Week of May 22, 2025 q4971
Week of May 22, 2025 q4971
Four Hot Springs High School students are prize-winning chefs. Hollis Key, Robert Setters, Odin Max and Erica Cannon brought home silver medals from the state ProStart Invitational contest, sponsored by the National Restaurant Association. The Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) students competed at the Montana State University campus in Bozeman earlier this spring, tasked with cooking a complete meal in an hour. Even more challenging was they had to cook the start, entree...
The county is stepping in to address financial issues at the Hot Springs School District. At last Wednesday’s school board meeting, County Treasurer Alisa Garcia presented the board with a letter “to express grave concern about the Hot Springs School District’s current financial position,” she wrote. Discussing a budget agenda item at the meeting, the board reviewed documents showing a negative cash balance of $481,811.67. District Clerk Carmen Jackson said that the general fund will still be in the negative, but added “that should...
Montana Highway Patrol Renee Burcham, 58, operate non-commercial vehicle with alcohol concentration of 0.08% BAC or greater, 1st offense, $735. Rowan Thompson, 28, failure to carry/exhibit proof of insurance, 1st offense, $85; day speeding, $70. Anhelina Kulyk, 20, careless driving, $85. Bruce Swanson, 79, improper ing - crowding overtake vehicle, $85. Betsy Redinger, 18, speeding in a restricted zone, $105. Christian Wheelock, 28, careless driving, $85. Kaedin Jurek, 18, speeding in a restricted zone, $55. Sanders County Sheriff’s...
Rube Wrightsman has always known he was a writer, but he had a few detours as a law enforcement officer, making mead, and being a special education aide, but he finally did it. The 74-year-old Hot Springs resident recently finished his first book - "Let The Rivers Clap Their Hands" - and had the opportunity to meet with those interested in his book at a book g at the Plains Public Library last week. Wrightsman spent three hours at the Plains library, talked to dozens of people, signed a...
The Wild Horse Plains Back Country Horsemen held its annual poker ride at the Historic Jones Ranch last week, but it's not a gamble for the club, who knows exactly where the raised money will go - to public lands. Eighty-one riders took part in this year's Back Country Horsemen 2025 Poker Ride at the ranch some 10 miles north of Plains Saturday. At the conclusion of the four-hour poker ride, Caity Alexander of Trout Creek had the top poker hand with four of a kind with four eights, said...
The pavilion might be more than 60 years old, but it will be getting a new roof to help extend the building's lifespan. The Sanders County Fair Commission unanimously approved a $23,725 bid by All Star Roofing of Hot Springs to restore the old roof. Fair Manager Kristy Sheehan said they have $56,000 in the building improvement fund. Board member Jim Newman said that something needed to be done because the roof is leaking. "The more you walk on it to fix it, the more it leaks," said Board...
Ambulance: Plains, 8; T. Falls, 4; Trout Creek, 4; Hot Springs, 4; Heron, 2; Dixon, 1; Lonepine, 1. Monday, May 12 Civil attempts. Tres, Dixon. Other law violations, Trout Creek. Civil standby, Dixon. Automated alarm call, T. Falls. Body found/coroner, Trout Creek. Suspicious activity, Hot Springs. Fire, Trout Creek. Disturbance, Hot Springs. Fire, T. Falls. Drugs/narcotics, T. Falls. Tuesday, May 13 Motor vehicle crash, Hot Springs. Tres, Plains. Theft, T. Falls. Assist other agency, Plains. Assist miscellaneous, Trout Creek....
Sanders County Commissioners last week heard updates on several wildlife projects throughout the area. Travis Reum, a mitigation biologist with FWP, said it was a record year for bull trout at the new fish trap at the Cabinet Gorge dam. Reum stated that 73 bull trout and 31 westslope cutthroat were moved upstream for spawning. “That program is going well,” he told commissioners during last Wednesday’s meeting. FWP recently wrapped up their yearly walleye sampling efforts below the Thompson Falls dam, Reum said. “There is a pretty...
Sanders County track teams put it all on the line last weekend at the Western B-C divisional meet in Missoula, and six athletes came home champions. For Thompson Falls, Braedon Ferris took first place in discus for clearing 159 feet five inches, while Addyson Deal took first for her throw of the javelin, throwing 114'09". Alexis Deming of Plains took first place in the shot put for her throw of 36'2.50", and first in discus for clearing 120'03", while Marina Tulloch took first place in the...
The Noxon/Thompson Falls Red Devils hosted the Polson Pirates on Tuesday falling 16-0. The Pirates were quick to get on the board in the top of the first inning after a walk resulted in a run, a steal of home, and a single all brought in a run. Polson then held the Devils in the bottom of the first, striking out the first three batters. The Pirates added to their score in the top of the third, after two doubles each drew a run, and a single brought in one more making the score 7-0. A home run for Polson started the top of the fourth inning,...
Best two out of three? The Lady Hawk softball team finds themselves in familiar territory this week as they head to the state tournament for the third straight year. And for the third straight year, after finishing fourth in the divisional tournament, the Hawks will face Shepherd in the first round at state. In 2023, the Hawks beat the Fillies 12-4. Shepherd got their revenge in 2024, when they beat Thompson Falls 10-0. This year, the Hawks are looking forward to the rematch as they open the...
The last baseball game of the season was a bittersweet time for the Plains-Hot Springs Savage Horsemen baseball team. The Troy Trojans defeated Plains-Hot Springs 14-3 in five innings at Amundson Sports Complex in Plains last Tuesday. The game was also "Senior Night," a time of recognition for the five Plains baseball seniors, the sole Hot Springs senior, and five Plains track and field seniors. The Plains players were: Zayden Allen, Wyatt Butcher, Matthew Wyatt, Jackson Lucier, and Caleb...
The Plains Trotters had a divisional play-in game against the Lincoln County Lions, taking the 16-10 win and earning a ticket to divisionals. The Lions got on the board in the top of the first inning after a double and a score on a ball each scored a run. The Trotters scored in the bottom of the first after a single drove in one. Lincoln County scored five runs on one hit in the top of the third to take a larger lead over Plains, but the Trotters made a comeback in the bottom of the third after Bri Kulawinski tripled, scoring a run,...
The Edward Jones team of Dan Kier, Wil Mitchel, Bruce Sterling, and Ryan Craven took the low team gross score on Wednesday at the River’s Bend golf course with their 180. Scott Pardee, Bill Nolen, Nathan Snead, and Henry Ryan made up the First Security team who took the low net score with a 155. Dan Kier shot the low individual gross of 40, while Steve Clark had the low net of 36. Jesse Mosher earned the closest to pin on number two, while Steve Clark had closest to pin on number five. Randy Hojem also earned closest to pin but on hole...
The Edward Jones team of Dan Kier, Wil Mitchel, Bruce Sterling, and Ryan Craven took the low team gross score on Wednesday at the River’s Bend golf course with their 180. Scott Pardee, Bill Nolen, Nathan Snead, and Henry Ryan made up the First Security team who took the low net score with a 155. Dan Kier shot the low individual gross of 40, while Steve Clark had the low net of 36. Jesse Mosher earned the closest to pin on number two, while Steve Clark had closest to pin on number five. Randy Hojem also earned closest to pin but on hole...
Two Blue Hawk golfers ended their 2025 season in the top 15 at the state tournament last week. Taking on the Marias valley Golf Course on Tuesday and Wednesday, junior Solveig Nygaard finished 11th at state for the girls with a total score of 191. Right behind her was teammate Sophia Chou, a senior, in 12th place with a 194. Nygaard shot a 96 on the first day of play, improving to a 95 on day two. Chou carded a 97 both days and scored two pars at state. “It was a great two days. The weather was good for the most part, although lightning...
The Over the Hill Gang kicked off this week at River’s Bend Golf Course, with Dave Garr shooting the low men’s gross of 43 (including a chip-in on No. 12), Randy Hojem carding the low net of 35, and Kristy Beaty hitting the low women’s net of 37. Scott Garr was closest to the pin in two on No. 10 and also had the long putts on No. 11 and 15, while other long putts were sunk by Russ Wood on No. 12, Al Luckow on No. 13, Bruce Sterling on No. 16 and 18 and Jerry Neal on No. 17. Luckow also had the long drive on No. 15 for those seasoned...
The ladies took on the River’s Bend golf course on Thursday with Katrina Nygaard and Doree Thilmony earning the low team gross score with their 105. Healy Ramey and Kayla Mosher took the low team net score with a 64. Katrina Nygaard took the individual low gross score with a 48, while Kayla Mosher took the individual net score with her 27. Katie Miller earned the closest to pin on number 11, while Tina Wheeler earned the closest to pin on number 14. Lana Nolen proved her skills earning the long putt on hole number 12, while Chris Kelly had...
A salute to the class of...
Thirty-five Plains High School students from freshmen to seniors highlighted their talents in the Plains High School Art Exhibition 2025 in the school's elementary school gymnasium and Opportunity Room last week. Due to other local activities nearby, only around 40 people showed up for the opening night reception to view the 261 pieces of art and to meet some of the artists behind the work. RuBea Privett was selected for the "senior spotlight" for the show. The 18-year-old Privett had more than...
The Thompson Falls fourth graders had a 12 week poetry lesson brought to the school by the Missoula Writing Collaborative. This is the second year for writer Alicia Wattson with the Collaborative, who hosted the poetry slam in the Junior High band room on Wednesday. The Missoula Writing Collaborative teaches literary competence, critical thinking, cultural awareness, and artistic joy through creative writing. They place writers in rural, tribal and town schools throughout western Montana....
of the Plains Beautification Committee spent Saturday helping more than a dozen community with yard work and hauling away trash. The 20 volunteers spent some seven hours hauling trash, old tires, yard clippings, mowing lawns, and even trimming a few large tree branches. The group of volunteers ranged from 6-year-old Maggie Boon to volunteers in their late 70s. Bryan Lakko, 13, and Pierce Danierson, 14, teamed up to do yard work for the day and plan to go into a mowing business...
PATTY ENGLISH, Trout Creek - “I’d tell them not to worry so much and enjoy yourself in life.” DARLENE FALWEY, Thompson Falls - "Learn to count back money and balance a checkbook.” SETH ARMSTRONG, Thompson Falls - “Find a retirement plan.” ANGIE HENDERSON, Thompson Falls - “Work hard and enjoy life." RUTH FARRIER, Thompson Falls - “Follow your dreams and live life to the fullest." SCOTT GARR, Trout Creek - “You need to keep learning every day and put it to use for yourself and...
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...
60 YEARS AGO • MAY 20, 1965 46 SENIORS TO GET DIPLOMAS Thompson Falls High School’s 1965 senior class of 46 students will receive diplomas at commence exercises in the gymnasium. The class ties the 1960 class for the largest number of graduates. Note: This year’s class 2025 will graduate 56 seniors. The gymnasium mentioned above is now the Junior High/Elementary gym. Ken Knudson will give the valedictory address and Sharon Smith the salutatory. of the graduating class are Ken Knudson, Pat Clark, Sharon Smith, Susan Gunderson,...
SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. TPA 4. BTU 7. AIL 8. SPARE 10. IRKS 12. TIBIA 13. WAAL 14. TSP 16. LAD 17. ATLAS 19. MST 20. EELS 21. NEIGHBORHOODS 25. OAS 26. MAG 27. SELF 29. TAKE 30. EGO 31. TAT 32. REGGIE JACKSON 39. EBAN 41. NOD 42. TIARA 43. REC 44. TAN 45. SLAM 46. STELA 48. TITI 49. THROB 50. NON 51. SSB 52. ERG SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. TAIWAN 2. PIRATE 3. ALKALI 4. BPI 5. TABLES 6. URIAL 8. STP 9. EADS 11. SLAG 14. TSH 15. STOMATA 18. SH 19. MRS 20. EDGE 22. BOLOGNA 23. OAF 24. OAK 27. SEEN 28. EGG 29. TAJ 31. TED 32. RACERS 33. ION 34. CT 35. KIST 36....
After all the concern about runaway government spending and the hand wringing about the budget deficit, why on earth would Congress want to a tax bill that cuts taxes for the 400-plus American billionaires, pays for it by penalizing sick and lower income people and STILL increases the deficit by $3 trillion? And, why on earth would the istration want to cut the IRS, the people that actually collect the taxes and root out tax fraud? There’s an easy answer — to cut government by...
Just about every generation of Americans can speak of going through some crazy times. Well, it would appear that we are going through one now. When the dust settles and the courts have their final say, we will see what form of government we will have. In the meantime, keep a few things in mind. The House of Representatives holds the purse strings, and the Senate approves Cabinet appointments. D.O.G.E. is not an officially established and financed department. Elon Musk was never approved as a Cabinet Department Secretary. Two natural resource...
This week, the Class of 2025 begins their celebrations. Noxon and Plains high schools will hold graduation ceremonies on Sunday, while Thompson Falls and Hot Springs are set to graduate on May 31. Graduation is both an exciting and stressful time — not just for the students and their families, but also for the teachers who have watched these young people grow into adulthood. Earlier this week at Beagle's, I ran into one of my former teachers. Elaine (Page) Anderson was my Sunday School teacher when I was little. I hadn’t seen her in...
Nellie Jo McLinden of Heron, Montana, ed away peacefully early Sunday morning surrounded by loved ones. Jo was born on September 20, 1947, in Telluride, CO, to Harold and Midge Urch. Jo and her family moved around during the early years following work through the Southwest, but Heron was always home to her. Jo was a graduate of Noxon High School, which is where she met her best friend and husband of 60 years, Barney. Jo loved recalling their love story to anyone who would listen. One of...
After a courageous battle with cancer, beloved Tamra Weltz of Noxon ed away Saturday, May 17, 2025, at the age of 52. A full obituary will be published at a later date and a celebration of life scheduled this...
On the morning of April 30, 2025, Mary Lorene Chenoweth ed away after a two-year battle with end-stage liver failure, while being attended to by family and staff at St. Vincent Hospital; she was 63 years old. Mary was born on July 11, 1961, to Sherman and Delores Coonce in Ukica, California. When Mary was younger, she and her family moved to the Coos Bay area in Oregon and finally settled in Winston, Oregon, where she graduated from Douglas High School in 1979. During her time at...
Richard Cline Farthing ed away in his home on May 12, 2025, at the age of 74 with his wife and family by his side. Rick was born April 28, 1951 in Corvallis, OR to Lloyd Farthing and Clarine (Richter) Farthing. He graduated from Corvallis high school in 1969. He was a gifted left-handed pitcher who was an All-State selection and posted an 11-1 record his Senior year. He still holds the school record for ERA at 0.95 which is less than 1 run allowed per game. He attended OSU on a baseball...
Lila 'Lilavati' (Lynn) Trombetta journeyed from this earth on May 6, 2025. She died peacefully with her beloved cat, Das, by her side at her home in Hot Springs, Montana. Lila was born May 10, 1952, to Rudy and Patricia Trombetta, in Rochester, Pennsylvania. She was raised in Conway, just north of Pittsburgh, in an Italian family. She loved to cook and would make huge batches of treats and delicious pasta sauce (recipe inspired by her grandmother) to give away to her friends. Lila came to...
