Noxon wrestlers have more experience this season

Process begins to annex additional land

Friends say goodbye as county worker Shirley Iwata retires

Shirley Iwata has been a familiar face around the Mineral County Courthouse for many years. Over that time, she’s held several positions and now she has added a new one to her list, that of being “retired”. Shirley is now 70 and officially retired on Jan. 31. She wanted to retire while she was in good health and could enjoy more of life’s adventures.

Brubaker, VanVleet, Weltzes lead Noxon

Four returning state qualifiers, including a defending champion, lead Noxon into the 2019 track and field season, which opens Saturday at the Eureka Invitational. Events begin at 10 a.m., weather permitting.

Horsemen enjoy homecoming with rout of Victor, 66-6

In a place where the ponies once ran wild, the Plains High Horsemen rounded up and corralled outmanned and outgunned Victor on their way to a 66-6 Montana 8-man football game Friday night at Plains.

Mack Days anglers ahead of 2018 fish count

With just two weekends remaining, lake trout anglers have turned in a total of 14,108 lake trout in the Fall Mack Days event.

Blue Hawks playoff win earns trip to Fairview

Up next for the Thompson Falls Blue Hawks, quite literally a long road to the state championship.

Legals February 20, 2019

LEGAL NOTICE Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) seeks public comment on a proposal to amend the Thompson-Fisher Conservation Easement (EA) to remove 1.63 acres of developed land and replace it with 5 acres of undeveloped, upland and riparian habitat along the Little Thompson River. This land exchange and accompanying CE amendment would resolve an encroachment issue on the CE land. The developed land on the CE involves seven different parcels of State School Trust Land managed by DNRC. Each parcel is adjacent to the conservation easement and lies within the Thompson River valley. The DNRC parcels are leased for cabin sites and they include various structures or other improvements that encroach onto the CE. Weyerhaeuser has agreed to remove the 1.63 acres of developed land from the easement and add 5 acres of undeveloped land which is adjacent to existing CE land, for a net gain to the easement property of 3.37 acres. The 5-acre parcel to be added to the CE is currently managed by Weyerhaeuser as forestland and this proposal will ensure that it will be managed in the same manner in the future. No immediate changes in land use would occur because of this amendment either on the land removed from or added to the CE. No money would be exchanged to complete the proposed amendment. The comment period extends for 30 days. Written comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on March 15, 2019. The draft environmental assessment is available at the FWP office, 490 N. Meridian Rd., Kalispell; Montana State Library, 1515 E 6th Ave., Helena; FWP State Headquarters, 1420 E 6th Ave., Helena; the FWP website at http://fwp.mt.gov/news/publicNotices/environmentalAssessments/acquisitionsTradesAndLeases/. A copy of the plan may also be obtained by contacting the FWP Kalispell area office at 406-752-5501 or by emailing ktempel@mt.gov, and available for viewing at all local libraries. Please send all written comments to either of the following addresses: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks; Attn: Kris Tempel, Thompson- Fisher EA; 490 N. Meridian Road; Kalispell, MT 59901; ktempel@mt.gov Published in the Clark Fork Valley Press on February 20 and March 6, 2019. MNAXLP

Statewide campaign fights tobacco and e-cigarettes

Ronnie Trentham stood in front of a gym full of junior high and high school students and explained why he no longer has a jaw bone. His face now deformed as a result of oral cancer caused by using chewing tobacco. It was a part of “Kick Butts Day,” a nationwide event to raise awareness on the problems caused by tobacco use.

A lesson from Montana: 'Manners make things easier for everybody'

I was thinking this morning of the shrill sounds, threats, and recriminations coming out of our nation’s capital. For some reason, perhaps because of the contrast, it reminded me of a meeting that occurred outside of Dillon, Mont., in 2007.

Black powder and lip balm and the history of the West

What do black powder and lip balm have in common?

County confirms that hiring guards is key to re-opening detention center

After seven months without a detention center in Mineral County, the facility will remain inoperable until officials can find interested applicants to fill the vacant detention officer positions.

Battle over Cyr Road closure continues

Diane Magone has continued to pound the drum at a steady pace regarding the nearly 6-year-old closure of the Cyr Iron Mountain Road. During the January Mineral County Resource Coalition meeting, she once again was on the agenda to keep the coalition members up to date on what is happening with its public access.

Thilmony wins title at Montana Open at MetraPark

It would be proper to call it a “bookend” season for Thompson Falls freshman Trae Thilmony on the wrestling mat.

Residents protest on Roe anniversary

Dozens of protestors gathered in front of the Sanders County Courthouse on Saturday, commemorating the 38th anniversary of the controversial 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which effectively legalized abortion nationwide.

Political year in review

Another April Fool’s Day has passed since Pat and I decided to throw our hats in the ring for the positions of Plains Precinct Committeeman and Committeewoman for the Republican Party and we’ve certainly met many good people and a few fools along the way.

Lady Panthers break even

The first round of basketball games are over for the Alberton Lady Panthers and before too long they’re going to start playing some teams that they saw earlier in the season, which will give them a chance to see how much they’ve improved and a chance to cleanup mistakes they might have made in the first game.

Locals prepare for spring greening

According to locals, the most popular garden tip in Plains is, “Don’t plant anything in your garden until you see the heart shape snow melted near the top of Mount Baldy.”

COPING CHOICES: Eating disorder-what is it?

Dear Choices:  Is eating disorder about more than just what you eat?  I get so frustrated and confused and would like to be able to understand it.

It was a great day for Sale-ing

Matt Unrau