Trail runners take on grueling course at St. Regis

The 2023 Trail Rail Run along the Route of the Olympian from Mullan, Idaho to St. Regis took place on June 17.

Cox, Iversen win primary

Republican Tony Cox and Democrat Cindy Iversen both claimed victories in the race for District 3 County Commissioner in last Tuesday’s primary.

Two Superior Little Guys take first

A wrestler didn't have to make it to the championship round or even place in the top four spots to celebrate. Such was the case for Superior Bobcat Tyler Wharry, who competed in the 125-pound junior high class, and claimed his first victory of the year. Immediately following his triumph, Wharry cheered, jumped in jubilation, and gleefully shook the hand of Superior assistant coach Gary Tourtelotte. The eighth-grader won his match against Frenchtown Bronc Colby Hagen 14-0.

Three file for Justice of the Peace

What was once a one-horse race has become a competitive sprint as three candidates are now making the mad-dash to become the next Sanders County Justice of the Peace.

St. Regis, Superior students receive safety gear

More than 1,800 Montana high school students in construction trade and industry classes at 17 different schools will be that much safer this school year through Montana State Fund’s Growing a Safer Montana equipment grants program, including St. Regis and Superior high schools.

Whipped Up serves good, old-fashioned meals

“Making every day delicious!” is inscribed on the new signs posted outside the Whipped Up Cafe in Superior. The signs are accurate if a person is in the mood for good, old fashioned comfort food like grandma used to make.

Annual MT West Dentist Free Dental Day a success

MT West Dentist once again held their annual free dental day in Plains, and people came out in droves to take advantage.

Our readers, our eclipse

On Aug. 21, people gathered in town parks, neighborhoods and on mountain tops to witness one of nature’s biggest phenomenon, the eclipse of the sun. One has not been seen in North America since 1979 and it was the first time that the path of totality crossed the entire continental United States since 1918.

Blackfoot offering more bandwidth and lower rates in Mineral County

Blackfoot Telecommun-ications is now offering better internet services at lower prices to Mineral County customers.

It's always 'Sunny' at Alberton school, thanks to therapy dog

Meet Sunny, a 5-year-old golden Labrador retriever who, like her namesake, brings warmth and happiness to students and staff at Alberton School. Her owner is Alberton music teacher Mike Wolfe, who started bringing her to school earlier this year, and it’s been a love affair with the students ever since.

An Alberton tradition

Stella’s delicous dinner enjoyed at Catholic church for 19th year

It may have been a rainy, cold autumn day but inside the St. Albert the Great Catholic Church in Alberton, the room was warm and full of cheer. Oct. 28 was Stella’s 19th Annual Harvest Dinner and people from all over Mineral County, Frenchtown and even Missoula, came down to enjoy a hot turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

Still no deal to reopen Mineral County detention center

Following attempts to reopen the Mineral County jail with help from a nonprofit private corporation, the detention center will remain closed when both failed to reach an agreement.

Court decision gives hope to proposed Hecla Mines

May 30, 2017 saw the District Court in Missoula rule in line of conservation groups to put a hold on the proposed Hecla Mines in Sanders and Lincoln Counties.

Local Alberton man reaches the big screen

ALBERTON – A Mineral County resident recently reached new career heights as a film he worked on premiered across the state.

Update from Rep. Ingraham

With the passing of time, I thought I should update you on how things were progressing for the State Administration & Veterans Affairs (SAVA) Committee since their first meeting that was held on July 11.

FWP offers reminders for wolf trapping season

With Saturday’s opening of Montana’s first wolf trapping season Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks offers important reminders for trappers and all winter recreationists.

The EMT shortage in Superior is nothing new

When Anita Parkin was substitute teaching at Superior High School on a Wednesday morning, she got a call on her pager from the 911 dispatcher for a medical emergency. She either had to abandon her class and hurry to the Superior Area Ambulance Service or deny the call. She opted to deny the call, but only because her co-worker, Life Science teacher Beau Servo, decided he would abandon his class of three to take it. Parkin worked to consolidate the classes while Servo fled the school to respond to the medical emergency. “The other teachers help out, but we can’t get away sometimes,” Parkin said. Scenarios like this happen often in Superior, where there are around nine active Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) who regularly respond to emergencies. “There’s a core group of us, we all have pagers and it’s basically whoever answers,” Parkin said. Parkin has been an EMT for 43 years and is the vice chair of the Superior Area Ambulance Service. She said the ambulance always struggles with EMT shortages because they are all volunteers and most already have other jobs. She says volunteers are generally not as committed as paid EMTs. “Sometimes people get off work to go (on calls),” Parkin says. “It makes life interesting.” She says there are about six EMTs who always wear their pager. Ideally three EMT’s should respond to a call, but sometimes only two are able to go. The state realizes Superior is rural, so they allow fewer responders than they would in a more populated area. Parkin says the ambulance will sometimes pick up EMTs in St. Regis or the West End if they don’t have enough responders in Superior. “It’s kind of an interesting thing, I don’t know too many other places that do it this way,” Parkin said. Superior’s ambulance was affiliated with Superior Volunteer Fire Department, but they separated in the last 20 years. The Ambulance Service is a nonprofit and the county gives them two mills every year which equals to $10,000 each. This also qualifies the service for grants. “We always need a new ambulance or something, we just built a new ambulance station and we do all the maintenance and shoveling,” Parkin said. Parkin teaches an EMT class in Superior every few years, and she recently finished one where six students finished. 12 students were initially enrolled and half of them dropped out after realizing how much work it entailed. Parkin says Superior will only gain one EMT out of this class if she passes the exam. For now, the Superior Area Ambulance Service makes do with their EMT shortage. “If we don’t have EMTs and respond to calls, they’ll have to wait for somebody from Missoula or Plains,” Parkin said. “We’ve made sure that doesn’t happen.”

Occupational Therapist adds depth to services offered at Clark Fork Valley Hospital

Clark Fork Valley Hospital (CFVH) welcomes the addition of Mary Russell, Occupational Therapist (OT), to their team of healthcare  providers.  As an OT, Russell works with patients to regain basic motor functions and reasoning skills when an injury, illness or medical condition affects their physical or mental abilities.

Plains flying high

Boys and girls sweep County Meet, Thompson dominates at Kalispell Plains Track

With two days before the District Track meet in Bigfork senior Trent Thompson is throwing the best he has all season. After making news last week for breaking Plain's shot put record the senior went to the most competitive meet of the season, Archie Roe in Kalispell, and came away with two first place finishes in the shot put and discus and grabbed a personal record in the javelin.

Airport to receive boost

The BitterRoot Economic Development District, Inc (BREDD), the federally designated economic development district for Western Montana Region covering Ravalli, Mineral, and Missoula counties, was awarded $627,000 of grant money from a U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to help communities in Montana create jobs and boost local economies.