Friday, March 28
Effort to bring increased passenger rail could get boost under new bill
House Bill 848 would create a “Big Sky Rail Account” within the state special revenue fund.
Wednesday, March 26
Legals for March, 26 2025
Trump administration reappoints Alme U.S. Attorney for Montana
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana announced Monday the appointment of Kurt Alme as interim U.S. Attorney for Montana.
Application deadline for deer and elk permits is April 1
Don’t wait to apply for deer and elk permits.
Bill limits election competition
Last year, I had the honor of running as an Independent candidate for the Public Service Commission in Western Montana.
Bill to reallocate marijuana tax revenue clears Senate vote
The Montana Senate on Thursday advanced a measure to change what programs receive more than $60 million in funding from recreational marijuana tax revenue.
Montana has an official state sport — rodeo
Once Gov. Greg Gianforte affixes his signature to House Bill 190, Montana will become the fourth state to adopt American Rodeo as the official state sport.
Panthers open track season at Frenchtown Invite
Maybe 13 will turn out to be a lucky number for Alberton High’s track team.
Bobcats track deep with potential
So, pardon the pun, one guy vaulted the Superior Bobcats track and field team to an eleventh-place finish in last year’s Montana Class B state championship via a vault.
Plains track returns state champs
There were two state B-C track and field champions from Sanders and Mineral counties last year, and one state champion in cross country.
Noxon track team small but mighty
Good things come in small packages, they say.
Noxon-Thompson Falls baseball see big turnout
Before the season begins, the Noxon-Thompson Falls boys baseball team knows it has a daunting challenge ahead.
Talented Hot Springs track team built on hard work
Heading into the 2025 class C track and field season, there is reason to be optimistic on the track and fields of Hot Springs.
Hawks tracksters set sights on peaking by May
For Thompson Falls head track coach Trenna Ferris, a basic concept is a season-long goal.
Community Health Fair returns to Sanders County
Health officials from across Sanders County gathered for the second annual Community Health Fair, held at the Plains School District gymnasium.
Noxon senior Haylee Wiedeman takes on life-saving project
Noxon High School senior Haylee Wiedeman had a clear vision for her senior project: to provide the school with vital medical emergency equipment and ensure that staff and local emergency personnel were trained to use it.
PHOTO Superior dodgeball tournament
From left, Kate DiGiando, Bridger Lapierre, Jens Jacobsen, Kyra McElroy, Natalee Willhite, Julia Willhite, and Bobby Henderson are part of the dodgeball team called the Variants.
Piatigorsky Foundation performance in Superior April 10
The Mineral County Performing Arts Council is a non-profit organization that has been bringing talented artists since 2007 to a wide array of musical venues.
Local greenhouse already sprouting veggies and flowers
If you have been waiting to start your plants indoors, you are almost behind schedule as Milton Pearce started planting about two weeks ago.
Mineral County Crime Report March 9-15
Mineral County Crime Report March 9-15
Trotters softball roster full of promising players
There are some folks who have coaching in their blood, who thrive on the competition and the challenge of molding a team into a winner.
Lady Hawks softball led by pitching depth
It is a well-known and accepted truth that fastpitch softball teams with solid pitching staffs do well.
Kvelve's Comments: Batter up
One of the coolest things in my sports-filled life may seem weird to many, but to the 12-year-old version of me it was off-the-charts cool.
Saturday, March 22
Tigers track teams bring back top talent
The 2025 St. Regis track and field team is small in numbers but has some promising returning talent from last season that bodes well for the Tigers and Lady Tigers.
Wednesday, March 19
St. Patrick's Day Block Party in Superior
St. Patrick's Day in Superior
Wildfire Protection Plan open house
Mineral County has taken proactive measures to protect its communities and infrastructure from wildfire hazards developing an updated Community Wildfire Protection Plan for 2025.
Tuesday Lenten Lunches
Tuesday Lenten Lunches
Pep Club to organize local blood drives
After organizing blood drives for the American Red Cross for 22 years, Mary Jo Berry is passing the torch as an attempt to catch her breath and possibly slowdown on her community involvement.
Big Sky North Coast Corridor train route moves forward in planning process
Recently, the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority held a webinar to inform government agencies of the progress the organization has made since its inception on May 21, 2021.
Superior grad Isabella Pereira leaps into collegiate track career
Track and field season is getting underway in western Montana, synonymous with spring snow showers and muddy jump pits. But for one former Superior Bobcat track star, the sprinting and jumping didn’t end after graduation; in fact, her track season runs all year round, both indoors and out.
Fair Commission embraces Golden Rodeo event
Sandy Evenson and Leslie Baldwin from Tough Stock Heritage Productions, Inc. appeared before the Sanders County Fair Commission on Wednesday evening to propose adding a new program to this year’s rodeo aimed at supporting young children battling cancer.
Thompson Falls skate park idea gets tepid response
During the March Thompson Falls City Council meeting, local resident and internationally published writer Sunday Dutro Sauter took the floor to present her proposal for a new skate park within the city limits.
Loge a Republican in name only
The Missoula County Republican Central Committee (MCRCC), a local organization affiliated with the Montana Republican Party, hereby censures Sen. Denley Loge (SD 45) for his actions in opposition to the tenets of our Republican party banner, under which he ran for office in 2024.
4-H Communication Days Finals
4-H Communication Days Finals Photos
Len Allen Wagoner, 64
Len Allen Wagoner, 64
25 the magic number for Class B and C winners
Twenty-five was the apparent magic number in the Montana Class B and C basketball championships which concluded this weekend in Butte and Missoula.
Blue Hawks' season ends at state tourney
There was talk at the beginning of the just concluded boys’ Class B basketball season that 2024-25 would possibly be a rebuilding year for the Thompson Falls Blue Hawks.
Local hoopers make All-Star rosters
The Class C all-state and all-conference basketball teams have been announced, with several players from Sanders and Mineral counties schools represented.
Locals earn spot on Class B All-State rosters
Solid, all-around players and a pair of scoring machines top the list of local Class B boys and girls all-state and all-Western conference selections released this past week.
Legals for March, 19 2025
Tuesday, March 18
Trout Creek woman killed in crash on snowy highway
A Trout Creek woman was killed in a crash on a snowy Montana 200 near Noxon on Saturday, March 15.
Wednesday, March 12
From the ashes: Noxon faces uncertain future
Kevin Johnson sidles up to the stretch of countertop by the entrance to his Noxon store and flashes a friendly, but tight smile. He knows what’s coming; he’s heard the questions before about the town's future — from neighbors, customers and friends.
Charlotte Louise Guiles Triplett
Charlotte Louise Guiles Triplett
Kvelve's Comments: Spring brings sports renewal
A song has been stuck in my head lately, circulating around the bone dome and weaving in and out of the grey matter.
State B tournament bracket set
For local (Sanders and Mineral counties) high school basketball fans, it is the only game in town.
Blue Hawks No. 2 seed at state tournament
The Thompson Falls boys advanced to this championship tournament this coming weekend at the Adams Center on the campus of the University of Montana as the lone representative from the far northwest portion of the state.
Spring Mack Days begins March 13
Spring Mack Days on Flathead Lake begin next Thursday, March 13, and continued through May 10 with nine weeks of lake trout fishing on one of the northwest’s most beautiful freshwater lakes.
Monthly business journal Insights to launch in April
A new journal focusing on the economic and entrepreneurial trends that shape Northwest Montana's business communities will make its debut next month.
Legals for March, 12 2025
Fire department puts out call for new volunteers
The evening began with Frank Magee, chief of the Westend Volunteer Fire Department, thanking those who filled the old DeBorgia Schoolhouse for attending.
Motor Vehicle Division closed during registration overhaul
The Mineral County Treasurer’s Office and Montana Motor Vehicle Division are preparing to launch a new vehicle services system, which will overhaul the vehicle titling and registration process, on Monday, March 17.
Pawsitive outcome for missing dog search
On Monday, March 3, a 2005 Honda Civic was reported stolen in Missoula. After a cross-county and state border hopping chase, the 34-year-old suspect was finally apprehended in Kootenai County, Idaho.
Mineral County spelling bee winner
Shepherd Miller, a sixth-grader from St. Regis School, clasped his hands together, hoping to see the judge's green sign, signaling a correct spelling. His winning word was prototypes.
Big game permits open for Region 1
Hunting in Montana isn’t just limited to the season of fall. It’s an ingrained culture, a way of life, a primal mindset and a state of mind.
Air Force veteran joins emergency planning committee
The Mineral County Local Emergency Planning Committee meets the first Thursday of each month at 4 p.m. in the County Commissioners Conference Room and is open to the public.
Dentist provides free screenings for students
On Thursday, Dr. Blake Sherwood, owner of MTWest Dentist, partnered with Sealants for Smiles to conduct dental screenings for over 60 Plains Elementary School students.
Wednesday, March 5
From the ashes: The day Noxon burned down
Jim Byler can’t remember off the top of his head when the first call came in.
St. Regis boys knocked out of tourney
In the end, the tangled trio of teams atop the 13C conference came back to keep two of them out of the upcoming state tournament.
Paradise Center performs 'The Fallen Star'
This past Saturday and Sunday, the Paradise Center hosted a captivating one-person play written and performed by Kathleen Hubka.
Mineral County Crime Report Feb. 16-22
Mineral County Crime Report
Legislative update from Sen. Loge
This past week in the Legislature has been the busiest yet.
Kristy Hanson, 67
Kristy Hanson, 67
Ferlan repeats as Sanders County Spelling Bee champ
Plains Middle School 8th grader Talon Ferlan claimed top honors at the 38th Annual Sanders County Spelling Bee last Friday, marking his second consecutive victory.
St. Patrick’s Day Family Festival moves to fairgrounds
When Drew Hanson and the newly organized Mineral County Rec Club held their St. Patrick’s Day Family Festival three years ago, it was immediately a big deal.
Rediscovering home: Superior's connection to Gideon Bibles
Superior is certainly a central character in the drama that led to the first among literally billions of Gideon Bibles found in hotels and other establishments throughout the world.
Legals for March, 5 2025
Charlotte Triplett, 67
Charlotte Triplett, 67
Local teams reach consolation finals
Two local teams (Mineral and Sanders counties) and one from nearby Lake County (Charlo) made it to the consolation finals of this past weekend’s B and C basketball finals in Hamilton and Butte respectively.
Blue Hawks earn No. 2 seed at state
Wow. That might be the best single word to describe the championship run by the Missoula Loyola Rams during this past weekend’s Western B Division basketball tournament in Hamilton.
Lady Bobcats' season ends at Western B
For a team that was rebuilding, the Superior Lady Bobcats basketball team made it a long way this year under the leadership of head basketball coach Jeff Schultz.
Thompson Falls makes run at Western B
In addition to being involved in the boys Western B Division final and the girls B Division consolation round, the two teams from Thompson Falls had a good weekend in Hamilton.
Red Devils nab a few wins at divisionals
The Western Divisional boys basketball tournament at the Butte Civic Center this past weekend got off to a not so good start for the Noxon Red Devils, then progressed to a pair of consolation victories before ending in a consolation semifinal to Seeley-Swan.
Hot Springs goes 0-2 at divisonal tourney
It was a rough start to the Western Divisional girls basketball tournament in Butte this past weekend for Hot Springs.
Kvelve's Comments: Spiritual sports revival
Praise the Lord and pass the basketball.
