Remember When

50 YEARS AGO • FEBRUARY 22, 1968

FUTURE HOSPITAL NEEDS EYED AT PLAINS SESSION

Approximately 150 Plains and Thompson Falls citizens attended a meeting Friday night in the Plains school sponsored by the Sanders County Citizens Committee for a Hospital when a proposed new hospital in the Plains area was discussed.

T. Millar Bryce, committee chairman, said, “We have started a campaign for a new hospital and will continue it until the voters decide the issue.”

He pointed out that Missoula after it gets its new hospital, now in the planning stage will have 5.1 beds per physician. If Sanders County builds a 22-bed wing to the present Hot Springs facility, increasing the bed capacity to 40, this county’s five doctors would have eight beds per doctor. “How can the commissioners hope to operate and staff a 40-bed hospital when they can’t adequately staff the present 16-bed facility,” Bryce asked? He said a hospital located along Highway 10A would be easier to staff since there are several nurses in Thompson Falls and Plains who then would be willing to accept employment at it.

Dr. Jack Lulack said a new hospital is the best solution to the county’s medical problems. He said the present Hot Springs hospital lacks esprit de corps, has little volunteer help such as Gray Ladies and Candy Stripers to assist with routine work in the hospital and has a high rate of turn-over among employees.

The Plains physician challenged the audience to point out “one single thing” which is right about the present hospital. He said it was obsolete before it was completed and poorly planned.

J.W. Kirkemo, Missoula architect, described the new Deer Lodge hospital, which was completed recently and is similar in size to that suggested for the Plains area.

PREVIS TO MAKE FINAL APPEARANCE FRIDAY

Coach Steve Previs is scheduled to make his final appearance as coach of the Thompson Falls Blue Hawks at the local gymnasium Friday night as the Blue Hawks entertain the Stevensville Yellowjackets in the final game of the 1967-1968 cage season. After serving 24 years as coach of the Blue Hawks, Coach Previs, the dean of western Montana coaches, has announced he plans to retire at the end of the current season.

The Hawks need a victory Friday night to insure a tie for third place in the hoop standings. The Hawks lost a thriller 70-69 to the Loyola Rams here Saturday night before a standing room crowd.

Midway in the fourth quarter, the Hawks were in front 58-56, but then the Hawks got over anxious and fouled. The Rams sank their charity tosses and it was these foul shots that provided their margin of victory. Both teams scored 19 points in the final period, but only eight of Loyola’s were from the field; 11 were scored from the free throw line.

Loyola was in front 18-14 at the end of the first period. The Hawks led 33-32 at the intermission and the Rams were ahead 51-50 at the end of three quarters.

Mike Thurman turned in his best performance of the season in scoring 28 points and also standing out on defense for the Hawks. Thurman fouled out in the fourth period, as did Joe Miller.

Don Heater also turned in an outstanding floor game while scoring 17 points. Gary Stipe also scored 17.

Previs Field, the football and track field at Thompson Falls High School was named for Steve Previs. Previs also graduated from Thompson Falls High School in 1927 and played basketball in what is now the Junior High Gym.