Bobbi Rose Mathes, 81

Bobbi Rose Mathes, 81, passed away of natural causes on Dec. 5, 2017, at Mineral Community Nursing Home in Superior.

David (Dave) Burkhardt

David (Dave) Gilbert Burkhardt was born Feb. 28, 1931, in Grapeview, WA, to August and Helena Burkhart.

City still waiting for tax money owed

The city of Plains is still waiting for money that was accidentally over paid to the Plains Library by the Sanders County Treasurer.

Council tables vote on road gate

To gate or not to gate, that is the question lingering over the Plains City Council.

Wrestling season begins with Owen Invitational

Wrestling began last weekend with the Owen Invitational in Polson where 18 regional teams competed in the two day tournament. There are 13 wrestlers out this year for the Clark Fork Mountain Cats, mostly sophomores and freshmen.

Hot skillet sparks house fire

A skillet left on a stove was the cause of a house fire on Sunday.

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.

Winter driving tips from Plains police chief

Plains Chief of Police Shawn Emmett offers local residents some winter driving tips:

Programs and tips to stay warm this winter

This year’s winter forecast is calling for above average precipitation in the Northern Rockies with the onset of La Nina according to the National Weather Service. This will be coupled with colder than average temperatures plus the Climate Prediction Center has reported a “good chance of La Nina developing early this winter”.

Loge honored for service to the community

Denley Loge was recently recognized for his 16 years of service on the Board of Supervisors by the Mineral Conservation District and the Natural Resource Conservation Service. Denley retired from the Conservation District last year after he was elected into the Montana House of Representatives for District 14, where he represents Mineral and Sanders Counties.

Junior athlete highlight: Jessica Bronner

Jessica Bronner of Thompson Falls is this week’s Junior Athlete Highlight.

When things go bump in the night, beware!

Halloween is a night of scary monsters, skeletons, witches and tall tales about demons and ghosts. It’s the time of year that we allow ourselves to be frightened of things that go “bump” in the night and let our imagination run wild about unexplained phenomenon. Here are a couple of stories submitted by Mineral Independent readers who dare you to read their tales from the beyond.

Recycling comes back to Alberton

Citizens find their own solution

The big blue Republic recycling bin is back in front of the Alberton Feed and Supply store thanks to a small group of community minded citizens who want to see recycling continue in this small town. The bin originally was put into place about four years ago as the result of a senior project by Shawnda Rohrbach. At that time Allied Waste owned the garbage business for Mineral County and the bin was donated to the community.

Russell “Norris” Grunhuvd, 92

Russell “Norris” Grunhuvd, 92, of Superior, passed away at his home, surrounded by loved ones, on Sept. 21, 2017.

Horsemen can't hold off Charlo at home

It wasn’t the game the Plains Horsemen were hoping for as they head into their homecoming week.

Plains, Hot Springs spikers dominate court

With volleyball season delving further toward tournament time, teams around Sanders County all played last week.

Kathryn Mary Sweeney, 68

Surrounded by family and resting comfortably, Kathryn Sweeney passed away in the early morning hours of Sept. 21, 2017.

Thomas 'Tommy' 'Tom' Henry McCrea, 97

Thomas “Tommy” “Tom” Henry McCrea, 97, a dedicated husband, father, farmer, cowboy, rancher, jig and square dancer, and storyteller, went to be with the Lord on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017 in Plains, Montana.

Frances Ewen, 91

Frances Arlene (Osmond) Ewen died in Missoula, Montana on August 30, 2017 at the age of 91 years. She was born prematurely at home in Worden, Montana on October 26, 1925 to Wilma Elizabeth (Jones) Osmond and Washington Percy Osmond. She joined brother, Byron. She was a fighter right from the beginning. Since she was less than three pounds at birth, she was put inside the oven of her parent’s wood stove to keep warm. She was unable to suck, so was fed barley water from an eye dropper.

Quick response keeps fire damage minimal

As the last of the crowd was headed out the gate of the Sanders County Fair on Aug. 31, local fire crews were rushing in to the 4-H pavilion where a fire had broken out.