to surprise some people. We are thinking we have quite a few kids that could end up on the medal stand at the divisional and state tournaments and are ready to go." Given the fact that the start of the winter seasons was pu...
The mass mat chaos of 2020, explained. Montana Class B-C wrestling was going to be different to begin with in 2020-2021, COVID-19 has only added to the change. Some of it will be considered a bad change but, on the other hand, some of it will be good, too. Thompson Falls coach Mike Thilmony and all the other B-C coaches around the state face a new wrestling reality this already-altered season, a reality where there will be none of the traditional tournaments, but a lot of dual matches with teams rarely seen in these parts before, will be contes...
Hot Springs girls basketball is in a holding pattern right now, how long that lasts is anyone’s guess this COVID-19-addled season. Savage Heat coach Richard Jackson said Tuesday that his entire team is now under quarantine after one of the players tested positive early this week. He was reached at home in-between doing some paperwork and watching the Outdoor Channel. It’s a good thing there is a long preseason this year, giving teams time to deal with the effects and after-effects of the novel coronavirus. “We have five practices in but will...
THOMPSON FALLS MONDAY NITE GALS W L Dolls with Balls 25.5 18.5 Dangerous Dames 25 19 Talk of the Town 23 21 Rock’n Bowl 23 21 Nascar Freaks 18.5 25.5 Balls to the Wall 16 28 Team Scr. Game: Nascar Freaks, 508; Scr. Series: Dangerous Dames, 1329; Hcp. Game: Nascar Freaks, 704; Hcp. Series: Dangerous Dames, 1995; Inv. Scr. Game: Marshanna Drop, 177; Scr. Series: Wendy Kelley, 486; Hcp. Game: Marshanna Drop, 248; Hcp. Series: Mitzi Hart, 677. BOWLING BEAUTIES W L Lane Blazers 36 12 Gardner Ranch 21.5 26.5 Sunflower Gals 20.5 27.5 Aspire PT 18 3...
