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Articles from the March 23, 2023 edition


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  • Panel discusses state constitution

    Annie Wooden|Mar 23, 2023

    More than 100 people attended a forum on Sunday to hear about Montana's Constitution. The forum was hosted by the Sanders County Democrats but was open to the public. Republicans and Democrats alike from across the county were at The Paradise Center on Sunday to listen to members of both parties speak about the state constitution. Mae Nan Ellingson was one of the 100 delegates who helped write the 1972 Montana Constitution. Ellingson helped draft the proposal that would become the preamble to...

  • Bull River clinic re-opens in county's west end

    Miriah Kardelis|Mar 23, 2023

    Bull River Clinic has reopened once again giving community members on the west-end of Sanders County local medical care. Dr. John S. Aumiller started seeing patients February 1. "Opening the clinic has been a long journey without the support of a local hospital," said Bull River Clinic trustee and treasurer Diane Mosley. The clinic was originally operated through Clark Fork Valley Hospital and was then briefly managed by Bonner General out of Sandpoint, Idaho. The clinic was closed for a little...

  • Heron man guilty of kidnapping

    Mar 23, 2023

    On March 15, a federal jury convicted a Heron man of kidnapping his son in violation of a parenting plan and taking him to Costa Rica, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. A jury found Jacob Israel Strong, aka Jacob Israel Guill, 37, guilty of international parental kidnapping. The two-day trial began on March 14. Strong faces a maximum of three years in prison, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing...

  • HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

    Ed Moreth|Mar 23, 2023

    You didn’t have to believe in the “Luck of the Irish” to get a free meal at the St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the VFW Post 3596 Saturday evening. An estimated 60 people attended the event, which included a unique assortment of specialties embracing the Emerald Isle — “Guinness meatballs,” “Irish nachos,” “Reuben dip,” and green frosted cookies. The meal was put together by Shannon Craney, the club’s assistant bar manager, who also was decked out in the St. Patty’s attire. The dinner ran fr...

  • Our Viewpoint - Spring is here

    Annie Wooden|Mar 23, 2023

    Spring is here – finally! The other day I spoke with a friend on the east coast who was lamenting about the 58-degree weather. I laughed and said I had considered not wearing a sweater on my walk in 38-degree weather the same day. The humidity and wind of the east is completely different from our dry air here, but across the country, we’re all ready for spring. Fortunately, the signs are appearing, and not just because the calendar tells us the new season is here. One of the most notable signs of the changing season is the birds. It’s alway...

  • Slice of Life - Benefits of a can do attitude

    Chelle Mitchell|Mar 23, 2023

    As I start writing this month, I am reeling from a bad day. No matter what I tried to accomplish on this day, it ended unfinished. I should probably share that in the past three weeks I had a hand surgery, my husband had a shoulder surgery and my father is not doing well as he ages. So a lot of stuff to deal with. And of course, that requires dealing with insurance and billing and records departments and on and on. So, my bad day was a day of hearing “can’t do” responses. How did we becom...

  • Wholehearted thanks to the 47

    Mar 23, 2023

    In Montana the rivers and streams belong to all of us. We have the right to fish, float, swim and play in the state waters given to us by Montana’s stream access law. Even if the stream is flowing through private property, the water still belongs to us all. The law respects private property rights by requiring that recreators stay below the high-water mark and use public entrances. Stream access has not set well with the ultra-rich who build McMansions along our rivers. They assume their wealth will protect them from seeing kids on 5-dollar i...

  • Professional response from school

    Mar 23, 2023

    Regardless of the final determination, the Thompson Falls school board and administration should be commended for the prompt and professional way they have handled the request to consider a 4-day school week. After the request was made, the district submitted a survey to parents and staff. When the survey results were heavily in favor of the 4-day week, the administrators reached out to other districts using a 4-day schedule regarding their experiences, and scheduled a special meeting for more public input. The issue is complex, with lots of...

  • Remember When?

    Sherry Hagerman-Benton|Mar 23, 2023

    8 YEARS AGO FEBRUARY 24, 1943 FRED BROWN RECOUNTS EXPERIENCES The Cabinet Forest was placed under administration April 1, 1907 with headquarters at Thompson Falls, Montana. The first supervisor was Ferdinand A. Silcox, who later became Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, Washington, D.C. Eight months after the Cabinet Forest was placed under administration, Ranger Brown was employed by the second supervisor, Roy Headley, who had just recently retired at Washington, D.C. He was in charge of Fire Control for the entire U.S. at the time of his reti...

  • Justice Court

    Mar 23, 2023

    Montana Highway Patrol Jacqueline Erickson, 32, day speeding, $70. Kim Bay, 51, driving without valid driver’s license, $285; operating non-commercial vehicle with 0.08% BAC or greater, 1st offense, 180 days jail with all suspended, $675. Jack Furlong, 23, basic rule - reasonable and prudent, 1st offense, $120. John Sturdivant, 19, failure to carry proof of insurance, 2nd offense, $185; seatbelt violation, $20. Douglas Kenmille, 33, failure to carry proof of insurance, 1st offense, $85; seatbelt violation, $20; day speeding, $70. Corbyn L...

  • Sheriff's Log

    Mar 23, 2023

    Ambulance: T. Falls, 6; Plains, 6; Hot Springs, 5; Noxon, 1. Monday, March 13 Road hazard/blockage, Noxon. Breaking entering/burglary in progress/cold case, Hot Springs. Abandoned vehicle, Noxon. Child welfare/abuse, Plains. Alarm - intrusion/holdup, Plains. Fire, Plains. Property damage/criminal mischief, Plains. Suicide attempts/threats, T. Falls. Fire, T. Falls. Business contact, T. Falls. Motor vehicle crash, Trout Creek. Business contact, T. Falls. Tuesday, March 14 Automated alarm call, Hot Springs. Request for welfare check, Plains....

  • What do you look forward to in spring?

    Jennifer Curran|Mar 23, 2023

    Marsha Stindt, Troy - “Warmer weather.” Sheila Mullen, Troy - “Sitting in the sun doing nothing.” Karen Peyer, Troy - “Going for walks with my dog.” Tammy Shriner, Thompson Falls - “Flowers, I love the colors.” Jamie Humpherys, Thompson Falls - “Sunshine, flowers and the snow melting.” Charlie Denson, Thompson Falls - “Getting the boat ready for fishing....

  • Plains baseball team ready for inaugural season

    Ed Moreth|Mar 23, 2023

    The head coach for the first Plains High School Horseman baseball team is enthusiastic about the upcoming season as his boys spend more time practicing outside. The Plains Horsemen started practice two weeks ago but couldn't get any outdoor practice until last week when the field at Amundson Sports Complex was somewhat usable. Members of the team helped get the field prepared while John Thurston, who has a son on the team, gave the field its first mowing of the year. Powers hopes the weather...

  • Michael Douglas Cottet

    Mar 23, 2023

    After 75 years of a wonderful, full and adventurous life, Michael Douglas Cottet passed away peacefully at home on March 6, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer. Born February 20, 1948, in Whitefish, Montana, he spent his early years in Kila, Montana, with his parents, Harriet and Percy Cottet. Michael loved visiting his grandparents down the road and wandering the forest with his dog. At a young age, the family moved to Lonepine where Michael went to school before graduating from Hot...

  • FWP to host mule deer discussion

    Mar 23, 2023

    Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is hosting a series of upcoming public meetings in northwest Montana to discuss mule deer management. FWP Region 1 staff will discuss the ecology and management of mule deer in northwest Montana, the current status of populations in the region, and future management considerations. In Sanders County, a discussion will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 5, at Thompson Falls High School. The intent of these meetings is for FWP to hear various questions and perspectives from interested members of the public....

  • Cathy, Jim lead Pinochle players

    Mar 23, 2023

    It was a successful month for the GFWC Thompson Falls Woman’s Club Pinochle players. Cathy Mills and Jim Hurst are in first place after six months of play with a total of 34,830 points, followed by Lorri Renard and Joni Mosher (30,760) and Linda Haywood and Renee Klinger (30,334). Mills and Joni Mosher had 1500 trump in February and Cheryl Godfrey and Patty Hopkins had 1000 aces. For February play, Wendy Kelley and BJ Handford led with 7,080, Juanita Triplett and Stephanie Blake had 6,870, followed by Rendard and Mosher (5,260), Mills and M...

  • Archery club to compete in Helena

    Jennifer Curran|Mar 23, 2023

    Arrows have been flying through the gym all year and especially this last week as the young archers get ready to compete in their first annual state competition in Helena this weekend. It all started over a year ago when Superintendent Preston Wenz met archery instructor Beckie Doyle at a Burger and Bow event. Together they were able to spearhead the idea Wenz had been working on for the last few years of having Trout Creek school join NASP, the National Archery School Program, into a reality....

  • Busy start to Spring Mack Days

    Mar 23, 2023

    The 2023 Spring Mack Days fishing event on Flathead Lake began last weekend, with a first-weekend haul of 4,295 lake trout entries. Five anglers had perfect 100-fish days, including Mike Benson of Lonepine, Scott Bombard of Missoula, Jerry Benson of PLains and Bob Turner of Kalispell and Kolton Turner of Kalispell (two perfect days). Jason Mahlen of Kalispell had three perfect days. Tagged lake trout with $100 values were turned in this weekend by Steve Benson of Spokane Valley, Mark McMillin of Missoula, and Mike Benson. Devon Burkowski of Kal...

  • Crossword Solution

    Mar 23, 2023

    SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. BUSH 5. CREMES 11. ENTO 12. HEDONISTS 16. ACER 17. UD 18. ERGOT 19. SOMNAMBULATE 24. AI 25. TIMELY 26. CABS 27. RDF 28. SLAT 29. PENN 30. NAIF 31. ETUDE 33. TEZEL 34. UPLAND 38. TWEEDY 39. SAUCE 40. TESLA 43. ERNE 44. LIMP 45. SCAB 49. LAD 50. SERA 51. TACOMA 53. EP 54. RECONSIDERED 56. SELAR 58. AP 59. NORM 60. STALEMATE 63. INCA 64. ERASED 65. CAEN SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. BEASTS 2. UNCOIL 3. STEMMA 4. HORNET 5. CHUB 6. REDUCED 7. ED 8. MO 9. ENETS 10. SIRE 13. SG 14. TOADIED 15. STIFFLY 20. AL 21. MY 22. LANE 23. ABN 27. RAZE...

  • Lil' Annie's provides food truck fare in Plains

    Ed Moreth|Mar 23, 2023

    With only two eating establishments in Plains, and no full restaurants open on Saturdays, the owner of the newly established Lil' Annie's Food Truck was almost a sure thing. Lil' Annie's Food Truck opened for business only weeks ago, but with the warmer weather here, Mary Ellen Raber, owner and operator, said business is getting busier. "I love cooking; it's been a passion of mine and I always wanted to have my own restaurant," said Raber, who named the business after her mother-in-law. Mary...