Mountain View
Valley Press - Mineral Independent
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."There must be a bonus if you attend her talk and that opportunity is Thursday, June 6. The Mineral County Library, at 301 2nd Ave. E. in Superior, is hosting Susie Wall to speak about her book and how she chose her 100, or 101, choices for the paperback. “Audiences will learn a little more about me, about the book, and my process of writing it, like how hard it was to...
Lady Hawks softball earn No. 2 seed
This was what makes softball the great sport it is.Bottom of the eighth, pitcher’s duel of a game tied at 2-2 with a potential path to the State championships this weekend in Billings on the line.One potential game winning run was snuffed out at home plate in the seventh, sending the game into the eighth inning, overtime in the softball world.After trailing most of the game, Thompson Falls rallied for a pair of game-tying scores in the bottom of the sixth.T Falls pitcher Olivia Fitchett, who had thrown a masterful game keeping the Lady Hawks within striking distance of the...
Superior girls third at divisional meet
One thing was not so surprising from the Class B ranks of the Western Divisional track and field championship this past weekend in Missoula.It was good to be a “Heart” Breaker, and a day of twists and turns for many others among the 12 schools who qualified for the event, which feeds athletes to the State Championships next weekend in Laurel.Not so surprising was the fact that both Class B team titles went to the Loyola Sacred Heart “Breakers,” with the boys dominating their team championship pursuit by nearly doubling runner up Florence in team points, 160-82.At the same time,...
State qualifiers at Western Division B-C
On a weekend when intermittent rain and sunshine, wind and cold played a factor in athletic performance, Twin Bridges’ girls and the Manhattan Christian boys found a path to victory in the Western Division B-C track and field meet in Missoula.The Twin Bridges women dominated the team title pursuit, amassing 108 points, well ahead of runner up Drummond, (68.5) to capture the team trophy.The Manhattan Christian boys, meanwhile were able to scrape out a 96-90 team win over second place Drummond, which was also second in the girls’ team standings.Other than an eighth place finish by the Hot Springs boys...
Plains looking sharp after cleanup day
A cool crisp windy morning greeted volunteers, assembling for the Plains Beautification Day 2024.Duty assignments for volunteers were posted, ready for beautification day committee member Scott Johnson, to hand out once volunteers arrive. The number of volunteers increased, eventually totaling 36. Twenty of that number were from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which included the youngest member of the volunteers, seven-year-old Colton Barton. Volunteer Rhonda Leeper said, “I am a youth leader for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and we came to help out our community. I think it (Beautification Day) is a great idea to...
COLUMN: End of the season
I can hardly believe it.“It” is another affirmation as to why some folks leave their outdoor Christmas lights up all year.Maybe, as I’ve speculated for so many years, it is not just being lazy.Could it be a surrender to the rapid passing of yet another year? Is that why people figure they might as well leave them up because seemingly before they can blink they just unbuckled the top button from their post Thanksgiving Day meal and are kicking back on the couch, satisfied, but strangely longing for more?Is it really already the last weekend of the official high school...
Community calendar
Mineral County MT Rails-to-Trails dedication ceremony for the 2-mile portion of the Great American Rail-Trails will be June 2 at the DNRC land near Tarkio on starting at 2 p.m. Bring chairs and bikes. Dogs on leashes are welcome. Directions: If heading east, leave I-90 at the Crystal Springs exit, turn right and follow the bike signs to the gate at the end of the road; if going west, leave I-90 at the Crystal Springs exit, go back under the freeway and follow the signs to the destination.Mineral County Chamber of Commerce meets June 5 meeting 5:30 p.m. Deborgia Old...
Road closure planned for Little Joe Road this summer, work starting
The Lolo National Forest began a large two phased road improvement project on Little Joe Road, Forest Road 282, late last month to resurface the road, improve drainage, and upgrade two stream crossings.The project will improve access to the St. Joe Scenic Highway and St. Joe National Recreation Area, benefit the local communities that rely on tourism travel through the Little Joe and support the hauling of timber products. This road is located within a priority watershed for bull trout and the improvements will reduce sediment delivery to the North Fork Little Joe Creek.The first phase of work will take...
Jim Hollenback, 71
Richard James Hollenback Jr., beloved husband, devoted father, and cherished member of the community, passed away on May 1, 2024, in Phoenix, at the age of 71. Known as Jim Hollenback to most people but also known as Holly by a select few. Born on July 8, 1952, in Missoula, to Richard and Shirley Hollenback. He started his life at the family ranch in Gold Creek, then spent his formative years in Superior, immersed in the beauty of Montana, cultivating a love for nature and a strong work ethic.As a child, Jim found joy and purpose in local activities such as...
Plains art students show off talents
Plains High School artists continued a decades long tradition of showing off their art work.Forty-four students created and displayed 240 pieces of artwork in the new gymnasium and art room. One piece of artwork will be displayed in the school cafeteria. This work was a combined effort of several students in the sophomore and junior class. Many of the pieces were for sale. A variety of media was used this year, including ceramic, pencil, pen, clay, paint, papier-mâché, and the occasional trash can. The artwork ranged in size from the smallest, a tiny textbook created by Jackson Leckey and Hunter Bradley to...
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. Heather Ewert lives in DeBorgia and has spent many years studying plants for medicinal purposes for her family and herself. “I am not accredited with any certificates but between books and the internet, I do have a solid grasp on what I’m going to be sharing.” Her first class in the Old DeBorgia School on Saturday, May 11 had around 30 attendees and the May 15 class attracted over 20. Ewert selected 10 local plants for her...
Plains Day events set for June 1
Plains Day, taking place Saturday, June 1 will have activities for everyone’s taste. Starting off the day, Local VFW Post located on Lynch Street, will be serving breakfast from 7-11 a.m. Mini Horse Rides will get an early start at Fred Young Park, starting at 8:30 a.m. and will continue as long as they have interested riders. For those that will be in the Parade, sign up starts at the Plains School from 9-11 a.m.Rocky Mountain Bank will be the place for the ice cream social and it starts at 10 a.m. One of the most poplar events during Plains...
Spotlight on the Arts: Jullian Keeney
“Spotlight on the Arts” by The Paradise Center honors and encourages students in the arts by highlighting their talent and acknowledging the support they receive through their schools and teachers.Jullian Keeney, a 16-year-old sophomore at Plains High School, has been making art all her life. Her parents describe her drawing at such a young age that she does not even recall it. She was fascinated with drawing birds, horses, and cats. She says she would draw and scribble on almost anything she could find, including the walls of her house. Keeney’s mother was an early influence on her artistic talents,...
Lolo Forest hosts public meetings on plan revision
The Lolo National Forest will hold public meetings this month on its Forest Plan revision.The forest recently completed the analysis of comments received during the scoping process of the proposed action which closed on April 7. The comments are now available in the public reading room and the summary of comments is posted to the web hub at fs.usda.gov/goto/lolo/planrevision.During the analysis of comments, forest staff refined the issues presented in the scoping letter and are starting to formulate the development of alternatives. Information on the issues to be discussed as the engagements will be posted to the web hub.“This is...
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. “About 300 kids are on their way right now, and what a perfect day to have this,” as she looks at partly cloudy skies and 64 degrees at 9:40 a.m. on Thursday, May 16. The three county schools rotate hosting the event which Park guesses has been going on for 15 or 16 years, and this year, Alberton had a new course...
Construction resumes on Perma bridge over Flathead River
The Montana Department of Transportation and Frontier West are resuming work on the bridge that carries Secondary Highway 382 over the Flathead River near Perma this week, weather and other factors permitting.Planned work for this construction season includes removing and replacing the pavement on the bridge approaches, upgrading guardrail, painting portions of the steel structure, installing advance warning rumble strips and signage, and applying final pavement markings. Traffic will be reduced to one lane over the bridge and controlled by temporary signals. A 10-foot width restriction will be in place during painting work. The river beneath the bridge will remain...
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. A few years later, it became the Go for the Gold Rodeo with an ounce of gold added to the purse each year if a cowboy or cowgirl didn’t win, as there were certain conditions. The price of gold has skyrocketed since then and changes have been made, but the purse still grows as only one person has been the winner. The rodeo remains a huge part of the fair and the Superior Lions remain as the stewards...
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. Earlier this month, 10 students from a welding class that Jeff Schultz has taught at Superior School for nine years would most likely be eligible for that fast-track program. Each student received the AWS 1G welding certification at Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell. “The most that we’ve ever had pass was four,” said Schultz. “Earlier this year I took my other class up there and we had one out of seven...
Rediscovering home: Superior school board
Excuse the pride that surged through my chest as Superintendent Logan Labbe led me through the entry to Superior High School gymnasium. The sign above us read: Lee B. Moats Memorial Gymnasium.My father was among those who worked hard so that I and my graduating class of 1974, and all those classes after me, could enjoy a vastly superior (forgive the pun) gym. Dad, who repaired and sharpened the huge saws at the mill, served on the board for 25 straight years, and then served two or three more to fill an unexpired term.A massive heart attack struck him down...
West End market pops up for summer
Summer market season has arrived, and now in almost every corner of Mineral County, you can find a collection of growers, artists, crafters and artisans to buy from.Alberton holds a farmer’s market from May through September on Thursdays from 4:30 to 7 p.m. The Superior Saturday Market will get underway at the old Schoolhouse on June 8 at 9 a.m. to noon. And now even the West End has a market of its own, it’s called the Pop-Up Market at the Hideout in DeBorgia every other Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m.One of the vendors, Naomi Mesenbrink, the face behind...
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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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