Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Plains Paradise Rural Fire District firefighters Garrett Boon (above left) and Seth Gibbs sift through burning pine needles to ensure a blaze started by lightning is extinguished. Marc and Ellen Childress, who live across the street, saw the ground fire and knocked down the flames before firefighters arrived last Thursday afternoon. A sudden burst of rain helped the couple douse the fire. High winds also broke the tree in the background, which took out the power lines (right) and left area...
The Plains Pickleball Association's first ATV Run Fundraiser on Saturday was a big success with 70 riders and 221 poker hands. "It went beyond our wildest dreams and expectations," said Shauna Firestone, president of the association, which recently received its nonprofit status and wants to erect pickleball courts at the E.L. Johnson Memorial Park in Plains. The association held its poker ride at the Wild Horse Plains Golf Course, the location of stations one and five. It was a 23-mile trek to...
Only a handful of people showed up for the Memorial Day ceremony at the Plains Cemetery, but VFW Post 3596 is determined to honor fallen veterans the way it was first intended - on May 30 - the date first selected following the Civil War. "We have assembled here to pay tribute to the men and women of our country who have served in the United States armed forces who fought in defense of this country and for the preservation of our way of life, and who lost their lives at sea," said Post...
Plains was a busy day Saturday with nearly nonstop activities from daybreak to dark and food on both ends, starting with the Masons pancake breakfast at the VFW and finishing with a potluck dinner at the E.L. Johnson Memorial Park. For the third consecutive year the nonprofit organization the Free Americans has run Plains Day and once again it was a success, according to Connie Foust, the group's primary coordinator. "We are so pleased it all came together so nicely with the great involvement of...
The Thompson Falls City Pool will open this summer, though services may be limited due to a lack of staffing. Mayor Mark Sheets said Monday that staff is working toward the opening. Work to the pool is being completed this month, and the city has a target opening date of June 26. “We have redone all along the gutters of the pool and are working on redoing the showers in the changing room,” Sheets said. The city also continues to work on cleaning up after the changing rooms were vandalized earlier this year. “We’re working hard to get all tha...
Appearing before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher on Tuesday, Chyene Lynn Baird changed her plea to three counts, pursuant to a plea agreement reached between the parties. Baird pleaded guilty to two felony counts of criminal child endangerment and a misdemeanor first offense of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Judge Christopher set the sentencing hearing for July 18, 2023. Coming before the court for an adjudication hearing on a petition to revoke regarding Darin Gene McElmurry, the parties announced that a global resolution had...
Montana Highway Patrol Kelly Camp, 58, driving while privilege suspended/revoked, 1st offense, $285; day speeding, $20. Grant Kysar, 17, seatbelt violation, $20. Billy Larragoite, 28, seatbelt violation, $20. Keith Conway, Jr., 31, failure to give notice of accident by quickest means, 1st offense, $235. Stephen Sim, 66, failure to carry proof of insurance in vehicle, 1st offense, $285; speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Jeffrey Demery, 34, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Emily Harris, 40, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Deanne...
Ambulance: Plains, 9; T. Falls, 6; Hot Springs, 3; Trout Creek, 2; Dixon, 2; Heron, 1; Noxon, 1 Monday, May 29 Trespass, Trout Creek. Property damage/criminal mischief, Dixon. Disturbance, Hot Springs. Body found/coroner, Plains. Assist motorist/citizen, Plains. General animal call/complaint, T. Falls. Fire, Hot Springs. Theft, Hot Springs. Fire, Plains. Abandoned vehicle, Noxon. General animal call/complaint, Plains. Tuesday, May 30 Assist other agency, Plains. Civil standby, Dixon. Mental health issue, Plains. Suspicious activity, Dixon. Assi...
The Thompson Falls School Board met Monday, recapping the school year and extending contracts. Superintendent Bud Scully said the foundation is set for the new multipurpose building and that the structure should start being erected this week. He also said that the school had a water leak under the junior high gym, but the issue has been resolved and he is working with the city to get the water bill adjusted. Elementary Principal Len Dorscher said the campus has additional security cameras up and running, and noted that the school has 40...
The town of Hot Springs is looking for more control over their trash. Mayor Randy Woods and City Clerk Amy Gray met with county commissioners last week to discuss the town's interest in taking over operations at the Hot Springs refuse site. Commissioners were open to the idea. The refuse site is currently controlled by the Hot Springs Refuse District (HSRD), a special district of Sanders County. The district is managed by a board of five elected members, similar to parks, ambulance and fire dist...
County commissioners met with area wildlife experts last week to discuss local projects during the quarterly wildlife update meeting. Zack Farley, Wildlife Biologist with FWP, shared an update on the Pilgrim Creek Elk Project. Earlier this year, FWP captured and gathered data on 71 elk in Hunting District 121, on the west end of Sanders County. The elk were also fitted with GPS collars. Farley stated that the project is going well, data being collected every two hours. FWP has recorded more than 72,000 elk GPS locations thus far in the...
Last fall, 51 students started school together in the Thompson Falls High School senior class. As the class celebrated their graduation last weekend, all 51 had completed the year to receive a diploma. Thompson Falls held its commencement Sunday in the high school gym, with hundreds of family and friends gathering in the gym and spilling into the commons area for the event. Principal Jodi Morgan highlighted the fact that all who started school graduated, and 17 of the graduates had been...
Friends and family gathered on a rainy Sunday afternoon in Hot Springs to celebrate the graduating class of 2023. Eight students donned their cap and gown to celebrate the momentous day. This year's salutatory address was given by Sydney Viegut who began by giving a special thanks to the parents who raised her and her fellow classmates. Viegut also made sure to mention her teachers. "I'd also like to especially thank the teachers who had to handle us for all these years," she said. Viegut...
Graduating from high school usually means facing the real world, but 43% of the Plains High School graduates are planning to attend secondary schools, including seven that plan to attend four-year institutions. Twenty-three Plains High School seniors received their diplomas Sunday afternoon in a graduation ceremony in the high school gymnasium. An estimated more than 300 people attended the hour-long ceremony, led by Superintendent Thom Chisholm, his final graduation before retiring in June....
Montana Highway Patrol Luis Martinez, 25, driving without valid driver’s license, $285. Charles Dales, 22, seatbelt violation, $20. Abel Shestak, 24, day speeding, $20. Robert Hansen, 46, operating without liability insurance in effect, 1st offense, $85; seatbelt violation, $20. Joshua Davidson, 43, seatbelt violation, $20. Roy Dewitt, 70, careless driving, $85. Albert Wolyniec, 74, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Stephen Nicholson, 54, day speeding, $20. Ryan Huisman, 41, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Cory Kreider, 42, right of w...
Ambulance: Plains, 9; T. Falls, 5; Trout Creek, 4; Hot Springs, 2. Monday, May 22 Protection order violation. Warrant service, T. Falls. Warrant service, T. Falls. Civil attempts, Dixon. Disturbance, T. Falls. Road hazard/blockage, Plains. Request for welfare check, T. Falls. Motor vehicle crash, T. Falls. Tuesday, May 23 Request for welfare check, Noxon. Suspicious activity, Noxon. Civil attempts, Plains. Threats, Plains. Request for welfare check, Plains. Alarm-intrusion/holdup, Dixon. Threats, Hot Springs. Welfare check, T. Falls. Suspicious...
Community members met with NorthWestern Energy last week to hear updated reports on studies for the Thompson Falls hydroelectric project relicensing. Results were detailed from the second year of studies examining hydraulic conditions, fish behavior, total dissolved gas, cultural resources, environmental justice and operations. Community members and other relicensing participants have until July 9 to submit comments on the updated study results. The study results and comments will be included...
Emalyn Roofener, Trout Creek School by Karen Thorson Emalyn Roofener, a charming young lady and an exceptional musician, is an 11-year-old fifth grade student at Trout Creek School. She began playing the violin when she was only seven and lived in Albany, Oregon. In a school-based program, she was introduced to fiddle playing and enjoyed it so much that her mother suggested violin lessons. Soon she was captivated. Her mother then suggested that she should join an orchestra. The Albany Youth...
A handful of military veterans gathered at the Plains Cemetery to mark the graves of passed veterans in preparation of VFW Post 3596's Memorial Day ceremony. It took VFW members about an hour to place the 469 American flags on veteran gravesites and at the columbarium last Tuesday morning. Each year, Post 3596 marks the veteran gravesites. They put out six more than last year, including the grave of Dave Tupper, an Army vet and a VFW member who passed away in April. "I do this out of respect....
The first 2023 graduates in Sanders County took the stage and were handed their diplomas on Sunday as Noxon celebrated its senior class. The commencement ceremony on Sunday included some words of wisdom from industrial arts teacher Shannon Mercer. He started his speech by saying he had a "list of demands" from the seniors that included talking about each student and what has helped him in hard times. Mercer talked about how his sense of humor helped him overcome hardships and the benefits of...
Bison are the biggest mammal in North America, but sometimes a herd in the distance looks like little dark dots. A visitor's chances of getting a closer look at the mighty beasts became much better at the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Bison Range Friday when Red Sleep Mountain Drive was open for visitors. The seasonal grand opening of the 19-mile long Red Sleep Mountain Drive nearly tripled the viewing possibilities at the range, which has three walking trails, including the mile-long...
When a patient faces a difficult health scare or situation, it is often the small things that can bring the most comfort. Amanda Hout, RN, and Clark Fork Valley Hospital's (CFVH) Nurse of the Year explained it well when she shared her favorite part about being a nurse. "I'm stepping into a person's life during a very challenging time, maybe even the worst day of their life. As nurses, we have the opportunity to meet people in times of fear, pain and uncertainty and shine light into this darkness...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) regional staff are asking for public feedback on fishing regulations in northwest Montana. Scoping is underway in northwest Montana, and FWP staff are asking for any input on potential regulation changes or concerns. Staff are seeking input on Lower Clark Fork River bass regulations, Flathead River northern pike regulations, and Flathead Lake regulations. Specific to Flathead Lake, FWP and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes co-manage the Flathead Lake and river system as one entity because of the...
Montana Highway Patrol Joshua Winfree, 33, driving a motor vehicle while privilege suspended/revoked, 1st offense, $385. Jaron Farrar, 16, speeding in a restricted zone, $55. Lacey Beck, 24, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Mario Trimble, 30, speeding in a restricted zone, $95, deferred imposition of sentence. Alexander Ferrier-Hart, 47, speeding in a restricted zone, $105, deferred imposition of sentence. Noah King, 21, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Mason Carney, 30, failure to carry proof of insurance in vehicle, 1st offense, $285;...
Ambulance: Plains, 10; Hot Springs, 6; T. Falls, 5; Noxon, 2; Trout Creek, 2. Monday, May 15 Suspicious activity, T. Falls. Automated alarm call, Noxon. Theft, Hot Springs. Assist other agency, Heron. Inmate transport, T. Falls. Trespass, Plains. Civil attempts, Hot Springs. Assist other agency, Noxon. Child welfare/abuse, Plains. General animal call/complaint, T. Falls. Fire, Trout Creek. Fire, Trout Creek. Intoxicated subject, Plains. General animal call/complaint, Perma. General animal call/complaint, Hot Springs. Suspicious activity, T. Fal...
