Letters to the Editor - Oct. 23

Lady Savage Heat look to keep winning

HOT SPRINGS – The Hot Springs Lady Savage Heat were able to pick up a win against Superior Saturday in four sets 25-23,25-18,15-25,25-15.

Buckle Up says Mineral County teens have the power to reduce crash rates

The report from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm measured a 47 percent decline in teen driver-related fatalities over the past six years. Still, risky behaviors -- such as texting or emailing while driving, driving after drinking, and low seat belt use -- remain serious problems, and experts see specific opportunities to “apply the gas” to these common factors in crashes involving teen drivers. “When you see the needle move, as we have in this report, it’s time to apply the gas on programs that encourage safe teen passenger behaviors, as well as those that address what causes teens to crash.”

School garden grows strong

DIXON — Teeming with greenery and kids bearing armfuls of fresh vegetables, the garden outside of Dixon Elementary School has yielded far more than simply a strong harvest in its inaugural growing season. Besides produce, the plot of land has also proved to be fertile ground for hands-on instruction on gardening and broader lessons about the importance of good nutrition and eating locally-grown food.

Homecoming week takes over Thompson Falls

THOMPSON FALLS – The festivities surrounding the 2013 Thompson Falls High School Homecoming kicked off on Thursday as the community gathered at the football field to watch students square off during the annual Olympic games.

Discussion had on locked gate in Lozeau area

Extra chairs were needed in the commissioners’ conference room on Friday due to the increased public interest in a gate that was recently placed across the Cyr Iron Mountain Road in Lozeau and promptly locked – preventing public access.

Local artist receives achievement award for poem

PLAINS – The Plains Woman’s Club recognized a local artist at their annual luncheon on Thursday at the United Methodist Church. Recent Plains High School graduate Rachel Ibarra was awarded a certificate of achievement for her poem entitled “Tin Man” that took first place in a statewide competition.

Letters to the Editor - Sept. 25

National Bison Range offers free day

SANDERS COUNTY - Need an excuse getting outside and enjoying the fall weather? Want to hear elk bugling and see geese migrating? Your chance is coming up on Saturday, September 28 as the National Bison Range in Sanders County celebrates National Public Lands Day. Many federal lands throughout the nation will be waiving fees for the day, as will the Bison Range. So come visit us for free on September 28.

A quiet place filled with stories: The Red Lion Project

Tom Logan gets into a pickup truck and begins to drive away from Lozeau Lodge. After passing under Interstate 90 he makes a quick right turn and begins to head up a dirt trail that gets steeper and smaller each minute.

Sanders County trappers must register

SANDERS COUNTY - Trappers: special permission is required to trap on DNRC and on Plum Creek Lands in Northwest Montana. For DNRC (school trust lands) trappers must obtain a free license by September 30. For Plum Creek Lands, trappers must identify which lands they wish to trap at the FWP headquarters on North Meridian Road. Here are the details:

Mineral County Library offers hunting resources

As if you didn’t know--hunting season is here!

Read a Banned Book

Banned and Challenged Classics

MCSO arrests pair for possession of explosives

On Sept. 4, Mineral County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Melissa Crane was dispatched to 403 2nd Ave. in Superior in response to a report of a small explosion heard in the area.

Elsie Mero Dondanville

Elsie Mero Dondanville passed away Sunday, September 8, 2013 at Hot Springs Health and Rehab. She was born September 15, 1911 at the farm home south of Kalispell, MT. She attended Demersville Grade School, and Flathead County High School graduating from the Normal Training Course in 1929. She began her teaching career at Trail Creek in Flathead County on her 18th birthday in 1929. The next year she taught at South Devon in Toole County. She attended Normal College at Dillon, MT (Western Montana College) graduating with an elementary lifetime certificate. She taught in the rural schools of Flathead County at Brocken, Demersville and Hodgson.

Bobcats open with a shootout

Prior to Saturday’s season opener against Charlo, Head Coach Allen Labbe said the game would serve as an indicator of where his team was at and what they would need to work on as the season progressed.

Deputy Balenger incident files released

After a nine-month paid leave that began on Oct. 3, during which $44,849.54 in public funds were used to pay for the salary of Mineral County Deputy Jim Balenger as well as insurance, taxes and other costs and Montana Department of Criminal Investigations Agent Kevin McCarvel conducted an investigation at the request of County Attorney Marcia Boris, Dept. Balenger returned to active duty.

Haircut-a-thon raises money for student needs

PLAINS- Counselors for Plains Schools held the first annual “Haircut-a-Thon” fundraiser on Monday to help residents trim back their locks and raise money for the counseling program. Organizers said they were pleased with the turnout as people waited in line for a new look before school starts.

Huckleberry Festival in Trout Creek

TROUT CREEK- Thousands of people flocked to the small lakeside community of Trout Creek over the weekend for the 34th annual Huckleberry Festival. While the huckleberry may be the state fruit of Idaho, the plant is celebrated in Sanders County with a festival that draws vendors and crowds from around the region.

Letters to the Editor - Aug. 7

My son and I live in San Francisco and come up here for the summer to visit family. Back home, I have had the hardest time helping my son learn to swim! The lessons are incredibly expensive and there are long waiting lists for classes. Well, I signed him up for lessons at the pool in Plains and it has been an amazing experience! I am so grateful to Laurel and her team for their patience and consistency. They are great instructors, and after one week, my boy is swimming with all the other fishes. Thank you so much!