Tuesday, April 29
Locals save woman stuck on train tracks at Plains
Plains locals came to the aid of a woman who had her walker stuck in the railroad tracks in the nick of time, pushing her out of the way of an oncoming train last Wednesday.
Plains golfer wins T-Falls tournament
A Plains senior used a miraculous shot on the turn to win the Thompson Falls Invitational Saturday.
Oficials plan for mine cleanup
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency met with local representatives in the County Commissioners’ Meeting Room Tuesday to discuss the final cleanup of the Iron Mountain Mine Site.
Relay For Life kicks off
The Mineral County Relay For Life got off to a running start Thursday when Mineral County residents gathered on the lawn of the Old School in Superior for the event kick-off.
It's about the cost of a 6-pack
Your June 3 primary ballot will contain a request for three mills to fund the senior citizen programs in Sanders County, which if passed will raise an additional $90,000 annually to divide among seven centers.
Guild hold's 18th annual quilt show
The Flat Iron Quilting Guild of Sanders County held its 18th annual quilt show — “Quilting, Past, Present and Future” — Friday through Sunday in Thompson Falls.
Best of the west
A couple of sore shins couldn’t hold back an Alberton junior from out-distancing the best jumpers in western Montana last Tuesday.
Quilters help local vet's club
Four Mineral County women have used their skills with a needle and thread to help out a local veteran’s organization.
Woman accused of trying to kill her baby sent to hospital for mental evaluation
A Missoula woman, who is accused of trying to drown her baby, has been taken to the Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs for a mental evaluation after her court appearance Wednesday.
Distortion of American history needs to stop
That David Thompson built Saleesh House on the north side of the river he referred to as the Saleesh is supported by his own journal notations, by the journals of other travelers through the area during the first half of the 19th century and by period maps.
Howard Allen Gamett
Howard Allen Gamett, 50, of Bigfork passed away at his home Tuesday evening, April 8, 2008, with his family by his side.
Showing off clothes, quilts at 'Olympics of Sewing'
Sanders County 4-H’ers showed off the skills they’ve gained over the past year in sewing and quilting Sunday as they presented their work to judges and an audience at the 4-H Fashion Revue and Patchwork Parade at Thompson Falls High School.
County teams compete at Summer Games
The Little Bitterroot Services athletes had to contend with another Sanders County team this year at the 2008 Glacier Area Summer Games at Kalispell Friday.
Two win at top 10 track meet
Two county track stars proved they could not only compete with the best track athletes western Montana has to offer, but they could also beat them.
People need burn permits starting May 1
Homeowners can still burn yard debris and logging slash, but a permit is now required for burning anywhere in Sanders County.
Little Dribblers wrap up season with final games
The Little Dribblers — Future of Thompson Falls Basketball — wrapped up their season last Tuesday with two final games. The third- and fourth-graders’ two and a half week season came to a close as yellow (Iowa Hawkeyes) beat black (Cincinnati Bearcats) and blue (Kansas Jayhawks) beat red (Indiana Hoosiers).
Thoughts about upcoming levy
Just received the Plains Public School District’s levy election flyer. First let me say as a former teacher, I support responsible education, but I’m questioning this particular plea and may vote against it.
Torch Run officials invite public out for support
The organizers of the Special Olympics Torch Run in Sanders County wants to encourage people to cheer on the runners as they pass by Thursday.
Wednesday, April 23
Woman allegedly tries to drown baby in Clark Fork near Superior
A Missoula woman is facing attempted deliberate homicide charges after allegedly trying to drown her baby in the Clark Fork River last Wednesday.
Stakeholders get started on Cedar-Thom
If the Sanders Mineral Forest Coalition was happy with taking a big step forward by adopting their first project in Mineral County at their March meeting, they will now have to be satisfied with a slow laborious crawl if they want to see the project come to fruition.
Hot Springs Junior High meet hosts over 200 young athletes
Eleven teams competed at the Hot Springs Junior High Track and Field Invitational Friday as schools as far away as Drummond and as nearby as Paradise and Dixon came out to throw, run and jump at Hot Springs School. Four Sanders County teams, three Mineral County teams, three Lake County teams and a Granite County team (Drummond) compiled more than 220 athletes for a day of competition.
County tracksters compete at Big Sky
In spite of dismal weather, Mineral County sent its best track athletes to Missoula Saturday to compete in the Seeley-Swan Invitational at Big Sky High School.
Students take part in gun play
The Superior High School Drama Club put on a presentation of the Western play “Wildcat Katie Brown” last week, complete with gun play, a handlebar mustache and a saloon brawl.
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation holds another successful banquet
The Sanders County chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation entertained a “sellout crowd” Saturday at their 18th annual banquet at the Sanders County Fair pavilion in Plains. The foundation’s banquet featured a live auction, silent auction, door prizes, raffles, dinner and beverages in their main fundraiser for the year.
Earth Day spends first year inside
The people of Hot Springs didn’t let the weather keep them from holding their first Earth Day Celebration, but the event was moved inside to Symes Hot Springs Hotel so people could avoid the rain and snow. The celebration featured about seven vendors and informational booths, five workshops, a potluck, and five live music acts.
Luella P. Oelschlager
Luella P. Oelschlager, 88, of Nevis, Minn., died Thursday, March 20, 2008, at Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids, Minn.
Alberton puts on hometown version of TV show
The contestants were much smaller and the judges did not have nearly as many rude things to say about them, but Alberton’s home-grown version of American Idol still got a standing ovation from a crowd of parents and family friends in the Albertonl lunchroom Thursday evening.
Plains woman talks hair with Hillary
One of the highlights reported in the news of Senator Hillary Clinton’s visit to Missoula had nothing to do with her stance on taxes, her thoughts on the war in Iran or even her views of global warming — it was her hair. And all because of a comment by a Plains woman.
Old Man Winter isn't done yet
Just one week after the mercury levels in the thermometers reached the 70s and it looked liked spring had finally arrived in western Montana, Old Man Winter returned to Sanders County, leaving a blanket of snow on the ground and wreaking havoc on the sport schedule.
Plains teen puts EMT training to use
Students taking the emergency medical technician — EMT — class at Plains High School still have another month to finish the course, but that didn’t stop one of Jan Hatt’s students to utilize his training.
Hawks finish first at home track meet
Lady Hawk breaks school pole vault record
Plains Day on horizon
Committee brings in new events, ditches some traditional ones
Trotters' come-back thwarted
A late comeback by the Plains Trotters was foiled by the visiting Florence Lady Falcons, who used a five-run seventh inning to hang on for a 16-8 victory Thursday afternoon at Plains.
Robert Curtis Paulsen
Missoula-Bob passed away suddenly at his cabin near Trout Creek on April 19th 2008.
Tuesday, April 15
Helping people only thing that counts
This is a reply regarding the recent statement from a man in Paradise. I applaud you for being so versatile on the subject of the SCCFF and my story. Though, if people want to know anymore than what I have stated on the said organization, they will have to call them. I still think that it is none of anyone’s business to know the salary of the workers who hold positions there. Even if I knew the answer to the question on the number of men helped in the last year, I wouldn’t tell anyone! It is not for us to judge. As I pointed out before, we all know the numbers for men will be low because they just don’t simply report it. As for my mom, Mary Curry, she was just defending me! She doesn’t want to have to go to visit my grave because of what is going on and she is relieved that the coalition is able to help prevent that from happening as much as they can.
Welcome to waste, fraud, abuse - Forest Service style
In the space of one minute, two deed transfers were filed in Mineral County. They are consecutive filings 099968 and 099969. In that one minute of filing difference the properties value changed from $10 to $404,000. Who got the windfall profit for their cheap purchase you may ask, and the answer is the Five Valleys Land Trust, Inc.
Car explodes at fire training
Firefighters are supposed to put out fires, not start them, unless they have to start fires to learn how to put them out.
John E. Lyons
Plains-John E. Lyons went to be with our Lord on April 10, 2008. Born to Ernest Lyons and Francis (Legal) Lyons on June 7, 1937. John served our country in the Armed Forces during the Korean War. After returning home he became a member of the Sheet Metal Union in Reno, Nev., where he retired in 1990.
St. Regis launches into track season
A St. Regis eighth-grader got off to a fast start in the junior high track season.
Ballet dancers perform at Plains
“They missed an absolute treat,” said Debbi Kirschbaum about those who didn’t attend the performance of the Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre at Plains Sunday afternoon.
MONTANA VIEWPOINT
Only the little people pay taxes while big corporations slide by
Plains continues with another year of Pops
Students of Plains Middle School and High School were able to showcase their musical talents for members of the community at the Plains School gym last Tuesday as the school held its annual Pops Concert.
Three Tigers already qualify for state
The St. Regis Tigers golf team had two big days on the links this weekend, with several team members qualifying for state during the Loyola Sacred Heart High School Invitational in Missoula.
Panthers, Broncs to join forces
Alberton High School athletes will have the opportunity next year to participate in two new sports, thanks to an athletic co-op with Frenchtown High School.
'What's The Matter With Kansas?'
The question this year is What’s matter with the United States?
Features
Branding cattle is a tradition that goes back to the days of the Old West when ranchers marked their cattle to protect them from rustlers. Rustlers aren't as prevalent as in the old days, yet by law cattle owners must still make their mark to show ownership.
Money for seniors home repair projects
Low-income homeowners who are 55 and older now have the opportunity to have repairs done to their homes in an effort to revitalize the stock of safe, affordable housing in Sanders County.
Hot Springs girls, T-Falls boys win county track meet
The Savage Heat girls slipped by the Thompson Falls Lady Hawks to take first place in the Sanders County Track Meet Thursday at Plains.
Melvin E. Wengerd
Heron resident Melvin E. Wengerd, age 80, formerly of Millersburg, Ohio, went home to be with the Lord, April 11, 2008, following an extended illness. He was born Oct. 9, 1927, in Holmes County, Ohio, and was the son of Emanuel and Mary Swartzentruber Wengerd. He was a meat cutter for 29 years, then a farmer until he retired in 1993. He was a good husband and father, and family man. In 1999, he moved to Heron, Mont. Melvin was a member of Church of Heron.
Howard throws no-no to shutdown Trotters
Bria Howard tossed a no-hitter and the Lady Hawks rolled to an 11-0 win in five innings over the Plains Trotters Thursday night in Thompson Falls. The senior Howard fanned a dozen batters as the Trotters could not figure out her command from the mound.
Gentleman, start your peddlin'
It may not be as well known as the Daytona Speedway and it may not carry as much prestige as the Brickyard in Indianapolis, but after five years, a 50-foot stretch of dirt in St. Regis is starting to be talked about in racing circles.
Hot Springs suspends dogcatcher position indefinitely
The president of the Hot Springs City Council suspended the town’s position of animal control officer until a committee can be formed to review the town’s animal control ordinances and any complaints against the suspended dogcatcher can be resolved.
Bluehawks finish at top of leaderboard in first tournament
They may not have won any green jackets for their play, but the games of the Thompson Falls boys’ golf team last weekend were nothing short of masterful.
Fifty Years Ago
April 17, 1958: Ellisons Report No Lead On Daughter—Still seeking, though with hope lessening, their 16-year-old daughter are Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ellison of Superior.
The Bards of Alberton
Alberton High School students put on an unconventional version of Shakespearean Theater Thursday to a crowd in the elementary school lunchroom.
Wednesday, April 9
Antler Sports Show offers antler, horns trophy scoring in Trout Creek
The first-ever Antler Sport Show at the Lakeside Motel and Resort in Trout Creek kept Larry Lack busy, as the Boone and Crockett scorer measured set after set of antlers and horns Saturday in his quest to fill pages in the Montana record book.
Lady Wardens capture win at Plains
The home-opener for the Plains Trotters softball team was spoiled by the visiting Lady Wardens from Powell County, who won the contest 11-2 Saturday afternoon.
Motocross racing returns to Plains
The constant revving of engines that could be heard echoing throughout the valley Sunday could only mean one thing - motocross has returned to Plains.
Attacks call for needed response
I'll respond to the attacks by the pro SCCFF people against me, in answer to Mary Curry's letter, I will address that one in much the same way that I would address the other two being that they are so similar. I will address those letters on a “point by point” basis.
Bear spring hunting season here
Even with the late spring cold spells, bears are beginning to emerge from their winter slumber, which may be an indication of a slow start for spring bear hunters, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials, who haven't seen as many bears as they usually do this time of year.
Superior starts season strong
Boys finish third; girls finish in eighth
Superior holds round-up of future kindergartners
Wednesday morning was the first day of an exciting new career at school for next year's kindergarten class at Superior Elementary School.
Trotters nab first at Plains track meet
The two Plains girls junior high track squads triumphed at the first track meet of the season Friday afternoon.
Soul Savers hold annual Sportsman's Banquet
The Soul Savers Association Hunting and Fishing group have consistently attracted large crowds to their annual Sportsman's Banquet with another 100-person plus showing Saturday in Plains. The banquet serves as the group's main fundraiser with a silent auction, live auction, games and prizes, music, a guest preacher from Missoula, and a meal of wild game.
Opening of Rock Creek mine moving forward
Two representatives from Revett Minerals Inc. gave a presentation Wednesday in Thompson Falls as to the status of the Rock Creek Mine they plan to open in north Sanders County, saying they only want to be “good neighbors and part of the community.” Part of their contribution to the community will be the addition of about 300 new jobs.
Judge accepts plea bargains for 2 men
Two men were handed sentencing last Tuesday at the Sanders County Courthouse in Thompson Falls as Judge Kim Christopher began law in motion by accepting two plea bargains for men charged with different crimes.
What makes us great?
What is it that makes this country great? The cause is not, as many will answer, “the land of opportunity.”
Our doubts remain about the Cedar-Thom project
On March 19, the U.S. Forest Service held a public meeting to explain and ask for input on how to manage a proposed management area call Cedar-Thom.
We need that levy passed
There are 35 million seniors now over 65 and in another 22 years it will double to 70,000 seniors needing services.
Former NY Jets player talks about ills of drugs, alcohol
A little star power never hurts when trying to get a message to kids, and Superior locals proved that when they turned up at Superior High School to listen to former professional football player Dennis O'Sullivan talk with local teens about drug and alcohol abuse.
Fishing for a clear answer
The breach of the Milltown Dam did not damage fish populations as much as was expected, but local fishing outfitters are dealing with a different business problem caused by the breach.
Thompson Falls softball has big diamond weekend
The Lady Hawks have finally given up a run, but they continue their softball winning streak with a weekend sweep of western Montana opponents Friday and Saturday in Thompson Falls.
T-falls boys finish first in first meet
The Thompson Falls boys' track team hit the ground running. In the first track meet of the year they sprinted out in front of 17 other teams and scored 80 points to take home the Drummond/Alberton Invitational crown Thursday.
Wednesday, April 2
Punish pedophiles as harsh as murderers
“Child molesters such as Guill are the most selfish, vile beings ever to inhabit our space”
Rehberg: uphill battle to get logging revitalized in county
Mineral County welcomed Montana's only representative in the U.S. House of Representatives in Superior Wednesday for a talk with community members about issues facing rural Montana.
Lady Hawks win second game in row
Noxon defeated by Deer Lodge
Coalition takes big steps at meeting
The Sanders-Mineral Counties National Forest Stakeholders Coalition held its latest meeting last Tuesday in the basement of First Security Bank in Plains. At the meeting the coalition passed its bylaws, discussed the future of the group and officially adopted their first two projects.
Plains students drum up ghost at 'Light in the Mill'
Nine Plains High School actors showed audiences what superstitions and ghosts can do to the workers of a textile mill of the 1840s.
Track season off and running
For the past four years the local track teams have been using the John Jermyn Memorial Relay Race as a fun way to warm up for the real track season, but while the four teams competing at the Plains' event Thursday may of had fun, there was nothing warm about it.
Cinderella comes to St. Regis
There was magic in the air at the St. Regis Elementary School Theater Club's presentation of Cinderella in the school gymnasium Wednesday.
Publisher should stick to facts, not hearsay
I have read the stories that contained some facts, but mostly opinions and hearsay each week about Dan Resler. Against my better judgment, I can't stay quiet any longer. I for one think that we should commend Dan for taking total responsibility for what he has done.
Plains club clings to top in Postal Trap Shoot
The Plains Trap Club continued to hold its number one status in the 2008 Big Sky Postal Trap Shoot after four weeks of competition.
Read on further - there is no gray
I like to have people read a chapter in the Bible one at a time. It kind of gives you an idea of the time and what is going on. Some have been telling people that the Bible is gray here is where you prove yourself wrong.
'Hairy, Scary Science' was presented
For several months a couple people have deluged newspaper readers with more than 4,900 words about global warming.
Fire crews train for car accident extrication
The Valley Towing wrecking yard was full of fire trucks, men using the Jaws of Life and tearing apart cars Saturday, but not because anyone was in danger. More than 20 firefighters from the Plains Fire Department and the Plains-Paradise Rural Fire District practiced extrication for car accident situations under the guidance of Craig Jeppson from the Fire Services Training School.
Hot Springs Fire Department saves The Running Iron
The Hot Springs Fire Department stopped a chimney fire from getting out of control and destroying The Running Iron restaurant early Thursday evening.
Hot Springs Student Council holds reading carnival for elementary kids
The old gym at Hot Springs school was packed March 26 with excited elementary students as they lassoed, won prizes, and even got chances to throw pies in their teachers' faces.
Donkey Dominance
The old saying is stubborn as a mule, but after watching the players struggle with their animals at Donkey Basketball Saturday at Noxon, it was clear the idiom could just as easily be stubborn as a donkey.
Students whip teachers on b-ball court
Dozens of high school students at St. Regis showed off their basketball skills and raised some money for a good cause at the same time in the school's gym Friday.
Looking to keep the final SRO
The School Resource Officer program is up in the air once again. Dwindled down to one SRO - Sanders County Deputy Chris McGuigan - last year after a levy to continue both slots was defeated by county voters, the Sanders County Sheriff's Office is one again looking for support from the schools to keep that one SRO.
Rollover shuts down highway
The driver of the semitrailer that rolled on its side, spilling its load of timber and shutting down both lanes of traffic on Highway 200 for about three hours last Tuesday, was able to walk away from the wreck unharmed.
