Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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One of the last remnants of Christmas in Plains disappeared Sunday as the Plains Lions Club removed the holiday ornaments along Railroad Street. "This is a nice sunny day for this," said Dave Helterline, one of four Lions to take down the decorations. Helterline has been putting up and taking down the ornaments since joining the club over 64 years ago. He said they've seen some bad weather when putting up the decorations in November, but even worse at times when removing them in January. "We've...
Moments before midnight on New Year's Eve, more than 100 people ventured out onto the deck of Paradise Hall at Quinn's Hot Springs Resort to brave the 10-degree temperature and to see a few minutes of brilliant illumination against a black sky. This is the first year a New Year's fireworks party was held exclusively for lodging guests, which the resort did this year because of the lingering COVID situation. "We hope to open it up again next year for everybody, but we just have to wait and see,"...
4 years ago – January 7, 1982 Commissioner race to top election battles With the start of the new year, the heat is turning up under the political pot in Sanders County for the 1982 elections, which will include most county offices. Traditionally, the offices of sheriff and county commissioner have attracted the largest crowd of candidates and the commissioner’s race this year likely will not be an exception. Monday morning, County Assessor Pat Eldridge became the first official candidate as she filed her nominating petition with Clerk and...
JUDY SUBATCH, Plains - “I’ve done five months for a New Year’s resolution for a Bible study.” GRACE SUBATCH, Plains - “The longest I have had a New Year’s resolution is two seconds.” ALFRED GAITAN, Thompson Falls - “I quit drinking 15 years ago after a New Year’s resolution.” DANIELLE PRICE, Thompson Falls - “The longest I have ever stuck with a New Year’s resolution was three months. I did a workout routine with a friend, and we helped motivate each other along the way.” TRAVIS CORK, Thompson Falls - “My New Year’s resolution was to st...
A new year brings new beginnings. As always, it’s time to let the weight of the past go, to make room to carry what tomorrow may bring. This time of the year, work slows down quite a bit, which allows me the opportunity to recuperate from the busy holiday season. I find it interesting that as soon as that clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, my head wanders right along to spring. I’m done with the snow; I’m done with the cold and I want to start planning for warmer weather. I’m sure I’m not alone in this endeavor. While it is important t...
A blanket of thick white snow covers a field on Christmas Day. Sanders County enjoyed a white Christmas with snow storms over the weekend. More snow is expected in the area throughout this week....
Even with Christmas vacation looming and the students' attention span fading fast last week, the teachers at Plains Elementary School were able to get the subject of science across and make it fun with the school's very first "Science Day." And they got a little help from a high school physics class. The 300 feet of elementary school halls were jam-packed with a vast variety of science material, intermixed with a touch of Christmas. The kids put their artistic talents to work for a portion of...
4 YEARS AGO • MARCH 30, 1900 THOMPSON STREET BUSY IN 1900 From The Plainsman Continued from last week The largest business house in the town is that of John Willis, who occupies three buildings on main street, besides having a fine fireproof warehouse, and a warehouse on the railroad for hay, grain, and feedstuffs. He carries almost every necessity that man wants from clothing to footwear, from groceries to meat. He deals in cash only and makes prices accordingly. He has built up a great b...
JORDAN KEEFE, Spokane - “A change in the government.” GREG MURPHY, Thompson Falls - “A healthier 2022!” WILLENE HALL, Thompson Falls - “I’m looking for things to be better for everybody.” EZEKIEL WIEST, Hot Springs - “Have COVID-19 over with!” TRINITY WIEST, Hot Springs - “New beginnings.” FAUVE FERGUSON, Hot Springs - “New beginnings!...
My father grew up in a town on the outskirts of Zurich, Switzerland, with his sister and five brothers. The lucky boy had the Alps at his fingertips. He often spoke of the adventures he took with his older siblings, wandering from one mountain village to the next. He would hike to his heart's content and then take the PostAuto bus or the tram back to his hometown. Listening to his adventurous tales of exploring the Swiss countryside, I often dreamt of being there too. In my mind I could see the...
Plains High School students gathered before break last week for their annual Brain Bash. The event has been held for many years and required student teams to compete against other teams across the school in various games. This year, each of the 15 games were held in 15 classrooms, where devious teachers designed mini games to test the students' skill, memory and even their dance skills. Each game granted the possibility of winning a team 100 points, which would go to the team's overall score....
As winter begins to close its firm grip over Montana and the hours of the day turn mostly into darkness, many find themselves with a case of cabin fever. Some will use the extra time indoors to catch up on work, while others will use that time to craft. This year, I have found myself taking on a lot of promises I have made throughout the year. Once you let someone know you can make something, there is no shortage of Christmas and birthday present requests. It is always better in my mind to trade things made by hand and from the heart than...
Hunting season is officially over, but that didn't stop two Plains couples from taking to the woods in search of their quarry. Instead of rifles, they were armed with saws in a quest for the perfect Christmas tree. Brad Stacey and his wife, Diana Reetz-Stacey, cut down an eight-foot Douglas fir about 12 miles northwest of Plains in the Sheep Gap area. The couple paired up in their search for a tree for the second consecutive year with Marc and Ellen Childress, who have been getting their tree...
The Hope For Harlee Foundation is continuing its mission of raising funds for families fighitng cancer with specially created scented candles. Doing so will effectively give two gifts this holiday season, according to Taylor Salmi, president of the Hope For Harlee Foundation and mother to Harlee, the namesake of the foundation. Salmi explained that the candles and sales are the largest source of fundraising for the organization, and that money goes directly to helping families fighting cancer....
4 YEARS AGO MARCH 30, 1900 THOMPSON STREET BUSY IN 1900 From The Plainsman NOTE: At the time this article was written there was no Sanders County, which was established in 1906. What we now know as Sanders County was part of Missoula County. In addition, The Sanders County Ledger newspaper hadn't been established yet. The Ledger began in 1905, one year before Sanders County was born. The Plainsman was established in 1895. Readers also will note that the editor of the Plainsman referred to the...
CHRISTIE YAW, Thompson Falls - “I always looked forward to a book of Lifesavers in my stocking.” JAMES MURPHY, Thompson Falls - “We always put treats for the dogs in their own stockings, individually wrapped.” JASON SHEDROCK, Thompson Falls - “For some reason my mom always put magnets in my stockings.” LARRY LACK, Thompson Falls - “As a practical joke I have put lumps of coal in my grandkids’ socks for Christmas.” VICTORIA WESTHOVEN, Plains - “The best present I ever got in my stocking was a round-trip pair of tickets to go to the Dry Tortugas...
The hustle and bustle of the holiday spirit was alive and in full swing Tuesday morning at the Valley Bank in Thompson Falls as volunteers gathered to help take part in the Sheriff's Relief Fund. Nearly 25 volunteers including Sanders County Sheriff's officers, representatives from Avista, Montana Rail Link and Clark Fork Valley Elks (CFVE) assembled in line to put together Harvest Food tote bags full of items for Christmas dinner to be delivered to families around the county. According to...
With snow flurries steadily coming down, Santa Claus traded in his sleigh for a 1962 Pontiac convertible and Rudolph for driver Ken Saner of Plains. The Plains Christmas Extravaganza, which has also been called the Family Fun Community Christmas Event, kicked off Saturday in downtown Plains with a Plains-Paradise Rural Fire District truck, followed by the 4-H South Side Sparks Club singing Christmas carols, Marv and Margo Tanner in their vehicle with a big red bow on the front and Santa. The...
Paradise dipped in holiday spirit Sunday when a grouchy old miser proclaimed his contempt of Christmas. Much of his life was apparently wrapped in his disdain for the holiday, but within 90 minutes at the Paradise Center, Butch Murdock changed his tune, as per the script of his character, Ebenezer Scrooge. "Christmas Carol" has been seen on television many times and many versions, but this was the first time it was done on stage by the Paradise Players, but even then, it was done with a bit of...
In recognition of their support of veterans in the community, Joint Operation Mariposa (JOM) presented the Meritorious School Award to Noxon Schools at last week's school board meeting. JOM vice president Heather Allen presented the award to Noxon School Board Chairman David Pafford and Superintendent Dave Whitesell. "We intended to award the school last spring, but because of COVID, we had to wait," said JOM president Dave Williams. "The award is for upholding and exhibiting the values of our...
The Santa's Shop Penguin Patch has returned this year to Thompson Falls Elementary, thanks to the Thompson Falls Parent Teacher organization (PTO). According to event organizers, this allows students an opportunity to learn to budget money and purchase gifts for themselves and family members for Christmas. The event was organized and run by PTO members Lisa Ruen, Donna Hendrickson, Deedee Susic, Danni Brotherton and Alysha Franck. "It's a very small group of parents and we do a lot," said PTO se...
It could have been the battle of the century in Plains - Santa Claus versus the Grinch - at the one-room log schoolhouse. But the Grinch's heart did its growth thing and played nice with the kids - most of the time. This was the second year for Santa and Mrs. Claus to listen to the kids' Christmas wishes and hand out toys at the old schoolhouse along Railroad Street. While the Claus' gave gifts, the Grinch gave the kids candy canes and periodically chased them about on Saturday. This was the...
Every year, Sanders County Coalition for Families (SCCFF) helps make Christmas a little extra special for families in the county. With the help and generosity of area residents, SCCFF’s Adopt a Family program is always a success. Right before Christmas, SCCFF reaches out to families they have helped to get a list of needs and wishes for the holiday season. This will be the first year Kayla Torres will be running the program. According to Torres, SCCFF will be helping 10 families this year and she was blown away by the community’s response to...
13 YEARS AGO NOVEMBER 25, 1936 GLIDDEN PASS ROAD APPROVED The boys at the CCC Camp F-52 (located at Snider up Thompson River) are pushing the road up the Wet Fork of Thompson River and will continue as long as weather conditions permit. The men are at present up to the mouth of Spruce Creek. This camp’s work will be largely on the West Fork Road and on the main road up Thompson River. The road construction on main Thompson River involves a great deal of hard work. Small crews of local men have been employed in maintenance and betterment work o...
CINDY EVERETT, Trout Creek - “Divinity, because my mom used to always make it when we were kids!” KAREN DYKSTRA, Thompson Falls - “Cream cheese pumpkin bars!” YOLANDA SANDSTROM, Plains - “Pumpkin pie because I save it till the end of the year and I can eat it all day long.” BARBARA McENTIRE, Thompson Falls - “Christmas cookies because they are so pretty and it’s holiday time.” KELLEEN RANDOLPH, Trout Creek - “Christmas cookies because of the memories made making them.” BARRY McDEWELL, Gibson City, Illinois - “Pumpkin pie....
