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Valley Press - Mineral Independent
Lady Hawks softball eyes postseason run
For the better parts of three months, they have been running, catching, hitting and working on the many parts of the game of fastpitch softball.Now, with a cooperative Mother Nature, they will embark on the journey that has occupied their minds and athletic focus since early March ... playoff softball, Montana high school style.As the recently concluded regular season showed, the competition will crank up as everyone chases the dream of a State championship.For some, like Thompson Falls, the Divisional tournaments which begin this weekend, will serve as a measuring stick to see if they have what it takes to...
Kudus in order for everyone who responded to alleged kidnapping
I would like to start by saying this is not a traditional news story, but more of a first-hand experience garnered from multiple perspectives of an alleged kidnapping incident that was resolved in St. Regis last week.First off, I am a wife of a teacher. I am also a mother of a preschool boy who happens to play with his classmates each day in a small side yard near the St. Regis School’s high school entrance. This is where the suspects’ vehicle suddenly parked across the street trying to hide. Likewise, I am a writer, and reporter, too. Plus, I...
Lady Bobcats take on top tennis teams
Versatility and depth are part of the arsenal for this year’s Superior Bobcats tennis team, the only high school tennis team in Mineral or Sanders County.With a shorthanded roster, the Lady Bobcats went up against five other teams, most of them among the top tier of the Montana high school B-C ranks, and still won 10 of 14 matches at a meet in Helena this past week.“We were short handed,” said Superior tennis coach Rick Berreth. “We went to Helena missing two of our seniors and one junior and still managed to win 10 of 14 matches against the other...
Christensen leads Hot Springs to second at 14C meet
On a clear, blue sky Montana day, the stars were out in force over Missoula County Public Stadium this past weekend.And there were several who shone bright, but perhaps none more so than Hot Springs sophomore Kara Christensen, who won three events, placed second in another, and finished third in another event, helping lead the Hot Springs Lady Savage Heat to a second place Alberton's Shea Fredette releases the javelin during the District 14 track and field championship this past weekend at Missoula County Public Stadium in Missoula. (Chuck Bandel/VP-MI) in the District 14C track and field meet this past Friday...
Local prodigy performs concert at Paradise Center
The Paradise Center hosted a free recital by homegrown pianist Moses Swedberg.He is a 2005 graduate of Plains High School who also attended kindergarten through eighth grade at the Paradise School. Swedberg, who now resides in Colorado Springs, is touring the area to raise money to attend a program at the Landes Akademie Bader-Wuttemberg monastery in Germany. It is the largest institution for musical education in Germany. Swedberg began playing at the age of four, teaching himself classical pieces by the age of 8.In his performance at the Paradise Center, pieces were from master composers such as, Domenico Scarlatti, Wolfgang Amadeus...
COLUMN: In the field
There has always been an almost mythical attraction about the “field” part of track and field, particularly the events associated with the big and powerful among us.I’m talking about taking a ball made of iron, sand and cast iron (according to Dr. Google) and weighs anywhere from 6 pounds to 16 pounds, depending on genre and level of competition.High school girls throw the 6-pound ball, while the boys heave an 8-pounder. Olympic caliber athletes, by comparison, “put” a 16-pounder.This is akin to throwing something that for centuries blasted out the barrel of a gun powder filled tube known commonly as...
Superior fifth-grader is a beekeeper training
11-year-old Ayla Henderson of Superior has the buzz on bees.The ambitious fifth-grader who is fond of hives, swarms and honey is now a junior beekeeper working alongside Katie Benson in her bee yard at the Benson Homestead in Superior. On May 4, the aspiring apiarist set up her first official hive, commonly called a nuc. A nucleus colony is one of the simplest ways for beekeepers to begin a new colony. Nucs are nothing more than frames of comb that are removed from an established hive.“After I got my bee box and painted it, and got ready to put the bees...
Hot Springs voters support school levy
Hot Springs residents last week passed a $183,000 school levy, marking the first time voters have approved a school levy in the district since 2008 after failed attempts in 2019 and 2023. The measure was narrowly approved, 149-146.School Superintendent Gerald Chouinard said in a letter addressed to Hot Spring staff and the community, “Your dedication and commitment to Hot Springs students and our community do not go unnoticed, and I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for your unwavering support during this time. Our heartfelt thanks on behalf of everybody within the school community. It was an overwhelming gesture and...
Cleanup Day poster contest winners awarded
The Plains Cleanup Day Committee spent last Wednesday evening making final preparations for the upcoming Cleanup Day on May 18. The bulk of the meeting was spent judging the many posters submitted by students from Plains Elementary School. Committee members Lana Dicken, Deb Warren, Scott Johnson, Garrett Boon and Anita Marsh judged each carefully drawn and colored artwork submitted. The kindergarteners submitted 14 entries, 13 by the second and third-graders and 18 by grades four and five.First place winners for each grade group received a $25 gift certificate with the runner up getting a $15 gift certificate. The winners of the...
Mineral County Sheriff's Office report
911 HANGUP OR OPEN LINE 7ABANDONED VEHICLE 3GENERAL ANIMAL CALL OR COMPLAINT 5ASSIST OTHER AGENCY 2ASSIST MOTORIST/CITIZEN 6BODY FOUND/CORONER 1BUSINESS CONTACT 46CHILD WELFARE/ABUSE 1CIVIL ISSUE 1CIVIL ATTEMPTS/SERVICE 1CIVIL STANDBY 1DISTURBANCE 1EMS 11EXTRA PATROL REQUEST 1FOLLOW UP 6INFORMATIONAL 17JUVENILE CRIMINAL 1JUVENILE RUNAWAY 1MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH 6OFFICER ADVICE 1PARKING PROBLEM 2ROAD HAZARD, DEBRIS ON ROAD 3SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 3TRAFFIC COMPLAINT 4THEFT 1INMATE TRANSPORT 2TRESPASS 1TRAFFIC STOP 10VIN INSPECTION 2REQUEST FOR WELFARE CHECK 1
Thompson Falls golfers battled wind, tough course at Anaconda
How windy was it in Anaconda this past week?It was so windy, that when Thompson Falls senior Cael Thilmony watched helplessly as an approach shot to the putting green, which rolled up to the cup, was blown off the green and into the fringe.Horses in a nearby pasture were said to be standing in a circle feeding each other hot chicken noodle soup to stave off the icy wind.The first of those incidents, anyway, is a true story as high school golfers from throughout the area took to the Old Works golf course in Anaconda for the Western Divisional Class...
Locals post strong results at 7B District meet
How important is depth in team sports?Ask the Lincoln County High School (Eureka) boys and girls track and field teams, who swept the team titles at the Western 7B District postseason meet this past Saturday in Libby.The Lions boys won three individual titles out of 15 up for grabs, and added a victory in one of the two relay races as they nipped runner up Superior 127-122.The Lady Lions, meanwhile, also had three individual event title winners and first place finishes in both relay events to hold off Superior’s Lady Bobcats, 143-138 for the women’s team title.Not to diminish in...
Mineral County has new Veteran Service Officer
An estimated 84,000 veterans live in Montana. Sanders County has more veterans per capita than any other Montana county, standing at 15.2% (1,400 veterans) and Mineral County is in fourth with 14.8% (515 veterans). Cascade County takes second place with 15.1% (9,183 veterans) and third place goes to Prairie County at 14.9% (133 veterans). Jackie Lamb has been the Montana Military Affairs Veterans Service Officer (VSO) in Mineral County since September of 2021, but is moving out of state. She has been a great help to veterans by coming out once a month, saving them the trip to Missoula on veterans concerns...
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. That visitation surge has settled, but once tasted, more people are using the incredible water resources today, and who can blame them? Most water recreation can be done with common sense safety but whitewater rafting is best done with an experienced company unless the person behind the oars has been safety certified. That’s because it’s a far cry from rowing with your buddies from Forest Grove to the Big...
Supports White for SD 45
I fully support AnnaMarie White for district 45. She is the best lady that has an education background and a lot of knowledge for our forest, constitution, lowering taxes and so much more. She truly is a conservative Republican. She may be new but new is good too means new ideas, new/fresh face. She's already been fighting for us and beyond. I also support her because she is a sweet, strong, outgoing, down to earth and smart woman. We don't need any more good old boys running for us anymore, they already done not much, but enough. Time for someone else to step up. Annamarie White for district 45. — Tasha Anderson, Superior
Spring operations start-up in Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park staff are gearing up for the season, with west-side vehicle reservations about to begin and snow plows nearing Logan Pass.Vehicle reservations are required for all west side park entrances starting May 24. The vehicle reservation checkpoint on Going-to-the-Sun Road for east-bound traffic will be located at Apgar Loop Road. Visitors without a vehicle reservation or service reservation will be required to take a left turn onto Apgar Loop Road and circle back through Apgar Village. Congestion is expected in Apgar Village and Apgar Visitor Center with limited parking. Park officials said only emergency vehicles will be allowed to take...
Gianforte reiterates aggressive strategy for dousing wildfires during annual briefing
Gov. Greg Gianforte reiterated his administration’s aggressive approach to fighting wildfires during an annual fire briefing in Helena on Wednesday.Gianforte told the assembled representatives of state and federal agencies that his main goals during the 2024 wildfire season were aggressively attacking all burns and promoting forest management. He also called on residents to take steps to prevent fires. “We can’t stop every wildlife from starting but we can control our actions and our preparedness,” Gianforte said May 8. “As Montanans, we all have a role in preventing wildfires. It’s critical that we stay informed so we can protect our firefighters and...
May storm improves outlook, but drought concerns persist for Montana
This week’s widespread, wet storm has brought a measure of relief to parts of Montana reeling from one of the driest winters on record, but water managers say it’s too early to tell how much of that water will stick around to sustain streams, crops and forests through the hottest months of the year.“I think it’s fair to say that despite the pins and needles we’ve been on after that dry November and December, conditions this May are greatly improved from the last three [Mays],” said Michael Downey, the drought program coordinator with the state’s Department of Natural Resources and...
Buttigieg highlights US 93 funding during reservation visit
The Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Law and its connection to safety for people and wildlife was on Pete Buttigieg’s mind during his recent visit to the Flathead Reservation. Buttigieg, the U.S. Transportation Secretary, was in Western Montana Monday and Tuesday to celebrate funding from the Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Act, passed by Congress and signed by President Biden in 2021.Buttigieg met last Tuesday morning with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council in Pablo and took a look at the wildlife overpass and adjacent fencing near Gray Wolf Peak Casino in Evaro, before holding a press conference. He noted the white crosses on each...
Valley Press - Mineral Independent
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We are the local newspapers for Sanders & Mineral Counties in Montana. The Clark Fork Valley Press is published in Plains, and the Mineral Independent is based in Superior. Both papers are published weekly on Wednesdays. Our office (at 105 W. Lynch St., Plains MT 59859) is open Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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