Columbus
Valley Press - Mineral Independent
COLUMN: Dream Team
One of the sports highlights of my younger days was watching the USA Olympic basketball team take to the court and beat the best of the rest of the world with our top college players. With the horrible exception of the Munich Games of 1972, when the dreaded Soviets stole a victory from the USA in the infamous “extra-seconds” game, it was always a delight to see how our college kids could beat other country’s “professional” teams even though professional athletes were allegedly banned from Olympic competition. I was vein-popping mad. The disappointment was so bad it stunk. These were not Olympic...
Plains VFW getting a makeover
It is a building that in one way or another has been serving the Plains community for several decades. In the mid 1970s it was savaged by fire, rebuilt and given new life. But now, the VFW building on West Lynch Street plans are in the works to update the structure, beginning with the iconic eight-lane bowling alley in the basement. “The bowling alley looks like it did in 1976,” said post Quartermaster Heather Allen. “There are elements of the facility we can no longer find parts for. It needs to be updated.”The 1970s fire destroyed most of what was a two-story VFW...
Volunteer group holds back-to-school drive
In just a few short weeks the lazy carefree days of summer will transition into back-to-school preparations. Families buying new clothes and gym shoes, backpacks and binders, pencils and pens. But for some Mineral County students it can be a financial strain acquiring all they need as they enter those hallways once again.Pathways to Help, a local volunteer organization, is on a mission to make sure every kid heads back this August with school supplies and some new clothes they feel good in. The groups primary focus is to help equip area families with resources at back-to-school time, and also...
Local basketball teams wrap up summer play
One thing is clear as the summer local high school basketball season winds down: there will be some improved teams as several long-anticipated, talented classes enter their junior and senior seasons.Several of the unofficial games have been played in gyms throughout Sanders and Mineral counties, giving coaches and die-hard fans a look at the upcoming season. In St. Regis, Superior, Noxon, Thompson Falls and Hot Springs, the suspense is growing as those talent-laden classes enter the upper rungs of varsity experience. A key indicator of the possibility of some solid post-season runs was on display this past week in Hot Springs, where...
Rediscovering home: St. Regis Resort District
The rivalry in Mineral County was a real cat fight. The Tigers, Panthers and Bobcats hated to lose to each other. It was like brothers, and now sisters, going at each other in the backyard. I had the recent privilege of getting reacquainted with two of my rivals, Tiger Clay Jensen and Panther Darrell Cooper. We couldn’t tackle Darrell as he racked up, if memory serves, up to 200 yards against us my senior year. Jensen was a menace in whatever sport he played. I had my best football game ever my junior year, subbing for an injured Jeff Brockway,...
Berneking is Grand Marshal, Duncan is Fair Lady
This is really a real honor and a privilege to be the grand marshal,” said Herman Berneking. “They had a lot of people to choose from and I’m humbled they chose me.”His mother was the Mineral County Fair grand marshal many years ago and he thinks because of that and the organizations that he has been involved in over the years may have tipped the scale in his favor for the position. “I think of all the years I was with the (VFW) Honor Guard in the parades and so many friends did it (grand marshal) but I was hesitant for...
Legals for July, 24 2024
Montana Fourth Judicial District Court Mineral County In The Matter of the Name Change of Terra Lind Schriner Terra Lind Schriner, Petitioner Cause No.: DV-31-2024-36 Dept. No.: 2 Notice of Hearing on Name Change This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a change of name from Terra Lind Schriner to Terra Lind Schriner-Kirchner. The hearing will be on 08/7/2024 at 11:00 a.m.. The hearing will be at the Courthouse in Mineral County. Date: July 2, 2024 /s/ Keanan Taylor By: Keanan Taylor Deputy Clerk of Court Published in the Mineral Independent on July 10, 17, 24, 31,...
Stage 2 fire restrictions in place in Sanders County
Rumbles of thunder were an unwelcoming sound throughout Mineral County around 3 a.m. on July 18. Going on a three-week stretch of 90-plus degree temperatures and no precipitation, Thursday mornings early hour lightning strikes sparked several fires around the mountains of St. Regis and Superior.Within 10 minutes of the rolling thunder, St. Regis’ fire siren signaled and the Beacon Hill fire was discovered just northeast of town. Starting early on July 18, multiple resources including engines and heavy equipment arrived on scene. The fire was approximately one acre. Helicopters were able to make multiple buckets drops and with quick response...
Volunteers take on Heart Lake trail maintenance
One of the more popular hikes in Lolo National Forest follows the South Fork Trout Creek to Heart Lake and then Pearl Lake in a cirque basin.The trail is a gradual, continuous climb of about 1,110 feet over the 3 miles to reach the first lake. The trailhead is easy to find on a well graveled road about 15 miles from the Trout Creek Campground. Once there, people will find a vault toilet, a couple of hitching posts for livestock and ample parking. Covid made this a popular trail in the Great Burn with out of state hikers and a scan of...
Clark Fork Trout guide shop has a new owner
Steve and Peggy Temple purchased Clark Fork Trout from Brooks Sanford about 10 years ago. They grew the business into a highly respected fishing guide service predicated on customer service with amazing fishing experiences.They have recently passed the torch to a youngster they introduced fly fishing to when he was only 8 years old. They taught him the different casting techniques, how to read the water, what bugs were on the surface and which ones were still under the surface. They even brought fly-tying into his life and helped to develop his raft/drift boat rowing talents. Danner Haskins already had the...
High temperatures trigger widespread fishing restrictions
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has implemented fishing restrictions on 13 western Montana rivers that are exceeding temperature thresholds following an underwhelming snowpack and a heat spell last week that broke records in some parts of the state. The list includes both low-flow rivers that see hoot owl restrictions more years than not, such as the Big Hole, Beaverhead and Jefferson rivers, and other, higher-volume rivers that typically hold onto enough water to stay open for afternoon angling later into the summer. These rivers include the Bitterroot, Clark Fork and Gallatin.Per the “hoot owl” restrictions, fishing is prohibited after 2...
1 dead in officer-involved shooting in Mineral County
Mineral County law enforcement officers on Sunday shot and killed a suspect who was allegedly involved in a stabbing and kidnapping earlier in the day.According to information from Sheriff Ryan Funke, the officer-involved shooting occurred Sunday at 11 a.m. near Fish Creek south of Tarkio."While law enforcement was setting up a scene perimeter, the suspect came out of the heavily wooded area with the hostage and a weapon," Funke detailed. "The suspect refused to obey law enforcement commands and was shot." The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene following attempts to resuscitate them, Funke said.The Department of Criminal Investigations, Missoula County Sheriff’s Office detectives and a City of Missoula detective were called to process the scene. The body of the suspect was transported by a Missoula County coroner to the Montana State Crime Lab for an autopsy. Funke said that due to the ongoing investigation, the names of the officers, victims and the suspect will not be released at this time. Funke thanked law enforcement partners that assisted with the "evolving, dangerous situation."
Superior Cemetery gets upgrades
The land for the Superior Cemetery up Flat Creek was donated by A.P. Johnson, who is considered the "father" of Superior by many residents. He also donated the land for the original Superior School and County Courthouse, both on River Street. Plus, he had a store at the corner of Mullan and River Street where Nutz and Bolts are now. His ranch was just over the hill east of Superior, which is the Brockway property today.The first recorded burial in the cemetery was that of George Else in 1895, a miner who was killed at the Iron Mountain mine. The...
Heat wave brings more fishing restrictions in Montana
Angling restrictions on several rivers in Montana went into effect July 12 due to warming temperatures and low flows. Hoot-owl restrictions prohibit fishing from 2 p.m. to midnight each day. These closures and restrictions will stay in effect until conditions improve.Hoot-owl restrictions that take effect July 12 include:Big Hole River – Entire river downstream of Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road Smith River – From Eden Bridge to the confluence of the North and South forks East Gallatin River – Entire riverGallatin River – From Amsterdam Road to the confluence with the Missouri River Madison River – From Ennis Fishing Access Site (FAS)...
Mineral County Sheriff's Office report July 7-14, 2024
Mineral County Sheriff's Office report July 7-14, 2024911 HANGUP OR OPEN LINE 9 ABANDONED VEHICLE 1 AUTOMATED ALARM CALL 1 GENERAL ANIMAL CALL OR COMPLAINT 5 ASSIST OTHER AGENCY 2 ASSIST MOTORIST/CITIZEN 7 BODY FOUND/CORONER 1 BUSINESS CONTACT 34 CIVIL ISSUE 1 CIVIL ATTEMPTS/SERVICE 4 DISTURBANCE 3 EMS 11 FIRE 4 FOLLOW UP 3 FIREWORKS 3 HARASSMENT/ PRIVACY IN COMMUNICATION 1 INFORMATIONAL 12 MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH 10 MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT 1 MOTOR VEHICLE UNAUTHORIZED USE 1 NUISANCE COMPLAINTS 1 OFFICER ADVICE 5 PARKING PROBLEM 1 PROTECTION ORDER VIOLATION 1 PROPERTY DAMAGE/CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 1 ROAD HAZARD, DEBRIS ON ROAD 1 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 6 TRAFFIC COMPLAINT 10 THEFT 1 INMATE TRANSPORT 5 TRAFFIC STOP 9 US FOREST SERVICE CAMPGROUND CHECK 28 VIN INSPECTION 3 REQUEST FOR WELFARE CHECK 1
West End car show
Michael Stepan and Sue McLees with his 1937 Plymouth and 1967 Shovelhead with a ’57 straight leg frame on the trailer that he and his son restored. This entry took 3rd Place at the West End Volunteer Fire Department BBQ and Car Show in DeBorgia Saturday.
Cool Summer Nights car show draws classic fleet to Trout Creek
Like all of the owners in the field of polished classic cars, Connie Leech could not resist. Standing next to her spotless copper colored 1969 VW, Leech’s eye caught a minute imperfection. In a heartbeat, she was removing a barely noticeable smudge on the chrome surface of the driver’s side front fender light. And as was the case with the owners of the approximately 75 cars who lined a tree-shaded area of Trout Creek Park, details and detailing were obviously high priority. “This is my second car show,” she said. “I won a trophy last time and am hoping for more of the same.”The...
Lee Creek Campground to be closed for water system updates
The Lee Creek Campground and Forest Road 699, Lee Creek Road, on the Lolo National Forest will be closed from July 18 to August 30, 2024, for water system updates.The water system has been experiencing maintenance issues for the last few years and several aspects of it are no longer functional. The improved water system will provide reliable and safe water to this popular campground.“Having a fully functional water system at Lee Creek once again will be a huge benefit for our visitors,” said Shaun O’Connor, Deputy District Ranger, Missoula Ranger District, Lolo National Forest.During the closure, the day use...
Elk Meadows Bridge on Lolo Forest to be replaced this summer
The bridge on the scenic Elk Meadows Road, Lolo National Forest System Road 451, that goes along the Bitterroot Mountains from the Lolo Pass Visitor Center on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests to the Lolo National Forest near Lolo, Mont., will be replaced this summer.The bridge in question is located at the eastern end of Elk Meadows Road where it intersects Highway 12 and crosses West Fork Lolo Creek, about 10 miles west of Lolo. Construction is anticipated to begin July 22 and will be completed in early October. The Elk Meadows Road will be closed at Highway 12, adjacent...
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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