Wednesday, December 28
St. Regis Senior Center offers up Christmas feast
On the evening of Dec. 22, the St. Regis Senior Citizen Center hosted Christmas dinner for many residents in Mineral County.
Mineral County Sheriff's Office calls
Mineral County Sheriff's Office calls
Missoula mainstay Josh Farmer to perform in Superior
The Mineral County Performing Arts Council is starting the new year with exciting entertainment that comes from The Garden City.
Santa visits Clark Fork Valley Hospital
Santa came to visit long-term care at Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains on Wednesday, December 21. (Courtesy Photo)
Exempt wells undermining water rights and resources
It is time to end Montana’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” groundwater development policy.
Jim Elliott: Feeling thankful
I started out to write about this being a good time of year to be helpful to others and that began to sound so preachy and goody-two-shoes that I thought that maybe I should just thank some people who helped me when I needed it.
Bigfork topples Plains teams on hard court
To be the best, they say, you have to beat the best.
COLUMN: When the snow flies
It must be winter in Montana, where the first official day of winter brings pipe-freezing cold and road clogging snow.
Legals for December, 28 2022
Clifford Roy Warnken
Clifford Roy Warnken
Virgil Nelson
Virgil Nelson
Howard Dean Reese
Howard Dean Reese
Plains students showcased in Christmas concert
Monday’s evening performance by Plains students in grades 7 through 12 filled the bleachers in the new gymnasium for this year's Christmas concert.
Plains 6th grade classes help spread cheer
The sixth-grade classes of Mrs. Feist and Ms. Jirasko at Plains Elementary School went out of their way to make Christmas special for many children throughout Sanders County this year. Teachers Feist and Jirasko helped organize the Tree of Hearts drive.
Winter storm starts with snow, ends with record lows
Winter Storm Elliott brought on onslaught of snow followed by near record cold temperatures during the days leading up to Christmas. Snow started to accumulate late Monday night on the 19th and continued steadily all-day Tuesday.
FWP biologist: Feeding wildlife does more harm than good
With their big brown eyes with frosted eyelashes, snow on their face, steam vapor floating from their nostrils and snow up to their bellies, you want so desperately to help them.
Superior massage therapist 'listens' to the body
In 2003 when Jessie Vaillancourt graduated from college in Vermont, she moved to Alberton. She became the effervescent, fun-loving face of Alberton Feed in 2010 until it closed just before the pandemic in 2019.
Wednesday, December 21
Plains students bring Christmas cheer to long-term care center
Plains Elementary second-graders from Mrs. Gumm and Mrs. Winebrenner’s class spent their time last week bringing Christmas cheer to the Clark Fork Valley Long-Term Care facility.
Fourth-grader's artwork goes on world tour
Plains fourth-grader Chloe Monselet is attracting worldwide attention with her artwork.
School gym alarm system works perfectly in smoke incident
At 4:07 p.m., Dec. 14, Plains Fire Department and the Plains Community Ambulance were dispatched to a fire in the new gymnasium at the Plains School.
Plains JMG students organize candy cane exchange
In the dark of night last Wednesday evening residents along the streets of Plains could see Santa perched atop a Plains fire truck.
Lake Co. seeks to end law enforcement agreement on Flathead Reservation
Public Law 280, a unique agreement that has shaped law enforcement in Lake County and on the Flathead Reservation for nearly 60 years, has reached “a breaking point,” according to county officials.
Superior and Plains wrestlers post solid results
On the mats was a good place to be for local wrestlers this past weekend.
Alberton hoopers gain experience in losses
The wins aren’t coming, but experience is.
COLUMN: A few Christmas shoutouts
I was thinking about putting together a Christmas gift list for all the folks in this area who are involved in or like sports.
Legals for December, 21 2022
Community Calendar
Community Calendar
Plains hoopers snare nice wins
Don’t look now but the young guys on the block are playing winning basketball.
St. Regis boys continue hot start in win over Superior
The youth movement continues in the Western 14C conference and that is good news for the St. Regis Tigers boys basketball team, which is already off to a hot start to the 2022-23 campaign.
Thompson Falls teams roll over Troy
Two games, two relatively easy wins.
T-Falls tops Plains in county showdown
In the latest version of the battle for Sanders County, the Blue Hawks ruled the roost.
Superior students help spread Christmas joy
The Christmas Basket program has been organized as a group effort by several different organizations over the years.
'West Enders' create networking number
Residents who live along I-90 between mile marker 22 and Saltese are in the west end of Mineral County.
Mineral County Sheriff's Office calls
Mineral County Sheriff's Office calls
PHOTOS: St. Regis Winter Festival
Families from around the county gathered together Dec. 13, for a fun-filled Winter Festival at St. Regis School.
PHOTO: Superior's Lewis assigned to USNS Comfort
Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Benjamin Lewis, from Superior, assigned to the hospital ship USNS Comfort, boards a transportation barge to assist in the setup of the medical site in Jeremie, Haiti, Dec. 11. Comfort is deployed to U.S. 4th Fleet in support of Continuing Promise 2022, a humanitarian assistance and goodwill mission conducting direct medical care, expeditionary veterinary care, and subject matter expert exchanges with five partner nations in the Caribbean, Central and South America. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Sophia Simons)
Johnny Lee Graham
Johnny Lee Graham was born Dec. 21 1957 to Arthur and Betty Graham. He passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones in his home in Camas Prairie on Dec. 10, 2022.
Turner Mountain plans Dec. 23 opening
Turner Mountain Ski Area is set to open next week.
Montana rail workers say new labor contract doesn't fix working conditions
A monthslong labor dispute between the Class I railroads and rail worker unions ended Dec. 2 with Congress’ intervention, subjecting workers to a new contract and using the 1926 Railway Labor Act to prevent a potential strike.
Private Land and Public Wildlife Committee identifies goals
The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ Private Land and Public Wildlife (PLPW) Committee identified its top goals for the upcoming year in a meeting on Wednesday.
Santa strolls along Railroad Street
Santa took time out of his busy schedule at the North Pole to bring joy to the children in Plains during his visit earlier this month.
Wednesday, December 14
Plains Town Council says goodbye to Mayor Rowan
Dan Rowan called the Plains Town Council Meeting to order for the last time Monday evening, as his term as mayor comes to an end.
Hot Springs handled by top Seeley Lake squads
Some things are pretty certain. It snows in Montana in the winter, an elephant cannot hang over a cliff with its tail wrapped around a daisy, and it takes a very big dog to weigh a ton.
St. Regis commemorates Pearl Harbor Day
Dec. 7, marked 81 years since the Empire of Japan violently and deliberately attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. 2,403 soldiers, sailors and airmen lost their lives on that tragic day.
PHOTO: St. Regis Christmas Bazaar
St. Regis resident, Nikki Clyde, catches up with vendor Becky Cannon while shopping at the annual Christmas Bazaar at the St. Regis Community Center. Eileen Wolff one of the organizers said, "It was a very busy day, lots of shoppers, and more vendors than years before!" Other rooms were opened up in the building to make extra space for sellers tables and booths. (Mineral Independent/Amy Quinlivan)
Mineral County Sheriff's Office calls
Mineral County Sheriff's Office calls
Input sought on off-road vehicle use at Fish Creek
The term off-highway vehicle includes all-terrain vehicles, off-highway motorcycles, and off-road vehicles.
Alberton parent-teacher group hosts gingerbread day
On Sunday afternoon, the Alberton School Gymnasium transformed into a gingerbread house manufacturing plant as parents, guardians and kids came in to build and have fun.
Plains art students bring holiday cheer to area businesses
Art teacher Kristen Cole’s students spent last Thursday bringing holiday cheer to businesses around Plains.
Volunteers assist Santa during Plains visit
On a cold early December morning last Saturday, Santa and Mrs. Claus set up shop in the old log cabin on Railroad Street in Plains.
Plains churches celebrate with Christmas choir
The second annual Community Christmas Choir Concert and sing-along took place Saturday evening at the Plains Bible Chapel.
Cash Mitchell Farmer
It is with intense sorrow that we must announce the passing of Cash Mitchell Farmer of Plains on Nov. 16, 2022.
Communication infrastructure overhaul planned for western Montana
As part of the 15-year plan to expand voice, broadband and fiber connected communications across western Montana, Blackfoot Communications continues to replace outdated infrastructure.
Flu cases on the rise in Montana
Influenza cases in Montana hit a sharp rise at the start of December, with nearly 1,000 new cases and more than 50 new hospitalizations reported statewide last week.
Plains school Christmas bazaar draws 42 vendors
The first annual Plains school bazaar took place in the new gymnasium Saturday and was well supported by the community.
Tree of Life reception recognizes those who died
Clark Fork Valley Hospital invited residents last week to take part in the Hospice Tree of Life reception.
Column: Alberton girls show true grit
It can be running across open ground while people you don’t even know are shooting at you.
Plains-Hot Springs take 4th at Bob Kinney Invitational
Local wrestlers brought home lots of hardware from this year’s Bob Kinney Invitational, the watermark event in this area’s high school wrestling scene.
Alberton hoopers showing improvement
Since announcing they were returning to varsity sports in the Montana class B-C sports world, the Alberton Panthers boys and girls teams have not been treated very kindly.
Lady Hawks notch another win over Florence-Carlton
A deadly combo is emerging on the courts for the Thompson Falls Lady Hawks so far this season.
Noxon boys fall in OT; girls split games
Overtime was not kind to the Noxon Red Devils boys basketball team, who fell 51-40 to the Troy Trojans in a game that was 39-39 at the end of regulation.
St. Regis hoopers off to hot start
When both teams are rolling, that’s a good time to be a fan.
Lady Bobcats top Darby for another win
The good news is it’s just the beginning of the season.
Local VFW Post 3596 retires American flags
On a special day, Dec. 7, local veterans gathered at the Plains VFW Post to perform a solemn ceremony, retiring the U.S. symbol of freedom.
Legals for December, 14 2022
Sunday, December 11
PHOTO: St. Regis Nativity Scene
The St. Regis Senior Center was aglow on Saturday with a glorious display of Nativity Sets.
Wednesday, December 7
St. Regis edges Darby, 44-42
Sometimes, even the best shooters could swear the opposing team put a clear plastic lid over their basket.
Surge of out-of-state hunters dominates FWP citizens advisory meeting
Concern over out-of-state hunters dominated a meeting of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ Citizens Advisory Committee for Region 1 earlier this week.
Blacktail ski area to open for season Saturday
Blacktail Mountain Ski Area will open Saturday, Dec. 10 for the winter season, marking the earliest opening date in a decade for the ski slopes above Lakeside.
Grassroots effort underway to replace Dayton Elementary School
With the goal of raising $20 million in five years, a grassroots organization is working to replace Lake County’s aging Dayton Elementary School with a state-of-the-art academic building that will double as a community center.
Superior girls get big win to open season
Pre-season tournaments like the one held this past weekend in Hamilton, can provide more than a chance for fans to munch on popcorn and get their yell muscles ready.
Hot Springs teams look good at tip-off
Of the local teams entered in the Hamilton Tip-off basketball tournament this past weekend, Hot Springs came out with one of the best combined records.
Alberton hoopers return to the court
The true test of character, they say, is not so much how you respond to prosperity, but how you respond to adversity.
Lady Hawks rout Deer Lodge to open season
If it’s the winter sports season, one truism appears to be holding as it does every year. The Thompson Falls Lady Hawks will have a very good basketball team.
Horsemen open season with win at tip-off
All the ingredients have been there, ripening and getting better.
Good results at Owen Invitational wrestling tourney
A pair of seniors led the way for the Superior Bobcats wrestling team while Thompson Falls scored the area’s lone weight class championship during action at this past weekend’s Owen Invitational Wrestling tournament in Polson.
Column: For the love of soccer?
A quick bit of gratitude to express, then on to this week’s debate.
Column: The champion of the world
This is the story — correct that — legend, of a man named Les Webber who ranched and caroused in and around the town of Plains.
Letters to the editor Dec. 7
Letters to the editor Dec. 7
Plains-Paradise Senior Center meals
Plains-Paradise Senior Center meals
Bruce Wayne Miller, 77
Bruce Wayne Miller, 77
Christmas season arrives in Plains with parade
Christmas festivities began in Plains last week with a tree lighting and parade.
Annual lantern launch lights up Sanders County
Local volunteers from the Cancer Network of Sanders County recently launched 60 lanterns into the night sky over Plains in celebration of cancer survivors and in memory of those that have passed on from cancer.
Mineral County Sheriff's Office calls
Mineral County Sheriff's Office calls
Post Offices get busiest as Christmas approaches
As of Nov. 29 at 3:34 p.m., the United States Postal Service reported that 1,975,595,333 packages and mail have already been accepted nationwide for this holiday season.
Resource Advisory Committees seeks new members
The posting reads: The Sanders and Mineral Resource Advisory Committees (RAC) are seeking new members.
Christmas cheer at Superior's tree lighting
What a remarkable evening the residents in Mineral County had on Saturday in Superior.
Local artist specializes in barn quilts
Unless you came from an agricultural community in the northeast, hearing the term “barn quilt” would be a little confusing.
