Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Guests at Quinn's Hot Springs Resort woke up Sunday morning to what they thought was thunder, but with clear skies. That rumble turned out to be a train derailment directly across the Clark Fork River. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe train was westbound and just exiting a tunnel when the derailment occurred shortly before 9 a.m. "There are no injuries, no risks to public safety, and no Hazmat release," said Andy Garland, the director of communications for Montana Rail Link in Missoula. He...
The Lower Clark Fork Watershed Group (LCFWG) approached the county last week, asking commissioners to agree to sponsor an application for a planning grant from the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC). The grant would help fund the continuation of the Vermilion River restoration project. Green Mountain Conservation District voted last September to apply for the grant and the application was approved by DNRC. However, GMCD voted at a meeting this month to not accept the funding. “We had a vote on the project and the majo...
A Plains woman was honored for her work at a major art show in Great Falls on March 19. Ilene Paulsen was selected out of hundreds of other artists at the Great Falls Western Art Week March 15-19 with the Most Distinguished Body of Work by the editors of the Portfolio, Magazine of the Fine Arts. Her award was based on overall booth presentation, the artwork itself, and professionalism of the artists. Paulsen said this might have been the most prestigious award she has ever won and she was...
A body found on private property near Whitepine is presumed to be a missing Thompson Falls man. Sanders County Sheriff’s officers, along with Sanders County Search and Rescue and Thompson Falls Police Department conducted a search on Saturday and found a deceased man near where Steven Huff’s truck was discovered late last month. Sanders County Coroner Patrick Barber said the deceased is presumed to be Huff, though the county is waiting for a positive identification from the state crime lab. Barber said the death appears to be due to exp...
The editorial cartoon (at right) this week got me thinking about what we're willing to give up. It's Lent, but I doubt a lot of people gave up eggs. They are a pretty basic food staple that everyone buys. With the prices going up, people are still buying eggs. There are some substitutes, but applesauce and bacon isn't really the same as eggs and bacon. People adjust. Just like when gas was near $4 a gallon. There were still plenty of cars on the road. Some people adjusted by getting rid of their big trucks and SUVs. I got a smaller car and am...
My brothers and I and our significant others once stood in Grandpa Earl’s east field on a summer night, watching sunset fade away. Hanging in the sky ten degrees above the horizon was a brilliant, silver-white dot. My sister-in-law asked, “What’s that star?” I answered “That’s Venus.” I never forgot what she said to that. With a bit of incredulity in her voice, she said, “You mean, just right over there?” That caused me to start looking at the sky differently. Yes. Venus is just right over there; somewhere between 160 million and 26 million mi...
Dear Governor Greg: I sure wish you would take a serious look back on this CSKT water compact. I understand the urge to postulate to the tribes as a gesture, thinking no harm in it. After reviewing the treaties, the sale of the property, and the agricultural operations that have been going on since without any harm to anyone or create environmental issues. What compelled you and our Republican senator, just sign off on this? As a law person I see simple text in the U.S. Constitution, and the Montana Constitution, the Tribes representation is...
What does the loss of recreational land mean to the citizens of Plains? Eventual loss of almost 9,000 acres Need public input on what land is most important to save Needing financial backing to save land This summer, almost 9,000 acres are going to go up for market in both Combest Creek and Swamp Creek. Up to this point this land has been privately owned by multiple different companies that have allowed public access. This land has been used for multi-recreational uses for many outdoorsmen. Without the input of concerned citizens, all this...
3 YEARS AGO • APRIL 15, 1993 VALLEY BANK OPENS HOT SPRINGS DOORS The new Valley Bank of Hot Springs opened its doors for business Monday morning, April 5, with a bit of paving and landscaping still needed to complete the exterior view. Allen Burk, president of the Ronan and Hot Springs banks said the move into Hot Springs had been exciting, as it constituted a major expansion for their business. “The response has been overwhelming,” Buhr said. He said the community has been so cooperative and appreciative of the new facility he feels assur...
Mary Yoder, Plains - “Something for kids, like a bouncy house. There’s not much here for kids, particularly in the winter” Dewey Duffel, Thompson Falls - “A larger organic store.” Russel Hunt, Trout Creek - “A fish cleaning station.” Fay Weatherly, Plains - “Mini golf.” Cricket Owens, Plains - “We need low-income housing and a drug and alcohol recovery center.” Earl Lewis, Noxon - “A supermarket....
Montana Highway Patrol Darrell Smith, 43, operating without liability insurance in effect, 1st offense, $285; driving while privilege suspended/revoked, 2nd offense, $325; seatbelt violation, $20. Stephanie Turner, 58, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, 1st offense. Joshua Conley, 38, seatbelt violation, $20. Lathe Comer, Sr., 48, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Donna Byrd, 58, speeding in a restricted zone, $105. Niusha Hadziomerovic, 44, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. Twila Massie, 63, improper passing in no-passing...
Ambulance: T. Falls, 9; Hot Springs, 5; Plains, 4; Trout Creek, 1. Monday, March 27 Assault, Hot Springs. Suspicious activity, T. Falls. Welfare check, T. Falls. Disturbance, Trout Creek. Trespass, Heron. Inmate transport, T. Falls. Child welfare/abuse, T. Falls. Fire, Plains. Civil standby. Suspicious activity, T. Falls. Fire, Hot Springs. Tuesday, March 28 Assist other agency. Civil attempts. Other law violations, Hot Springs. Inmate transport, T. Falls. Other law violations, T. Falls. Threats, Plains. Juvenile runaway, Trout Creek....
by Stephanie Molzhon On Tuesday, appearing before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher for his initial appearance, Darin Gene McElmurry entered not guilty pleas to one felony count of strangulation of a partner or family member, 1st offense, and a misdemeanor count of partner or family member assault, 2nd offense. After an argument for a bond reduction was denied, the jury trial was scheduled for September 18, 2023. As laid out in the charging documents, on March 19, Thompson Falls Police Officer Jason Thornton was contacted via dispatch regarding a...
We are down to the crunch time this week. By the time you see this, all appropriation bills, revenue bills and referendums will have had to pass to the other chamber. The discussion if proposed Constitutional amendments should be passed on to the senate will have taken place. The last week has been long hours with some committee meetings going past 8 pm. The final proposed bill count in the house was near 970. Some senate bills have been heard in House committees as well as some House bills having been heard in the senate so the next 23 days...
Students from Plains and Thompson Falls traveled to Helena last week to demonstrate their wits, technical skills and artistic talents for the SkillsUSA Montana competition. Eleven Plains High School students and three Thompson Falls students from sophomore to senior took part in the two-day competition, which involved more than a dozen categories and some 500 students. Many will move on to compete at the national level at Atlanta, Georgia, in June, including one from Plains and one from...
Nearly a dozen people gathered at the Plains Community Food Bank in order to brighten up the place and make it a more welcoming place. "We're taking this from a not-so inviting place to an inviting place," said Carl Shaver, who heads the food bank and is in the process of having the inside of the food bank painted. Seven women and one man spent last week painting the walls a sea breeze light blue. Shaver said he and his wife, Sharon, will paint the ceiling white. The volunteers, from 13 years ol...
Thelma Dixon Niemeyer, age 97, passed away on March 30, 2023, at St Joseph Medical Center, Polson. Thelma was born October 2, 1925, in St. Ignatius to Fon and Agnes Dixon and raised on a farm there. She graduated from Mission High School and went on to be employed at Northern Pacific Hospital in Missoula where she met William Niemeyer. They married in 1946 and they moved to St. Ignatius where Bill was employed by the Flathead Irrigation and Power Project, and she worked part time in the office....
Millie Joy traveled quietly to Heaven from her home in Hot Springs on March 21, 2023 with family at her side. Mildred Ree Hale was born April 13, 1934 to Elvin and Evelyn Hale in Townsend, Montana. Mildred married Larry Preston of Sheridan while they both attended Montana State College in Bozeman. They had six children and lived in a variety of places around southwestern Montana, with a short stint in Colorado. Later in life, Millie was married to Lowell "Skip" Joy and lived in Idaho and...
Kenneth Owings Miller, 76, of Bozeman, Montana, died on March 15, 2023, of a sudden cardiac event while at home recovering from recent heart surgery. Ken was born January 24,1947, outside of Harlowton, Montana, to Emerald Lily May (Owings) Miller and Lewis Henry Herman Miller. Ken was the fourth of eight kids and had a childhood full of adventure living in the country. He attended elementary school in Ryegate, Montana, before the family moved to a ranch outside Livingston, Montana. Ken...
It was a cool and windy day in Polson last Friday at the Dave Tripp Memorial Track Meet, but that didn't deter the young athletes, most of whom achieved their personal records. The meet was hosted by Hot Springs and the top three individual places in each event received a cool T-shirt. There were several athletes who achieved the top three spots. "We had a very good meet. A lot of our veterans came in and had better marks than the end of the season last year," said Blue Hawk Coach Trenna...
Twenty-one Trout Creek Eagles traveled to Helena to compete in the NASP State Archery Tournament. The team set out to win and that they did, starting a new tradition of State Champions. There were over 200 students and 15 teams competing. "We were thrilled with our shooting," said Superintendent Preston Wenz. Two Trout Creek high school students competed and the rest, composed of both elementary and middle school, competed as a middle school team. The Eagles middle school team won first place...
Last Saturday, the Trout Creek Archery Club hosted the first annual Sanders County Dodgeball Tournament fundraiser to help send the Trout Creek middle school Montana State Champions to Nationals in Sandy, Utah. "The Trout Creek NASP Archery Team refereed the dodgeball games and ran the concession stands to raise funds for Nationals," said Beckie Doyle, Trout Creek Archery Club president. Eight teams battled for their chance to climb their way up the ladder in the double elimination bracket...
The Blue Hawk Golf Team has been getting ready for an exciting season. They have been diligently honing their technique with Coach Doree Thilmony and Assistant Coach Mike Baxter at the Rivers Bend Golf Course in Thompson Falls. Thilmony said that they are very lucky to have Baxter, who has an abundant amount of experience and technical expertise to contribute. This year they have 11 golfers on the team and half of the athletes are also participating in Track and Field. This year there are...
The Plains Trotters traveled to Florence last weekend to take on the Florence-Carlton Falcons. It was a typical spring day in Montana. “It was freezing out and snowing the first game, then in the second game, with the sun out, it got warmer,” said coach Kati Mitchell. The Trotters were defeated 11-6 in the first game. They scored two runs in the third inning, three in the fifth and one in the seventh. Plains had four total hits for the game “We did very well, if our bats would have gotten hot we could have been very equal in both games. The g...
The Plains-Hot Springs Savage Horsemen team lost its first baseball game to the Frenchtown Broncos 16-2 at the Amundson Sports Complex at Plains Thursday, but Coach Rick Powers is optimistic that his boys will turn things around for next game. Frenchtown already played its first game, which they lost to Hamilton 10-0. On Thursday, Savage Horseman Joe Pullen took the mound first and held the Broncos to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but the Savage Horsemen couldn't get on the board at the...
