County shows support on foot, horseback

The Sanders County Special Olympics Torch Run this year was not only a success in the money they raised for the program, but it was the first time to have horses as part of the event, said Dave Hedley, who coordinated the torch run Thursday.

“We broke ground having a torch run with a pony express,” said Hedley. “We can’t find where there’s ever been a torch run with horses.”

Sixty-eight runners, one biker and 14 horses were involved in the Special Olympics Torch Run, which ran from the Idaho border on Highway 200 almost to Highway 93 in Lake County. The torch run began at 7:30 a.m., with Sanders County Sheriff Gene Arnold kicking it off, and ended about 8:30 p.m. with the last riders — Dave and Lisa Read of Plains — about two miles short of Highway 93, their final goal.

“It just got too dark,” said Hedley, who noted that it was not safe for the horses to be on the road at night. Thompson Falls Chloe Ferguson, 12, was the youngest of the pony express.

This was the second year for the torch run in Sanders County. Last year, they ran the symbolic torch only from Noxon to the intersection of Highways 200 and 28. Hedley was able to raise a little over $2,000, even though they started late. However, he said it was an “extreme success,” fetching more than $3,000 this year.

“We accomplished the goal of spreading awareness of Special Olympics,” said Hedley, whose twin boys Curt and Colton, 7, are “special athletes.” The Special Olympics Torch Run is a nationwide event that usually involves people passing a torch from runner to runner and is a fundraiser for the Special Olympics. Law enforcement communities across the United States have sponsored the event for the last 27 years. Normally, it’s law enforcement officers who fulfill the task of taking the “Flame of Hope,” but because of the limited number of officers in Sanders County, Hedley called on community members to fill in the gaps.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks game warden Tom Chianelli, a law enforcement officer, participated on bicycle by taking the torch for two miles on a stretch between Thompson Falls and Plains.

Hedley retired as a Department of Defense federal agent six years ago and is a part-time deputy with the county and a part-time officer with the Thompson Falls Police Department. He’s been involved with the Special Olympics Torch Run for over 20 years. He said that the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office is a firm supporter of the program. The sheriff’s department, along with the Montana Highway Patrol, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Sanders County Search and Rescue, Thompson Falls Police Department, and the Plains Police Department assisted with the event. Plains Chief of Police Shawn Emmett accompanied the Little Bitterroot Services special athletes through Plains before handing it off to 12-year-old Riley Montgomery, a special athlete in Plains, who took the torch last year, too.

Justin Knutson, 24 and a special athlete, carried the torch through Thompson Falls, walking alongside Hedley’s boys.

Husband and wife Dave and Nancy McKenzie of Thompson Falls participated in the torch run again this year, taking the torch on the west end of the county early Thursday morning. Students at the private alternative schools Turning D Ranch and Building Bridges, both in Thompson Falls, participated, along with runners from Thompson Falls and Plains Junior High track teams and from Paradise Grade School.

The torch arrived at Thompson Falls about 1:30 p.m. and reached Plains shortly before 5 p.m. The plan was for the torch to be passed to Arnold and his horse “Timber” at the start of the pony express, but Arnold said they had to leave by 4 p.m. so they wouldn’t be caught by darkness. The riders carried a torch on the end of a long staff, which also donned the Special Olympics flag. Like the runners, it was passed from rider to rider.

Runners took the torch about 76 miles; the horseback leg of the event was nearly 45 miles.

Hedley and Arnold plan to represent Sanders County for the Special Olympics competition in Great Falls May 14-16. Eight members of the Little Bitterroot team will compete in the state games at Great Falls.

After the event, participants were invited to a picnic at Ainsworth Field in Thompson Falls. Fred Boon, general manager of Harvest Foods in Thompson Falls, donated food, drinks and picnic supplies.

“We were really proud of the whole thing,” said Arnold, who plans to be part of the Sanders County Special Olympics Torch Run next year. “It’s good for the Special Olympics,” said Arnold, “but it also helps people get together. It’s a good community effort.”