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  • Local emergency services receive state grants for vehicles

    Dec 19, 2024

    The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that 26 local safety agencies will share more than $1.4 million of grant funding to support tourism-related emergency service projects in rural areas. The funding is through Commerce’s Montana Emergency Tourism Assistance Grant Program. “Emergency services are critical in rural areas of the state that may have experienced an increase in visitation recently,” said Paul Green, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “At Commerce, we’re proud to support first responders and others wh...

  • TF celebrates everything Christmas

    Annie Wooden|Dec 12, 2024

    The community of Thompson Falls embraced the holiday spirit of the weekend with a variety of events for families to enjoy. On Friday, the Thompson Falls Main Street committee sponsored the holiday stroll, which featured carolers and treats at several Main Street businesses. That culminated with the Sanders County Chamber's annual tree lighting ceremony across the street from the courthouse. Rob Viens led community members in carols before Chamber President Dennis Spurlock addressed the crowd...

  • Noxon discussess bridge status, options

    Annie Wooden|Dec 12, 2024

    The Noxon community showed up Tuesday to hear what's being done about the bridge leading into their town and find out what they can do to help the effort. Tuesday's meeting brought more than 60 people to the Noxon fire hall to hear from local officials, as well as engineers working with the county to find solutions for the deteriorating 102-year-old bridge. In July, the bridge was closed for a week after a routine inspection by the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) found two cracks in t...

  • VFW retires American flags

    Ed Moreth|Dec 12, 2024

    They were tattered, torn, frayed, and discolored and their service to the country had passed - the end of life for a national symbol - the American flag. A dozen military veterans gathered behind Horse Plains VFW Post 3596 on Saturday evening to bid farewell to a comrade they had served on active duty. It was a quiet and solemn ceremony that took less than 15 minutes. One by one, the veterans put an unserviceable flag into a barrel of flames. The barrels eventually got so hot, the vets had to...

  • Plains man questions actions of police chief

    Ed Moreth|Dec 12, 2024

    The last Plains Town Council meeting of the year was short, but finished with a surprise request from a resident. Plains resident and business owner Matthew Jaramillo accused Chief of Police Brian Josephson of misusing his authority and engaging in personal vendettas. "I come to you today to raise urgent concerns regarding Chief Brian Josephson's continued service as police chief for the Town of Plains," Jaramillo said at last Monday night's council meeting at City Hall. Mayor Joel Banham gave h...

  • T. Falls purchases easements for sewer

    Annie Wooden|Dec 12, 2024

    The Thompson Falls City Council moved closer to the finish line on phases 1 and 2 of the city sewer project at Monday's meeting as they voted to close out two of the project's funding sources. After approving final reimbursements, the council voted to close out the TSEP grant of $750,000 and the DNRC Renewable Resource Grant of $188,685. The city is progressing with phases 3 and 4 of the project, which will include installation and hookups from Grove Street east in Thompson Falls. At Monday's...

  • Sheriff's Log

    Dec 12, 2024

    Ambulance: Plains, 8; T. Falls, 7; Hot Springs, 3; Heron, 2; Paradise, 2; Dixon, 1. Monday, December 2 Request for welfare check, T. Falls. Suspicious activity, Trout Creek. Civil attempts. Civil attempts. Motor vehicle crash, T. Falls. Fire, Hot Springs. Request for welfare check, Noxon. Animal other, Hot Springs. Automated alarm call, T. Falls. Assist miscellaneous, Plains. Child welfare/abuse, Paradise. Road hazard/debris on road, T. Falls. Fire, Plains. Tuesday, December 3 Road hazard/debris on road, Trout Creek. Welfare check, Hot...

  • Justice Court

    Dec 12, 2024

    Montana Highway Patrol Robin McGee-Morigeau, 63, seatbelt violation, $20; speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Erin Dwyer, 27, failure to carry/exhibit proof of insurance in vehicle, 1st offense, $85. Brent Wiegele, 38, seatbelt violation, $20. Sarah Eisherbeny, 32, operating with expired registration, $85. Shannon Niblack, 40, seatbelt violation, $20; speeding in a restricted zone, $65. Matthew Thurston, 15, operating without liability insurance, 1st offense, $85, deferred imposition; careless driving, $35, deferred imposition. Dylan Hess, 20,...

  • Three plead not guilty to drug charges

    Stephanie Molzhon|Dec 12, 2024

    Three co-defendants made their initial appearances before Judge Molly Owen on Tuesday, facing charges stemming from a traffic stop near Plains at the end of November. The three co-defendants, Jace Patrick Boles, Jeanysa Dem Ridley, and Riley Robert Lee McConnell, are set for jury trials on May 12, 2025. Boles pled not guilty to three felony counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and one misdemeanor count of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. His attorney, Brian Owens, requested Boles receive an own recognizance release as he...

  • CNSC lanterns carry notes for loved ones lost

    Ed Moreth|Dec 5, 2024

    by Ed Moreth Dozens of small colorful boxes lit up the dark sky over Plains last weekend with sentimental messages and seasonal greetings. The annual Cancer Network of Sanders County "Lantern Launch" was held along the greenway at downtown Plains on Saturday night following the Christmas Light Parade. The nonprofit organization raised $450, which goes directly back to county residents going through cancer treatment. "Our goal is to show our local community members that they are not alone in thei...

  • Hunting season wraps up

    Dec 5, 2024

    Montana's general deer and elk hunting season concluded last weekend and the overall harvest results at game check stations in northwest Montana showed increased success compared to last year. More than 10,800 hunters stopped at regional check stations this season, and approximately 10 percent of them had successfully harvested game, compared to 9 percent a year ago. A total of 954 white-tailed deer, including 745 bucks, were reported at the four weekend check stations. Last year hunters checked 761 white-tailed deer, including 567 bucks....

  • Plains traffic stop leads to drug charges

    Stephanie Molzhon|Dec 5, 2024

    Timothy George Johnson made his initial appearance for one felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and one misdemeanor count of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, entering not guilty pleas to both charges. Judge John Mercer set this matter for a jury trial on April 14, 2025. On November 8, as alleged in the charging documents, Plains Police Officer Kenny Hamilton initiated a stop on a truck in Plains. The passenger and registered owner of the truck, identified as Johnson, requested to use the bathroom at a nearby...

  • Justice Court

    Dec 5, 2024

    Montana Highway Patrol Samuel Dolloff, 54, seatbelt violation, $20. Angela Drew, 38, speeding in a restricted zone, $65. Jamie Giddings, 38, seatbelt violation, $20. Theodore Bruce, 33, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Kriss Lund, 68, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Katie Grilley, 36, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Steven Edwards, 53, speeding in a restricted zone, $65. Keith Shepherd, 51, day speeding, $70. Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Jason McDonald, 46, livestock unlawfully running at large, $135. Raymond Lauber, 57, owner p...

  • Sheriff's Log

    Dec 5, 2024

    Ambulance: T. Falls, 5; Plains, 5; Hot Springs, 3; Paradise, 1; Noxon, 1. Monday, November 25 Livestock, T. Falls. Livestock, Perma. Disturbance, Plains. Property damage/criminal mischief, Noxon. Suicide attempts/threats. Civil attempts, Plains. Livestock, Plains. Civil attempts. Civil attempts. Civil attempts. Motor vehicle crash, T. Falls. Automated alarm call, Heron. Suspicious activity. Fire, Plains. General animal call/complaint, T. Falls. Assist miscellaneous, T. Falls. Intimidation/harassment, T. Falls. Civil attempts. Tuesday, November...

  • TF bridge project proposed, public comments sought

    Annie Wooden|Dec 5, 2024

    The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) would like to announce and invite the public to comment on a proposal to preserve the bridge that crosses the Clark Fork River on Montana Highway 200 (MT 200), just west of Thompson Falls in Sanders County. Proposed work entails a variety of bridge deck repairs and preservation treatments, including removal of the existing asphalt overlay, milling the existing deck surface, repairing the concrete deck, overlaying with new concrete surfacing, re-anchoring the existing steel expansion joints, and...

  • Former Reflections Academy owner cleared of alleged neglect

    Annie Wooden|Dec 5, 2024

    A Montana district court has sided with a Thompson Falls woman in a case that alleged neglect. A district court judge recently ruled that Michele Manning of Thompson Falls was not neglectful in the death of a teenager under her care. According to court records, on August 20, 2021, the Department of Public Health and Human Services issued a neglect substantiation against Michele Manning relating to the June 25, 2021 death by suicide of a 17-year-old girl at Reflections Academy, a private alternative adolescent residential program which Manning o...

  • LEARNING TO LEAD

    Annie Wooden|Nov 28, 2024

    Nick Lawyer was born at Clark Fork Valley Hospital, and 43 years later, he is stepping into a leadership role for the community medical facility. Lawyer will take over as chief of staff for the medical staff at CFVH in 2025. Lawyer recently completed the Healthcare Excellence in Leadership Program (HELP) through the Montana Medical Association, gaining valuable leadership skills that he is excited to use in his new position. "It's billed as a leadership development course for medical leaders,...

  • Local volunteer to lead parade

    Annie Wooden|Nov 28, 2024

    The 2024 Christmas on Main Street parade grand marshal has been busy since moving to Thompson Falls in 2022. You may have met Rob Viens through his choral group, the Clark Fork Valley Singers, but he's involved in many projects throughout the community. The Sanders County Chamber of Commerce chose Viens as the grand marshal to lead the community parade next weekend. Chelle Mitchell, secretary for the chamber, nominated Viens for the honor. "He directs music for the Thompson Falls Main Street...

  • Fundraiser helps Plains parks

    Ed Moreth|Nov 28, 2024

    It was a one-woman crusade to help make Plains parks a cleaner place for residents and visitors, especially the four-legged kind. Cori Kerner spent four days on her "Dollar Days Sale" fundraiser at the Sanders County Fairgrounds pavilion last week. Her goal was to raise money to purchase several dog waste dispensers for the greenway along Railroad Street and the town's two parks. The sale reached just over $1,000 by Saturday and after her four-day sale, Kerner was able to raise almost $1,400 to...

  • TF woman honored as HR leader of the year

    Annie Wooden|Nov 28, 2024

    Ronda Wakefield of Thompson Falls was recently honored as the Montana HR Leader of the Year by the Montana State Council of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). "It honestly was a complete surprise, right up until the time they said my name," Wakefield said of the honor. "It was an incredible honor to be recognized with such an amazing group of HR professionals. I consider myself so blessed, not a day goes by that I dread going to work." Wakefield was one of nine nominees for the...

  • Justice Court

    Nov 28, 2024

    Montana Highway Patrol Melody Struna, 62, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Maximilian Faller, 66, speeding in a restricted zone, $65. Candace Farler, 62, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Brent Wiegele, 38, failure to carry/exhibit proof of insurance in vehicle, 2nd offense. Shane Hughes, 41, speeding in a restricted zone, $65. Scott Nelson, 61, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Jake Giffuni, 33, speeding in a restricted zone, $55. Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Saylen Nielsen, 37, stop sign violation; driving a motor vehicle while p...

  • Man pleads not guilty to sexual assault charges

    Stephanie Molzhon|Nov 28, 2024

    Levi Sterling Laird appeared before Judge Molly Owen on Tuesday, making his initial appearance on three felony counts of sexual assault. Laird’s attorney, Nicholas Aemisegger, advised Judge Owen that Laird was not prepared to answer to the amended information filed recently as the supporting affidavit had not been filed, which charged Laird with two additional counts of sexual assault. Laird did enter his not guilty pleas to the original three counts. Judge Owen set this matter for an arraignment on the additional two counts for December 10 a...

  • Sheriff's Log

    Nov 28, 2024

    Ambulance: T. Falls, 9; Plains, 8; Hot Springs, 7; Trout Creek, 2; Paradise, 1; Heron, 1. Monday, November 18 Automated alarm call, Trout Creek. USFS campground check, T. Falls. Fire, Paradise. Fire, Paradise. Civil attempts, Trout Creek. Civil attempts. Motor vehicle crash, Hot Springs. Civil attempts. Other law violations, Plains. Civil attempts, Noxon. Other law violations, Plains. Livestock, Perma. Motor vehicle crash, Heron. Motor vehicle crash, Heron. Civil standby, T. Falls. Road hazard/debris on road, Plains. Suspicious activity, T....

  • Plains School Board gets full agenda

    Ed Moreth|Nov 28, 2024

    It was a full meeting for the Plains School Board last Monday, when several students were recognized for special feats and new school hires were approved, but the meeting began with a teacher rebuking a board member for allowing personal feelings to interfere with a school program. Shop teacher Kyle Mitchell told the board that the school had the opportunity to hire Trista Brown at the October meeting to begin the SkillsUSA junior high chapter, but did not because of a "low turnout by the board...

  • NWE details plan for TF park upgrades

    Annie Wooden|Nov 21, 2024
    1

    An extreme makeover is planned for Wild Goose Landing Park in Thompson Falls. As part of its ongoing relicensing process with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), last week NorthWestern Energy presented plans for renovating the park on the east end of Thompson Falls. The current license for the Thompson Falls dam expires December 31, 2025, Andy Welch, manager of NorthWestern Energy's Hydro License Compliance, told the crowd of about 30 people at the Rex Theater last Thursday. The...

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