Thursday, January 31
County may be looking at big cutbacks
Sanders County commissioners gathered their department heads together Thursday to pass on assurances that nothing has been determined as far as staff reductions or cutbacks in next year's budget. The meeting came as a result of the possibility of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 not being extending, which means a loss of more than $1 million the county utilized for schools and roads.
Scouts bake cake, eat, too
The Cub Scouts showed last week that they could bake their cakes and eat them, too. At the end of the Plains Cub Scout Pack 4657 annual Feller's Cake Bake, nearly all of the boys got to take their own cakes home. Only one boy's father got outbid, and the winner gave the cake back to the father and son.
Superior Bobcats nearly claim victory
The Superior Lady Bobcats were just a few seconds away from stopping their losing skid and getting their first win of the season.
Weather causes traffic delays, road closures
Semi-trucks, passenger vehicles stranded along I-90 at Haugan
School board says most of stolen money paid back
In a case that began with seven years of embezzlement, the St. Regis School District is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Forest Service keeps up on avalanche data
The hundreds of backcountry skiers, snowboarders, snowmobilers and hikers that enjoy the excellent snow and beautiful scenery that the Lookout Pass area has to offer, rely heavily on online avalanche information. For that, they have two Forest Service employees to thank.
Crowd protests decades-old Supreme Court abortion ruling
Nearly a hundred people gathered together to raise their voices hoping they could somehow traverse the frigid air to warm the hearts of those in charge of the nation's abortion laws last Tuesday in Thompson Falls.
Probation, parole violations lead to revocation
A Dixon man had his suspended sentence for burglary and theft charges revoked after breaking a laundry list of probation and parole regulations and now will have to serve five years in the Montana State Prison.
Plains 4-H club shooters get ready for tournament
Members of the Southside Sparks 4-H are setting their sights and taking aim at two upcoming shooting tournaments.
Noxon stages comeback, takes game from T-Falls
Noxon was down early but never quit and slowly chipped away at the Bluehawks until they found themselves up by two at the end of the game, 63-61.
Students take 2nd with Lego Robotics
While most children view Legos as just toys, four students from Trout Creek Elementary and Junior High used them to build two robots and a solid foundation for their future education.
Bluehawk grapplers take 3 of 4 final duals
The Thompson Falls Bluehawks' wrestling team finished their regular season with a sweep of the county's teams.
Trotters trounce Bobcats
With their coach watching over them like a hawk, Plains used the fast break to sprint to a 76-25 win over Superior and ran off with their third-straight victory.
Brown steps up late in thriller at Noxon
Junior Bethany Brown's hot hand late in the game Friday night kept the edge on Thompson Falls and the Noxon girls squeezed out the victory 53-52 in front of a packed house.
Wednesday, January 16
Fire destroys Hot Springs business
The Hot Springs Volunteer Fire Department is still investigating one of two fires that happened recently on the outskirts of town.
Doing violence to free speech
The Federal Communications Commission recently asked Congress to hand it broad powers to regulate "excessive violence" on TV, the way it currently restricts "indecent" speech: broadcasters who violate the FCC's limitations on "excessive violence" will face crippling fines and, potentially, the loss of their broadcast licenses. Isn't it time to ask: How did a country that reveres free speech end up with a government agency that imposes continually expanding speech restrictions — and where will those restrictions end?
Savage Heat handed second tough loss in two days
Just a day removed from a heartbreaking home loss to Superior, the Hot Springs Savage Heat traveled to Alberton Jan. 5 and suffered another stinging defeat - this time a 44-41 overtime loss to the Panthers.
County's top rivals face off at T-Falls
More than 600 spectators packed the Thompson Falls High School gymnasium to see the Bluehawks take on their biggest foe, the Plains Horsemen. In just over an hour later, the Bluehawks walked off the court with a 72-58 win to give them a 4-0 conference record and a 7-3 overall record.
Snowmobile accident victim survives 100-foot tumble
A woman who tumbled nearly 100 feet during a snowmobile accident Wednesday afternoon was listed in good condition by a spokesperson for the St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula Friday morning.
Food for Thought
Staying positive in the winter months
Hospital's new doctor's heart is with her patients
Nichols joins Clark Fork Valley Hospital
Rich man, poor man
I have never been poorer in my life than on Dec. 8, 1983.
Mystic Sisters begin new year with annual blanket project
A group of women dedicated to lending a hand to friends and neighbors in need put their hands to good use during their first meeting of the new year.
Horsemen take Lions 45-41
Tanner Colombo led the Plains Horsemen with 11 points for a 45-41 victory over the Lions at Eureka Jan. 5. Teammate Paul Green chalked up 10 points, with Trent Thompson on his heels with nine and Ian Stokes with seven in their win over the Lions, which put the Horsemen at a 7-1 record.
County looks to have party member input
First Montana Republican Caucus slated for Feb. 5
David F. York
David F. York passed away Dec. 5, 2007.
Police chief: Be aware of pedestrian safety
Plains Police Chief Shawn Emmett is urging local motorists and pedestrians to be cautious, attentive and aware of traffic rules.
Steven LaVar Ash
Our friend, neighbor, brother, father, grandfather, uncle and companion, Steven LaVar Ash, 47, of Belt, passed away Dec. 28, 2007, at Peace Hospice from liver failure. His memorial service was held at Belt Community Church Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008.
8th-grader lands top geography bee honors in Plains
Rivers, cities, states, and nations were among the topics asked to contestants for the National Geography Bee competitions in Plains and Trout Creek last week.
Three-pointers sink Plains in 39-34 loss to Thompson Falls
The Thompson Falls Lady Hawks ignited every time Plains flirted with a comeback Thursday night, riding a wave of lights-out downtown shooting from Katelyn Jedlicka to a 39-34 home win.
Junior high Horsemen take 2 in final games
The junior high Plains Horsemen basketball team won two nail-biters on their home floor against the Thompson Falls Bluehawks and the Noxon Red Devils Saturday to improve to a 9-1 record.
Alberton swears in new council, appoints attorney
The winds of change swept across Alberton the past week with three new faces taking over the reins of the town's affairs.
Monday, January 14
Lady Tigers claw to hard-fought victory
Three St. Regis players foul out
In the Spirit of Sanitation
Happy New Year! The Environmental Health staff in Sanders County are looking forward to 2008 for many reasons, number one being the Revolving Loan Fund. The state bureaucrats finally gave the county the first installment for the loan fund. This program is unique to the state of Montana, and is a wonderful opportunity to help you afford replacing your failed or obsolete septic system. Why should you care? Well, even if you don't care about the environment, and your well has not been contaminated by a poorly functioning septic system, you probably care about your family's safety.
Plains woman goes to Alabama to talk herbs
A Plains resident had the chance to talk to a group of people in Alabama about something she believes in — herbs.
Tuesday, January 8
Smoke-free hospital campus marked with shed demolition
The Clark Fork Valley Hospital campus is now smoke-free, and a group of hospital employees and volunteers smashed the hospital's designated smoking shed with hammers Monday to mark the occasion.
3-point heroics fall short in Heat loss
Two points, one stolen ball and 20 seconds separated a miracle comeback from a heartbreaking loss for Hot Springs Friday. The Savage Heat electrified a boisterous home crowd with a 19-point fourth quarter run, but fell in the final seconds to the Superior Bobcats 44-42 for their first league loss of the season.
Avila moves to 18 wins
With the wrestling season past the halfway point, one Superior wrestler is proving he's going to be a force to be reckoned with come divisionals.
Community gathers for food, fun, fireworks
Over 100 people of all ages rang in the new year with food, music and fireworks at the St. Regis Community New Year's Eve Celebration Monday.
Police seek ID of alleged thief
Plains police are looking to identify a man who shoplifted beer from the Town Pump early Thursday morning.
Christmas, credit card fees
Now that Christmas is over and all the gifts unwrapped and being enjoyed, many of us will reluctantly turn our thoughts to having to pay for all that generosity. For most of us that means paying off the credit card bill. That also means paying interest on the balance if we don't pay it off in one payment; and possibly late payment fees, underpayment fees, balance transfer fees, and if you complain, a bad attitude fee.
175 youth celebrate new year at Plains church
Laughter and music rang out as 175 youth counted down the final minutes of 2007 at the Church on the Move in Plains last Monday, but youth group director Rena Garcia said safety and responsible choices were as important as fun at the church's New Year's Eve bash.
Horsemen, Hawks hit Ronan
Although the wrestling season has been going on since the end of November, last weekend was the first meet for one Thompson Falls athlete, who had been recovering from severe injuries he sustained during the Bluehawks' football playoffs. Tate Cavill said he felt he was still out of shape, but that didn't seem to stop him from going undefeated at the Western Montana Duals in Ronan Friday and Saturday.
Addiction is not a disease
For several decades now alcohol and drug addiction has been viewed and treated as a brain disease by the medical and psychiatric communities. Concurrent with this approach has also come a very definite lack of results in their treatments for addiction.
Christmas isn't over yet
The Christmas season is over? No, not entirely. The Eastern Orthodox, the second largest Christian communion in the world, numbering approximately 1,200,000 adherents in the United States, celebrated Christmas on Jan. 7, which is Dec. 25 in the Julian calendar. The Gregorian calendar, the reformed Julian Calendar we use today, was implemented by a Catholic Pope, Pope Gregory XIII, in 1582, but to this date it has not been recognized for religious observances by many Eastern Orthodox Churches around the world.
50 Years Ago
January 9, 1958: Alberton Gym Opens Friday—Alberton School Superintendent Elmore Smith welcomes all county residents to attend the open house at the school's new gymnasium on Friday evening, Jan. 10. The 120-foot by 75-foot new addition is adjacent to the old school building and it is incorporated into the older structure.
Fireball sends man to Seattle hospital
A Plains man was severely burned after an explosion occurred at the Lynch Creek Nursery on Lower Lynch Creek Road last Tuesday.
Bluehawks win, lose big in pair of weekend match-ups
The Thompson Falls Bluehawks emerged from weekend play with a win and a loss, and are now 5-3 en route to a clash with the Trotters Friday.
Sandra Janez Marquardt Gingery
Sandra Janez Marquardt Gingery, 68, passed away Friday, Jan. 4, 2008, at her home near Plains surrounded by the love of her family and Heavenly Father. Cancer called and God beckoned.
Icy splash
Near subzero temperatures didn't deter nearly 70 people from taking a leap into the frigid waters of Clark Fork River on New Year's Day as part of the 7th Annual Polar Bear Splash in Thompson Falls.
How lucky we are
Thank you Valley Press. We are so fortunate to have our own newspaper in this small town. If people would only take the time to realize that we have a forum to express our opinions and story's to our friends and neighbors.
Richard C.
Harmon Sr.
SCCHO partners with tribal housing authority
The Sanders County Community Housing Organization has entered into a "mentoring" relationship with the Salish and Kootenai Tribal Housing Authority, an important step toward Community Housing Development Organization certification and opening doors for low-income Sanders County residents. SCCHO was founded in 2003 and obtained IRS tax exempt status in 2006. The organization's goal, according to executive director Nancy Combs, is to promote the availability of affordable housing for low to moderate income residents of Sanders County.
Friday, January 4
Looking back: Mineral County year in review
It seems like 2007 just started, but another year has come and gone. As we ring in 2008, it is not only a time for celebration as we await the good fortunes that the new year will bring, but it is also a time of reflection as we look back to the events that shaped the year. This week, the Mineral Independent takes a look back at the stories that impacted the county.
Thursday, January 3
Plains man makes quilt for wounded soldiers
One Sanders County man has decided to use his artistic skills to help wounded soldiers returning from the war in the Middle East.
Wednesday, January 2
Plains man makes quilt for wounded soldiers
ne Sanders County man has decided to use his artistic skills to help wounded soldiers returning from the war in the Middle East.
From the Den of John Day
Government regulations can help but can also hurt us.
Montanans: Quit Tobacco in '08, share your story
Join a growing community of Montanans who plan to quit tobacco in 2008
Hawks take on Hawks at 'Keg Bowl'
Budweiser outguns Silver Bullets
Man charged with felonies in St. Regis-area meth case
Sheriff: Community "sick of seeing this garbage"
Superior band rocks for St. Jude
The rock and roll lifestyle is often perceived as one of decadence, excess and narcissism, but a two-piece band based in Superior are working hard to change that perception.
Food for thought
What to do about the Holiday Blues
Buck's Grocery owners aim for variety, convenience with expansion project
As Buck's Grocery approaches its 70th year as a Hot Springs institution, owners of the fourth-generation family business are crediting the community with making a 1,600-square-foot expansion project possible.
New Lookout chair lift system debuts
The lines cut into the north slope of Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area Wednesday morning were among the first ever made on that part of the mountain.
I feel frustrated and sick over what they're going through
I just wanted to bring to everyone's attention a drunken driving case from Sanders County in which two teenage boys were run down and killed.
Town Pump's Food Bank fund-raiser hits $1.15 million
The Town Pump Charitable Foundation, in partnership with food banks across Montana, raised a record $1.15 million to help feed Montana's hungry.
Red hot Panthers melt down versus Victor
The Alberton Panthers went into their game against Victor red hot and finished the game ice cold.
Animal cruelty charges dropped
Judge: Police failed to obtain necessary search warrant
Fire chief: teamwork key as department moves forward
Thursday meeting draws new volunteers
Book Review
Patton and Rommel
Brain Bash tests students' mind, body
Even at the last day of school, the student of Plains High School had to use their brain power. But this time it was for fun, said teacher Betty Taylor, who heads the Jobs For Montana Graduates class.
