Stories for March 2014

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Monday, March 31

March 31, 2014 1:59 p.m.

Landslide closes I-90 West to Idaho

ST. REGIS – An overnight landslide has prompted a closure of one of western Montana’s most traveled highways.

Wednesday, March 26

Dance
March 26, 2014 8:15 p.m.

Dance

Eileen Wolff and Raymond Randall dance to welcome springtime during the St. Regis Spring Equinox Dance at the St. Regis Community Center. 

Dancing in the spring
March 26, 2014 8:13 p.m.

Dancing in the spring

ST. REGIS – Residents of St. Regis welcomed spring over the weekend with their annual Spring Equinox Dance at the St. Regis Community Center.

Fair Board
March 26, 2014 8:10 p.m.

Fair Board

Deb and Ken Davis-Quitt discuss maintenance of the fairgrounds during the Mineral County Fair Board's March meeting. 

Preparations plans for upcoming county fair
March 26, 2014 8:07 p.m.

Preparations plans for upcoming county fair

SUPERIOR – With the fair right around the corner, the Mineral County Fair Board has begun addressing maintenance preparations and concerns about the grounds for this year’s event.

Prom
March 26, 2014 8:03 p.m.

Prom

Junior Serenity Branden and senior Austin King were voted king and queen of the Superior Prom. 

March 26, 2014 7:58 p.m.

Healthcare deadline approaches

Alberton track
March 26, 2014 7:55 p.m.

Alberton track

Mia Balich, McKayla Tomlinson and Rebecca Braae practice their running style for one of the track sports. 

Golf
March 26, 2014 7:49 p.m.

Golf

Senior Keenan Clute tracks his ball's progress as junior Ashley Chessman swings for a shot of her own during one of the first practice sessions of the St. Regis golf team. 

Tennis
March 26, 2014 7:44 p.m.

Tennis

Alberton Senior Hailie Bahm serves the ball during a practice session of the Alberton-Superior tennis team. 

Superior track
March 26, 2014 7:36 p.m.

Superior track

Jordan Mueller and Danielle Ewoniuk use boxes to improve their jump for track and field events this season. 

Superior track practices underway for season
March 26, 2014 7:33 p.m.

Superior track practices underway for season

SUPERIOR – Last week, practices began for the Superior Track and Field team as the kids began to prepare themselves to run, jump and throw their way to victory this spring.

Tigers track
March 26, 2014 7:29 p.m.

Tigers track

Senior Arianna Jones does a workout with a jumprope during an early practice session of the St. Regis Track and Field team. 

Commissioners
March 26, 2014 7:21 p.m.

Commissioners

Kelann McLees and Kasey Feasel discuss the benefits of adopting a safety program for Mineral County at the weekly commissioner's meeting. 

Commissioners learn about I-90 and safety plans
March 26, 2014 7:19 p.m.

Commissioners learn about I-90 and safety plans

SUPERIOR – On Friday, March 21, the Mineral County Commissioners were notified of upcoming projects along Interstate 90 and voted on a safety committee proposal.

March 26, 2014 7:12 p.m.

Chamber approves board of directors

SUPERIOR – On Friday, March 21, the Mineral County Commissioners were notified of upcoming projects along Interstate 90 and voted on a safety committee proposal.

March 26, 2014 7:10 p.m.

Mullan road conference scheduled

March 26, 2014 7:09 p.m.

Court Records

March 26, 2014 7:05 p.m.

Community Calendar

Anthony J. Butch Drazan Jr.
March 26, 2014 7:02 p.m.

Anthony J. Butch Drazan Jr.

Daniel Charles Toomey
March 26, 2014 6:53 p.m.

Daniel Charles Toomey

Hula-hooper
March 26, 2014 5:30 p.m.

Hula-hooper

Julissa bonney hula hoops at the Trout Creek After School Program Talent Show. 

Healthcare
March 26, 2014 5:25 p.m.

Healthcare

Certified Application Counselor Karen Dwyer navigates the Marketplace website at the enrollment event. 

County jumps on enrollment
March 26, 2014 5:23 p.m.

County jumps on enrollment

SANDERS COUNTY – On Saturday, March 22, officials from Clark Fork Valley Hospital, Sanders County Health Department, Mineral Regional Health Center and Missoula gathered in building two of the hospital. These people were certified application counselors and they came together in a final effort to encourage the people of Sanders County to get health care coverage.

Kick butts
March 26, 2014 5:21 p.m.

Kick butts

Kade Hill and Gary Wadman work to blow up an artificial lung during the Noxon Kick Butts event. The event geared towards teaching kids the effects of tobacco. 

Students 'kick butts'
March 26, 2014 5:21 p.m.

Students 'kick butts'

NOXON – In an effort to educate the kindergarten through eighth grade students about the harmful effects of tobacco, Noxon held their 9th annual Kick Butts Day event.

March 26, 2014 5:18 p.m.

Fairboard decides funds for stand down

PLAINS – The Sanders County Fairboard met on Wednesday, March 19 to discuss a variety of issues revolving around money. The board presented a decision on the Sanders County Tri-State Veterans Stand Down funds, discussed the pavilion rehabilitation, talked about a possible new building on the grounds and renewed their fair concessions contract.

Royalty
March 26, 2014 5:18 p.m.

Royalty

Prom King Wade Gascon and Prom Queen Callie Jacobson show off their crowns at the Thompson Falls Prom. 

Sleepless in Seattle prom receives raves
March 26, 2014 5:17 p.m.

Sleepless in Seattle prom receives raves

THOMPSON FALLS – Not a hair was out of place as the girls entered the Thompson Falls Junior High School gym dressed to impress in beautiful colorful dresses. The guys sported their suits and were ready to show off to their dates for the Sleepless in Seattle themed prom.

fundraiser
March 26, 2014 5:13 p.m.

fundraiser

The Tuxedo Tappers entertained the crowd by tapping to classic jazz at the TRACS fundraiser Saturday night. The members are Donna Curry, Chris Magdalene and Deb Oliver. 

TRACS fundraiser brings top-notch fun
March 26, 2014 5:07 p.m.

TRACS fundraiser brings top-notch fun

TROUT CREEK – The night at the Oscars was complete with red carpets, show stopping outfits, lights, entertainment and awards at the Lakeside Resort and Hotel Convention Center over the weekend. The one thing the Academy Awards of Trout Creek had that the Hollywood version did not, animals. After all, what is an animal shelter fundraiser without an animal appearance or two?

March 26, 2014 5:05 p.m.

Letter to the Editor "Comedic relief available" - March 26

I want to compliment Ernest Sherzer for his letter to the editor in the recent issue of the Valley Press.

March 26, 2014 5:04 p.m.

Letter to the Editor "Purpose of government" - March 26

Do we pay Peace Officers to keep us safe?

March 26, 2014 4:19 p.m.

Sanders County Expo to hit Plains

SANDERS COUNTY – Members of local businesses, services and clubs will flock to the Plains High School gym by the dozens this weekend to display all they have to offer the people of Sanders County.

Scholarship
March 26, 2014 4:17 p.m.

Scholarship

Keely Benson is presented with a scholarship check with NWTF Regional Director Tony Halpir at the Clark Fork Valley Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation's annual banquet. The check was for $1,000. 

NWTF members flock to Plains
March 26, 2014 4:16 p.m.

NWTF members flock to Plains

PLAINS - Local businesses and sportsmen showed their support Saturday night for the Clark Fork Valley Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) at their 14th annual banquet. These type of banquets bring in several thousand dollars to the local, state and NWTF mission. The pavilion at the Sanders County Fairgrounds was close to max capacity and filled with prizes.

March 26, 2014 4:01 p.m.

Valley Press, Mineral Independent deadlines change

SANDERS COUNTY - The Clark Fork Valley Press has undergone some recent changes to their deadline.

Talent
March 26, 2014 3:58 p.m.

Talent

Noa Stevens hula hoops to Wagon Wheel during the talent show. Stevens placed in the competition. 

Trout Creek stars shine throughout night
March 26, 2014 3:57 p.m.

Trout Creek stars shine throughout night

TROUT CREEK – Singing, dancing and magic tricks were just some of the skills displayed at the second annual Trout Creek After School Talent Show on Thursday, March 20. The stars of Trout Creek School took to the stage to show off their talents and in the process, the kids managed to wow the crowd.

James Rulison
March 26, 2014 3:55 p.m.

James Rulison

Senior James Rulison shoots towards the heavens in a game this past basketball season. 

Rulison reminisces
March 26, 2014 3:53 p.m.

Rulison reminisces

PLAINS – Unless one does track, springtime means the end of sports and the soon-to-end school year. If one is a senior, high school sports and high school as a whole end for good. This is the situation senior James Rulison finds himself now. Football and basketball are behind him and college lies ahead.

Long jump
March 26, 2014 3:48 p.m.

Long jump

Horsemen track and field athlete Jeffrey Marshall leaps through the air as he attempts to perfect his long jump technique.

Plains track and field start off season
March 26, 2014 3:45 p.m.

Plains track and field start off season

PLAINS – The Horsemen and Trotters paid homage to the Greeks by running, throwing and jumping across the track and field in preparation for the first meet of the season. The athletes, particularly the girls, have much to live up to this year.

Fire away
March 26, 2014 3:41 p.m.

Fire away

Returning player Lady Hawk Brook Wood winds up to throw to her teammate in a passing drill for one of the first practices of the season. 

Lady Hawk softball in full swing
March 26, 2014 3:40 p.m.

Lady Hawk softball in full swing

THOMPSON FALLS – The girls on the Thompson Falls Softball team have been learning quickly – a good sign for their future.

Trotters
March 26, 2014 3:39 p.m.

Trotters

Trotter Jenna Peterson takes a swing and makes contact in batting practice during the first week of softball.

Trotter softball swings away
March 26, 2014 3:38 p.m.

Trotter softball swings away

PLAINS – Despite the biting wind of winter’s end, girls laced up their cleats and donned their catcher’s mitts for softball practice. They threw and ran, slid and batted, all in preparation for the first game of the season.

Hot Springs track overcomes small numbers
March 26, 2014 3:37 p.m.

Hot Springs track overcomes small numbers

HOT SPRINGS – This week in Hot Springs there was jumping, running and throwing galore as the high school track and field team began practices. The athletes are in full preparation mode for the first meet of the season.

Noxon
March 26, 2014 3:33 p.m.

Noxon

The Red Devils Track and Field team partook in yoga at one of their practices. The team has 23 athletes in all. 

Red Devils overcome conditions
March 26, 2014 3:31 p.m.

Red Devils overcome conditions

NOXON – Even as the track field sat in an unusable state, with mud piled inches high, the conditions of the track were not enough to stop the Red Devil Track and Field team from starting off their season.

Hurdles
March 26, 2014 3:30 p.m.

Hurdles

Angela Padden jumps over a hurdle during practice. Padden has been a member of the track and field team for four years. 

Thompson Falls hits the ground running
March 26, 2014 3:29 p.m.

Thompson Falls hits the ground running

THOMPSON FALLS – The Bluehawk Track and Field team looks healthy this year and each athlete has had time to hone in on their individual skills.

March 26, 2014 3:26 p.m.

Brooke Kinley Meredith

Keith and Cora Meredith of Kalispell welcomed a daughter Brooke Kinley Meredith at 8:12 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. Brooke weighed 6 pounds 9 ounces and was 21 1/2 inches long. Brooke joins sisters Taryn and Jenna Meredith. Maternal grandparents are Bob and Dianne Zimmerman of Thompson Falls. Paternal grandparents are Stan and Patsy Meredith of Plains.

Arachis Ray Feenstra
March 26, 2014 3:25 p.m.

Arachis Ray Feenstra

PLAINS – Arachis Ray Feenstra was born on March 17, 2014 at 6:18 p.m. at Clark Fork Valley Hospital. He weighed 8 pounds and 1 ounce and was 21 ½ inches long. Parents are Jenna and Joshua Feenstra of Plains. Paternal grandparents are Cindy Odland of Calgary, AB; and Ray and Stephanie Feenstra of Lethbridge, AB. Maternal grandparents are Rick and Barb Rettig of Ephrata, WA.

March 26, 2014 3:19 p.m.

Sanders County Community Calendar

Friday, March 21

March 21, 2014 7 p.m.

Voice your opinions about healthcare in Sanders County

SANDERS COUNTY Community members in Sanders County may have received a Health Needs Assessment Survey in their mailbox last week. The survey was sent to a random sample of homes to help Clark Fork Valley Hospital (CFVH) identify essential health services needed in Sanders County. The information will be used for strategic planning, grant applications, new program development and by community groups interested in addressing rural health issues.

March 21, 2014 6:36 p.m.

Sanders County Justice Court week of 3/11 to 3/17

Sanders County Justice Court week of 3/11 to 3/17.

Wednesday, March 19

Church on Move
March 19, 2014 1:58 p.m.

Church on Move

Emosi Tatukivei, Pastor Jim Sinclair and Ken Saner show off the sawmill. The mill will help benefit the village on isalnd of Moturiki in Fiji. 

Church on Move sends help to Fiji
March 19, 2014 1:57 p.m.

Church on Move sends help to Fiji

PLAINS - Local members of the Church On the Move have spent the last two weeks building a sawmill that will be shipped to the island of Moturiki, Fiji. This sawmill is headed where there are no towns, lights, roads, horses or bicycles. Boats are the primary form of transportation. Just getting gas to run the saw mill will be a challenge and will have to be acquired from one of the more modern chain islands.

March 19, 2014 1:56 p.m.

Candidates finish filing for election

SANDERS COUNTY – As the filing period ended on Monday, March 10, the county now knows who is up for election.

After prom breakfast keeps kids safe
March 19, 2014 1:55 p.m.

After prom breakfast keeps kids safe

PLAINS - Heather’s Country Kitchen was a loud and happy place on Friday night and it wasn’t the normal dinner crowd either. Heather’s was host to the annual Plains After Prom Breakfast, sponsored by Citizens Against Drug Abuse.

Prom breakfast
March 19, 2014 1:55 p.m.

Prom breakfast

Prom Queen Nicole Rehbein looks through her options at the after prom breakfast at Heather's Country Kitchen. 

Royalty
March 19, 2014 1:51 p.m.

Royalty

Prom Queen Nicole Rehbein and Prom King Wyatt Winebrenner pose with elementary students Catalina Mitchell and Sam Feliska after the crowning ceremony. 

Plains Prom anything but plain
March 19, 2014 1:50 p.m.

Plains Prom anything but plain

PLAINS – Attendees walked up the painted cobblestone pathway past the antique lampposts to enter the pavilion. The room was showered in white and gold fabrics that sparkled. The center of the space was the ballroom and the outskirts an enchanted forest with balloon trees and fairy lights. A large clock face was center stage for the ‘Til the Clock Strikes 12’ theme.

Fundraiser
March 19, 2014 1:48 p.m.

Fundraiser

The Feed the Food Bank Stew Feed was put on by the Women's Circle and they raised around $400 for the Plains Food Bank.

Feed food bank fundraiser fruitful
March 19, 2014 1:47 p.m.

Feed food bank fundraiser fruitful

PARADISE – Church members, community members, family and friends gathered together in the little white building next to the little white church to enjoy each other’s company and good food. They also came together for a good cause.

TRACS
March 19, 2014 1:44 p.m.

TRACS

The Sons of Biscuits performed at last year's fundraiser for TRACS. This year the event has a red carpet theme and much of the local talent are returning.

March 19, 2014 1:42 p.m.

Mineral County Chamber Chatter

‘Volunteer Burn-Out’ (VBO) is rampant right now after this loooong snow packed winter. I’m going through it myself; just when I’m asking chamber members and residents to ramp-up for events. Taking on more than we can handle can be a curse to some, where others thrive with the challenge. My personnel philosophy is if I can do 2 things well, or 5 things semi-well, go with the 2 and keep my fingers crossed that I do indeed, do both of them well. My point is that we need to say “No” when asked which is extremely difficult for many of us as we want to people-please. “Passion” for the subject ought to act as a guiding force when you question if you should or shouldn’t step into the ring of volunteering. All of us have worked with volunteers who drop off the radar and the entire momentum stalls because of that person. When you raise your hand, be committed.

March 19, 2014 1:42 p.m.

The last chance to sign up for healthcare is approaching fast

Procrastinators! It’s time. The March 31st deadline to sign up for health insurance is coming up fast. This is the last chance this year for uninsured individuals to purchase individual insurance. If you are uninsured, visit www.healthcare.gov today. There you can apply for coverage and likely receive tax credits to help you buy insurance. Enrollment help is also available at Mineral Regional Health Center.

March 19, 2014 1:41 p.m.

Letter to the Editor March 19

For five months taxpayers endured letters to the editor blindly condemning the Fair Board and Manager regarding the Stand Down.

March 19, 2014 1:40 p.m.

An update from Rep. Ingraham

With the first day of spring about to burst forth, it brings to mind a couple of March dates which will soon be upon us. One such date is March 30th when the 62nd Legislative Session passed House Bill 255. HB 255 was an effort to help heal the wounds of Vietnam era veterans by establishing a “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.” HB 225 set March 30th of each year as the day for remembering our Vietnam Veterans. On Sunday, March 30th, Montanans will, once again, observe and celebrate this special day of remembrance, by remembering all the men and women who served in the armed forces during the Vietnam War.

March 19, 2014 1:38 p.m.

Thompson Falls to host countywide fair

THOMPSON FALLS – Sanders County students will be encouraged to plan their future in a smart way as Thompson Falls High School hosts a county-wide career education day.

Carnival
March 19, 2014 1:37 p.m.

Carnival

National Honor Society member Ben Gorham helps a younger student play a balloon dart game at the student-run after school carnival.

NHS carnival excites
March 19, 2014 1:36 p.m.

NHS carnival excites

PLAINS – Games and clowns and swords…oh my! Smiles were abundant in the Plains High School Gym Tuesday, March 11 at the carnival put on by the National Honor Society. The NHS members worked hard to provide the younger students with a good time.

Thompson
March 19, 2014 1:33 p.m.

Thompson

Trotter Leah Thompson passes the ball to a teammate in a game this past season. Thompson plays softball and does track and field in the spring.

Trotter Thompson trains tirelessly
March 19, 2014 1:32 p.m.

Trotter Thompson trains tirelessly

PLAINS – Whether she is just leaving practice, walking to the park with a ball in hand or watching ESPN, sports are never far from the mind of sophomore Leah Thompson. With volleyball, basketball, softball and track, Thompson has a full plate all year round. This week is the beginning of her busiest time as Thompson balances two spring sports.

Common Core
March 19, 2014 1:29 p.m.

Common Core

Linda Hohenstein gives a presentation on the Common Core State Standards.

Residents hold presentation on Common Core Standards
March 19, 2014 1:28 p.m.

Residents hold presentation on Common Core Standards

PLAINS - An informational meeting concerning Common Core State Standards and education was held on Wednesday March 12, at the Plains Bible Chapel. It was organized by county residents – Paula Snyder, Art Hassan, Kathy Hassan and Linda Hohenstein.

Breaking ground
March 19, 2014 1:25 p.m.

Breaking ground

The Plains School Board of Trustees Polly Icenoggle, John Holland, Dede Steinebach, Lisa French, Ron Warren, Sydne Connolly, retired Superintendent Rich Magera and Superintendent Thom Chisholm use thier gold shovels to participate in a groundbreaking opportunity. Although the start date of the school addition was March 17, Western Interstate was able to begin their work on March 10 because of the nice weather. 

School breaks ground
March 19, 2014 1:24 p.m.

School breaks ground

PLAINS – Plains Public Schools Board of Trustees, Superintendent Thom Chisholm and retired Superintendent Rich Magera participated in a groundbreaking photo opportunity on Monday, March 17 prior to the state monthly board meeting.

March 19, 2014 1:22 p.m.

Kick Butts day to take over Montana

SANDERS COUNTY - Organized by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Kick Butts Day is an annual celebration of youth leadership and activism in the fight against tobacco. On Kick Butts Day, youth will encourage their peers to stay tobacco-free and educate their communities about the tobacco industry’s harmful marketing practices.

I love to read
March 19, 2014 1:21 p.m.

I love to read

Faculty at Noxon Elementary School sported their Dr. Seuss gear to promote I Love to Read month. The celebration took place in February. 

Noxon kids enhance their love for reading
March 19, 2014 1:20 p.m.

Noxon kids enhance their love for reading

NOXON - Noxon Elementary school showed their enthusiasm for reading during the I Love to Read month celebration in February.

Ready, set, present
March 19, 2014 1:17 p.m.

Ready, set, present

Presentations
March 19, 2014 1:17 p.m.

Presentations

Josh Wulfekuhle shows the judges his hurdling technique in his 4-H presentation. Wulfekuhle was a senior finalist. 

Painting
March 19, 2014 1:13 p.m.

Painting

Local artist Crystal Kingston will be organizing the Montana Antrepreneur workshops. This will be the first time the workshops are offered in Sanders County. Above is one of Kingston's pieces. 

Workshops offered to local artists
March 19, 2014 1:12 p.m.

Workshops offered to local artists

SANDERS COUNTY – A new opportunity for local artists has been presented to help artists market their work.

March 19, 2014 1:10 p.m.

Art on the Walls spring show to debut

PLAINS - Sanders County Arts Council announces the opening of the Spring Show of “Art on the Walls” at the Clark Fork Valley Hospital on Thursday, March 27, 2014.

Mackenzi Marie Torti
March 19, 2014 1:08 p.m.

Mackenzi Marie Torti

PLAINS – Mackenzi Marie Torti was born on March 6, 2014 at 2:07 p.m. at Clark Fork Valley Hospital. She weighed 6 pounds 10.5 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. Parents are Lori Marie and Robert Torti of Thompson Falls. Paternal grandparents are Robert and Cayla Torti of Trout Creek and Robert Austin of Trout Creek. Maternal grandmother is Tammie Grubius of Thompson Falls. Great-grandparents are Angie and Richard Brotherton of Thompson Falls.

Olivia Louise McNutt
March 19, 2014 1:06 p.m.

Olivia Louise McNutt

PLAINS – Olivia Louise McNutt was born on March 7, 2014 at 6:15 a.m. at Clark Fork Valley Hospital. She weighed 6 pounds 9 ounces and was 20 inches long. Parents are Susan and Kirk McNutt of Plains. Paternal grandparent is Wayne McNutt of Greenville, OH. Maternal grandparents are Raymond and Kathy Hanson of Conroe, TX.

Grayson Bentley Lafond
March 19, 2014 1:02 p.m.

Grayson Bentley Lafond

PLAINS – Grayson Bentley Lafond was born March 9, 2014 at 2:13 p.m. at Clark Fork Valley Hospital. He weighed 7 pounds 3 ounces and was 18 inches long. Parents are Lisa and Peter Lafond of Thompson Falls.

March 19, 2014 1:01 p.m.

Sanders County Community Calendar

March 19, 2014 12:57 p.m.

CFVH, MRHC partner on healthcare Marketplace enrollment event

PLAINS - March 31 is the deadline to apply for health insurance for 2014 under the Affordable Care Act. Clark Fork Valley Hospital and Mineral Regional Health Center are both Certified Application Counselor organizations with staff trained to assist individuals in obtaining insurance through the online Federal insurance exchange at Healthcare.gov.

Performance
March 19, 2014 12:17 p.m.

Performance

Roman Jr., Kenley and Wyatt Zylawy perform bluegrass and country music during their reunion concert at the River Edge Steakhouse. 

Zylawy Brothers reunite
March 19, 2014 12:15 p.m.

Zylawy Brothers reunite

March 19, 2014 12:12 p.m.

BPA State brings wins

School Board
March 19, 2014 12:08 p.m.

School Board

John Carpenter and Kavita Bay listen as Jessie Nichols discusses the school's lunch program at the Alberton School Board of Trustees meeting. 

St. Patrick's Day
March 19, 2014 11:59 a.m.

St. Patrick's Day

Angela MacDonald and Nancy Young listen to Parris Young read a pros piece he wrote during the annual St. Patrick's Day poetry reading in Alberton. 

Mineral County Commissioners
March 19, 2014 11:49 a.m.

Mineral County Commissioners

Herb Stelling emphasizes a point as he discusses the removal of an abandoned mobile home on his property with the Mineral County Commissioners. 

Commissioners discuss trailer removal and Forest Service
March 19, 2014 11:47 a.m.

Commissioners discuss trailer removal and Forest Service

SUPERIOR – During their weekly meeting, the Mineral County Commissioners resolved the ownership of an abandoned trailer and got an update on getting in touch with the Regional Forester’s office.

Little Guy Wrestling
March 19, 2014 11:40 a.m.

Little Guy Wrestling

Superior wrestler Michael Parkin tries to pin teammate Hunter Haskins during a match in the Little Guy Wrestling season. 

Keir Sanzano
March 19, 2014 11:32 a.m.

Keir Sanzano

Keir Sanzano takes a shot for the basket during an Alberton Panthers home game. Sanzano ranked second on a number of statistics this season. 

Tigers
March 19, 2014 11:26 a.m.

Tigers

Tigers top scorer Dakota Wickham guards an opposing player during a St. Regis home game. 

Bobcats starting five
March 19, 2014 11:18 a.m.

Bobcats starting five

Superior seniors Jarrod Tippens, Clint Voll and Tanner Smith were three of the starting five players this season. 

Concert
March 19, 2014 11:11 a.m.

Concert

Don MacDonald and Rob Quist performed folk music as part of the New Big Sky Singers during the Mineral County Performing Arts Council's spring gala concert. 

March 19, 2014 11:06 a.m.

Take me out to the ball game

March 19, 2014 11:01 a.m.

Community Calendar

March 19, 2014 10:59 a.m.

Court Report

Flooding
March 19, 2014 10:55 a.m.

Flooding

The crawlspace of an Alberton residence was flooded to the ceiling after storm drains failed to let the water through. 

Museum
March 19, 2014 10:47 a.m.

Museum

Alberton high schoolers Troy Munsch and Taylor Erdman work on their artwork at the Teen Open Studio during a trip to the Missoula Art Museum. 

Wednesday, March 12

In honor of Dr. Seuss.
March 12, 2014 2:51 p.m.

In honor of Dr. Seuss.

Plains Elementary School teachers Beth Junge, Denise Montgomery, Dana Diehl, Marie Errecart and Nichole Cockrell help students celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss.

Lonepine Hall
March 12, 2014 1:46 p.m.

Lonepine Hall

Lonepine hall held a fundraiser to raise money for a new air-conditioning unit. 

Generations come together for Lonepine Hall
March 12, 2014 1:45 p.m.

Generations come together for Lonepine Hall

LONEPINE - No one was alone at Lonepine Hall Saturday evening. It was packed with familiar faces, friends and family who joined together as a community to raise money for a good cause.

March 12, 2014 1:44 p.m.

Town council discusses possible rate increase

PLAINS – Water and sewer rates were high on the list of topics during the monthly Plains Town Council meeting. A presentation from Montana Rural Water took up most of the meeting and a combined rate increase of $12 to $14 was discussed.

Volunteer hours
March 12, 2014 1:40 p.m.

Volunteer hours

Elks members Billy Hill and Donna Damaskos accept an award from the State Veterans Committee for their work in supporting local veterans. 

Clark Fork Valley Elks Lodge recognized
March 12, 2014 1:38 p.m.

Clark Fork Valley Elks Lodge recognized

SANDERS COUNTY – The Clark Fork Valley Elks Lodge recently received a trophy from the State Veterans Committee in honor of their support and service of local veterans. The award is a representation of recognition from the Montana State Elks Association.

Demonstrations
March 12, 2014 1:34 p.m.

Demonstrations

4-H member Tanner Ovitt demonstrates for the judges how to rope a bull in his presentation. The projects are given a rating of either excellent, good or needs improvement.

4-H presentations prompt learning
March 12, 2014 1:34 p.m.

4-H presentations prompt learning

SANDERS COUNTY – Over one hundred 4-Hers had a busy weekend of presentations. They rehearsed their speeches, practiced their chosen skill, finished their posters, loaded their props and tried to repress any nervousness. Some scored higher than others but all gained a learning experience.

Champion
March 12, 2014 1:29 p.m.

Champion

Sixth grader Ethan Brown of Thompson Falls spells his winning word. 

County Spelling Bee crowns champions
March 12, 2014 1:27 p.m.

County Spelling Bee crowns champions

THOMPSON FALLS – What do fandango, feldspar, bungalow and diagnosis all have in common? These are four of the words that carried the 2014 Sanders County Spelling Bee Champion to the finish.

March 12, 2014 1:24 p.m.

Fine assessed to Sanders County PAC

I Love to Read Month
March 12, 2014 1:22 p.m.

I Love to Read Month

Alberton sixth graders Emmah Baughman and Tala Lamme become paleontologists as they excavate chocolate chips from a cookie during the 'I Love to Read' celebration.

Paleontology inspires reading
March 12, 2014 1:20 p.m.

Paleontology inspires reading

Flooding
March 12, 2014 1:07 p.m.

Flooding

The intersection of Fifth Avenue East and Alder Street in Superior fills with water from rain and melting snow. The competition creates a perfect recipe for flooding throughout the county. 

March 12, 2014 12:56 p.m.

BPA teams head to state

Appreciation dinner
March 12, 2014 12:53 p.m.

Appreciation dinner

Josh Matlock, Robert Kenyon and Katie Kenyon relax after their meal at the Superior Firefighter's appreciation dinner. 

Fire Chief awards loyal volunteers
March 12, 2014 12:49 p.m.

Fire Chief awards loyal volunteers

March 12, 2014 12:47 p.m.

Letter to the Editor

Ashley Cheesman
March 12, 2014 12:31 p.m.

Ashley Cheesman

Ashley Cheesman looks for an opening at a St. Regis home game. She played on the team with her sister Courtney. 

March 12, 2014 12:08 p.m.

Superior 4H shoots at state

SUPERIOR – The Superior 4H Shooting Sports Team hit the bull’s-eye at the State Tournament last week as a number of students took high places in the archery and rifle competitions.

Teammates
March 12, 2014 12:05 p.m.

Teammates

Jarod White (left) and Jimmy Holland (right) pose with the 6-Player Football State Championship trophy along with teammate Trevor Paro (center).

Gene Paul Crabb
March 12, 2014 12:04 p.m.

Gene Paul Crabb

Double teamed
March 12, 2014 12:04 p.m.

Double teamed

Compliance checks
March 12, 2014 12:01 p.m.

Compliance checks

The DUI Task Force conducted their first round of compliance checks for the year. All vendors passed the test.

Jim Toomey
March 12, 2014 noon

Jim Toomey

Vendors pass compliance checks
March 12, 2014 11:59 a.m.

Vendors pass compliance checks

Chamber
March 12, 2014 11:55 a.m.

Chamber

The Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce discuss the success of the Chinese New Year Festival and the MCT production at their March meeting.

March 12, 2014 11:52 a.m.

Plains Trap Club

1. NRA 86-761

Joe "Joey" Ryan
March 12, 2014 11:51 a.m.

Joe "Joey" Ryan

March 12, 2014 11:47 a.m.

Senior news

March 12, 2014 11:40 a.m.

Community calendar

Graduation Matters
March 12, 2014 11:35 a.m.

Graduation Matters

Jobs for Montana Graduates class member Alex Green motivates younger students to take the pledge to graduate at the Graduation Matters Event. 

Louise Judith Lulack
March 12, 2014 11:29 a.m.

Louise Judith Lulack

Louise Judith Lulack was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin on November 15, 1936, the first of three daughters of Nello and Carmella Cecchini. Louise died of complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis on March 6, 2014. She graduated with honors from Mary D. Bradford High School in Kenosha and then went on to the University of Wisconsin obtaining her BS and Physical Therapy Certification. After she interned at hospitals in Tennessee, Michigan and Illinois she worked at the Sheboygan Community Hospital for a year. She than continued her career at the Wisconsin Neurological Rehabilitation Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. While in Madison she met her future husband, Jacob V. Lulack, who was studying medicine at the University. They married on August 29, 1959 and continued to live in Madison. She then became employed as the Consulting Physiotherapist at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals’ Neurosurgical Department for three years. Upon her husbands graduation from medical school she moved with him to Vermont and worked at the St. Albans Hospital Physical Therapy Department. Her next move was to head up the Rehabilitation Center at the University Hospitals. She then headed West to Plains, Montana where her husband opened up the Rittnour Medical Clinic where she continued her employment and consulted at surrounding hospitals until her retirement.

March 12, 2014 11:28 a.m.

Sanders County Community Calendar

March 12, 2014 11:26 a.m.

Sanders County Justice Court

Wednesday, March 5

March 5, 2014 2:50 p.m.

Avalanche shuts down Interstate 90

HAUGAN – On Monday, March 3, both directions of Interstate 90 were shut down from St. Regis to Lookout Pass after an avalanche blocked the interstate. Montana Highway Patrol Sergeant Roman Zylawy said the snow hit west of Haugan around mile marker 13. “It was a cut into the mountain to make the highway go there,” Zylawy said. “There is no vegetation or trees to hold the snow there.” The interstate was shut down indefinitely. Zylawy said there was still snow on the slope, which was in danger of falling. Road crews were working to trigger the rest of the snow before they began clean up efforts and reopened the road. Zylawy said the cleanup would not take long and the big delay was triggering the avalanche safely. There were no injuries and the slide does not appear to be human caused. Zylawy said the highway department was looking into possible changes to make the area safer and reduce the risk of future avalanches. “They have a couple avalanche specialists who can survey the area to find a better way to run the highway,” Zylawy said.

March 5, 2014 2:48 p.m.

Health Center reminds of flu season risks

MINERAL COUNTY – With the county in the heart of flu season and with winter weather making colds more common, it is important for people to take steps to protect their health. According to Peggy Stevens, a health nurse with the Mineral County Health Department, there have been a few confirmed cases of influenza in Mineral County this season. She said there have been three strains of the virus identified this year, which are being tracked by the Center for Disease Control. As of Feb. 15, the Montana Department of Health and Human Services said the most common strain in the state was the H1N1 strain of Influenza type A. Shirley Iwata, administrative assistant at the health department, said there were at least two cases of flu, which had the strains tested. She said the Mineral Community Hospital and Mineral Regional Health Center confirmed the cases as Influenza A. The flu, or influenza virus, is most common between October and May. While anyone can catch the virus, it has the most serious impact on children and the elderly. The CDC recommends cases of the flu be watched closely as the disease can lead to pneumonia, dehydration and seizures among other potentially life threatening conditions. Statistics from the CDC say thousands of people in the United States die each year from the flu. Many more are hospitalized with complications. To avoid these problems and getting sick in general, it is important to take steps to avoid catching the flu in the first place. The health department recommends people get a flu vaccine every year. The CDC considers this the best way for people to protect themselves against catching the virus. Mineral Regional Health Center and Mineral County Health Department both offer vaccinations to the public. There are two main vaccinations offered at the health center. One vaccine is inactive and uses dead or dormant samples of the virus to prepare the body against the disease. This is commonly referred to as the flu shot and is administered by needle injection. The other common flu vaccine is an active vaccine. This is commonly given in a nasal spray and contains live influenza, which has been rendered harmless. Stevens also had a few recommendations for how to avoid catching the flu. She said keeping the hands washed is a good way to avoid the virus. She also recommended not touching the eyes or around the mouth as these areas can help the virus get into the body. “We recommend people…do universal precautions as far as preventing getting sick,” Stevens said. One of the best ways to keep the number down is to remain vigilant and not let the virus into the body. Another big recommendation Stevens gave was for people who are sick to stay home. Because the flu is airborne, the best way to avoid spreading it is to not expose others. Staying home will also be helpful in a person’s fight against the virus and their recovery. For more information about the flu, or flu vaccinations, contact the Mineral County Health Department at 822-3564. Information can also be found online at cdc.gov/flu and dphhs.mt.gov/influenza.

March 5, 2014 2:44 p.m.

Icy highways lead to a weekend of accidents

MINERAL COUNTY – As blizzard-like conditions swept through the area late last week Interstate 90 became an ice rink and accident reports flooded in as traffic tried to navigate the hazardous roads. The heavy snows began on Thursday, Feb. 27, and only let up periodically over the next few days. According to Mineral County Sheriff’s Office dispatch, approximately 12 accidents occurred between Thursday and Sunday, March 2. Most of these were cases where vehicles slid off the road or spun out. According to Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Charles Burton, they were almost all caused by people driving too fast on the slick roads. “The weather has definitely been a factor,” Burton said. “People need to slow down a bit.” Burton also responded to an accident where a vehicle with a trailer hit some ice and the trailer fell over. On Friday, Feb. 28, Mineral County Sheriff Ernie Ornelas and the Mineral County Sheriff’s Deputies were kept busy for most of the day assisting with the flood of calls. While there were no investigations opened, the sheriff’s office was on hand to help with the accidents. While the Superior ambulances were also busy responding to calls, there were very few serious injuries. According to Mineral Community Hospital personnel, the hospital did not see many people with injuries resulting from the conditions. Burton said the Montana Department of Transportation was doing the best they could to keep Interstate 90 and the state highways clear. It was a daunting task as the cold temperatures and heavy snow kept the roads slick. The Montana Highway Patrol recommends everyone drive safely and go a safe speed for the road conditions.

March 5, 2014 2:42 p.m.

Forest Service employees snowed in to desk jobs

SUPERIOR – As hard winter weather and blizzard-like conditions hit the area last week, the Forest Service was forced to delay some of their plans. Tawnya Brummett, district ranger for the Superior Ranger District, said a number of small projects are underway. There have already been a few survey crews out investigating places for future projects. While most of these were in lower elevations, the higher than average snowfalls have caused a few delays in the schedule this year. Most of the delays have not been too serious. There are a number of areas in higher elevations where the Forest Service expected delays to occur. In recent years, they have been able to work on some projects in lower elevations all through the winter. This year has been different for the crews as snow has built up in lower elevations. “[The winter weather] impacted us slightly, I would say, just in some of our low elevation projects,” Brummett said. While a number of areas are buried under feet of snow, the Forest Service has had plenty more fieldwork to do in the winter months. With how many winter recreation opportunities there are in the area, lots of work goes into making sure everything is safe. To this end, one thing the Forest Service does is keep an eye on avalanche risks in the area. Each week, rangers go out to look at the avalanche dangers to assess the risks in an area. The Superior Ranger District coordinates their efforts with the Missoula area and ranger districts in the Idaho panhandle to keep an accurate idea of the area’s condition. According to Brummett, the area around the Idaho state line has had especially high avalanche danger the last few weeks. While there have not been any avalanche fatalities in Mineral County, she said there have been a few around other parts of western Montana. Brummett said the Forest Service crews are looking forward to the warmer weather. Once the weather clears and the ground thaws they will be able to start work on more field projects. Until the weather improves the Forest Service employees are busy with office work, such as requesting grants to fund many of their activities. Brummett described this as possibly the least favorite part of the job for many of the employees at the Superior Ranger Station. She said most of them would rather be out in the field working on projects than stuck behind a desk. “There’s always a lot to do,” Brummett said. “But my folks would definitely rather be out in the woods doing it.” The Forest Service has also begun planning their controlled burns for the spring and summer. Brummett said it was also too early to say how the fire season this year would be effected by the snowpack. She said the precipitation in the area was looking good and the moisture levels were healthy. However, a particularly warm period could dry things out quickly and increase the fire risks. The Forest Service has begun hiring for their temporary summer jobs. The most common jobs available are for firefighters and fire support crews. There are also positions available on trail and timber maintenance crews as well as on the Mineral County Resource Advisory Committee. Brummett said she wanted to get the positions filled early so everyone can be ready to go once the season starts.

March 5, 2014 2:39 p.m.

Airport Board looks to expand business potential

SUPERIOR – The Mineral County Airport Board believes bringing three-phase power to the Superior area would have huge benefits to the businesses and economy of the area. They have begun plans to make this a reality. According to Kevin Chamberlain, a member of the board and Montana State University extension agent, three-phase power is one of the most common types of power used in industrial work. It uses three conductors to carry three separate alternating currents. It also generates more power. Where most households use single-phase power, three-phase could run an entire multiple-unit apartment block with power to spare. Chamberlain said it was often used by businesses to run big machinery. There have been discussions of bringing three-phase power to the area around the airport. Chamberlain felt this would be good for the area because the power’s presence could be used as a draw to bring new businesses in. He said there was the possibility of building an industrial park to expand the area’s businesses and the economy as a whole. “First thing businesses look for is natural gas, which we don’t have anywhere in the county,” Chamberlain said. “The second thing they look at is do you have three-phase power at the site?” There is already three-phase power in some parts of the county, such as St. Regis. However, these places are already occupied by other businesses. Chamberlain felt building an industrial park would be a good solution. He said there had been a couple businesses who looked at Superior and the airport area as a possible location for their business. Three-phase power was an important factor in their search. Chamberlain said the lack of it in Superior led the businesses to decide against relocating to the area. The overall goal is to provide a place for people to do business. Alternatively, local businesses could move into the park and take advantage of the power. The airport board felt the benefits of upgrading the power in the area made it worthwhile to open discussions with the commissioners and the Federal Aviation Administration. The groups would then discuss what could be done in the area and the potential to develop an industrial park. While the project is being arranged by the airport board, there will be no changes to the airport itself. Chamberlain explained the airport was there to be used for aircraft operations and nothing else. The areas nearby could still be used for other businesses. “The whole point of what we’re trying to do is provide a place for someone to do business,” Chamberlain said. He said the board could not estimate a timeline of progress on the project. Because everything needs to fit into the FAA’s policies and guidelines, all aspects need to be reviewed to see if they comply with regulations. As a result, it would be awhile before any projections could be made. Chamberlain said it was tough to bring new business to the area because conditions were far from ideal. Because of the difficulties, Chamberlain felt anything they could do to make things easier was worth it. The airport board has spoken with the Mineral County Commissioners and other organizations to get funds for the project. They are currently working with the Department of Commerce to get grant money. The board hopes to have a grant application ready to submit by April.

March 5, 2014 2:33 p.m.

Library to hold Spring Fling fundraiser

SUPERIOR – In the finest traditions of spring, the old will make way for the new as the Mineral County Public Library holds a book sale at their annual Spring Fling event this weekend. The event is being put on with help from the Friends of the Library, a group who helps with the library and raises money to support their community projects. These events include the library’s summer reading program, the October pumpkin decorating contest and visit by Santa in December. The sale will focus mostly on books. These will be books with a low circulation, which have not been checked out in a long time. There may also be a number VHS tapes available. The goal is to get rid of old stuff and make room for new stock to be brought in. According to Rachel McGillivray, an employee at the library, there will be something for everyone. She said they had lots of fiction, non-fiction and a few children’s books going into the sale. Around 3:00 p.m. everything will see big discounts as the final sale starts. The goal is to get rid of everything by the end of the day. “We don’t really want to bring anything back,” McGillivray said. Anything extra will be donated to an organization who sends books and other items to Africa to help the education system in those communities. The Friends of the Library will also provide a soup lunch for patrons to enjoy. Approximately 11 baskets and a quilt will be raffled off during the sale. People will be able to buy tickets and put them in the jar for the basket they want. A silent auction for a painting and baked goods will also be held. “Tons of people from all around the churches [and] the school, they’re going to make a bunch of stuff for us to sell,” McGillivray said. Some community members will also have tables to sell their own goods at the sale. This is the fourth year of the library’s Spring Fling fundraiser. In the past it was held in Superior’s 4H building, but it grew out of the space. The event quickly began to need a bigger venue. “It definitely uses up a lot of space,” McGillivray said. “So the elementary school gym is perfect because we can put all our books out on tables.” McGillivray said the Spring Fling has been popular in the past. The library has been able to make lots of changes to the facility with the money raised at the event. “People really enjoy it, they love coming out,” McGillivray said. “It gives them something to look forward to in the middle of all the snow and not being able to go anywhere.” The Spring Fling fundraiser was originally planned to be held on Saturday, March 1. It was cancelled because of heavy snow and blizzard-like conditions, which led to several accidents around the county. The event was rescheduled to this week. The fundraiser will now be held Saturday, March 8. It will be in the Superior Elementary School gym from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Bobcats
March 5, 2014 2:27 p.m.

Bobcats

Tucker Smith moves to block a Hot Springs player during a Superior home game earlier this season. 

And then there was one
March 5, 2014 2:25 p.m.

And then there was one

SUPERIOR – The Superior Bobcats remained undefeated in the Divisional Tournament last week as they propelled themselves to the State Championship. The semifinal game, on Friday Feb. 28, was a hard battle and Superior’s season-long winning streak seemed in danger of coming to an end. According to Head Coach Chris Toivenen, the Ennis Mustangs had a great team this year. “That was Ennis’ first loss to a class C team,” Toivenen said. “That was a huge win for us.” The teams had a good game and both played hard. The guards on both sides were able to keep the other team from gaining a serious advantage. The first half had the Bobcats gain the lead, but Ennis was still close enough to be a threat. Halftime began with a score of 25-13. In the second half the Mustangs gained a second wind and began to close in on Superior. Ennis was able to remain a threat through most of the game but they could not tie the game before the end of the final quarter. While the game was back and forth, they guys did what Toivenen asked them to and brought home a nine-point win. The game ended with a final score of 46-37. Seniors Tucker Smith and Clint Voll were the top scorers of the semifinal round as they brought in 14 and 13 points respectively. Fellow senior Jarrod Tippens also performed well as he contributed nine points. There was no rest for the weary between games. Coming down from the win against Ennis the Bobcats almost immediately had to go against Drummond the next day. Toivenen felt this game was a nail bitter. He said it was hard for the guys to go against two strong team back to back. The championship round was a Bobcat vs. Trojan battle on Saturday, March 1. It was Superior’s closest game of the season and the team had to fight hard to claim victory. The tournament ended with Superior going to state and a final score of 46-43. The game opened well for the Bobcats as they took the lead in the first quarter. Drummond was close behind them and kept the guys on their toes. The first quarter ended with a score of 14-9. Superior was able to keep the lead and entered halftime with a close two-point advantage. As the second half opened Drummond pulled ahead, a season first for the Bobcats as they fell behind. Their defense pressed Superior back and kept them under 10 points. The game could still go to anyone as the final quarter opened with a score of 32-35. During a timeout, Toivenen told the team to pick up the intensity. His motivational words did the trick and the Bobcats came back to take the lead. In the final quarter the tides turned again as the Superior boys gained a second wind. The team pressed back against Drummond and reclaimed the advantage. They were able to cement their place at state with a three-point gap in the score. “Drummond has a good defensive team, so this was a big win,” Toivenen said. Voll continued to shine as a top scorer as he took 16 points for Superior. Tippens was close behind him again with 11 points. On Wednesday, Feb. 26, the team played against the Shields Valley Rebels. They claimed victory in their first Divisional game with a 30-point lead. The Bobcats came out strong in the first quarter and they quickly broke the Shields Valley defense. The second quarter was a continuation of the team’s strong performance in the first. Superior nearly doubled its score as the team’s size and speed overwhelmed the opposition. At the end of the first half, the Bobcats had a decisive 41-12 lead. As the second half began, the Bobcats pulled back and did not push as hard as the first quarter. Their guards were still strong as they kept the Rebels from making many baskets. In the final quarter the Rebels came back from behind and pressed the attack. They made huge leads and were able to recover a number of points. It was not enough to tie the game and the Bobcats’ existing lead was boosted enough to ensure a decisive victory. The game ended with a final score of 70-40. Toivenen felt the Bobcats had an amazing defensive first half. He thought they had a good game and passed the ball well. Tippens was the Bobcats’ top scorer as he brought in 24 points. Junior Wyatt Zylawy came in a distant second with 15 points. Toivenen was proud of how the guys did during the games. He said they stepped up and played a great game to win the tournament. “It’s not an easy thing to do,” Toivenen said. “There are 26 teams in our division…They sure stepped up when they needed to.” This week the team will go to the State Tournament in Butte. The tournament begins on Thursday, March 6, and runs through Saturday, March 8. The Bobcats will be the only Mineral County team represented this year. Their first game will be against the Broadus Hawks at 8 p.m. Toivenen said the team was excited to go back to Butte for state. “Just one game at a time,” Toivenen said. “I don’t know how many games we’ll play. I hope it’s three and we play for the State Championship on Saturday night, but that’s yet to be determined.”

Lady Tigers
March 5, 2014 2:18 p.m.

Lady Tigers

St. Regis' girls celebrate Friday's win over Charlo. The victory clinched the Tigers a spot in the Western C divisional tournament where their season came to an end. 

Lady Tiger season comes to an end at divisionals
March 5, 2014 2:16 p.m.

Lady Tiger season comes to an end at divisionals

ST. REGIS – The Lady Tigers were eliminated from the Western C divisional tournament in Butte last week after they faced two defeats by the Gardiner Lady Bruins and the Seeley-Swan Lady Black Hawks. In their game against Gardiner on Thursday, Feb. 27, the Lady Tigers faced a close defeat by four points. The game’s final score was 34-38. In the first quarter Gardiner was able to pull ahead by a few points with St. Regis right behind. The quarter ended with a score of 7-11. The girls gained the lead in the second quarter. They were also able to press back and keep the Lady Bruins to seven points. The first half ended with a score of 20-18. As the teams came back for the second half they were playing with the same strength. They kept the game close as neither team gained an advantage. The quarter ended with a score of 33-30. In the last quarter the St. Regis girls reached their offensive limit. As both teams pressed the other’s defense back neither side reached 10 points. The Gardiner girls were able to bring in just enough to pull a few points ahead and brought the game to an end, sending St. Regis to the consolation round. Sophomore Pilar Cantrell-Field led the team with 14 points. Junior Gabby Moeller and senior Arianna Jones were behind her with seven points each. The final six points were brought in by freshman Madison Hill. When the girls faced the Seeley-Swan Lady Black Hawks on Friday, Feb. 28, they were eliminated from the tournament. The Lady Tigers faced defeat with a final score of 24-48. Seeley-Swan came out strong in the first quarter and gained a big lead early in the game. St. Regis ended the quarter 13 points behind with a score of 6-19. The second quarter had the Lady Tigers fall further behind as Seeley-Swan gave a hard defensive push. The girls were unable to gain more points as their opponents continued to expand their lead. The first half ended with a score of 6-34. St. Regis recovered in the third quarter. The girls came out strong and they started to catch up. Seeley-Swan still had a big lead and, while they were behind in the quarter’s points, was able to keep the advantage. At the end of the quarter, the scoreboards read 19-42. Both teams were beginning to wear out in the final quarter. Neither was able to bring in more than 10 points and the score did not change much from the last quarter. When the buzzer went off it also signaled the end of the Lady Tiger’s season. Moeller was on top of the game as she brought in nine points. Jones was another top scorer as she came in second with seven. With the season over the girls will have some free time between sports.

Creighton Callison
March 5, 2014 2:09 p.m.

Creighton Callison

Eighth grader Creighton Callison looks for a teammate to pass the ball during a Panthers home game.  

Eighth grader hits the varsity court early
March 5, 2014 2:01 p.m.

Eighth grader hits the varsity court early

ALBERTON – The varsity team is the big leagues, where the big games are played and athletes get their last chance at victory in high school sports. For 13-year-old Creighton Callison, it is the starting point of his high school athletic career. Callison is an eighth grader in the Alberton Public School’s junior high program. He joined the junior high basketball team and was brought up to the varsity team with kids as much as four to five years older than him. This was done to expand the team. This season the Panthers did not have enough kids join to give them a healthy team. While there were enough players to fill the varsity team they had no replacements. Any injuries or exhaustion would have devastated their ability to play. The school also wanted to field a junior varsity team. This is where the eighth graders come in. Alberton petitioned the Montana High School Association for a waiver to bring eighth graders onto the varsity team. The exception was allowed and the players were brought up. Callison and fellow eighth grader Kolton Hensleigh were selected to join the varsity basketball team. Fresh from the junior high season the two almost immediately began practice with their new team. “They were originally going to bring in all the eighth graders,” Callison said. “But a couple of them lived out of the district so they couldn’t and it was only me and [Hensleigh] that could.” The varsity team had recruited from the middle school before. As a result the junior high team was not too surprised when two of their members were promoted. What surprised them more about Callison’s selection was how he had beaten out four freshmen who were also under consideration for the spot. The experience was a challenge for the eighth graders as they played against athletes who were older, bigger and often had years more experience. It was a trial by fire and they had to adapt quickly to the new pace of the game. The year was fun for Callison. There was little concern about the size or speed differences he faced. The hardest part of the experience was getting used to the faster pace of the varsity games. Middle school games are half as long and have a slower pace of play. While Callison took to the new pace quickly in practice, it was three or four games before he got used to how varsity worked and was over the nerves. “It took [awhile] to kind of get used to the rhythm and stuff but with practices I was confident I was fine,” Callison said. Despite the initial reservations, Callison had a good season this year and brought in a number of points throughout the season. This was a surprise for him at the time because he did not think he would have been able to score against some of the seniors the team faced. The difficulties have not changed his feelings for the sport. Callison plans to try out for the basketball team when he enters high school as a freshman next year. He looks at this as a learning experience to prepare himself for what is to come as he enters his high school athletics career. “The year was mainly just about trying to learn what it’s like to play, so next year I’ll be ready for it,” Callison said.

Keeping enemies close with rivalry friendships
March 5, 2014 1:53 p.m.

Keeping enemies close with rivalry friendships

MINERAL COUNTY – It is said to keep your friends close and your enemies closer. The Mineral County athletes take this wisdom and enhance it as strong friendships form from the competition between teams. One of the big rivalries in the county is between Superior and St. Regis. With only 15 miles between the towns, a competitive relationship has built between the schools. The proximity also means the athletes interact outside of sports frequently. According to Superior junior Sierra Bruning, many of the girls on the teams have played against each other since junior high. As they play and interact, the teams start to learn who the other girls are. “It’s always a battle when we step on the court,” Bruning said. “But off the court, we’re just people and we try to get to know each other.” During basketball season it was common for the girls to interact as friends while they worked against each other. They would have friendly conversations as they guarded each other on the court. “When we step on the court we bring it all, we want to win and we want to beat them down,” Bruning said. “But at the same time they’re our friends…It’s fun to step out on the court and play with people you’ve known forever, play your heart out and be able to share experiences.” For Bruning, there were no hard feelings if her friends won a game. During the Superior Lady Bobcats’ final home game of the season, the girls played against St. Regis. They suffered a loss by three points after an intense double overtime game. When Ashley Cheesman, the St. Regis junior who made the winning basket, approached Bruning to congratulate her after the game she did not get a warm reply. “I just looked at her and was like ‘don’t even talk to me,’” Bruning said. “But it was just a joking matter. It definitely doesn’t strain the friendship, it kind of makes it stronger because you have to battle through it together. At the end of the day it’s just about having fun.” In Bruning’s experience if friends pushed each other away after a game, it was usually from a need to process the loss. While there were some moments of strain, they did not impact the relationship as a whole. The friendships have been easier for the athletes to form with how small the district is. Bruning said the students gets to know everyone else fairly well in small communities and it is easier to make friends. She noted even the coaches tended to develop friendships. “Everyone is just so friendly and they come up to talk to you,” Bruning said. “You really get to know each other.” For Alberton senior Keir Sanzano, some of his good friends also came from St. Regis. When St. Regis and Alberton combined for a co-op football team there was resistance among the players. Sanzano compared working with the Tigers to nails on a chalkboard. “It would be our last year playing football together,” Sanzano said. “We wanted to go out as Panthers with the team that we had always played with.” After it became clear they would not get their way, he made the best of it and began to work with the members of the rival team. In the end three of the former opponents joined with Alberton to create the Clark Fork Timberwolves. Once the dust from the new team’s tryouts had settled, the rivals began to form new bonds of teamwork and friendship. As the group practiced together they got used to each other and started to become a tight-knit group. “Going through competition together helped a lot too,” Sanzano said. “It made us feel like family and we eventually threw the rivalry aspect of things out the window.” After the co-op team dissolved with the start of basketball season, the rivalry had the opportunity to start up again. While he admitted the relationships referred back into a competition, Sanzano said he was still friends with the athletes from St. Regis. The rivalry was mostly kept on the court. Sanzano is confident the friendships will stay strong after everyone goes their separate ways for college. Bruning agreed and said there was a good chance she would go to college with her former rivals at the University of Montana. After building the relationships in sports, she felt college would give them a good opportunity to expand the friendships and make them stronger.

March 5, 2014 1:48 p.m.

County health center bites down on oral health

SUPERIOR – The Mineral Regional Health Center will provide an opportunity for uninsured children to get free dental screening at a special clinic being held on Thursday, March 6. The clinic is being put on by MRHC and Partnership Health Center, out of Missoula. The operation will be set up in the MRHC basement, where the Mineral County Health Department is located. A mobile clinic will come from Missoula to perform the exams. PHC is expected to bring a dentist and two assistants to treat patients. According to Kristi Scott, outreach and enrollment coordinator at MRHC, the dentists will do exams, screenings and minor fillings on site. Patients will be referred to other dentists for more serious work if needed. If the health center cannot fill all the appointments with uninsured kids, Scott plans to open the clinic to kids who have insurance. If they still do not have enough, adults will be welcome to the clinic. “We’re focusing on uninsured children who have no coverage,” Scott said. “I’m really excited about [the event]. I think we’re trying to target patients, children who may not have access to dental treatment otherwise.” Because the clinic is being offered for free, MRHC was unable to work with local dentists to provide the exams. Scott explained a dentist’s office would not be able to do the work for free. The clinic will refer patients to local dentists for more in-depth care. “It’s really a great partnership that we’re trying to build,” Scott said. “We’re not taking business away from [Dr. Ordelheide]. What we’re really trying to do is help him build his business, his patient count.” With the changes being made at MRHC, it was decided these sorts of services would be good for the health center. Interim Chief Executive Officer Cindy Stergar decided they should try it out and began talking with PHC to arrange the clinic. Scott recently went to a similar clinic in Seeley Lake to get a better idea of how everything worked. She felt the trip was helpful as it gave her a better idea of what the MRHC event would need to do. “I feel really good, I think it’s going over really well,” Scott said. “It was great because I was able to ask questions about [everything].” Some of the information she gathered included how much time the dentists would need with each patient. Slots for the clinic are limited. Because of how new the program is, Scott wanted to keep it small. In this first clinic the dentists will only see seven or eight patients. The health center hopes to hold more of these clinics as time goes on. Scott said they would consider how well the event worked and how it was received. More clinics may be offered in the future. If this happens they might have more room for appointments. Scott’s initial talks with Stergar about future clinics have been promising. There has been some talk about making it a quarterly event but no decisions have been made. “This is really a test run for us,” Scott said. “It’s exciting for us to get this off the ground. Our ultimate goal is making sure everyone in the community has access to quality health care. This is one more service we want to provide.” More information about the clinics can be found by contacting Scott at 822-7134.

March 5, 2014 1:45 p.m.

Blizzard affects Mineral County schools

MINERAL COUNTY – As blizzard-like conditions plagued the area last week, Mineral County schools were forced to concede to the weather and change their normal operations. On Monday, Feb. 24, the Superior and St. Regis schools declared a snow day. With icy roads, which were hazardous even after being plowed and sanded, the safety of the students took priority. Scott Kinney, superintendant of the Superior schools, said the call was always to close or delay the school day if there was ever any concern for safety. “With busses, they’re difficult enough to drive,” Kinney said. “We have ice on the road deck and then significant amounts of wind, a bus is essentially like a big sail. It makes it very difficult for the drivers.” On Friday, Feb. 28, the Superior schools closed again as heavy snows kept many people snowed into their homes. Icy conditions on the roads also caused safety to become a concern again. For Superior the decision to close the school was made Sunday and Thursday evening. Kinney receives updates from the weather service and road crews about the conditions. When it was determined the roads would be too questionable the superintendents were notified. With faculty coming to the area from as far away as Missoula it was important to get the word out quickly so people would not try to brave the roads. As Missoula was pounded by high winds and blizzard conditions, the city had largely shut down. When the decisions were made, word began to spread as the schools tried to get word out quickly. Monday morning in Superior an automated system sent out calls to parents and faculty telling them of the snow day. The school secretaries made calls to those families who were not registered to receive the message. The missed days will likely be made up at the end of the year. The schools will need to coordinate with the state on what needs to be done. It is possible the state will give a special waiver and declare the storm a natural disaster. If this happens, the schools will not be required to make up the missed days. While the Alberton Public School also dealt with bad weather on Monday, they were still open for the day. The Alberton schools and busses were delayed two hours, and school did not start until 10:00 a.m. Because of their four-day school week the Alberton students were not in school for Friday’s storm. The week was a special situation and the schools try to avoid closing the schools. If the roads are clear without much ice the schools will be open for the normal schedule. “As long as the roads are safe, we don’t have a problem,” Kinney said.

March 5, 2014 1:42 p.m.

Setting sail for Alaskan adventures in science

ST. REGIS – Education and fun will be combined as the St. Regis Science Club explores the final frontier during an Alaskan cruise this May. The trip is being called North to Alaska 2014 and will be done through Holland America Cruise line. The 22 kids and 18 adults will go on the cruise from May 3-10. This makes up approximately half the science club, which is open to students in grades seven through 12. The students will be expected to take advantage of the learning opportunities presented by the cruise. The glory of the great outdoors, from the Alaskan and Canadian tundra to the depths of the Pacific Ocean, will become a classroom as the group searches the area for knowledge. The students will examine everything from the formation of the area’s landmass to the history and culture of the native tribes. “We’ll see a lot of stuff,” said Chris West, the science teacher at St. Regis. “We’ll see whales, dolphins, bears and all kinds of things. We’ll see different people and cultures, it’ll be fun.” The cruise’s television will be another outlet for the kids to learn. The students will need to follow a program, which gives information about the water conditions around the ship. They will also catalogue information about each port as well as everything they see and learn. The kids will be busy throughout the trip. They will meet every day so the group can catch up and talk about what they did. West got the idea for the cruise after she took the senior class on a similar trip last year. The positive feedback gave her the idea for this year’s trip. “I got to thinking ‘I want to do this with my science club,’” West said. She got in touch with the cruise director from last year’s trip and started planning a new one. They were able to get a small discount this year by putting four people in each room. To cover the high cost of a cruise for 40 people, the students held fundraisers. The classes sold cookie dough, candy and had a bake sale. Some students held their own bake sales or ran booths at bazaars in their own fundraising efforts. Donations to the club were also able to help the students with the costs. A grand total of $450 was needed for each student’s ticket while adults needed $812 for theirs. Another step was needed before going as everyone needed a passport to enter international waters and Canadian ports. As a source of more chaperones, a few students will be going with their whole family. To add to the list of chaperones, according to West, seventh graders are only allowed to go on the cruise if a parent or guardian accompanies them. Fundraising for the trip began around October 2012. Some students contributed to the fund but graduated before the trip. While some students were upset they could not go, everyone in the science club understood the money would be pooled together to support the group. For some of the seniors, the money they raised was set aside in an account. After graduating they were able to request the money go to pay another student’s way on the trip. West said the student could usually nominate who got the money. For the last 11 years, the club has gone on a trip. In the past they have gone to the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park and Redwood National Park. They have also explored the length of the country by traveling down the Pacific Coastline. These trips are a big benefit to the student’s education, but the trips have also touched their lives. Growing up in a small community some kids do not always get to explore beyond the mountains of Mineral County. These trips give them a valuable chance to see and learn about the greater world around them. One student went on the trip and had never been out of the mountains. West said he was awe struck by how far he could see without the mountains around him. “He had never been out of the mountains here and just had never been anywhere,” West said. “That really got to me…It’s a chance for these kids to see something of the world.”

Garcia Loop
March 5, 2014 1:36 p.m.

Garcia Loop

Judith and Mike Birr talk with Laurie Johnston and the other Mineral County Commissioners about the issues they have faced with maintaining the road to their property. 

Garcia Loop county road debate continues
March 5, 2014 1:31 p.m.

Garcia Loop county road debate continues

SUPERIOR – A continuing debate came before the Mineral County Commissioners during their weekly meeting as they discussed whether part of Garcia Loop was considered a county road. During the public comment period of the meeting, Mike and Judith Birr came to discuss the maintenance of the road onto their land. They were supposed to appear at the commissioner’s meeting last week but were unable to come. When the Birrs bought the land the road to get onto it belonged to the county and featured a railroad crossing. The railroad later moved the crossing and the original road became inaccessible. A new road, which was not recognized by the county, had to be constructed by the Birrs to get onto the land. When the landowners tried to take out a loan the bank refused because they were living on inaccessible land. They requested the land be declared a county road so the loan could be drawn. Duane Simons, commissioner of the county’s west end, was one of the commissioners at the time and said he remembered the agreement. As he remembered it, they agreed to adopt the road in name only. While it would be considered a county road the county would have no responsibility to maintain it. Simons felt the commissioners were doing the Birrs a favor by making the declaration. Judith disagreed and said she had not seen the county’s adoption of the road as a favor. She argued the road did not belong to her either and anyone could use it freely. When they argued for the road to be adopted by the county the Birrs presented evidence to support the idea it was publically accessible. Judith said she and her husband had spent $20,000 in attorney fees over two years to research the road laws. They also tried to negotiate with the railroad to find a solution. With no evidence to suggest the road was exclusively theirs she felt it was public and therefore belonged to the county. Because of this she thought the county should be responsible for maintaining it. “There was no explanation that made any sense and your county planner had ample opportunity, so did Rail Link, so did BNSF, so did any neighbor around there, to submit evidence that it was not public roadway,” Judith continued. “They didn’t do it, they didn’t do it at all.” Judith felt it was wrong for the county to suddenly stop caring for the road. As she saw it, the county had cared for it for 65 years, during which, several members of her family lived on the land. She felt it was not good for the county to suddenly drop the road after so many years of maintaining access to the land. Judith said she took the county’s refusal to plow the road personally. She felt there was more of a risk of fires on her street. Despite this, the other side got plowed while her road was inaccessible to emergency vehicles. Because the meeting was not on the regular agenda, Laurie Johnston, commissioner of the county’s central area, said they were unable to make a decision. It was also noted the county could only afford to plow so many roads with their budget and may need to abandon more roads in the future. Judith disagreed with this argument, saying the cutoff was very precise and it would not be a significant expense to do their road at the same time as others. Simons said it might help the commissioners understand the situation better if they saw the area in question. Mike and Judith said it was hard for them to get work off at the same time. It was also a big sacrifice for them to take the time off to go to a meeting. Because of the challenges in arranging everyone’s schedules, it was suggested the commissioners and the Birrs discuss the issue more over the phone. This way, anyone who could not make it in person could still be involved. The commissioners and the Birrs agreed to schedule a more official meeting to discuss the issue in the future. In the meantime, the commissioners plan to do more research into the issue to figure out all the options and concerns.

Tricon
March 5, 2014 1:24 p.m.

Tricon

Tricon Timber was buried in snow last week. Employees still made it in, despite the hazardous conditions. 

March 5, 2014 1:16 p.m.

Tricon healthy after Tester visit

ST. REGIS – In the wake of a visit by Senator Jon Tester (D-Montana), Tricon Timber has continued to encounter delays on some projects. The recent snow storms have also caused problems for the mill. Tester helped Tricon get out of a deal, which would have bankrupted the company. The contract was for logging an area with helicopters, helping to remove the timber. When the Great Recession began, fulfilling the project made the costs involved unreasonable for Tricon. Tester visited Tricon in mid January. He wanted to get more familiar with the operation. The senator also talked over other issues Tricon and the community needed help with. These included several projects and timber sales the company needed help getting started. While Tester said he would look into solutions, the projects are still running into problems. Angelo Ververis, general manager at Tricon, said it has been difficult getting the Forest Service to move forward with them. This included the Cedar Thom project. The project includes several timber sales, which could be harvested to benefit the mill. The Forest Service said they would have some progress in December, but there has been no word on a timetable. “It’s still not a good answer, I guess, as far as the community goes,” Ververis said. “It’s a big project for the community. We need it to move forward, it means work, it means jobs, stability. There’s a whole bunch of things it means to the community and here we are without a project still.” The West Mullan Fire salvage was another project Tricon wanted to speed up. The project would allow companies to collect wood, which was still usable after the fire. The Mineral County Resource Advisory Group received a response from Faye Krueger, the regional forester, saying the Forest Service did not want to move forward with the project. Tricon still wanted to pursue the project and had begun to work different angles to get it started. Ververis hoped the farm bill recently put before the senate by Tester would help with this. MCRAG and Tricon have also looked to the Mineral County Commissioners for their support on projects. The commissioners are able to suggest projects to the Forest Service and have worked with MCRAG to prepare letters of support. According to Ververis, Tricon has had no interaction with Tester’s office since the visit. The heavy snows and blizzard-like conditions in the area have also had an impact on Tricon’s operation. One of the biggest problems has simply been the ability to move in the snow. With up to two feet of powdery snow in places, the loggers have had trouble moving around the forest. This has also been a problem at the mill as the new fallen snow needs to be moved so vehicles and personnel can move around the facility. Ververis felt the bigger issues were the conditions in the forest. He said logging crews had trouble getting logs out of the brush. “Trying to log in this weather is difficult,” Ververis said. The deep snow has put some logging crews on hold until conditions improve. “It’s right up to their waist and armpits,” Willy Peck, a resources manager at Tricon, said. “They’re unable to work down there.” According to Peck, the trees are instantly buried by snow in these conditions. He said the trees were only visible as limbs sticking out of the snow once workers got to them. This meant the workers had to dig through the snow to find the end of the log. “You can imagine this tree just got buried with snow, so now you’ve got this person trying to wrap a cable around a tree they can’t even find,” Ververis said. The delay is a problem for Tricon because the company normally builds up inventory during the winter months. Without the logs, the mill cannot function. Ververis said it is slightly less of a problem at the moment because Tricon was able to build up a good stock before the snow hit. The sales are not expected to be closed for long. Ververis and Peck said work would likely continue once the snow had settled. With warmer temperatures and rain predicted for this week, the snow is expected to pack down, making it easier for the crews to walk on. Ververis said he was impressed with the Tricon employees. Even as schools closed down and people stayed home to wait out the snow, the workers made the drive to the mill. He said they pushed through, despite the dangerous road conditions, to keep things running. “I can’t tell you enough how impressed I am with the contractors working through the harsh conditions,” Ververis said. “Sawmills just can’t have snow days.”

Fiesta
March 5, 2014 12:28 p.m.

Fiesta

Plains Superintendent Thom Chisholm and Greg Newton compete in the I Love to read month ceremony on Wednesday, Feb. 26. 

Plains celebrates reading with fun
March 5, 2014 12:24 p.m.

Plains celebrates reading with fun

PLAINS – Burrow races, piñatas, kindles and bikes were on everyone’s minds as the I Love to Read month celebration wrapped up the month of February.

March 5, 2014 12:23 p.m.

Plains School Board talks money

PLAINS – At the monthly school board meeting, money was high on the chain of topics as the Plains School Board discussed a new grant the school received, approved three salary increases and paid dues to the Montana School Board Association.

March 5, 2014 12:22 p.m.

Healthcare survey to hit Sanders

SANDERS COUNTY – Members of the Montana Office of Rural Health held a focus group on Thursday in Plains and Friday in Thompson Falls to discuss the major health concerns of the county. All comments were to be kept anonymous and will be used to collect data intended to implement improvements.

March 5, 2014 12:20 p.m.

Public Health Department helps with the Marketplace

THOMPSON FALLS – The Sanders County Public Health Department recently became recognized as a Certified Application Counselor organization and is now able to provide assistance in understanding, applying and enrolling for health coverage through the Marketplace.

March 5, 2014 12:19 p.m.

Mineral County Court Report

Mineral County Justice Court week of 2/21 to 2/28 Bond Forfeited February 26, 10, Aaron Charles – Fair to obey direction to be weighed (see A.R.M. 18.8.1301). February 24, Boucher, Robert Daniel – Fail to carry proof or exhibit/insurance in vehicle, owner or operator, 2nd offense. February 25, Brown, Joan Francis – Basic rule, reasonable and prudent, 1st offense. February 21, Bryant, Brett Alan – Speeding on Interstate, exceed day limit of 75 MPH. February 21, Cockrell, Dale Reed – Speeding, exceed restricted/special zone speed limit established by department. February 26, Corrigan, Bruce Edward – 11 hour driving rule, property carriers. February 21, Drown, Gerald Raymond – Operate a vehicle, combination of load, object, or other thing with size or weight w/o spec permit. February 26, Dukes, Mark C. – Basic rule, reasonable and prudent, 1st offense. February 21, Fakirov, Evgeni Dochev – No driver shall use alcohol, be under the influence of alcohol, within 4 hours of going on duty. February 25, Fred, Jeff B. – Non-resident operating snowmobile w/o temporary permit. February 25, Fulton, Hunter D. – Non-resident operating snowmobile w/o temporary permit. February 21, Hofbauer, Jason Patrick – Careless driving. February 21, Hofmann, Wayne L. – Non-resident operating snowmobile w/o temporary permit. February 21, Holcom, Tia Marie – Speeding on Interstate, exceed day limit of 75 MPH. February 21, Johnson, Ira – Fail to follow conditions and requirements of special permit. February 21, Joy, Gordon Edward – Exceed 34,000 lbs tandem axle weight limit. February 24, Kennedy, Samuel Willaim – Speeding on Interstate, exceed day limit of 75 MPH. February 24, Lavers, Shane Thomas – Basic rule, reasonable and prudent, 1st offense. February 26, Litovchenko, Leonid A. – Fail to purchase trip permit immediately upon arrival in state. February 24, Lodato, Brian Joseph – Speeding on Interstate, exceed day limit of 75 MPH. February 21, Lund, Jacob Allen – Change lanes when unsafe to do so. February 26, Martens, Joshua A. – 60/70 hour rule. February 25, Meier, Justin Michael – Stop sign violation. February 24, Muir, Justin Kenneth – Fail to slow/use caution/move away from a stationary emergency vehicle/police vehicle. February 23, Parker, Scott M. Speeding on Interstate, exceed night limit of 75 MPH. February 24, Schleining, Rodney Lee – Speeding on Interstate, exceed night limit of 75 MPH. February 26, Schnapp, Michael Alexander – Basic Rule, reasonable and prudent, 1st offense. February 24, Smith, Kevin Lee – Basic rule, reasonable and prudent, 1st offense. February 27, Torres, Francisco Javier – Careless driving. February 25, Turnipseed, Wayne Phillip – Speeding on Interstate, exceed day limit of 75 MPH. February 24, Wirth Jr., John Ray – Speeding on Interstate, exceed day limit of 75 MPH. February 25, Witham, Todd A. – Non-resident operating a snowmobile w/o temporary permit. Guilty February 26, Crane, Melissa Louise – Careless driving. February 27, Gamba, Justin Metuchen – Speeding, exceed restricted/special zone speed limit established by department. February 27, Gamba, Justin Metuchen – Seatbelt violation. February 25, Oyson, Michael Wayne – Basic rule, reasonable and prudent, 1st offense. February 25, Oyson, Michael Wayne – Fail to carry proof or exhibit/insurance in vehicle, owner or operator, 2nd offense. February 25, Oyson, Michael Wayne – Operating a vehicle in unsafe conditions w/o proper lights/equipment. February 25, Oyson, Michael Wayne – Driving a motor vehicle while privilege to do so is suspended or revoked. February 25, Oyson, Michael Wayne – Operating a vehicle which has not been properly registered.

March 5, 2014 12:18 p.m.

Letter to the Editor - March 5

Savage Heat
March 5, 2014 12:15 p.m.

Savage Heat

Trevor Paro of Hot Springs floats a shot over Superior's Tanner Smith in an earlier game. Hot Springs ended their season at the Divisional Tournament. 

Savage Heat stand tall in tournament
March 5, 2014 12:14 p.m.

Savage Heat stand tall in tournament

HOT SPRINGS – The Savage Heat competed at the Divisional Tournament this past week after a well-earned win in the Districts challenge game against the Valley Christian Eagles. Head Coach Ricky DePoe said making it to Divisionals at all meant a lot to the boys.

Trotters
March 5, 2014 12:10 p.m.

Trotters

Trotter Kimberly Earhart attempts to shoot the ball past her opposition. The Trotters ended their season at the Divisional Tournament. 

March 5, 2014 12:10 p.m.

Trotters traverse Tournament

PLAINS – The Trotters had an action packed week at the Divisional Tournament. They competed against the Florence Falcons, Deer Lodge Wardens, Bigfork Vikings and Ronan Chiefs to try and earn a spot at State.

Lady Hawks
March 5, 2014 12:06 p.m.

Lady Hawks

Shey Hannum dribbles the ball down the court in an earlier game. Hannum put up 15 points in the game against Ronan. 

Lady Hawks learn from Divisionals
March 5, 2014 12:05 p.m.

Lady Hawks learn from Divisionals

THOMPSON FALLS – If it were up to Head Coach Courtney Burky, the basketball season would never end. If she had it her way, she would be in the gym tonight practicing to her hearts content.

Horsemen
March 5, 2014 12:01 p.m.

Horsemen

Alec Cole dribbles down the court in an earlier game in the season. The Horsemen finished their season at the Divisional Tournament. 

High hopes for Horsemen
March 5, 2014 11:59 a.m.

High hopes for Horsemen

PLAINS – The Horsemen accomplished their goal of competing at the Divisional Tournament last week. They faced off against the Loyola Sacred Heart Rams and the St. Ignatius Bulldogs. It was the first Divisional Tournament any of the current Horsemen had played.

Schmiedbauers
March 5, 2014 11:52 a.m.

Schmiedbauers

Laurel and Meara Schmiedbauer stand with their parents at the Lady Savage Heat Senior Night.

'Twin Towers' look to future
March 5, 2014 11:47 a.m.

'Twin Towers' look to future

Time to read
March 5, 2014 11:45 a.m.

Time to read

Theressa Miner reads to the children in Trout Creek School at Family Fun Night. Her son Fletcher Segura listens patiently at her side. 

Sheep
March 5, 2014 11:41 a.m.

Sheep

FWP Wildlife Biologist Neil Anderson examines one of the many bighorn sheep being relocated from Wild Horse Island to Sanders County.

Counting sheep
March 5, 2014 11:39 a.m.

Counting sheep

Grant
March 5, 2014 11:37 a.m.

Grant

P.E.O. Chapter BY Program for Continuing Education Grant Committee members gather to present a $1,800 grant check to Melinda Ann Kline, second from right.

Local receives scholarship
March 5, 2014 11:36 a.m.

Local receives scholarship

PLAINS - Melinda Ann Kline, Plains, has received a $1,800 P.E.O. Continuing Education Grant (PCE) to finish Highway Construction Training classes at Salish Kootenai College (SKC) in Pablo. Melinda will complete a one-year technical program at SKC leading to work in the construction industry at the end of spring quarter 2014.

March 5, 2014 11:35 a.m.

Revett completes change in jurisdiction, provides Troy Mine update

SANDERS COUNTY - Revett Mining Company, Inc. is pleased to announce the completion of a change in jurisdiction from Canada to the United States, effective February 18 2014, and provides an update on ongoing development at the Troy Mine in northwestern Montana.

Auditions
March 5, 2014 11:32 a.m.

Auditions

Writer and director Susan Faye Roberts of Hot Springs listens as the ladies auditioning perform their lines. 

The method of acting
March 5, 2014 11:30 a.m.

The method of acting

HOT SPRINGS – A group of women gathered in the Sun Room of the Symes Hotel Sunday afternoon to audition for the production of Scarlet Ribbons. The playwright was done by Hot Springs local Susan Faye Roberts formerly of Butte, Montana.

Monday, March 3

March 3, 2014 7:08 p.m.

Avalanche shuts down Interstate 90

HAUGAN – On Monday, March 3, both directions of Interstate 90 were shut down after an avalanche blocked the interstate. Montana Highway Patrol Sergeant Roman Zylawy said the snow hit west of Haugan around mile marker 13.