Sanders County Ledger - Your Best Source For Sanders County News

Median residential property taxes in Montana went up 21% this year. That’s $213 million more from working Montanans. Meanwhile North Western Energy property taxes went down 20%, that’s a decrease of $36 million. Collections on industrial pro...

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” asserts the song. The reference of lyricists Edward Pola and George Wyle and performer Andy Williams was, of course, to the Christmas holiday. The song was written in 1963 and recorded for the Andy Williams...

In 1984, dozens of the most popular artists got together and recorded "Do they kow it's Christmas" in an effort to raise money for famine victims in Ethiopia. They had a catchy tune and raised more than $24 million. Red Nose Day, Comic Relief's...

Editor: Community members missed an invaluable refresher class on Home Fire Safety last week at Whitepine Grange, presented by Scott Donovan who has 42 years' experience in fire service. Turnout was low, but those of us in attendance appreciated...

Dear Editor, I believe the decision to have Jessica Gayton be the director of the Sanders County bookmobile was a wise decision. Jessica brings an expertise to the position that most likely is not to be found in anyone else in all of Sanders County....

Have you heard about how Iceland is known as a country where people give one another a book on Christmas Eve? They then sit around eating, drinking, and reading together. It’s called Book Flood, or Jolabokaflod, and I’m seriously thinking I was act...

Shopping for anyone can be difficult, but for some shopping for the gamer in their life can be near impossible. It’s understandably difficult for some of us to find the perfect gift for a gamer; navigating the world of gaming is a very foreign i...

November went so fast, I am not convinced it was ever here. The market is showing seasonality as well as market slowdown with half the sales of last month as far as residential. The average sold price of houses was down as well. The months of supply...

On Tuesday, November 7, I was the only spectator in the lower courtroom of the Sanders County Courthouse as the ballots were counted for the municipal elections in Hot Springs and Thompson Falls. There were three election judges, Sanders County...

‘Tis the holidays. Each holiday season most of us generously share our good fortune with others. This includes donating food for food banks and Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets. My family does this each year. However, I want to remind everyone ...

‘Tis the season for many fun gatherings of well meant hugs and gift giving. Sharing germs is never our intention so staying healthy keeps everyone happy and healthy through the cold winter months. Choosing what works for you is the best way to do t...

With the end of fall sports comes the end of my first season as a sports writer, well, a writer at all. When I moved back to Sanders County last March I never dreamed I would land a job at the newspaper, let alone writing for sports. For people who k...

Point of correction/clarification. Related to a recent LTE. The public health nurse position is as a hired employee only. The "Medical Dr" is a nurse and is an appointed position made by the commissioners & the duties are as a consultant/advisor...

Her'es a novel idea on the subject of abortion. Don't get pregnant. I'm 80 years old and grew up in an era void of legal abortions or birth control. If we got pregnant we had the little darlings. Then a miracle. The birth control pill was developed....

There are certain things that are just better in small towns, as we all know. That's why we live here. The latest example was seen countywide last week as businesses, organizations and schools honored local veterans. These local groups offered free...

Letter to Editor We in Thompson Falls lost such a special man this past week with the passing of Don Burrell. Don devoted his life to his family and helping others. He was an active member of local organizations, and there was never a Sanders County...

We’ve been arguing forever about how we became a species. Some don’t argue, true. They just believe one way or another, or accept that they will never know. These relatively rare subjects are happy to be at peace with the question. Maybe they kno...

by Michael Scharfe Last month I touched on the different types of refinancing. This month, I am going to go over the rate/term refinance in more detail. When doing a rate/term refinance, it is a good idea to weigh the benefits, as well as the costs....

Halloween is over, and it seems like all the advertisements are now geared toward Christmas. As of today (Thursday), there are just 44 days until Christmas. It's time for craft fairs and shopping and all the holiday fundraisers. Last weekend I attend...

What if Public Policy could be “Dead Wrong”? In Mindy Ferrell’s LTE of November 2 she proclaims putting aside personal opinion to serve the public good and only and always follow public policy. Sanders County residents should be grateful their Healt...

by Judge Molly Owen If you have seen the television show, “Jury Duty,” on Amazon Prime that came out last year, you will know that the show follows members of a jury who are tasked to decide a workplace dispute. The lawsuit and trial are fake. Eve...