Thompson Falls Players return to stage after absence

THOMPSON FALLS – After two years of absence from the stage, the Thompson Falls Players banded together to present the community a theatrical performance of “Maid to Order.”

St. Regis, Charlo thrill in 14C championship

Sound can be many things. It can bring joy or be a harbinger of pain. Produce happiness or deflating sorrow as when someone unties the end of a balloon and the energy keeping it pumped up escapes into thin air.

Kvelve's Comments: Unapologetic Christmas wish list for others

I hope it’s not too late to get my Christmas wish list for others to the guy with the white beard and red suit.

People power can be the source of beneficial changes

Civil Discourse

We believe there are a number of reasons people run for political office, the ones that come to mind are: money, self –satisfaction, self-promotion or a combination of these.  State Legislature positions are probably not desired for the money.  It seems that, regardless of campaign promises “to always listen and be worthy of the honor of representing the constituency”, it does not take long before most of that is forgotten and instead they feel they need to think for the constituency instead of representing them.  This includes reversing initiatives the voters have voted in, including but not limited to term limits.

Bighorn ewe surprises residents

PLAINS – A wandering mother-to-be- big horn sheep bedded down to prepare for the big day in an ideal spot: quiet, shaded, pine-needles galore, and right at the foot of a mountain. Problem is, her location of choice just happened to be beneath the porch of local residents Rob and Debbie Griggs. 

Longtime trap club caretaker Harry Greene says goodbye

With or without a firearm, Harry Greene is a straight-shooter.

Lady Savage Heat plan to rise from ashes

HOT SPRINGS – The Lady Savage Heat competed against Charlo at home Saturday night.

A primer on the primary election

I've recently run into a number of people who are registered as Independents and who mistakenly believe they cannot vote in the primary as there is no ballot specifically allotted to the Independents.

Grizzly bear council has plenty of work ahead

The Grizzly Bear Advisory Council met in Polson last week to continue discussion about how the state can best manage a number of challenges associated with Montana’s growing grizzly bear population.

Pat's Knob repairs are a success

According to Sanders County Sheriff Department Radio Technician Cody Best, the damage to communication equipment on Pat’s Knob sustained during a winter storm earlier in the year has been repaired. Sanders County Emergency Services had been relying on a back-up system for several months before the damaged equipment could be replaced.

Road loss drops TFalls Football to 0-2

On the road versus Thompson falls Fairfield proved why they are the number one ranked class B football team in the state, as they won 42-7. The loss sank the Bluehawks record to 0-2.

Alberton/Superior tennis prepare for season

Spring sports are in full swing and although several of the Superior/Alberton High School Tennis team were away competing in the state BPA competition, Head Coach Rick Berreth began preparing his team for the upcoming season.

Fire lookouts provide a unique perspective

SANDERS COUNTY- When I think of what it takes to have an adventure, I typically imagine an activity that involves a small degree of self-endangerment combined with a touch of recklessness topped off with a sprinkle of disregard for ones personal safety. I might even add a dash of “what the heck am I thinking?” to the recipe.

PILT funding critical to counties with shrinking tax base and growing numbers of visitors

County services critical for federal public lands -by Ron Walter, Public Lands Chair for National Association of Counties

Savage Heat opt out of co-op

For the first time since 2001, the Hot Springs Savage Heat will field their own football team, as the Hot Springs School Board voted to end the cooperative agreement with Plains last night at their monthly meeting.

Nature photographer finds stress relief in his work

A Montana native, Styles was raised in Billings but has lived in several other parts of the state...

Absentee and early votes soar

If the early voting numbers are any indication, this Election Day will be one for the record books in Montana. If not just for Sanders and Mineral Counties.

Channeling the pioneer days to fight Crohn's Disease

With solar panels for cell phone charging and stops at Wi-Fi hotspots to update their blog, Jack Chambers and Nick Roach are well aware they aren’t exactly Lewis and Clark.

Eighth grader hits the varsity court early

ALBERTON – The varsity team is the big leagues, where the big games are played and athletes get their last chance at victory in high school sports. For 13-year-old Creighton Callison, it is the starting point of his high school athletic career. Callison is an eighth grader in the Alberton Public School’s junior high program. He joined the junior high basketball team and was brought up to the varsity team with kids as much as four to five years older than him. This was done to expand the team. This season the Panthers did not have enough kids join to give them a healthy team. While there were enough players to fill the varsity team they had no replacements. Any injuries or exhaustion would have devastated their ability to play. The school also wanted to field a junior varsity team. This is where the eighth graders come in. Alberton petitioned the Montana High School Association for a waiver to bring eighth graders onto the varsity team. The exception was allowed and the players were brought up. Callison and fellow eighth grader Kolton Hensleigh were selected to join the varsity basketball team. Fresh from the junior high season the two almost immediately began practice with their new team. “They were originally going to bring in all the eighth graders,” Callison said. “But a couple of them lived out of the district so they couldn’t and it was only me and [Hensleigh] that could.” The varsity team had recruited from the middle school before. As a result the junior high team was not too surprised when two of their members were promoted. What surprised them more about Callison’s selection was how he had beaten out four freshmen who were also under consideration for the spot. The experience was a challenge for the eighth graders as they played against athletes who were older, bigger and often had years more experience. It was a trial by fire and they had to adapt quickly to the new pace of the game. The year was fun for Callison. There was little concern about the size or speed differences he faced. The hardest part of the experience was getting used to the faster pace of the varsity games. Middle school games are half as long and have a slower pace of play. While Callison took to the new pace quickly in practice, it was three or four games before he got used to how varsity worked and was over the nerves. “It took [awhile] to kind of get used to the rhythm and stuff but with practices I was confident I was fine,” Callison said. Despite the initial reservations, Callison had a good season this year and brought in a number of points throughout the season. This was a surprise for him at the time because he did not think he would have been able to score against some of the seniors the team faced. The difficulties have not changed his feelings for the sport. Callison plans to try out for the basketball team when he enters high school as a freshman next year. He looks at this as a learning experience to prepare himself for what is to come as he enters his high school athletics career. “The year was mainly just about trying to learn what it’s like to play, so next year I’ll be ready for it,” Callison said.