Articles written by Sanders County Ledger
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 42
By 
Student discovers passion for art
Spotlight on the Arts shines on Keelie Hathorne this month. Keelie is a 14-year-old eighth-grade home school student. Her teacher is Mom. It's evident in visiting with Keelie that her inquiring mind...
Plains first grader student loves to create
Branson Fryxell is a Plains Elementary student chosen for the Spotlight on the Arts. He is a seven-year-old in Mrs. Montgomery's first grade. "He dives right into projects with confidence," said Mrs....
Voices in he Wilderness: Rebecca Sanchez
My father grew up in a town on the outskirts of Zurich, Switzerland, with his sister and five brothers. The lucky boy had the Alps at his fingertips. He often spoke of the adventures he took with his...
Give thanks for wild women
I met Phoebe at a crosscut saw training with the Cabinet Ranger Forest District in Montana on my first week of work for Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. I was timid because I hadn’t used the tool before, and she helped me feel comfortable. I li...
Board of Health responds to questions
As a board, the Sanders County Board of Health (BOH), would like to respond to questions recently presented to the Sanders County Commissioners (SCC) with respect to COVID-19 and positions adopted by the BOH. Montana law charges a BOH among other...
Legislators discuss gravel pit permits
A bill seeking to ease permitting requirements for gravel pits in rural areas and make it harder to call a public hearing on new facilities is drawing clear battle lines in the Montana Legislature, as property owners say it cuts them out of the...
Proposed act seeks to help save bees
Patty Sundberg remembers a time early in her 40-year career in beekeeping when a 5% annual colony loss felt like a big deal. Now, she said it’s all her company can do to hold that rate at 20% -- though, on bad years, it can swing even higher. In t...
State House advances Fielder's wolf hunting bills
The Montana House of Representatives has approved two bills seeking to expand the season and methods by which Montanans can trap the state's gray wolf population. Rep. Paul Fielder, R-Thompson Falls,...
Montana voters to decide on ballot requirement issue
Over the past few elections, Montanans have voted to change the rules around medical marijuana, sought to impose a crime victim’s bill of rights and changed how absentee ballots can be collected. All these issues required a specific number of v...
Ballot measure would restrict local gun laws
So, here’s the question: How much power should local governments have to regulate firearms or prevent their possession by felons, minors, undocumented immigrants or people judged mentally incompetent? Not much, according to backers of Legislative Ref...
Grow habitat that's good for pollinators
When you imagine what “habitat” looks like, what comes to mind? For me, it is easy to picture the forested mountains and numerous rivers and streams of Sanders County, which many fish and wildlife species call home. However, for many pollinator spe...
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor, Reading Mr. Blackstone’s recent column it was sad to see him falling into the age old trap of scapegoating. He states, “I blame the liberal media.” Does he blame Drudge, Fox News, Breitbart, MSNBC, CNN, The New York Times, The Washi...
Coming home to the Bob
While growing up in the Flathead valley on a “stump ranch” along the Whitefish River, I developed the passion to get out into the backcountry and experience the natural scene. However, due to the demands on my three brothers and me as junior par...
Teacher says music student works hard
Hattie Neesvig is an 8th grade band student at Thompson Falls Junior High School in Thompson Falls. Her teacher, Mr. Neil Harbel, describes her as an exemplary student. "She is polite, respectful,...
Changing your outlook changes everything
My most memorable outdoor experience took place my sophomore year of high school with my school’s outdoor experiential learning program. It was mid-November; the first snow had painted the wilderness white. I awoke Friday morning eagerly ready for an...
Company loves misery, at least in the wilderness
by Aaron Johnson Being outdoors has always been an integral part of my life, but there is a distinct difference between being outdoors and being in the wilderness. I've learned, forgotten and...
Hot Springs musicians earn all-star honors
Each year the University of Montana hosts the All-Star Band and Orchestra Festival. In order to be selected for these groups, students must be nominated by their school director and then selected by...
Noxon fans enjoy new scoreboard
For thousands of communities across the U.S., high school football is a big deal. The whole town comes down to watch, to support their team, to cheer on the players they've watched grow up. Noxon is...
Huckleberry Festival names grand marshals
The grand marshals for the 40th Huckleberry Festival are Kathy and Jim Hill. Kathy has been the vendor chair for the festival for the past 22 years, she retired from these duties last year. Both she...
Other Viewpoints
As the long days of summer get into full swing, Montanans and visitors alike have begun to reconnect with our state parks, our one-of-a-kind outdoor recreation experiences, and the cultural treasures that define our state. Last week, I visited a...
In the sun
I hiked down off the mountain at 3:44 in the morning. It was the day after the summer solstice and there was already a thin line of light blue along the horizon. I moved quickly and carefully down the trail, guided by my headlamp and the downhill...
Fishing Report
Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) are a small tasty fish that can easily be caught in large numbers during spring spawning season. One of the best places to catch perch this time of year is Flathead Lake. Yellow perch seek shallow and relatively warm...
Introduction to a wild life
Growing up in Libby, Montana, I was surrounded by incredibly wild and beautiful country. Our family spent a lot of time in the outdoors. There were trails headed into the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness...
Leigh Lake September
The September day started out early, before the sun rose, as most expeditions like this do. I laced up my boots, filled my water bottles, and headed out the door with my friend and his dog, a needed...
Residents get a lesson in citizenship
Margaret Mead’s very famous quote promotes active, informed citizenry: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, organized citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Keeping this in mind was at the hea...
