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Articles from the August 10, 2023 edition


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  • Artists show work in Paradise

    Ed Moreth|Aug 10, 2023

    The annual Artists in Paradise show saw four new participants this year with people from Plains, Thompson Falls and St. Regis. Eleven people showed their artwork at the Paradise Center Thursday, Friday and Saturday. People from in and outside of Sanders County stopped in for the three-day showing, including several from out of state who were in the area for the Baroque Music Festival at Quinn's Hot Springs Resort. Many people stopped in all three days, said Ilene Paulsen, the show's primary...

  • MDT reviews county projects

    Annie Wooden|Aug 10, 2023

    Officials with Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) met with commissioners last week to update the county on projects within Sanders County. Bob Vosen and John Schmidt with MDT presented commissioners with the results of a speed study on Highway 135. In April of 2022, MDT lowered the speed limit on Highway 135 near Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort. The speed limit is now 45 miles per hour instead of 70. A speed study after the project was included in the original project plan. The study showed that the number of crashes was reduced in the a...

  • Plains boy first to show spider at county fair

    Annie Wooden|Aug 10, 2023

    One of the reasons people go to the Sanders County Fair is to see the high caliber animals, the cream of the crop specimens. Many are cute, fuzzy and cuddly. John McNamara will be taking a fuzzy creature to show at the fair this year, but he might be the only one to consider his animal cuddly. It's a 6-year-old tarantula he named "Uma Fang" and he's showing his arachnid in the 4-H pocket pet competition at the fair, slated for 1-4:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, in the Home Economics Building. This...

  • SOCCER MOM

    Aug 10, 2023

    A doe and two fawns enjoy the green grass on the practice field at Thompson Falls High School....

  • Ignorance can't be an excuse

    Annie Wooden|Aug 10, 2023

    Before I bought a newspaper, there was a lot I didn’t know about our county and our community functioned. I was happy to work, play and just let the officials officiate. More than six years later, I know more than I ever thought I would. Part of keeping the community informed is going to meetings - lots and lots of meetings. There are budget meetings, council meetings, meetings about ambulance services or meetings about ordinances, and sometimes even meetings about scheduling more meetings. We go to a lot of meetings, and we do our best to p...

  • Slice of Life: The dog days of summer

    Chelle Mitchell|Aug 10, 2023

    The summer of 2023 for me will always be the summer of change. Shifting family roles as generational changes occurred, creating new relationships with other family members based on a new place they achieved in the hierarchy of life. And a new appreciation for the generational threads that hold families together. So, as I considered topics for my column this month, I found I was torn. Opening my new property assessment provided ample thoughts to fill my 900 words with. Preparing to co-host an...

  • Remember When?

    Sherry Hagerman-Benton|Aug 10, 2023

    3 YEARS AGO • JULY 14, 1993 SOPHIE MOLES ARRIVES IN AREA AS A GIRL, 17 Land for Sale: $12 per acre; some pieces available for $3 per acre. Firewood: Cut, split and delivered, $3 per cord. Where? Thompson Falls, Montana - 1914. Certainly prices back then sound more than desirable to today’s land lookers and wood burners. On the other hand, average wages in the same territory ran about $8 a month or maybe $60 a month if you could saw a cord of firewood a day - with a crosscut saw! Sophie’s husband could and did. Sophie Moles of Belknap, grand...

  • Question of the week: What would you take in case of fire evacuation?

    Shannon Brown|Aug 10, 2023

    REGINA REED, Whitepine - “Other than animals, family photos and survival supplies.” MARSHALL BARKER, Thompson Falls - “My computer/pc with all my important documents.” SHEILA WILLIAMS, Plains - “The boat, jewelry and photo albums.” HEIDI WARD, Plains - “Jewelry, guns and cowboy boots.” SYLVIA McSWAIN, Paradise - “My prepared supplies of food, water and a tent, gathered since the last threat of a fire.” MARILYN SIMCOE, Plains - “Important documents....

  • Idaho man pleads not guilty to drug charges

    Stephanie Molzhon|Aug 10, 2023

    Appearing before Judge Jessica Fehr on Tuesday, Raymond Lee Horn pled not guilty to felony charges of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted person, as well as a misdemeanor count of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. As outlined in the charging documents, in the early morning hours of July 10, Trooper Steve Spurr was contacted by Thompson Falls Police Officer Roy Scott concerning a traffic stop that Officer Scott had just...

  • Justice Court

    Aug 10, 2023

    Montana Highway Patrol Skyler Cech, 30, driving motor vehicle while privilege suspended/revoked, 1st offense, $285. Doree Handford, 39, speeding in a restricted zone, $65, deferred imposition of sentence. Joseph Oliver, 20, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Jeffrey Krupke, 49, seatbelt violation, $20. Steven Hubert, 69, unlawful possession of open alcoholic beverage in motor vehicle on highway, $75. Kody Carter, 19, night speeding, $20. Charles Calantone, 29, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Wyatt Carr, 25, speeding in a restricted zone,...

  • Sheriff's Log

    Aug 10, 2023

    Ambulance: Plains, 8; T. Falls, 5; Hot Springs, 4, Noxon, 3; Trout Creek, 2, Heron, 1; Dixon, 1. Monday, July 31 Motor vehicle crash, Plains. Assist motorist/citizen. Request for welfare check, T. Falls. Civil attempts, T. Falls. Request for welfare check, Plains. Civil standby, T. Falls. Assist other agency, T. Falls. Harassment/privacy in communication, Noxon. Civil attempts, T. Falls. Lost & found item, T. Falls. General animal call/complaint, Plains. Fireworks, Plains. Suspicious activity, Noxon. Body found/coroner, Noxon. Assist...

  • William B. "Bill" Saint

    Aug 10, 2023

    Bill Saint went to heaven with Jesus on July 30, 2023, one month after his 75th birthday. He was born in Thornton Hospital in Missoula on July 1, 1948, to Howard R. (Bob) and Sylvia M. Saint. He joined his older sister, Inez. The family lived on Preston Avenue in Thompson Falls until 1953 when they purchased the ranch on Cherry Creek Road where Bill lived until his passing. He graduated from Thompson Falls High School in 1966. In November of that year he enlisted in the US Navy and "went to...

  • Mary "Sis" Ballenger Shanks

    Aug 10, 2023

    December 31, 1949 - July 10, 2023 Our mom, grammy, and friend, Sis, passed away Monday, July 10, at her home in Heron. Sis was raised in Heron, and aside from short periods in Washington and Alaska, this is where she built her home and business, and where her heart always stayed. Sis spent three summers on the fire lookout at Squaw Peak, she treasured that time, and to her family that will always be "Mom's mountain." She was proud of, and thankful for, the business she built and the friends and...

  • Dorothy Arnoti

    Aug 10, 2023

    Dorothy Arnoti passed peacefully from this earth with family by her side at the age of 91, on July 2, 2023. Born in Rosebud, South Dakota, on January 5,1932, to Reva and Roy Halligan, she was number six of seven children. She was the last surviving sibling. Dorothy met Donald Gable in Pasco, Wash., and they married in 1951. After moving around the country for a couple of years, they settled in Thompson Falls, Mont. to raise their children, Kathy Lee, Donald Glenn, Debra Louise and Robert J....

  • 4-Hers get tips on horse showmanship

    Ed Moreth|Aug 10, 2023

    A Frenchtown man volunteered his time last week to provide a free clinic to 4-H members with horse projects. Tyrell Burklund gave a special three and a half hour lesson to a dozen 4-H kids from the Hot Springs Wranglers, the South Side Sparks, the Whitepine Happy Workers, and the Trout Creek Mavericks at the 4-H horse arena at the Sanders County Fairgrounds last Thursday. Burklund spent three hours with the kids, juniors and seniors, of five different levels of expertise, giving them...

  • Mayor's Corner

    Aug 10, 2023

    As the newly appointed mayor of Thompson Falls, I am writing this to follow up on one of the things that I talked about in the city council meeting of July 31, that being communication. I hope to be able to provide some information as to what your City government is doing. This time around I will talk about the budget process. The City budget process is fairly lengthy, usually starting in May. The Clerk asks the heads of the public works, police, city attorney, city court and also the clerks own departments to review their budgets from the...

  • Plains officer sworn in

    Ed Moreth|Aug 10, 2023

    Plains Mayor Chris Allen swore in the newest member of the Plains Police Department at City Hall on Friday morning. Rick Nickolaus joined Chief of Police Brian Josephson and Officer Rob Geenen to bring the police department back to full force. Nickolaus replaced Chris Reyna, who was dismissed in May. The town couldn't fill his vacancy until the Plains Police Commission held a hearing to confirm Reyna's termination, which it did two weeks ago. Nickolaus was one of three candidates, all men from...

  • Baroque festival returns for year 19

    Shannon Brown|Aug 10, 2023

    The Quinn's Hot Springs Resort Paradise Hall Event Center came alive for three nights as returning musicians took the stage for the annual Montana Baroque Music Festival (MBMF). The musical genre known as Baroque has been around since the 17th century. The period encapsulates music, dance, architecture, art and writing. The idea comes from the Portuguese who used the word "barocco" meaning irregular pearl or stone symbolizing the cultural art movement that took place from the early 1600s to mid-...

  • Trail rides, lessons available in Heron

    Shannon Brown|Aug 10, 2023

    The Amber Bear Inn in Heron has two new employees that have started their own business of giving trail rides and riding lessons. Marley Calliham and Connor Dahlin, both from Great Falls, have three horses that can be used for guests and riding lessons. Marley said they are looking to increase their herd with more well-broke trail horses. "We offer an hour ride on flat ground or a 2 hour ride up in the hills," Marley said. She and her partner started their business after Marley came to Sanders...

  • A QUICK LOOK

    Ed Moreth|Aug 10, 2023

    The 12-spotted skimmer dragonfly checks out movement to its right while taking a break on an old plant shaft. This species of dragonfly is common to the 48 contiguous state and are most active in July and August and are territorial, often aggressive toward other male dragonflies, according to the Montana Field Guide. They are two to two and a half inches long with a wing span of just over two inches. The eat smaller flying insects....

  • Ranger Chat

    Aug 10, 2023

    Who puts out the wildfire and what laws are they governed by? Who’s in charge and why? Fire suppression is on everyone’s mind in the summer and we all have questions about how it works. Wildland fires are different than structural fires. They mainly travel through natural fuels instead starting within a houses or barn. According to Montana law, it’s the responsibility of the State of Montana to suppress wildfires on all private and state lands; this duty is assigned to the MT Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. On federal lands...

  • Gary, Dennis win fun game of 'Mutt and Jeff'

    Annie Wooden|Aug 10, 2023

    The par fives and par threes at River’s Bend Golf Course made unlikely pairs just like the quirky comic characters as the Over The Hill Gang played a round of Mutt and Jeff on Monday. The players totaled their scores from holes 11, 12, 14 and 17 for the fun. Gary Thompson won the title of Mutt with the low gross of 18 on the four holes, and Dennis Gripp was dubbed Jeff with a low net of 12. Thompson also had the low gross round for all nine holes with a 41, while Doug Deck shot the low net for the men with a 32. Lana Nolen and Jan Thompson c...

  • Chip-in leads Tina, Jeanne to win

    Annie Wooden|Aug 10, 2023

    Jeanne Holleran chipped it in on hole two last Thursday as she and partner Tina Wheeler combined for a low team gross of 104 in ladies league play at River’s Bend. The mother-daughter duo of Barb and Annie Wooden scored the low team net of 70, Lana Nolen shot the low individual gross of 44 and Marshanna Drop carded the low individual net round of 30. Nolen’s fourth shot was closest on No. 2 and she hit in the long putt on No. 6, Barb Wooden sank the long putt on No. 3, Kelly Wheeler’s drive was closest to the pin on No. 5 and Chris Gross hit t...

  • Bear Muscle flexes a win

    Annie Wooden|Aug 10, 2023

    Bear Muscle Fitness proved to be the strongest challengers in Tuesday night men’s league play last week, with Ricky Hagedorn, Doug Robichaud, John Mosher and Steve Fairbank combining for the low team gross score of 175. In low net competition, NLC Inc.’s 143 was best from team members Bill Nolen, Howard Morkert, Scott Rasor and Mike Tessier. Robichaud shot the low individual gross round of 39 and Criag LeCoure had the low net round of 30. Doug Fisher and Cody Mosher smashed the long drives on No. 9, Rasor sank the long putt on No. 6, Dave Gar...

  • CF kicks off August in style

    Annie Wooden|Aug 10, 2023

    Clark Fork Seamless Gutters were the Wednesday winners in men’s league play at River’s Bend last week, with RT Brown, Doug Fisher, Bob Brown and Ross Gunn combining for a low team gross of 173. Edward Jones Financial golfers Dan Kier, Bruce Sterling, Jesse Mack and Ryan Craven leveraged their handicaps for the low team net of 148, while Craven had the low individual net round of 34 and RT Brown the low gross of 35. Howard Morkert had the aim of an eagle on hole 6 last week as he chipped in his second shot for an eagle. The Browns were on a rol...

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