Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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A Thompson Falls man has continued his displeasure at the way the Sanders County Fair Demolition Derby is being handled by the fair commission and the contracted promoter. Rick Sanders, a veteran demolition derby driver, provided the board with nearly a dozen questions with his concerns with the derby, including an accusation that last year's promoter, Tim Denson, and his help were drinking alcohol while inspecting the cars. He also stated that Denson allowed cars in the competition that had...
The Plains School superintendent has only weeks until he's free from the responsibility of running three schools, 67 staff and teachers and 445 students, but he's not planning to breeze by in his final days. June 30 will be the last day for Thom Chisholm, who is retiring from the education field after 30 years, but between now and then he's preparing to close out the books for this year, working on the next fiscal year's schedule, getting building projects finished, assembling important...
by Stephanie Molzhon Making his initial appearance before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher on Tuesday, Homer Sam Colman pled not guilty to two felony charges of criminal endangerment, stemming from a high speed chase that took place at the beginning of April. Judge Christopher set this matter for jury trial on November 6, 2023. According to the filed affidavit, on April 6, Tribal Officer T.J. Haynes was patrolling in the Arlee area when he witnessed Colman driving northbound through Arlee. As Officer Haynes was aware that Colman’s driver’s lic...
Ambulance: T. Falls, 9; Plains, 5; Hot Springs, 5; Trout Creek, 2; Dixon, 2; Heron, 1; Noxon, 1. Monday, May 8 Civil attempts, Hot Springs. General animal call/complaint, Plains. Abandoned vehicle, Plains. Automated alarm call, Plains. Motor vehicle crash, Trout Creek. Threats, Hot Springs. Assist motorist/citizen, T. Falls. Body found/coroner, T. Falls. Tuesday, May 9 Motor vehicle crash, Trout Creek. Stolen vehicle, T. Falls. Road hazard/debris on road, Trout Creek. Sexual assault, Noxon. Suspicious activity, Noxon. Suspicious activity, T....
Montana Highway Patrol Gerald Newberry, 61, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Kevin Riley, 29, operating with expired registration, $45. Richard Grady, 66, failure to carry/exhibit proof of insurance in vehicle, 1st offense, $285; speeding in a restricted zone, $75. Lane Sanford, 21, operating without liability insurance in effect, 1st offense, $285; speeding in a restricted zone, $75. Lara Bowline, 27, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Lewi Bjork, 17, day speeding, $120. Jacob Greenwood, 33, seatbelt violation, $20. Dion Hugie, 31,...
A group of Sanders County people traveled to Bigfork to show their staying power in a rigorous and muddy competition of the 10th Annual Montana Spartan Race. Two men from Hot Springs took part in the Elite Spartan Super Race on May 6 and eight men and women competed as a team in the Montana Spartan Sprint Race on May 7. Andrew Leichtnam of Hot Springs finished in fourth place out of some 20-30 competitors in the elite category of the super, which is the most competitive heat in the race....
The 2023 Spring Mack Days final day of the fishing competition on Flathead Lake was Saturday, May 13, with a total of 33,297 lake trout entered. The total fish count for the last weekend was at 1,514 lake trout. The 2019 Spring Event has the record number caught at 40,362. Kolton Turner of Kalispell turned in 2,089 entries and had an 18-day average of 95.72 for first place, followed by Jason Mahlen of Kalispell in second (1,639, 88.61), Robert Turner of Kalispell (1,696, 78.28), Clint Speer of Kalispell (1,077, 52.5), Travis Banyaiof Lakeside...
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) is working this summer to upgrade access along Main Street in Thompson Falls. Work began this week on the Thompson Falls - Urban MDT project. Lori Warden with Upward Public Relations in Missoula said Monday that the project has two main components. The first is Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades to approximately 25 sidewalk corners on Main Street and the second is resurfacing of the roadway. The project spans just over a mile, from the...
Thirteen Sanders County youths spent Saturday morning being tested on their knowledge of the U.S. constitution during the Love of Liberty Constitution Bowl. The bowl was sponsored by local residents and businesses and held at the Trout Creek School. Organizer Kate Hardman said she came up with the idea after her sister had volunteered for a similar event held in Utah. While participation in the inaugural event was low, more than two dozen spectators watched as the students competed in six...
A new business just east of Thompson Falls is offering a variety of marijuana and marijuana products. Alternative ReLeaf opened April 20. Jon Meister and Barbie Turner have been in the business for nearly 15 years, when the first medical marijuana voter initiative was passed. Meister said he was one of the first few dozen providers in the state to be licensed. Their first shop opened in Libby in 2011, but closed in 2012 as marijuana legislation was litigated in the state supreme court. In 2016,...
A handful of kids took flight from school Thursday, but they were returned by Plains resident Randy Garrison, the one that took them away. It was part of a hands-on lesson for the Plains High School physics class that centered around the fundamentals of aerodynamics and Garrison had just the way to demonstrate what they already got in the classroom lesson by Plains High School science teacher Brooks Sanford. Garrison used his Cherokee Piper 235 airplane to drive the lecture home. The students ...
Appearing for her initial appearance before Judge Molly Owen on Tuesday, Angela Rhea Chaney entered not guilty pleas to a misdemeanor count of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, as well as felony counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and bribery in official and political matters. Judge Owen set the jury trial for October 10, 2023. According to the charging documents, on March 21, Deputy Devin Wegener responded to a call of an intoxicated woman being disorderly in the middle of the highway, to the point that bystanders had to...
Ambulance: T. Falls, 8; Plains, 7; Hot Springs, 6; Trout Creek, 2; Noxon, 2; Heron, 1. Monday, May 1 Suicide attempts/threats, Dixon. Burglary, Plains. Property damage/criminal mischief, Plains. Motor vehicle crash, Plains. Drugs/narcotics, T. Falls. Inmate transport, T. Falls. Trespass, Trout Creek. Suspicious activity, T. Falls. Juvenile criminal, Heron. Trespass, Paradise. Suspicious activity, T. Falls. Nuisance complaints, Noxon. Road hazard/blockage, Trout Creek. Road hazard/blockage, Trout Creek. Tuesday, May 2 Civil standby, T. Falls....
Montana Highway Patrol Robert Olver, 66, speeding in a restricted zone, $135. Nicholas Painter, 25, seatbelt violation, $20. Payton Butcher, 19, seatbelt violation, $20. Antoine Barnaby, 42, speeding in a restricted zone, $85; seatbelt violation, $20. Blake Piedalue, 20, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Richard Grady, 66, failure to carry/exhibit proof of insurance in vehicle, 1st offense, $285; speeding in a restricted zone, $75. Aspen Bergland, 25, day speeding, $70. Collin Koffler, 29, day speeding, $70. Elmer Mortenson, 77, day...
The Plains Town Council meeting last week began with disputes over recent citations of the town's Decay Ordinance, but they came with an equal show of support for the law as people rose in defense of law enforcement's actions. Much of the talk centered around the home of Archie Knerr, an elderly man who lives on Third Street and has piles of wood, steel, plastics and other materials surrounding his house. His name has come up numerous times since the ordinance was enacted in 2018. "It's a...
The Thompson Falls City Council met for its monthly meeting on Monday, and the packed meeting room left standing room only. Kim Annis, Bear Management Specialist with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), gave a short presentation on the steps to become a Bear Smart community. Council member Katherine Maudrone had presented information to both the council and the Community and Public Relations Committee of the council about possibly pursuing the program. Annis said the program’s goal is to increase human safety and decrease conflicts where b...
Less than 50% of Sanders County voters returned ballots for local school and special district elections this week. Ballots were tallied at the Sanders County Courthouse on Tuesday evening. Of the more than 9,800 registered voters in the county, 4,171 voted in this week's election. Three school districts had asked voters to approve levies, with the Noxon High School technology fund being the only one to pass on Tuesday. The high school levy for $15,000 yearly for five years was renewed, with 430 votes for and 382 against. The Noxon elementary...
by Tom Eggensperger What's inside the county's ballot tabulation machine? That was a question posed to Sanders County Elections Supervisor McKenna Wallace, and last week she held a demonstration of the machine for the annual test of its accuracy for this week's school and special district elections. The session, which is mandated by law, attracted about two dozen observers to the commissioners' conference room. Wallace told the group the purpose of the demonstration was twofold. First to verify...
Over 250 members of the Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative gathered in Missoula last weekend to select a board of trustees, celebrate achievements from the previous year, and learn about future fiber projects. “Our annual meeting is a meaningful and important part of how we operate as a cooperative” Tom Eggensperger, chair of the Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative board of trustees, told member Saturday. “Each cooperative member has a stake in the success of our company and has an equal say in selecting the leadership of our co-op. We are accou...
Ambulance: Plains, 8; T. Falls, 8; Hot Springs, 5; Paradise, 2; Lonepine, 1; Dixon, 1; Noxon, 1 Monday, April 24 Road hazard/blockage, Heron. Tuesday, April 25 Sexual assault. Extra patrol request, Paradise. Suspicious activity, Dixon. Child welfare/abuse, T. Falls. General animal call/complaint, T. Falls. Threats, T. Falls. Wednesday, April 26 Sexual assault, T. Falls. Suspicious activity, Trout Creek. Livestock, Trout Creek. Fire, T. Falls. Abandoned vehicle, Trout Creek. Theft, Dixon. Assault, Dixon. Thursday, April 27 Inmate transport, T....
Montana Highway Patrol John Dubsky, 54, speeding in a restricted zone, $65. Kimbery Hudson, 42, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Jedekiah Cazier, 40, speeding in a restricted zone, $105. Luz Estrada, 24, driving without a valid driver’s license, $535; careless driving, $75. Erica Johnson, 50, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Shyloh Lara, 19, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Richard Newton, 69, speeding in a restricted zone, $55. Jack Roadarmel, Jr., 71, speeding in a restricted zone, $105. Chelsealyn Ruiz, 28, day speeding, $120. E...
Dorissa Angel Jule Garza appeared before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher for her arraignment on Tuesday, pleading not guilty to one felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs. The jury trial was set for September 18, 2023. According to the charging documents, on March 27, Deputy Devin Wegener conducted a traffic stop near Dixon when a driver did not dim their headlights. Initially, the passenger of the vehicle lied about her name, but was later identified as Garza. Upon Deputy Wegener requesting the registration and insurance for the...
A local floral and gift shop is under new ownership. Connie Weber took over Farmhouse Blooms in Thompson Falls last month. The shop on Main Street offers a variety of fresh blooms and plants, as well as gifts and organic tea. Weber recently moved to Thompson Falls with her family. She grew up in Missoula and has lived in Montana her whole life. She worked as a high-risk obstetric ultrasound technician and had a great career, but said eventually her family decided to move to Thompson Falls. The...
Members of the Plains Wood Carving Club are in the final stages of getting their pieces ready for this year's Montana State Wood Carvers Show in Missoula this weekend. Five club members plan to compete in the annual show on Saturday and Sunday. "I'm very proud of our Plains carvers. They have been very faithful and diligent to both improve themselves and invest in one another," said Tom Collins, who heads the local club and has been the primary coordinator for the Missoula show for seven years....
Last week, community members gathered at Thompson Falls High School to learn abut internet crimes against children from a state agent. A small handful of community members attended a presentation presented by Montana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Agent Brian Cassidy, ICAC Task Force Commander, spoke to parents about his investigations including online bullying and sextortion crimes that target youth as a result of emerging technology. Earlier in the day, Cassidy also spoke...
