St. Regis man fights California wildfires

Curtis Cochran laughs now when he talks about the more than a month he spent in July fighting fires in California, but when he was there things were much more serious.

Clara Haven Loge

Clara Haven Loge, born on Dec. 30, 1917, in the homestead home of her Norwegian immigrant parents, Nilla and Mathias Haven, on the snow-covered prairie of rural McHenry, North Dakota, died in Dillon on Oct. 24, 2017, a few weeks short of her 100th birthday.

Paradise woman dances with horses

Matt Unrau

The price of power

Montana and the nation are at the crux of a changing energy future. What that future will look like depends on the choices we make now. These choices will require some tough decisions by both electricity consumers and the regulators of our utilities at the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC).  Regulated electric and gas utilities in Montana include Northwestern Energy (NWE) and Montana-Dakota Utilities (MDU) in the eastern part of our state. Electric co-ops are not regulated by the PSC. The challenge for electricity providers and regulators is how to incorporate alternative forms of energy such as wind, biomass, solar and geothermal into our system as a long term investment towards clean energy and energy independence. As with most investments, the payoff comes over time, perhaps even over a lifetime. Judith Gap, Montana’s first wind farm, came on line in 2006, and customers are already seeing the benefits. The 135MW facility supplies 8% of NWE’s energy needs at a cost of about $40/MWH, considerably less than the cost of electricity produced at the coal fired power plant in Coalstrip ($54/MWH).

St. Regis/Mullan gridders look for deep playoff run

Or will they run into another buzzsaw team from the Idaho flatlands? One thing is for sure, the two-state Tigers are locked and loaded again this year as they ready for what they hope will be a championship run.

Tips for safe driving this season

When the snow flies, keep these hints in mind

Sanders County residents saw a consistent snow fall early last week as winter weather arrived and temperatures dropped. Between Friday, Nov. 20, and Monday, Nov. 22, the Montana Highway Patrol responded to 596 car crashes. Troopers responded to a car crash every eight minutes after frigid, snowy weather descended on the state.

Friends help Jimmy Jones

Jimmy Jones was feeling the love, as well as ‘a little off the top’ at a benefit dinner and auction which was held in his honor on Feb. 27. The event in his name occurred to help pay for some of Jones’ medical bills that have accumulated as the result of his treatments for esophageal cancer.

Alberton Farmers’ Market a sweet step back in time

Every Thursday evening from 5 to 8 during summer the town of Alberton seems to revert back in time.

Bertha Smith

Bertha Helen (Een) Smith, 96, entered into heaven Dec. 3, 2018, passing in Spokane, Wash. She was delivered by her father at the family farm in Black Coulee, Mont., (near Rudyard) July 15, 1922, and had eight siblings.

Elda E. (Richard) Greeno

Elda E. (Richard) Greeno was born July 10th, 1935 in Bisbee, North Dakota. She was one of six children born to Elnora “Elly” McLean and Fred Richard. Elda was baptized & confirmed in the Lutheran faith and received her formal education at Egeland, North Dakota.

Larry Michael Courser

Larry Michael Courser passed away on March 26th 2014 at the age of 64 following a short battle with cancer. Larry was born on May 2nd to Lawrence and Mary (Woods) Courser. Larry grew up in Montana and North Idaho, graduating from high school in Superior Montana. He spent much of his adult life logging with his father and farming on the family homestead located on Upper Pack River Rd. Larry had a great love for his family, gardening and his animals. He was often found working in his garden or relaxing with his dogs enjoying the sunshine, or working on a new project around the home. Larry is survived by his wife Nancy, two sons, Austin and Ethan, three daughters, Genda, Grace and Ruby, 4 grandsons and 3 granddaughters; his ex-wife Darlene Boyce Courser, one brother, Chris (Kim), seven sisters, Kaci (Hank) Courser Warren, Teri (Bob) Heinrich, Laura Courser, Judy (Randy) Wakefield, Tamara (Rex) Romagnolo, Leona (Jack) Knaggs, Lenor (Joe) Dupont, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Larry was preceded in death by his father, Lawrence and mother, Mary. A small graveside service to celebrate his life was held on Friday, March 28 at the family gravesite located at 3676 Upper Pack River Rd. Larry’s family would like to thank Auburn Crest Hospice, Heather House (Sandpoint Cancer Services) and the Kootenai Cancer Center for their gentle caring and continued support during his brief illness. Donations in his name can be made to the Sandpoint Cancer Services, Heathers House or to the Panhandle Animal Shelter. Email condolences can be sent to trollwaterworks@gmail.com. “I bequeath myself to the dirt, to grow from the grass I love. If you want me again, look for me under your boot soles” Whitman~

A reporter's farewell: 'My Swan Song'

This issue of the Mineral Independent will be my “Swan Song.” After this, I will be heading into a new adventure where I will be moving to Conrad with my significant other, Gus Chambers. For those unfamiliar with the small town, it is located one hour north of Great Falls. There we have a nice farm house with 20 acres in the middle of an alfalfa field!

Whitefish Credit Union welcomes new manager in Thompson Falls

Tim Ellis is a happy man.

June Sanks

June Irene Sanks was born in a small farm house near Hinsdale, Montana on July 23, 1929 and passed away on Jan. 17, 2019 at St Luke Long Term Care Facility in Ronan, Montana. At the age of four June’s family left eastern Montana and made their way to Sanders County and found a home on the western end of the “Eddy Flats” east of Thompson Falls. She rode the bus for 12 years to school and graduated from Thompson Falls High School in 1947.

Obituaries for William Evans

William (Bill) Evans passed away September 21, 2009. He was born in Rocky Comfort, MO in 1926. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII, and was a disabled veteran. He moved to California after being honorably discharged from the service, and lived in various towns in the San Joaquin Valley. He worked in the orange groves, packing sheds, and on milk farms. In the 1950’s he moved to McKinleyville in Humboldt County, and worked in the lumber industry, and owned his own garage with his brothers. He moved to Saltese, Montana in 1970, and worked for the State of Montana, building the new freeway on Lookout Pass. He owned his own gas station and garage for several years before retiring.

Pets that giggle! Do you have some too

I came into the house this morning after spending an hour feeding, watering and exercising ten of our twenty-four dogs. My son exercises the other fifteen. It was down right miserable. Cold, windy and rainy.

Rancher honored for range management

Polson cattle rancher Greg Gardner received the Sustained Lifetime Achievement Award at the Society for Range Management’s 76th Annual Meeting in Boise, Idaho, in February.

Huckleberry Festival 2009: Tasty and Entertaining

Danielle Switalski

Riverdogs fall in semifinals of season finale tourney

Anyone who has ever played fetch the stick at a local pond or lake with a retriever or other kind of “water” dog knows how tough and relentless these dogs can be.

First responders participate in emergency drill

THOMPSON FALLS – What if an epidemic was to hit Sanders County? Would the county be ready?