Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Students at Thompson Falls schools helped give back to their community this Christmas season. Last week, students at the elementary, junior high and high school campuses collected food for Community Harvest Food Bank. At the elementary and junior high schools, students on Friday helped Principal Len Dorscher and teacher Cory Kump deliver 506 pounds to the food bank. "This was great for our kids to do," Dorscher said. Kump added that the fourth-grade class collected the most at the elementary,...
A CHRISTMAS BEACON, the giant Christmas tree on NorthWestern Energy's Thompson Falls dam has lit the Clark Fork River each holiday season since 2010. NorthWestern crews use more than 400 feet of LED neon rope to construct the tree, which hangs on the dam's flag pole....
No matter how convincing the caller on the phone is, your electricity or gas will not be shut off immediately and your utility never asks for payment with prepaid debit or gift cards. Thieves are trying to steal your money and they are using dirty and convincing tricks this holiday season. Recently, small businesses across Montana reported receiving calls that show up on phone ID screens as NorthWestern Energy from a number used by customers to reach our customer service representatives. It’s a common tactic called spoofing where the caller f...
As the temperature drops, we look toward electric blankets, space heaters and wood stoves for warmth. In addition, the holiday season encourages us to do more holiday baking and decorate our homes with more hazardous items such as trees with lights. It is no wonder why more residential fires occur in winter than any other season. According to the Red Cross, residential fires are most common in the months of December and January. It is also reported that more than half of all house fires start in the kitchen. By simply keeping an eye on the...
Sunday evening as the hustle of the weekend was winding down, we took a drive through Thompson Falls to see everyone's holiday lights. Houses had everything from a sprinkling of lights to inflatable santas and snowmen. The former Masonic Lodge is now a private residence. We love the large angels and icicle lights that shine on these winter nights. Traveling west of Thompson Falls, it's always delightful to see the incredible light displays of the Cox and Shear families and their children. We look forward to seeing what they will add each year....
Letter to the editor I must respond to the recent op ed (11/22) expressed by Blaine Blackstone concerning gun laws. Mr. Blackstone states that 20 years ago we had the same laws, but we didn’t have these mass shootings and he addresses what he thinks has changed. I’ve wondered the same thing. Having grown up in Thompson Falls, I saw many a truck with a gun rack visible in the back window. I didn’t give it a second thought as the town had numerous hunters and ranchers who wanted a gun handy. My father, Doc Rosdahl, loaded his own bullets and h...
Sanders County Veterans Transportation (SCVT) is honored to report its performance this year is very productive with the purchase of this Ford Flex. We thank our supporters, mainly people living in Sanders County, who are shoppers at Harvest Foods in Thompson Falls and visit our fundraising table there. Their donations and raffle participation has made this and our other vehicle purchases possible. Thank you Sanders County, you made it happen when you said “Thank You” to our veterans in a way your tax dollars cannot! Two raffles garnered the $1...
I read a few different things this last couple weeks that have really got me bewildered. First, I read that the cartoon movie about Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer had been banned in certain areas because it depicted bullying. Then I read that the song “Baby It’s Cold Outside” was banned because the Me Too movement said it portrayed an improper sexual situation. And finally, the classic book To Kill A Mockingbird was being banned because of the language used in the story. This is an opini...
W.B. RUSSELL TIMBERMAN By Mike Scott contributor to The Plainsman An attempt will be made to portray a typical lumber camp as it was shortly after the beginning of the twentieth century, the personnel required to operate such an establishment and some of the customs. After selecting a site with an eye to the relative level topography and the proximity of a suitable water supply, construction of the buildings was started. Building material consisted almost exclusively of rough, green lumber...
JAMIE MCKENZIE, Trout Creek – “Naughty! We won’t say why…he knows.” COREY AUMILLER, Trout Creek – “Naughty. That’s how I roll.” ANTHONY PIKE, Missoula – “I would honestly say this year I have been nice. Wanna call my mom and ask?” CARLEEN PFEIFFER, Noxon – “Well, if Corey’s (Aumiller) been naughty…I have been naughtier.” STEWART MARSHALL, Trout Creek – “Nice. I am just a nice kind of guy. You can even ask my better half.” DEBBIE TRAVER, Whitepine – “He is cute, but I don’t do Santa, so this question won’t work for me....
Montana Highway Patrol Tyler Ludka, 21, reckless driving, 1st offense, $235. Catalina Mitchell, 41, day speeding, $70. Jeffrey Roth, 57, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Blake Boon, 30, speeding in a restricted zone, $65. Robert Olson, 67, night speeding, $70. Skyler Wilson, 24, basic rule, reasonable and prudent, 1st offense, $85. Edward Siders, 57, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Kim Baker, 72, speeding in a restricted zone, $45. Michael Dortch, 63, speeding in a restricted zone, $65. Jerrold Miller, 64, speeding in a restricted zone,...
Ambulances: Noxon, 2; T. Falls, 6; Plains, 6; H. Springs, 5; Dixon QRU, 1. Sunday, December 9 Domestic disturbance, Plains. Civil standby requested, T. Falls. Concern for animal welfare, Plains. Motor vehicle crash, vehicle struck a parked vehicle on Main Street, T. Falls, DUI arrest made. Walk through requested at the Mint Bar, Plains. Welfare check requested, suicidal statements made via social media, Dixon. Monday, December 10 Theft of MRL pickup, Plains. Welfare check requested on juvenile, H. Springs. Juvenile in possession of tobacco...
At Dog Hill Bistro, you can make your house and eat it, too... and a few people were seen munching on their gingerbread houses Saturday at the 2nd Annual Adult Gingerbread House Class. Kathy Logan, owner of Dog Hill Bistro in Plains, held a gingerbread session for kids last week, but Saturday, it was time for the adults to demonstrate their building expertise. Twenty men and women took part in the class, doubling participation from 2017. "It's a lot harder than I thought and it's sloppy," said...
The holiday season is always full of excitement and sometimes we feel money is necessary to have a jolly, magical Christmas. For those on a budget, this is a heavy burden. Rest assured, there are many ways to have a merry Christmas without spending a fortune. It is important to remember that the point of the holiday is not the commercial experience we have been trained to accept as truth. The holiday has always been celebrated by gifting those we hold dear to our hearts, but do we need to spend money on those we love to show our affection? If...
Celebrate the reason for the season with local churches, who will be celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. They all open their doors to congregation members and visitors alike. Hot Springs Father Jeffrey Benusa will hold Mass at 11 a.m., Christmas Day at Sacred Heart Mission, 220 Arlee St. S. Plains First Lutheran Church of Plains, presided by Pastor Seilhymer, 601 South 5th Ave., will hold a candlelight service at 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve. December 30 the church will host a Lessons and Carols service at 9 a.m. Plains Alliance Church, 505 5th...
JD Rocky Sumner, 84, died Sunday December 9 at Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains, Montana. He was born in El Centro, California, on Feb. 9, 1934 to JD and Phyllis Sumner. He grew up in, Petaluma, California. He entered the Air Force and served from 1951 to 1955 and in the Reserves from 1955 to 1959. He Married Bonnie Key in 1992. In 1996 he moved to his "Loved Precious Montana." He never met an adventure he didn't like. He is preceded by his father and mother, brother Philip Deaton, sister...
Bob Bodaly, 69, a resident of Thompson Falls for over 40 years, passed away at home on November 14, 2018, from complications of heart disease and COPD. Bob was born September 2, 1949. A Vietnam veteran, he served overseas a total of 13 months after extending his deployment. He was awarded a Bronze Star and the United States Army Commendation Medal, among other awards. Bob was just 20 years old at the time. He served from June 29, 1969, to June 28, 1971. Bob never married and will be placed next...
Robert "Bob" Miller passed away December 5, 2018, in Spokane, Washington. Bob was a longtime resident of Trout Creek. He is survived by his wife Marilyn; six children and stepchildren: Jerry Miller, Randy Miller, Diane Sharrock, Shelly Steavens, Cheryl Smith and Charlene Smith; 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren....
Each year, Sanders County Coalition for Families (SCCFF) asks volunteers to help make Christmas special for Sanders County families in need. And each year, the communities of Sanders County step up. Crystal Buchanan with SCCFF said Sunday that the Adopt-A-Family program would not be a success if it wasn't for everyone involved. Buchanan and volunteers, including students from Explorations in Trout Creek, met at SCCFF in Thompson Falls on Sunday to wrap the presents collected for families. More...
"Bingo!" was shouted repeatedly in Trout Creek last Saturday afternoon when Trout Creek Community Improvement Association (TCCIA) hosted the community Bingo event at the Lakeside Resort. For only a quarter a game, people tried their luck at winning one of 10 turkey baskets filled with all the fixings for a full meal. There were also dessert plates and individual turkeys given away as prizes to those fortunate enough to call out "Bingo!" after Sandy Green called numbers. TCCIA's Elizabeth Stender...
Santa Claus seemed to be everywhere Saturday. Kids and adults alike sat on his lap at McGowan's Grocery in the morning and at Ripples Ice Cream Parlor in the afternoon. People lined Railroad Street shortly after noon to see Kris Kringle waving from an old fire engine in the annual parade through town. Around 100 kids and adults, which included Plains Police Officer Ethan Harvey, Sanders County Deputy Rob Largent, and 94-year-old Betty Meyer, meet with Santa Claus, aka Montana Highway Patrolman...
PLAINS – The Charlo Lady Vikings' game is to take you out of yours. To force you into making bad passes, to make you pull up on your dribble and travel, to get you to take shots at the basket you would not normally attempt. If long-time coach Bret Thompson's Vikings are successful in taking you out of your game, you are now playing theirs. Thompson has made a living of making life miserable for Charlo opponents over the years and Saturday's win over the Trotters in Plains is only the latest e...
PLAINS – Baby, it's cold outside... and, as it turns out, it's cold inside, too. Pretty much ice-cold through most of the game, the Plains Horsemen seemingly could not beg, borrow or steal a basket for much of the night and lost to the visiting Charlo Vikings 32-28 in District 14C conference action at Plains Saturday. The ice-cold shooting of the Horsemen gave the Vikings the opportunity to pull out the win in spite of missing a bunch of free throws in the closing minutes. "We just couldn't s...
It’s not the Phil and Will show anymore, but the Arlee Warriors are still a basketball powerhouse. Showing that they don’t miss the All-State services of departed leaders Philip Malatare and Will Mesteth (the main trigger-men on Arlee’s past two State C championship teams) too badly, the still-potent Warriors leveled the Hot Springs Savage Heat 76-29 in Arlee Thursday. In other action last week, the Heat fell 54-48 to Two Eagle River in Hot Springs Saturday. Coach Cameron Barber said that an injury to Brandon Knudsen – a possible concussion suf...
