Softball tournament organizer Heimbigner steps down after 25 years

After 25 year, Steve Heimbigner, is hanging up his cleats and stepping down as the organizer for the annual S&S Foods and Nugget Lounge Softball Tournament held on July 20-22.

Trout Creek stars shine throughout night

TROUT CREEK – Singing, dancing and magic tricks were just some of the skills displayed at the second annual Trout Creek After School Talent Show on Thursday, March 20. The stars of Trout Creek School took to the stage to show off their talents and in the process, the kids managed to wow the crowd.

Savage Heat top Titans

HOT SPRINGS – The Hot Springs Savage Heat football team got their season off on the right foot last Saturday routing the visiting Tri-City Titans.

NorthWestern highlights benefits of dam purchase

Alumni game stirs up competition

HOT SPRINGS – Students and adults of all ages raced from one side of the basketball court to the other in two competitive basketball games, as Hot Springs held its annual alumni competition.

CFVH receives grant for better health

PLAINS - Clark Fork Valley Hospital partnered with the Frontier Medicine Better Health Partnership through a grant to improve healthcare in Sanders County. The grant funding was made possible by the federal Affordable Care Act, the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Innovation which provided $1 billion in grant funding to projects that would aim to improve health outcomes and care and increase efficiencies while lowering total healthcare expenditures. There were over 3,000 applicants who applied for the funds and of them 700 were approved. The Frontier Medicine Better Health Partnership is comprised of 25 critical access hospitals throughout the state of Montana including CFVH.

West Mullan Fire Day 6: Fire blazes at 4,550 acres

SUPERIOR – The mandatory evacuation of several areas in Mineral County were lifted Friday after the West Mullan Fire forced many to leave their homes earlier this week.

Plains H.S. student teams up with local artist

When an aspiring, talented young artist joins forces with a talented, experienced artist good things can happen.

Baskets for those in need

Roger Kesting has been helping the Lions Cub distribute food baskets since he came to the area in 1981. Back then, no more than 15 baskets were distributed to needy families in the areas. As the numbers started to grow, the Women and Timber also became a part of the effort to put together and deliver food baskets to needy families.

Fire danger reaches extreme conditions

SANDERS COUNTY- With the official fire danger level set to “extreme,” emergency services throughout Sanders County are on high alert and taking additional measures to respond in the case of a wildfire. At the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation facility in Plains, two helicopters were on stand-by last week to respond should the need arise.

Yard sales take over Sanders County

SANDERS COUNTY – Trucks, trailers and cars could be spotted loaded to the brim with bargains and great deals during the county-wide yard saleing event.

Clark Fork wrestlers begin season victorious

After weeks of schedule changes and Covid-related issues, the Clark Fork Mountain Cats wrestlers...

Feds complete transfer of Bison Range to CSKT

The federal wildlife refuge carved from the center of the Flathead Reservation more than a century ago was returned to tribal control under bipartisan legislation that Congress passed in December.

Blue Hawks earn all-state honors

Good news and bad news for the Thompson Falls girls and boys basketball team.

Thank you, firefighters

On Sunday, July 14, 2017, lightening struck and the Sunrise Fire took off down the mountain and then continued to burn throughout several drainages (including Sunrise, Verde Creek, Quartz Creek, and finally into the Trout Creek area), forcing many families to evacuate their homes.

Wolf season closes

SANDERS COUNTY – The state’s hunting season for wolves came to a close last weekend in Sanders County, officially closing on Sunday, March 15.

Bison range preps for summer season

DIXON- In the eastern portion of Sanders County on the border with neighboring Lake County the National Bison Range is prepping for the busy summer season ahead.

Obituary; Ruth Poppleton Winkler

Ruth Poppleton Winkler passed away on August 5, 2015, after 5 years of battling cancer. She was born in Tremonton, Utah and moved to Sanders County with her family in 1987.  She was known locally for her volunteer work, teaching music and drama for over 25 years at Paradise Grade School. She co-founded the Plains-Paradise Players to perpetuate this service throughout the community  

County e-waste pick up

THOMPSON FALLS – Trucks were loaded with recyclable e-waste last week as the county took part in an effort to repurpose the used items.

Reading month kicks off in Plains

The month of February is, “I Love to Read Month,” at the Plains Elementary School. Throughout the month activities will be held at the elementary school to promote reading, which the school sees as a means to furthering a child’s knowledge, imagination and self development.