What's left of the nest

Plains Volunteer Fire Department crew members examine the scene and speak with Mayor Brinson Friday afternoon. According to authorities, a large bird's nest sitting atop a telephone pole caught fire during the afternoon thunderstorm and took out the power of the town of Plains for over an hour.

Officials look for answers from U.S. Attorney on Public Law 280

Frustration seemed to be the tenor this week at the Lake County Courthouse as public officials contemplate their withdrawal from Public Law 280, which has given the county felony jurisdiction over tribal members on the Flathead Reservation for nearly 60 years.

Plains mayoral candidates participate in Q & A

Firefighters battle blazes across Western Montana

Firefighters are battling a number of fires across Western Montana, but rain in the region was expected to give them a welcome break Monday.

Mineral County Hospital works to improve visitor access

Since the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic nursing homes, hospitals, and long-term care facilities across Montana...

Sanders County records first three COVID-19 cases

Last week’s first apparent COVID-19 case in Sanders County turned out to be a false positive, but a trio of cases this week are the real thing.

Lady Hawks softball improves to 4-0

Thompson Falls pitching struck out 14 Sandpoint, Idaho batters this past Friday, giving the Lady Hawks a sweep of their two-game road trip and keeping their season record unblemished.

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.

Panthers fight way into district tourney

True Grit lives in Alberton.

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.

Hot Springs volleyball ousted at divisional tourney

After a late-season surge propelled them into the District 14C finals, which in turn sent them to the Western Division finals as the No. 2 seed volleyball team from the district, the Hot Springs Lady Heat ran into a buzzsaw in the form of teams waiting to take them on.

Hunter harvest slightly up in Northwest Montana

The four stations in northwest Montana recorded 9,624 hunters, 940 white-tailed deer, including 711 bucks, as well as 90 mule deer and 44 elk. The percentage of hunters with game at the four check stations was 11.2 percent, compared to 8.5 percent in 2019.

Lady Hawks earn No. 2 seed for 7B tourney

With a critical final weekend of the regular season coming up next, the Thompson Falls Lady Hawks staked a claim for the Western 7B number two playoff seed with a 63-42 win over the Eureka Lions Saturday night in Thompson Falls.

T-Falls golf teams optimistic heading into Class B season

Things were pretty good last year for the Thompson Falls golf team, led by Ellie Baxter’s standout junior season.

UM fall enrollment tops 10,000 students

The University of Montana’s enrollment ascent continues, driven by a 3.7% increase in total student headcount – the largest annual growth rate in 14 years.

Heat torch visiting Lima, 64-6

Make that coaching victory number 101.

Logging project paused because of grizzly bear concerns

Last week, U.S. District Court judge Dana Christensen halted a logging project in the Kootenai National Forest because of its potential to harm an already imperiled population of grizzly bears.

Panthers, Broncs to join forces

Alberton High School athletes will have the opportunity next year to participate in two new sports, thanks to an athletic co-op with Frenchtown High School.

Don't 'pander' to NRA

The proposal of several U.S. Senators to allow transporting of firearms in National Parks is political pandering to the NRA. Common sense citizens should voice their objections to these changes to the National Park Service (NPS) before the August 5 deadline. Send Senators Tester and Baucus a copy.

Superior holds round-up of future kindergartners

Wednesday morning was the first day of an exciting new career at school for next year's kindergarten class at Superior Elementary School.