Regional Housing Task Force is looking for way to fight shortage

The housing shortage in Mineral and Sanders counties isn’t new, just as it has been an ongoing problem across Montana.

Mystic Sisters begin new year with annual blanket project

A group of women dedicated to lending a hand to friends and neighbors in need put their hands to good use during their first meeting of the new year.

Legals July 31, 2019

Public Notice - Opencut Mining Permit Felstet Concrete Products LLC plans to permit an existing opencut gravel pit in Section 16, T20N, R26W, and legally described as Lot 1B of Certificate of Survey 3209MS in Sanders County, Montana. The property has a physical address of 7334 Montana Highway 200, Plains, MT 59859. The opencut mining operation currently occupies a total of 26.9 acres of land owned by Felstet Concrete Products LLC. The existing permit previously mined gravels and sands. However, the plan for this existing opencut area is for reclamation only. A Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Opencut Mining permit has recently been applied for to extend the required reclamation date to December 2021 to ensure all growth can occur as required. As a part of the permit application process they are required to send a public notice to all property owners located within one-half mile of the proposed boundary of the opencut permit, as well as publish notice of the proposed operation twice in a local newspaper. A map for this site can be obtained from the following website: https://searchopencutpermits.mt.gov/ and by searching the Opencut # "3110" in the search bar to view the current application materials and the site exhibits. Currently, the site is an existing opencut mining pit and rangeland. During previous mining, the site contained 18 of soil that will be replaced once an approved permit is obtained. Gravels and sand are the materials that were previously mined from the site, but no future mining is currently planned. The site is currently accessed off of Montana Highway 200, two miles west from Plains, MT. The attached site map shows the site operations. Also included with this letter is the MDEQ Request for Public Meeting form. This form provides information on how surface landowners can request a public meeting to discuss this operation, if desired. The current opencut permitting activities are planned to be completed by December 2021. If you have any questions, please contact the operator at the information listed below. Operator Contact Information Felstet Concrete Products LLC P.O. Box 1161 Plains, MT 59859 Phone Number: (406) 826-4100 Published in the Clark Fork Valley Press on July 31 and August 7, 2019. MNAXLP

Mineral County Courthouse closed

Beginning Monday, March 30, the Mineral County Courthouse locked its doors to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Sheriff works to put department in better shape

New Sheriff Mike Toth was appointed by the Mineral County Commissioners and sworn into office Aug. 3 and he has been hoofing it since then.

Mineral County loses dispatcher Newart

After working for the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office for almost 10 years, 911 dispatcher Robert Newart has decided to hang up the dispatch phone on Tuesday, May 28. He’s one of three dispatchers who have recently left the job, right behind Roni Philips and Brandon Church. “He was very friendly and outgoing and knew how to make people calmer in a bad situation,” St. Regis Assistant Fire Chief Kat Kitteridge said. “He knew just what to do and say.” Dispatchers have a tough job. Their duties include listening to the radio while many different systems go off, including Mineral County’s deputies, fire departments and Emergency Medical Systems. “They’re the hinge pin to the county,” Kitteridge says. “They’ve got to be very attentive to what’s going on.” Newart, 34, began his career with the Sheriff’s Office as a detention officer 10 years ago and was transferred to dispatch after six months. “I liked the fact that I was helping the community, whether it was simple questions about road conditions or when open burn was to helping people that were in life or death situations,” Newart said.

Library 'hot spot' devices a hot commodity

Wikipedia describes an internet hot spot as "an area where a user can access the Internet via Wi-Fi. A mobile, or portable, hot spot device enables users to connect to the Internet using a small box with a cell phone data plan that they can bring with them wherever they go."

Hot Springs man wants more clean air rules

The Hot Springs man who was against the town council's resolution to provide for a clean and healthful environment now plans to test the council on how devoted they are to cleaning up the air in the town.

Legals for November, 16 2022

Furry felines everywhere

TRACS would like to reach out to our public here in Sanders County and find out how we might be able to help them with the stray and feral cat populations we have in some areas. TRACS is hoping to get some financial help from a large national organization and has a very good chance of getting this money, which is designed to help reduce stray cat populations by controlling their reproduction. Stop the babies being made, and the populations will automatically be reduced.

St. Regis Senior Center offers up Christmas feast

On the evening of Dec. 22, the St. Regis Senior Citizen Center hosted Christmas dinner for many residents in Mineral County.

Support John McCain

Why vote for John McCain?

Wind storm wreaks havoc on Northwest Montana

High winds knocked out power all over Northwest Montana Wednesday and some areas are still without electric, phone or internet service Thursday...

Commissioner race tops the local ballot

Mineral County has three county commissioners each elected to serve a 6-year term. Every two years, its residents vote for retaining the current commissioner (if the commissioner wants to remain) or a changing of the guard.

Mobile Vet Center to travel to Superior

On the Fly - Area birders share tips on how to get started birdwatching

POLSON — The mist had barely lifted from Flathead Lake on Monday morning and already Jim Rogers was peering through a scope at a red-tailed hawk on the far shore from the parking area at Ducharme Access on the east shore.

Fire commemoration

One hundred years ago on August 20, the Memorial Grove site at Savenac Nursery was on fire. This past Saturday, on August 20, a crowd gathered in the grove for the rededication of the historic site and to listen as four speakers spoke an account of what happened and remembered some of the forest service's first firefighters.

"Boots and Buckles Bash" to raise money

The Mineral County Medical Foundation invites the public to its annual “Boots and Buckles Bash” fund raiser to be held at the St. Regis Community Center on Saturday, April 2, at 6:00 P.M. 

SuperHawks hold super fun dance

Melissa Oyer

Happy Homemakers raise money for school

The DeBorgia School House Happy Homemakers held a bake sale Saturday morning to raise money for the upkeep and maintenance of the Old DeBorgia School House.