Week of November 7, 2024
Week of November 7, 2024
UPDATED 1:28 p.m. Wednesday, November 6 When the ballot counting completed about 1 a.m. on Wednesday morning, a total of 8,107 ballots had been counted from Sanders County voters in Tuesday's general election. As of Tuesday morning, there were 9,218 registered voters in the county, resulting in a voter turnout of 87.95%, a new record for the county. County elections staff said that more than 85 people had been at the courthouse Tuesday to register to voter and cast ballots. Among notable races,...
Sanders County has a new county attorney. Jania Hatfield was sworn in Thursday by County Commissioner Tony Cox and started her new position last week. The county attorney position was open after Megan Hansen, who was appointed earlier this year, recently resigned. Prior to moving to Sanders County, Hatfield served as a deputy county attorney for Broadwater County in Townsend. She also previously worked in Helena for the state Office of the Public Defender, and has worked for the state's Child...
A new daycare in Thompson Falls is offering child care Monday through Friday. Holly Sanders opened Tiny Bees Daycare in May. She said last week that she is licensed to care for up to eight children, and currently has half of those spots filled. Tiny Bees came about when Sanders saw a need in the community and took the opportunity. She previously worked for Town Pump in Plains for 20 years, so the idea of opening a daycare in the community where she lives was appealing. Tiny Bees operates out...
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The year 1924 was a big year for Walt Disney, who released the first cartoon from his own studio. Macy's Department Store had its first Thanksgiving parade and the Ford Corporation opened its first dealership in Plains. Wade Rehbein and his staff at Rehbein Ford celebrated a century of Ford in Plains in October, the month it opened with the Rehbein name. "I am very proud of where we are today. A lot of the credit goes to everyone that works here. Nobody is more important than the next one. We...
Ambulance: Plains, 4; T. Falls, 3; Trout Creek, 3; Hot Springs, 2; Dixon, 1; Lonepine, 1; St. Regis, 1; Mineral County, 1. Monday, October 28 USFS service patrol, Heron. Motor vehicle crash, Trout Creek. Motor vehicle crash, Lonepine. Disturbance, T. Falls. Fire, Dixon. Assault, Lonepine. Motor vehicle crash, Perma. Request for welfare check, T. Falls. Intimidation/harassment, Hot Springs. Request for welfare check, Plains. Fire, Dixon. Fire, Dixon. Intimidation/harassment, T. Falls. General animal call/complaint, Plains. Drugs/narcotics, T....
Montana Highway Patrol Pamela Cooper, 76, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Emett Sclabassi, 30, operating with expired registration, $85. Rebecca Palmer, 47, day speeding, $70, deferred imposition of sentence. Cheyann Phillips, 27, day speeding, $120. Zachary Blasey, 41, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Kyota Shizuku, 45, speeding in a restricted zone, $95, deferred imposition of sentence. Zane Goddard, 43, speeding in a restricted zone, $65. Michele Kemper, 74, driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, 1st offense, $685; improper...
Sanders County recently signed on to participate in the 20th Judicial District Adult Drug Court (JDADC). The court has been active in Lake County since 2016. The program was created to restructure judicial participation in cases involving chemically dependent offenders. The goal of the JDADC, according to District Judge Molly Owen, is to ensure participants will have more success in maintaining law-abiding behavior, reducing the number and duration of relapses while increasing the duration of their sobriety, and increasing their life skills....
The 2024 Fall Mack Days concluded on Sunday November 3rd with a total of 18,414 lake trout entries, and 151 anglers out of 436 registered entered one or more lake trout. This event has been the most successful in numbers since 2015 when 19,540 lake trout were entered. There were 17,502 turned in during the 2023 Fall Event. Mack Days Fishing Events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and are used as a management tool to decrease numbers of invasive lake trout in Flathead Lake. Native fish are an important part of the...
Thompson Falls students will have access to the GEAR UP program for another seven years, high school Principal Jodi Morgan told the school board Monday night. Morgan said that Sen. Jon Tester pressured the Biden administration to fund the program for Monta’as students. “That’s really, really, really good news,” Morgan stated. “The Montana University System’s GEAR UP is one of the best tools we have to get kids ready for college, and it’s critical that it receives full federal support,” Sen. Tester said in a press release....
You may not be able to tell from the score, but Hot Springs had quite a battle in their 78-51 playoff win last weekend. The Savage Heat traveled to Hysham to face the Custer-Hysham-Melstone Rebels in the first round of the 6-man playoffs Saturday. The Savage Heat struggled in the first half with some injuries and some penalties, but they were able to stay focused and secure the win at Hysham, giving them home-field advantage for round two of the playoffs. Hot Springs will host Highwood this...
Noxon and Hot Springs traveled to Pablo last week for the district 13C tournament. Both teams had play-in games on Wednesday at Salish Kootenai College. Noxon would win and advance to Thursday's competition, but district would be the end of the road for both the Red Devils and the Savage Heat. Hot Springs fell to St. Regis in four sets during their play-in game. The Heat started out in the lead over the Tigers, but St. Regis was quick to bring the score to a tie at 12 points. From there the...
The Lady Hawks of Thompson Falls hosted the 2024 7B district tournament taking first place, beating the undefeated Eureka Lady Lions in four epic sets. The district tournament at Thompson Falls High School ended up being a great day for the Sanders County teams, as Thompson Falls had two wins to take the championship and Plains lost one and won one to earn third place and secure a trip to the divisional meet in Anaconda, which begins Thursday, Nov. 7. The Hawks won the championship after...
It was a long road to Malta and a long road home as the football season came to an end Saturday for the Thompson Falls Blue Hawks in the first round of the Class B playoffs. The Hawks would fall 45-8 in their last game of the season, but the Hawks had much to celebrate during the season, especially for the 10 seniors. Thompson Falls ended the season with three wins and seven losses, garnering victories over Conrad, Anaconda and Whitehall. "These boys played with heart and came out fighting....
Thompson Falls held its annual Punt, Pass, Kick event on October 27, giving kids an opportunity to show off their skills on the football field and have a chance to advance to the regional competition. The winner in each division advances to a regional event, the location of which will be disclosed in January. “It was an awesome, fun day and the weather didn’t end up being too bad,” said organizer Jake Mickelson. A total of 34 kids participated in the 2024 event at Thompson Falls High School’s Previs Field. Age 6-7 Girls: 1, Zoe...
Thompson Falls Blue Hawk Athletics is hosting their annual athletics fundraiser Saturday, November 23, 6-8 p.m. at the Clark Fork Valley Elks Lodge. All proceeds support junior high and high school athletics at Thompson Falls schools. Attendees can expect a fun evening that includes a live auction, silent auction, and bake sale, said organizer Jodi Kenney. Unique items and experiences are being donated from around our generous Thompson Falls community for the auctions. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at the high school office 8 a.m. - 4...
OVER THE HILL GANG W L Leftovers 20 12 Fun Team 20 12 Mixed Nuts 17 15 Com’Bak Kids 14 18 Jokers Wild 14 18 Roll’n Along 11 21 Team Scr. Game: Fun Team, 907; Scr. Series: Leftovers, 2562; Hcp. Game: Fun Team, 1107; Hcp. Series: Fun Team, 3147; Mens Inv. Scr. Game: Ron Beaty, 233; Scr. Series: Ron Beaty, 626; Inv. Hcp. Game: Mike Kelley, 250; Hcp. Series: Gary Thompson, 694; Wms Inv. Scr Game: Kristy Beaty, 182; Scr Series: Wendy Kelley, 520; Inv. Hcp. Game: Kristy Beaty, 237; Hcp. Series: Anita Brown, 668. INDUSTRIAL LEAGUE W L Bernie’s...
A gathering at Plains School last Thursday wasn't just to gather educational materials, it was to gather goodies. More than 200 kids participated in the school's Trunk or Treat event behind the school on Halloween afternoon. Eight local organizations, along with volunteers representing each class from kindergarten to sixth grade and the school cafeteria staff took part in the event, including the school's front office administrators, who were dressed in "Minions" T-shirts. This was the...
Who would have thought that professional musicians from Georgia would have two Plains High School students open their act? Senior Keegan Huffman and sophomore Stanley Decker did just that. The two Plains residents each performed a solo number for the group, the "Jazz Legacy Project" at the Paradise Center on Friday evening. "I thought the students were stellar. If they remain passionate about their music, they could certainly play professionally someday," said Karen Thorson, the Paradise...
The spirit of Halloween was widespread in Plains this year from the Clark Fork Valley Hospital to Fred Young Park and by baby Ledger Erickson dressed as Elvis Presley to 65-year-old Kim Bay as a pirate skeleton. Festivities began with the school's "Trunk or Treat" and from there spread to another old school, the 138-year-old one-room log schoolhouse run by the Plains Woman's Club, where Debbi Kirschbaum, dressed as a "dead bride," Janet Branden, LeAnn Hafner, and the club's new president, Jamie...
Thompson Falls Elementary students decorated pumpkins for the Halloween holiday that were inspired by books. Students in grades K-4 voted on their favorites. Winner were (from left) Elora Moore, Sage Preston and Ryker...
Students of Plains Elementary School showed their support for healthy eating by simultaneously chomping down on an apple in the school cafeteria last week. "It's a day of healthy eating from Farms To Schools," said Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Walsh, who joined the 120 kids of kindergarten through third grade to make the statement. A dozen teachers also took part. Walsh said that it was a celebration of National Farm To School Month, local producers and nutritious foods. Before the first bite,...
BRENDON FRAZIER, Medford, OR - “Before dishes are done on Thanksgiving.” PATTY ENGLISH, Trout Creek - “Halloween” KALSIN MCGUIRE, Thompson Falls - “Halloween or Thanksgiving.” RILEY KEEFE, Thompson Falls - “November.” ALVIN MITCHELL, Thompson Falls - “Halloween." MCKOY SCHOENFELDT, Thompson Falls - “The day after...
SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. EASE 5. EMBALM 11. APPRECIATION 14. REUNION 15. EASIER 18. SEERS 19. OSPREY 21. EPI 23. AGEE 24. EDDAS 28. SODA 29. MC 30. EGOS 32. TSH 33. MIA 35. EDP 36. IDS 39. EELS 41. AF 42. MACS 44. SERAL 46. ALAE 47. MID 49. MELLOW 52. TIARA 56. ADAGIO 58. NIAGARA 60. RESTATEMENTS 62. EPOCHS 63. DASH SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. EAR 2. APES 3. SPUE 4. ERNE 5. ECOSPECIES 6. VMIN 7. BA 8. ATE 9. LIAO 10. MOSS 12. EIRE 13. NIPAS 16. ERGOT 17. REEDS 20. YEAH 22. ID 25. DE 26. AGE 27. SODALITIES 29. MME 31. SPF 34. ALE 36. IMAM 37. DALEA 38. SCALD...
A pair of eagles sits alert on a log in the Clark Fork River near Thompson...
40 YEARS AGO • NOVEMBER 1, 1984 PIONEERS’ FEUD SPARKED THOMPSON FALLS RIVALRY The old jail which now houses the Sanders County Museum appears to be the top candidate for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Sites and Buildings, John Lazuk, who currently is conducting a historical survey of Thompson Falls, told the Lions club Wednesday night at the Rimrock Cafe. Lazuk said he is identifying and studying approximately 120 buildings, bridges and other structures for possible inclusion on the national register. He said he expects to...
Over the course of the last couple of years, I’ve gotten to know quite a few authors who are independently published, or self-published, meaning you can purchase their books on Amazon, but not necessarily in a bookstore. This used to be unheard of, but more and more it’s becoming the norm. Did you know that Margaret Atwood was originally a self-published author? I decided to make October the Month of Indie Reads and I read four of my friends books to see if they hold muster, and boy howdy do they ever! I read lots of other books too, of...
I bought my first Deuce and a Quarter in 1990 from Gail Lewis who was the clean-up man at the LP mill in Trout Creek. “Deuce and a Quarter” was the nickname for the Buick Electra 225, as in two twenty-five—the deuce and a quarter. It was 225 inches long and this 1970 four-door hardtop had the biggest stock engine made up to that time, a massive 455 cubic inch eight-cylinder engine. It was fast, but thirsty. “It’ll pass anything but a gas station” was the word. The 25-gallon fuel...
As you read this, the election is over and hopefully we know who the president is, we know how people voted on the constitutional initiatives, and life can get back to normal. Hopefully our mailboxes are less full of campaign materials that end up in the trash and the television ads are back to promoting medicines and the latest model of trucks. I feel like I'm suffering from election overload, though it's till one of my favorite times of the year as a journalist. It's been interesting this year to see people get so involved as the election...
Joseph Eugene Stout went home at 6:03 p.m. on October 9, 2024, surrounded by loving family. Joe was born September 1956 in Sandpoint, Idaho, to Lyle E. and Helen G. (Fisher) Stout. He came home to Whitepine, Montana, in a few days, where he was raised with three siblings, attending school in Thompson Falls. He attended Thompson Falls High School, graduating in 1974. Joe worked many jobs in the Thompson Falls area, eastern Montana and North Dakota before resettling in Thompson Falls in the...
Mary E. Cook, beloved mom, grandma and U.S. Navy veteran, went home with the lord on October 26, surrounded by her daughter and grandsons. She was an amazing woman who was selfless and loved her family. Mary was a medical office manager for health first physicians in Cocoa Beach before retirement. She moved to Idaho in 2014 with her daughter and son in law, Dave Remsburg, before moving to Plains. Mary loved the mountains and watching the deer. Mom loved her faith and was a Catholic, she loved...
