'Julius Caesar' performed in Superior

Cries for Cassius and cries for Marc Antony rang out from the crowd as the two men wrestled each other, opening the theatre play Julius Caesar last Thursday night. Mark Kuntz, who played Antony, welcomed audience to the Montana Shakespeare in the Parks performance.

Oil company plans to pass through Mineral County

Last week, Harry Lillo, from Imperial Oil Company, talked with Mineral County Commissioners and also at the Mineral County Chamber of Commerce, about the megaloads the company hopes to move through the state up to their plant north of Fort McMurray, as part of the Kearl Oil Sands Project.

Plains mourns death of local man

Danielle Switalski

Technology seminar keeps students safe

In recent years, public schools have assumed responsibility not only to teach students reading, writing and math skills, but have also tackled issues like drug and alcohol use, safe sex, and now in 2011, even cyber safety.

Repository in progress

State and town workers along with interested community members took another tour Thursday afternoon of Flat Creek, where a repository is in the process of being built.

Hard times for Montana food banks

Danielle Switalski & Matt Unrau

Reserve deputies volunteer time to help county

Danielle Switalski

Lady Panthers land win

The Alberton girls claimed their first win of the season last week in a game against county rival St. Regis. The Lady Panthers came out strong and shut off the Lady Tigers from the basket with a secure defense.

Panthers step boldly into the future

Even by Alberton standards the 2013 graduating class of six seniors was small – but what they lacked in numbers they made up for in academic excellence and school spirit.

Men of Worth to perform in Superior

From Scotland’s outer islands and Ireland’s west, some of America’s most authentic musical heritage is coming to Superior.

Melanie's farewell column: Relations matter most

Ninety-seven issues. That’s my number here at Valley Press – Mineral Independent. It may even be 98, but that very first issue in April of 2011 when I started here was just a few photos of an Easter egg hunt in Superior. Little did I know what lay ahead of me; little did I know how much things would change, and how the slightest, tiniest decisions can create ripple effects that touch so many others.

Firefighters save home while fighting woodshed blaze at Superior ranch

Montana Viewpoint: Just say no to division

Last week I read the transcript of a New York Times podcast with longtime Republican pollster Frank Luntz.

Open house highlights kids

Members of the St. Regis community got together with school officials, teachers and students for a chili-feed/potluck supper and school open house Wednesday evening to get to know different members of the community and explore the exciting things the students of St. Regis school are doing.

Energy independence and forest health

Montana Viewpoint

Smear campaigns, trust and the public good

The election season in Montana is off to a pretty rocky start, at least if civility matters to anyone. First the Montana primary election saw the “conservative” wing of the Republican Party defeat the “socialist” wing in a smear campaign pretty much unprecedented in my experience; then Republican State Representative John Sinrud took a shot at “environmental radicals and their pet politicians”, meaning Democrats. At least Sinrud was targeting the political opposition. I don’t recall reading of the Democrats eating their own, but just because it didn’t make the news doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation holds another successful banquet

The Sanders County chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation entertained a “sellout crowd” Saturday at their 18th annual banquet at the Sanders County Fair pavilion in Plains. The foundation’s banquet featured a live auction, silent auction, door prizes, raffles, dinner and beverages in their main fundraiser for the year.

Thanksgiving blessings

Heather Hasty

Hot Springs 'turns up the heat' on Hanna

Number of players available, or lack thereof, can have an adverse affect on a high school football team. Not so in Hot Springs’ 6-man season opener last Friday night against J.C. Charyk of Hanna, Alberta, Canada.

Getting through a rough patch

[This has nothing to do with Christmas (which I hope was wonderful) or New Years, (which I hope is great), but often at this time of year folks could stand a good laugh, which I hope this delivers.]