Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Montana Highway Patrol Madeline Connelly, 30, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Chad Henning, 52, seatbelt violation, $20. Renee Fast, 49, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Megan Connor, 41, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Coby Guenzler, 23, day speeding, $20. Jacob Hutchins, 17, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Annaka McClelland, 21, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Scott Paulson, 42, speeding in a restricted zone, $85....
Appearing before Judge John W. Larson on Tuesday, Nicholas Ray Needles changed his plea to guilty to one count of incest, pursuant to a plea agreement between the parties. After some discussion regarding the agreed upon sentence and parole restrictions, Judge Larson set this matter for sentencing on July 30, 2024....
Sanders County road district employees went back to school last week to learn more about road graders. Eighteen men from the county's three road districts attended the Caterpillar Motor Grader class. The morning session was held at the courthouse in Thompson Falls. In the classroom they watched a slideshow conducted by Jacob Lauderdale Western States Equipment Company out of Liberty Lake, Washington which sells Caterpillar equipment. They learned in-depth handling and maintenance of a road grade...
At Montana State University in Bozeman on Monday, the Montana Supreme Court heard oral arguments regarding two of the issues addressed in former Thompson Falls resident Danielle Wood’s appeal of her 2021 conviction for deliberate homicide in the May 2018 murder of her former partner, Matthew LaFriniere. Wood was found guilty following a two-week jury trial at the Sanders County Courthouse before former Judge Deborah Kim Christopher in January 2021, which she appealed in May of that year. Wood is currently serving her 100-year sentence in the M...
The former Sanders County Attorney was sentenced Monday for a 2022 incident that led to her resignation last year. Naomi Leisz pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of obstructing justice on Monday. Leisz was originally charged with felony insurance fraud, but a plea agreement withdrew that initial charge. In court on Monday, Leisz pleaded guilty to the allegations that, knowing her son was an offender and liable to be charged for an offense after being in a car accident that damaged property, assisted him in avoiding discovery or...
No one from the general public showed up for the Plains School levy forum, but that didn't seem to bother Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Walsh, who held the get together specifically to answer questions from the community. "I'm not discouraged by the numbers," said Walsh, who held the open forum in the school library last Thursday in an effort to inform the public about the purpose of this year's levy request. There were people from the school at the forum - two teachers, two school board members,...
When the Noxon fire destroyed three businesses it took away livelihoods and security for the owners and townspeople. Teresa Jackson lost her business, the Angry Beaver General Store. She and her fiance Walter Borgmann were in the process of remodeling the apartment above the store. Jackson said the community has helped by way of a spaghetti fundraiser. "We raised $6,000. It will be divided equally among employees, the loss of tools for the remodel, and for the cleanup process," she explained....
Ambulance: Plains, 6; Hot Springs, 4; T. Falls, 2; Trout Creek, 1; Dixon, 1. Monday, April 15 USFS patrol, Heron. Civil standby, Paradise. Welfare check, Heron. Livestock. Civil attempts, Trout Creek. Welfare check, Heron. Disturbance, Hot Springs. Fire, Paradise. Fire. Tuesday, April 16 Disturbance, Plains. Theft, Hot Springs. Burglary. Warrant service, T. Falls. Suspicious activity, Paradise. Animal other, T. Falls. Burglary, Dixon. Body found/coroner, Trout Creek. Wednesday, April 17 Automated alarm call, Plains. Suspicious activity, Noxon....
Montana Highway Patrol Daniel Bruno, 59, speeding in restricted zone, $95. Michael Wait, 38, seatbelt violation, $20. Mathew Coker, 46, seatbelt violation, $20. Robert Flansaas, 60, speeding in restricted zone, $95. Jeffery Taylor, 65, speeding in restricted zone, $95. Steven Riebe, 73, speeding in restricted zone, $55. Scott Ambridge, 66, speeding in restricted zone, $65. Michael Freitas, 50, speeding in restricted zone, $85. Andrew Johnson, 34, speeding in restricted zone, $85. Tucker Trachsel, 23, speeding in restricted zone, $85. Shawn...
Following a global plea agreement that resolves the three cases pending before the court, Alton Steinhoff entered a no contest plea in 20th District Judicial Court on Tuesday to a felony charge of escape. Per the plea agreement, Steinhoff was committed to the custody of the Department of Public Health and Human Services for a period of 10 years, with five years suspended and credit for 203 days time served. Additionally, the other two cases were dismissed. In his statement to the court, Steinhoff expressed remorse for his actions and said that...
KALISPELL — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public input on a potential project that would place nearly 33,000 acres of private timberland in northwest Montana under a conservation easement and protect working lands, public recreation access, and wildlife habitat. FWP has published a draft environmental assessment that outlines the proposed first phase of the project named the Montana Great Outdoors Conservation Easement. This is the first of a potential two-phased project totaling 85,792 acres of private timberland and fish and wildl...
The U.S. Forest Service Plains-Thompson Falls Ranger District has a new leader, and he's no stranger to the workings of the woods. Curtis Rintz has worked in the forests, deserts and high mountains and is now a ranger in the Lolo National Forest. The 62-year-old took over as the district's ranger in Plains only six weeks ago and is quickly getting familiarized with his new role, the district's missions and its crew. "I am excited to be here. It's a challenge but I love it," said Rintz, who has...
The average age of people getting married in the United States was early 30s, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, but last week's wedding at Plains School might throw a wrinkle in their statistics. Six-year-old Malia Hart (as the letter Q) and 5-year-old Finley Williams (as the letter U) were "married" in the classroom by their kindergarten teacher last Thursday. Classmate Emma Colwell served as the ring bearer and Frances LeClair was the ceremony's flower girl, placing pink flower petals at...
Ballots are being prepared for local school district elections. Sanders County Elections staff said ballots will be mailed Monday for school elections in Plains and Noxon. Hot Springs, which has one board position open and is asking voters to approve a levy, is running their own election. In Noxon, two three-year positions are open on the school board, with Kyra Bosker, Annie Manning, Arthur Potts and Lars Swanson filing as candidates. Cassandra Hill was the only candidate to file for an open 2-year position. For the portion of the Noxon...
Artists from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) went to Hot Springs School on Saturday to teach fifth through 12th grade students about different art modalities. Sketch artist Cameron Decker from Missoula, along with his wife Aspen Decker, said this is the second school they have visited in Sanders County. "We went to Dixon last weekend," Cameron stated. "We had a weaver there teaching traditional weaving. Our idea is to bring more art education into the schools." Students can ta...
James William Hill made his initial appearance before Judge Molly Owen last week on a felony charge of failing to give notice of change of address by a sexual/violent offender, pleading not guilty. A jury trial was set for September 19, 2024. According to the charging documents, on January 2, Detective Ethan Harvey was contacted by Lynn Bierwagen, Probation and Parole, regarding one of her probationers that she had recently revoked. Hill, a registered sex offender, had a last known address in Paradise but had been arrested and was being held...
Ambulance: Plains, 7; T. Falls, 5; Hot Springs, 5; Trout Creek, 2; Paradise, 1; Noxon, 1. Monday, April 8 Welfare check, Hot Springs. Abandoned vehicle, Paradise. Animal stray/lost, T. Falls. Intimidation/harassment, T. Falls. Trespass, Paradise. Civil attempts, T. Falls. Theft, Dixon. Civil attempts, Trout Creek. Attempt to locate, T. Falls. Road hazard/debris on road, Plains. Civil attempts. Property damage/criminal mischief, Hot Springs. Road hazard/debris on road, Hot Springs. Business contact, Plains. Tuesday, April 9 Assist motorist/citiz...
Montana Highway Patrol David Dilley, 57, operating without liability insurance, 1st offense, $285; seatbelt violation, $20; driving while privilege suspended/revoked, 1st offense, $275. David Rush, 54, speeding in a restricted zone, $115. Hassan Abikar, 37, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Richard Novak, 80, seatbelt violation, $20. Benjamin Bjork, 24, night speeding, $120. Colin McClain, 22, seatbelt violation, $20. Kaleb Scott, 32, night speeding, $20. Felipe Icimoto, 40, day speeding, $70. Taylor Osburn, 32, day speeding, $70. Tanner...
Editor's Note: The Ledger sent questions to each of the school board candidates in all of the school districts who filed for the May election, regardless of whether or not the candidates were running opposed or unopposed. The following candidates returned completed questions and provided photos. PLAINS SCHOOL DISTRICT Name: Ellen Childress Education: B.S. Zoology University of Montana, Education Certification in Biology and General Science Grade 7-12 Occupation: Teacher (Retired) Owner-Whistle Creek Pottery What qualities make you a good...
Plains School is asking for a $100,000 levy this year in an effort to recruit and retain qualified teachers and staff and to help better fund classroom programs. “Our levy is for learning,” said Dr. Kathleen Walsh, the school superintendent, who added that they’re going to educate the children regardless, but the levy will give the students better opportunities to be successful in the future. “The levy will allow the school community to expand and support family and community engagement while supporting expansion of academic program...
A Plains pool board was officially established last week in an effort to make the operation of the E.L. Johnson Memorial Pool more efficient this year. Five community members volunteered to be on the newly formed committee last Monday at City Hall, where the town's newest certified lifeguard trainers offered to help get this year's lifeguards trained. Seth Gibbs, Lyle Fisher and Matt Fielders completed a 21 1/2-hour Red Cross training session in Missoula the previous Sunday to become trainers...
The Hot Springs School Board met last Wednesday to vote on positions for the next school year. Nineteen positions for the 2024-25 school year were approved. Principal Byron Woods K-12 principal position was eliminated, as well as one elementary teacher position. Sixteen returning teachers were approved including the counselor position. One position of a non-tenured teacher was discussed regarding her plan to complete her certification as a licensed educator for the high school. The board approved the position with one trustee against. In the...
The Sanders County Fair Board monthly meeting last week started with a Plains woman placing dozens of scraps of metal on the tables in front of the board members. "This could potentially cripple a horse," said Jolene Burke of Plains, referring to a large piece of metal that she and Kristy Sheehan, the fair manager, found in the dirt of the fairgrounds main arena a week earlier. She had bags of metal pieces, from a fraction of an inch to one that was nearly two feet long. She told the board that...
The Thompson Falls City Council on Monday voted to move speed limit signs further out on each end of town. Mayor Rusti Leivestad, after meeting with the Department of Transportation, proposed moving the 25 mile per hour speed limit signs out 500 feet. The 35 mile per hour signs would be extended proportionately as well. In addition, the council voted to apply for an encroachment permit so that speed reader signs can be installed on the mileage posts. At the March council meeting, Catherine DeWit...
A new coffee roasting company is open for business in Thompson Falls. Koo Koo Sint Coffee owners Sylvia and Luke Miller named their business after David Thompson "because we live up Thompson River Road," Sylvia said. The Native Americans referred to Thompson as Koo Koo Sint, she added. The couple started their business in February but Luke said he has been roasting coffee for eight years. "I began roasting beans for friends and family until one of them said I should start a business," he said....
