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May 11 fire at Hilltop Motel claimed the second oldest building in Superior burns down
When Gary and Nancy Hill bought the second oldest building in Superior in October of 1992, the couple purchased not only a business but their home of the last quarter century.
Mineral County brainstorms ideas for community center
After a survey conducted by the Mineral County Health Department showed that the number one desire for the county was a community center, officials began discussing the idea of building one. Mineral County officials met in the packed Senior Center in Superior on Thursday, May 9 to brainstorm ideas to build a community center. Superior Schools Superintendent Scott Kinney originally came up with the idea because he wants to relocate the wrestlers to different area to practice, but he has nowhere to send them. They currently train in the multi-purpose room where there is stage and sound equipment. “It truly is a multipurpose room,” Kinney said. He says the room gets beat up from the wrestlers and would like to see a new facility for the wrestlers and to also be used for the community. This triggered conversations with County Commissioner Roman Zylawy, who also believes the county should create a new, multiuse facility or a community center. The current 4H building, or Quonset hut, has seen a crumbling roof, plumbing and structural issues since its erection more than 60 years ago. “You just about have to turn sideways to get in the bathroom,” District Ranger Carole Johnson said. 4H activities could relocate to a new building, which could also be used for shooting sports, a performing arts center and a senior center. “The current building gets used almost every day,” Johnson said. It is already used for family reunions, receptions and 4H activities, however the Quonset hut has seen better days. Jim Goss, who represents several Mineral County nonprofits would like to see a new facility to host Mineral County Performing Arts Council (MCPAC) concerts. The LDS Church currently hosts concerts for MCPAC, but Goss would like to see a separate venue. Goss would also like to see the current Senior Center relocated to the potential community center. “The facility is showing its age and the kitchen is way too small,” Goss said. A commercial kitchen and larger space would better accommodate the county’s aging population. Goss says senior centers are compelling to grants and could help with applications. But none of this can happen without funding. That’s why Zylawy has researched the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), a program that provides communities with affordable housing and community development.
Hacks and Blasts fill the spring air at Trap Club
The 19th annual “Hack and Blast” tournament — Plains Trap Club’s light-hearted kick-off of both the shooting range’s trap season and the golf season — got off to a jolly start. Fifteen teams from Plains and surrounding towns lined up to take their shots at the doomed clay pigeons. Hours later, as they made their way around the golf course’s nine holes, they were still laughing. Flags, patriotic pants, silly team names and goofy golf drives brought friends and community together.
Sanders County Fair Board planning 2019 event
Some thought a miracle would be needed for the Sanders County Fair Board to pull off this year’s fair. With an almost completely new board and a new manager coming on just more than three months before fair time, it did seem like a daunting task.
Free lunch trumps free enterprise in America
I suppose I shouldn’t be any more surprised than most taxpaying Americans to discover that I paid more in income taxes in 2018 than the behemoth retailer Amazon.com; but then I didn’t have a net profit of $11.2 billion, either. Nor did I get anything close to Amazon’s $128 million tax refund for 2018. This is the second consecutive year that Amazon has not paid federal income taxes. In 2017, it paid no taxes on an income of $5.6 billion. All this from the April 11, 2019 “Fortune” magazine which reported on research done by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP).
County show patience about barking dogs
I had the opportunity (as did you) to attend the May 9 Sanders County commissioner’s meeting on ordinance # 2019-01: an ordinance to control barking dogs within Sanders County and to establish procedures for enforcement.
Hot Springs, county rally to support Salmi family
When the normally bubbly, active 5-year old Harlee Salmi said she didn’t feel well and complained of a sore neck, no one could have known what lay ahead.
Plains pool problems proliferate
You know how sometimes when you dig into a problem, it gets worse before it gets better? That is the case with the Plains swimming pool.
Sanders County Dispatcher McDonald commended for 'keeping her cool'
The following citation was sent to supervisors and media by Sanders County Deputy Eric Elliot, commending dispatcher Becky McDonald for a job well done.
A 70-mile parade of heroes supporting Special Olympics
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Some are heroes for what they have done to overcome difficulty. Others for being willing to take on difficulty to help or support someone else. All were on display at the Sanders County 2019 Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, helping to raise funds, awareness and excitement for the county’s qualifying athletes to compete next week in the Special Olympics State Games in Great Falls.
Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics set Saturday
Special Olympians and Sanders County law enforcement are teaming up for this year’s Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics Montana this Saturday, May 11.
Thompson Falls trio prepares for golf postseason
The Thompson Falls boys and girls golf coach Mike Bates continues to produce successful teams regardless of his team’s situation.
Forest Service begins Summer Trails project in Mineral County
A decade after its initial proposal, the Lolo National Forest began the Summer Trails project in early April which will establish a motorized off-highway (OHV) route system. The project will allow utility-terrain vehicles (UTV) and all-terrain vehicles (ATV) access to 180,000 acres between St. Regis and Lookout Pass from June 15 to Sept. 1. It will also add existing non-motor-authorized trails to the system and construct new trail segments, authorizing 35 new miles to OHV trails. The U.S. Forest Service began planning for this project in 2009 after motorized recreationalists voiced desires for a more extensive trail system. But the Forest Service placed it on hold due to lack of funding and higher priorities. “In the last 10 years there’s been a lot of delay,” Recreation and Range staffer Heather Berman said. “It kept getting pushed because of fire salvage from fires in 2017.” The Forest Service initiated this project in response to public demand. OHV use is a fast-growing outdoor activity and according to a national survey, one in five Americans age 16 and older participated in OHV recreation. OHV registrations increased 300 percent from 200 to 2014, according to Montana State Parks. Unauthorized OHV use has also prompted the Forest Service to create authorized trails. In the last 10 years, officials closed and rehabilitated approximately four miles of unauthorized routes within the project area. Berman says the public creates their own trails before the Forest Service can build them properly. “No matter what we do to stop it, it’s gonna happen,” Berman said. Public comments and concerns included:
Walk the Plank Event raises $4,800 for Superior pool reconstruction
Snow and wind didn’t stop Mineral County residents from “walking the plank” into freezing water to raise money for a new pool in Superior on Sunday, April 28. The Mineral County Community Foundation (MCCF) raised $4,800 during their Walk the Plank fundraiser at Eva Horning Park. The funds will benefit reconstructing Superior’s 60-year-old-public pool, which closed in summer 2018 due to leaks. The MCCF formed a subcommittee called Pool for the Park last summer after the pool closed. “We expect the total cost of the project to be at least $1.5 million, but we won’t know the exact number until we get a firm cost estimate,” committee member Angie Hopwood said. After the Walk the Plank fundraiser, the committee has raised a total of $40,000. The fundraiser events included walking the plank into a kiddie pool, a bake sale, face painting and other games for the public to enjoy. Participants received a free T-shirt if they raised $100, and are encouraged to get sponsors and challenge others to raise money. Superior Color and Lumber donated materials and volunteers helped out at the fundraiser. Hopwood says raising money for the pool is their main goal, but they also want to create more events like this for the community to enjoy. “We’re trying to bring up our community a little bit,” Hopwood said. The committee has already completed Phase I, where the goal was raising enough money to hire an architect and they are now in Phase II, meaning the committee can apply for grants. MCCF hopes to complete pool construction in Phase III by 2023. “We’re optimistic,” Hopwood said. The next fundraiser will be Bingo and BBQ on Friday, June 7 at Superior Elementary School.
Detention Center's future remains a mystery
Mineral County officials met once again on Friday, April 26 to discuss the the Mineral County Detention Center’s fate — following its closure in February due to a detention officer shortage. The jail’s future remains a mystery; however, officials are getting closer to a decision, which could mean finally having the ability to hire the minimum number of officers. Other alternatives include using the jail as overflow for Lake County inmates or leasing the facility to Community, Counseling and Correctional Services, Incorporated (CCCS), a private, non-profit jail corporation. Staffing officers for the 28-bed jail is the county’s ideal option to reopen the facility but finding eligible applicants and retaining them is a problem. There are currently four eligible applicants to begin the hiring process, however they have not gone through a background check or an interview. The detention center also doesn’t have a supervisor at this time. “I don’t want to start hiring people if we don’t have supervisor,” County Commissioner Laurie Johnston said. “But you can’t open a jail without detention officers.” Officials discussed starting the initial process, meaning they could interview potential officers but couldn’t guarantee them a job. “I don’t want to put somebody in there dealing with inmates if they don’t know what they’re doing”, said Johnston. County Attorney Ellen Donohue suggested waiting to hire a supervisor, but potential detention officers won’t have a job until there’s a supervisor. “It’s a ripple effect,” Donohue said. If the county finds their five minimum detention officers, the budget becomes an increasing issue because Missoula detention officers would need to train new officers. “I don’t have it in my budget,” Sheriff Mike Boone said. “Their detention officers are making $36 an hour.”
Public-lands users and advocates share information in Thompson Falls
What do horsemen and hikers, educators and counselors, hunters and berry-pickers, loggers and home brewers have in common that brings them together? An appreciation for the wild public-lands legacy and recreational and economic opportunities our nation has gifted to us in this area, and to future generations.
Blackfoot Telecommunications now offers a streaming primer
Blackfoot Telecommunications helped take some of the mystery out of “streaming” and “smart TVs” and even how to watch good old-fashioned local TV in today’s era, with a first-ever “Understanding Streaming” workshop in Thompson Falls April 24.
Cement truck flips west of Dixon Thursday; no injuries
A truck carrying a full load of seven yards of concrete overturned in the middle of Montana Highway 200 on Thursday morning, April 25 west of Dixon.
Kindergarten Roundup 'eye opener' for youngsters
Some approached with circumspection, others with confidence or curiosity.
No headline
The intrepid Sanders County Fair Board is quickly picking up steam. With mostly new membership and an acting manager, and with the help of experienced locals, they are pulling together contracts, agreements, sponsors, grounds maintenance, and all that’s needed to ensure another successful fair this year.