MONTE TURNER
Mineral Independent
Recent Stories
Apothecary in Superior offers natural remedies
The healing power of plants and the study of herbal medicine has become more popular in recent years at many people opt for Mother Nature’s pharmaceutical drug store that has been used for thousands of years by civilizations and tribes.
Supplemental property tax bills to arrive this spring
The Montana Supreme Court determined that the Department of Revenue has the authority to direct counties to levy above the current mill levy calculation limitation each year if reserved mills are determined to be available.
PHOTOS: St. Patrick's Day at Old DeBorgia Schoolhouse
St. Patrick's Day at Old DeBorgia Schoolhouse
Producer Partnership looks to work with ranchers in Western Montana
The idea started in 2020. The demand for beef was very high and the availability of processing could not keep up.
Crews respond to Tarko field fire
A field fire in the Tarkio area got loose Saturday and burned a little over 30 acres. Jake Fallis with the 9-Mile USFS supervised a small crew on Sunday as it was still a threat with the wind. Nathan Tomascak, with the same unit is below working the hot spots. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
Youth Conservation Corps recruits summer workers
Last call for teens between 15 and 18 to apply for quite possibly the coolest summer job they'll ever have.
Resource coalition discusses upcoming aerial survey
The Mineral County Resource Coalition is a diverse group of citizens who meet regularly to find resolutions to the complex issues facing natural resource management on public lands in Mineral County and other areas in western Montana.
Senior Citizens Center has new kitchen manager
The St. Regis Senior Citizens Center has been open since 2009, and in that time, they have had growing pains, as businesses do, ranging from lines outside waiting for their meals to almost closing the doors.
St. Regis' Daisy Sansom wins county bee
At the start of the competition to determine which student would represent Mineral County in the state spelling bee, about three dozen students sat nervously in the Superior High School gymnasium last Thursday evening.
Theatrical couple open Montana tour in Superior
Over 50 attendees enjoyed dinner and dancing from Nic & Desi on Thursday evening in the multipurpose room of Superior High School.
Blue birding season begins in Mineral County
The calendar and Mother Nature can sometimes oppose one another. But no matter what, longer days in any weather condition will trigger migrating birds to return north, and some of the first to arrive are the bluebirds.
Deputy Hureau takes post as DUI Task Force coordinator
The Mineral County DUI Task Force at a recent special meeting welcomed its new coordinator, Matthew ‘Matt’ Hurteau, who is a patrol deputy with the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office.
Public chimes in on proposed Lolo Forest plan
Nearly 40 people came as far as Deer Lodge, Polson, Seeley Lake along with Thompson Falls and Missoula to the St. Regis Community Center last week. Everyone was interested, concerned, or already involved in the Lolo National Forest Revision that is creeping along.
Mineral County contingent at Missoula Ag Banquet
A strong contingent from Mineral County attend the Missoula Chamber of Commerce’s 52 Annual Ag Banquet at the Holiday Inn last Thursday. From left, Harvey Mead, Willy Peck, Roman Zylawy, Curtis Cochran, Sean Heyer, Kevin Donally and Denley Loge. This event is a salute to the people in western Montana who ‘get their hands dirty’ producing the Number 1 staple of life. And love doing it! (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
Lenten lunches return to Superior Senior Center
Tammy Wieweck has been a member of the United Methodist Church in Superior for 11 years, joining after her first visit.
Mineral Chamber elects new leadership
With an enthusiastic group of around 60 people, with 50 voting members, the Mineral County Chamber of Commerce held its first election Wednesday evening in the St. Regis Community Center.
Bake sale, craft fair at senior center
The lip-smackin’ treats and desserts of every texture and flavor filled tables on Saturday at the Superior Senior Center. The bake sale was accompanied with a raffle of terrific prizes as many customers were attending this event and the craft fair in St. Regis to make a full day of shopping locally. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
New pastor settles in at Methodist Parish
Unless you are a member of the Mineral County United Methodist Parish, with churches in Alberton and Superior, you may not have known that they were without a pastor until last June.
Tester's field rep hears from local residents
Last Tuesday, the Superior Volunteer Fire Department training room became the mobile office for two of Sen. Jon Tester’s couriers saving a trip to Missoula for Mineral and Sanders counties constituents to share information, opinions, and ideas.
Fifth-grader wins Superior bee with 'rancid'
Superior School District held its annual spelling bee last Wednesday, and fifth-grader Caleb Durovey took first place with the winning word "rancid."
Camaraderie abounds at snowmobile poker ride
There may have been 100 fewer participants in the $1,000 Super Poker Ride in Haugan only due to the snow conditions, but the snowmobilers couldn’t tell because they were having way too much fun! The Montana Nightriders Snowmobile Club pulls out all the stops and plugs when it comes to this monster extravaganza.
Library offers educational kits for kids and adults
Public libraries were almost handed a death sentence when the internet came to be, but they adapted, expanded with innovative ideas, and remain a vital service in communities.
Superior High School receives a grant for recycling program
The Zeller Family Foundation and nonprofit organization Recycle Montana teamed up to award schools funding for the purchase of a trailer to be utilized for recycling.
Superior's Shawn Smalley oversees troopers in two counties
Unfortunately, the origin of the numbers 3-7-77 seen on the flight suits of the Montana Air National Guard and most notably, the shoulder patch on the Montana Highway Patrol uniforms is elusive.
Superior's Shawn Smalley oversees troopers in two counties
Unfortunately, the origin of the numbers 3-7-77 seen on the flight suits of the Montana Air National Guard and most notably, the shoulder patch on the Montana Highway Patrol uniforms is elusive.
Canadian duo to perform concert in Superior
Bridge & Wolak are a globe-trotting duo from Canada who create life-affirming concerts full of beauty, virtuosity and humor.
Grant funds new electric buses for local schools
Schools in Mineral and Sanders counties will be among six districts in the state to receive new electric buses under the federal Clean School Bus Program.
New president brings some changes to Superior Senior Center
Tamara ‘Tammy” Wieweck is the new president of the Superior Senior Center, best known for its Wednesday evening meals starting at 4:30 p.m.
Speed limit changed for Highway 135
It’s been two years since the speed limit on Highway 135 was adjusted for safety reasons near Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort, and it’s about to change again.
Mineral Chamber of Commerce to elect new leadership
The third meeting of the rebooted Mineral County Chamber of Commerce garnered the largest audience yet, which is an indication that people realize the benefits of the organization.
Thieves ransack St. Regis cemetery storage shed
The Mineral County Sheriff’s Office is conducting additional surveillance on Montana 135 from the St. Regis flashing light intersection to the Peninsula turnoff, but not necessarily for speeders.
State game wardens patrol miles of terrain
Mineral County is in Region 2 of Montana Department of Fish Wildlife & Parks, an area that contains mountain peaks reaching above 10,000 feet and valley trout streams stretching over 1,500 miles.
Disabled American Veterans upgrades vehicle fleet
The need for public transportation in Mineral County is not going to go away. It grows annually, and with it, so do the services as best as they can.
Major federal grant awarded for I-90 repairs
This past summer, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester wrote a letter of support for I-90 repair and bridge funding in Western Montana.
Sheriff Funke recaps first year on the job
Mineral County Sheriff Ryan Funke was a keynote speaker at the Mineral County Central Republican Committee meeting last week.
Commissioners find savings by taking on new duties
When Dawn Terrill left her position as commissioner assistant and human resource director with Mineral County last year after her appointment as a county commissioner upon Laurie Johnston’s retirement, those hired for the position have not stayed.
Superior students shop for Christmas donations
Every year, Stacy Crabb’s 6th grade students in Superior have a wonderful time shopping for kids in the area that could use some extra Christmas presents.
I-90 bridge work wraps up for winter
When you see the geese migrating north next spring, watch for the orange cones and barrels to return on I-90.
DeBorgia gets festive for holidays
People gathered Sunday afternoon inside the old DeBorgia School house, which is the community center from town hall meetings to funerals to weddings for the west end residents. In this case, it was their celebratory Christmas tree lighting and Santa arrival.
Federal grant to fund passenger rail service planning project
“We just crossed a major hurdle in our work to restore passenger rail service to southern Montana when we learned of our inclusion in the Corridor ID Program,” smiled Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority chair Dave Strohmaier.
Taxi driver serves Mineral County
There is a new 24/7 taxi service serving Mineral County.
Sheriff's Office reports recent drug busts
Efforts by the Mineral County Sheriff's Office to take a bite out drug trafficking in the region have made recent strides, according to Sheriff Ryan Funke.
30-voice choir to perform in Mineral County
“My main concern is that the article clearly states that Superior's performance is on Saturday, Dec.16 as a 3 p.m. matinee,” writes Jim Goss, Treasurer of the Mineral County Performing Arts Council.
New pet rescue group believes anything is 'pawsable'
“We had a tiny kitten that had been attacked by a dog dropped off, and we had to get veterinary help. We raised more than $500.00 in less than eight hours. Unfortunately, the baby passed despite our best efforts and all our prayers. It’s part of rescue that Debbie and all of us volunteers have to handle,” shared Glenda Wallace with the newly formed SOAR 54 (Supporters of Animal Rescue 54).
Locals strut their stuff at Turkey Trot
It was 33 degrees at 9 a.m. when the airhorn blast was the starting signal for the Turkey Trot 5K run/walk from the parking lot of the Mineral County Food Bank.
Salish Language School visits Alberton
“Our people were the first people to live on this land, and our people will be the last ones to leave it,” Allen Pierre told the student body of the Alberton School District recently.
Public takes part in revision of Lolo Forest plan
The Wildland Urban Interface is the lands that are in proximity to structures as mapped by County Wildfire Protection Plans. It is the culmination point where state, federal and local land management plans and programs must merge in an equitable and functional manner.
Alberton students honor local veterans
The entire student body of Alberton School held a special Veterans Day ceremony last Thursday in their gymnasium.
St. Regis veterans breakfast celebrates service and country
In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the allied nations and Germany in World War I, then known as “the Great War.”
Biologist reports no cases of CWD found in Region 2
Last Tuesday, the Mineral County Resource Coalition met in the county commissioners room and attendance was light. So light that there wasn’t a quorum, but the agenda moved forward.