CHUCK BANDEL
Valley Press
Recent Stories
Kvelve's Comments: On the pitch
This may be a shocker to folks who know me.
St. Regis Tigers score big win over Charlo
For the St. Regis Tigers, the football game versus Charlo was just what the gridiron doctor ordered.
Trotters fall in five-set thriller with Loyola
If the first match of the 2024 season is any indication, the Plains Trotters volleyball team is going to be an improved, edge-of-your-seat squad.
COLUMN: Little slugger
I was kicking back in front of the boob tube the other day when a glimpse of action from this year’s Little League World Series flashed across the screen.
T-Falls harriers open season at Ronan
It was a great day for a run, with the Mission Mountains close enough to reach out and touch.
Bearcats escape Hot Springs with win
If this is how the Montana six-player high school football season is going to go, fans should bring Velcro to the games they attend.
Superior volleyball shows toughness in loss
It may not be the outcome they hoped for, but the Superior Lady Bobcats volleyball team is going to be better this year.
St. Regis-Mullan opens with loss
As a student of the sports he coaches, St. Regis head football coach Jesse Allan has a saying indicative of his approach at the bottom of emails he sends.
Blue Hawks seal opening win over Conrad
An interception with less than 15 seconds to play was the final act in a dramatic opening day football game between Thompson Falls and host Conrad this past Friday.
Co-op boys soccer ties Lone Peak 1-1
On a bright, blue-sky day with temperatures hovering in the low 90s and upper 80s, a group of high school athletes were part of history on a field in Thompson Falls.
Five seniors lead Lady Hawks volleyball
This could be a very interesting and rewarding season for Thompson Falls volleyball fans. With Plains, Eureka, Florence and Missoula Loyola in the mix, it can’t help but be challenging.
Plains volleyball returns top talent
They will be without some key players from last year’s 9-8 team, but the Trotters volleyball team has some solid talent and experience returning for new head coach Kim Lakko.
Lady Tigers reload volleyball roster
By St. Regis' standards, last year would be considered an off year, even a rebuilding year as the young squad struggled with consistency.
COLUMN: Kids these days
In my life as a sports reporter roaming the highways and byways of these two counties, I have had a wonderful opportunity to dispel a millenniums old perception about today’s youth.
New ADs take the helm at Plains, Thompson Falls
A pair of home-towners were recently named activities directors at the two biggest schools in Sanders County.
Plains cross-country stacked with fast fleet
Plains 2024 cross country can be at least partially summoned up by one word: loaded.
'This is our time': Noxon led by groups of seniors
Over the summer, during voluntary weight and conditioning workouts, members of the Noxon High Red Devils six-player football team spent a significant amount of time thinking about the opportunity at hand.
Horseman ramp up for season with scrimmage
Two things from the Plains High School pre-season football scrimmage this past Saturday: The Horsemen are going to be a factor this year, and watch out for mama!
Blue Hawks head into season with confidence
Despite the loss of two college bound players, Thompson Falls head football coach Jared Koskela is optimistic his current group will have the grit to compete in the Western B 11-player conference this season.
Thompson Falls, Plains form co-op soccer team
Soccer fans, your time has come!
Back porch 'saloon' offers escape to the old West
Plains residents Dan and Pat Johnson were looking for a good way for friends and family to “come over, relax” and forget about everything going on these days.
Hot Springs Savage Heat warming up for season's start
There was a quiet confidence, augmented by an aura of optimism, as the 2024 Hot Springs Savage Heat football team hit the field for its first official practice of the season.
Thompson Falls' cross country squad boasts plenty of youth
There is definitely a youth movement afoot among local high school cross country teams.
Superior Bobcats hoping youth, speed will lead to victory
The Superior Bobcats may be the most interesting high school football team around.
COLUMN: Lift off
There should have been a NASA-like countdown. Three, two, one ... lift off!
St. Regis Tigers happy to return to Montana football
This year’s St. Regis High School homecoming football game will be at home. That seems like common sense, but for the past several years the Tigers have been part of a co-op arrangement with Mullan, Idaho and have played the majority of their games in the Gem State.
Lady Heat boast veteran squad
A summer of hard work by a group of nine returning players can never be a bad thing in sports.
Plains Horsemen plan to ride high this season
After two winless seasons and three losses in 2023, the Plains Horsemen exploded for a streak-busting 68-6 thrashing of Troy, getting a taste of victory. They apparently liked it.
Family fun at Trout Creek's Huckleberry Days
If you are a parachutist, being under the chute is a good place to be. If you attended this year’s Huckleberry Festival in Trout Creek, under the parachute was THE place to be.
Falls sports season gets into gear
For Sanders and Mineral county high school sports fans, the 2024 season is about to kick into gear.
COLUMN: Out of the darkness
Once again, Father Time has defeated the forces of “darkness.”
COLUMN: Olympic bummer
You had one job France: put on an Olympics.
Hot Springs basketball camp teaches the basics
The future of basketball in Hot Springs appears to be in good hands.
Superior rodeo packs the grandstands
It was by summer rodeo standards a grand time.
Sheehy rallies support at Thompson Falls campaign stop
He came to Thompson Falls to meet with a packed hall of energetic voters, telling his supporters the “average” person needs to get involved in the election process.
Sanders County students take part in 4-H Congress
More than 190 4-H members from across the state visited Montana State University last week for the Montana 4-H Congress, an annual event offering competitive events, workshops, entertainment and social events.
Blue Hawks looks to get 'stronger and faster'
If effort coupled with condition and desire are key building blocks of a football team, Thompson Falls appears to be, no pun intended, good shape.
Lady Hawks play in Veterans Memorial tourney
The honors keep rolling in for a pair of Thompson Falls High softball players.
COLUMN: Rugby Sevens
The first bit of the 2024 Paris Olympics landed in my living room this past weekend.
Blade runners: Lawn mower races return to Thompson Falls
The only particles in the air Saturday were clouds of dust flying off the tires of the crowd-pleasing riding lawn mowers.
Plains VFW getting a makeover
It is a building that in one way or another has been serving the Plains community for several decades.
COLUMN: Dream Team
One of the sports highlights of my younger days was watching the USA Olympic basketball team take to the court and beat the best of the rest of the world with our top college players.
Local basketball teams wrap up summer play
One thing is clear as the summer local high school basketball season winds down: there will be some improved teams as several long-anticipated, talented classes enter their junior and senior seasons.
Hot Springs bulks up for return to gridiron
Players and coaches at Hot Springs High are looking for a rebound season after they went 8-1 last year.
COLUMN: The weight room
I will never forget the memory, no matter how hard I try or how much “Mental Floss” I use.
Red Devils use off-season for strength and conditioning
Brian Risch looked up from the weight lifting bench, several pounds of metal weights in his hands.
Cool Summer Nights car show draws classic fleet to Trout Creek
Like all of the owners in the field of polished classic cars, Connie Leech could not resist.
COLUMN: Artificial intelligence
The following “broadcast” is brought to you by the fine folks at Artificial Intelligence, Inc. (Aiiiii).
Two Lady Hawks selected for softball classic
The honors keep rolling in for a pair of Thompson Falls softball players.
Plains Class of 74 gathers for reunion
David Proctor knew he had a big task ahead.