Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Editor: While many long-time residents of this area are concerned about the constant influx of “outsiders” moving here, I’d like to put in a good word for some of those newcomers. My husband and I were newcomers 13 years ago. When we moved here, we immediately got involved in some community projects like the Elks Lodge, Huckleberry Festival, Noxon Rod and Gun Club, the dog training club and several others. Now that we are somewhat established (albeit still newcomers), we are soliciting the help of other community members for our current proje...
I’d like to extend a very heartfelt “Thank You” to the Thompson Falls community, the surrounding towns, many non-profits, and especially the youth who attended the Project ASCENT (PA) camps while I served as Chairman of the Board. I am stepping down as chairman to attend to other aspects of my life and can’t leave without a few words of gratitude for the board and community. First to the founder of Project ASCENT, Rob Christensen, and the person who holds it all together, Andrea Christensen. These are two amazing individuals who love and bel...
When I first started writing this opinion column, I thought it would be fun and challenging. I was right about the challenging part but wrong about the fun! I had something completely different in mind for this week’s topic, but feel compelled to share my thoughts. I was talking with family and friends about this whole writing process the other night. I came to the realization that it’s just not that much fun. I guess that’s probably my own fault. When I take on a project, I go full bore. I don...
Yesterday I had another opportunity to be trained as a Election Judge for Sanders County. It is unimaginable the complexity and detail behind the scenes that make your right to vote happen as flawless as it may seem. We are so fortunate to have Nichol Scribner and Bobbi Christenson and their team serve SC with heart, passion, integrity and respect consistently. Their attention to detail is stunning with surgical precision and purpose. All their efforts are intended to protect and save guard your vote. I can almost get teary eyed experiencing...
I am writing to you all to tell you my story about my experience having COVID-19. I hope this will encourage you all to be kind. My heart’s desire is to see more people reaching out to help others in need. First, I want to thank all the people who texted, called and brought food over to my house and to my friend’s house. To my friend Jane Taylor who was available day or night when I, myself and my friends needed her the most. And to my Thompson Falls School family that checked in on me to make sure I was ok. Last week, I went live on Fac...
I love the Post Office as much as I love the flag that flies over it. In every city or small town in Montana, the American flag flies proudly over the buildings that house the oldest public service in America. It was founded in 1775 and Benjamin Franklin was its first postmaster. I do not understand the attacks on a public institution that is older than America, itself, whose people go the extra mile to deliver service promptly and pleasantly. The only objection I can fathom some people having...
Dear Editor, CAUTION: Positive language ahead! I would like to commend the City Council, Mayor, City employees, Sandra Kazmierczak and the pool employees on the wonderful results of the pool renovations that took place last summer. This season’s pool opening proved to be a positive, effective and well-run endeavor. The pool was immaculately clean and COVID safe every day due to the daily efforts of the hardworking staff. I feel the city pool is an important recreational opportunity in this town and appreciate the efforts of all to keep it a...
I would like to express my appreciation to Kathy Logan, Rebecca Murray, Kyle Revier, and Terri Henry for appearing in this week’s Ledger (Aug. 13) with masks in place; last week (Aug. 6), this example of community concern and personal responsibility was demonstrated by Bebe Townsend Kennedy and Patrick Walt. Kudos to each of you for doing what has been shown to be an effective way to help slow the spread of the virus, especially as we see cases continue to increase in Sanders County. Thank you for showing your maturity, your willingness to b...
Recent reminiscences by Blaine Blackstone regarding his personal experiences with race reinforced something I’ve known for a long time. Our personal world views are often based primarily on our personal experiences, and unless we make a concerted effort to examine those experiences in a broader context, it is difficult to have an open discourse. Our experiences may be spot on, but they are still just our own experiences, with no weight of truth to them, until we take that next step. I don’t doubt Mr. Blackstone’s childhood friendships, or hi...
Editorially it appears The Ledger says one thing and does just the opposite in the very same issue. In the August 13 issue, the editor writes that candidates should not be “badmouthing and insulting” each other. That is a desirable concept, not only at election time and not just limited to candidates. Yet, less than six inches away a regular columnist for the paper refers to a group of citizens as “dimwits” which is derogatory when referring to a group or class of persons. This use of such terms by that columnist is not an isolated instanc...
If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. Ask just about any school-aged kid and they can probably explain this simple concept. But turn on the television right now, and it seems that many adults are struggling with (or have completely abandoned) this rule we learned in school. Political candidates are some of the worst offenders. Remember the days when candidates would tout their successes instead of criticize their opponents? It’s becoming overwhelming when back-to-back Senate candidate ads both spend their precious price...
I have a sign in my bar that says, “Beer; Helping white men dance since 1885.” I bought that sign because I love the humorous truth in that statement. I know I can’t dance and anyone who has seen me try will support my claim. However, give me a beer or two and I think I’m Fred Astaire (a buddy of mine swears that I once won a dance contest while trying to make it to the bathroom, but I don’t remember that!). I looked at that sign the other day and wondered how it would be received by the so call...
Candidate for state legislature, House District 13, Colleen Hinds has my vote. I have known Colleen since the early 1980’s, We worked together as nurses many years, I know first-hand her caring, kindness, compassion and integrity. Montanans need this person to speak for us on all issues. She is recently retired from 40-plus years of nursing, majority in a supervisory position. Vote for Colleen, she is a good listener and dedicated to the community. Judy Laundry, Heron...
The “civil unrest” that Mr. Blackstone refers to DID NOT all start with the “defund the police” mantra. It started with the killing of George Floyd by the police. The entire country watched videos time and again of the horrific death. This after multiple videos of other inexplicable killings of unarmed Black citizens by police. And for the first time in my life we saw at least 80% of our citizens acknowledge (often for the first time) the systemic racism that is built into American policies from education, to housing, healthcare, banking, and u...
THE HISTORY OF THOMPSON FALLS BY RUTH HARLOW WRITTEN FEBRUARY 4, 1954 Author’s Note: This information was received from Mr. W.A. Barto, a long-time resident of Thompson Falls. Thompson Falls was named after David Thompson, who explored the territory of western Montana and parts of Canada. The first wooden roofed house to be built in Montana was the Salish House, which was a fur trading post in 1809. It was located on the south side of the river, about directly opposite of David Thompson’s Monument, east of town. Thompson Falls was ori...
DONNA HAWKINS, Thompson Falls - “I look for morals and integrity.” DUANE SIMONS, St. Regis - “Honesty and integrity.” KATHY LOGAN, Plains - “Integrity, qualifications and experience.” REBECCA MURRAY, Tacoma, Washington - “The biggest number one thing I look for is transparency. Just looking back at everything they have done, just the least amount of sneakiness as possible.” KYLE REVIER, Plains - “I would just look for somebody that is honest and that I think I can trust. Somebody that keeps the general public in mind rather than themselves....
As August begins, thoughts naturally turn to reopening schools. We are not going to debate the decision to send students and staff back to school — either locally or across the nation. Instead, we will use this space to look over our to-do list. And because it is lengthy, let's look at what we do NOT need to do. 1. We do not need to think we are out of the woods yet. Near the start of this pandemic four months ago, we circled around some of the most vulnerable in our society: the elderly and the young. Now we are sending youth back into an u...
As I read of the use of federal officers sent to Portland against the wishes of the Governor of Oregon and the Mayor of Portland for the purpose of “protecting federal property,” I thought of these words from the Declaration of Independence enumerating one of the reasons for rejecting the rule of the British King; “He [King George III] has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.” The few hundred federal agents sent might not constitute standin...
Congratulations to Melissa Cady, Sanders County Fair Manager, and the Sanders County Fair Board. It only took seven months and an email from Jason Johnson, the investigations supervisor for the Montana Gambling Control West District to get you to advertise (if you can call a Facebook post that) and to set up a new time for the raffle drawing that was to help raise money for the Christmas lights display at the fairgrounds. Even though the Sanders County Fair Board members voted on the raffle in January(?) and tickets went on sell February 6 and...
When did it become OK — commonplace, even — to treat other people with so much disrespect? When did it become socially acceptable to attack people for expressing their beliefs? The United States used to be the cool kid on campus, the country others imitated, the place immigrants desired. Now, the squabbling amongst ourselves is almost embarrassing. Foreigners and their media mock us, question us and shake their collective heads at us. You can say that what is happening on a national level isn't affecting us here in rural Sanders County, but...
As I watched and read the news this last couple of weeks, I came to a disturbing conclusion; I don’t care anymore! I’ve been following the situation in the cities of Chicago, Portland, New York and Seattle (to name only four) pretty closely because of all the “civil unrest,” and realized, I just don’t give a damn! That’s a hard admission for me to make. People that know me well from my law enforcement background (particularly those I trained/supervised) will be shocked that I made such an adm...
Sanders County Sheriff’s department recently lost a deputy, in our opinion, who was awesome. Deputy Roy Scott worked very hard to control the spread of illegal drugs, was able to calm domestic situations, watched diligently for drunken drivers and was willing to assist other agencies with problems. His knowledge was incredible and his dedication to his position was unbelievable. Wishing him the best of everything in his next chance to keep everyone safe. Respectfully submitted, Neil and Dixie Carman, Thompson Falls...
It’s a tough time to be a cop. If you play it tough and aggressive, the political left will crucify you. If you play it compassionate and tolerant, the political right will crucify you, not to mention that in certain circumstances being nice might endanger both yourself and your fellow officers. I’m not sure why anyone would want to be a law enforcement professional right now, and I admire those many who do continue to serve and protect. Cops are caught not only between left and right, but between two ancient human reactions to any kind of opp...
7 YEARS AGO • AUGUST 2, 1950 HISTORICAL REVIEW OF WESTERN SANDERS COUNTY Early French-Canadian trappers were quick to notice the peculiar boxlike recesses in the gorge of the Clark Fork River near the present Montana-Idaho state line. To those unique formations they applied the French equivalent for cabinet, or room, and this spectacular rock-walled gash has been known ever since as Cabinet Gorge. From it the Cabinet Mountains and the Cabinet National Forest derived their names. The name of David Thompson is indissolubly linked with this r...
SUE JONES, Paradise - “I’m just not sure about having the kids go back to school because you can’t keep kids from touching their face and other kids, so I guess I’m kind of against schools opening.” JASMINE KELLER, Thompson Falls- “I feel like the school districts should do whatever they feel is best for the kids.” JACOB SAKASKE, Thompson Falls - “I think it should be the parents’ decision.” KYLE KAST, Sacramento, California - “If there’s not a lot of cases then schools should just reopen.” HELEN JOHNSON, Thompson Falls - “I think they sho...
