Keg Bowl raises funds for Blue Hawk scholarship

Despite the snow and cold on Saturday, a large crowd turned out to watch the annual Keg Bowl held at the Ainsworth Field next to the Town Pump in Thompson Falls. Hot dogs and beer were served to spectators as they stood next to metal drums with fires burning inside. Out on the field alumni from the Thompson Falls Blue Hawk football team played a game of flag football, which on some occasions turned into contact football.

The thrilling three-pointer

Solid opening weekend for hunting season

Hunters took to the field Saturday and Sunday across northwest Montana for the opening weekend of the general deer and elk season.  At the six northwest Montana check stations, a total of 3,146 hunters checked 136 white-tailed deer, 25 mule deer, and 31 elk for a 6.1 percent rate of hunters with game. Of the whitetails checked, 95 were bucks and 41 were antlerless.  The Highway 2 check station had the largest number of whitetail deer taken (40), while the Swan (31) and Olney (29) check stations weren’t far behind.

Obits for January 7

Jean Isabelle Shaner, born April 27, 1927 at Cattaraugus, NY quietly passed away at the Missoula Community Medical Center on Monday, December 28, 2009 with her friend and partner of 48 years at her side. Over a period of 4 weeks she suffered through a series of increasingly more debilitating strokes. Although particially paralyzed, she was fully cognizant of her status and retained her composure, dignity and humor until the end of her life. An extraordinary person.

Hot Springs takes home win, prepares for district play

Danielle Switalski

Savage Heat fall to Superior Bobcats

HOT SPRINGS - The Savage Heat hosted the Superior Bobcats on Dec. 22 for a close match-up that resulted in a loss.

Plains VFW fire recalled 40 years later

Four decades ago, the fire that burned VFW Post 3596 changed the community of Plains. The fire may have began around 8:30 p.m. on Mar. 31, 1977. The newspaper at that time, “The Plainsman,” covered the fire on the front page. The initial findings from the Kalispell fire marshal indicated that the fire might have been caused by arson. There were two black and white photos, one showing Leonard Larson and Phil Crismore fighting the fire. There were several things lost in the fire. The losses included many of the belongings and one cat belonging to Tress Evins, who was a bartender there and lived in the apartment above the VFW. Fortunately she was not at home when the fire began. There was a long history to the original VFW building that went back to 1949, when the property was purchased for $4,100. The money was raised from the sale of a small building and a $3,500 loan from the Polson VFW. One very large piece of history that was lost had dated back to 1904. It was a Brunswick bar and back bar that was once part of the old Pendergast Hotel in Plains, which was located on Main Street. The mahogany fixtures once were in another town during the years of Prohibition in the 1930s. Once Prohibition was repealed, the bar and back bar were returned to the VFW. There was a six-lane bowling alley in the basement, where many went during the cold winter months. The fire changed the meeting locations for many groups and organizations; the Girl Scouts, Senior Citizens, CBers, Jaycees, and Weight Watchers.

'Better Together" seeks equality, inclusion

Magone organized the event after reading about the Red Pill Festival taking place in the same location Saturday, July 24.

Going home: Big Medicine will be returned to CSKT

Big Medicine spent all of his life on the tribal homelands of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes. Now after his death, he’ll spend most of his time back there too, after a six-decade hiatus as one of the main attractions of the Montana Historical Society.

Student pearly whites shine bright

SUPERIOR – The smiles of county students were made a little brighter last week as local dentists came to Superior Elementary School and St. Regis School to do free cleanings.

Blue collar, white collar

SANDERS COUNTY – The ongoing Great Recession began in December of 2007 and took a turn for the worse in September of 2008. The recession caused significant debt, limited prospects for growth and high levels of unemployment.

Sanders County Sheriff Report

2/6/11 9:13 p.m. A Plains woman called police stating that she and her boyfriend had gotten into a fight and he left her residence intoxicated in her car without her permission to take the car.  The woman later reported the car stolen.

Hot Springs Savage Heat dominates on the field

HOT SPRINGS - Firing on all cylinders Friday night the Hot Springs Savage Heat pelted the Bears of Lima 74-0.

Trap Scores Week five

The following are the results from week five of the Noxon Big Sky Postal Trap Shoot. The top four teams were (Denton 175) (Plains 174)

Ol' man winter has arrived at last

So, it’s finally here.

Predator management bills headed to Governor's desk

Legislature passes black bear, grizzly bear and wolf proposals

Christmas choir fills Plains with joy

An evening of Christmas music filled the air at Fred Young Park this past Wednesday, thanks to the Plains School Choir and a talented group of alumni.

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.

My first steps

The small llama lies near its mother on the hard dirt of the coral, its white legs drawn in, tucked underneath its small body. The long narrow face resting gently on the ground with its eyes all but closed.

Hot Springs Junior High meet hosts over 200 young athletes

Eleven teams competed at the Hot Springs Junior High Track and Field Invitational Friday as schools as far away as Drummond and as nearby as Paradise and Dixon came out to throw, run and jump at Hot Springs School. Four Sanders County teams, three Mineral County teams, three Lake County teams and a Granite County team (Drummond) compiled more than 220 athletes for a day of competition.