Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Electric bikes, or e-bikes, are seemingly becoming the companion of the future for recreationists. Though the technology has been around for a while, a new trend has seen modern bikes become more efficient, practical and reliable. These three aspects are extremely important when it comes to relying on something in the outdoors, and so the better reputation is seeing the devices find their way into Sanders County. Recent legislation across the United States has been geared toward addressing the newer, faster and more powerful varieties gaining p...
For nearly 40 years, students at Thompson Falls Elementary have participated in the school's Running Start Program. A program geared toward encouraging students to read for fun. On Friday morning, Elementary Principal Len Dorscher gathered students in K-6 for the traditional run around the basketball court to symbolize the start of the program. "I've been leading the run for all nine years I've been here," Dorscher said. "This is the longest running program of any sort we've done at this...
Spring has sprung for the Trout Creek Community Improvement Association (TCCIA) as they get ready to host their 8th annual Easter Eggstravaganza. Every year, up to 300 kids show up to hunt for the nearly 6,000 eggs that have been filled with candy and prizes by volunteers. Last year’s event saw over 200 children. “We are anticipating a lot of happy kiddos again,” said Liz Stender with TCCIA. This year’s Eggstravaganza is free and will be held on Saturday, April 16, at Trout Creek Park. Activities will include an easter egg hunt for differe...
A new salon in Thompson Falls opened its doors in February and is offering a variety of beauty services. After graduating from Creviers Academy of Cosmetology Arts in December, owner Belle LeForce opened Simply Belle in her hometown. "I've always liked the idea of being my own boss," LeForce said. "Go big or go home, right?" Simply Belle is a full-service hair salon that also offers waxing, eyelash extensions, gel nails and acrylic enhancements. While the salon does not offer pedicures, the...
Driving to Paradise to see the latest production from The Paradise Players this weekend, there were definitely signs of spring. The grass is getting greener. Residents are doing their spring burning. The snow is disappearing from the mountains. With the renewl of spring comes something that stands out even more — the trash. Walking trails and roadways are dotted with the cans, paper and other random garbage that was covered by the winter snow. Thompson Falls is preparing for its annual Beautification Days in April, and as a community we should...
I would like to thank Jim Elliot for his Viewpoint “Fearing Fear” that was in the March 17 issue of the Ledger. I hope people have read this column carefully and have taken it to heart. Our country is by no means perfect, but we have so much to be grateful for. As citizens of this country, we have so many things in common and most of us want what is best for our democracy. We don't need to agree with each other on every issue, but we can agree to disagree with respect for each other. Let us listen to each other, attempt to understand each oth...
Just a warning for all the new folks that have moved into our area. When you enter the” Eddy Flat Speedway” just before the Sheep Viewing area and to the 55 mph zone going east be on the lookout for elk and deer. This time of year we have a hundred plus elk feeding in our fields. They do cross the highway usually at first and last light but do all night long. Hitting a 500 or so pound critter at highway speeds can be disastrous and cause a fatality. Deer are also plentiful in this area, not week goes by without a elk or deer collision. Som...
In the early morning hours of March 25, I had the misfortune to have to go to the hospital. Now, I am a retired RN, but have not been an inpatient since I had kids, and that was ah, um, a long time ago. I was so impressed with CFVH. Wonderful facility, and oh my, the staff. Everyone from Radiology, RT, Lab, PT, Drs Herzog and Valentine was so competent and caring. My care team of RNs and CNAs was just great, professional, thoughtful, personable, every one. I got just fabulous care. And I need to mention the first responders, who got me to...
Spring managed to surprise me this year. Again. I walked to the river yesterday and discovered fresh-grown catkins hanging from an errant Sitka alder that has taken root in the stream bank. I have no idea what that alder is doing there, for most of my experience with said plant has been traversing patches of it above 4,000 feet. Where it belongs. Each spring, I take a picture of the last of the snow where it has shed from the shop roof or the north side of the house. The latest date I can find in this series is May 9, 2011. We will beat that...
6 YEARS AGO • MARCH 29, 1917 VOTERS FAVOR NEW BUILDING Work Will be Rushed as Rapidly as Possible for Occupancy in the Fall That new schoolhouse! We are going to have it. By a vote of 142 to 44 the voters of the district authorized the issuance of not more than $12,000 worth of bonds to provide for the construction and furnishing of a two-story brick school building. As soon as the bonds are sold, bids for the building will be advertised for. It is hoped that construction work can be s...
JUDY RIPKA, Thompson Falls - “Totally a dog person! I was born and raised with dogs; my whole life has been dogs! They call me the dog mom!” BOBBY JO FISHER, Trout Creek - “I love my animals! I have both cats and dogs.” LEON HELSTAD, Trout Creek - “I’m a dog person cause my wife makes me!” JARED WEBLEY, Whitepine - “I prefer dogs over cats because they are a little more interesting than cats. They want to be pet when you want to pet them, cats are kind of the opposite.” BOB REESER, Thompson Falls - “I just like animals of all kinds. I like d...
Montana Highway Patrol Paul Mason, 33, operating with expired registration, $45; day speeding, $70. Stacia Tappero, 42, seatbelt violation, $20. Sarah Steffke, 42, day speeding, $20. Jeremiah Dawson, 35, day speeding, $20. Courtney Kennelly-Foster, 45, speeding in a restricted zone, $55. Kim Eastman, 66, day speeding, $20. Bryce Henning, 23, day speeding, $20. Ryland Deane, 24, night speeding, $70. Shawn Franck, 56, seatbelt violation, $20. Brent Wiegele, 35, seatbelt violation, $20. Jonathan Kagi, 60, speeding in a restricted zone, $85....
Ambulance: Plains, 13; Hot Springs, 2; Noxon, 1; T. Falls, 1; Dixon, 2; Trout Creek, 1. Monday, March 28 General animal call or complaint, Plains. Theft, T. Falls. Livestock, Hot Springs. Animal other, T. Falls. Property damage/criminal mischief, Paradise. Request for welfare check, Dixon. Trespass, T. Falls. Tuesday, March 29 Animal other, Plains. Fire, Paradise. Civil standby, Trout Creek. Person found, Plains. Welfare check, Hot Springs. Trespass, T. Falls. Vehicle fire, Plains. Assist motorist/citizen, Plains. Fire, Trout Creek. Suspicious...
The City of Thompson Falls would like to remind everyone of the following: 1. There is to be no living in camper trailers, RV’s, fifth-wheel trailers, etc., in the city limits. If you are building a home or someone is visiting you for a week or two, you need to come to City Hall and get a permit to do so. 2. You need to get your vehicles, boats, trailers, etc. off of City Street right of ways. There is a few construction projects happening and they need access to these areas. Snow is gone and there should be no reason not to move them on to you...
HOT SPRINGS NAME: Jen Christensen EDUCATION: BA in Elementary and Secondary Education, Health/PE/Biology OCCUPATION: Rancher What attributes make you a good candidate for the school board? I have been involved in many areas of education and I have a vested interest in making our school the best it can be. As a former teacher, I understand issues from the educator’s side. I have two children attending Hot Springs schools, and relate to parents’ points of view. I have coached junior high volleyball, been a member and president of our local PTO...
James Cork, 66, Born in Sandpoint, Idaho on June 24, 1955, passed away on April 3, 2022, in Mineral County Hospital of Superior, Montana. He is survived by his wife, Sharon Cork; daughter, Erin Cork Love; son, Jeromy Cork; two brothers, Richard Cork and Terry Cork; sister, Sandy Cork Showberg, lots of grandkids and great-grandkids along with a lot of nieces and nephews. James was preceded in death by his father, Ray Cork; mother, Wonda Lowmen, and son, James Cork II.... Full story
John Emanuel Meckler was born October 9, 1942 in Missoula, Montana, the youngest child of John and Mary Meckler. He grew up in Missoula and Salem, Oregon and graduated high school from Dixon, Montana in 1960. After high school he joined the Navy, serving on the USS Canberra and the USS Rochester before being discharged in 1963. He then attended college at Western Montana College (now University of Montana, Western) where he got a degree in education. There he met Marian McKenzie, and the two married in 1966, eventually welcoming three... Full story
Denice Heberline went to join her Lord and Savior Jesus, March 8, 2022 while living in Hayden, Idaho. Her three daughters stood by her side while she passed into the life of promise in Heaven. She was born in Thermoplis, Wyoming, November 25, 1935, to Asa and Oda Mae Goodman. Her family moved to Shoshoni, Wyoming, where she grew up and graduated from high school. There she met and married Jacob Heberine Jr. They moved to Riverton, Wyoming, where they farmed and started to raise their family.... Full story
Have you ever wandered into your local feed store and walked out with not only four new Ameraucana chicks but two turkey poults as well? I have. I’m still not sure how it happened, but it did and I’m not even upset about it. Over the years I’ve read quite a bit about raising chickens and ducks but not so much about raising turkeys. I know they are similar to hens in the sense that they are social and friendly, but that’s about it. Before getting chicks, I spent the winter reading about how to raise them, before the ducks, another winter...
Beagle's Bakery and Espresso in Thompson Falls celebrated five years in business last Friday. Known for their homemade baked goods, breakfast sandwiches and burritos, owner Heather Chavez spent the day welcoming customers and celebrating with her family. To mark the occasion, customer's names were drawn every hour for prizes. From free drinks and breakfast sandwiches to the final drawing at 3 p.m. for a basket loaded with merchandise and coffee. "I'm very humbled that we've been able to...
Thompson Falls School Board met Monday night to discuss several items on the agenda, including the approval of re-hiring Elementary Principal Len Dorscher and High School Principal Jodi Morgan for the 2022-2023 school year. Both hirings were approved by the board. A request from superintendent Bud Scully for a multi-use building project needs approval before proceeding with a contractor. The building project request was for a general contractor to develop a plan and pricing for an additional 10 feet to the length of a planned building for the...
Monica Tranel, a Democrat running for U.S. House District 1, Montana's new congressional position, made a campaign stop in Thompson Falls last week. Tranel spoke with about 30 people who gathered in Thompson Falls on March 28. “I’m the only House Candidate from rural Montana," Tranel told the crowd. "I’m here to represent the middle: the workers, the ranchers, the teachers, the health care workers, the millworkers, and all the many hardworking, everyday Montanans. I want to take Main Street’s voice to Congress.” Tranel was the sixth of nine c...
The Blue Hawk golf team went to its first meet last Thursday. Sophomore Cael Thilmony had the low score for the team with 101, placing him almost exactly in the middle of the field. The winner of the meet, Preston Field of Jefferson High School, scored 80. Sophomore Nick Tessier had the next low score for the Hawks with 119. "Nick can drive the ball well, his struggle was chipping and putting," Thompon Falls Coach Doree Thilmony said of Tessier. Junior Colton Wormwood scored 126 and sophomore...
The Plains-Hot Springs Trotters beat the Thompson Falls-Noxon Blue Hawks last Tuesday in Plains during the first softball action of the season for the Sanders County teams. The Blue Hawks led the whole game and were ahead 8-5 at the end of the sixth inning. The Trotters took control in the seventh and scored four runs while the Blue Hawks went scoreless as Plains went on to win 9-8. Plains Senior Celsey VonHeeder pitched the whole game for the Trotters and held the Blue Hawks to a batting...
The third weekend of the 2022 Spring Mack Days event ended with a total of 9,039 lake trout entries by 159 anglers out of the 550 registered. Each lake trout entry gives an angler a chance at lottery prizes that begin at $100 and go up to $2,000. These fishing events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and are used as a tool to reduce the non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake. Up to $225,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the event. Weather is the determining factor when it comes to the fish...
