Plains students enjoy red carpet treatment

A years worth of dress shopping, match-making and planning finally paid off last Saturday evening for Plains High School students.

Hospital offers new services

Look no further than Mineral Community Hospital for your orthopedic surgery needs.

LIGHT shines in St. Regis

Dr. Alan and Sarah Damron have the intention to spread the gospel from St. Regis to the Idaho border.

"Through With Chew Week" upcoming

“Through With Chew Week” is an annual event designed to prevent and reduce chew tobacco use.

Study to examine elk calves in bitterroot valley

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) will begin a study this week that will evaluate factors affecting elk calf survival in the East and West Forks of the Bitterroot Valley. 

How to avoid blight this spring

Gardening tips for a potentially poor growing season

As this year’s gardening season approaches, local farmers and agricultural experts want to urge home gardeners to be aware of the risk of late blight, a devastating disease that reared its ugly head in the valley last year. Characterized by black colored wounds or abnormalities on the leaf and stem, late blight is the same devastating pathogen responsible for the Irish potato famine of the late 1840s. In the Mission Valley, tons of potatoes were lost last year, Montana State University extension agent Jack Stivers said.

Food for thought: Staying positive in the winter months

Now that the holidays are over, the decorations taken down, the credit card bills arriving and the extra pounds showing, it is no wonder that many people are experiencing a let down. The colder weather and the shorter, darker days don’t help much either. However, you don’t have to fall victim to the winter blues. Look at this time of the year as an opportunity to evaluate different areas of your life and incorporate changes that would enrich or develop personal growth.

Wreaths fundraiser wraps up

With Christmas just a few days away, those who entered to win one of the wreaths from the Mineral County Medical Foundation and won, will have a nicely decorated item to place inside their home or outside on their front door.

Food for thought: The holidays-a time for joy, a time for forgiveness

This is an article that I wrote last year.  Some of you have asked me to print it again for the Christmas season.

Boy Scouts hold flag ceremony

The Plains Boy Scout Troop held a flag retiring ceremony with members of VFW Post 3596 on Pearl Harbor Day, last Dec. 7. The ceremony was held behind the Plains VFW Post, as was attended by members of the community, as well as area veterans.

Food for thought: what do do about the holiday blues

Not everyone shares in the celebration and joy associated with the holidays.  Many people feel stressed and unhappy in response to the demands of shopping for gifts, spending large amounts of money, attending parties and family gatherings, and entertaining house guests.  It is not uncommon to react to these stresses with excessive drinking and eating, difficulty sleeping, and physical complaints.  The result is the holiday blues.

Coping choices: loneliness-normal or not?

Coping Choices – Loneliness – Normal or Not

Students explore their future

Food for thought: recognizing a verbally abusive relationship

This is the second part of a two part series on Verbal Abuse. In this article I will address some ways to manage verbal abuse.

Diabetes Month increases awareness

Attention, awareness and education about diabetes is always at the forefront, but this month special attention was given to the diabetes as November serves as National Diabetes Month.

Food for thought: Can you recognize emotional abuse?

This is a two part series on emotional abuse.  Today I will examine how to recognize emotional abuse.  Next week I will discuss the symptoms in men and women who abuse and how to stop it.

Doctor presents on "aid in dying"

Death is often something people avoid speaking about at all costs. But for others, it is a stark reality, something that is coming sooner rather than later. For the latter, deemed terminally ill, a choice in how to spend their last days is of utmost importance, said Dr. Thomas Preston, who visited Polson and St. Ignatius last Wednesday to discuss the issue.

Food for thought: emathy-is it important and should parents be teaching it?

Empathy is being aware of and showing concern for another person’s situation or feelings.  Empathy and concern for other people allow us to appreciate what we have and how we can help others. Not being empathetic can lead to people doing what they like regardless of how it affects others and this can lead to petty and major crimes against others.  Children who show no feelings of empathy are often found bullying or habitually teasing other children.

"Gathering of the Wreaths" inspires Christmas spirit

The Mineral County Medical Foundation held the first annual “Gathering of the Wreaths” on Saturday. A decorated cardboard gingerbread house on the 4-H building’s door beckoned individuals inside to a Christmas themed showing.

Church offers free classes

You might expect someone with an associate degree, two bachelors degrees, two masters degrees and a Ph.D. to go by Dr., Mr., or even sir, but, in this case, something much more informal will do.