Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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The Sanders County Commissioners commemorated the new solid waste transfer station on Tuesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new facility east of Thompson Falls. "This is the premiere site in Montana for a community of our size," commissioner Tony Cox said just before the ceremony, which was also attended by representatives of the offices of Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Greg Gianforte. Cox said the site, which cost almost $5 million, is more user friendly and efficient and "is something...
The kids at Plains Elementary School had to wait outside Monday morning, but when they were let in, they all got a special train ride. Conductor Tom Hanks, aka Superintendent Thom Chisholm, greeted the students at the door and handed each one a special ticket for the Polar Express. Its tracks ran for nearly 300 feet through the elementary school halls. The 10 elementary school teachers from kindergarten to fourth grade, along with two title one teachers and a handful of aides, started...
The murder trial of former Thompson Falls resident Danielle Wood has been moved to later in 2020. In 20th District Judicial Court on Tuesday, Judge Deborah "Kim" Christopher tentatively set a new trial date for April 1, with jury selection set to begin that date. The trial was originally set to begin Jan. 21, 2020, but was moved by the court. Wood is charged with deliberate homicide in the death of Matthew LaFriniere of Thompson Falls, her former boyfriend. In court on Tuesday, Wood's attorney, public defender Kirk Krutilla, requested a bail...
Look both ways before crossing the street. Don't run with scissors. Treat others how you want to be treated. All important lessons for our kids as we teach them to be good adults and keep them safe. This week, the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) announced its intent to restrict the sale of flavored e-cigarettes (see story on page 9). In 1971, cigarette advertisements were banned from radio and television. Additional restrictions came in 1998, including a ban on advertising and marketing that targeted youth. While not...
Last Thursday night I watched the Baltimore Ravens stomp the New York Jets. The Ravens are a powerhouse this year and the Jets, well…not so much. I knew before the game started that the Jets were going to lose, but I watched anyway. The Jets players knew they were going to lose too. You could see it on their faces as they stood on the sideline. So why would I watch the game if I was so confident in the outcome? Simple… I love football and it’s entertainment. It’s the same reason I sometim...
I appreciate last week’s letter on the wolf problem (Hunters can get things changed, December 12, 2019). I don’t dislike wolves, but I am appalled by the mismanagement of the wolf population. The suggested number for wolves was attained in 2002 to 2003. No management was put in place until 2011 to 2012, on a very limited basis. Presently, there are very few elk in the high country, which is their normal habitat most of the year. The elk are amassed in the low areas, mostly on private land, ranches, etc. A small herd of elk were present on the...
The Lake and Sanders County commissioners received a draft of Senator Steve Daines’ “Montana Water Rights Protection Act,” a proposal to provide a settlement to the CSKT water compact, on December 10. After reviewing the framework of the draft proposal, the commissioners request that the senator delay introduction of the bill into Congress until the commissioners can meet with the senator to discuss the significant negative consequences of the “Act” to our counties. The senator’s draft “Act” does not in any way accomplish its stated objectiv...
4 YEARS AGO • DECEMBER 20, 1979 LEDGER LINES by K.A.E. Dear Santa: As you make your annual run Monday night here are some of the appropriate gifts we think you might leave for some Sanders County citizens and organizations: Rich DeWitt and his Blue Hawk wrestlers, another state class B crown. New water systems for the communities of Noxon and Thompson Falls. More office space for Bill Manley and his congenial staff and Thompson Falls’ No. 1 financial institution. A move soon for Sheriff Harvey Shultz and his staff into the long awaited new...
LANCE HARTSHORN, Hot Springs — “Rudolph, also might be Silent Night.” LEE GRESS, Thompson Falls — “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.” JUDY WALTON, Trout Creek — “Silent Night isn’t so great.” KEN MONTOURE, Thompson Falls — “They all make me cringe.” CLIFFORD TRAINER, Thompson Falls — “White Christmas by Bing Crosby.” JAN KELLEY, Thompson Falls — “I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus....
Ambulance calls: Plains, 8; Hot Springs, 3; Thompson Falls, 5; Heron, 1; Dixon, 1. Sunday, December 8 Motor vehicle crash, Paradise. Animal complaint, T. Falls. Animal complaint, Lonepine. Theft, Dixon. Animal stray, lost, T. Falls. Disturbance, Plains. Monday, December 9 Prowler, Plains. Suspicious activity, Paradise. Animal complaint, Trout Creek. Theft. Threats made via Facebook, Noxon. Out of control student making threatening comments, Noxon. Suspicious activity, Hot Springs. Animal complaint, Plains. Welfare check, Plains. Trespass,...
Sanders County Attorney Davina Brown, 39, disorderly conduct, $385. Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Isaak Layman, 26, night speeding, $70. Kent Steward, 22, operating with expired registration, $45. Colleen West, 21, theft, 1st offense, $385. Tyler Morkert, 23, partner or family member assault, 1st offense, $385. Kyah Sullivan, 21, day speeding, $20. Devin Williams, 34, speeding in restricted zone, $45. Oleg Morozov, 27, speeding in restricted zone, $65; owner permitting operation of vehicle without liability insurance, 1st offense, $75. N...
The Education of an Idealist, by Samantha Power (Harper Collins 2019) In this wise, informative, autobiographical account from recent history, author Samantha Power details her youth in Ireland, her years as an international journalist and her experiences as ambassador to the UN under President Obama. Some of Power’s early foreign policy assignments were met with criticism in connection with what has been called Obama’s “apology tour,” after Obama himself spoke about past American mistakes. And if the intent of those efforts, whether by Powe...
Students from the 7th Day Adventist School gathered at the Whitepine Grange Hall earlier this month to present and compete in their very first toothpick bridge contest. Teacher Maurita Crew said the students could use up to 750 flat toothpicks, and they could use any glue they wanted, "but most chose to use yellow wood glue. The bridges had to span 12 inches and be at least four inches wide. There could only be glue on the joints (where they connected) of the toothpicks." While this is Crew's...
Winter Solstice, the day winter officially begins. This year, solstice arrives on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 9:19 pm, MST, marking the first day of winter for everyone in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the day with the fewest hours of sunlight, and the longest night of the year. In this part of Montana, we will only get about 8 to 8.5 hours of daylight. The solstice occurs on a specific day every single year, twice a year. Once in the Northern Hemisphere (on either Dec. 20 or 21) and once in the Southern Hemisphere (on either June 20 or 21)....
"Socialization" is the number one thing most needed by young dogs throughout Sanders County, says Jan Manning, trainer for Sanders County Dog Training Club. The rural lifestyle of many dog owners in this area precludes their dogs from exploring and adapting to the world outside their home acreage. An improperly socialized dog can grow to become fearful, anxious and even aggressive when pushed out of his comfort zone, because he hasn't learned how to cope with stimuli he encounters in the real...
Lace Cookies From: Miriah Kardelis “I love these cookies because of their chewy, caramelized texture. My grandmother had a similar recipe that she used, that was passed down to everyone. Adding some crushed walnuts will give an extra crunch, or even some melted chocolate drizzled on top adds some extra flare.” Ingredients 2 cups oats – rolled oats or quick cooking both work 3 Tbsp flour 3/4 cup white sugar 1/2 cup butter 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet...
Surrounded by his family, Richard Carlson, age 72 of Plains, Montana, passed away from a brain hemorrhage brought on by Acute Leukemia on December 10, 2019 at St. Patrick's Hospital in Missoula, Montana. Richard was born March 15, 1947 in St. Anthony, Idaho, to Helge and Mary (Baumgartner) Carlson. He grew up in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where he enjoyed learning how to hunt and fish in the forests of the Idaho Panhandle. Richard was a brilliant naturalist (our "google" before it was a thing) and... Full story
There are many precautions we take to keep ourselves warm and safe during the cold winter months, however; there are numerous cold weather dangers that can also impact not only your pet’s safety, but their health as well. Of course, our four-legged family members are covered in fur, but many just aren’t equipped to handle the serious threats that come with the frigid winters in Montana. Not to mention, our pet’s curious noses go into overdrive with all the sweets and savory foods around the home during the holidays. Despite the fact many peopl...
SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. Sold 5. Bomu 9. Unseal 11. Homing 13. Samurai 15. Perinea 16. SRO 17. Inoperative 19. Rets 21. Enate 22. Bel 23. Dits 25. Ares 26. Tun 27. Coir 29. Arises 31. Loir 33. Sees 34. Fences 36. Sets 38. Urn 39. Hsia 41. Rete 43. Oto 44. Metre 46. Sava 48. Don't go there 52. Beg 53. Options 54. Airline 56. Rioted 57. Sailed 58. Anis 59. Sped SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. Snared 2. Osmotic 3. Leu 4. Dari 5. Bora 6. Omit 7. Minibus 8. Uneven 9. USSR 10. Lane 11. Heresies 12. Gael 14. Iona 15....
The parade through Plains from Central Avenue to Hubbard Street Saturday lasted only two minutes, but nearly 100 people lined Railroad Street to see Santa Claus on top of a fire engine. This is the third year for the Family Fun Community Christmas Event, formerly called the Christmas Extravaganza. Santa and his elf, Whitney Tanner-Spurr, tossed candy to kids from the 1968 Plains-Paradise Rural Fire District engine as it made its way through town. The fire truck was one of five participants of...
Architects might take their lunch to work, but they don't usually eat their work. The six adults and nine children in Plains Dec. 6 and 7 all nibbled on their house trimmings and outdoor fixtures at the Dog Hill Bistro, but their small dwellings were edible. The adults had their third annual Adult Gingerbread House Class on Dec. 6 and the kids held their fifth annual Gingerbread House Class the next evening. Both turned into competitions. The houses for both were on display at the Dog Hill...
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) has announced its notice of intent to begin enforcing emergency rules that temporarily restrict the sale of flavored e-cigarette products in Montana. Enforcement of the Emergency Rules begins on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 1 p.m. The restrictions include the sale of all flavored e-cigarette products, including flavored nicotine, THC and CBD e-cigarette products, in-store and online. The rules do not require retailers to destroy their existing inventory. DPHHS is proceeding with enfor...
The flower shop and the liquor store in Plains are under new ownership, and once again, the owners are local. John and Kim Revier of Plains had their first day in their new place, Garden Gift & Floral and Plains Liquor Store, on Dec. 10. "I'm super excited about it," said Kim, who will be working mostly in the flower shop while John will concentrate on the liquor store when he's not involved in his business, J&K Trucking, which he has owned for more than 25 years and plans to continue. The new...
Talk about that special kind of Christmas gift for the wrestling coach who already has everything grappling he will ever need, the CMR Christmas Classic Tournament – perhaps the biggest regular season tournament of any given prep wrestling season in Montana – is in Mike Thilmony's singlet stocking hung by the chimney with care this year. Thilmony and assistant coach Jase Miller will take their Thompson Falls-Noxon Blue Hawk grapplers partway across our great state this week to participate in...
The Plains-Hot Springs Savage Horsemen are on the learning curve and trending upward. The very young Savage Horsemen wrestling team began the season last week, competing in the Mission Quadrangular (which actually was two dual matches for each of the four teams involved) Thursday, taking part in a mixer match in Superior Friday and finally, grappling in the Bob Kinney Classic in Superior Saturday. Senior Conrad Vanderwall won second place at 138 pounds to pace the Horsemen in Superior Saturday....
