Thursday, February 29
Fire consumes three businesses in Noxon
Three businesses in a rural Sanders County town were destroyed in an early morning fire Tuesday, Feb. 27.
Wednesday, February 28
Hot Springs teams ends season at divisional
They can take consolation in the fact they made it to the Divisional playoffs.
Plains teams end season with winning records
It’s been a few years since either the Plains boys or girls basketball teams have made it to the Western Divisional tournament.
St Regis boys finish fourth at divisional
While watching their likely second round opponent, Manhattan Christian, take apart a solid Drummond team during the Western C Divisional tournament this past weekend in Frenchtown, St. Regis assistant basketball coach Brandon Iverson summed up the task at hand regarding the top-seeded MC Eagles.
COLUMN: Basketball recap
In many ways, it was awesome to watch the Class C and B Divisional tournaments this past weekend in Pablo and Frenchtown.
Patricia I. Nakasone, 69
Patricia I. Nakasone
Biden admin looks to expand data collection on Indian Child Welfare Act cases
In an effort to better understand how Native American children are faring in foster care, the Biden administration’s health department is proposing a rule that would require state child welfare systems to gather more data about child removal cases that are subject to the Indian Child Welfare Act.
Group discusses daycare dilemma in Sanders County
Similar to many other regions of Montana, Sanders County suffers from a lack of childcare facilities within its boundaries.
Searching the wilds of Montana for the elusive winged raptor
On a brisk Saturday morning wildlife biologist Brian Baxter and a group of avid bird watchers assembled at Beagle’s Bakery & Expresso in Thompson Falls.
Feds look at proposed North Coast Hiawatha rail route
A Chicago-to-Seattle passenger rail route that passes through some of Montana’s most populous counties has been included in a list of 15 long-distance routes tapped for restoration by the federal government.
PHOTOS: Ladies Luncheon at the Old DeBorgia
The annual ladies luncheon at the Old DeBorgia Schoolhouse last Saturday was the largest ever, with 30 "cowgirls" who enjoyed fantastic food while visiting, making new acquaintances accompanied with much laughter. The theme was for attendees to dress in western attire where Donna Richter won best dressed donning a vintage ladies western dress with a drover coat. Plans for next year are already underway. (Susan Charles photos)
Chaberek retires as Mineral County librarian
Guna Chaberek, Mineral County librarian, presents Connie Acker with a beautiful bighorn sheep plaque as a sincere thank you for all her years as the Alberton Branch Librarian at her retirement celebration Feb. 15.
Deputy Hureau takes post as DUI Task Force coordinator
The Mineral County DUI Task Force at a recent special meeting welcomed its new coordinator, Matthew ‘Matt’ Hurteau, who is a patrol deputy with the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office.
Legals for February, 28 2024
Lady Hawks season concludes with 14-8 record
It was like old home week for the Thompson Falls girls basketball team this past week at the Western B Divisional tournament at Salish Kootenai College in Pablo.
Wednesday, February 21
Hot Springs boys beat Noxon in consolation final
Coming out of the District 14C postseason tournament, the Hot Springs boys basketball team as the consolation round winner, had to wait until Monday night before they knew if their season was still alive.
Thompson Falls boys earn No. 2 seed in Western B
Things pretty much followed the script at the boys 7B District basketball tournament this past weekend in St. Ignatius.
Lady Hawks take second in 7B tourney
Form held in the girls Western 7B conference tournament this past weekend as the top-seeded and once-beaten Bulldogs from St. Ignatius beat No. 2 seed Thompson Falls for the league title Saturday night at Mission High School in St. Ignatius.
Seedings set for divisional tournaments
First-round pairings are in for this coming weekend’s two Divisional tournaments for schools in Sanders and Mineral counties.
Horsemen take third in 7B hoops tourney
It will go down as a 3-0 sweep for the Thompson Falls boys basketball team during this 2023-24 season, as once again the Blue Hawks came out on top of a rapidly improving Plains Horsemen team, 60-37, in a District 7B boys semi-final playoff game.
Lady Hawks top Eureka in 7B tourney
This was an important game, a springboard if you will, for future basketball tournament endeavors.
Tourney roundup: Trotters clip Superior, 29-28
The 14C and 7B boys and girls basketball tournaments were a treat for local hoop fans from the opening tip-off.
Lakko nets 23 in Plains' consolation loss
Despite a game-high 23 points from senior forward Blakely Lakko, the Plains Trotters could not fend off the Eukeka Lady Lions in the Western 7B consolation round final Saturday afternoon in St. Ignatius.
Tigers claim 14C basketball championship
Chaos comes in many forms. It can be horrible or it can, believe it or not, be beneficial.
Charlo girls tops Hot Springs for 14C title
The Charlo Vikings girls basketball team left no doubt who the District 14C champion is.
St. Regis girls win 14C consolation final
As advertised, the St. Regis Lady Tigers are not a team to be overlooked in high school basketball’s postseason battles.
Legals for February, 21 2024
Physical therapist opens doors in Thompson Falls
Lured by the mountains and fishing in Montana, and after being offered a position as a physical therapist with Thompson Falls Rehab, a division of Clark Fork Valley Hospital, Connor Gillig has hung his shingle up in the old Subway sandwich shop in Thompson Falls.
St. Regis hosts Valentine's Day craft fair
Love was definitely in the air, and spread throughout dozens of vendor tables at the Valentine's Day Craft Fair at the St. Regis Community Center last Saturday.
PHOTO: Pool in the Park fundraiser
Angie Hopwood, was the caller for Bingo during last Monday's Pool in the Park Fundraiser at the St. Regis Community Center. Around 30 players gathered to dot bingo their cards and generate funds for a new pool in Superior. Winners had a wonderful variety of prizes and gift baskets to choose from donated by area businesses, and two black out card rounds had even bigger winnings. (Mineral Independent/Amy Quinlivan)
PHOTO: Valentine's Dinner
Love was in the air, and prime rib was on the tables during the Valentine's Day Dinner at the St. Regis Senior Center. Guests dined and visited with friends and neighbors while volunteers and students served up dinner, drinks, and dessert. (Mineral Independent/Amy Quinlivan)
PHOTO: Co-op trims and tops Ponderosa
As orange cones are showing up on I-90, Missoula Electric Co-op is getting a jump on spring as well. A rotten Ponderosa pine at the Forest Grove Fishing Access site is trimmed and topped just in case a big wind shows up where it could fall into a secondary electrical line of theirs, or onto east Mullan Road.
Public chimes in on proposed Lolo Forest plan
Nearly 40 people came as far as Deer Lodge, Polson, Seeley Lake along with Thompson Falls and Missoula to the St. Regis Community Center last week. Everyone was interested, concerned, or already involved in the Lolo National Forest Revision that is creeping along.
Roland Dwayne Harvey
Roland Dwayne Harvey, 65, of Kasilof, AK, passed away on the Koro Island of Fiji on Nov. 3, 2023.
Plains bowling scores
Plains bowling scores
COLUMN: Cornhole scholarships?
It’s hard to get me to say “I can’t believe that” in today’s world.
Monday, February 19
Trout Creek man dies in ice fishing accident
But after Sanders County Search and Rescue and the Flathead County Sheriff Office Specialized Divers teams got involved, Chambers was recovered from the river.
Rosendale drops Senate bid days after announcing run
Just days after announcing he’d square off with Republican Tim Sheehy in Montana’s Republican U.S. Senate primary, Congressman Matt Rosendale dropped his bid, in part because former President Donald Trump quickly endorsed Sheehy.
Wednesday, February 14
FWP reopens public comment periods for grizzly, wolf management plans
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks announced Tuesday it was reopening public comment periods into early March on the state’s new grizzly and wolf management plans, both of which have drawn scrutiny from animal protection groups and conservationists.
Trotters can't snap slide in tough loss to Eureka
The meat of the Western 7B conference schedule has not been good for the Plains Trotters.
Lenten lunches return to Superior Senior Center
Tammy Wieweck has been a member of the United Methodist Church in Superior for 11 years, joining after her first visit.
Mineral Chamber elects new leadership
With an enthusiastic group of around 60 people, with 50 voting members, the Mineral County Chamber of Commerce held its first election Wednesday evening in the St. Regis Community Center.
Mineral County contingent at Missoula Ag Banquet
A strong contingent from Mineral County attend the Missoula Chamber of Commerce’s 52 Annual Ag Banquet at the Holiday Inn last Thursday. From left, Harvey Mead, Willy Peck, Roman Zylawy, Curtis Cochran, Sean Heyer, Kevin Donally and Denley Loge. This event is a salute to the people in western Montana who ‘get their hands dirty’ producing the Number 1 staple of life. And love doing it! (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
Bake sale, craft fair at senior center
The lip-smackin’ treats and desserts of every texture and flavor filled tables on Saturday at the Superior Senior Center. The bake sale was accompanied with a raffle of terrific prizes as many customers were attending this event and the craft fair in St. Regis to make a full day of shopping locally. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
Plains Council OKs fees for public documents
Plains Council unanimously passed Freedom of Information Act fees during Monday night's council meeting.
Plains bowling scores
Plains bowling scores
Governor still mum on tribal law enforcement in Lake County
Officials in Lake County say the clock is ticking for the state to assume felony law enforcement duties on the Flathead Indian Reservation, but so far they’ve heard nothing from Gov. Greg Gianforte.
A rube arrives in Trout Creek
I had been eyeballing a piece of property in Trout Creek for about a year. It was cheap enough, I had the money, why not? So, I bought it.
Thompson Falls wrestler Hannum medals at state
It was probably the best match of the state wrestling tournament last weekend in Billings.
COLUMN: Cotton Swab Bowl
Everyone recovered from Super Bowl Sunday?
Hot Springs girls No. 2 in 14C tourney
With their regular season schedule behind them following their 60-39 road loss to the Charlo Lady Vikings Friday night, the Hot Springs girls basketball team can now turn their attention to this week’s District 14C Conference tournament in Polson.
Two Eagle River clips Noxon, 56-55
It may not be kosher to think of a loss in a basketball game as a positive “statement” to be making.
St. Regis boys No. 1 seed for 14C tourney
The results are in, and the St. Regis boys are the basketball winners.
Lady Tigers top Noxon on senior night
Beware the Lady Tigers.
Panthers fight way into district tourney
True Grit lives in Alberton.
Lady Hawks top Cats, earn No. 2 seed
Make that five in a row for the Thompson Falls girls who picked up a pair of Western 7B conference wins in the last week of the regular season.
Blue Hawks primed with wins over Troy, Superior
Hitting your stride when the playoffs come to town is always a good thing.
Rosendale launches Senate campaign; Trump endorses Sheehy
Eastern Montana’s Republican Congressman Matt Rosendale ended months of teasing a possible bid for U.S. Senate on Friday by officially declaring his candidacy for the race, kicking off what is sure to be a heated Republican primary.
Local wrestlers bring home hardware from state
It was probably the best match of the state wrestling tournament last weekend in Billings.
Monday Confab at Mineral County Library
Monday Confab at Mineral County Library
Horsemen earn No. 3 seed in district tourney
Things are looking up, as in up the conference standings ladder, for the Plains Horsemen basketball team.
Legals for February, 14 2024
Thursday, February 8
Jury finds Craig McCrea guilty of two counts of felony arson
During opening statements in the trial against accused arsonist Craig McCrea, Assistant Attorney General Thorin Geist told jurors what to expect from the prosecution as the trial unfolded this week at the Lake County Courthouse. After three days of testimony, they began deliberations around 11:30 a.m. Thursday, and emerged five hours later with a verdict of guilty on two of four charges of arson.
Wednesday, February 7
Legals for February, 7 2024
Plains-Hot Springs grapplers 3rd at divisional meet
The leaders at the top of the sports team competition are familiar to local high school sports fans: Florence-Carlton and Eureka.
Hot Springs girls pick up two wins
It’s probably fair to say the Two Eagle River Eagles boys basketball team would like to see Hot Springs more often.
Lady Hawks clip Eureka in OT
Without a doubt, it’s been a good season in Thompson Falls basketball circles this year.
Noxon boys cling to 4th place in 14C
To be the best, it has often been said, you have to beat the best.
Crabb scores 34 in Superior's win over Troy
One of the many fun things about the approach, and arrival, of Montana high school sports is playoff scrambling as the regular season comes to a conclusion.
Thompson Falls sweeps county rival Plains
Thompson Falls boys and girls made it a clean, double sweep of regular season basketball games between the two Sanders County rivals this Thursday in Thompson Falls when the boys beat Plains’ Horsemen 26-28 after the T-Falls girls knocked off Plains’ Trotters 51-25 in the first game of a double-header.
St. Regis moves to top of 14C with win over Charlo
Anyone who has watched the St. Regis Tigers boys basketball team this year most likely came away with the feeling that they had seen a good basketball team.
COLUMN: Chuck’s Kiddie Korps
Let’s have some fun talking about the future, eh?
Comments sought on proposed Lolo Forest plan
A 60-day comment period opened Feb. 1 for Lolo Forest's proposed forest plan.
Republican Jeff Stanek greets HD-90 voters
Candidate for Montana House of Representatives District 90, St. Regis resident Jeff Stanek met with voters and community members Feb. 3.
St. Regis students bake Valentine’s cookies for annual fundraiser
The cafeteria at St. Regis School on Feb. 3 was filled with the sweet aroma of warm sugar cookies, around 840 of them.
Linda (Wall) Shrock
Linda (Wall) Shrock
Frances I. Peterson Huberty
Frances I. Peterson Huberty, 84, died Dec. 30, 2023 in Missoula.
New pastor settles in at Methodist Parish
Unless you are a member of the Mineral County United Methodist Parish, with churches in Alberton and Superior, you may not have known that they were without a pastor until last June.
Tester's field rep hears from local residents
Last Tuesday, the Superior Volunteer Fire Department training room became the mobile office for two of Sen. Jon Tester’s couriers saving a trip to Missoula for Mineral and Sanders counties constituents to share information, opinions, and ideas.
Fifth-grader wins Superior bee with 'rancid'
Superior School District held its annual spelling bee last Wednesday, and fifth-grader Caleb Durovey took first place with the winning word "rancid."
Monday, February 5
U.S. declines to give Northern Rockies wolves protections
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Friday it will develop the first National Recovery Plan for gray wolves in the Lower 48 but declined to make any changes to their listing status under the Endangered Species Act, meaning Montana will continue to manage wolf populations here.
