Articles from the November 16, 2023 edition
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TF appoints mayor
Monday night's meeting of the Thompson Falls City Council was the most well attended and also the longest in the last five years. At the end of the three-hour meeting, the city had a new mayor. The...
Plains council member ready for mayor role
"No election, new mayor," said Plains Mayor Chris Allen at last week's town council meeting at City Hall. Joel Banham will be the next town mayor as of January 1 and he didn't have to go through the...
Ceremony honors veterans
It was two minutes before World War I was to officially end, but that didn't stop Pvt. Henry Gunther from storming a German machine gun position. He was shot dead, the last American soldier to die in...
Humanitarian tells of Ukraine visit
The Plains 6-8 grade students were treated to a special assembly by Chris Hyslop last week. Hyslop came from Missoula to show slides of his trip to Ukraine last summer. Superintendent Dr. Kathleen...
Things in small towns
There are certain things that are just better in small towns, as we all know. That's why we live here. The latest example was seen countywide last week as businesses, organizations and schools honored local veterans. These local groups offered free...
Devoted to helping others
Letter to Editor We in Thompson Falls lost such a special man this past week with the passing of Don Burrell. Don devoted his life to his family and helping others. He was an active member of local organizations, and there was never a Sanders County...
A Few Thoughts on miracles
We’ve been arguing forever about how we became a species. Some don’t argue, true. They just believe one way or another, or accept that they will never know. These relatively rare subjects are happy to be at peace with the question. Maybe they kno...
Remember When?
9 YEARS AGO • NOVEMBER 8, 1933 THOMPSON TO HAVE AN AIRPLANE LANDING FIELD Nick Mamer of the North West Airways was in Thompson Falls two days this week, establishing a temporary emergency landing field for high speed planes. The present Thompson Fal...
Question of the week
RYON NOLAND, Plains - “I have and it was amazing. Seven jumps in Missoula when I was in high school.” KAREN WILLOUGHBY, Paradise - “No I haven’t and I would not because I am afraid of heights.” KNEON ORTEGA, Hot Springs - “I would go skydiving b...
Sheriff's Log
Ambulance: T. Falls, 6; Plains, 4; Trout Creek, 3; Hot Springs, 3; Heron, 1; Noxon, 1; Dixon, 1. Monday, November 6 Livestock, T. Falls. Fire, Heron. General animal call/complaint, Hot Springs. Body found/coroner, Trout Creek. Suspicious activity,...
Man pleads guilty to possession
Appearing before Judge Molly Owen on Tuesday, Raymond Lee Horn entered a plea of guilty to a felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute, pursuant to a plea agreement with the State. Judge Owen ordered the...
Justice Court
Montana Highway Patrol Jeanette McDonough, 56, speeding in a restricted zone, $65. Shayden Friedlander, 20, operating without liability insurance, 1st offense, $285. Peyton Pate, 16, possessing intoxicating substances while under age 21, 1st...
Candidates campaign in Sanders County
Sanders County Democrats hosted a "Friend-Raising Fair" on Sunday at The Paradise Center, welcoming several state candidates. Among the speakers Sunday at The Paradise Center were U.S. House of Repres...
Five apply for Sanders County Fair manager
Five people from Sanders County - four women and one man - applied for the Sanders County Fairgrounds manager position, said Rich Wallace, the county's director for Human Resources. Wallace and the...
Plains School honors local veterans
Plains High School honored its local military veterans last Thursday with patriotic music, a special meal and a celebration of gratitude. More than a dozen veterans from five of the six military branc...
Veterans enjoy assemblies, meals throughout county
Schools and organizations throughout Sanders County honored veterans at various events last week. At Noxon School, veterans were invited to a special assembly on Thursday. High School History teacher...
State grant may help with Plains projects
The Plains Town Council meeting was less than an hour, but its members discussed several issues, passed on a lot of information, tabled three items, and dismissed an item of new business that was...
Barry Owen Lyght
Barry Owen Lyght of Thompson Falls was born August 12, 1992, in Ronan Hospital to Trent and Patti Lyght. He was their first child; they later had a second son, Ryan Ethan. Barry passed away on Sunday,... Full story
Frank Chema
Frank Chema, 87, of Trout Creek, Montana, passed away surrounded by his family on November 8, 2023. Frank was born and raised in Flint, Michigan, where he joined the military at the age of 17. While... Full story
Cohort aims to find childcare solutions
With only two licensed child care providers in Sanders County, finding child care can be difficult for local families. A new program is looking to help provide solutions for residents needing child...
Public input sought for Orchard
The Thompson Falls community enjoys a wealth of natural landscapes. From waterfronts to city parks to public forests like the Mule Pasture, these spaces are unique opportunities that locals treasure. And now, the United States Forest Service (USFS)...
Fall visitor
GROSS GROSBEAK – The messy face makes for a gross beak for the female pine grosbeak, which had hit the jackpot of a crabapple tree just west of Plains. A messy face doesn't seem to bother her as s...
Volleyball all-stars take the court
Teammates were now competitors, competitors now teammates as Mission High School hosted the 2023 volleyball all-star game. Twenty-three girls from eight schools (Mission, Arlee, Hot Springs, Polson, T...
Climbing team gets first competition
Camp Bighorn in Plains launched a new fall sport for kids in grades third through seventh in the form of a climbing team. Partnering with Plains Elementary for transportation, the kids rode the bus...
Mortgage Minute
by Michael Scharfe Last month I touched on the different types of refinancing. This month, I am going to go over the rate/term refinance in more detail. When doing a rate/term refinance, it is a good idea to weigh the benefits, as well as the costs....
