A look back at 2015
January 07
A robbery occurs in Plains
On the morning of New Year’s Eve, the High Plains Saloon on East Railroad Avenue in Plains was robbed.
The incident took place around 10:20 am and according to Ronna LaPierre, owner of the High Plains, over $5,000 in cash was stolen. LaPierre stated the bartender on duty had opened the safe for the deposit and quickly went to check the bathrooms to ensure they were clean when the money was stolen.
Taking the plunge
Tens of runners awoke to pit themselves against single digit numbers in a frigid race and polar bear plunge, despite the night before everyone staying up late and celebrating the coming of 2015.
The Clark Fork Valley Running Club hosted its 16 annual New Years Day 2k and 5k race. Sarah Naegeli, one of the founders of the Running Club, started the event in 2000. Runners of all ages participated in the event in a number of teams.
Contestants warmed up in the lodge, preparing and bracing themselves for a frigid race that circled around the roads behind the Elks Lodge and onward to the airport. The finish line was right back where it started, at the lodge.
January 14
Feasibility study underway in Paradise
The Paradise Elementary School Preservation Committee opened up 2015 with their first monthly meeting.
Planning activities and different ways to incorporate members of the Plains-Paradise community into the preservation process were the main focus of the meeting, which took place at the United Methodist Church in Paradise.
In 2014 the project, which is being assisted by the Sanders County Community Development Corporation, was awarded a Community Development Block Grant from the Montana Department of Commerce to conduct feasibility studies for the proposed Paradise School activities.
Theater visits Trout Creek
Put together in just four days, and entire hour long musical was put on in the gymnasium of the Trout Creek school.
The Missoula Children’s Theater led the school in the production of Blackbeard the Pirate, an adaptation of the children’s story. For an hour, a story was told about Blackbeard’s treasure, with dancing, singing and small scenes. Every grade participated and helped lead the students through the play.
The play was well received and, when it was over, parents were taking tons of photos with their children.
February 14
Plains gym is transformed
Monday night was treated to a full on professional production play.
In a matter of just a day, the Plains High School gymnasium became a working theater with lighting, audio, props and an elegant backdrop. The Montana Repertory Theater Company, based out of the University of Montana in Missoula, was the one responsible for transforming the center court into Long Island, New York, the setting for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.
A student from Plains High School, Savannah Anderson, thoroughly enjoyed the play. She said she was surprised at how well the production handled some scenes.
On the same day the company put the play together, they took it down and were on the road the next day. The company’s next destination was Bozeman.
February 18
Clark Fork Valley League revamps
Matt Feliska, the new president of the Clark Fork Valley league, has big plans and is trying to create, in his eyes, a better Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth Baseball League.
The Leagues are comprised of seven towns from Sanders and Mineral County.
Feliska’s plans to help revamp the league are centered around two main goals; to provide a safe, enjoyable experience for the youth and a more cohesive organization to increase community participation and representation.
Feliska feels what has been plaguing the league is a lack of communication, people not knowing roles and town rivalries between coaches of the towns in general.
“It doesn’t benefit the kids,” he said.
February 25
River poses substantial threat to town
A committee of concerned citizens have been tackling what is in their minds a very viable threat to the town of Plains.
The Middle Clark Fork Plains Reach Recovery Group Leadership Committee is a group of representative of stakeholders and interested parties from the Plains communities who are concerned with the “…ongoing erosion and man-made unnatural changes in the river channel in the Plains Reach,” taken from a 2012 MCFPRRGLC letter laying out their concerns during a trip to Helena. The trip was to find and express to the proper governmental agencies.
The primary problems the group is concerned with is that the Plains Waste Water Treatment is at risk of being eroded away and property erosion of the Lawyer Nursery, the Keith Property and that of property owners along the west channel.
Senator Daines holds roundtable talk
United States Senator Steve Daines was in Northwest Montana last week, holding a roundtable discussion on forest management throughout the state.
County Commissioners, railworkers and environmentalists were all in attendance as the Senator engaged in dialogue discussing how to maximize the economic potential of the area’s forests, while protecting the environment and ecosystems of the state.
Sanders County Commissioner Carol Brooker was in attendance and thought the roundtable was a positive experience.
Brooker said the meeting discussed forest management and ensuring local mills are supplied with enough product to stay open and keep employment numbers from falling.
March 11
Task Force Meets
The Sanders County Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force met with a major point of emphasis placed on watercraft inspection stations.
According to data from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the Thompson Falls watercraft inspection station recorded the highest instances of Eurasian watermilfoil, other aquatic vegetation and the highest frequency of live fish transportation, compared to other watercraft inspection stations across the state.
Regardless of the high number of failed inspections, the taskforce noted the check stations were successfully educating boaters on the significance of limiting the spread of aquatic invasive species.
However, there were still a number of failed inspections. The frequency led the taskforce to conclude that there is either a lack of awareness about legal fish taking and transporting regulations or there is a willingness to break those laws.
On the whole, the taskforce believes public awareness of Eurasian watermilfoil is quite high, however the importance of adhering to laws regarding fish transport are not wholly understood by the general public at this time.
March 18
House destroyed in Paradise
A two-story house in Paradise burned to the ground Monday, February 9, in Paradise resulting in a total loss of the structure.
By the time firefighters arrived, the entire structure was engulfed with flames shooting 40 feet into the air. Firefighters with Plains-Paradise Rural Fire Department assisted by other agencies briefly shut down traffic on highway 200 through Paradise. No one was injured in the blaze.
According to an eyewitness at the scene, a woman and her children escaped the blaze uninjured after a space heater caught fire in an upstairs bedroom, though the cause could not be confirmed by the authorities.
April 22
Sanders County resident sentenced for Mineral County crime
A Sanders County man was sentenced to 20 years in the Montana State Prison with 10 years suspended after he was found guilty in January of two felony counts of abusing and exploiting an elder.
District Judge Ed McLean handed down the decision against Daryl Enos Strang of Thompson Falls who was convicted of crimes against 84 year old Superior resident Ben Poat. Strang was arrested in late April 2014 on suspicion if abusing and exploiting Poat, according to Mineral County District Court documents filed by Mineral County Attorney Marcia Boris. Strang pleaded not guilty to the two felony counts but was convicted by a jury that deliberated for a little over two hours before returning with a unanimous verdict.
Agency gears up for fire season
As the sun began to rise over the tarmac at the Plains airport, the members of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation gathered for a required pack test. With fires already starting, the DNRC is gearing up for the forest fire season. Every member of the service must prove that they are physically capable of fighting the fires to come.
The members of the Sanders County DNRC division set out to prove it. In 45 minutes or less, the service members walk with a 45 pound pack for three miles along the tarmac. Some of the members moved quicker than the others, but every one of them completed the test within the time limit; a few finished at the 44 minute mark, but none had to retake the test.
May 06
Homestead site is place for revelry and relaxation
The Stobie Ranch, which holds a significance for the Stobie family and a lot of Sanders County residents, has a very exceptional history including horse thievery a history leads to one individual, Robin Miller of Hot Springs.
Miller’s story begins far back at the turn of the century with the original Stobie family homesteaders. It is her ancestors, which started the now well-known ranch. The ranch was first homesteaded in the late 1800s by the Cook family. One of the Cook’s sons was a horse thief and kept his ill gotten gains at the secluded ranch.
Now that the ranch hose has been refurbished, Miller has no plans for the place to leave the family.
Though not able to fully express in words what draws so many people to the ranch, Miller says “I think you’re away from everything; there is no electricity, you don’t have any responsibilities, nobody can call you. It’s one of those places you go to relax.”
May 13
Education celebrated in Sanders County
Outside, behind the Plains High School, the students from fifth and sixth grade celebrated academic achievement over the third quarter with burgers and soda.
“We are having burgers to celebrate fine academics, performance and perfect attendance,” said fifth grade teacher Lisa Brown.
To add to the joyous celebration, students and teachers acknowledged how beautiful the weather was to have a cookout. Once everyone had finished eating, awards and certificates were given out to recognize the students’ achievements.
After the awards were passed out the students and teachers all headed inside to carry on with their day. Parents collected the certificates to keep them safe and some of the kitchen staff cleaned up the food tables.
Car rolls over on Highway 135
A car traveling on Highway 135 lost control and went off the road near the junction with Highway 200.
The car rolled over in a ditch and the Plains-Paradise Community Ambulance, Sheriff’s Department and the Sanders County Rural Fire Department responded. Traffic had to be diverted for a couple hours as the scene was assessed and as crews removed the car from the ditch.
May 20
Noxon students ride donkeys in gymnasium
Members of the Noxon community and people from up and down the Clark Fork River Valley congregated in the Noxon High School gymnasium for a spectacle not often seen – donkey basketball.
People could enter the gym to watch seniors, teachers and others from the community play basketball while riding on the backs of donkeys. By the end of the event, the gym had filled with people of all ages.
Two students acted as commentators, and heckled the teachers as they played against the seniors.
The audience laughed the entire time and found themselves getting into each game as if they were at any typical high school basketball game. After multiple games, it was the seniors who would take the most wins against their teachers.
Science exhibit travels to Dixon
Students at Dixon Elementary School were in for a treat as the University of Montana spectrum Discovery Area’s Motion exhibit took up residence in the school’s gymnasium for the day.
The science based program features a variety of ways students of all ages can learn about science in a hands-on manner.
Educators from spectrum transformed the gym into a learning center which illustrated scientific concepts of motion and physics to the inquisitive students at Dixon’s elementary school. Some of the features of the exhibit included a spinning turntable and a gravity well.
Since 2006, spectrum has transported exhibits and educators to 75 schools and public libraries in 29 counties across Montana.
The students at Dixon appreciated the work put into the exhibits as they spend the evening running through the gym to take in the various activities on display.
May 27
P Hill Project raises funds
Plains High School alumni gathered at the Sanders County Fairgrounds to the their support for the P Hill.
Supporters assembled at the fairground’s pavilion to raise money for the upcoming cementing of the hill’s eponymous letter. The project, including excavation, was estimated to cost $10,000, the fundraising mark for the project.
The project got its start during the summer of 2014 at the reunion of the class of 1964.
June 03
Defensive driving lessons
A number of state employees took time out of their workday to receive some defensive driving training at the Sanders County Fairgrounds.
In total, 52 state employees, including representatives from the Montana Department of Transportation and Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, were on hand at the fairground’s pavilion for the safety workshop.
Leading the seminar was Mike Anderson, a loss prevention specialist with the Risk Management and Tort Defense Division of the Department of Administration in Helena.
The driver safety training course ran all day and incorporated videos and activities to help state employees be prepared for potential hazards on roadways. Summarizing the training’s main message of safety, Anderson stated the main goal of the day’s workshop was to keep everyone safe as they go about their business on a day-to-day basis.
June 10
Local businesses hold roundtable meeting
Members of the Plains business community attended a roundtable discussion emphasizing Telecommuting and the prospects of brining high-paying jobs to Montana.
The discussion, led by Greg Gianforte of Bozeman, centered on telecommuting, a work arrangement where employees work remotely, utilizing an internet connection to accomplish many of the tasks once performed in a traditional office setting.
Gianforte capped the meeting by reinforcing his message regarding the positive potential telecommuting could have on local economies across Montana.
June 17
Journey of Hope cycles through county
A group of cyclists made their way through Sanders County for a good cause in mid June.
The 28 cyclists, one of three Journey of Hope teams pedaling across the expanse of the United States this summer, have embarked upon their journey to spread a message of acceptance and awareness for those with disabilities. All three teams are composed of members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, an organization with membership at universities in states throughout the country.
The college cyclists arrived at Thompson Falls High School in the early afternoon on June 12, after starting their day across the state line in Sandpoint, ID. The team, part of the Journey of Hope’s TransAmerica trek, started their cross-country journey in Seattle and will finish off their summer in Washington D.C.
Board talks budget
The Sanders County Fair Board assembled for an emergency meeting at the county fairgrounds in Plains.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss cuts to the fair’s budget, which are likely to be implemented during this year’s county budgetary process. The potential budgetary cuts were due to a combination of factors including the reduced value of federal SRS funding, falling property tax values across the county and several infrastructural projects in Sanders County.
Though it was unclear how much money was to be taken from the fair’s budget, the fair’s manager was expected to lose approximately $1 million.
June 24
CFVH recognized for rural healthcare
A group of cyclists, biking across a wide swath of the country this summer, stopped by Plains last week.
The cyclists, 30 individuals biking from Skykomish, WA to Sioux Falls, SD have undertaken their summer journey to raise money for a hospital in rural Ecuador. The group is part of the Andean health 1500 campaign, an effort to improve rural health throughout the Americas.
On June 18, Andean Health 1500 paid the hospital a visit to recognize them for their contributions to rural healthcare. Clark Fork Valley Hospital was selected for the award due to a number of criteria including a significant impact on rural communities, recognition from the community and people the hospital serves as a vital asset as well as providing quality care while assuring people are treated with respect.
July 01
Heat wave hits Sanders County
The last week of June culminated with a potent heat wave across the entirety of Sanders County.
Temperatures moved above 100 degrees over the weekend with temperatures in the high 90s on Monday and Friday. The heat wave prompted Sanders County to prepare to go to Stage 1 fire restrictions.
June featured historic high temperatures with historic low precipitation. The temperatures also impacted the area’s snowpack, eliminating it almost entirely in the mountains.
Circus comes to Thompson Falls
The Culpepper and Merriweather Circus set up on the track of Thompson Falls High School, resembling the proverbial circuses of days of yore.
Inside the big top was the inner ring where all the acts took place, and a place for magic and wonderment. Throughout the show, a clown named Leo performed skits and grabbed audience members for jokes.
One of the most thrilling and awe inspiring acts was a woman who completed daring acts of a swing that swung out over the audience. At one point she hung from a band that wrapped around the back of her neck as she spun around the audience. People could be heard letting out bursts of terror and excitement.
July 08
Ribbon cutting held
Montana State Parks hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony held at Thompson Falls State Park to honor the permanent easement purchase at the park.
Officials from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and Avista Utilities were in attendance at the ceremony. The permanent easement being celebrated was made possible through the collaboration of the aforementioned entities.
According to a press release from Montana State Parks, DNRC offered a permanent easement agreement to MSP at a cost of $275,000. The division paid $137,500 from its Capital Projects budget. Avsita funded the remaining $137,500 with recreation funds provided through the Clark Fork Settlement Agreement.
July 15
Fire burns on ridge outside Thompson Falls
A suspicious human-caused fire started above Graves Creek near the base of Cougar Peak. It was reported by the Forest Service that the fire reached about five acres and was near the top of a ridge. Two helicopters were called in to do preliminary water drops Monday evening.
Tuesday morning, the fire continued to burn slowly on top of the ridge, but due to heavy smoke and rain conditions the helicopters were grounded that day. Around noon Wednesday a hotshot crew from Arizona arrived to fight the fire on the ridge alongside the local Forest Service crews.
July 22
County in drought region
Several counties in Western Montana were designated as natural disaster areas last week as the region continues to experience drought following a mild winter with low snowpack and an early summer without substantial precipitation.
On July 15, Governor Steve Bullock announced 15 counties in the western portion of the state had been designated as primary natural disaster areas by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture due to ongoing drought conditions. Both Sanders and Mineral Counties were included in the primary natural disaster areas.
In addition to the 15 counties within the primary natural disaster areas, nine counties in Montana have been named contiguous disaster counties, due to the region’s widespread drought.
July 29
Trail project receives substantial grant
Montana State Parks recently announced grants to various community projects through its annual Recreational Trails Program.
In total 60 trail organizations, communities and various land-management agencies throughout Montana were to receive federal Recreational Trails Program grant awards through the program.
Sanders County received one of the largest grants available through RTP, as a $90,000 grant was awarded to the Thompson Falls Community Trail Committee. The grant money will go towards completing a trail between Thompson Falls State Park and downtown Thompson Falls.
Paradise school becomes artist gallery
The Paradise multipurpose room, and part of the first floor of the school, was packed with attendees at the second annual Artists in Paradise Show.
The theme of the show was Experience Paradise and was held by the Sanders County Arts Council, which created last year’s first Artists in Paradise show at the school. The goal of the show was to help bring exposure to the local artists.
The 16 artists showcased included painters, photographers, a sketch artist, a jewelry maker, a ceramist and a wood carver. A few artists also held demonstrations in one corner of the room for people to learn about different processes.
Joy Nelson, of the SCAC, explained some of the money raised at the event would go to the Paradise school’s preservation; other funds would go to support the arts council’s projects.
August 05
Hazy skies cover county
Hazy skies settled over much of Northwestern Montana in late July and early August.
The smoky conditions led the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to issue an air quality alert for Lincoln County.
While Lincoln County was the only one to receive an official air quality alert, surrounding areas also experienced decreased air quality. Throughout the Flathead Valley, Seeley lake, Missoula and Frenchtown area air quality was considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
Sanders County celebrates Relay for Life
The Sanders County Relay for Life was held at the Thompson Falls High School.
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 to support cancer research and the support of individuals fighting cancer. This year’s relay featured multiple events to raise money and it allowed people to show their support for the community of people fighting cancer.
The event began with the Survivor’s Dinner. Famous Dave’s Barbecue served to the cancer survivors first and then to their caregivers and then the families as well as support teams.
In conjunction with the dinner, a silent auction was set up in the atrium outside the gymnasium where the dinner was being held.
August 12
Stage 1 fire restrictions remain in effect
Stage 1 fire restrictions are still in effect in Sanders County and across wide portions of Northwestern Montana.
Lisa Osborn, with the Northern Rockies Coordination Group, noted Stage 1 restrictions are likely to continue across the region unless there is a change to the warm and dry weather. She explained every week fire conditions are evaluated and there is an inter-agency discussion to determine whether Stage 1 restrictions should stay in place.
During Stage 1 restrictions, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire is prohibited unless noted in the restrictions exemptions.
New kindergarten teacher in 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.
Hearing that there would be an opening in December, she inquired about the position, and in May officially applied for the position and was presented with an offer of employment.
Hillerman was originally from Holmville, Montana. She explained how there were only three teacher positions open in Northwest Montana and that she was lucky to get the position.
Hillerman graduated December 2014 from Montana State University in Bozeman with a bachelors in Elementary Education. She was a student teacher for a kindergarten class in Alaska and, after graduating, she taught sixth grade half a year in Geyser, Montana.
August 19
Trout Creek hosts Huckleberry Festival
The 36 Annual Huckleberry Festival took place, over a weekend, at the Trout Creek Park.
The first night, there was a talent show put on by local Dave Oliver and there was a Miss Huckleberry and Huck Finn Talent Show. Afterwards, spectators were given an expose of Zumba.
Saturday was the largest day of the event and drew large crowds of people. Saturday and Sunday there was the Huckleberry Hounds Dog Agility Competition, which drew a large number of people who watched different breeds and skill levels run a closed course.
August 26
Crews battle Clark Fork Complex in Montana, Idaho
Fires straddling the border to the north and south of Heron, along with others burning near roads and trailheads to the east and west of Noxon.
“We’re surrounded down here,” he said. “We’re in full battle mode.”
With six major fires and several smaller ones being monitored, the Clark Fork Complex was hampering travel and threatening residences. The fire was burning at 12,009 acres.
The Napoleon, Sawtooth and Government fires are burning in Montana. The Whitetail and Marten fires are solely in Idaho. The Sawtooth and Government fires were at 1,198 and 242 acres respectively.
Thompson Falls Master Plan
The Thompson Falls Main Street Committee held an open house to teach and receive feedback on the Thompson Falls Master Plan.
The plan is part of a state program aimed at community development called the Montana Main Street Program.
The program was created in 2005 by the Community Development Division and the Montana Office of Tourism at the Montana Department of Commerce. The TFMSC was in the planning process, creating possible projects the town can work on in the future. The committee received a few grants, but the grants were only for the planning stages of revitalization.
Once the decisions are made on which projects to follow through on, the TFMSC and city government will have to search for new grants and donors for funding.
September 02
Fires continue to burn in NW Montana
Level three evacuations were in place for an area west of Alberton and south of Interstate 90 that included the Hole-in-the-Wall Ranch and several residences as the West Fork Fish Creek fire grew to over 12,000 acres and was threatening structures.
Several trailers loaded with livestock and other animals could be seen leaving the area before Mineral County Sheriff’s deputies and Forest Service law enforcement closed off the roads.
Mineral County Sheriff Tom Bauer said the precautions were put into effect when the fire suddenly grew overnight and began encroaching on structures in the area.
Sanders County residents give back
Outside of the Plains City Firehouse a collection was held for the firefighters fighting the fires in Western Sanders County.
Showndell and Jason Brown sat in front of the two Plains fire engines with a table for citizens of Plains to bring food and toiletries to give to the firefighters. Throughout the hour, people brought desserts, chap stick, cough drops, burn medication and other toiletries. The Plains City Fire Department also pitched in and donated bottles of water. One individual donated $50 to be used to pick up food from the grocery store.
September 09
Air quality a concern for those in healthcare
As fires burn across NW Montana and much of the NW United States, problems have arisen for those with respiratory issues. Doctors and nurses across the area have been working with patients to help them fight the effects of the smoke.
Polly Cavill, a respiratory therapist out of the Clark Fork Valley Hospital, has reported an increase in visits from patients with chronic lung disease or asthma who live in Sanders and Mineral County who are either developing problems or who have had concerns with the smoky conditions.
According to Cavill, the smoke is not the only environmental factor right now providing trouble for people with compromised respiratory systems. She explained that the high temperatures NW Montana has experienced, coupled with the smoke, has created harsh conditions for these particular patients.
September 16
Fire – The perfect conditions
The damage caused by wildfires burning across Montana, and several other states in the region, have provided a graphic picture of the state of area forests and the threat posed to nearby communities.
With some areas of the forest floor littered with dead trees stacked on top of each other like a giant game of Pick up Sticks, the forest is ripe for extreme fire activity. Toss in drought conditions, a below average snowpack and strained fire fighting resources and what the region has is a wildfire season that currently has over 170 fires burning almost across two million acres according to information from the National Interagency Fire Center.
September 23
Bears are preparing for winter – Increased sightings lead to more measures
Despite increased sightings of bears in the county and reports of them making a mess of people’s property, area game wardens are hesitant to call it a problem.
Troy Hinks, game warden for the Sanders County area, said the bears are acting on their instincts and trying to build up fat reserves to survive the winter. He said their whole world is taken up with finding food right now and they would be looking for it wherever they could. Low food availability due to the drought means they have needed to find other sources than those in the wild.
“Given the dry conditions we’ve had in Sanders County, there’s really a very low food supply for bears,” Hink said. “Almost every year we’re going to have bears that are coming into town.”
TRACS starts new program to save dogs
Thompson River Animal Shelter has created a new system for itself to help rescue more dogs from around the United States and most recently, internationally. Utilizing other organizations with the mission of rescuing dogs, Wanda Thorpe, a founder of TRACS, has been using pilots that on return flights from California and other parts of the country rescue dogs from kill shelters and puppy mills.
Thorpe, who has been slowly increasing the size of TRACS, has been rescuing dogs from as far as California herself.
“I’ve always taken them in by car from California for the last year,” she said explaining how she found two organizations that rescue dogs and then fly them to non-kill shelters.
September 30
Sanders County Coalition for Families
The Sanders County Coalition for Families recently became the recipient of a federal $498,000 grant to supplement funding their services to families or individuals that are victims of domestic violence.
The grant, called the Justice for Families Grant, comes from the Department of Justice Office of Violence against Women.
The grant will be used to increase the services of the coalition, but will not be used for direct services, Seratt explained. She said that the grant will be divided into two parts.
The first use will be to expand the coalition’s office out of its current basement location. The grant will also be used to extend the hours of operation of the coalition into the evening.
October 07
Students talk youth alcohol prevention with legislators
Students from Mineral and Sanders Counties recently travelled to Bozeman to attend the 2015 Alcohol Education Summit to speak with representatives about youth alcohol advocacy.
The trip was arranged by the Elevate Coalition. According to information provided by Charles Standeford, one of the coalition’s representatives, Lisa Scates, the Alcohol Education Coordinator for the Department of Revenue, asked the coalition to attend the summit to speak about how to harness youth advocacy.
According to Standeford, the students discussed how teens view substance abuse issues and how they could get involved with prevention efforts.
October 14
Plains City Fire Department has a new chief
October 5, the Plains City Council voted in the new Plains Fire Chief, Jason Williams.
Williams was voted captain of the department January 2014 and became assistant fire chief 10 years ago. A member of the Plains community for six years, Williams described why he became a firefighter and eventually the new fire chief. He said he became interested when his daughter said she wanted to be a firefighter when she grew up; he joined so he could be directly involved with something she was very passionate about.
Since then, their interests in firefighting have reversed and it gives Williams a great sense of fulfillment. He said he loves to give back to the community and feels blessed to have the support of his family.
Three years of work coming to a close
A project that has been in the works for three years has reached the final stages.
A project to install a new water storage tank and transmission line is within months of completion. The project started in 2012 when a preliminary engineering report was presented to Hot Springs.
The report recommended action to improve the town’s water supply to ensure it would meet state and federal regulations for a 20 year projected planning period.
October 21
Schools in Sanders County recognize anti-bullying
October is National Bullying Prevention Month and two schools, vastly different in size and on opposite ends of the county, have both made it a mission to prevent bullying, each in their own way.
Barb Mosher, the Trout Creek School’s counselor, described that she tries to focus on character building. She explained that it is good to understand bullying and to stop it when it occurs, but it is also important to foster personal traits in each student that will make bullying not an issue.
Across the county to the east, the larger Plains School District approaches bullying also with preventative measures, but has to work it differently. Instead of character building, Principal Kevin Meredith explained that the school makes it a mission to keep ears open and have a strong relationship with the school staff.
Big plan revealed at chamber meeting
The Thompson Falls Business Chamber Meeting was held at Minnie’s Montana Café. There was one large topic discussed during the meeting.
Mayor Carla Parks gave the special announcement that the Downtown Thompson Falls Master Plan had been completed and to be presented in October at the Thompson Falls Community Center.
Speaking to the chamber, Parks explained what the Master Plan was for anyone who was unaware of what the project which has taken five years to plan. She explained the Master Plan as a summary of what everyone wanted. After multiple town meetings and surveys, the Master Plan has been created based on what the town community feels are appropriate actions to better the downtown.
October 28
Bigfoot becomes the talk of Hot Springs
Bigfoot believers from as far away as Wyoming and Idaho arrived to share their stories of sightings, meet the experts, learn about others’ experiences and find kindred spirits in the tiny resort town.
Roughly 90 people came to Hot Springs for the weekend’s Big Sky Bigfoot Conference, the first of its kind in the state. For some sasquatch is something of a gentle giant, a wayward creature that just wants to be left alone in the forest. For others, it’s a supernatural being equipped with for interdimensional transport and the ability to “bend energy.”
Deer in town are causing problems and issues
Deer getting into and around the Plains community have been causing lots of problems for residents; however, city and state officials have said the options for what the city can do are limited.
Deer have been getting into town, causing lots of damage to residents’ landscaping and lawns. While it is difficult to arrange removal of the deer, and there are laws against killing them, there are some possible options.
Mayor Greg Eitelberg has begun monitoring deer sightings and deaths in town to get an idea of the populations. The city hopes to come up with a plan for dealing with the deer in the future.
November 04
The time has come for a new beginning
It is the end of an era for the Clark Fork Valley Press and Mineral Independent.
Recently, it was decided that the office of the Clark Fork Valley Press and Mineral Independent was deemed unacceptable as a place of business and a new modern building will be put in it’s place.
Right now, the headquarters of the two newspapers is located at the Realty Office at the top of Railroad Avenue.
Master Plan released
With much jubilation, the Master Plan for Thompson Falls was unveiled by the Downtown Planning Committee to the public in the community center.
Light refreshments of cheeses, meats, fruit and hot beverages were provided to the attendees as the plan was introduced by Mayor Carla Parks and a community planner from a Charlo-based community planning company.
November 11
Plains Veterans of Foreign Wars Anniversary
It was the VFW’s annual anniversary celebration Saturday night from 6:00 pm to midnight at the Plains VFW.
The charter was started in 1939 and has been at the same location since its beginning.
As more people arrived, the VFW began to fill with dozens of people and by 9 pm live music played by the band Dark Horse began to fill the hall. Couples got up and danced under a mix of colored lights while the band played.
November 18
Hot Springs art gala draws in numbers
Art aficionados gathered at the Symes Hotel to enjoy art and hors’devours during the Hot Springs Artist’s Society’s annual gala.
The event included wine, chocolate and cheese tasting as people participated in a silent auction of various art pieces. People could buy tickets as they entered, which they could exchange for cheese samples and a glass of wine. The food and beverages were donated by area wineries as well as other local businesses.
November 25
SC Search and Rescue deployed to search river
Montana Highway Patrol and the Sanders County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue were deployed to assist with an operation by the Northwestern Drug Taskforce.
The taskforce responded to a report of unknown objects being dropped into the Clark Fork River near the Paradise Bridge. They called in Search and Rescue to help search the water for them. Both objects were recovered.
Heathers to reopen soon after fire causes smoke damage
Heathers Country Kitchen is expected to reopen soon, having shut down for approximately a month due to a small fire leaving smoke damage throughout the restaurant.
The repairs and clean p have been going well. At the time of press, the main thing they were waiting on was someone to be able to reupholster the benches in the booths. The smoke tarnished lots of the walls, floor and ceiling throughout the building as well as leaving a lingering smell in the upholstery.
The fire was started by a spontaneous combustion of linens; a laundry basket full of towels, napkins as well as other items suddenly caught fire and began spreading smoke throughout the building. It is believed there was enough residual heat from everything being in the dryer, mixed with any left over grease or chemicals that may have been on them, to trigger the fire.
December 02
Girl Scouts learn about medicine during CFVH visit
Girl Scouts Troop 3371, from Plains, went to the Clark Fork Valley Hospital to learn about the medical industry and the workings of a hospital.
The girls toured a variety of the facilities around the hospital. Elizabeth Riehle, scout master of the troop, recalled they went to the Emergency Room facilities and the nursery wards, among others. Some of the girls were also hooked up to some of the equipment to see how it worked, such as seeing their heart rate with an EKG and how much oxygen was in their blood with a finer clip.
Relics found in construction point to history of newspapers
As progress continues on the demolition and reconstruction of the office of the Clark Fork Valley Press as well as the Mineral Independent, relics of the company’s past keep coming forward.
Recently, the old building was completely torn down to the foundation. Part of this revealed a number of concrete slabs in the structure’s floor. According to Randy Garrison, historian of Plains, these slabs were used to house the printing presses, when the paper was printed in the property.
December 09
Raugust released from prison until new trial
Richard Raugust was released from prison on a bond as he awaits for new trial for the 1997 murder of Joe Tash near Trout Creek.
In a heading Friday morning, Raugust’s attorneys petitioned the Sanders County District Court for the bond on the grounds that Raugust is again considered a defendant in the murder case after the original conviction was overturned. New evidence was brought forward last December, which allegedly supports his alibi. In light of this Judge James Wheelis overturned the 18-year-old conviction and agreed to rehear the case.
It was determined the new evidence constituted a violation of due process and was grounds for a new trial. The trial is being scheduled for some time in August.
December 16
Melodrama signals start of old Paradise School resurrection
The Paradise School opened its doors recently to show a melodrama before a packed house and make some special announcements about the school’s future.
The melodrama, The Tragedy of Ragweed Cowboy Joe, told the story of Ragweed Joe, a soldier of the American Revolution, who decides to move to Paradise, Montana to escape his crippling hay fever and become a cowboy. While there, he meets the love of his life: Little Hootin’ Annie, the school teacher.
The show was not the only purpose for the evening, though. It also acted as one of the first big fundraisers for the repurposing of the Paradise schoolhouse. After two years of consideration and debate, it was proposed the Board of Trustees should give the land and buildings to the county who would then lease it to the Paradise School Preservation Committee. The committee would then run it as a community, visitor and arts center for everyone’s use.