Tuesday, March 25
Hot Springs chief of police put on leave
Hot Springs Chief of Police Tim Coleman was put on leave last week, but nobody is saying why.
Masons give bikes to students for reading achievement
Students in Plains have extra incentive to read, thanks in large part to the local Masonic lodge. Masonic Ponemah Lodge 63 donated bicycles on March 14 to five students - whose names were drawn from a hat - in grades three through six.
County readies for track season
Record number athletes come out for County track and field teams
Thanks for 'looming recession, highest ever gasoline prices
We have a lot to be thankful for. Here are just a few things I'm going to give thanks for starting with the June primary this year.
Witness, juror fees raise cost of Guill trial
The longest trial ever in Sanders County, which found Douglas Guill guilty of all five felonies last week, came at a high cost. Clerk of District Court Dianne Rummel said she wouldn't be surprised if the cost amounted to around $25,000 because of the many witness fees and juror compensations.
County residents to get new addresses
Mineral County residents will be getting new addresses this summer to help emergency response vehicles reach their destinations faster.
Plains athletes take to the golf course
The Plains golf team dusted off their clubs and brought them out to work the kinks out of their games after the long winter off-season.
Two Superior Little Guys take first
A wrestler didn't have to make it to the championship round or even place in the top four spots to celebrate. Such was the case for Superior Bobcat Tyler Wharry, who competed in the 125-pound junior high class, and claimed his first victory of the year. Immediately following his triumph, Wharry cheered, jumped in jubilation, and gleefully shook the hand of Superior assistant coach Gary Tourtelotte. The eighth-grader won his match against Frenchtown Bronc Colby Hagen 14-0.
Do you care?
Where has all the people's peripheral vision gone?
Runners, throwers, jumpers get ready
Despite rain, wind, cold weather, and lots of snow in Noxon, the boys and girls on the four high school track teams have been practicing and are looking forward to the start of the season.
Little Guy season finishes in Missoula
More than 500 matches were conducted at the Western Montana State Little Guy Wrestling Championships in Missoula Saturday, and by the time the gymnasium at Sentinel High School was cleared, the names of 10 Sanders County athletes ended up in the top four placements.
Tiny cheerleaders give big cheers at camp
For 3-foot-5 Alyson Garcia and 3-foot-3 Kaylah Standeford, a Saturday at the Plains High School gymnasium may have been a career-altering day.
Easter Bunny visits County
Saturday afternoon was rabbit season for many Mineral County families, but there was not a gunshot heard all day.
Give that judge a hand
Judge Kim Christopher deserves a round of applause for her decision in the Dan Resler case.
Plains boy qualifies for statewide geo bee
If any of the 100 students competing in the Montana National Geographic Bee should be able to locate Luck, a town in Polk County, Wis., with a population of 881, it probably would be the Plains eighth-grader competing in the bee.
Kids hunt for prize eggs in Plains, Paradise
About 150 children carried on a long tradition of combing through parks in Plains and Paradise in search of the prize egg Easter Sunday.
STORY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
A family that survived
Sanders County Trade Fair coming to Plains
It gets bigger every year, said Sherry McCartney about the annual Sanders County Trade Fair, scheduled for Saturday, March 29, at Plains High School.
Thursday, March 20
Man loses home, dog in fire
There were no injuries in a fire late last Monday on River Road West in Plains that burnt a house completely to the ground. But house owner Louis Johnston not only lost his home, but everything in it, along with his dog and $5,000 cash.
Milltown Superfund cleanup will add clean sediment to Clark Fork
An important step is taking place this week in the cleanup process at the Milltown Reservoir Sediments Superfund site, east of Missoula, and the results will have some impact on the Clark Fork. On Tuesday the river was diverted into a bypass channel so that next week the coffer dam can be breached, allowing the Clark Fork to flow freely for the first time in 100 years.
Wednesday, March 19
Power is risking our way of life
Our way of life is at risk; it is not only about money, it is about control. One of the greatest weapons used by the “ruling aristocracy” to protect their financial interests and advance their power agenda is to use little known civil laws, to make felons out of most any law abiding citizen. Open your eyes to the true rulers of America, “the ruling aristocracy” of America, who are in partnership with the government, and has effectively eliminated the “justice system” as we know it, and has replaced it with the “just us system” through wealth and financial manipulation. They have gained control of every facet of our life. Their long arm of control extends over the entire judicial system, law enforcement, legislation, all major media. For example, their ignoring of candidate for president, Dr. Ron Paul, the only presidential candidate with a real concern for the American citizen, the Constitution and the sovereignty and freedom of each of us.
Superior Little Guys head to state
Fifteen grapplers from Superior will are bound for the Little Guy Wrestling State Championships in Missoula this weekend after qualifying at the Inter Valley Tournament in Libby Saturday.
News
An important step is taking place this week in the cleanup process at the Milltown Reservoir Sediments Superfund site, east of Missoula, and the results will have some impact on the Clark Fork. On Tuesday the river was diverted into a bypass channel so that next week the coffer dam can be breached, allowing the Clark Fork to flow freely for the first time in 100 years.
Bison hide for open house
A midst scattered snowflakes, rain and sunshine, more than 40 people took advantage of the National Bison Range's open house Friday in search of bison and other wildlife.
Golf teams getting into the swing of things
The snow on the ground, frigid temperatures and cutting wind couldn't stop the Superior and St. Regis golf teams from breaking out their clubs last week, but as the golfers try to shake off the rust and adjust their swings from the long winter layoff, they will also have to adjust to having new coaches when their season starts.
Alberton goes to 4-day school week
Officials cite serious funding deficit
Teams hit wet, frozen bases
Noxon High School's softball diamond is still buried by snow, but that hasn't stopped the Lady Red Devils from getting in their practices. The 11 girls from the Lady Devs will be using the school gymnasium until the winter white stuff goes away, but head coach Mike Herbig doesn't yet see an end in sight.
Firefighters attack the flames on River Road West last Monday.
There were no injuries in a fire late last Monday on River Road West in Plains that burnt a house completely to the ground. But house owner Louis Johnston not only lost his home, but everything in it, along with his dog and $5,000 cash.
Skies clear for Turkey Shoot
“It ain't raining and it ain't blowing, so it's nice,” said Tom Kunzer of the 2008 Turkey Shoot at Plains Saturday.
Superior honors soldier who lost her arms in Iraq
“You're going to scream, you're going to cry, you're going to hate, and you're going to think why me and it's just going to kill you, but you have to do it. You can't bottle it up or it will destroy you.”
No, it is not only men who are controlling
I am addressing the response to the letter about domestic violence in a February issue of The Valley Press. Of course it is not only men who are controlling and abusive. Statistics indicate that women are the abusers in about 5 percent of all cases. Exact stats can be obtained from the local organization you refer to SCCFF, as well as NOW (National Organization for Women) to name only two. Any mental health facility can provide those statistics, as can law enforcement agencies. One could argue that because 5 percent of abusers are in fact women, both genders should be referenced when discussing the issue of domestic violence.
Guill-ty as charged
Heron resident Douglas Guill was found guilty of sexually assaulting his daughter while she was between the ages of 6 and 22 Tuesday in Thompson Falls. A Sanders County jury brought back guilty verdicts on all five felony counts, which included one count of sexual assault, two counts of sexual intercourse without consent and two counts of incest.
Community brings a breath of fresh air to Plains
A little bad weather couldn't stop about 25 people from leaving their mark on the main street in Plains Saturday.
Little Guys qualify for state finals at Missoula
Just over 40 athletes from Sanders County will be heading to the Little Guy Wrestling State Championships at Arlee and Missoula at the end of this week after qualifying at the Inter Valley Tournament at Libby Saturday.
Resler receives 10-year sentence
A drunk driver convicted of running down two Flathead Valley teenagers near Plains last March was given a 10-year sentence Tuesday to the Montana Department of Corrections.
Can't pick parts of the Bible, take 2
This letter is in response to the “Can't Pick Parts of the Bible,” by Sherry Welty. She claimed that people cannot choose which passages of the Bible to live by and which to disregard. In doing so, we bring the end of the world closer to existence.
Trout Creek Robomaniacs make way to postseason
Football has the Super Bowl, baseball has the World Series, and Lego robotics has the High Tech Kids First Lego League Open.
Puppets give Plains Elementary School students tips
The Sanders County Coalition For Families is trying to stop bullying by teaching kids at a young age that it's not good.
Eighth-grader nabs county spelling bee
A dark horse competitor came out on top at the Mineral County Spelling Bee in the Superior Elementary School gymnasium Thursday night.
Opinions based on collected facts
I have not and am not shrugging off anything. I have been trying to find a way to address the statements of Ron Olfert and Les Wood that were in the county newspapers in the past few weeks, and how to address the erroneous interpretations attributed to me.
Tuesday, March 11
Officials to make digital flood plan
A nationwide map modernization program will be taking place in different locations throughout Mineral County and may help landowners find an accurate and definite location for the area's flood plains.
Hot Springs gets second police officer
Protecting Hot Springs from crime is no longer a one-man show.
Wife, ex-wife take stand
Calm, collected and cheerful, Nicole Guill spent almost six hours on the witness stand Monday, testifying on behalf of her husband in the case where he is charged with felony counts of sexual assault, sexual assault without consent and incest.
Horsemen name Mitch Thompson as MVP
Junior selected as All-State, All-Conference
T-Falls hosts Valley Tournament for Little Guys
For nearly five hours, Little Guy wrestlers went face-to-face in 341 matches to see who would qualify for the Inter Valley Tournament at Libby Saturday.
Hot Springs' historic season comes to halt at state finals
The Savage Heat's run to the state championship came to an end with two heartbreaking losses at the Class C State Championship at Belgrade last week.
DOT head presents Heron bridge process
A bridge at Heron, which spans the Clark Fork River and connects the town to Highway 200, most likely had about 20 years of life when it was erected.
Relay For Life kicks off with 'Git 'er Done'
The theme for this year's Relay For Life is “Git ‘er Done,” but it has nothing to do with Larry the Cable Guy, a comedian whose slogan is “Git-R-Done.” Relay For Life's Git ‘er Done is of a much more serious nature - fighting cancer, said Kathy Miller, chairperson for the Sanders County Relay For Life again this year.
Nine Superior wrestlers take 1st at the Valley Tournament in Thompson Falls
The Superior Little Guy wrestlers heading into the Valley Tournament Saturday with new shirts, and while brandishing the large Superman “S” across their chests may not have given them the strength to leap over tall buildings in a single bound, outrun speeding bullets or stop a locomotive, but it did give them strength to take home nine first place finishes from Thompson Falls.
Pinewood Derby goes high-tech
The Cub Scouts in Plains have jumped into the 21st century with their new aluminum Pinewood Derby track, complete with a laser beam at the starting line and a light sensor finish. The accompanying computerized software program gave a finish down to 1/1,000th of a second and even showed how fast the cars traveled.
T-Falls 7th-grader takes Spelling Bee
Rehanna Burwell correctly spelled “discern” last Monday to make her the winner of the 2008 Sanders County Spelling Bee.
Superior, Alberton finishes spelling bees
Two Mineral County schools held spelling bees last week to find their best spellers and to pick students for this week's county-wide spelling bee.
Tuesday, March 4
Clark Fork perfect for 'playboaters'
When winter closes in on the mountains of Western Montana, it often means the end of any and all water sports until summer shows its sunny head.
Group looks to 'enrich' county residents with art, music
It wasn't much, but for the Sanders County Art Council, every little bit helps. The nonprofit group last week was awarded a $500 grant from Blackfoot Telephone Company to help with the upcoming baroque festival in August.
Trotters outlast Lady Hawks
Basketball season is done for both Sanders County girls teams, after losing two games at the Western B Divisional Tournament at Hamilton last week.
Black & white leads to green?
Is the world black and white? So, I'm writing this in response to Sherry Welty, who believes that the Bible is absolute and who made the outrageous claim that the majority believe it's either heaven or hell for humans when they die. I used to be in her shoes and held the same state of mind until I began my globe trotting ways. I'll never forget the Sunday I got back from the Netherlands a few years ago, and I hopped in my car to attend service at the Assembly of God Church in Plains. When I first arrived and realized that the speaker at the church that day was from the Netherlands, I expected that God was going to enlighten me with something profound.
State thanks Paradise students for their help in passing official state lullaby
Montana Sate Representative Pat Ingraham addressed the students of Paradise School Wednesday, thanking them for the role they played in the passing of a Montana House bill that named “Montana Lullaby” as the official state lullaby of Montana.
Parents need help from community
A local family whose newborn child is having medical problems is reaching out to the community for help.
Little Guys go to Superior for duals
Little Guy wrestling clubs from Thompson Falls and Pains-Hot Springs met in Superior Thursday at a four-team duals, along with Mission/Charlo/Dixon and Superior. The dual included beginner, novice, middle and junior classes.
Superior hosts Little Guy tourney
Four schools showed up to packed gym for the Superior Little Guy Duals Thursday night.
I'm still waiting for correct information
A tennis ball sized aluminum foil sphere has been staring at me for the past four years as a reminder of an item of misinformation that needs to be corrected.
Students show science skills
St. Regis students took over the gym to show off their science knowledge in a school wide science fair Wednesday.
Erin Rodrigue was arrested on federal firearms violations after appearing in the Mineral County Courthouse for hunting violations.
Officials surprise convicted poacher with arrest for alleged firearms violations
St. Regis honors basketball players, cheerleaders
St. Regis parents, athletes and sports fans crowded in to the school's cafeteria Thursday evening for an awards ceremony honoring their basketball players and cheerleaders for a season well played.
Ranger meets with public about DeBaugan project
Residents of the West End of Mineral County got their first chance to publicly voice their opinions on a new Forest Service plan that will reduce the amounts of forest fire fuels in the area.
Planet Earth cannot afford any more help from these so-called environmentalists
In the Clark Fork Valley Press on Feb. 20, there was a column written by Morlene Plouzek who is president of CAN in Thompson Falls. In this column, she did battle with some imaginary opponent called an anti-environmentalist. She further states that anti-environmentalists have not come up with any solutions.
Head-on collision kills couple
A head-on collision near Hot Springs on Highway 28 Tuesday killed a Vancouver, Wash., husband and wife and left a Plains woman in fair condition.
State starts criminal investigation of co-gen
The Montana Attorney General has started a criminal investigation into whether the owners of the co-gen plant near Thompson Falls provided fraudulent information to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality in order to obtain a nearly $1.6 million reduction in fines for repeatedly violating air quality standards.
