Dr. Karen LaRoe, 74

Dr. Karen LaRoe passed away on June 15, 2019. She was born on December 13, 1944, in her grandparent’s four-room farmhouse on Buck Creek, in Lawrence County, Ohio. Karen grew up as the cherished child and valued farmhand of Hershell and Ann Roach on their dairy farm just a half-mile down the road. Widowed at 23, with two young children and a high school diploma, Karen went on to earn a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. After serving at the Ohio State University, Fitchburg State University, and Montana State University Northern, Karen was appointed President of the West Virginia University Institute of Technology, just 90 miles from her parent’s farm. There, together with faculty, staff, and students, she led Tech to significant national recognition for academic rigor and value. She was a leader with a kind heart, an open and curious mind, enthusiastic optimism, and endless energy. Her guiding principle was, “A college is a place where we come together to debate one another’s ideas with love and respect.” May we all follow her lead. Karen retired with her husband to homes in St. Regis, Montana and Venice, Florida, where they enjoyed the frequent visits of family and friends for many years. Karen is survived by her children, Joseph West, Lee Ann West, and Steven LaRoe, her grandchildren, Amanda West and Joey West, her sister, Rena Snouffer, her brother, Keith Roach, an enormous extended family; and her husband, Lin Williams. Services will be held at the Trinity Baptist Church, a church her family and friends built, near Aid, Ohio, on June 29, at 2:00 p.m. Karen will be interred near her parents in the cemetery in Aid. Arrangements will be handled by the Phillips Funeral Home in Ironton, where visitation will occur from 5-7 p.m., Friday, June 28. Karen would tell you that she lived a wonderful life. Her childhood was nurturing and rich in the Appalachian traditions of family and community. Her adult life was full with the love of her family, her many treasured friends, her travels around the world, and her amazing career.

Scouts bake up a frenzy

Heather Hasty

St. Regis football players learn new game

Football season is a long way off, but players in St. Regis took to the field last week for a short, three-day camp. The football camp ran Monday, July 26 through Wednesday, July 28 for two hours each day from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the evenings.

Farewell, 2013: It wasn't all bad

It’s easy to say good riddance to 2013.

Election mail bag

Election mail bag

Local schools gear up for inaugural baseball season

As a coach, Rick Powers had no chance, or perhaps no choice.

'Don't give up,' says local cancer survivor

After eight months, Terri Decker’s husband, Mark Rimmer had lost his battle with leukemia. Then, one short year later, she was diagnosed with lymphoma.

Plains High School senior Paulsen wins Duck Stamp competition

Malachi Paulsen certainly has an “eye for art.” When he picks up a graphite, color or charcoal pencil, it seems like magical things happen.

View from above

Ninemile lookout has been watching out for Mineral and Missoula Count for 40 years

Unruly behavior at commission meetings

I am deeply concerned about what is happening in our county and more specifically, the behavior that is occurring at our Mineral County Commissioners’ meetings.

Plains Lions Club makes benches for kids' pool

Plains Lions Club member Marvin Tanner loaded eight hours of love into building some benches for moms and dads to enjoy while at the kids pool in Plains.

Tourism conference to include Road to Buffalo project

Local group Women for a Better Sanders County recently secured an invite to present their project Road to the Buffalo at the upcoming Governor’s Conference on Tourism and Recreation this month.

Mineral County Chamber of Commerce Briefs

Terrell J. Monfort, 79

Terrell J Monfort. 79, also known as TJ, passed away Aug. 3, 2019, in Plains, Montana.

Scotchman Peaks Wilderness program coordinator retires

Sandy Compton finds sacred ground in stone cathedrals carved by glaciers, in landscapes of cirques and tarns and scree. Hymns in this wild country rely on prolonged notes of silence punctuated by birdsong, by the gurgle of clear-running streams and, in season, by the bugling of bull elk.

Tom Harmon inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame

Tom Harmon at about age 4 was given a brown sawdust stuffed horse on wheels from his grandfather and at age 14 he broke his first colt.

Peaceful protest offers counterpoint to Trump rally

Before Air Force One touched down at the Missoula airport for a historic visit from President Donald Trump on Oct. 18, a “Love Trumps Hate” protest rally took place in Missoula.

Bison Range marks annual Migratory Bird Day

Plains Hospital achieves baby-friendly designation

Clark Fork Valley Hospital is proud to announce that it has achieved the highly prestigious international baby-friendly designation after a rigorous review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA, the organization responsible for bestowing this certification in the United States.

Plains Trotters host awards ceremony