Huckleberry Festival gets logo for 2018

Each year, Trout Creek’s annual Huckleberry Festival goes on the hunt for a new logo; one created by a Sanders County local that encompasses the spirit of the festival.

Sheriff Fielders encourages 'survival in support groups'

Sanders County Sheriff Shawn Fielders held a community meeting at the Plains Alliance Church Friday evening to discuss public safety during a local or widespread disaster.

New group helps collect school, hygiene supplies

“Most of us don't think twice when we are buying things like toilet paper, cleaning products, diapers, and so many other things. But imagine if you were at the store and only had $27 to last you the entire month, but needed toilet paper, body soap, laundry soap, toothpaste, and a toothbrush. You do not have enough money to buy all of these products, which would you choose?” That’s a difficult scenario that Superior resident Amy Kelsey has not only pondered, but lived out as a child growing up and as a parent.

Update from Rep. Ingraham

With the passing of time, I thought I should update you on how things were progressing for the State Administration & Veterans Affairs (SAVA) Committee since their first meeting that was held on July 11.

Mineral County Jail nears re-opening

For a county larger than the state of Rhode Island with 4,200 residents, a law enforcement agency...

Charges filed in suspicious death

The death that occurred at Wild Horse Hot Springs on May 26 has been deemed as a rape and murder case.

Legals August 14, 2019

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Requests Input for Proposed Timber Sales PUBLIC NOTICE The Plains Unit of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation is developing plans for two proposed timber sales. The first proposed sale would be known as the Sales Mine Timber Sale. This proposed sale is located approximately 36 air miles north of Plains, MT on the divide between the Elk Creek, Whitney Creek and Indian Creek drainages, Section 36, Township 26 North, Range 28 West. This sale is in the earliest stages of planning and would most likely involve seed tree and shelterwood harvests with ground and cable-based logging systems. This sale may require new and/or reconstruction of roads and would include some minor improvements on existing roads. This sale would likely sell in the fall of 2020 and is projected to generate approximately 3-4 million board feet of timber for the Common Schools Trust. The second, known as the Smiley Face Timber Sale, is located approximately 12 air miles north of Plains, MT, on the divide between the Todd Creek, Mudd Creek and Smiley Creek drainages, Sections 30 & 32, Township 22 North, Range 26 West. This sale is in the earliest stages of planning and would most likely involve seed tree and shelterwood harvests with ground and cable-based logging systems. This sale may require new and/or reconstruction of roads and would include some minor improvements on existing roads. This sale would likely sell in the spring of 2021 and is projected to generate approximately 3-4 million board feet of timber for the Common Schools Trust. These sales are being considered to generate revenue for the Common Schools Trust Fund, improve forest health by reducing the possibility of insect and disease activity, to reduce excessive fuel loading and the related risk of wildfire, and to reestablish and promote timber types historically found in these areas. These proposed harvests would contribute to the DNRC's sustained yield as mandated by state statute 77-5-222. As an adjacent landowner or interested party, we request your input regarding these projects. Your concerns and comments are needed to assist the DNRC in planning, analyzing, and implementing these projects. We would appreciate your response by October 31, 2019 so that we may incorporate it into our planning process. Please send comments to: DNRC Plains Unit, ATTN: Dale Peters, PO Box 219, Plains, MT 59859 or by email to dpeters@mt.gov or by phone at 406-826-4722 Please direct oral or written comments to: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation PO Box 219 Plains, Montana 59859 Attn: Dale Peters (406) 826-4722 E-mail: dpeters@mt.gov Published in the Clark Fork Valley Press on August 7 and August 14, 2019. MNAXLP

'Birds of a Feather' in Superior

For Superior High School Montana History Professor and Play Director Cathleen Kuchera the best part of producing a play every year is “getting to watch the students shine” and this year’s production of the play ‘Birds of a Feather’ was no different – for two nights the high school students took to the stage and shone. Preparation for play, which takes place in the suburbs and revolves around a series of showdowns between Leonna Crump (played by Hannah Hollenback) and her new neighbors – group of “hill-folk,” began two and a half months ago with Kuchera holding tryouts. “We had a shorter amount of time to put this play together – just over two months - and by play standards it is about a week less than what a director would like,” Kuchera said. “I hold a meeting for all interested parties about three months out to inform the students of my expectations. The play requires dedication and hard work, and the biggest part of the dedication is showing up to practice and memorizing your lines. Drama is not for the weak in body or mind.” After auditions, the group of student actors begins an intensive rehearsal regime – practicing over two hours a day to make sure the actors are prepared for their time to shine. “It is not like traditional sports where you have a number of games – we have only two shots at this,” Kuchera said. Another aspect of the preparation is, as Kuchera called it, “in the details” and the group works on finding all of the props and costumes as well as setting up the stage for the performance. “I do get pretty lucky in the fact that our set is painted by the advanced art class under Mrs. Kelly’s supervision – for which I am extremely thankful,” Kuchera said. The months of long practices lead to show time and on May 3 and 4 the student-actors entertained packed houses in the multi-purpose room of the high-school with the story of Leona Crump and her judgemental nature and sharpness being taken to the limit by her new neighbors. “I feel the performances went excellent,” Kuchera said. “Every single one of them did exactly what they were supposed to do – they rolled with the punches. I cannot express how proud I am with my cast and crew.” Although the ending of the play is “always bittersweet” for Kuchera, seeing the students shine and break out of their shells is something she cherishes. “When the students participate in the play and receive the praise they obviously deserve, I begin to see this confidence that wasn’t there before,” Kuchera said. “I say this almost every year, but the dramatic productions are so important because it provides students with an opportunity to express their artistic talents and be noticed for their skills.”

'We Care' sets out to host first benefit

Last December, a group of residents from around Mineral County gathered together with the idea of organizing the Mineral County “We Care” Foundation of Montana. Just last week, the organization gathered together again only this time they were planning an event that would help benefit a father, James Hodge, and his son, Bryan.

Knudsen elected vice chair of the Republican AG association

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen was elected vice chair of the Republican Attorney General Association (RAGA), a national political advocacy group, over the weekend.

Community theater returns

Comedy, drama and old fashioned melodrama return to the area with the reprise of a local community theater group. Area actors will open this first season with the upcoming production of The Prisoner of Second Avenue by award winning author Neil Simon (produced by special arrangement with Samuel French Inc.)

Mineral County Fly-in upcoming

Last week Members from the Mineral County Chamber of Commerce went before the county commissioners to ask for funding for the Mineral County Fly-in, planned for August 13.

Community members give blood during drive

PLAINS – Local residents pitched in for a good cause last week, donating blood to the American Red Cross at a blood drive in Plains.

Legals for June, 15 2022

How to win hearts and minds in the Middle East

How to win hearts and minds in the Middle East

Mineral County Community Calendar

Be responsible when voting on initiatives

Initiatives are an important part of our democratic process. They allow citizens to bring legislation forward. That was the intended process.

Marsha Eileen Rounsley Johnson Aldrich

Marsha Eileen Rounsley Johnson Aldrich

Hospital receives grant for radiology lab

SUPERIOR – The Mineral Community Hospital recently received a grant, which paid for a brand new, state-of-the-art radiology lab for mammogram screenings.

Superior Ranger District prescibed Spring burning