Ellington

Lady Bobcats take on top tennis teams

Versatility and depth are part of the arsenal for this year’s Superior Bobcats tennis team, the only high school tennis team in Mineral or Sanders County.

Thompson Falls golfers battled wind, tough course at Anaconda

How windy was it in Anaconda this past week?

Locals post strong results at 7B District meet

How important is depth in team sports?

Richard R Kilbury, 86

Richard R Kilbury

Kudus in order for everyone who responded to alleged kidnapping

I would like to start by saying this is not a traditional news story, but more of a first-hand experience garnered from multiple perspectives of an alleged kidnapping incident that was resolved in St. Regis last week.

COLUMN: In the field

There has always been an almost mythical attraction about the “field” part of track and field, particularly the events associated with the big and powerful among us.

Mineral County Sheriff's Office report

Mineral County Sheriff's Office report

Alberton's Montana River Guides a leader in river safety

The Covid-induced tourism boom to Montana introduced a new audience to the Clark Fork River. For two summers, boats, tubers, kayakers, paddleboarders and river boarders had campgrounds and fishing access sites clogged.

Mineral County has new Veteran Service Officer

An estimated 84,000 veterans live in Montana.

St. Regis sends two golfers to state

St. Regis golfers continued to enjoy success this year, with two going to the state championships following a strong showing at the Class C Divisional meet in Great Falls this past weekend.

Noxon-Thompson Falls baseball gets win over Browning

If the way the first season of Noxon-Thompson Falls varsity baseball ended is any indication, good things may be on the horizon for the Red Devils.

Lady Hawks softball eyes postseason run

For the better parts of three months, they have been running, catching, hitting and working on the many parts of the game of fastpitch softball.

Christensen leads Hot Springs to second at 14C meet

On a clear, blue sky Montana day, the stars were out in force over Missoula County Public Stadium this past weekend.

Supports White for SD 45

I fully support AnnaMarie White for district 45.

A candidate for conservatives

When it comes to representation, I choose someone who will represent the conservative values held by a majority of Montana citizens.

Local prodigy performs concert at Paradise Center

The Paradise Center hosted a free recital by homegrown pianist Moses Swedberg.

Legals for May, 15 2024

Cleanup Day poster contest winners awarded

The Plains Cleanup Day Committee spent last Wednesday evening making final preparations for the upcoming Cleanup Day on May 18.

Hot Springs voters support school levy

Hot Springs residents last week passed a $183,000 school levy, marking the first time voters have approved a school levy in the district since 2008 after failed attempts in 2019 and 2023.

Plains receives statewide award for wastewater system

The Town of Plains was recognized for outstanding performance during the May City Council meeting.

Donna Louise McCrea, 88

Donna Louise McCrea

Superior fifth-grader is a beekeeper training

11-year-old Ayla Henderson of Superior has the buzz on bees.

Community calendar

Community Calendar

Litter lingers from last year's train derailment into Clark Fork River

On Sunday, April 2 of last year, about two dozen Montana Rail Link freight cars derailed directly across from Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort on the Clark Fork River near Paradise.

Northern Lights over Plains

Northern Lights over Plains

Spring operations start-up in Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park staff are gearing up for the season, with west-side vehicle reservations about to begin and snow plows nearing Logan Pass.

Gianforte reiterates aggressive strategy for dousing wildfires during annual briefing

Gov. Greg Gianforte reiterated his administration’s aggressive approach to fighting wildfires during an annual fire briefing in Helena on Wednesday.

May storm improves outlook, but drought concerns persist for Montana

This week’s widespread, wet storm has brought a measure of relief to parts of Montana reeling from one of the driest winters on record, but water managers say it’s too early to tell how much of that water will stick around to sustain streams, crops and forests through the hottest months of the year.

The rube sits and smiles

After having unloaded all my farm equipment from the railcar that had brought it from my late father’s farm back east, I knew that I had come to the right part of the world when Dude and Shorty, who had helped me unload it, looked at the wheels on my hay wagon and pronounced them “high-speed” because they actually had ball bearings instead of old-fashioned babbitt bearings. A person with less class than Shorty and Dude might have rightly said, “What a bunch of wore-out junk.”

Buttigieg highlights US 93 funding during reservation visit

The Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Law and its connection to safety for people and wildlife was on Pete Buttigieg’s mind during his recent visit to the Flathead Reservation. Buttigieg, the U.S. Transportation Secretary, was in Western Montana Monday and Tuesday to celebrate funding from the Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Act, passed by Congress and signed by President Biden in 2021.

Support AnnaMarie White for SD45

My name is Ron White, I’ve been logging in western Montana for nearly 20 years.

Loge offers balanced viewpoint

Denley Loge first ran for election as state representative for Sanders, Mineral, and Missoula counties in 2016. Even though he ran as a Republican, I not only supported him, but I had also encouraged him to run.

Standout seniors earn DUI Task Force scholarships

Three seniors were invited to the courthouse in Superior on April 30 to be presented with scholarship from the Mineral County DUI Task Force.

Mineral Community Hospital expands offerings

Scheduling important medical appointments and arranging vital procedures can be a challenge living out in rural Montana. Hospitals and clinics are spread few and far between the mountainous landscape that makes up Mineral County.

PHOTO St. Regis T-ball

Daxton Keenen was up to bat last Friday for St. Regis during an afternoon T-Ball game versus Plains. (Mineral Independent/Amy Quinlivan)

GOP candidates meet at Lincoln-Reagan dinner

The Mineral County Republican Central Committee held their annual Lincoln-Reagan dinner at the St. Regis Community Center with over 100 people attending.

Mineral County Sheriff's Office report

Mineral County Sheriff's Office report

Neva MacDonald Cummings, 89

Neva MacDonald Cummings

Five Valley Livestock Auction adjusts business plan

The Five Valley Livestock Auction service west of Missoula at the intersection area of I-90 and U.S. 93 is not closing, but the way they will be doing business with livestock is a big change.

Lolo Forest OKs Superior North project

The Lolo National Forest issued a final decision notice for the Superior North Project Friday to restore resilient vegetation conditions, reduce fuels and support communities.

Governor, Dayton students initiate Big Arm Archery Range

Governor Greg Gianforte launched the first arrow, followed by a group of Dayton Elementary students last Wednesday during the official opening of the Big Arm Public Archery Range.

AG says state will consider funding for PL 280

Whether fueled by election-year largesse or Lake County’s impending withdrawal from Public Law 280, Attorney General Austin Knudsen delivered some long-awaited good news Monday. The office of Gov. Greg Gianforte, he said, “has authorized me to convey to you folks they would sign a bill through the Legislature that provided some law enforcement funding for Lake County.”

Herd of runners take part Dixon's Stampede

On a bright beautiful Saturday morning, runners from across Northwest Montana assembled in Dixon for the annual Bison Stampede.

Former Plains resident helps his students and school shine

For over two decades, Shane Browning has touched the lives of young students in Sterling, Colorado's RE-1 Valley School District as an elementary teacher.

Iron Mountain Road update

Cutting across steep mountain slopes on the south side of the Clark Fork River, the road is formally called the Iron Mountain/Cyr Road. But my family and friends called it by a less imaginative name, “The Road Behind the Mill.”

COLUMN: A thank you

When describing a sporting event, it is often nearly impossible to put pen to paper without the use of terms like “battling,” “fight to the last minute,” "comeback," etc.

Superior moving back to Class C in some sports

Scorecard, scorecard, can’t tell the players (or conference?) without a scorecard.

Alberton's Fredette flies to second at Anaconda meet

They are few in number, but the few are having a productive track and field season.

Tracksters tune up at Kim L Haines meet

That was, in basic terms, a clean-up, rest-up and tune-up weekend for area Class B-C track and field teams as post season playoffs get underway this week.

Lady Hawks score 13-3 win over rival Plains

If you look purely at the score, you would think the Sanders County rivalry softball game between Plains and Thompson Falls was a rout.

Local stars put on show at Archie Roe

When one of our own small town stars shines above the rest, it is a special thing.

Lady Hawks stay hot in three wins

If you picked the trifecta for Thompson Falls’ Lady Hawks softball games last week you would be a winner.

Fran Huberty, 84

Frances Irene Peterson

Red Devils co-op baseball heads to state tourney

All the planning, all the hoping, all the work...and now the first season of high school varsity baseball is almost done for the Noxon-Thompson Falls co-op team in their first year of existence.

Mack Days wraps up May 11

Only one weekend left in the 2024 Spring Mack Days fishing event on Flathead Lake.

Legals for May, 8 2024

Osweiler to hold camp at Legends July 20

High school and youth football players should circle July 20 on their calendars — Brock Osweiler is once again coming back to Kalispell to help with the Flathead Braves Football Camp.

Montana Supreme Court sides with state in water right dispute

The Montana Supreme Court has sided with the state’s Department of Natural Resources and Conservation in a dispute involving a 64-year-old water right that’s used to irrigate both private and public land.

Arrival of migrant family in Kalispell spurs concerns from Montana politicians

A migrant family of five flew into Kalispell from New York on Wednesday and ended up on the doorstep of the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, said Sheriff Brian Heino.

Hot Springs woman killed in U.S. 93 crash

A 71-year-old Hot Springs woman died Wednesday as a result of injuries she sustained in a T-bone car crash April 29 near Somers.

In support of Denley Loge

I am writing this letter in support of Denley Loge and his candidacy for Senate District 45.

Spotlight on the Arts: Serenity Barrus

“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.

Copperheads take one from Trotters

The unofficial score: Anaconda 1, Plains 0, Mother Nature, 1-1.

Thompson Falls-Noxon co-op softball team wins four straight

Momentum with post season play on the horizon is always a good thing.

Thompson Falls-Noxon co-op softball team wins four straight

Momentum with post season play on the horizon is always a good thing.

Mixed results for Superior tennis team

It was a mixed bag for the Superior tennis team this past week.

Tigers golfers win on home course

The Tigers boys blistered the Trestle Creek Golf Course on the edge of town for a 345 team total over the 18-hole layout to clinch the team title by a wide margin over runner up Thompson Falls, 345-397.

Baseball co-op Red Devils fall to Ronan, Frenchtown

It was an overcast, chilly day in the Northwest corner of Montana...perfect weather for baseball?

Plains’ Alexis Demming competes at 'Top 10'

It is billed annually as the “Top 10” track and field meet, a measuring stick event featuring the top 10 performers from throughout Western Montana in track and field events.

Plains girls finish 3rd at ARM track meet

Host Whitefish swept the men’s and women’s team titles at last weekend’s ARM track meet, while the Plains women continued their impressive run in the women’s title chase.

COLUMN: Choosing sides

Life, they say, is all about choices.

St. Regis star John Pruitt signs with Rocky

One of the greatest challenges facing small town athletes who aspire to move on and continue their sports careers in college is that the small number of students at many B and C schools do not typically produce college-level competitors.

PHOTOS: Superior T-ball sluggers

PHOTOS: Superior T-ball sluggers

Hunter ed instructors honored for service

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks honored the service of its volunteer Hunter, Bowhunter, and Trapper education instructors at a workshop and awards luncheon this month in Missoula.

PHOTOS: Alberton High School prom

Alberton High School prom

PHOTO: Fire safety meeting

Dave Brink and Cindy Peterson held a class in the old DeBorgia School on creating defensible space around your home before the fire season begins.

Construction begins on I-90 near Montana-Idaho border

A section of I-90 near the Montana-Idaho line will be undergoing an all-summer project.

'Star Wars' themed Galactic Gala benefits PEAK Foundation

"A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away" is how the 1977 "Star Wars" movie opened.

St. Regis senior Connolly earns Gaylord Green Scholarship

Gaylord Green lived in Haugan and graduated from St. Regis High School in 1958. He received an appointment to the Air Force Academy where he graduated with a degree in engineering science, followed by a master’s in aeronautics/astronautics at Stanford.

Legals for May, 1 2024

CSKT attorney Danna Jackson tapped for District Court judgeship

President Joe Biden has tapped an attorney for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to replace Judge Dana Christensen in the U.S. District Court of Montana.

Michael Edward Needham, 58

Michael Edward Needham