Sanders County celebrates July 4

Independence Day 2018 was a county-wide party as locals converged on a number of events to celebrate the birthday of this great nation.

District Ranger Johnson and West Zone Team recognized for work

The second annual Montana Counties Forest Summit was held in early May, where two awards were presented to Mineral County nominees. One went to Superior District Ranger Carole Johnson, and the other to the West Zone NEPA Team.

Candidate: I-185 initiative deserves your support

I-185, the Healthy Montana Initiative, was submitted statewide to all Montana counties’ Clerk & Recorders Offices on Friday, June 22, 2018, with more than 42,000 signatures, and those signatures are now in the process of being verified. Since only 25,468 signatures were needed with a sufficient number from each of a minimum of 34 house districts, it is very likely that the initiative will be accepted and then placed on this fall’s ballot at the general election.

Hospital welcomes McNeese as interim CEO

Mineral Community Hospital welcomed interim Chief Executive Officer Steve McNeese to their team last week.

Superior home gets a new paint job, thanks to local volunteers

Last week around 20 people showed up at an old house for a party in Superior. But this was no ordinary party, it was actually a painting party arranged by the United Methodist Women’s group. They decided to start an annual mission project to paint a house a year in Superior.

This date in history

Bumper crop: Morel mushroom picking season ending

Alongside Quartz Creek Road at the Tarkio exit, a small table covered by a white canopy was set up next to a refrigerated truck. A sign with purple and pink letters reads, “Mushroom Buyer Jessica.” Jessica Cruz, along with her sons Timo, 16, and Lucas, 11, and her Asian partner simply referred to as “Q,” sit in lawn chairs - waiting for pickers to show up with baskets full of morel mushrooms.

'The crown jewel of all trail-rail adventures'

Tunnel 20 is an ominous, dark hole that swallows up bikers for 1.8 miles and is called the Taft Tunnel. It’s one of eight tunnels that stretch along the 15-mile Route of the Hiawatha bike trail. The sound of bikers echo off the cement walls that drip with water, and the air is cold and damp. There is a crown in the center of the tunnel, and ditches along the sides needed to drain water that runs at 3,000 gallons per minute.

Crews working on railroad to improve safety in county

“I’ve been working on the railroad. All the live long day, I’ve been working on the railroad, Just to pass the time away.”

Mineral Community Hospital welcomes physical therapist

Mineral Community Hospital has a new physical therapist, Renee Gibson. She is from Missoula, and has 15 years of clinical experience providing strong manual-based orthopedic skills.

Kunzer Memorial ATA Shoot a success for local Trap Club

Fifteen squads registered for the recent Tom Kunzer Memorial Firecracker at the Plains Trap Club grounds over the weekend.

Public comment sought for Sheep Gap Salvage Project

Plains residents and those surrounding Plains are being encouraged to attend a public comment which is now being accepted on the Sheep Gap Fire Salvage Project Environmental Assessment (EA) being put on by the US Forest Service.

Groups band together to help reforest Sunrise burn area

Looking over the terrain of Sunrise Mountain swaths of black tree stands are a stark reminder of the wildfire that ravaged the area last summer. The fire chewed through 27,000 acres which was primarily Lolo National Forest Land. The area is a mix of conifer forest on steep mountainous terrain and affected a number of drainages including Trout, Cougar, Verde, Sunrise, Meadow, and Quartz Creeks.

Super Saturday not dampened by drizzly sky

A wet Saturday didn’t dampen people’s enthusiasm as a number of events took place throughout Mineral County. From yards sales to tournaments, people braved the chilly weather with frequent rain showers to get together and enjoy some community activities.

Curtin leaves car show on a high note

It was another record breaker for the annual Old Schoolhouse Rock Car show, something which committee chairman Mike Curtin can be proud of as he announced his retirement from the event during the show on Saturday.

Clark Fork Cougs get ready for a second half run

Clark Fork Cougs’ manager Shawn Sorenson and his coaching staff are continuing the process of building a program.

Doug Browning takes the reins as new DNRC fire supervisor

The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation just officially welcomed the new fire supervisor Doug Browning into the position.

Water levels expected to drop at Thompson Falls Reservoir

Northwestern Energy are advising recreation water users to be cautious, remove docks and boats as reservoir levels at Thompson Falls are set to drop.

Local team takes the win at Hack and Blast

Spring not only brings the warm weather and sunshine, it also brings the annual Hack and Blast to the Plains Trap Club.

Fire department get some 'sweet' donations

The Plains-Paradise Rural Fire Department recently had a small fundraiser to help sweeten up their Junior Firefighter Scholarship Fund.