Eighth-grader Molia Dao is the S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G B-E-E winner

“P-O-R-T-E-N-T-O-U-S-L-Y” is what Alberton eighth-grader Molia Dao spelled to become the Mineral County Spelling Bee winner. Competition was held at St. Regis School on Monday, March 4. Molia beat out 30 contestants to take home top honors. Alternates were Skylar Knapp, an Alberton fifth-grader and Trizten Avila, sixth grade, from Superior.

Ratliff, Sparks bound for National AAU Championships

It has been a very busy, and sometimes hectic time, for young amateur wrestlers over the last four or five weeks. The high school season ended in late February, and grapplers from 4 through 18 have spent hours on the mats during practice and competition.

Poet Laureate Lowell Jaeger works to 'enliven your mind' at Arts Council event

Montana Poet Laureate Lowell Jaeger was the featured artist during the Sanders County Arts Council’s fifth event of its Tapestry Performing Arts Season for 2018-19.

Grizzly bear conflict-prevention specialist making a difference

Cabinet Resource Group (CRG), a grass-roots conservation watchdog group active since 1976 in northwest Montana, held its annual meeting Saturday, March 9 at Bighorn Lodge on the Bull River. The group uses this event every year to share issue updates with members, introduce like-minded groups in the region, give awards, and vote on board members.

In its 40th year, Montana Water Court future uncertain

HELENA — The Montana Water Court could soon reach a turning point once all its old water rights cases are settled.

Local firefighter heading to Seattle stairclimb competition

“356, 357,” is what a breathless Nathan Lapinski counted a few days after he and fellow firefighter, Jake Sporna, climbed a combined total of 714 stairs. It was part of a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). Where the two had pledged to climb a story for every dollar donated with a total of $1,000 raised, which included additional donations.

Snowfall seen as worst in last 30 years

Last week, long-time Mineral County residents saw more snow than they’ve seen in 30 years. Estimates from the storm that hit last Monday, Feb. 25 were around 18 inches in Alberton, 12 in Superior and eight in St. Regis.

Lady Hawks fall to Loyola, Eureka at Western Divisional

It was not a turnover plague that proved to be the downfall for the Thompson Falls girls at the Western B Divisional Basketball Tournament last week at the Ronan Event Center. It was inability to show consistent offensive production.

America Saves Week addresses national 'savings crisis'

Military Saves Week also observed Feb. 25-March 2

The American personal savings rate is at its lowest level since the U.S. financial crisis in 2008, at 6.0 percent of disposable income, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and is continuing a 60-year downward trend line.

Lawmakers to discuss slew of hot-button topics at mid-session

HELENA — The Montana Legislature is about to hit its hump day — on Saturday, March 2, the session is officially halfway through. Lawmakers will discuss a slew of hot-button issues this week, including sales tax, corporate media ownership, campaign mailers, surprise medical bills, and international trade wars. Here’s what to keep an eye on for Week 8:

This 'n That consignment shop in Superior is closing its doors

From clothes, to jewelry, knick-knacks and appliances all fill the tiny building located on the far side of the bridge in Superior. This ’n That is located at 104 River Street North and is closing its doors permanently on March 16.

Horsemen, Savage Heat, Devils fall short of divisional

Coaches in Class C boys’ basketball in Montana would likely agree that the 14C District, which includes Sanders, Lake and Mineral county teams, is arguably the top conference in the class — when you consider the quality from top to bottom.

Region One wolf count discussed at Kalispell meeting

The sportsmen’s meeting held in Kalispell on Jan. 30 drew 400 plus attendees. We would like to thank the area sportsmen and women, the Foundation for Wildlife Management, Montana Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Montana Fish, Widlife & Parks for being there. It was a very passionate, concerned crowd who were frustrated with the ungulate population counts in Region One, located in Northwestern Montana.

New store brings warmth to lonesome Lonepine

On a bleak, winter drive down Highway 28 from Elmo to Plains, there is suddenly a small splash of color ahead in the gray. It is something you would take for granted in most places. But in Lonepine, a community about six miles north of Hot Springs that lost its zip code years ago, a sign that simply says “Open” is a welcome sight.

Avalanche closes I-90 for 27 hours

While skiers at Lookout Pass Ski Area were enjoying nearly 50 inches of new snow last week, emergency crews were kept busy dealing with a series of avalanches along Interstate 90. The first two snow slides occurred on Wednesday, Feb. 13 — both in the westbound lanes. One was a mile east of the Montana/Idaho border and the other was at Mile Marker 33.5 around 2:40 p.m. By 4:30 p.m., Interstate 90 was closed at St. Regis, which stranded hundreds of vehicles.

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.

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

Medicaid expansion allows hospital to improve offerings Program set to expire in July unless renewed by Legislature

Clark Fork Valley Hospital (CFVH) President/CEO Dr. Greg Hanson is enthusiastic when he explains how the Medicaid Expansion plan passed by the 2015 legislature has benefitted service and health outcomes in Sanders County, and its economic impact county- and state-wide.

Library drops fines in exchange for food donations

As of Feb. 1, the Mineral County Library will no longer charge fines for overdue library items and all overdue books currently on patrons accounts have been removed. Instead, when books and other items are overdue, people are being asked to bring non-perishable food items to the library in lieu of fines. Which in turn will be donated to the local food bank. However, charges for lost or damaged books will remain the same.

Clark Fork Junior High girls place third at Arlee tournament

On Saturday, Feb. 9, the Clark Fork Mountain Cat Junior High girls’ team placed third during a tournament in Arlee. Six teams traveled to the event where the Cats lost their first game to the St. Regis Lady Tigers by one point, 22-21. They played St. Regis again later in the day and won, 37-17. In their second game, they played Plains and won by 15 points. During the season they had lost to Plains twice.