Plains Day will feature free plane rides for kids on Saturday

Know any kids, age 8–17, who might want to fly?

Clark Fork, St. Regis athletes excel at state track

The Seeley-Swan girls captured the Class C title at the Montana State Track and Field Championships with 90.33 points at the Laurel Sports Complex held Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25. Laurel won the boys’ crown with 81 points. The Clark Fork girls placed 19th with 8 points, and the St. Regis girls placed 32nd with 1 point. The Clark Fork boys placed 27th with 6 points, and the St. Regis boys were 25th with 7 points. Sorren Reese of Clark Fork placed fifth in the 800-meter run with a time 2:27.56. Madison Kelly of St Regis earned sixth in the 1,600-meter run in 5:43.35. The Clark Fork girls placed fourth in the 1,600-meter relay with a clocking of 4:19.45. Ian Farris of St Regis earned third in the 100-meter dash with 11.30, and placed sixth in the long jump with an effort of 20 feet, 4 inches. Jesse Shaske of Clark Fork placed third in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:01.64.

Mountain Cat girls finish fifth at Western C Divisionals

The Clark Fork girls placed fifth with 20 points at the Western C Divisionals track and field meet at Big Sky High School in Missoula on May 16 and 17. The Mountain Cat boys placed 11th.

Hacks and Blasts fill the spring air at Trap Club

The 19th annual “Hack and Blast” tournament — Plains Trap Club’s light-hearted kick-off of both the shooting range’s trap season and the golf season — got off to a jolly start. Fifteen teams from Plains and surrounding towns lined up to take their shots at the doomed clay pigeons. Hours later, as they made their way around the golf course’s nine holes, they were still laughing. Flags, patriotic pants, silly team names and goofy golf drives brought friends and community together.

County show patience about barking dogs

I had the opportunity (as did you) to attend the May 9 Sanders County commissioner’s meeting on ordinance # 2019-01: an ordinance to control barking dogs within Sanders County and to establish procedures for enforcement.

Hot Springs, county rally to support Salmi family

When the normally bubbly, active 5-year old Harlee Salmi said she didn’t feel well and complained of a sore neck, no one could have known what lay ahead.

Clark Fork, St. Regis participate in track divisionals

Both the Seeley-Swan boys and girls captured the win with 201 points at the 13C Divisionals at Big Sky High School in Missoula on May 10 and 11. In the 14C Divisional, Charlo won for both the boys and girls with 156 and 208, respectively. The Clark Fork boys placed second in 13C with 118 points, and the girls placed second with 114. The St. Regis boys placed fifth in 14C with 52 points, and the girls were second with 73. Jesse Shaske of Clark Fork won both the 800-meter and 1,600-meter runs with 2:01.73 and 4:53.83, respectively. Ian Farris of St. Regis won both the 100- and 200-meter dash with 11.43 and 24.29. Trey Green of Clark Fork was firt in the shot put with 46-01.50. Carson Callison of Clark Fork won the triple jump with 36-09.00. Andrew Sanford of St. Regis won the high jump with 5-06.00. Cassie Green of Clark Fork was first in the shot put with 30-02.75. Madison Kelly of St. Regis won both the 800 and 1,600 with 2:45.74 and 6:08.19, respectively. Emma Hill of St. Regis won the high jump with 4-08.00.

Clark Fork tennis loses 5-1 to Granite

The Clark Fork Mountain Cats lost against the Granite Prospectors 5-1 in high school tennis at Superior High School on May 7. Lyssah Kromrey won both of her games by 6-0 scores against Granite. “After two rain delays, we gave it our best,” Coach Angie Hopwood said. SINGLES – Sierra Metesh, Granite, def. Emma Hopwood, CF, 6-1, 6-0. Makayla Pederson, Granite, def. Madison Courser, CF, 6-2, 6-1. Lyssah Kromrey, CF, def. Molly Ballweber, Granite, 6-0, 6-0. Lavinia Tenesch, Granite, def. Tori Tinker, CF, 6-1, 6-1. Alaina Marletto, Granite, def. Summer Bonsell, CF, 6-4, 6-0. DOUBLES – Sara Goff/Reece Pitcher, Granite, def. Alexea Kelsey/Barbara Garcia, CF, 6-1, 6-4.

Mark Legard

It is with great sadness that the family of Mark Edward Legard announces his passing.

Clark Fork teams win tournament at Trestle Creek

The Clark Fork Mountain Cats won for both the boys’ and girls’ divisions at the St. Regis Golf Tournament at Trestle Creek on Thursday, May 2, where they qualified four players for state. The boys’ team won with 304, and the girls won with 392. Aaron Waddle, Danner Haskins, Jonna Warnken and Zoe Kelsey qualified for the State C Tournament in Seeley Lake. “We could be very competitive at the State C level in two years with both boys’ and girls’ teams if the kids continue to work hard,” Clark Fork coach Seth Kuhl said. Both from Thompson Falls, Ethan Brown won for the boys’ title with an 85, and Megan Baxter won for the girls with 106. Clark Fork’s Danner Haskins placed third with 97, and Aaron Waddle placed fifth with 103. St. Regis Tiger JD Booker scored 135. The tournament wrapped up the regular season and the State C Tournament is May 13-15 at the Double Arrow Golf Course in Seeley Lake.

Shaske, Reese lead Clark Fork at Kim Haines Invite

The Frenchtown boys captured the win with 132 points at the at the Kim Haines Invitational track and field meet at Big Sky High School on Saturday, May 4. Seeley-Swan won for the girls’ title with 92 points. Frenchtown sophomore Jace Klucewich won three individual events and currently holds first place in the Class A 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash. He also won the long jump with a leap of 21 feet, 3 inches, his third victory that day. Jesse Shaske of Clark Fork placed third in the 800-meter dash with 2:07.42. Shaske also placed fifth in the 1600 with 4:43.23, and the Mountain Cats placed 12th as a team. Trey Green of Clark Fork placed fifth in the both the shot put with 44-07.75 and discus with 130-08. Bryan Mask of Clark Fork placed fifth in the pole vault with 9-00. The Clark Fork girls placed 10th at Big Sky. Sorren Reese of Clark Fork was fifth in the 400, third in the 800 and fourth in javelin (107-08). Grace King of St. Regis placed 31st in the shot put with 24-03.50. St. Regis Tiger Sunny Shoupe placed 18th in the 300 hurdles with 1:03.93.

Happy, Healthy Hikers' first trek is a success

Hikers travelled through dynamite blasted gaps above the old Milwaukee Railroad to Point of Rocks on Tuesday, April 30 for the first Happy, Healthy Hikers event of the season. West of Alberton, hikers from Mineral County and Missoula gathered for some exercise, scenery and a history lesson on the Mullan Road. Mineral County Health Department, The Montana Wilderness Association, The Great Burn Study Group, Zero to Five, the U.S. Forest Service collaborate once again to offer guided hikes for residents in Mineral County and surrounding areas, free of charge.

Clark Fork golfers place fourth at Thompson Falls

Izzy Santistevan (92) and runner-up Carly Stodghill (95) brought Bigfork to victory at the Gary Thompson Invitational golf tournament on Saturday, April 27 at River’s Bend Golf Course at Thompson Falls. Florence’s Gavin Zaluski won for the boys with 83. Florence finished 21 shots ahead of Bigfork, who took second. Clark Fork’s Danner Haskins (97) was 10th for the boys, and Jonna Warnken placed fifth for the girls. “We have three players who qualified for state,” Clark Fork Athletic Director Chris Clairmont said. He says players are improving and their scores are getting lower. Clark Fork will head to St. Regis for the Trestle Creek Qualifier on Thursday, May 2. The shotgun start is set for 9:30 a.m.

Sanders County girls excel in T-Falls

The Sanders County girls teams, like their boys teams, showcased their ability to the rest of the competition at the Montana High School Association Class B-C track meet Tuesday afternoon at the Thompson Falls Invite.

Farris, Green win events at Seeley-Swan Invitational

MISSOULA — St. Regis Tiger Ian Farris won the boys’ 100-meter dash in 11.58 seconds and Clark Fork Mountain Cat Trey Green took top honors in the shot put with an effort of 46-1.50 at the Seeley-Swan Invitational on Saturday, April 20 at Big Sky High School in Missoula. Bigfork, 104, won for the boys and Seeley-Swan, 112, captured the girls crown with Bigfork second, 94 1/2. Seeley-Swan athletes won six events to Bigfork’s two — Anya Young (1,600-meter run) and Ashton McAnally (shot put). St. Regis heads to the John Cheek Top 8 Meet in Anaconda on Tuesday, April 30, and the both the Mountain Cats and Tigers take part in the Kim Haines Memorial in Missoula on Saturday, May 4.

Member of 'The Walking Dead' Marine unit recalls deadly battle from April 1967

James H. Stogner had his sights set on becoming a U.S. Marine even before his teenage years. His father was in the service, and he had a mindset of following in his footsteps.

Let the track & field season begin

Clark Fork and St. Regis track and field teams finally got the season going last week, with some impressive early marks.

Noxon's Stogner receives Navy Cross Medal

Marine risked his life to save his gunner, other soldiers in Vietnam

James Stogner of Noxon received the prestigious Navy Cross Medal during a special ceremony Friday afternoon, April 5 at the VFW in Polson.

Thilmony wins title at Montana Open at MetraPark

It would be proper to call it a “bookend” season for Thompson Falls freshman Trae Thilmony on the wrestling mat.

Project ASCENT get kids 'in touch with nature'

Project ASCENT is ascending — like a rocket. The non-profit to help kids learn to enjoy the outdoors seems to have found a sweet spot in the hearts and minds of Sanders County and is surging into action.