Week of May 29, 2025 2q4b2b
Week of May 29, 2025 2q4b2b
A Thompson Falls business may have a new look and a new name, but the new owners are committed to serving their community. Casey and Kendra Helvey of Thompson Falls recently purchased the liquor store. They took ownership April 1 and renamed the business Top Shelf Montana. After eight months of working with former owners Myles and Missy Sexton, who had the liquor store for over four years, the Helveys were excited to get going on their remodel of the store at 915 Main Street. Missy's brother,...
It was an emotional day for some as friends and family shed a tear of joy followed by a huge applause as their son, daughter, brother, or sister took that tassel and moved it to the opposite side of their graduation cap to signify they had done it. Seventeen boys and a dozen girls were part of the Plains High School graduation class on Sunday afternoon as more than 200 people crowded into the school gymnasium to see them be promoted. "So, my classmates and anybody else who's listening,...
The Noxon High School class of 2025 celebrated their accomplishments Saturday with a full gymnasium of friends and family for graduation. The gym was dressed in purple in honor of the class's first-grade teacher, the late Kathy Fitchett. A chair with a picture of Fitchett, as well as their first-grade class picture, sat at the front of the stage for Saturday's ceremony. The students entered the gym by handing roses to their mothers before they took their seats. Students Finn Duffy, Teagan...
Montana Highway Patrol James Mann, 61, speeding in a restricted zone, $95. David Hill, 79, seatbelt violation, $20; failure to carry/exhibit proof of insurance in vehicle, 2nd offense; day speeding, $120. Glenn Olson, 52, failure to secure load, $85. Melissa Brown, 55, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Kenneth Howell, 38, operating without liability insurance, 3rd offense, $525. Alexander Heatwole, 35, day speeding, $20. Thomas Elder, 31, speeding in a restricted zone, $65. Katherine Matthews, 31, speeding...
Stephen Blair Sim appeared for his arraignment before Judge Molly Owen on Tuesday, pleading not guilty to one felony count of criminal endangerment and three misdemeanor counts of reckless driving, fleeing from or eluding a police officer, and criminal mischief. A jury trial was set for October 27, 2025. On February 12, as alleged in the charging documents, TFPD Officer Jason Thornton was running stationary radar checks in front of the Thompson Falls Rural Fire Hall just before 6 p.m. when a silver Toyota 4Runner pulled alongside him on the...
Firefighters are normally the ones doing the dousing, but on Saturday six Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation firefighters were the ones getting drenched with water. The dunk tank was the biggest attraction for kids, who tested their power and accuracy to put the DNRC firefighters in the cold water. "It was bad last year, but it was a lot warmer this time," said Andrew McCalmant, who was first in the dunk seat for the second consecutive year. It was all part of DNRC's...
The Thompson Falls Farmers Market is changing locations this year. The market will be 4-6 p.m. Thursdays at Rose Garden Park. The city has also authorized food trucks to set up at the market, with vendors from throughout the region planning to visit Thompson Falls. For more information on the Thompson Falls market, email [email protected], visit the Facebook page or call (406) 916-6006. The Plains Farmers Market will start June 6 and be held 4-6 p.m. Fridays at Fred Young Park. Organizer Linda Wilson said the vendor fee is...
EMS/Ambulance: T. Falls 5; Plains 6; Noxon 2; Trout Creek 3; Hot Springs 2; Heron 2. Monday, May 19 USFS campground check, T. Falls. Fire, T. Falls. Report of animal/child abuse, Plains. Civil attempts. Threats, T. Falls. Civil attempts. Business , Plains. Assault, Hot Springs. Automated alarm, Trout Creek Tres, T. Falls. Theft, Hot Springs. Theft, Thompson Falls. Disturbance, Plains. Automated alarm, Plains. Traffic stop, led to the arrest of four illegal felons, T. Falls. Assist motorist/citizen, Plains. Tuesday, May 20 Theft,...
More than a dozen athletes from Sanders County's Class B schools showed their running, jumping, and throwing abilities at the Montana High School Association State Track Meet at Big Sky High School last week. For nearly a dozen athletes from Thompson Falls and Plains, it was their final school hoorah and they gave it their all to run faster and throw farther, but no one threw the distance to break the Class B record of former Plains High School athlete Larri-Jo Ovitt, who set the record in the...
The Thompson Falls-Noxon softball team made their third appearance at the state B softball tournament last weekend. While they didn't get a win at the tournament in Glasgow, the Blue Hawks had much to be proud of in a season where they showed determination and growth. For the third year in a row, the Hawks opened the state tournament Thursday against Shepherd. It was a tie breaker of sorts as Thompson Falls had won the first-round matchup in 2023, then the Fillies won in 2025. Shepherd would...
A Noxon senior finished his high school sports career literally on top of the world last weekend. Ricky Williams won the state title in the high jump, clearing 6 feet, 9.25 inches at the state meet in Missoula. Not only was it a personal record for Williams, who graduated from Noxon High School on Sunday, but it was also a new Class C state record. The previous record of 6'9" was set in 1977. There was another Sanders County champion for the state in Class C competition. Hot Springs senior...
RT Brown, Doug Fisher, Tom Pride, and John Owens of the Custom Solutions team took the low gross score with their 176, while the Highlead team of Jesse Mosher, Chadd Laws, John Mosher, and Steve Fairbank took the low net score with a 147 on Wednesday at the River’s Bend golf course. Jesse Mosher proved his skills earning the low gross score with his 37, with Tyson Petticrew taking the low net score with his 32. Mike Baxter had the closest to pin in three on hole number two, while Carter Meyer had closest to pin on number five, and Tyson...
by Skye Barker-Hill It was a cloudy Thursday for the ladies league at the River’s Bend golf course, with Tina Wheeler and Jeanne Holleran taking the low team gross score with a 102. Barb Mosher and Linda Merchant earned the low team net score with their 72. Tina Wheeler proved her skills taking the individual gross score with a 47, while also earning closest to pin in four on hole number two. Linda Merchant took the individual net score with her 34. Kayla Mosher finished her round with a slam dunk as she sank the long putt on number three...
The Internet Kitchen team of RT Brown, Doug Fisher, Tom Pride, and Payton Frields took the low team gross score for the second week in a row with their 176 on Tuesday. while the Bear Muscle Fitness team consisting of John Mosher, Cody Mosher, Steve Fairbank, and Wally Anderson took the low team net score with a 146. Doug Fisher took the low individual gross score with a 35, while John Mosher earned the low net score with a 29. Ty Pardee had the closest to pin on hole number two, with Kade VanElswyk taking the closest to pin on number five....
The Paradise Center is presenting a free lecture from a Washington Professor. Don Snow will share “The Art of Listening: Maya Lin’s Confluence Project” at the Paradise Center on June 8 beginning at 2 p.m. In commemoration of the 200-year anniversary of Lewis and Clark’s journey through the Pacific Northwest, the State of Washington invited the Native American tribes of the region to participate in a manner that would contribute to a more inclusive cultural history of this event. The Tribes, in turn, invited famed artist/architect Maya...
Plains Elementary School students showed that they too have stamina and persistence to compete on the track field with the best of them and have loads of fun in the process. More than 175 children from kindergarten to fifth grade gathered for the annual Plains Elementary School Track & Field Day, which took place last Wednesday. The little athletes participated in a dozen running, throwing and jumping events. No times or distances were kept for the events, but ribbons were given out for first...
by Rob Viens If you ever want to be inspired and have your faith in the next generation reinforced, just attend any of the High School Solo & Ensemble District and State Music Festivals held each spring throughout the country and experience the energy, excitement and high level of musicianship on display! Here in Western Montana the District Solo Ensemble Festival is held at Sentinel and Big Sky High Schools, Missoula, in April. The gyms are transformed into musical warm up spaces; classrooms,...
Spotlight on the Arts Jesse Buchanan – Thompson Falls High School Interviewed by Gary Sanks One of our "Spotlight on the Arts" students is Jesse Buchanan, a 16-year-old sophomore at Thompson Falls High School. It was a pleasure to interview Jesse and hear the ion he has for playing drums-both at home and in the high school band. Jesse's favorite genre is progressive rock, which he describes as "like a feel music; has a good feel." After doing a quick search myself, I found that...
The Hot Springs kindergarten through fifth grade classes had their Patriot Spring concert on Wednesday. The students have been practicing since February, but only had four weeks with Terry Stephens on the piano. The kindergarten and first grade students kicked off the concert with "Skid-A-Mer-Ink", followed by "Way up in the Sky", and ended with "Yankee Doodle," with Kyle Aldridge and Damian Granger singing duets. They were also accompanied by Nick McAllister, Weston Slonaker and Daniel...
For the second year in a row Allyeska Vild has taken first place in the SkillsUSA Power Equipment Technology (P.E.T.) division, allowing her to compete nationally in Atlanta, Georgia. Last Friday you could see her with her sister Ellyonna who also competes with SkillsUSA, out with a sign and grill selling hot dogs and cookies to raise money for her trip to Georgia. "This is my second time competing nationally. Last year I took 13th in the United States; this year I really hope to place in the...
SANDY LANGFORD, Thompson Falls - “I love you truly by Connie s.” JACE LOVELL, Trout Creek - "Anything REO Speedwagon.” KAT AND CANDY GUTHRIE, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho - “Forever Young by Rod Strewart.” CHRIS REYNA, Plains - “Mr. Brightside by the Killers." JUSTIN HARPER, Oak Harbor, Washington - “Summer of '69 by Bryan Adams." KEVIN BARTON, Trout Creek - “Californcation by the Red Hot Chili...
Teacher Nichole Cockrell poses with her Plains Elementary School fourth grade class with their giant check presented to Shane Booker, operations manager for the Thompson River Animal Care Shelter - TRACS. The 19 fourth-graders presented the check of $327.87 to Booker last Tuesday. The students had put out over 200 fliers and made posters for their TRACS fundraiser. For the last seven months, the kids brought in spare change and had a money box for donations in the hallway. The class got the...
SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. PARENT 7. TOT 10. APOLOGIA 12. TAKA 13. CATACOMB 14. AHEAD 15. APSES 16. RELY 17. MCI 18. PARS 19. AILS 21. ABM 22. SALIENCE 27. MI 28. SAN DIEGO PADRE 33. DC 34. GRANDEUR 36. MYA 37. SANA 38. ENID 39. DUD 40. BLIN 41. LILAC 44. DEBUG 45. CENOTAPH 48. EDOM 49. PROTESTS 50. CAW 51. MADAME SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. POTS 2. ALAE 3. ROCS 4. EGO 5. NIM 6. TAB 7. TAELS 8. OKAY 9. TAD 10. ACACIAS 11. PAPILLA 12. THERM 14. ARABIAN 17. MAS 18. PAMPA 20. SIN 23. EDDYING 24. NICAD 25. CE 26. EGG 29. AOR 30. DDS 31. READAPT 32. EUNUCHS 35....
Lawdy, Lawdy, the first 100+ days of the second Trump regime and what a glorious beginning it has been. Right off the bat on day one we pardon the January 6th insurrectionists just in case we need them down the road. Trump said during the campaign that he would be dictator on day one. Nailed it! Soon he would nominate the most incompetent cabinet in my lifetime. They would be confirmed and we are off and running. Elon Musk came riding into DC on his pygmy pony named Tesla, followed by his young posse of hackers and thugs. Get Along Little...
Montana is a state dominated by small businesses, and we should be rightfully proud. This small-business backbone of individuals and skilled employees work in the areas of construction, energy, farming, ranching, outdoor recreation and health services, to name just a few. The majority of these owners/workers don't enjoy the advantages of big-business subsidized health insurance nor corporate retirement pensions to augment social security. Right now, in the Senate is the House version of the so-called Big Beautiful Bill Act that seeks to cut...
There has been a bit of nonsense lately going on about the "Free Americans". I first ran into this group at Plains Day a few years back. I was curious. Who are they? What do they stand for? Well simply put they are a group of local citizens, your friends, your neighbors, who want America to stay free. They meet once a month. Anyone is welcome to come. Their agenda? Keep America free. That's it. Here's how ... Colorado has introduced legislation that will allow a child to be taken from their parents if the parent will not honor a child's new...
In some letters to the editor, you'll see a call to action. You'll be told to do something. Several letters recently have included phone numbers and emails for our congressmen. I've attended meetings about topics such as the Noxon bridge, and I've always wondered if those letter writing and telephone campaigns really make a difference. I recently found out it does. I spoke with a staff member for a representative and he said yes, those calls and letters do make a difference. He told me it goes in waves. While they may not receive as much...
After 61 days away traveling the West, with ten days on Maui thrown into the middle, it’s good to be home. I drove 7,434.8 miles, took way too many pictures, played golf, skied, ate out of my cooler, camped out, stayed with friends and stayed within budget. It was a good break from the “real” world. The campsite gods treated me well, I got a dandy tan and had good adventures. Following twuad (twisting, winding, up-and-down) roads and blue highways, I avoided most urban craziness, dipping into it briefly at Vegas, Salt Lake, South Lake...
Dan Larson, 75, of Seeley Lake, Montana, died of natural causes after an extended illness. Dan was born to Robert and Wilma Larson in Thompson Falls, MT in 1950. He schooled in Bonner, Missoula, and Thompson Falls. While in high school and living in Missoula, he started his own lawn care business, before graduating from high school in Thompson Falls, MT in 1970. After graduation, he ed the Montana National Guard and worked in construction, over-the-road trucking and mining. After moving to...
Deborah Gilliland of Thompson Falls was called home to be with Jesus on May 10. She is survived by her husband Ross, four siblings, and eight grandchildren. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Open Door Baptist Church, at a date to be...
