Dr. Karen LaRoe, 74

Dr. Karen LaRoe passed away on June 15, 2019. She was born on December 13, 1944, in her grandparent’s four-room farmhouse on Buck Creek, in Lawrence County, Ohio. Karen grew up as the cherished child and valued farmhand of Hershell and Ann Roach on their dairy farm just a half-mile down the road. Widowed at 23, with two young children and a high school diploma, Karen went on to earn a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. After serving at the Ohio State University, Fitchburg State University, and Montana State University Northern, Karen was appointed President of the West Virginia University Institute of Technology, just 90 miles from her parent’s farm. There, together with faculty, staff, and students, she led Tech to significant national recognition for academic rigor and value. She was a leader with a kind heart, an open and curious mind, enthusiastic optimism, and endless energy. Her guiding principle was, “A college is a place where we come together to debate one another’s ideas with love and respect.” May we all follow her lead. Karen retired with her husband to homes in St. Regis, Montana and Venice, Florida, where they enjoyed the frequent visits of family and friends for many years. Karen is survived by her children, Joseph West, Lee Ann West, and Steven LaRoe, her grandchildren, Amanda West and Joey West, her sister, Rena Snouffer, her brother, Keith Roach, an enormous extended family; and her husband, Lin Williams. Services will be held at the Trinity Baptist Church, a church her family and friends built, near Aid, Ohio, on June 29, at 2:00 p.m. Karen will be interred near her parents in the cemetery in Aid. Arrangements will be handled by the Phillips Funeral Home in Ironton, where visitation will occur from 5-7 p.m., Friday, June 28. Karen would tell you that she lived a wonderful life. Her childhood was nurturing and rich in the Appalachian traditions of family and community. Her adult life was full with the love of her family, her many treasured friends, her travels around the world, and her amazing career.

Plains/Hot Springs brings seasoned team with lots of depth to diamond

When divisional tournament time rolls around the first weekend of May, probably no one will want to face the Plains/Hot Springs softball team.

Plains sixth-grader Ducept headed for Treasure State Spelling Bee

Plains Schools sixth-grader Kaitlyn Ducept emerged as the repeat champion of the 2019 Sanders County Spelling Bee held Friday, March 1 at the Sanders County Courthouse.

Facts about HB 2

This past Tuesday, the Montana House of Representatives passed House Bill 2, which will eventually serve as the state’s budget for the next two years. Creation of a balanced budget is the one constitutional duty of the Legislature and it is a responsibility my Republican colleagues and I take very seriously.

Little guy wrestlers have good showing at state

The Superior Bobcat Little Guy wrestlers took 17 wresters to Columbia Falls on Saturday for the Western Montana State Championships and seven of those kids placed.

Training aimed at curbing underage drinking

Sixteen employees in Mineral County that serve alcohol at bars, casinos, convenience and grocery stores or the state liquor store attend RASS Training in Alberton at the Rivers Edge Restaurant. Steve Schmidt, with Drive Safe Missoula with the Missoula Health Department was the instructor. Responsible Alcohol Sales and Service training is strongly recommended as it helps curb underage drinking and from alcohol salespeople and stores from being fined. For the next class later this summer, contact Anna Schreck ataschreck@wmmhc.org.

Gianforte is Republican nominee in special congressional election

Members of the Mineral County Republican party central committee were at the convention in Helena when businessman Greg Gianforte was chosen as the Montana Republican nominee for the special congressional election in May.

Plains JMG students take top honors

Jobs for Montana’s Graduates students at Plains High School recently returned from the state competition with a number of first-place awards.

Softball girls take third

The Plains Trotters placed third at the State BC tournament last week. The girls worked their way up from one of the lowest seeds in the tournament to finish in the top three. 

American Legion burns down

Deputy State Fire Marshal Pat Clinch assesses the scene at the American Legion after the post burned down early Wednesday morning. The investigation of the cause of the fire is ongoing. 

Hot Springs reaches second round of state playoffs

CSKT tribal leaders ratify water compact

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes ratified their water compact...

Wolf hunting, trapping proposals making progress

Hunters and trappers who kill wolves in Montana could be reimbursed...

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.

Study says there are too few homes for growing population

The rub, Horowitz said, is that Montana’s population increased by 10% between 2010 and 2020, according to U.S. census data, while the number of housing units in the state grew by only 7%.

Sanders County poacher still wanted on bear-baiting charges

Montana wildlife officials say a man who writes a muzzleloader hunting blog remains wanted on several Sanders County warrants for allegedly killing a third black bear over bait in the state.

Didn't come up with the same planning board results

I read Ron Olfert’s letter in the May 1st Ledger and, after reading what Ron wrote, decided to read Title 76 of Montana Code Annotated. I find it strange that I did not come away with the same understanding of a growth policy that Ron presented in his letter. For instance, Ron states “… a growth policy must be implemented. The implementation document is the zoning law …”   76.1.601(3)(f) states a growth policy must include an implementation strategy that includes: (i) a timetable for implementing the growth policy; (ii) a list of conditions that will lead to the revision of the growth policy; and (iii) a timetable for reviewing the growth policy at least once every five years and revising the policy if necessary. But 76-1-601(2) states: “The extent to which a growth policy addresses the elements listed in subsection (3) is at the full discretion of the governing body.” This means (3)(f), the implementation strategy, doesn’t have to be considered by the governing body.

Musician Quist wins Democratic nomination for U.S. House

HELENA — Musician and political newcomer Rob Quist on Sunday captured the Democratic nomination for the May 25 special election to fill the state’s only congressional seat.

Bills would help Montana's students

Jim Stipcich, president/CEO Student Assistance Foundation

Superior-Alberton's Comeback Kids

Superior High School senior’s Hillary Stevens and Myranda Kuhl had their first experience playing doubles tennis together at the state tournament freshman year.