Influenza season is here early

Influenza season has arrived earlier than usual in Sanders County. A young male was diagnosed with Influenza A and many school age children in Plains are reporting influenza like illness according to Cindy Morgan, RN, Health Officer.  The health department had been anticipating the first Influenza case in the county since Montana has confirmed influenza activity in 15 counties, primarily in the central and western portions of the state. Influenza activity is continuing to escalate around the state but remains slightly below the seasonal baseline for this time of year according to public health officials in Helena.

Seventh deer tests positive for CWD

Following initial testing, a white-tailed deer in Lincoln County is suspected to be positive for chronic wasting disease, according to a press release from Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Lee Creek Campground to be closed for water system updates

The Lee Creek Campground and Forest Road 699, Lee Creek Road, on the Lolo National Forest will be closed from July 18 to August 30, 2024, for water system updates.

Mineral County DUI Task Force picks logo winner

St. Regis Senior, Madison Hill won the DUI Task Force logo contest. Her artwork was chosen by the taskforce committee a few weeks ago and last Thursday she was awarded $100 for her entry. The logo is an outline of Montana with DUI letters which look like a highway and Mineral County is starred.

Alberton man helps restore communications after Hurricane Maria hits Puerto Rico

When Alberton resident Bryce Nordgren heard about Hurricane Maria he didn’t think he would get a front row seat to the disaster that struck Puerto Rico on September 20. But two weeks later was standing on a highway which had been pummeled by 154 mph winds.

Warm weather welcomes noxious weeds

With higher temperatures on the way, local Montanans and visitors are hitting the great outdoors in pursuit of warm weather activities, including boating, swimming and hiking.

Superior couple loves the sailing life

In a sailboat, however, you become a much greater function in order to harness the energy that propels you forward.

Leave baby wildlife alone

Each spring, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks receives calls from people who have picked up deer fawns...

A letter to politicians

An open letter to Montana State politicians — previous, incumbents and candidates. How do you answer these questions?

Letters to the Editor - Sept. 18

Distortion of American history needs to stop

That David Thompson built Saleesh House on the north side of the river he referred to as the Saleesh is supported by his own journal notations, by the journals of other travelers through the area during the first half of the 19th century and by period maps.

DOT grant awarded to Superior

Last week, the Mineral County DUI Court announced that it has been awarded a $75,620 grant from the Montana Department of Transportation Highway and Traffic Safety Division for implementation of a Driving Under the Influence (D.U.I.) Court in Mineral County.  The funds will be administered through the Town of Superior with the support of Mayor Mike Wood and Brenda Schneider as Chief Financial Officer.

Mineral Co. conducts screening for COVID-19

June 22 and 23 the Mineral County Health Department conducted drive-thru testing for COVID-19 at four different locations in the area. Last Monday testing sites were held in St. Regis and Deborgia, and on Tuesday, Alberton and Superior both had drive-through testing spots available.

Commissioners discuss next steps to create airport master plan

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.

LETTER: Stay engaged with social distancing, vigilance

The threat of Corona Virus is not going away soon.

Power outages to occur in Thompson Falls & Plains

As part of an initiative to improve electric service reliability in the Thompson Falls area, NorthWestern Energy will be doing work that will result in several temporary outages in the Plains and Paradise areas on June 5 and 6, 2013.

Prescribed burn lights up Cougar Peak and Graves Creek

The Forest Service engaged in a prescribed burn on Tuesday near Thompson Falls. The burn was part of an on-going land management effort to minimize the amount of fuels available in the event of a wildfire event.

The case for prescribed fire

As forest research shows, the Rocky Mountain region’s natural history reveals a pattern of fire occurrence extending from time immemorial, meaning before human memory, with drastic curtailment in the early 1900s when wildfires began to be suppressed.

Arsenic found in Thompson Reservoir

Thompson Falls water problems are raising concern among Thompson Falls residents and Sanders County officials as higher levels of arsenic, copper, lead, zinc and cadmium have been detected in the Clark Fork. In the Clark Fork riverbed, measurements show that the arsenic alone is six times the limit approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Flat Creek Superfund site closed for winter

Work on the Flat Creek-Iron Mountain Mine Superfund site has ended for the year as winter weather moved into the area. Some of the work on the nearly $4 million site which is located north of Superior, has been completed while other projects will need to wait until next spring according to a report by the Superior Technical Assistance Committee (STAC) Environmental Consultant, Steve Ackerlund.