COLUMN: Braving the elements

So, it appears I learned a big lesson this spring sports season.

Town council discusses possible rate increase

PLAINS – Water and sewer rates were high on the list of topics during the monthly Plains Town Council meeting. A presentation from Montana Rural Water took up most of the meeting and a combined rate increase of $12 to $14 was discussed.

Fire chiefs clean up icky situation at Tarkio

One hopes that this was an accident, but nonetheless the responsible party should have made an attempt to clean it up.

Legals March 27, 2019

LEGAL NOTICE Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is recommending that the Fish and Wildlife Commission approve the amendment to the Thompson-Fisher Conservation Easement (EA) which would remove 1.63 acres of developed land and replace it with 5 acres of undeveloped, upland and riparian habitat along the Little Thompson River as proposed in Alternative B, the Proposed Action, of the environmental assessment (EA). FWP released the draft EA for public comment from February 13 through March 15, 2019. Four comments were received and only one issue was raised which was to improve the detail of the map for the parcels being removed from the conservation easement. An appendix with more detailed maps was added to the EA document. The proposed land exchange and accompanying CE amendment will resolve an encroachment issue on the CE land. The developed land on the CE involves seven different parcels of State School Trust Land managed by DNRC. Each parcel is adjacent to the conservation easement and lies within the Thompson River valley. The DNRC parcels are leased for cabin sites and they include various structures or other improvements that encroach onto the CE. Weyerhaeuser has agreed to remove the 1.63 acres of developed land from the easement and add 5 acres of undeveloped land which is adjacent to existing CE land, for a net gain to the easement property of 3.37 acres. The 5-acre parcel to be added to the CE is currently managed by Weyerhaeuser as forestland and this proposal will ensure that it will be managed in the same manner in the future. No immediate changes in land use would occur because of this amendment either on the land removed from or added to the CE. No money would be exchanged to complete the proposed amendment. Copies of the decision notice are available at the FWP office, 490 N. Meridian Rd., Kalispell; Montana State Library, 1515 E 6th Ave., Helena; FWP State Headquarters, 1420 E 6th Ave., Helena; the FWP website at http://fwp.mt.gov/news/publicNotices/decisionNotices/; and available for viewing at local libraries. If you have any questions regarding this project or the draft environmental assessment, please contact Kris Tempel at ktempel@mt.gov or via phone at (406) 751-4573. Published in the Clark Fork Valley Press on March 27, 2019. MNAXLP

Plains Council won't support revote on road levy

Plains Town Council at its April meeting unanimously voted to delay a road district ballot levy scheduled for this year.

Thompson Falls event gets kids ready for summer biking

No one would likely have anything bad to say about a government-hosted event that actually benefits children in a really good way.

Opening of Rock Creek mine moving forward

Two representatives from Revett Minerals Inc. gave a presentation Wednesday in Thompson Falls as to the status of the Rock Creek Mine they plan to open in north Sanders County, saying they only want to be “good neighbors and part of the community.” Part of their contribution to the community will be the addition of about 300 new jobs.

Racers stride it out at Clark Fork Adventure Challenge

The third annual Clark Fork Adventure Challenge was seen as a huge success for organizers as numbers doubled for entries on Sunday at the Sanders County Fairgrounds.

Trotters start season with two wins 57-25 and 41-38

Bills to combat benefit fraud

Combating benefit fraud frees up resources for those in need

Republicans need to step up in Montana

Editor:

Plains wrestlers do well at Choteau Tournament

PLAINS – The Plains/Hot Springs wrestling team went to Choteau and came back placing three kids in a tough competition.

Look out Lookout: Superior kids hit the slopes

SUPERIOR – As winter begins to wind down, fifth and sixth graders from Superior Elementary School got an extra day of fun in the snow as their classes took a field trip to the Lookout Pass Ski Resort, Tuesday, January 21.

Retired fire truck finds new home

It can be hard to determine the value of a used fire truck. With their use being much more than a normal vehicle, fire trucks typically can lose half of their monetary value within the first five to seven years of use according to an article found on Fire Trucks Plus Web site. However, it might be even harder to determine the value of one "retired" fire truck from the fleet of Superior's volunteer fire department.

Diabetic walk and run

New committee seeks to bring awareness to diabetes and provide support for those living with the condition

A dose of fashion and wine in Plains

Danielle Switalski

Stand Down draws masses

PLAINS – The first-ever Veterans Stand Down in Sanders County was received by veterans near and far in numbers close to 1,000 that marked it a great success for volunteers and organizers looking to honor and aid those who have served.

Numbers for archery season are holding strong, improving

SANDERS COUNTY – With archery season only ten days away, hunters are out scouting their favorite spots, practicing their calls and making sure their bow is on point, in hopes of finding that prize winning six-point bull to bring home.

Sanders County Sheriff's Report

The following incidents are from the Sanders County Sheriffs official report

Facebook post warns of man suspected of DirectTV Scam

Last week there was a post on Facebook warning neighbors to be on the lookout for a man who was posing as a Dish ad DirectTV employee. Reports indicate that he was going door-to-door in the neighborhoods of Alberton and Superior, telling people that he could give them a better rate on their satellite services.