Going down in history

Plains-Hot Springs Coach Seth Pettit: “[Reiley Winebrenner] will be remembered.”

Editor's Note: This is the third article in a series of profiles of Sanders County' graduating athletes who will be competing in college next year.

Thompson Falls resident advocates for wilderness protection

The wilderness is extremely special for reasons in every direction.

Local candidates sound off at forum

Sanders County residents had a chance to listen, ask and talk with multiple candidates running for local and state seats last week.

COLUMN: Dream Team

One of the sports highlights of my younger days was watching the USA Olympic basketball team take to the court and beat the best of the rest of the world with our top college players.

Paradise area artist Eberhardt building his legacy

Sit down with Steve Eberhardt, and you’d believe he’s lived in western Montana all his life.

Propane prices spike in county

SANDERS COUNTY – The rising prices of propane have caused some serious woes this winter. Local propane vendors explained why costs have been so high, how they feel about the situation and what the future may hold.

COLUMN: Polson a great host for hoops

OK Mining City, aka Butte, you’ve got some big shoes to fill.

Valley Press and Independent introduce new digital access model

As the publisher of your community newspapers, I am partly in the business of reporting on change, and nothing has changed more than the news business in the past two decades.

Legals for November, 16 2022

Board scraps Paradise sewer project; assures water is safe

More than a decade ago, a representative of an engineering company reportedly came to town with ominous warnings about the sorry and deteriorating state of Paradise drinking water.

A nutty sports fanatic

They call us “sports nuts” for a reason.

Hecla issue 'double talk' from DEQ just doesn't make sense

I respect the importance Department of Environmental Quality has in ensuring protection of Montana’s environment. We acknowledge Director Livers’ support for Hecla when he accurately stated, “DEQ recognizes that Hecla’s track record of mine operations and reclamation has earned the company a favorable reputation for commitments to safety and to minimizing environmental impacts from mining.”

Mineral County properties part of large online auction

A sudden wave of yellow and black auction signs has sprung up across western Montana, signaling the start of what may be the largest online land auction in the state's history. A forward-thinking Montana real estate broker, Al Dunlap of Regent Realty in Missoula, has partnered with the LFC Group of Companies, industry leaders in online marketing, to sell 30 properties. Twenty-four of the properties alone reside within Mineral County.

COLUMN: That's a wrap for fall sports

Wow! Can it really be three sports seasons have sped by in my retirement days of writing for the Valley Press and Mineral Independent?

Governor-appointed board caters to a foreign mining company

When a Canadian mining company successfully lobbied a Montana board appointed by Gov. Greg Gianforte to let them add more pollution to Montana’s water, it’s time to take a step back and figure out how we got here.

Montana Viewpoint: Politics, to listen or to lecture?

Individual politicians may have the best of motives, but the parties they belong to, no. The parties are like businesses, they want results.

Lookout Pass brings in crowds

LOOKOUT PASS — For years, skiers, snowboarders and snow lovers have flocked to Lookout Pass Ski Resort, nestled in the mountains of the Silver Valley, even though the destination tucked away on the Montana-Idaho border can seem a million miles from anywhere.

Montana Aussie Adventures with Erin-Jay

So another week in the gorgeous northwest part of the state, and I found one of the best roads to drive down.

Montana Viewpoint

Jim Elliott

Committee plans to save pool again

Members of city council and community business owners met with the Committee for Safe Swimming on Friday, Jan. 7 to discuss plans for saving the Plains swimming pool from being closed this summer. The pool is facing problems as its filtration system is in need of replacement and could potentially fail, leaving water quality at a level unsafe for swimming.