Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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This month I was asked to participate in the post election audit process for the county. I’ve been on the other side of the table for every part of local elections, observing everything from voting machine testing to ballot counting by machine and hand counts, to recounts and audits. But I’ve never been anything more than an observer. With the post election audit, the Secretary of State’s office literally rolls a dice to determine which races and which precincts will be hand counted. Then the local elections office has election workers sit i...
My favorite thing about Thanksgiving is how everyone practices gratitude. For some people, it’s Thirty Days of Gratitude, and they will name one thing every day they’re thankful for, with no overlap. For others, they say just one thing they’re grateful for before tucking into their Thanksgiving Day meal. Gratitude is so often underrated. We practice it only when reminded by a holiday that’s effectively the celebration of an oppressed people. But gratitude as a daily practice can be so healthy. After my miscarriages, when I was in a deep pi...
I’ve always found Mr. Jim Elliott’s articles in the “Montana Viewpoint” section interesting, though not for the reasons one might expect. It’s not because he offers any particularly insightful perspective on Montana or shares any meaningful wisdom from Sanders County-Trout Creek. In fact, Mr. Elliott’s viewpoints rarely, if ever, align with the views held by most of the Trout Creek community—about three-quarters of whom would likely disagree with him. What’s clear is that his commentary is consistently slanted and partisan. Given his backg...
As Black Friday and Travel Tuesday approach, the buzz around travel deals and exclusive perks grows louder. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement, hoping to score the vacation of your dreams at a bargain price. But the reality is that most of these deals—offering perks like cruise credits, pre-paid gratuities, or specialty dining for two—do not deliver massive savings. In most cases, they amount to maybe a couple of hundred dollars off. Cruise lines and Resorts are masters of marketing, often shifting their incentives to create the illus...
Donald Trump made history in three ways this month when he defeated Kamala Harris for the presidency. First, some news sources say he might have scored the greatest political comeback in U.S. history: he's only the second man to win the presidency in non-consecutive terms, and the only Republican to do it. The first man to get two non-consecutive victories was Democrat Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th president of the United States, serving first from 1885 to 1889. He then lost to Benjamin Harrison, one of the last Civil War veterans in the...
Sometimes we run into people who have mental health problems that are difficult for family members or society to deal with. Narcissistic Personality Disorder is one of them. Here are parts of an article from Good Housekeeping magazine on the subject. Perhaps you may know of or have even voted for someone with this disorder. (Disclosure: I once earned money by selling Good Housekeeping magazine subscriptions door-to-door.) source: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/relation...
In response to the negative letter concerning the election results, it only adds to the division which exists in this country now. You talked about veterans like that gave you the right to judge Trump. Let's see - my grandpa Henry served in WWI. My uncle Bunell stormed the beaches of Normandy during WWII and miraculously survived. My uncle Maynard was killed in the Korean War. My father Richard (Dick) Thompson was in the Navy in teh South Pacific during WWII. Uncle Jerry served in Korea, brother Bob was in the Air Force and I was a MP in the...
The current Church Street Emergency Water Main Replacement (CSEWMR) encompassing construction from Big Horn Drive to 4th Avenue began the week of November 4th. Residents traveling Church Street in this area are encountering one lane traffic. Fourth Avenue has been closed, so alternately using 5th Avenue or streets below 4th Avenue are the options. The weeks of November 11th and 22nd are projected to continue up to Big Horn Drive. During this time of visible digging, they will also be screening the backfill material and plan to tentatively...
I only made it to one Veterans Day event with it being on Monday, but it was still an endearing day. Thompson Falls High School put on a lovely assembly with the choir and band. They also served lunch to veterans and their families. I was impressed with the students who helped serve the veterans their meal. There probably was a bit of coaching from school staff, but they thanked each veteran for their service as they served their meal. More students then came in to sit amongst the veterans during the performances. I heard students again...
When I was young, I had a book, I Have Five Pennies, in which a young boy is sent to the store by his mom for groceries. She gives him five pennies for himself, and as he goes, he sings, “I have five pennies to spend on candy; all for myself! Isn’t that dandy?” Along the way, though, he meets five creatures searching for life basics. I can’t remember all of them, but one is a hungry squirrel, and another is a robin searching for nest-building materials. All are in some sort of need. On display at the store is a big, intricately-decorated lollip...
I'm really thankful that this election cycle is over. The overwhelming negative political ads were an assault to the senses with constant bombardment by mail, telephone, internet and TV. I would like civility to return to the political arena. Wouldn't it be wonderful if candidates focused on telling us how they were qualified for the job and what they had to offer us. Instead, we get misinformation, half-truths, blatant lies, fear mongering, slander and the character assassination of the opponent. Linda Yeargin, Trout Creek...
As a mom of four, one of the things I miss most during the holidays is cooking for my kids. Our kitchen was always the heart of our home, and nothing brought me more joy than spending the day preparing their favorite holiday dishes. This year, I’ve decided to cook Thanksgiving dinner like I used to, but I don’t want any food to go to waste. If there are a couple families/individuals in need this Thanksgiving who would appreciate a home-cooked meal, please email me. I usually make turkey, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bea...
Dear Neighbor, I’m writing this letter on behalf of my father and other relatives that served this great country. So, on Veterans day 2024, I wish to express these thoughts for my father Master Chief Petty Officer Dale S. Robirts, my uncle Master Sergeant Kenneth Jackson, his son Senior Chief Petty Officer Randy Jackson, who guarded U.S. Embassies all over the world for 20 years as a Marine, and Randy Bedwell, a U.S. FBI agent killed in the line of duty. That’s not to mention 30-40 other relatives of mine who have served, all to keep this cou...
As you read this, the election is over and hopefully we know who the president is, we know how people voted on the constitutional initiatives, and life can get back to normal. Hopefully our mailboxes are less full of campaign materials that end up in the trash and the television ads are back to promoting medicines and the latest model of trucks. I feel like I'm suffering from election overload, though it's till one of my favorite times of the year as a journalist. It's been interesting this year to see people get so involved as the election dre...
I bought my first Deuce and a Quarter in 1990 from Gail Lewis who was the clean-up man at the LP mill in Trout Creek. “Deuce and a Quarter” was the nickname for the Buick Electra 225, as in two twenty-five—the deuce and a quarter. It was 225 inches long and this 1970 four-door hardtop had the biggest stock engine made up to that time, a massive 455 cubic inch eight-cylinder engine. It was fast, but thirsty. “It’ll pass anything but a gas station” was the word. The 25-gallon fuel tank was ba...
Over the course of the last couple of years, I’ve gotten to know quite a few authors who are independently published, or self-published, meaning you can purchase their books on Amazon, but not necessarily in a bookstore. This used to be unheard of, but more and more it’s becoming the norm. Did you know that Margaret Atwood was originally a self-published author? I decided to make October the Month of Indie Reads and I read four of my friends books to see if they hold muster, and boy howdy do they ever! I read lots of other books too, of course,...
It's almost over. I haven't heard anyone talk about how they wish they could see more political ads and mailers or listen to and read more about politics. On Tuesday, local, state and national races and issues will be decided. I get chills when I think about what a privilege it is to be in this country and help decide what happens here. Legislative bodies make laws and they are enforced, but we have a choice of who we put in office and what changes are made to the constitution. I love getting my ballot and feel proud when I walk in the...
Inflation is one of the top priorities for most voters. Electric rates are one of the driving factors in this. The current Public Service Commission is doing nothing to address this and have been nothing more than a rubber stamp for the rate increases by Northwestern Energy. Our current representative on this Commission, Jennifer Fielder, has been one of the worst Commissioners for allowing this to happen. There is a bright spot for future representation on the Public Service Commission and that is Elena Evans. She is an Independent and not...
There are people in this world who possess the wisdom of generations, and carry it with them with grace, aplomb, and equanimity. Shelly Fyant is one of those people. She is a friend, a mother, an inspirational community leader, and she is, by any metric, the most qualified candidate to represent Montana’s House District 91. Shelly is other-centered, she is a strategic thinker, and she has a vision for a healthy, equitable, and sustainable Montana that starts now and ensures future generations will enjoy the beauty and abundance we all t...
A friend of mine has a condition, prosopagnosia, wherein he doesn’t recognize faces. He can meet me ten times, and every time is the first time. Not really, he’s begun to recognize my voice, he remembers my name and connects it to my voice, he’s begun putting things together like the way I smell (assuming I don’t change laundry detergent, start wearing perfume, etc.), he’s begun to “recognize” me because he runs into me at the same place every time we meet and I don’t change any other outward clues about who I am. His wife can change her hair s...
Do you ever catch yourself daydreaming about that epic bucket-list trip - experiences like a luxury cruise, an African safari, a tour through Japan or staying in an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora - only to quickly brush it off, thinking it’s just out of reach? Trust me, it’s not! That dream trip you’ve always wanted is within reach, and with a little planning, it could be closer than you think. I know it can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re balancing work, family, and everything else that comes with “adulting.” It’s easy to put o...
As I was skimming the crowd at the Rex Theater fundraiser on Saturday, I saw several new faces. There were people I didn't know, and people who I had never seen at the Rex fundraiser before. The same was true of the organizers. "Head Wrangler" Rob Viens, who coordinated the event, moved to Thompson Falls in 2022. The primary forces behind the Save the Rex effort who got the community going were the Mundays and the Wilsons, two families who also moved to the area in the last decade. Before you get too excited, let me say that there were plenty o...
I just got a flier in the mail from the Montana Republican Party asking me to vote “no” on CI-126, that’s the ballot initiative to allow a primary election where the top four vote getters advance to the general election. Instead of Montana voters having to vote a Republican, Democratic, Green, or Libertarian party ballot in the primary election, all candidates of those parties would be listed on the same, unified, ballot. I think it’s a good idea, and, thanks for asking, I’ll tell you why. I wa...
I am not a person to make many complaints or share negative actions. However, after going to the local source to find answers I am at a loss as to how to proceed. I recently arrived home after a two-week absence from my home of many years in Sanders County. Like many county residents I have experienced the ongoing traffic snags on Highway 200 this past summer, to gain high speed internet and never complained. I am a proponent of the project and know the importance of having the ability to communicate with our families, pursue educational...
In an effort to provide information about the Church Street Emergency Water Main Replacement (CSEWMR) project, this month’s article may be a little technical. We’ll try to keep it user friendly. The CSEWMR project was approved in the October 15, 2024, Thompson Falls City Council meeting. The CSEWMR project generally consists of replacing approximately 1,200 linear feet of 10” diameter PVC water main, water main fittings, gate valves, connection to existing water distribution system and connecting to existing water services and fire hydra...
