New program helps adults and kids connect earlier in life

Fireman's Ball drew diners and dancers

Over two hundred people attended the third annual Fireman’s Ball, hosted by the Plains Volunteer Fire Department last Saturday night at the V.F.W.

Two win at top 10 track meet

Two county track stars proved they could not only compete with the best track athletes western Montana has to offer, but they could also beat them.

Prescribed burns conducted throughout Sanders County

SANDERS COUNTY – Smoke filled the air in several portions of Sanders County last week as a series of prescribed burning operations were conducted.

Wind accelerates fire, spreads through Trout Creek

Superior native brings nature to life in art work

For Tempe Regan, self-proclaimed nature artist it was while exploring one stone...

Garcia Loop county road debate continues

SUPERIOR – A continuing debate came before the Mineral County Commissioners during their weekly meeting as they discussed whether part of Garcia Loop was considered a county road. During the public comment period of the meeting, Mike and Judith Birr came to discuss the maintenance of the road onto their land. They were supposed to appear at the commissioner’s meeting last week but were unable to come. When the Birrs bought the land the road to get onto it belonged to the county and featured a railroad crossing. The railroad later moved the crossing and the original road became inaccessible. A new road, which was not recognized by the county, had to be constructed by the Birrs to get onto the land. When the landowners tried to take out a loan the bank refused because they were living on inaccessible land. They requested the land be declared a county road so the loan could be drawn. Duane Simons, commissioner of the county’s west end, was one of the commissioners at the time and said he remembered the agreement. As he remembered it, they agreed to adopt the road in name only. While it would be considered a county road the county would have no responsibility to maintain it. Simons felt the commissioners were doing the Birrs a favor by making the declaration. Judith disagreed and said she had not seen the county’s adoption of the road as a favor. She argued the road did not belong to her either and anyone could use it freely. When they argued for the road to be adopted by the county the Birrs presented evidence to support the idea it was publically accessible. Judith said she and her husband had spent $20,000 in attorney fees over two years to research the road laws. They also tried to negotiate with the railroad to find a solution. With no evidence to suggest the road was exclusively theirs she felt it was public and therefore belonged to the county. Because of this she thought the county should be responsible for maintaining it. “There was no explanation that made any sense and your county planner had ample opportunity, so did Rail Link, so did BNSF, so did any neighbor around there, to submit evidence that it was not public roadway,” Judith continued. “They didn’t do it, they didn’t do it at all.” Judith felt it was wrong for the county to suddenly stop caring for the road. As she saw it, the county had cared for it for 65 years, during which, several members of her family lived on the land. She felt it was not good for the county to suddenly drop the road after so many years of maintaining access to the land. Judith said she took the county’s refusal to plow the road personally. She felt there was more of a risk of fires on her street. Despite this, the other side got plowed while her road was inaccessible to emergency vehicles. Because the meeting was not on the regular agenda, Laurie Johnston, commissioner of the county’s central area, said they were unable to make a decision. It was also noted the county could only afford to plow so many roads with their budget and may need to abandon more roads in the future. Judith disagreed with this argument, saying the cutoff was very precise and it would not be a significant expense to do their road at the same time as others. Simons said it might help the commissioners understand the situation better if they saw the area in question. Mike and Judith said it was hard for them to get work off at the same time. It was also a big sacrifice for them to take the time off to go to a meeting. Because of the challenges in arranging everyone’s schedules, it was suggested the commissioners and the Birrs discuss the issue more over the phone. This way, anyone who could not make it in person could still be involved. The commissioners and the Birrs agreed to schedule a more official meeting to discuss the issue in the future. In the meantime, the commissioners plan to do more research into the issue to figure out all the options and concerns.

Software aids in fire training in Superior

SUPERIOR – Firefighters with the Superior Volunteer Fire Department could be better prepared for the next structure fire after they recently received sophisticated, new computer software that simulates fire conditions using photos of actual structures in the community.

Plains hoopers conclude regular seasons

Going into the final game of a season in which your team has yet to enter the win column, playing a traditional B/C powerhouse is perhaps a fitting way to wrap things up.

Montana Aussie Adventures with Erin-Jay

“Take me out to the ball game, take me out with the crowd, Buy me some peanuts and crackerjack, I don’t care if I never get back...”

Mountain Cats rout Arlee Warriors, 50-14

The Mountain Cats put it all together Friday afternoon as they blew past Arlee 50-14 on the Warriors home field.

Hospital receives $400,000 grant for diagnostic tool

Across from the front door lobby at Mineral Community Hospital, there’s a room with an ominous yellow warning sign with red letters which reads, “Caution: Do Not Open, Radiation Area”. What’s behind that closed door is a large donut shaped machine with a gurney-style bed called a “scanning couch”.

Fundraiser benefits Plains softball program

One of the great things about small-town living, most folks agree, is the generosity and hospitality that is often in abundance.

Sanders County Commissioners activate emergency fund

The Sanders County Commissioners invoked the emergency fund for the county so money is available to be distributed where needed.

Fire chiefs clean up icky situation at Tarkio

One hopes that this was an accident, but nonetheless the responsible party should have made an attempt to clean it up.

A boy's will is the wind's will: Fire everywhere but not in your sector

SANDERS COUNTY - Thursday I sat in the back of a Ford Super Duty DNRC Engine as two state employees patrolled for fires and checked on extinguished sites. I witnessed first hand what it means to be on call for fire patrol, where your area of the country burns nearly everywhere, but not in your sector.

Superior man denies charges of setting wildfires on Lolo Forest

A Superior man pleaded not guilty this month to five federal charges of setting fires in the Lolo National Forest last summer, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Mineral Community Hospital receives new portable X-ray machine

Patients at Mineral Community Hospital will soon benefit from studies using the latest in X-ray technology made possible through a grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust’s Rural Healthcare Program.

Gianforte talks ag at Sanders County Feed

Governor Greg Gianforte continued his 56-county tour though several towns in western Montana this past week.

Woman's Club projects near completion

PLAINS – The Plains Woman’s Club has been hard at work utilizing a grant to spruce up two places in town.