Thursday, June 29
Zinke wants water released from Hungry Horse Reservoir to fill Flathead Lake
Flathead Lake’s low water level this summer has drawn the attention of Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke, who called the situation an “oncoming crisis.”
Blackfeet release bison at Chief Mountain
The Blackfeet Tribe on Monday released a herd of 24 bison in the Chief Mountain Wilderness. The animals could end up in Glacier National Park, the first herd in the park in almost 150 years.
Wednesday, June 28
Shoshone County not seeking death penalty in Kellogg massacre case
Shoshone County Prosecuting Attorney Benjamin Allen will not seek the death penalty as a sentencing option for accused murderer MajorJon Kaylor, according to a release from his office.
Outdoor roundup
Outdoor roundup
What to know about summer swimmer's itch
Here in Montana, itchy skin has always been an unavoidable consequence when enjoying the great outdoors. From peeling sunburns to mosquito bites, many of the inflamed epidermal threats we experience are widely known and well understood by local residents and out-of-state visitors alike.
New fentanyl law requires minimum sentences
Gov. Greg Gianforte this month signed into law new penalties for convicted fentanyl dealers, an effort spearheaded by Rep. Courtenay Sprunger, R-Kalispell.
Four-day journey focuses on unresolved hit-and-run deaths
“Mika Matters,” “Justice for Mena,” “Missing and Murdered Indigenous People,” and “Justice 4 Aiden” signs waved above a group walking from Polson Super 1 to the Lake County Courthouse lawn Friday afternoon – the last stop on a four-day journey that began in Arlee.
Public health officials remind Montanans that rabies remains a threat
State and local public health officials are reminding Montanans to be aware of the risk for exposure to rabies as summer approaches.
Property appraisal notices set to arrive
The Montana Department of Revenue is mailing property classification and appraisal notices to all owners of residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural land properties.
Protecting the next generation
Montana children are our most precious resource. There has been an unprecedented push to sexualize our children.
What to know about property tax appraisals
Property tax appraisals are currently arriving in the mail.
Montana lawmakers report letters with mysterious powder
Republican lawmakers in Montana received letters containing white powder as federal agents investigate mysterious substances similarly mailed to GOP officials in two other states.
Scholarship winners
This year the Sandpiper Art Gallery and Gifts takes great pleasure in announcing that two deserving students were recently awarded scholarships amounting to $1,500 each.
ATV riders meet in Trout Creek for annual Fun Run
Trout Creek’s Cabinet Ridge Riders' 2023 ATV Fun Run set an all-time attendance record this past Saturday.
Cleanup begins after freight train derails into Yellowstone River
Montana Rail Link has begun cleaning up a derailment that occurred Saturday morning on a bridge near Reed Point, southeast of Big Timber, sending rail cars loaded with molten sulfur and asphalt into the Yellowstone River.
Teams from across region join Cornhole Festival
Troy Graves, a mountain of a bearded man from southern Idaho, summed it up perfectly. “It’s fun and it’s for a good cause,” he said while practicing before the opening rounds of the 2023 Cornhole Festival tournament Saturday on a scenic chunk of land alongside the Clark Fork River between Plains and Thompson Falls.
Plains B&B joins yard sale event
It is an iconic symbol of days gone by. Caring people purchased her and re-purposed her.
Gambles Hardware expanding Plains location
One of the signs of business success is often expansion.
COLUMN: Hunting excursion
I don’t mean to jump the gun, no pun intended, but the way time is flying by, hunting season will be upon us in the wink of an eye.
Superior author details family, community history in "A Boomer's Story"
It took a little over three years for Superior native Kathryn McKinney Verley to accomplish her dream of writing and publishing a biography on her life, her family’s remarkable military history, and her relatives heritage.
Trapper education field day is July 8
If one was looking to purchase tanned hides from furbearers that live in the area, the prices vary all over the board.
Andrew Cadman honored for response during St. Regis shooting
The afternoon of Saturday, March 18 at the Travel Center in St. Regis is still very fresh in the minds of those that were bystanders or first responders to a hostage situation and resulting shootout that left one person dead.
Volunteers help put new roof on Superior's Kingdom Hall
Wearing her purple hard hat and matching safety glasses, a high visibility shirt and work boots, Naomi Kovarik will temporarily leave behind her regular job as a window washer and bookkeeper to help put a new roof on the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Superior.
Local campgrounds fill up as summer arrives
Having a camper, trailer, RV or motorhome has always given people freedom to go when they want and stay where they want to, up until the summer of 2023.
Legals for June, 28 2023
Montanans pay their respects at The Wall That Heals
John Vollertsen came to Kalispell with two names in mind.
Wednesday, June 21
Steele steps down as Flathead Forest supervisor
Kurt Steele is leaving his position as supervisor of the Flathead National Forest for a post at the federal agency’s regional office in Missoula, U.S. Forest Service officials confirmed Monday.
Soup of the day: New restaurant opens in old Superior Schoolhouse
For being open less than a one month now, River Side Soups and Sandz
Trail runners take on grueling course at St. Regis
The 2023 Trail Rail Run along the Route of the Olympian from Mullan, Idaho to St. Regis took place on June 17.
Legion Post 13 holds Flag Day ceremony
Molly Parkman moved to St. Regis a year ago and said that she had never seen a ceremony that the American Legion Post 13 was about to perform for proper disposal of worn and tattered American flags.
Elk foundation needs help with wire-pull
The upcoming wire pulling event on the Montana/Idaho border is the largest event in the nation for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Now in its fourth year, Wayne Brood is looking for help.
Mineral County Sheriff's Office calls
Mineral County Sheriff's Office calls
COLUMN: Connection to nature
I miss camping. And as the word “miss” implies, it has been a long time since I headed into the great outdoors to “rough” it, escape humanity, be one with nature.
Rodeo tough: Hot Springs' McAllister sets sights on rodeo career
It usually is, according to Hot Springs area resident and recent high school graduate Jack McAllister, an “adrenaline rush.”
Mother-daughter duo opens new coffee stand
One can’t miss the new bright pink coffee shop trailer in the Baldy Mountain Tire Shop parking lot in Plains.
101 flags retired at Legion Post 52 ceremony
Veterans from Sanders County assembled under the threat of rain on Flag Day to honor America’s symbol of freedom.
Rodeo events benefit local cancer patient
The Sanders County Fairgrounds were alive with activity this past Saturday for the ranch rodeo and fun play day events.
Denny Marvin Miller, 83
Denny Marvin Miller, 83
American Legion hosts Father's Day celebration
They came to honor dads and support a local business that has been struggling the last few months. Both endeavors, by all accounts, were successful.
Kaltschmidt reelected chair of Montana GOP
Don “K” Kaltschmidt, a Flathead Valley automobile dealer and known Republican voice, was reelected last weekend to a third term as chair of the Montana GOP.
How to claim your Montana tax rebates
Montana’s Republican-controlled Legislature directed hundreds of millions of dollars from the state’s budget surplus — $899 million in total — toward income and property tax rebates during its 2023 session.
Montana Republicans expanded access to affordable health care
The United States’s health care system is a mess of complex regulations and layers of bureaucracy. It’s also expensive. But Republicans in the Montana Legislature have made great strides in recent years to address what problems we can at the state level.
Running for new Senate district
I am very excited to announce I filed as a candidate for the newly formed Senate District 45 for the upcoming 2024 election.
Old DeBorgia School sale photos
The annual Yard and Bake Sale at the Old DeBorgia School on Friday and Saturday was a big hit. All money from the project goes to the school to maintain the building and make improvements. It was the first structure in Mineral County to be added to the National Historic Registry and serves as the community center for the west end. (Susan Charles photo)
Divisive rhetoric drives Montanans apart
Newspapers recently ran a column written by right-wing Montana politician, Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, hitting the standard left/right divisive talking points about “woke” politics and tying any Montanan further left than Rep. Matt Rosendale to liberal philosophies
Grizzlies, hunters collide in northern Rockies
A hunter killed a grizzly bear in self-defense last week in the Madison Range southeast of Ennis.
Legals for June, 21 2023
Wednesday, June 14
Plains council reviews proposed traffic, parking laws
Last week's Plains Town Council meeting addressed several proposed ordinances affecting speed limits, parking and use of city-owned lands, and through truck traffic on portions of Clayton Street.
Gianforte touts successes, gathers feedback at Plains stop
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte kicked off his 56 county tour last week in Western Montana, stopping in Plains on Thursday at the Butcher’s Nook.
Western Montana Specialty Foods founder greets Gianforte
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte made a special trip to Mineral, Sanders and Lincoln counties Thursday with stops to chat with residents, present an award and visit small businesses.
Savenac Nursery joins nationwide kids fishing day
Fishing with your kids in Montana is Heaven on earth. It makes lifelong memories and the more you take young’uns out fishing the better they become, the more fish are caught and a healthy obsession to a sport might be developed.
Thompson Falls event gets kids ready for summer biking
No one would likely have anything bad to say about a government-hosted event that actually benefits children in a really good way.
COLUMN: A real American sport
I had an interesting “discussion” with a friend a few months ago.
Community group hosts baby shower for new moms
New moms and mothers to be from Alberton, Superior and St. Regis gathered at the fairgrounds in Superior on June 10 for the first ever Mineral Community Baby Shower.
Legals for June, 14 2023
Local vendors, shoppers meet at Superior farmers market
Overcast skies with a tinge of humidity after a downpour the prior evening greeted vendors and looky-loos for the first farmers market Saturday on the lawn of the old Superior School.
Mineral County Sheriff's Office calls
Mineral County Sheriff's Office calls
Rodeo action delights Homesteader Days crowd
The rodeo announcer perhaps said it best from his press box perch above Hot Springs Rodeo Grounds on Sunday as another young cowboy fell from his mount and landed in dirt, surrounded by crazy hooves.
'Spa City' celebrates its roots at Homesteader Days
If the 2023 version of Homesteader Days, the annual celebration of Hot Springs, its history and the surrounding area, is any indication, it would be fair to say those homesteaders knew how to kick up their heels and have a good time.
Wednesday, June 7
COLUMN: The world of turtle racing
The field lays before them, chalked and ready to go.
Memorial Day: 'Solemn, peaceful and respect'
Ask Rocky Hart what Memorial Day means and the normally outgoing veteran will turn serious in an instant.
PHOTOS: Plains High School celebrates graduation day
Plains High School celebrates graduation day
Chisholm retiring as Plains superintendent
It would be tempting to say this is the end of the Chisholm trail.
Record numbers attend Plains Day
Threatening clouds didn’t keep people away from a day full of exciting events at this year’s Plains Day.
Old Schoolhouse Rock Car Show awards scholarships
Ninety-four entries are close to the most that have participated in the Old Schoolhouse Rock Car Show over the years, but for whatever reason, these beauties seemed incredibly dazzling on Saturday.
Legion to hold flag disposal ceremony on Flag Day
Flag Day is June 14. It is the celebration and recognition of the stars and stripes.
Mule trainer brings expertise to local clinic
In 1981, Steve Edwards got thrown by a mule named Casper, and the owner said, “Well, I guess you don’t want to buy this mule.”
Mason Edward Henderson, 91
Mason Edward Henderson, 91
Small engine students roar on go-kart track
One can easily say that the first year of small engines at Superior High School was a game-changer for many students.
Mineral County Sheriff's Office calls
Mineral County Sheriff's Office calls
Wayne Edwin Boyce, 66
Wayne Edwin Boyce, 66
Legals for June, 7 2023
Roadway improvements begin in Thompson Falls
The Montana Department of Transportation and Razz Construction, Inc. are making significant Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades and roadway improvements along Main Street and Montana 200 as part of the Thompson Falls Urban project.
State B track and field photos
State B track and field photos
St. Regis Memorial Day photos
St. Regis Memorial Day photos
Thompson Falls students win trip to space center
Who knows — if you look closely you may be able to see an “I Love the Blue Hawks” sticker on the fender of a future NASA mission to the moon.
Blue Hawks' Hayden Hanks signs with Boise State
Combine a weight room fanatic with a massive frame and a laser-focused determination and what do you get?
Plains Day: An old-fashioned Montana celebration
The ominous clouds that circled the perimeter of the Wild Horse Plains were kept at bay.
