Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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As the Thorne Creek fire burns north of Thompson Falls, a community of volunteers are assisting evacuees and residents. The American Red Cross established a shelter at the Thompson Falls Community Center last week. The community center, located on Golf Street near Thompson Falls High School, transitioned into an information and resource center for the community. "Everyone is welcome, you don't have to be an evacuee," said Scott Fairfield, the American Red Cross volunteer from Eureka who...
The City of Thompson Falls has imposed more stringent water use restrictions. These efforts, according to Mayor Mark Sheets, are to ensure there is enough water stored and available to fight any fires that may reach town. Thursday and Friday, ash from the Thorne Creek fire burning north of town rained on to properties throughout the city. That prompted residents to water even more, and the city had to send out an alert on Saturday reminding residents of the water restrictions. According to the mayor, residents turned on their sprinklers and...
Ambulance: Noxon, 2; Hot Springs, 3; T. Falls, 6; Trout Creek, 2; Plains, 5. Monday, July 26 Motor vehicle crash, Noxon. Fire, Noxon. Theft, Plains. Livestock, Dixon. Fire, T. Falls. Welfare check, T. Falls. Weapons offense, Hot Springs. Suicide attempts/threats, Trout Creek. Tuesday, July 27 Automated alarm call, Plains. Motor vehicle crash, Hot Springs. Civil attempts, Noxon. Fire, Hot Springs. Property damage/criminal mischief, Hot Springs. Livestock, Hot Springs. Animal bite, Plains. Disturbance, T. Falls. Animal other, T. Falls....
Montana Highway Patrol Briana Snyder, 35, operating after consuming alcohol, 1st offense, $735. Heidi Lane, 49, day speeding, $120. James Watson, 41, day speeding, $20. Logan Buckner, 14, failure to keep vehicle under control, $135; driving without a license, $525. Payton Frields, 21, speeding in a restricted zone, $55. Jennifer Eitelberg, 50, day speeding, $20. Dorieann Jones, 48, speeding in a restricted zone, $55. Pierre Strohl, 31, speeding in a restricted zone, $65. Haylee Hoff, 20, day speeding, $20. Jennifer Peacock, 46, day speeding, $2...
For many, the lack of attainable and available housing in the county has grown exponentially, leading many community leaders to believe the current housing situation has reached crisis level. To shed some light on the gravity of the circumstances, Sanders County Community Development Corporation Executive Director Ray Brown convened expert panelists from around the state to discuss different resources that could work for the county. “We’ve got some housing issues,” Brown said. “I don’t think we're alone in our battle, but I don’t think it’s...
The Plains Town Council passed an emergency ordinance at its monthly meeting at City Hall Monday evening in an effort to conserve water during this long period of drought. Council members discussed the situation for a short time before voting unanimously to pass the first reading of the “Emergency Ordinance and Ordinance to Adopt Procedure to Reduce Water Use During Emergency Conditions.” According to the ordinance, written by the town’s attorney, Richard Gebhardt, the town has experienced extraordinary demand on its water supply, capac...
Rode Haus Coffee is the name and the Hanks gals -mother Paula and daughters Reagan and Roni - in collaboration with River Roadhouse owner Machelle Brossman, have launched barista operations next to the U.S. Postal Service office on Highway 200 in Trout Creek. "We are just so excited," said Reagan, who graduated from Thompson Falls High School in 2020, with utmost enthusiasm. "We have wanted to own our own coffee shop since I was 13 [years old], Roni since she was 12, and Paula since we were...
The Sanders County Historical Society and Old Jail Museum have requested financial help with funding through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), government funding that has been provided to help respond to COVID-19 and its impact on local economies. Vonn Briggs, Old Jail Museum director and board member, met with Sanders County commissioners last week to discuss the need to keep the museum safe while continuing to preserve its history. Briggs requested funds for several projects totaling $15,700. “The whole process started when I met Sanders C...
That fire on the mountain everyone has been watching is going to be with us for a while. The Thorne Creek fire, which was ignited by lightning July 7 and has been steadily growing and visible from the Clark Fork Valley floor since its inception, will likely be a long-term wildfire event that will be going on for at least several more weeks. The fire has already triggered many evacuation warnings and several actual evacuations as the fire front has moved on the hillside each day. In an effort to... Full story
The Thorne Creek Fire continues to burn just north of Thompson Falls. As of Saturday morning the fire, which was sparked by lightning on July 8, had burned 15,860 acres and was 0% contained. More than 150 residents attended a community meeting at Ainsworth Park on Friday as the Thorne Creek Fire burned north of Thompson Falls in the Weber Gulch area. Drew Daily, incident commander for the Thorne Creek Fire, said that three Type II National Guard firefighting units would be arriving Saturday... Full story
The serial number on a firearm found Sunday afternoon at the Flat Iron Fishing access site west of Thompson Falls matches that of a firearm purchased by former Thompson Falls Danielle Wood in 2018, according to court documents filed this week state. Wood is currently serving a 100-year sentence at the Montana State Women's Prison. According to a motion filed Tuesday in 20th Judicial District Court, the Sanders County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) was notified that a male had found a pistol in the...
Sanders County residents filled the senior center in Plains last Thursday night to sit in on a meeting addressing potential growth plans for the town. An outdated growth policy prompted Plains Mayor Dan Rowan to reach out to Sanders County Community Development Corporation (SCCDC) Executive Director Ray Brown last year for help. A long process of conversations between Brown and Montana Department of Commerce Outreach Specialist Gus Byrom, who attended Thursday’s meeting, led to collaboration with Robin Spear from WGM Group, a planning and d...
For the first time in over 20 years, a grange meeting was held this month at the Whitepine Grange. This gathering was to initiate new members and to hold elections to establish officers for the Grange Post #102. The group asked Don Burrell to attend and to initiate the new members. Burrell is a long-time member of the Thompson Falls Grange. He started with the Grange in 1966 and has held most positions that one can have in the Grange. He has participated in the National Grange and even had the...
Ambulance calls: Hot Springs, 4; Thompson Falls, 10; Dixon, 2; Plains, 8. Sunday, July 18 General animal complaint, Hot Springs. Livestock, Paradise. Child welfare, abuse. Fire, Heron. Suspicious activity, T. Falls. Property found, T. Falls. Motorist assist, Paradise. Disturbance, Heron. Abandoned vehicle, Noxon. Monday, July 19 Motor vehicle crash, T. Falls. Welfare check, Plains. Coroner call, Plains. Missing person, T. Falls. Coroner call, Paradise. Motor vehicle crash, T. Falls. Trespass, Plains. Suspicious activity, T. Falls. Littering,...
Montana Highway Patrol John Bennett, 55, driving under the influence of alcohol, 2nd offense, $1,335, 7 days jail. Roxsanna Ryan, 64, seatbelt violation, $20. Thomas Jolley, 59, improper passing, $85. Dishant Khatri, 19,speeding in restricted zone, $85. Benjamin Smith, 34, day speeding, $20. George Gorohoff, 53, speeding in restricted zone, $65. Ronald Owens, 33, no liability insurance, 2nd offense, $135. Eric Bachofner, 41, day speeding, $20. Ryan Farmer, 42, day speeding, $70. Jaclyn Flinn, 44, seatbelt violation, $20. Clarence Hough, 65,...
The windstorm in January left many homes and businesses in need of repair, including the high school in Thompson Falls. The gymnasium roof saw some damage, and the school contracted Buckingham Roofing to do some temporary repairs. These repairs were meant to prevent any water damage until Buckingham Roofing could return and take the time to do the whole roof. Finally, after several months, John Buckingham, owner of Buckingham Roofing, was able to come out to install the new roof. Assisted by...
Sanders County Community Development Corporation (SCCDC) is hosting a Housing Summit Monday, August 2, at the Clark Fork Valley Elks Lodge in Thompson Falls from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Expert panelists will review various technical assistance programs and provide an open space for discussion, collaboration and education for stakeholders to deliberate potential workforce housing solutions in Sanders County. “There are a number of resources available for workforce housing,” said SCCDC Executive Director Ray Brown. “We are trying to solve an ident...
A North Idaho freight company is expanding services in Sanders County to keep up with increased demand. H&H Express is constructing an expansion building in Thompson Falls. Located across from Grocery Surplus on Highway 200 just east of Thompson Falls, H&H Express owner Donald West says the 40-foot by 60-foot freight dock will also aid in handling the influx of shipments he has seen over the last year. "The area is growing so fast and I've seen a lot more freight going in every day," said West....
"Often, the best resource is simply a neighbor and fellow landowner sharing their experience and knowledge!" emphasizes Montana Tree Farm System (MTFS). Last Thursday, over 65 people gathered at Harlow Bison Ranch in Thompson Falls to join MTFS in piloting their Montana Tree Farm Peer Network. MTFS Chairperson Holly McKenzie stated that "rather than sending in a forester, people are more comfortable with a neighbor" when being advised about forest land management. The goal of the gathering was...
Offering propane gas delivery and fuel oil services, John's Fuel Farm has opened a location in Thompson Falls. The new site will allow the company to offer services to the entire county, year-round. "We are 100% locally owned and have been in the Mission Valley forever," said Levi Wadsworsh, John's Fuel Farm manager. Plans to open a new fuel farm developed last fall and Wadsworth says deliveries started in Thompson Falls at the end of July 2020. "The expansion of the propane market and changes...
Producers can list hay for sale or donation using Montana Hay Hotline As severe drought conditions and wildfires persist across the state, the Montana Department of Agriculture is reminding agricultural producers of the availability of the Hay Hotline, an online tool that connects those interested in buying, selling, or donating hay or pasture. The Hay Hotline allows producers to enter new listings with descriptions of the forage they have available to sell or donate. It also provides users with an option to search for available hay or...
The Water Resources Division (WRD) of Montana Dept. of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC) has launched new tools, including a fact sheet and a new webpage, to increase transparency and provide succinct data on water rights filings. Changing demographics and differing geologic and hydrologic conditions influence the number and type of water right applications filed statewide. The number of permits, changes, and exceptions has increased significantly over the past decade, generally coinciding with high growth areas and whether a basin is...
Paradise Gardens has had an army of workers tackling the flowing fields of purple over the last two weeks. They have a large tract to go and there's no end to the heat wave in sight. That doesn't impact the rows and rows of lavender to be harvested, but owner Paula Scoggins is concerned with the health of the 11 volunteers plucking and packing the plants and limits their time in the sun accordingly. "I want them to have fun and not act like it's just a job. You're hanging out with the bees and...
by John Dowd The serial number on a firearm found Sunday afternoon at the Flat Iron Fishing access site west of Thompson Falls matches that of a firearm purchased by former Thompson Falls Danielle Wood in 2018, according to court documents filed this week state. Wood is currently serving a 100-year sentence at the Montana State Women's Prison. According to a motion filed Tuesday in 20th Judicial District Court, the Sanders County Sheriff's Office was notified that a male had found a pistol in...
Too hot, too dry, too soon. The 2021 wildland fire season could very well turn into one of the longest campaigns in modern firefighting history if this area does not receive a break from the seemingly unending heat wave residents have been suffering through for several weeks now. As a result of the situation, Sanders County remains under Stage 2 fire restrictions and the current fire danger is rated at Extreme in all parts of the county. The organization in charge of more than 10...
