Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
Sorted by date Results 1700 - 1724 of 3310
Each spring, FWP receives calls from people who have picked up deer fawns or other wildlife. It’s important to remember that Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) no longer accepts, holds or rehabilitates moose, deer, elk and most other animals. Often times, people think they are rescuing an orphaned animal. However, it’s important to understand that wildlife care for their young much differently than humans. They have strategies to provide the highest chance of survival for their young. One strategy that some species, particularly those speci...
After careening into a guard rail, a Thompson Falls man was taken to the hospital Monday morning around 10 a.m. Police received several calls about a driver who was weaving around the road and headed east on Highway 200. Thompson Falls Police, Montana Highway Patrol, Thompson Falls Fire and Thompson Falls Ambulance arrived on scene after a call that the vehicle had wrecked. A white Subaru had hit the guardrail east of Thompson Falls at mile marker 53.5, near the new wildlife overpass on Highway...
This past week, HB 418 came to the floor of the House of Representatives. There was and is some confusion of what this bill could have done. On the surface it sounded like it would simply open access to public lands. That was the intent of the bill, but the unintended consequences were worrisome. It could have taken any old trails, logging railroads, and even pack trails that lead to public lands and created an access to public lands. The problem with the bill, it would have threatened private...
Ambulance: T. Falls, 5; Trout Creek, 3; Dixon, 1; Plains, 5; Heron, 1; Hot Springs, 1 Monday, March 15 Motor vehicle crash, Paradise. Fire, Paradise. Animal other, Trout Creek. Request for welfare check, Trout Creek. Drugs/narcotics, student reportedly brought drug paraphernalia to school, Dixon. Animal other, Hot Springs. Trespass, Plains. Livestock, Paradise. Informational case, call from Adult Protective Services reporting a third party suspicion of abuse by a caregiver, Plains. Child welfare/abuse, Plains. Sexual assault, Hot Springs....
Montana Highway Patrol Robert Mathers, 20, seatbelt violation, $70. Michael Henion, 51, night speeding, $20. Ronald Eaton, 49, operating without insurance, 1st offense, $285. Jeremiah Jahn, 29, speeding in restricted zone, $85. Per Storli, 52, seatbelt violation, $20; careless driving, $85. William Noel, 58, seatbelt violation, $20; operating without insurance, $85. Judy Subatch, 45, seatbelt violation, $20. Jennifer Ramirez, 39, improperly restrained child, $85; night speeding, $60. Joseph Sullivan, 37, day speeding, $20. Joshua Ducept, 34,...
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has released the final environmental assessment, finding of no significant impact and land protection plan to establish a new unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System, the Lost Trail Conservation Area, in northwest Montana. The recent approval of the conservation area will authorize FWS to acquire easements from willing sellers that will preserve public access; protect wildlife habitat, including important migration corridors; and allow for sustainable working public lands in Flathead and Lincoln...
A bill seeking to ease permitting requirements for gravel pits in rural areas and make it harder to call a public hearing on new facilities is drawing clear battle lines in the Montana Legislature, as property owners say it cuts them out of the process. In a hearing that lasted for more than two hours on Monday, March 15, the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Steve Gunderson, R-Libby, called the bill -- House Bill 599 -- “Open Cut 2.0,” which he said built off the provisions of “Open Cut 1.0,” a bill passed in the 2019 session. Open-cut mining, also know...
Patty Sundberg remembers a time early in her 40-year career in beekeeping when a 5% annual colony loss felt like a big deal. Now, she said it’s all her company can do to hold that rate at 20% -- though, on bad years, it can swing even higher. In the mid-2000s, word of a frightening trend in bee populations began circulating in the scientific community: entire colonies of bees were dying off at stunning rates. Dubbed “colony collapse disorder,” some beekeepers were reporting hive losses as high as 30% to 90% during the 2006-2007 winter. The n...
Most people have either watched or participated in a spelling bee sometime in their lives, but only one Sanders County student made it into the statewide competition this year. Katie Porter is 13 years old and has been competing in spelling bees since she was in third grade. According to her teachers, she has been number one in her school since fourth grade. According to Shawna Olsen, Dixon School secretary and manager of the school's spelling bee, this is "something she does every year" and...
Bears can be found throughout Montana. In recent years, grizzly bear populations have expanded and bears are sometimes found in historic ranges beyond western Montana As bears begin foraging for food, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is asking residents to remove or secure food attractants such as garbage, bird feeders and pet food. The most common human-bear conflicts involve unsecured food attractants. People venturing into the outdoors should “Be Bear Aware” by following these precautionary steps: • Carry and know how to use bear spray. • Tra...
Former Montana Senator Greg Hinkle met with Sanders County Commissioners last week to offer input on the proposed Second Amendment ordinance residents have asked for from commissioners. Several residents attended the meeting last Wednesday at the Sanders County Courthouse. “A resolution is fine, but it’s got no teeth,” said Hinkle, of Thompson Falls. He then spoke about several bills being looked at by the Montana legislature this session that could change the way the state supports the Second Amendment, creating a statewide safe haven for g...
Ambulance: T. Falls, 4; Camas, 1; Hot Springs, 4; Plains, 11; Trout Creek, 2; Lonepine, 1; Paradise, 1; Monday, March 8 Theft, Trout Creek. Littering, reporting party states that someone is dumping household trash on his property, Hot Springs. Motor vehicle crash, T. Falls. Assault, both parties, father and son, arrested for mutual combat PFMA, Plains. Disturbance, Plains. Property lost, T. Falls. Tuesday, March 9 Suspicious activity, T. Falls. Intimidation/harassment, T. Falls. Informational case, Hot Springs. Informational case, T. Falls....
Montana Highway Patrol Ethan Howard, 27, careless driving, $85. Joseph Wi Wakan, 20, failure to carry proof of insurance, 1st offense, $285. Colter Dykman, 30, night speeding, $70. Cody Wilkinson, 35, day speeding, $20. Brandon Peterson, 41, reasonable and prudent, 1st offense, $65. John Belknap, 69, failure to start vehicle in safety, $85. Janessa Elledge, 27, reasonable and prudent, 1st offense, $85; youth improperly restrained, $85. Dub Jones, 36, seatbelt violation, $20; driving while suspended, 1st offense, $285. Keith Johnson, 52, night...
Additional candidates have filed for school board races as a week remains in the filing period, while Hot Springs and Dixon school districts still have no candidates who have filed for their board seats. In Plains, four candidates have filed for two open three-year terms. Candidates include Monica Weedeman, Charles French, Brian Meaden and Amy Carey. In Trout Creek, Eric Viviano is the only candidate who has filed for a three-year term. Trout Creek School has two positions open. Five candidates have filed for the two open three-year terms in th...
Local legislators met with Sanders County Commissioners and residents to issue a legislative update and address concerns regarding bills each representative has been working on and introduced to the house floor. Sen. Bob Brown, Rep. Denley Loge, House District 14 and Rep. Paul Fielder, House District 13, fielded questions from around 20 Sanders County residents. Legislators answered questions on a number of house bills for one hour Thursday at the Sanders County Courthouse. Fielder spoke about House Bill 114 he introduced in which he states law...
NEW GUY – Jared Hutchings is the new officer on the Plains Police Department. He was appointed by Mayor Dan Rowan and unanimously voted in by the town council last week. The 38-year-old Hutchings is a former Sanders County Sheriff's Office deputy and has been certified at the law enforcement academy. He presently lives in Thompson Falls, but plans to move to Plains....
Against contentions from the defense, Judge James Manley refused release of defendant Fauve Ferguson, who is facing charges of endangering the welfare of children. According to charging documents in 20th District Judicial Court, on July 17, 2020, during a PFMA investigation where Ferguson was the victim, law enforcement learned that there may have been drug use in the home when responding to a report of partner or family member assault. The documents say that Ferguson lives with her boyfriend and daughter in a small RV. Officers reported...
Ambulance: Hot Springs, 1; Plains, 8; Trout Creek, 2; T. Falls, 5; Lonepine, 3; Dixon, 4; Heron, 1; Camas, 1 Monday, March 1 Child welfare/abuse, report of a male sending inappropriate pictures to juvenile girls, Plains. General animal call or complaint, Plains. Livestock, Plains. Informational case, Paradise. Animal stray/lost, Plains. Tuesday, March 2 Animal stray/lost, T. Falls. Animal other, Paradise. Informational case, T. Falls. Child welfare/abuse, children reporting that they feel in danger and are living in fear because of their mother...
Montana Highway Patrol Ervin Middleton, 45, operating without insurance, 1st offense, $285; driving while suspended, 1st offense, $285. Richard Powell, 23, night speeding, $70. Barbara Schott, 34, day speeding, $20. James Hilt, 78, failure to yield, $85. Aspen Roberts, 18, day speeding, $20. Matthew Lakko, 51, night speeding, $70. Michael Mannel, 52, night speeding, $20. Elliott Parker, 27, violating speed limit near school or senior center, $135. Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Darry Larson, 61, driving under the influence, third offense, $...
For several years there have been concerns for the welfare of a group of horses in the Trout Creek area. These concerns have been raised by numerous community members to the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office, and to other organizations in the area, like the Thompson River Animal Care Shelter (TRACS). Members from the community held a meeting at TRACS in February. Around 12 people showed up and were joined by Deputy Tim Kelly of the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office. During the meeting, the group discussed a particular property in which the own...
by Annie Wooden Clark Fork Valley Hospital (CFVH) and Sanders County Public Health continue to administer COVID-19 vaccines to residents. CFVH has been holding vaccination clinics on Saturdays. As of Tuesday, 665 residents had received both doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, and another 1,632 had received their first dose. On Saturday, March 6, CFVH was scheduled to administer 650 vaccines, the largest clinic yet according to hospital CEO Dr. Gregory Hanson. “We are constantly monitoring state guidelines for changing distribution r...
The sewer project will take shape this week as workers begin laying pipe, starting from the west end of Preston Avenue moving east. The project is estimated to take several weeks and progress can be followed on the city council website, under the infrastructure page. The city council spoke about funding for street repair, as the project moves along, during their meeting Monday. The city has received funds from a separate state program called the Bridge and Road Safety and Accountability Program...
A new eatery is set to open in Sanders County promising a family-oriented atmosphere with made from scratch cooking. Machelle Brossman plains to open The River Roadhouse this summer. The restaurant will be located along Highway 200 between Thompson Falls and Trout Creek, near the turnoff for Finlay Flats Road. "My hope is to be open by Memorial Day weekend, with a grand opening in June. So stay turned for that," Brossman said. The owner has big plans for the old fuel station which has sat empty...
The Sanders County Sewer District at Paradise held another Zoom meeting Friday evening, and though a portion of the four and a half hours were public comments addressing the faults of the board president, according to Sunny Chase, who heads the board, it managed to get some agenda items passed. Chase and board member Rick McCollum are on the verge of being recalled after a petition was recently filed by Paradise resident Cody Lampman. Signatures have been collected and are in the process of being verified. The county had 30 days to complete...
Open burning officially began Monday, March 1. Fire officials from the U.S. Forest Service and the Montana Department of Natural Resources (DNRC) are reminding people to burn safely and responsibly during this time. Debris burning is typically allowed without a permit in Sanders County from March through April, but a burn permit is required for any burning done between May 1 and September 30. If a fire escapes and damages or threatens lives and property, or requires an agency response, the person who lit the fire may be held responsible both...
