Friday, August 28
Three vehicle accident on Montana Highway 200
SANDERS COUNTY - Thursday evening a call went out for emergency responders to go to a three vehicle accident on Montana Highway 200 near mile 86.
Friday, August 21
Setting sun
The sun sets behind smoke along the Bull River, August 20th.
Smoke rises
Smoke rises along the Bull River.
Helicopter battles fire
A helicopter battles the Napolean Fire off of 56 along the Bull River.
Evacuations in place on 56
Kootenai National Forest – Evacuation orders have been put in place for the Bull River along Highway 56 from mile post 14 to mile post 8 south to the junction with 200. There is a Red Cross shelter at the Noxon High School.
Friday, August 14
Obituary; Ruth Poppleton Winkler
Ruth Poppleton Winkler passed away on August 5, 2015, after 5 years of battling cancer. She was born in Tremonton, Utah and moved to Sanders County with her family in 1987. She was known locally for her volunteer work, teaching music and drama for over 25 years at Paradise Grade School. She co-founded the Plains-Paradise Players to perpetuate this service throughout the community
Obituary; Lyle Gene Bowerman
Polson - Lyle Gene Bowerman, 80 years old, of Polson, passed away on July 26, 2015. Lyle was born in Hot Springs, MT. on March 9, 1935 to Walter and Sylvia (Baxter) Bowerman.
America is fast exhibiting people power
A couple of my latest “Facebook Frolics.
The Clean Power Plan and the High Cost of Symbolism
The Clean Power Plan and the High Cost of Symbolism
Clean power plan creates powerful economy
Clean Power Plan creates powerful economic opportunity for Montana
Wind power zoning
Zoned Out
Summer Reading Program
Local superheroes smile for the camera at last week's celebration of reading in Plains.
Plains library celebrates summer reading
PLAINS – The Plains Library took some time to celebrate summer reading last week on Wednesday morning.
Henry Larum
Henry Larum shows his latest piece of work.
Woodcarver known for specialty
PLAINS - How many people can say when they were a 10 year old they found a life passion that would bring them recognition throughout the United States even from the President? When Henry Larum, a typical adolescent who looked up to his older brother, was 10 years old, he found that passion.
The 4-H Horse Club
Members of the 4-H Horse Club ride around the arena at the Sanders County Fairgrounds.
Fine tuning before the Sanders County Fair
PLAINS - In the arena every Tuesday night from 6:30 p.m. to sometimes up to 9:00 p.m., the 4-H horse club members have been preparing for the upcoming fair. In addition, the members have been practicing their assessments in front of leader Nancy Beech.
New kindergarten teacher in Plains
PLAINS - The Plains Elementary School will be welcoming a new Kindergarten teacher this fall; Katie Hillerman will be the newest addition to the Plains School faculty.
Drought conditions persist
SANDERS COUNTY – As warm temperatures and dry weather conditions continue to be the norm across northwestern Montana effects of the drought conditions are impacting Sanders County.
Local rodeo veteran competes at Mineral County Fair
Shadrick Rich, left, receives some encouragement from his brother before his first bull ride at the Mineral County Fair. Rich scored 92 points in the event on the second night of the rodeo.
Thursday, August 13
Stage 1 fire restrictions remain in place
SANDERS COUNTY – Stage 1 fire restrictions are still in effect in Sanders County and across wide portions of northwestern Montana.
Annual Mineral County Fair Rodeo rolls into town
A cowboy drops from his horse to wrestle a steer to the ground during the 2015 rodeo at the Mineral County Fairgrounds.
Wednesday, August 12
Avista golf tournament to benefit SCCOA
THOMPSON FALLS – The seventh annual Avista Charity Golf Tournament is scheduled to take place this weekend at the River’s Bend Golf Course in Thompson Falls.
Local rodeo veteran takes first bull ride in Mineral County
Shadrick Rich prepares for his bull ride at the 2015 rodeo.
Tuesday, August 11
Mineral County fair kicks off in Superior
Cowboys wait their turn to compete behind the chutes at the 2015 Lion's Club Rodeo.
Saturday, August 8
Officer-involved shooting in Superior
SUPERIOR – The carnival atmosphere of the 2015 Mineral County Fair and Rodeo was shattered by the sounds of gunfire Friday night after a Mineral County Sheriff’s deputy opened fire and killed a suspect directly across the street from the rodeo arena.
Friday, August 7
Primary season begins
MONTANA VIEWPOINT©
Trading up for a better deal
By David Levine
Montana Values
Our Congressman, Brian Zinke, is supposed to be taking care of and looking out for OUR best interests. He is NOT. He recently voted in favor of HR Bill 1599 making GMO labeling OPTIONAL {“The FDA must allow, but not require, GMO food to be labeled as GMO”} (see fourth para of this link: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1599).
Need for agricultural support
Today I would like to send a strong message to Governor Steve Bullock and A/G Tim Fox.
Relay for Life
Relay for Life participants walk around the track at Thompson Falls High School last Friday to kick off the annual event.
Sanders County celebrates Relay for Life
THOMPSON FALLS - The Sanders County Relay for Life was held at the Thompson Falls High School Friday evening. People from all over convened at the school to participate in the annual event to help raise funds, which would directly go to the American Cancer Society (ACS), which supports cancer research and the support of individuals fighting cancer.
Hazy skies cover Sanders County
SANDERS COUNTY – Hazy skies settled over much of northwestern Montana earlier this week.
Shakespeare in the Parks returns
PLAINS – Shakespeare in the Parks will be returning to Sanders County in a couple of weeks with performances scheduled for both Plains and Trout Creek.
Noxon hosts Big Sky Rhythm and Blues Festival
Polly O'Keary and Rhythm Method perform at the music festival in Noxon last Saturday.
Thursday, August 6
Obituary; Juli Marie Balenger
SUPERIOR - Juli Marie Balenger died of complications from Lymphoma on Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at St. Patrick Hospital surrounded by her husband and loved ones.
Fire danger remains very high
MINERAL COUNTY - According to Forest Service authorities, the fire danger in Mineral County remains at the very high level and stage 1 restrictions remain in place. According to Forest Service Fire Prevention Officer Jim Ward, “There is no change to our drought status over the last week, the current U. S. Drought Monitor shows that we are still in extreme drought and shows impacts may be short and long term.”
Superior Volunteer Fire Department receives new gear
Interim Superior Volunteer Fire Chief John Woodland demonstrates the new SCBAs the department received recently due to a grant.
Wednesday, August 5
Birth announcement; Payten Elizabeth Vacura-Larsen
Amber Vacura and Ivan Larsen of Plains welcomed daughter, Payten Elizabeth Vacura-Larsen, on Wednesday, July 22 at 7:40 a.m.
Birth announcement; Elaine Therese Kosel
Gifts From Above Midwifery Care is excited to announce the arrival of Elaine Therese Kosel on July 27, 2015 at 1:00 a.m. & weighed 7 lbs. 9 oz. Proud parents are Bill & Merici Kosel of Plains. Sweet siblings are Angela & William. Paternal grandparents are Andrew & Margaret Kosel of Red Lodge, MT. Maternal grandparents are Robert Epperson of CA & Yvonne Epperson of Thompson Falls, MT. Congratulations!
Obituary; Roselyn Glase
Roselyn Glase passed away on July 29, 2015 at Community Hospital in Missoula.
Art Camp
Students in Hot Springs tried their hand at a variety of acrobatic activities at last weeks art camp.
Art camp held in Hot Springs
HOT SPRINGS – Kids tried their hand at acrobatics, built cob sculptures and made their own cigar box guitars in Hot Springs over the past couple of weeks.
Sanders County Fair
Madeline Snell, left, and Shayna Burgess, right, work together to clip a rabbit's nails during a 4-H meeting in Plains.
4-H rabbit members prepare for county fair
PLAINS - With the Sanders County Fair approaching, 4-H members from multiple categories are starting their weekly meetings to prepare their animals and work on their showmanship. The 4-H Rabbit members in particular are getting ready for the big three day event every Tuesday evening from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the rabbit barn of the Sanders County Fairgrounds.
Teams battle during Wildhorse Showdown
Skeeter Johnston of Plains turns on a pitch during a game against Noxon at the first annual Wildhorse Showdown.
Tuesday, August 4
Committee Dissolves: Open Doors committee members resign after new information surfaces
SUPERIOR — A committee formed to help an organization that claimed to want to foster economic development in Superior was dissolved last week after committee members learned about the extensive criminal history of one of the principals in the organization known as Open Doors.
Ferraris go up in flames in Mineral County
One destroyed Ferrari can still be seen in a burned out trailer. County firefighters responded to a call earlier last week of a trailer on fire and discovered five brand new Ferrari cars inside. All but one of the vehicles was completely destroyed in the blaze.
