Ellington

Fire restrictions lifted after rainstorm

Two days of healthy rainfall and cool temperatures across Western Montana brought an abrupt end to fire restrictions, while some public closures and evacuation notices were lifted.

Legals for August, 30 2023

PHOTOS: Thompson Falls football action

PHOTOS: Thompson Falls football action

Seeley edges St. Regis in volleyball opener

Nothing like starting the high school volleyball season off with a cliffhanger of a match.

Local harriers open season with meet at Deer Lodge

The Lady Hawks were good last year, finishing seventh in the team chase at the Montana Class B cross country championships.

Trotters volleyball opens season at Mission Invite

Things are looking up for the Plains Trotters volleyball team as they head into the 2023 season.

Panthers enter volleyball season with strong roster

No losses personnel wise from last year and a core of returning players bode well for the Alberton Panthers 2023 volleyball team.

Savage Heat kick off season with win at West Yellowstone

It’s 341 miles from Hot Springs to West Yellowstone, Montana. A mere road trip to Montana high school athletes.

Tigers nips Bobcats in rivalry showcase

Folks have no doubt had Aug. 26 circled in red on their calendars.

Noxon spoils Alberton's return to 6-man action

Everything went as hoped for, except the final score.

Clark Fork Soccer Alliance draws 300 kids

The sport with the highest player participation in Sanders and Mineral counties keeps on growing.

Horsemen can't overcome Mission firepower

Statistics don’t lie, they say, and those from Friday’s Mission at Plains 8-player football game in Plains tell a somewhat different tale than the 34-6 final score in favor of the visiting Bulldogs.

COLUMN: A frozen smile moment

There are precious few things that would prompt the local coroner/undertaker to tell my potentially grieving family members “we’ve tried everything and we just can’t get the smile off his face.”

New Plains boutique offers 'cool and unusual' gifts

Being an entrepreneur has always been something in Plains resident Maralee Schall’s scope of interest.

Bikers Against Bullies rumbles through Dixon

Saturday would probably not have been a good day to be a bully in Dixon, Montana.

55 structures destroyed in River Road East Fire

Progress and patience were two of the key words emerging from a public information meeting this past Thursday regarding what is being called the River Road East Fire.

Community calendar

Community calendar

Jolene Marie Jackson Jacobson

Jolene Marie Jackson Jacobson

Business offers unique precision cutting

Since opening in June, Twin Creek Creations has made a big splash from Superior going west, but now they are going to be moving in all directions after testing the water.

Area fire danger remains 'very high'

With the recent rains and cooler temperatures, a few folks have tossed common sense to the wind by conducting open burning.

Freedom Festival to celebrate U.S. Constitution

An upcoming event in Mineral County is being organized to celebrate the Constitution and learn more about it.

On the rise: Local woman delivers fresh baked breads

These days, it seems everything can be made to order and deliverable to your front door. Well now in Superior and St. Regis, that can also include homemade baked goods.

Start-up gymnastics program opens in Old Superior Schoolhouse

An exciting new children’s recreational opportunity is coming to Superior starting this fall.

Community rallies around firefighters at VFW breakfast

The Wildhorse VFW hall was built to host functions and events for heroes who served their country.

Legals for August, 23 2023

Lady Hawks start season with solid foundation of talent

Last year was a good year to say the least for the always strong Thompson Falls High volleyball team.

Lady Heat volleyball fields well-rounded roster

The youth movement continues in Hot Springs.

Plains cross-country roster continues to grow

The mark of anything that gains followers is likely that it is popular and growing.

T-Falls harriers return strong team

One of the best distance runners in Thompson Falls history has graduated and moved on to play basketball in college.

Hot Springs leans on speed and experience

The bad news for Hot Springs as they prepare for the 2023 football season is they lost their best player from last year.

Red Devils look to build off last season's success

Noxon High head football coach Lucas MacArthur would be forgiven if he’s thinking “we shall return.”

Alberton 6-man team to play full varsity schedule

Last year was, by all accounts, a testing year for the Alberton Panthers football team.

Superior volleyball roster 'energetic'

Despite some heavy losses to graduation and an injury to a key player that will sideline her for the season, Superior volleyball coach Kyra McElroy remains upbeat about this year’s team.

Horsemen football returns with corral full of talent

Mike Tatum is back at the helm.

I-90 bridge work planned near Alberton

Interstate 90 between Huson and Alberton already has a large bridge refurbishing project that has been going on most of the summer, and another one is starting.

Matthew “Matt” R. Austin, 56

Matthew “Matt” R. Austin, 56

Community calendar

Community calendar

Clark Fork River Cleanup Aug. 26

The Eastern Sanders County Conservation District will host the annual Clark Fork River Clean Up on Saturday, Aug. 26 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Sanders County Fairgrounds in Plains.

Droessler is new Alberton School superintendent

Alberton School is a three-story brick school which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on Jan. 13, 1997.

Shakespeare in the Parks comes to Mineral County Fairgrounds

Every other year, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks offers one of their two plays as a non-Shakespearean Production.

PHOTOS: Superior Back to School Bash

PHOTOS: Superior Back to School Bash

Superior football reloads with size and speed

Some schools go through a cyclical “rebuilding” process every other year or so.

PHOTOS: River Street Festival and paddleboard races

406 Paddleboard Race

Tour of historic mining district this Saturday

The Mineral County Museum and Historical Society will be hosting its annual Tour of the Cedar Creek Historic Mining District on Saturday, Aug. 26.

Key returners to lead St. Regis volleyball

Each year in high school sports brings about change, including to team line-ups. Sometimes it is dramatic, other times very subtle.

Winds fuel River Road East Fire near Paradise

High winds that wreaked havoc around the town of Paradise on Friday subsided overnight, slowing the advance of the wind-fueled River Road East Fire that began during the afternoon along the railroad tracks near the Clark Fork River.

Sheriff Fielders advises residents 'be ready to go'

Communication, it has been said, is often the difference between winning a battle and losing.

Containment of Niarada fire increases

Western Montana wildfire managers on Monday warned that activity could ramp up again with dangerous weather conditions on tap this week.

Solid group returns for Blue Hawks football

The “fear” factor can mean a lot of different things.

St. Regis-Mullan Tigers ramp up for season kickoff

So how do you replace an all-everything athlete who led your team in a bunch of offensive and defensive measurements last season?

Trapper education field day, virtual wolf trapper classes coming up

Kalispell trapper education field day, virtual wolf trapper certification scheduled for October

The first two amendments the most important

The first two amendments to our Constitution are by far the most important. Here is why.

Federal regulators flag concerns as Montana cuts Medicaid rolls

Federal regulators are urging Montana health officials to fix shortcomings in the state’s Medicaid redetermination process, expressing “concerns” that the state may be disenrolling people who are eligible for the public health insurance and creating barriers for others through long wait times at call centers and during the application process.

Huckleberry Fest draws thousands to Trout Creek

This, said band member Dana Scranton, was something “nobody would have expected to find in this part of the country.”

Legals for August, 16 2023

NorthWestern energy plan out for public comment, listening sessions planned

NorthWestern Energy said flexible natural gas is one of the resources it needs to provide electricity to customers in the next couple of decades — but the Montana Public Service Commission is holding listening sessions starting next week on the monopoly utility’s plan.

Tribes to hold surplus bison auction

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes will be conducting a capture event in October at the CSKT Bison Range to pull surplus bison as a means to keep genetic diversity high and capacity within Bison Range long-term goal for the remaining herd.

West End Fire Department holds recruitment barbecue

Many people may think that when a volunteer fire department needs help, they think of firefighters.

Superior local takes reins at school superintendent

Growing up with both parents as teachers and then one going into school administration, Logan Labbe thought he would have a different direction in life.

Community calendar

Community calendar

Seek the truth about grizzly bear management

Delisting grizzly bears is becoming a hot topic both in our state and nationwide.

While rare, otter attack not out of character, experts say

The three women who were recently attacked by an otter while floating on the Jefferson River near Three Forks stood about a near-equal chance of being charged by an angry unicorn.

More Patriot Front members on trial in Coeur d'Alene

COEUR d’ALENE — Local police officers took the stand Wednesday and described their roles in the arrest of 31 Patriot Front members in June 2022.

Fairgrounds offers sanctuary to fire evacuees

When mandatory evacuations for Walking Horse Lane and Early Dawn Road and adjacent areas near Big Arm were announced last Thursday afternoon by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Vicki Holmberg, Polson Fairgrounds caretaker, was immediately on the phone with people seeking shelter for their animals and places to park their campers and RVs. When she wasn’t on the phone, she was showing people where to put their animals.

Plains church leads back-to-school supply drive

The ever-widening grin on the face of 6-year-old Harrison Strong told the story.

Neighbors and visitors enjoy Mineral County Fair

A major draw each year at the fair is the phenomenal work displayed by the Cabin Fever Quilters.

Legals for August, 9 2023

Mineral County Fair photos

Mineral County Fair photos

Louella White, 81

Louella Jean Shoffner

Tyler Quinton Steinebach, 34

Tyler Quinton Steinebach, 34

Paradise exhibit features region’s top artists

Cool in every sense of the word.

Tough-as-leather rodeo athletes shine at Mineral County Fair

Never let it be said that rodeo is not an extremely entertaining sport.

Fall prep sports ramp up this month

This is why some people leave outdoor Christmas lights up year-round.

COLUMN: World Cup team all about politics

Soccer, at least among the Women’s World Cup team, is shooting itself in the proverbial foot.

Sanders County residents offer insight into 1915 rock carving

It didn’t take long for some important clues to roll in concerning the mystery of who John Crossen was, and why did he pause to carve his name in a rock on a ranch north of Plains more than a century ago.

Blackfoot makes donation at fair to Superior Fire

Blackfoot Communications is named after the Blackfoot River and started as a cooperative almost 70 years ago in the Clinton region.

Maryland hospitality company buys Chico Hot Springs for $33 million

DiamondRock Hospitality Company announced Wednesday that it has purchased Chico Hot Springs Resort in the Paradise Valley for $33 million.

Northwest Montana enters Stage 2 fire restrictions

Much of Northwest Montana is under Stage 2 fire restrictions that ban campfires as severe drought conditions have expanded, bringing extreme fire danger to the entire region, fire managers said Friday.

Rainfall slows growth on Niarada Fire

Fire crews made progress over the weekend on containment lines around the Niarada Fire west of Elmo thanks to below normal temperatures and some much-needed rainfall.

FWP deserves accolades for deer license reduction

Recently, Montana’s Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks recently announced they were reducing hunting licenses for mule deer in a large swath of Central and Eastern Montana.

Two injured after car goes off edge of Going-to-the-Sun Road

Two people suffered injuries after a car drove off the edge of the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park on Thursday.

Man accused of starting Gravel Pit Fire charged with arson

A homeless man living out of a van is accused of starting the Gravel Pit Fire in the Fisher River Valley east of Libby on Aug. 1.

Union ratifies new contract with Logan Health

Service Employees International Union 1199NW has ratified a new contract with Logan Health, which union representatives say raises wages by 20% over the next two years, including 11.5% upon ratification.

Economist warns state must boost energy production

Montana risks becoming a net importer of electricity because growth in electricity generation and transmission infrastructure is failing to keep pace with increasing demand, according to Dr. Pat Barkey, director of the University of Montana’s Bureau for Business Economic Research.

Congressman deems federal government untrustworthy on eve of Trump arraignment

On the eve of former President Donald Trump’s arraignment in federal court on charges related to the attempted overturning of the 2020 election, U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke told attendees of a Whitefish forum that the government cannot be trusted.

Economist warns state must boost energy production

Montana risks becoming a net importer of electricity because growth in electricity generation and transmission infrastructure is failing to keep pace with increasing demand, according to Dr. Pat Barkey, director of the University of Montana’s Bureau for Business Economic Research.

Flathead County moves to stage 2 fire restrictions Saturday

Flathead and Sanders counties will move to stage 2 fire restrictions beginning Saturday, Aug. 5.

Legals for August, 2 2023

UM secures $3.6M to help cure Montana nursing shortage

The University of Montana recently secured $3.6 million from the Health Resource and Service Administration to bolster the nursing workforce across Big Sky Country.

Two grizzlies killed after conflicts with humans

Two grizzlies bears were killed last week because they continued to get in trouble with humans and human foods.

What happened when a Tesla came to Ekalaka

An “unidentified electric vehicle” — actually a Tesla Model Y — accused of siphoning power from the local electric utility energized the gossip mill in the small eastern Montana town of Ekalaka last week, prompting front page newspaper coverage, a frantic apology and, in the end, much jawboning about the future of transportation in one of the most remote counties in the lower 48 states.

Kathryn Bell, 62

Kathryn Bell, 62

Verna Marie Smith, 85

Verna Marie Smith, 85

COLUMN: College football trouble

Football, my beloved sport, may be in trouble.

Bear attack survivor shares tips for Griz country

As he was dangling from the mouth of a record-size brown bear in Alaska, several thoughts surged through Brent Hudson’s badly bleeding head.

Plains resident looks to solve rock carving mystery

It’s an intriguing question that Plains area resident Ed Farmer would love to solve.

Shawn Frank mows down the competition at Wild Coyote Days

It took only the first race to see this year’s Wild Coyote Days riding lawn mower races would be different than last year.

Paddleboard racers to compete on Clark Fork River

Do you remember when the Montana Stand Up Paddleboard Race was scheduled for earlier this year at the Big Eddy fishing access site? It was scheduled for April 29, but because of logistics, possible high water and floating ice may not be the best time for this event.

Heat brings fishing restrictions on Clark Fork River

Fishermen have been expecting the hoot owl fishing restrictions with this intense heat, but now there are also closures on the Clark Fork River.

PHOTO: Mineral County Reading in the Park

Terri Barclay, a former St. Regis Elementary Teacher, Office of Public Instruction Project Director, and instructor at the Montana Yoga Movement led an exciting and active story time session at Eva Horning Park on Tuesday, July 25. The Mineral County Library's Reading in the Park program concluded last week with a session of yoga for kids and beginners. Barclay read through the book, Be a Friend, as she and the children did a series of yoga poses like this tree pose. After the book and a bit of exercise, everyone celebrated with popsicles. (Mineral Independent/Amy Quinlivan)