MONTE TURNER
Mineral Independent
Recent Stories
Road work begins on highways 200 and 135
Montana 135 between St. Regis and Paradise is a 21.5-mile-long route known as the cut-off road. From 1960 to 1978, it was a connection between U.S. 10 and US 10A and later Montana 200.
PHOTO: Red, white and boom
Tifani Amberson is on her sixth year selling fireworks in Superior at the KCB Creations stand in the Durango’s parking lot.
Locals compete for Junior Princess
“I don’t know how many years I’ve been doing this (judging), but this might have been the most difficult year to choose the Junior Princess. It almost came down to a coin toss,” said Shawn Heyer with the Superior LIONS Rodeo Committee.
Seminar focuses on treating youth trauma
When a child is experiencing traumatic stress, the reactions can interfere with the child’s daily life and their ability to function and interact with others.
Groups target cleanup of Frenchtown mill site
The national conservation nonprofit American Rivers has named the Clark Fork River among the nation’s most endangered rivers, citing industrial pollution and flooding risks from the shuttered Smurfit-Stone pulp mill in Frenchtown.
State funding supports Superior pool project
On the first day of summer, Superior's Pool in the Park committee received a nice splash from the Montana Department of Commerce.
McKlosky named FWP's Region 2 supervisor
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks recently named Kendra McKlosky as the new Region 2 supervisor based out of the office in Missoula.
Cabin Fever Quilters Guild prepares for annual show
Mineral County’s Cabin Fever Quilters Guild is excited to present the 23rd annual quilt show entitled “Life’s Treasures” on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 2 and 3.
Tour highlights local timber sales
Each year, the federal government sells millions of dollars of timber from federal forests. In 2020, contractors cut and sold $183 million worth of timber from national forests.
Emergency crews practice for chemical incident
A mass casualty exercise was recently held at the Mineral County Airport, allowing participants an opportunity to evaluate current response concepts, plans and capabilities for response to an Incident with a chemical component.
PHOTOS: Students learn about the physics of flight
PHOTOS: Students learn about the physics of flight
Tarkio to Crystal Springs newest section of rail-to-trail project
The discussion and initial planning began in the 1980s and from the inception, Mineral County has been a key component of the Great American Rail to Trail project.
Chip sealing work begins on I-90
The Montana Department of Transportation along with construction partner Riverside Contracting, Inc., will begin seal and cover (chip seal) and fog seal activities on I-90.
Detours in place on I-90 for recreational exits
I-90 road construction has a few areas tousled up in Mineral County.
Flag retirement ceremony planned for Flag Day
American Legion Post 13 in St. Regis and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6238 are disposing of worn American flags on Flag Day, Friday, June 14 at 6 p.m.
Western Montana tourism group works on new stewardship plan
Thursday evening in the St. Regis Community Center, Racene Friede, president and CEO of Western Montana’s Glacier Country, held a town hall meeting to listen to the residents of Mineral County regarding visitors and tourism to the area.
Alberton library awarded trio of grants
Receiving three grants in one month could knock a person over, but Blue Cutler is giddy because of them.
Riverside Soups and Sandz opens in new location
Bailey Moree, owner of Riverside Soups & Sandz paints the front door of her new location on Memorial Day preparing for the grand opening of June 1, to coincide with the Old Schoolhouse Rock Car Show. She is now located directly across the street from her original location in the old Superior School on River Street.
Wild Horse Rendezvous celebrates mountain man culture
Montana’s Largest Flea Market is in the middle of Mineral County and the Wild Horse Rendezvous at the far eastern tip of the county every Memorial Day weekend — rain or shine. They both have become legendary events to start the summer.
Author explores Montana's bucket list ideas
The title of the book is "100 Things to Do in Montana Before You Die," but the authors’ speaking engagements are called "101 Things to Do in Montana Before You Die."
Old Schoolhouse Rock Car Show to mark silver anniversary
The Old Schoolhouse Rock Car Show is boasting its silver anniversary this year on Saturday, June 1.
Superior student hit a high note at state festival
The seven student from Superior High School who competed in the state music festival in Helena earlier this month have raised the bar for student musicians.
Sanders County wildfire protection plan earmarked for funding
For communities that face a high risk of wildfires, additional money is being released from the Forest Service. Up to $250 million in Community Wildfire Defense grants for selected vulnerable areas is earmarked to be dispersed, with $5.3 million of the total going to the Northern Region.
New class focuses on foraging in western Montana
Indigenous people knew that the plants and trees were Mother Nature’s pharmacy and there is a trend today to rediscover what is growing in our backyards.
Junior Rodeo Princess applications open
The rodeo at the Mineral County Fair began 42 years ago and was a huge community project with the Superior Lions leading the charge.
Superior students ace FVCC welding program
Montana Technical Institute in Butte offers a two-year program where students are introduced to welding fabrication, pipe and structural welding, and aluminum welding — but a faster-track does exist.
Alberton hosts annual All-School Fun Run
After five years of organizing the All-School Fun Run, Amy Park of the Mineral County Health Department, carries clipboards, radios and safety vests to the volunteer sign in a large meadow where the inflatable finish line is being pumped up.
Litter lingers from last year's train derailment into Clark Fork River
On Sunday, April 2 of last year, about two dozen Montana Rail Link freight cars derailed directly across from Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort on the Clark Fork River near Paradise.
Alberton's Montana River Guides a leader in river safety
The Covid-induced tourism boom to Montana introduced a new audience to the Clark Fork River. For two summers, boats, tubers, kayakers, paddleboarders and river boarders had campgrounds and fishing access sites clogged.
Mineral County has new Veteran Service Officer
An estimated 84,000 veterans live in Montana.
GOP candidates meet at Lincoln-Reagan dinner
The Mineral County Republican Central Committee held their annual Lincoln-Reagan dinner at the St. Regis Community Center with over 100 people attending.
PHOTOS: Alberton High School prom
Alberton High School prom
St. Regis senior Connolly earns Gaylord Green Scholarship
Gaylord Green lived in Haugan and graduated from St. Regis High School in 1958. He received an appointment to the Air Force Academy where he graduated with a degree in engineering science, followed by a master’s in aeronautics/astronautics at Stanford.
Construction begins on I-90 near Montana-Idaho border
A section of I-90 near the Montana-Idaho line will be undergoing an all-summer project.
'Star Wars' themed Galactic Gala benefits PEAK Foundation
"A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away" is how the 1977 "Star Wars" movie opened.
PHOTO: Fire safety meeting
Dave Brink and Cindy Peterson held a class in the old DeBorgia School on creating defensible space around your home before the fire season begins.
Bible school's taco sales are legendary among locals
The Northwest Indian Bible School used to have six taco sales per school year, but cut it down to four.
St. Regis Senior Citizens Center becomes host of commodities program
“It’s going great!” beamed Dave Hannah, president of the St. Regis Senior Citizens Center. “These volunteers know what to do and they jump right in and do it. You can’t ask for better people.”
American Legion and VFW award Superior students
Last week, a special awards ceremony was held in Mrs. Nytes’ eighth-grade class at Superior School.
Auction draws bidders and lookers to Superior
At best count, 205 vehicles lined the sides of the Cyr Iron Mountain Road from Quartz Road past the Mineral Country Shooting Sports Associations building about 8 miles east of Superior.
Crescent Ridge ramps up for spring produce
From being a fisheries biologist to a commercial farmer, Michael Davidson has enjoyed the journey immensely.
Mr. Fix It: Minson recognized for work at St. Regis school
Rich Minson moved to St. Regis from Columbia Falls four years ago for a change of scenery.
Classical concert planned for Saturday in Superior
For over 33 years, the Piatigorsky Foundation’s commitment to artistic excellence and public outreach has fascinated many avid concert goers as well as curious first timers.
DeBorgia homeowner warns of rising insurance premiums in wildfire prone areas
A decade ago, Cristy Carriles and her husband moved from Spokane to DeBorgia and bought a nice home in a wooded area less than a half mile from the old DeBorgia School.
Six elk killed by freight train passing through Mineral County
Six elk were killed early Monday morning, March 25 by a BNSF Railway freight train where Cedar Creek meets Diamond Road.
Mineral County Community Foundation awards scholarships
Mineral County Community Foundation awards scholarships
Rehab work on Cyr Bridge begins this month
Mineral County commuters may not realize how many bridges cross over the Clark Fork River until "work zone" signs are posted.
St. Regis sidewalk work begins April 1
St. Regis residents will remember last year that there was discussion of extending the sidewalk for safer travel to the Community Park.
Longtime Clark Fork Coalition leader retiring
The Clark Fork Coalition is headquartered in Missoula, but their entire mission is dedicated to protecting and restoring the Clark Fork River basin. That includes Mineral County and Sanders County to where the river joins the Flathead River at Paradise.
I-90 bridge work resumes at Alberton
Once again people will need to add a smidgen of time traveling into Missoula as the bridge construction around Alberton has fired back up.