Wednesday, October 29
Plains Trotters
Senior Rebekah Barnard hits the volleyball past the Thompson Falls defense in a match earlier in the season.
Plains Trotters host senior night against Bigfork
PLAINS – The Plains Trotters volleyball team honored the squad’s two seniors before the team’s match against Bigfork on Thursday night.
8 and 0
Hot Springs running back Trevor Paro runs the football toward the end zone in an early season win for the Savage Heat.
Undefeated!
HOT SPRINGS – Last week on Senior Night, the Hot Springs Savage Heat football team put an exclamation mark on an exceptional season.
Superior Volleyball
Danielle Ewounik spikes the ball on a St. Regis defender during a match last week.
Lady Bobcats cruising into districts
SUPERIOR – With the district tournament looming, the Superior Lady Bobcats are looming even larger over the volleyball court coming off a match where they came from behind in the fourth set against St. Regis to win.
St. Regis Tigers
Gibson Lowry breaks for open field in a game earlier in the season.
A season to remember
ST. REGIS – For the first time in over a decade, St. Regis is home to a winning football team after the Tigers defeated Lincoln on the road going 5-4 on the 2014 season.
Superior school district keeps testing policy
SUPERIOR – The Superior School District board decided, with a few adjustments, to keep their current drug testing policy for students engaged in extra curricular activities and to begin random testing in coming months.
Red Ribbon Week 2014
Greg Wadsworth of Thompson Falls hands out Red Ribbons at the conclusion of the assembly in Plains last week.
Thursday, October 23
Alberton takes Darby the distance
The team from Darby needed all five sets to beat the tenacious Lady Panthers during senior night last week.
Friday, October 17
Sanders County prepares for flu season
SANDERS COUNTY – With colder weather in the not too distant future for Sanders County it will not be long before flu season is in full swing.
Prescribed Burns
The Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District conducts prescribed burning operations near Highway 156 last Friday.
Prescribed burns conducted throughout Sanders County
SANDERS COUNTY – Smoke filled the air in several portions of Sanders County last week as a series of prescribed burning operations were conducted.
Dude's Farm filled with activity
PLAINS – Families from across the area started to gear up for Halloween and got into the spirit of the autumn season last weekend at Dude’s Organic Farm in Plains.
State Horse Show
Marsada Sweet and her horse Jewels show off their awards at the state horse show in Kalispell.
4-H members win big at Kalispell show
On September 12th five Sanders County 4-H Horse Project members began 3 days of intense competition in the Montana State 4-H Horse Show held at the Majestic Arena in Kalispell. 105 top winning 4-H riders from 23 counties from across Montana traveled to Kalispell for this highly competitive event. This is the second consecutive year the event has been held in Kalispell. Four of our county riders, Mahala Sweet, Marsada Sweet, Tanner Ovitt and Dariyan Sheehan are returning competitors from last year’s event. As a new comer, Gabriella Pallister and her horse Whisper had lots of help from the more experienced (one year under their belt) members. Stabling is provided on site. Michele McGuigan, a Sanders County 4-H horse Leader and member of the State Horse Committee, provided transportation for some of the members and horses along will helpful assistance with show preparation.
Sanders County Water Festival
Tim Ryan of Polson demonstrates cordage techniques to students last week at Thompson Falls State Park.
County students learn about environment
THOMPSON FALLS – Students from schools across Sanders County packed onto buses in the early morning hours last week for a day of hands on outdoor learning.
RMEF Banquet
Earl Hill, a World War II veteran, and one of the servicemen honored during the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's annual banquet, receives a plaque from the RMEF.
Big turnout for RMEF banquet
TROUT CREEK – Outdoor enthusiasts from across Sanders County came together last weekend to support the county’s chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Court report
Bond forfeited:
Letters to the Editor; The math doesn't add up in Governor Bullock's energy plan
Isn’t it amazing that the Keystone XL pipeline has been being “studied” by federal agencies for over six years, yet the EPA is giving Americans only 180 days to look at the impacts of their overhaul of our entire national energy system?
Letters to the Editor; Deception, a horrible thing
We have people who intentionally deceive for personal gain. There was a group who made it sound like non-partisan elections would be good for Sanders County in 2010.
Poultry Lesson
Zianna King of St. Regis carries a turkey out of the pen at the high school on the way to processing last week as part of a lesson about homegrown food.
Students get lesson in poultry
ST. REGIS – A hands on lesson designed to teach St. Regis students the origins of what lands on their dinner tables had them witnessing last week how poultry goes from roosting in the chicken coop to ready to cook.
Chamber gets a helping hand
ST. REGIS – The Mineral County Chamber of Commerce is getting some help from an unlikely source with putting together next year’s business guide that will tell local consumers and tourists where to go for their needs.
Plains High School
Students of Plains High School gathered to show their support for Franklin Reed last week. The students filled the gymnasium for the school-wide assembly.
Plains High School rallies around student
PLAINS – Students from Plains High School filled the bleachers at the school’s gymnasium last week to show their support of fellow student Franklin Reed.
Alberton wins homecoming 2014
The Alberton Panthers were victorious during their homecoming game against Sheridan last weekend.
Wednesday, October 15
Defense
Junior linebacker Kyle Milner (#55) and senior defensive back Ty Carter (#32) of Thompson Falls track down an opposing player from Cutbank earlier in the year. The Bluehawks fell to Ronan 31-26 last weekend.
TFalls and Ronan trade leads
RONAN – The Thompson Falls Bluehawks went on the road to Ronan last week for a shootout with the Chiefs.
Noxon Red Devils
Senior running back Luke Crowe of the Noxon Red Devils shakes off a tackler during last Friday night's game in Superior.
Noxon battles Superior under the lights
SUPERIOR – The Noxon Red Devils football team traveled to Mineral County for a matchup against the Superior Bobcats last week.
Plains travels to Bigfork
PLAINS – The Plains Horsemen made the road trip to Bigfork last weekend playing the Vikings last Friday night.
Lady Red Devils play Lady Savage Heat in HS
HOT SPRINGS – The Noxon Lady Devils and Hot Springs Lady Savage Heat tangled in an inter-county District 10-C rivalry match last weekend.
Win #6
Senior quarterback Tanner Hoff receives the snap during an early season game against Tri-City. Hot Springs defeated Big Sandy 50-0 last weekend.
Savage Heat continue to roll
HOT SPRINGS – The Hot Springs Savage Heat football team continued to roll through their regular season schedule, earning another big win on the road last weekend.
Schools compete in county match
PLAINS – Plains High School played host for an inner-county rivalry match last week as the Plains Trotters competed against the Thompson Falls Lady Hawks.
Whitefish Invitational
Russell Kujala of Plains runs to a first place finish during the Whitefish Invitational last weekend.
Local athletes run in Whitefish
WHITEFISH- Both the Plains and Thompson Falls cross country teams traveled north to compete in a meet held at Whitefish over the weekend.
Homecoming festivities
Jordan Mueller goes up high for the Lady Bobcats against Two Eagle River last week during homecoming in Superior.
Lady Bobcats defeat Two Eagle River
SUPERIOR – The Superior Lady Bobcats followed suit alongside their football counterparts last week, winning their homecoming match against Two Eagle River in four sets.
Homecoming game
Josh Benda goes up high to pull down a pass from Michael Perkins during the Bobcats' firs win of the season against Noxon.
Victory!!!
SUPERIOR – The Superior Bobcats got their first win of the season last Friday, beating the team from Noxon 52-22 during the homecoming game.
CC Divide
Forest Service personnel watch as a helicopter equipped with a heli-torch takes off for the CC Divide prescribed burn seen in the background.
Forest Service burns CC Divide
MINERAL COUNTY – The Forest Service has been waiting years to burn a site measuring approximately 800 acres near St. Regis and last week the conditions were finally right to treat the area with a controlled, prescribed burn.
PEAK plays quidditch
Alberton residents and members of the organization known as PEAK channel their inner Harry Potter during a rousing game of quidditch. PEAK is an advocacy group for Alberton youth.
Friday, October 10
Big berry year limits run-ins with bears
SANDERS COUNTY – Huckleberries and other species of wild berries experienced a bumper crop year throughout Sanders County this summer.
Ghost walk planned for Halloween in Hot Springs
HOT SPRINGS – With Halloween falling on a Friday this year the town of Hot Springs is gearing up for a busy ghost walk in downtown Hot Springs on the evening of October 31.
Postcards and T-shirts discussed at Hot Springs meeting
HOT SPRINGS - Members of the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce convened last week for the organization’s monthly meeting.
S.T.A.R. program
Wildlife Biologist Bruce Sterling of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks stands in front of the Trout Creek after school program to teach students about local wildlife.
FWP visits Trout Creek school program
TROUT CREEK – Children at the Trout Creek after school program at Trout Creek School were in for a special treat last week.
Sanders County GOP joins lawsuit
SANDERS COUNTY – The Sanders County GOP recently joined a lawsuit against open primary elections within the state of Montana.
Brats, Hops and Grapes
Rae Herman (right) presents a check Cowgirls Kickin' Cancer to Kathy Miller and the Cancer Network of Sanders County during last weekend's annual gala.
Thursday, October 9
Court report
Bond Forfeited:
Letters to the Editor; Special interest groups are collaborators in reducing public access
Special interest groups are collaborators in reducing public access
Letters to the Editor
By Lt. Gov. Angela McLean
Elevate Coalition
Superior students listen to an orientation for an anti-drug and anti-alcohol program.
Superior schools implement new program
SUPERIOR – A program started in neighboring Sanders County has spread to Mineral County in an effort to educate area youths about the dangers of substance abuse, specifically underage consumption of alcohol.
Radio 101.3
Anna Sanford sits in the room where the school's radio station fills the airwaves with original programming and music.
St. Regis station making waves
ST REGIS – Students at the St. Regis High School are learning advanced communication skills but they aren’t doing it by standing up in front of a classroom and delivering a speech and pretending the audience isn’t wearing clothes to get over their nerves.
MCH CEO
Ron Gleason will take over as CEO for MCH in November.
New MCH CEO to arrive in November
SUPERIOR – The Mineral Community Hospital in Superior has been without a permanent CEO for over a year, operating with interim CEO Larry Putnam, while they searched for the right candidate to take over the position.
FWP horse inspections
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Montana Department of Livestock remind hunters that horses are required to have a brand inspection before crossing county lines.
Montana to participate in disaster drill
At 10:22 a.m. on October 22, 2014, more than 111,000 Montanans will join millions of people across the United States and around the world to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” in the world’s largest earthquake drill.
Drug dog visits school
ST. REGIS – The St. Regis Schools came away from a recent search of the premises by a canine trained to locate illegal narcotics with flying colors as Principal Joe Steele reported the dog found nothing improper on the grounds.
No charges filed in wolf incident
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks ended its investigation today into a Facebook posting from Missoula resident Toby Bridges, where he claimed to have killed a wolf and injured another with his vehicle on Interstate 90 just east of the Idaho border. After having the Mineral County Attorney’s office review the investigation, FWP will not be filing any charges in this case.
Autumn Sunshine
A turtle catches some rays at the National Bison Range in Moiese.
Wednesday, October 8
Win Seven
McKenna Krueger blocking in the third vs. Troy 10-2-14 McKenna Krueger blocking in the third vs. Troy 10-2-14
Lady Red Devils cruise to win over St. Regis
NOXON – The Lady Red Devils got another win last weekend, as the team triumphed over the St. Regis Lady Tigers to improve their record to 7-1.
Lady Savage Heat
Josey Carr sends the ball flying over the net for Hot Springs during a match last week against St. Regis.
Savage Heat burn Eagles
HOT SPRINGS – The Lady Savage Heat put on a competitive performance and earned a home victory in their match against Two Eagle River Eagles last week.
Trotters run in Thompson Falls
Kimberly Earhart and Demi Horton of the Plains Trotters compete at the Thompson Falls Invitational last week.
County XC Invitational held in Thompson Falls
THOMPSON FALLS – The Thompson Falls and Plains Cross country teams returned to Sanders County after a few weeks on the road for a meet at River’s Bend Golf Course in Thompson Falls last week.
County rivalry
The Plains Horsemen get ready to run a play against the Thompson Falls Blue Hawks during last week's game.
Bluehawks win homecoming game
THOMPSON FALLS – The Thompson Falls Bluehawks and Plains Horsemen met in an inner-county matchup last week under the lights at Previs Field.
Lady Hawks
Madison Fitchett goes up for a block in an early season match.
Lady Hawks win at home gym
THOMPSON FALLS – The Thompson Falls Lady Hawk volleyball team rolled to a homecoming victory in their match against the Eureka Lady Lions over the weekend.
Savage Heat Football
Junior defensive end Jack Dolson capitalizes on a turnover in an early season game against Tri-City.
Savage Heat stay perfect
HOT SPRINGS – The Hot Springs Savage Heat continued on their successful season on the road this weekend, extending their unbeaten streak in a win over Lima.
Tigers Football
Elias King drives a Mullan player out of bounds during last week's game in St. Regis.
St. Regis takes on Mullan at home
ST. REGIS – The St. Regis Tigers faced another breed of Tiger last weekend as they played host to the team from Mullan on their home field.
Lady Bobcats
Jordan Mueller lobs the ball back into play during a match earlier in the season.
Superior faces tough opposition on the road
CHARLO/ARLEE – The Lady Bobcats took on two of the toughest teams in their division last week, losing both matches on the road.
Lone bison
A lone bison looks out over the horizon at the National Bison Range in Moiese.
Bobcats look to homecoming game
SEELEY – The Superior Bobcats dropped their game on the road last weekend against Seeley despite the efforts of some of their best up and coming players to hold off their opponent’s offense.
Bridger Lapierre
Bridger Lapierre, right, stiff arms an opponent earlier in the season.
St. Regis Lady Tigers
Gabby Moeller flies through the air before serving the ball against Hot Springs last week.
St. Regis flies high against Hot Springs
ST. REGIS – The St. Regis Lady Tigers bounced back this week taking a match in straight sets against the Lady Savage Heat from Hot Springs in Sanders County.
Montana Hope Project
Amber Salter-Sparks, right with teddy bear, was presented with a trip to Disney World by Montana State Trooper Sean Gaston, left.
Her wish was their command
SUPERIOR – Montana’s own brand of the Make-A-Wish Foundation was in Superior last week to make one little girl’s wish to visit DisneyWorld come true.
Friday, October 3
Community Calendar
Open Gym at Plains
Football competition
Riley Slater shows good form and sends a quality punt down the field last weekend in Thompson Falls.
Pass, Punt and Kick
THOMPSON FALLS – A group of children in Thompson Falls took some time out of their Sunday afternoon to take part in a countywide football competition for boys and girls.
Plains Woman's Club
Members of the Plains Woman's Club show off the festive plates of cookies destined for Plains Schools.
Woman's Club has busy week
PLAINS – The Plains Women’s Club had a busy schedule last week as the organization came together to install new officers and put together plates of cookies for local staff and faculty at the Plains schools.
Art on the Walls returns
PLAINS – Local artists mingled in Plains last week as Art on the walls returned to Clark Fork Valley Hospital for its quarterly show.
Red Cross confers with Plains on emergency services
PLAINS – Volunteers with the American Red Cross met with town officials in Plains to discuss emergency services and potential cooperation between the Red Cross and the town.
Firefighters support young man battling leukemia
PLAINS – The Plains Paradise Rural Fire Department has come together to rally around a junior member of their department, who is currently a sophomore at Plains High School.
Veterans Honored
Christopher Rosler of Hot springs raises the standard of the United States Coast Guard on Wednesday, Sept. 24. Rosler and other members of Boy Scout Troop #1957 were on hand to honor area veterans during the ceremony at the cemetery in Plains.
Thursday, October 2
Court report
Bond forfeited:
Letter to the Editor; Bankrupting Lawsuits bad for Montana Business
Bankrupting Lawsuits Bad for Montana Business
Elk
Wyatt O'Day with an enormous elk he recently took with his bow in Mineral County.
Local hunter takes huge elk in Mineral County
SUPERIOR – A local hunter may have peaked in his career at the young age of 14 after he recently took a massive, seven by seven elk somewhere in Mineral County.
FWP warns about bears
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds hunters that bears are very active this time of year, searching out food from late summer berry crops.
Superior Volunteer Fire Department
SVFD Chief John Woodland works with new computer software that simulates fire conditions.
Software aids in fire training in Superior
SUPERIOR – Firefighters with the Superior Volunteer Fire Department could be better prepared for the next structure fire after they recently received sophisticated, new computer software that simulates fire conditions using photos of actual structures in the community.
Self help concepts to be taught in St. Regis
ST. REGIS – Staff and students at the St. Regis School District will be functioning in a more effective way this school year if they successfully adhere to concepts in a best selling book called “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.”
Prescribed burns
Wildland firefighters work on a steep slope during a prescribed burn last week.
Prescribed burns in Mineral County begin
MINERAL COUNTY – As the 2014 fire danger season winds down in Mineral County, Forest Service personnel are transitioning into a different role in forest management and this one actually has them setting fires, albeit controlled ones.
Alberton faces Lima on the gridiron
The Alberton defense swarms a St. Regis player from a game earlier in the season. The Panthers lost their game last weekend to Lima. The team will next play Lone Peak on Oct. 4.
Wednesday, October 1
75-0
Hot Springs senior quarterback Tanner Hoff moves the football down the field in an early season game against Tri-City.
Hot Springs scores big win
HOT SPRINGS – Following a week full of homecoming festivities including a parade and a pep rally last Thursday, the Hot Springs Savage Heat football team took the field on Friday night to face off against the West Yellowstone Wolverines.
Hot Springs volleyball's homecoming match
HOT SPRINGS – The Lady Savage Heat volleyball team took on the Superior Lady Bobcats to kick off homecoming weekend in Hot Springs.
Bluehawks take on Eureka on the road
THOMPSON FALLS – The Thompson Falls Bluehawks hit the road last week and traveled to Eureka to face off against the Lions for a Friday night matchup under the lights.
Homecoming Volleyball
Senior Rebekah Barnard of Plains gets ready to return a Eureka serve last weekend.
Trotters compete at home
PLAINS – The Plains Trotters hosted the Eureka Lady Lions to cap off homecoming weekend at Plains High School.
Special teams shine for Horsemen
Plains junior Trent Brouillette evades a Troy special teams player as he returns a kickoff during the homecoming game.
Trojans get by Horsemen in homecoming game
PLAINS – Under the lights the Plains Horsemen faced off against the visiting Troy Trojans for a football game in the midst of Plains’ homecoming celebrations.
Bobcats football
Kris Jerde upends the Charlo quarterback during a game last weekend.
Superior faces Charlo at home
SUPERIOR – The Superior Bobcats had their work cut out for them against Charlo on Friday, Sept. 26 as four of the team’s starters, including the starting and back up quarterbacks, were out with injuries.
St. Regis Tigers
The St. Regis Tigers rush the ball against Alberton earlier in the season.
St. Regis defeats Geraldine/Highwood
GERALDINE – The St. Regis Tigers faced off against the junior varsity team from Geraldine/Highwood last week and came away with a win, beating their opponents 49-26.
Mineral County Shootout
Superior Lady Bobcat McKenzie Stager chases a loose ball during the team's match against Philipsburg last weekend.
County teams compete in county tourney
MINERAL COUNTY – All three county teams competed in the Mineral County Shootout last weekend, coming away with varying degrees of success against teams from across the region.
Levy Vote
Voters in Superior turned out to the polls last week to decide the fate of a proposed levy that would have replaced the old junior high school building with an addition to the high school. The levy was voted down by over 100 votes.
School levy in Superior fails to pass
SUPERIOR – Voters in Superior voted down a proposed levy that would have paid for a new addition to the high school to replace the aging junior high school building that is increasingly prone to plumbing issues and is also suffering from structural deficiencies.
St. Regis mural gets a new look
St. Regis School's Head of Maintenance John Pienciak hangs the last piece of a new frame for the tiger mural painted on the gym wall.
