Fire season is not really done yet, in spite of recent rains which have temporarily knocked back the danger. Warily eyeing this week’s weather forecast, which calls for a stretch of several hot summer days, local fire managers caution folks to mainta...

Two weeks ago a man in Havre gave out his Social Security number to a scammer. Last week, a woman in Great Falls became another victim. Calls are being received across the state of Montana from people pretending to be Social Security Administration...

Last week, we asked “Are you ready for school to start?” in our Question of the Week. With the long days of summer, most kids aren't quite ready to say goodbye to lazy mornings with days full of free time. But most of the parents we've talked to are...

Dear Editor, I would like to thank Kevin Hill for volunteering his time and talent to the Huckleberry Festival. He also donates an ice chest with a prime rib and a bottle of wine (approximately $150 value) to one of the bidders. Every time someone...

Having spent 25 years evaluating writing samples from high school students, I long ago developed the somewhat neurotic habit of being judgmental about other peoples’ writing. I no longer get paid to judge, of course, except through moments of disgust...

19 PUBLICATION OF WESTERN SANDERS COUNTY This publication was recently donated to the Old Jail Museum WATER This valley is traversed by the Clark’s Fork of the Columbia, a mountain river with headwaters in the Rocky Mountains near Butte, Montana j...

TOM MASON, Thompson Falls – “They have done so well with all the roads that I have no complaints.” ROBIN GILE, Trout Creek – “Trout Creek Bridge and the Thompson Falls bridge both need to be finished.” GRACE KAST, Noxon – ”I just wonder how they...

Monday, August 12 Animal, Plains. Child custody issues. Motorist assist. Theft of personal records by family member, Noxon. Nuisance complaints, Plains. Alarm intrusion/holdup, T. Falls. Disturbance. Tuesday, August 13 Nuisance complaints....

Montana Highway Patrol Robert Oliver, 50, fail to obey direction to be weighed, $85; operating commercial vehicle without commercial driver’s license, $75; obstructing a peace officer, $125; no or improper medical certification in drivers possession,...

The Cabinet Ranger District of the Kootenai National Forest is planning a fall prescribed burn of up to 2,400 acres associated with the Minton-Trout Project. The purpose of the burn is to improve forage habitat for big game species and to reduce...

Ruthie Luella McKenzie Bierwagen was born on August 14, 1940 in Sandpoint, Idaho. She was pre-deceased by her parents Clarence Felix McKenzie and Ella Joye Roe McKenzie and the love of her life Gordon Bierwagen. She is survived by her brother, Ervin... Full story

Nancy L. Willey of Thompson Falls passed Aug. 3, 2019, at Clark Fork Valley Hospital. She struggled with sugar diabetes for the last couple of years. Nancy was born May 19, 1948, in Newburg, Oregon, to parents Neil and Helen George. Nancy grew up... Full story

by Ed Moreth Things seem to be moving at a snail’s pace for Pat Legard, who has waited five months for the findings on his son’s death. Mark Legard was found dead in his Plains home on March 15, the result of a gunshot to his head, but the man...

The Forest Service is asking for public feedback on the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Swamp Eddy project located on the Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District, about five miles southwest of Plains. The project area, which encompasses approxima...

Being in the sweet 16 isn’t necessarily a very good deal in Montana cross country running. The top 15 place-winners in Montana State high school cross country meets automatically earn All-State status, but the No. 16 placing runner is left out in t...

Proving hungry dogs hunt best, the Wild Coyote team of Gary Thompson, Dave Petteys, Scott Pardee and Howard Morkert devoured the competition and moved into first place by shooting the low team gross of 170 last week in Wednesday Night Men’s League a...