Ellington

COLUMN: Playoff time has arrived

Light the lamps, ring the bells, buy some extra Velcro or duct tape, whichever you prefer to keep you in your seat. Playoff time takes flight this weekend!

Dicken, Crabb appointed to Plains Council

A special Plains Council meeting convened Monday to appoint two individuals to fill a pair of open seats.

Spotlight on the Arts: Sam Feliksa

“Spotlight on the Arts” by The Paradise Center honors and encourages students in the arts by highlighting their talent and acknowledging the support they receive through their schools and teachers.

Dixon spelling bee winners

Dixon School students Aly Bigcrane, Madison Vanderburg, Sonny Matt and Sid Boyd will compete in the Sanders County bee on Friday in Thompson Falls.

Mary Jo Gould, 85

Mary Jo Gould, 85, passed away of natural causes on Jan. 16, 2024, at the Mineral Community Hospital Long Term Care Facility.

Timothy Pierson Bailey

Timothy Pierson Bailey

William (Bill) Shope, 89

William (Bill) Shope, 89, passed away Jan. 17, 2024 surrounded by his family. Bill was born on Aug. 25, 1934, in Vanceburg, KY to Charlie and Gladys Shope.

Camaraderie abounds at snowmobile poker ride

There may have been 100 fewer participants in the $1,000 Super Poker Ride in Haugan only due to the snow conditions, but the snowmobilers couldn’t tell because they were having way too much fun! The Montana Nightriders Snowmobile Club pulls out all the stops and plugs when it comes to this monster extravaganza.

Library offers educational kits for kids and adults

Public libraries were almost handed a death sentence when the internet came to be, but they adapted, expanded with innovative ideas, and remain a vital service in communities.

Arctic blast wreaks havoc as pipes burst

Montana endured a record-breaking cold snap during the second week of January. Mineral County residents felt the brutal plunge in mercury for roughly a five-day stretch, before thermometers slowly crept back above 32 degrees.

Clean School Bus Program will reduce emissions

Thank you, Sen. Jon Tester, for helping secure funds to purchase 41 clean school buses for Montana’s rural public schools.

Testing services available at Mineral County Health Department

Mineral County Health Department is expanding free testing services to Mineral County residents.

Legals for January, 31 2024

Eureka outpaces Lady Bobcats

Two tough opponents, who like Superior have been struggling at times this season, were the obstacles in the path of the Lady Bobcats this past week, and both proved to be formidable blocks for the Cats to overcome.

Young Bobcats fall at Eureka

It was kind of a matter of picking your hardship for the young Superior Bobcats basketball team this past week.

Plains teams post impressive victories

The Plains boys basketball train is back on track.

Hawks' LeCoure pops off for 36 in win over Mission

In one of the highest individual points totals so far among local high school basketball players, Thompson Falls junior forward Bryson LeCoure was king for a day.

Lady Hawks stay in mix with win over Eureka

While anything can happen once the postseason begins, the girls Western 7B race for the top is pretty much a four-team competition.

Hot Springs and St. Regis split meeting

It was a mixed bag of basketball for the Hot Springs boys and girls basketball teams this past week.

Wresters tune up for postseason at Mission Valley Championships

It was a final tune-up for local wrestlers as they head into the Western Division B-C postseason this coming Friday and Saturday in Shelby.

First victory evades Noxon girls

Noxon came into their girls basketball game Friday night in Troy looking for their first win of the year.

Noxon upsets 14C division leader Charlo

Don’t look now, but another serious contender for the boys 14C basketball conference crown emerged this weekend as the Noxon Red Devils won a pair of league games and lost to Class B Troy.

Executive director would like to see United Way expand its services

A single mom who raised seven children while working as a nursing assistant, Jodie Cross knows what it's like to live on a tight budget. She also knows what it’s like to need a little help.

UM students keep traditions alive ahead of Foresters’ Ball

Kidnapping a mounted moose head comes with challenges. Just ask the students in the University of Montana’s Alexander Blewett III School of Law.

Legals for January, 24 2024

Lady Savage Heat scratch out win over Noxon

Sometimes when things go sour, it’s hard to sweeten them up. Such is the state of Hot Springs basketball, with both teams struggling to get on the winning track.

Scrappy Alberton Panthers keep battling

When you are in the lobby of a skyscraper, the thought of climbing the stairs required to get to the penthouse may be daunting indeed. But to get there, no matter the level of “daunt”, you must put one foot forward and repeat that process.

Tigers roar in 14C basketball win over Charlo

It started out as a great week for the St. Regis High boys basketball team. It ended with a narrow loss that further jumbled the regular season Montana District 14C basketball title chase, leaving it a three-team battle for the top.

Lady Tigers even record at 3-3

It was a tough way to start a week for the St. Regis girls basketball team, which was whacked by Charlo, 60-19 last Tuesday night in Charlo.

Trotters drop two conference games on road trip

After some amazing games and surprising finishes, one thing is clear when it comes to the Western 7B girls basketball conference: the top spot, in fact the top four spots are up for grabs.

Plains stays in mix at top of 7B

Two games against two largely different opponents and a split of those two games.

Mission sweeps Superior at St. Ignatius

A lot of tourists stop in St. Ignatius to check out the old Mission cathedral. Probably even a few who stop to watch some Mission basketball.

Superior High School receives a grant for recycling program

The Zeller Family Foundation and nonprofit organization Recycle Montana teamed up to award schools funding for the purchase of a trailer to be utilized for recycling.

Henderson patrols Forest Service land in two counties

As the law enforcement officer for the Forest Service covering Mineral and most of Sanders counties, Bobby Henderson is right where he wants to be.

Loge recognized by Montana Chamber

Loge recognized by Montana Chamber

Loge to run for Senate District 45

Rep. Denley Loge of St. Regis will run for Montana's Senate in District 45 in the next election.

American Red Cross encourages blood drive sign-ups after holiday season shortage

Officials with the American Red Cross are reporting the lowest number of blood donors nationwide in 20 years following a 7,000-unit shortfall in blood donations between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Cold snap fuels Montana’s coal power debate

The record-breaking cold snap Montana saw this month brought days of below-zero temperatures across the state — and with them what major Montana utility NorthWestern Energy said was record-high electric demand from its customers.

March for Life takes place in Thompson Falls

Residents in Sanders County took part in the annual March for Life anti-abortion demonstration last week on a snowy, windy 16-degree day in Thompson Falls.

Mary Jo Gould, 85

Mary Jo Gould, 85

Plains bowling scores

Plains bowling scores

COLUMN: Summer daydreaming

It was just a few weeks ago that I was pondering winter and wondering why it hadn’t arrived in this neck of the woods.

Lorelei Joyce (White) Dove

Lorelei Joyce (White) Dove, 59, passed away on Jan. 16, 2024 in the comforts of home with family by her side. Lori fought a courageous battle against cancer.

Blue Hawks notch 7B basketball victories

If you are a coach, seeing your team come together with playoffs in the not-too-distant future is usually a good thing.

Lady Hawks extending winning streak

The cream, it has been said, rises to the top. Sometimes it has to be churned a little longer than other times, but the axiom holds true.

Local grapplers earn hardware at Ted Kato

Local wrestlers continued their impressive, winning ways at yet another area wrestling event.

PHOTOS: Vehicle collides with snowplow at Superior

There were no injuries at mile marker 6 on east Mullan Road outside of Superior when a vehicle crossed the center line and made contact with a Montana DOT snowplow. Ice was reported as a key factor in the collision. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)

Superior's Shawn Smalley oversees troopers in two counties

Unfortunately, the origin of the numbers 3-7-77 seen on the flight suits of the Montana Air National Guard and most notably, the shoulder patch on the Montana Highway Patrol uniforms is elusive.

Blue Hawks top county rival Horsemen

According to Mr. Webster, inevitable is something “certain to happen, unavoidable.”

Lady Hawks take first round over Trotters

Rivalry games are many things: interesting, hard-fought, puzzling, etc.

Bobcat wrestlers hang at tough Jug Beck tourney

In the final analysis, Jug Beck pinned Old Man Winter in the waning moments of the third period.

Pruitt powers St. Regis over Alberton

One day the future divisional champions from Alberton High may look back at this one and shake their heads.

McAllister nets 22 to lead Hot Springs over Alberton

The removal of Alberton’s girls as a schedule opponent due to injuries and other factors left schedulers throughout the 14C conference scrambling for fill-in opponents.

COLUMN: Hologram all-stars

When it comes to this Artificial Intelligence stuff, I’m at the very least a skeptic and at best a “show me” before I come to a conclusion.

Kimberly Head Finley, 73

Kimberly Head Finley

Plains bowling scores

Plains bowling scores

Plains school honors local law enforcement

National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day is Jan. 9 each year and was started to show support for law enforcement officials who risk their lives to save another’s.

Fair board considers new carnival vendor

New Sanders County Fair Manager Kristy Sheehan, a resident of Plains since 2001, attended her first board meeting after having been hired for the position just six days prior to the meeting.

Plains Council sets date to fill empty ward seats

The first Plains Town Council meeting of the year was called to order last week by the newly appointed Mayor Joel Banham.

St. Regis students cash in at Stock Market Game

The typical high school student has a limited knowledge of investing, saving, and basic comprehension of the stock market. St. Regis history teacher, Jeff Stanek, has worked for the past several years to help change the trend of financial illiteracy.

Grant funds new electric buses for local schools

Schools in Mineral and Sanders counties will be among six districts in the state to receive new electric buses under the federal Clean School Bus Program.

Superior's Shawn Smalley oversees troopers in two counties

Unfortunately, the origin of the numbers 3-7-77 seen on the flight suits of the Montana Air National Guard and most notably, the shoulder patch on the Montana Highway Patrol uniforms is elusive.

Canadian duo to perform concert in Superior

Bridge & Wolak are a globe-trotting duo from Canada who create life-affirming concerts full of beauty, virtuosity and humor.

Ice art

Jeanine Cook captured some winter ice art in Sanders County as an arctic blast delivered subzero temperatures to the area last weekend. Plains dipped to minus 27 and Dixon hit minus 30 on Jan. 13, according to National Weather Service data.

Legals for January, 17 2024

Trotters upend Superior girls; Bobcats surprise Horsemen

For the Plains girls basketball players, it was a brief deviation from their season-long winning ways that was quickly corrected.

Up and down ride for Hot Springs hoopers

For most teams, mid-season is the midway equivalent of a carnival.

Bobcats upend Darby, 50-32

Those distant rumbling sounds in the Superior area may be related to basketball.

Valley Christian High tops Noxon teams

Missoula, particularly the gym at Valley Christian High, was not a great place for a Red Devil to be this past Saturday.

Tigers pick up two wins

When asked prior to the start of the 2023-24 high school basketball season what the year would bring, St. Regis boys’ coach Jesse Allen sported a Mona Lisa type smile.

Local grapplers compete at Cut Bank Invitational

Impressive depth and strength in the lower and middle weight classes have emerged as the bread-and-butter of this year’s Plains/Hot Springs (PHS) wrestling team.

Thompson Falls teams stay even

For the Thompson Falls boys and girls basketball teams, it was a 50-50 weekend.

Plains hoopers stay hot after holiday break

On a roll. There’s probably not many other ways to describe the path of the Plains Horsemen and Trotters so far this basketball season.

Hayden Hanks named to Shrine Game roster

Working hard and being dedicated to your craft almost always comes with rewards.

COLUMN: Coach Bandel

Come with me now to a mystical place not many get a chance to experience. It is a place of anxiety, joy, happiness, anger, frustration….the gauntlet of human emotions.

Speed limit changed for Highway 135

It’s been two years since the speed limit on Highway 135 was adjusted for safety reasons near Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort, and it’s about to change again.

Legals for January, 10 2024

New president brings some changes to Superior Senior Center

Tamara ‘Tammy” Wieweck is the new president of the Superior Senior Center, best known for its Wednesday evening meals starting at 4:30 p.m.

Montana legislative redistricting

This past year, Montana legislative district boundaries were changed by the Montana Redistricting Commission.

Sawyer John Starika

Sawyer John Starika

David Nakasone, 74

David Nakasone

Redistricting reshapes local House and Senate races

Thinking of running for elected office? Filing opens Jan. 11 for a slew of county and state positions.

Fireworks light up New Year's celebration at Quinn's

Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort celebrated the new year in style.

'Hat bar' trend inspires new local business

American clothing designer and style icon, Kate Spade, once said, “A woman can conquer the world with the right hat.”

Mineral Chamber of Commerce to elect new leadership

The third meeting of the rebooted Mineral County Chamber of Commerce garnered the largest audience yet, which is an indication that people realize the benefits of the organization.

Seeing Blue: Grizzlies fall to SDSU 23-3 in title game

Grizzlies fall to SDSU 23-3 in title game

Disabled American Veterans upgrades vehicle fleet

The need for public transportation in Mineral County is not going to go away. It grows annually, and with it, so do the services as best as they can.

Legals for January, 3 2024

Jaxon Lee Lulack

Jaxon Lee Lulack

Judy Gunderson, 64

Judy Gunderson, 64

St. Regis-Mullan moving to Montana west division

Pending final approval by the Montana High School Association executive board in mid January, some significant changes are on the way for 8-Player Football in the state.

Second half of winter sports seasons gets underway

If you are a vegetarian, this is the sprouts, tomato and cucumber time of the high school sports season.

Superior boys fall to Lions, 69-45

The game was closer than the final score indicated, but it is ultimately the score that counts in the win-loss column.

Eureka tames Lady Bobcat hoopers

Both before and after the game, the girls basketball match-up between Eureka and Superior seemed pretty even “on paper.”

Undefeated Loyola routs Blue Hawks

There was a whole lotta “Heart-Breaking” going on last week on the basketball court at Thompson Falls.

COLUMN: Wacky world of bowl games

Tradition is being flushed when it comes to college football.

CSKT members elect new Tribal Council

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes members chose incumbent James “Bing” Matt as an at-large representative on the Tribal Council.

Banham sworn in as new Plains mayor

The last working day of 2023 on Friday brought changes in the Plains mayor’s office.

Plains students cut loose at annual Brain Bash

What is up with dancing, indoor golf, online Jeopardy and students playing cornhole during school hours?

Thieves ransack St. Regis cemetery storage shed

The Mineral County Sheriff’s Office is conducting additional surveillance on Montana 135 from the St. Regis flashing light intersection to the Peninsula turnoff, but not necessarily for speeders.

State game wardens patrol miles of terrain

Mineral County is in Region 2 of Montana Department of Fish Wildlife & Parks, an area that contains mountain peaks reaching above 10,000 feet and valley trout streams stretching over 1,500 miles.