Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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NorthWestern Energy's Thompson Falls dam was honored last week for maintaining VPP Star status. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) honors employers who have implemented safety and health management systems and maintain below average injury rates with the Volunteer Protection Program (VPP). According to OSHA's website, star certification recognizes "employers and employees who demonstrate exemplary achievement in the prevention and control of occupational safety and health...
Representatives from the Thompson Falls and Plains airports met last week to discuss needs and priorities. Lance Bowser and Ian Warge with RPA, an engineering firm, met with pilots, airport board representatives and county commissioners to review the capital improvement plans (CIP) for both airports. Bowser said the CIPs are updated every year to review needs of the airports and seek funding sources for projects. Dan Normandeau told the RPA representatives that a pilots’ lounge is the top priority at the Thompson Falls airport. The building w...
Ambulance: Plains, 9; T. Falls, 7; Hot Springs, 3; Trout Creek, 1; Heron, 1. Monday, August 21 Disturbance, Paradise. Theft, T. Falls. Motor vehicle crash, Hot Springs. Protection order violation, Hot Springs. Fire, Hot Springs. Parking problem, Plains. Motor vehicle crash, Trout Creek. Lost & found item, T. Falls. Abandoned vehicle, Noxon. Other law violations, Trout Creek. Suspicious activity, Hot Springs. Motor vehicle crash, Hot Springs. Road hazard/blockage, Paradise. Assist other agency, Dixon. Suspicious activity, T. Falls. Assist other...
Montana Highway Patrol Chelsey Bourdon, 31, reckless driving, 1st offense, $585, 90 days jail with all suspended. Nathaniel Stropko, 42, driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, 2nd offense, $2,135 with $800 suspended, 365 days jail with 358 days suspended. Steven Franck, 60, seatbelt violation, $20. Talan Grounds, 35, failure to carry proof/exhibit insurance in vehicle, 1st offense, $85; seatbelt violation, $20. Archie Knerr, 52, seatbelt violation, $20. Atanacio Loya, Jr., 47, seatbelt violation, $20. Louis Mayfield, 53, seatbelt...
Kimberly Sue Harris entered a not guilty plea to one felony count of aggravated driving under the influence before Judge Kaydee Snipes Ruiz on Thursday. Judge Snipes Ruiz questioned the Special Deputy County Attorney, Adam Duerk, regarding prior DUIs for Harris. According to a criminal history report, Duerk noted four previous convictions from Texas and Washington. Judge Snipes Ruiz set a trial date of February 13, 2024. As detailed in the charging documents, on July 14, Deputy Devin Wegener overheard Hot Springs Police on the radio reporting...
Portions of the Flathead and Clark Fork rivers in Sanders County are reopened after being closed due to fire danger. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is also reopening Kookoosint Fishing Access Site, Paradise Crossing Fishing Access Site, and Full Curl Wildlife Management Area south of Plains on Montana Highway 200. FWP previously closed the stretches of rivers and access sites due to the River Road East fire. While conditions have improved, the fire continues to burn in the area, and recreationists are urged to be aware of fire conditions and...
Steady rain on Monday was a welcome sign for firefighters battling the River Road East Fire in Paradise. A crew of nearly 400 personnel with the Northern Rockies Incident Team is now managing the wildfire, which ignited Friday near the intersection of River Road East and Highway 200 just outside the town of Paradise. As of press time Tuesday evening, the fire had grown to 16,790 acres with no containment. Sheriff Shawn Fielders stated that as of Tuesday afternoon, 50 structures had been...
The second public meeting regarding the River Road East Fire was held Thursday evening in the Plains High School gym, where officials stated the fire was 5% contained and had consumed more than 17,000 acres. The state DNRC reported that they are still in a response stage of the fire with more work to do. The next stage will be recovery and to help people with their burned homes and replanting. "I appreciate the community pulling together. The teams have been outstanding," said Sanders County...
Former Sanders County attorney Naomi Leisz made her initial appearance in court on Tuesday, entering a not guilty plea to one charge of criminal insurance fraud. Leisz appeared before Judge Edward P. McLean at the Sanders County Courthouse. She is being represented by attorney Colin Stephens. Insurance fraud charge stems from an accident that occurred in April 2022, according to the charging documents, where a vehicle Leisz owned was involved in an accident in Trout Creek while allegedly being driven by her son. The vehicle was allegedly then...
As Sanders County school prepare to get back in session, students and parents will see some new and familiar faces in the hall. Plains and Noxon students went back to school Wednesday, August 23, while Thompson Falls starts Monday, August 28, and Hot Springs students return Tuesday, September 5. Trout Creek has a new 2-3 grade teacher who was in the Thompson Falls school last year. Madison Koonce has accepted the position and will be starting there this fall. Also from Trout Creek but new to teaching will be Beckie Doyle for grades 4-5, team...
Montana Highway Patrol Ian Gardepe, 27, day speeding, $70. Jason Cooper, 50, driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, 2nd offense, $2,135 with $800 suspended, 365 days jail with 350 days suspended. Nora Goforth, 72, seatbelt violation, $20. David Pluard, 69, operating without liability insurance, 1st offense, $285. Amber Caldwell, 47, day speeding, $20. Robert Joe, Jr., 58, day speeding, $120. Loran Nelson, 33, day speeding, $20. Tayler Van Den Top, 22, seatbelt violation, $20. Selena Marker, 44, day speeding, $70. Seth Alarcon, 22,...
Ambulance: T. Falls, 10; Hot Springs, 3; Plains, 3; Trout Creek, 2; Heron, 2; Dixon, 1; Paradise, 1. Monday, August 14 Warrant service, T. Falls. General animal call/complaint, Paradise. Property damage/criminal mischief, Hot Springs. Assist motorist/citizen, Trout Creek. General animal call/complaint, T. Falls. Motor vehicle crash, Noxon. Civil attempts, Plains. Civil attempts, Plains. Fire, Hot Springs. Fire, T. Falls. Civil standby, Trout Creek. Property damage/criminal mischief, Plains. Theft, Hot Springs. US Forest Service patrol, Plains....
Eligible Montana homeowners may now claim their property tax rebate up to $675 at getmyrebate.mt.gov. Claims must be filed by October 1, 2023. “Property taxes are too high, which is why we prioritized and secured immediate property tax relief for Montanans this legislative session,” Gov. Gianforte said in a press release. To qualify for the rebate, taxpayers must have owned and lived in their home for at least seven months during 2022. The amount of the rebate is the property taxes paid on this principal Montana residence for 2022, up to $67...
by Ledger Staff More is more in the case of the 2023 Huckleberry Festival. There were more parade floats, more vendors and more visitors than ever before as the 43rd annual festival took over the Trout Creek Park last Saturday and Sunday. "Phenomenally, this is the best festival to date," said festival chairperson Elizabeth Haagenson. "We love to keep the people happy and we love this laid-back small-town fest." Carrie Greene is the volunteer in charge of vendors for the festival. She said more...
UPDATE AUGUST 21, 2023, 8 a.m.: A resident reported that the large white barn at Kennedy Creek (across from what is known at the Paradise Spring area) burned overnight. Highway 200 is re-opened. The River Road East Fire is now listed at 16,790 acres. by Annie Wooden The River Road East Fire near Paradise has grown to more than 13,000 acres. Fire officials held a public meeting at Plains High School on Sunday afternoon, updating the community on fire activity. The fire as of Sunday afternoon is 1...
There's a science to making grapes grow in northwest Montana. On Thursday, about 30 participants from northwest Montana visited three Sanders County vineyards to learn and ask questions about growing grapes. Attendees ranged from those curious about the operation and excited about the wine tasting portion of the day to some who had established home vineyards. The first stop on the tour was Gut Craic Vineyard in Thompson Falls, owned by Tom and Bina Eggensperger. Tom took visitors on a tour of...
The Sanders County Fair Commission agreed at its monthly meeting last week that they are confident of a successful 2023 fair, which takes place Aug. 31 to Sept. 3. "It's going to be a great fair this year," said board member Kim McMahon at last Wednesday's meeting at the fairgrounds pavilion, which included Sanders County Commissioners John Holland and Dan Rowan. The fair board, along with Manager Melissa Cady, and 4-H representatives Juli Thurston and Wendy Carr, ironed out a few minor details...
The retirement of Detective Martin Spring from the Sanders County Sheriff's Office opened the door for Ethan Harvey who hadn't thought much about becoming a detective until recently. Born in Alaska but raised since he was two years old in Plains, Harvey says he didn't know what he wanted to be for sure when he grew up. After considering other career options, he decided as a teenager to try law enforcement. In 2013, Harvey became a reserve officer in Plains. "It has a limited scope of authority...
Making his initial appearance before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher on Monday, Raymond Burton McIntyre entered not guilty pleas to a felony count of aggravated driving under the influence and a misdemeanor count of reckless driving, second or subsequent offense. McIntyre’s attorney, Cheryl Copperstone, made an argument for the reduction of McIntyre’s bail from the initial amount of $75,000. After discussion between the parties regarding McIntyre’s lengthy DUI history, Judge Christopher ordered the bond be lowered to $10,000 with the requi...
Montana Highway Patrol Katie Frabel, 39, day speeding, $70. Douglas Hettinger, 67, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Tyler Sigsby, 36, seatbelt violation, $20. Justin Sanders, 43, seatbelt violation, $20. Ryan Hoefer, 54, night speeding, $120. Daniel Human, 26, day speeding, $70. Dustin McCue, 47, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Jenna Snyder, 38, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Deborah Wilson, 56, seatbelt violation, $20. David Fox, 58, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Christine Hensel, 62, failure to yield to vehicle on through...
Ambulance: Plains, 9; T. Falls, 6; Hot Springs, 3; Noxon, 2; Trout Creek, 2. Monday, August 7 Animal abuse, Hot Springs. Disturbance, Plains. Assist miscellaneous, Plains. Livestock, Plains. Search warrant, Plains. Suspicious activity, T. Falls. General animal call/complaint, T. Falls. Fire, Heron. Suspicious activity. Civil attempts. Property damage/criminal mischief, Hot Springs. Other law violations, T. Falls. Fire, Trout Creek. Tuesday, August 8 Sexual assault, Hot Springs. Disturbance, Plains. Automated alarm call, Hot Springs. Livestock,...
The Town of Plains might become a "Tree City" and get an Arbor Day Grant to financially help with the removal of the aging trees around town. It was Jonalie Comeau, the deputy town clerk, who brought the arbor program to the attention of the mayor and town council in an effort to save the town money when dealing with trees. Mayor Chris Allen said the town has spent more than $8,000 on tree removal this year alone. "Unfortunately, we've got a lot of old problem trees," he said, adding that...
The Thompson Falls City Council had its regular meeting on Monday, hearing complaints from a resident about traffic and businesses in her neighborhood. Tamra Shear appeared before the council to request a street sign and street light at the corner of Broad Street and Maiden Lane. She said that drainage has also become a big issue at the intersection. Shear said she was told there is no easement on either side of the street near the intersection, but she would like to see stop signs and yield...
The Plains-Paradise Rural Fire District gathered with members of the Henry family on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 to honor the efforts of Mary and David Henry. The Henrys began gathering signatures in the upper Lynch Creek area over 30 years ago. Their plan back then was to have a fire hall built to accommodate the residents beyond Blanchards Corner. On Tuesday, the children of the now deceased Henrys donated a part of the Henry land to the Rural Fire Department. "Paul Harvey has been doing the dirt...
The Thompson Falls school board met Monday to approve budgets for the upcoming school year. Superintendent Bud Scully went over expenses of repairs, power bills, water costs and new construction at the high school and the new kitchen floor in the elementary school. “We are down four mills for the elementary school and down six in the high school. We have maxed out the reserves,” Scully said. His idea was that increasing enrollment would help increase the mills. Public comments included those from Chantel Schmitt who was concerned with cla...
