Championship comeback

For the first time ever softball teams in the west had a chance to prove their worth on the field before heading to state and it was Thompson Falls who came out on top bouncing back from a rough start to defeat Loyola 7-3 to be crowned Western B-C champs.

Hunting season sees average harvest

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reported checking 10,225 hunters with 837 harvested game animals at its three long-standing check stations in western Montana from opening day on Oct. 26 until the general big game hunting season ended Sunday afternoon.

Tennis girls finish regular season strong

The Superior tennis girls finished out the play of their regular season this last week. They played Fort Benton at home on Friday and then traveled to the Best of the West Tournament on Saturday in Missoula.

Legals August 14, 2019

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Requests Input for Proposed Timber Sales PUBLIC NOTICE The Plains Unit of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation is developing plans for two proposed timber sales. The first proposed sale would be known as the Sales Mine Timber Sale. This proposed sale is located approximately 36 air miles north of Plains, MT on the divide between the Elk Creek, Whitney Creek and Indian Creek drainages, Section 36, Township 26 North, Range 28 West. This sale is in the earliest stages of planning and would most likely involve seed tree and shelterwood harvests with ground and cable-based logging systems. This sale may require new and/or reconstruction of roads and would include some minor improvements on existing roads. This sale would likely sell in the fall of 2020 and is projected to generate approximately 3-4 million board feet of timber for the Common Schools Trust. The second, known as the Smiley Face Timber Sale, is located approximately 12 air miles north of Plains, MT, on the divide between the Todd Creek, Mudd Creek and Smiley Creek drainages, Sections 30 & 32, Township 22 North, Range 26 West. This sale is in the earliest stages of planning and would most likely involve seed tree and shelterwood harvests with ground and cable-based logging systems. This sale may require new and/or reconstruction of roads and would include some minor improvements on existing roads. This sale would likely sell in the spring of 2021 and is projected to generate approximately 3-4 million board feet of timber for the Common Schools Trust. These sales are being considered to generate revenue for the Common Schools Trust Fund, improve forest health by reducing the possibility of insect and disease activity, to reduce excessive fuel loading and the related risk of wildfire, and to reestablish and promote timber types historically found in these areas. These proposed harvests would contribute to the DNRC's sustained yield as mandated by state statute 77-5-222. As an adjacent landowner or interested party, we request your input regarding these projects. Your concerns and comments are needed to assist the DNRC in planning, analyzing, and implementing these projects. We would appreciate your response by October 31, 2019 so that we may incorporate it into our planning process. Please send comments to: DNRC Plains Unit, ATTN: Dale Peters, PO Box 219, Plains, MT 59859 or by email to dpeters@mt.gov or by phone at 406-826-4722 Please direct oral or written comments to: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation PO Box 219 Plains, Montana 59859 Attn: Dale Peters (406) 826-4722 E-mail: dpeters@mt.gov Published in the Clark Fork Valley Press on August 7 and August 14, 2019. MNAXLP

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.

Hot Spring boys ride hot streak into postseason

It’s always good to close the season on a roll, especially if you are heading into playoff territory.

COLUMN: On the road again

It was a stark and beautiful reminder of just how big Montana is.

UM study: Montanans share common love toward grizzly bears

For an animal whose population barely tops 2,000, Montana’s grizzly bears hold an outsized presence in the psyche and politics of the Treasure State.

Exerise and weight loss No. 1 New Year's Resolution

New Year’s Eve is steeped in several traditions. It’s a time to gather with families and friends and ring in the New Year with a celebration of food, drink, and rousing sing-along of “Auld Lang Syne.” It’s also a time to reflect on the events of the past year, and look at what the new year will bring. A part of looking forward is the tradition of having a New Year’s resolution. In which a person makes a promise to do an act of self-improvement or something slightly nice.

Hot Springs School Board discuss drug use and student rewards

Spotlight on grizzly bears and water rights; An update from Senator Jennifer Fielder

It is amazing how difficult it is to get government agencies to use unbiased scientific and legal information when it comes to land, water, and wildlife decisions. Certain science and law are being emphasized while other science and law are being ignored in what appear to be deliberate efforts to restrict people’s use of water and public lands.

Class of 64 reunites with a mission

PLAINS – After 50 years, the graduating class of 1964 was once again reunited, sparking old memories and sharing laughs of reflection, while brainstorming ways to better the P Hill.

Church on the Move members travel to help Fijians

PLAINS – Keeping to their name, the Church on the Move is once again on the go aiming to help those less fortunate around them.

Treasures abound at county yard sale

SANDERS COUNTY – Many say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. That saying proved true this weekend as the eighth annual Sanders County Yard Sale-ing event hit the county.

A look at the local economy - a four-part series

Chris Hoge estimates around 50 people have left the town of Noxon in the past few years. With the loss of the timber industry due in large part to the nationwide housing bust beginning in 2007 and a delay in the construction of the proposed Rock Creek Mine near Noxon, Sanders County saw a dramatic reduction in the amount of jobs available. And it has killed his business.

Panthers prepare to hit the track in spring meets

The dirty little secret on Sage Grouse

An update from Rep. Schwaderer

Savage Heat gear up for season

HOT SPRINGS – The sounds of whistles filled the air as cleats churned up turf during the final two-a-days session for the Hot Springs Savage Heat football team.

Lady Hawks serve it up

THOMPSON FALLS – The Lady Hawks Volleyball team started their first day of practice on Monday, August 19, discovering what their team is capable of.

Process begins to annex additional land