Sheriff's budget may lose some overtime

At the Sheriff’s Office final budget hearing in Superior on Friday, Aug. 16, county officials decided the only area they could make financial cuts were in overtime.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

Lolo Forest fee increase proposed

The Lolo National Forest is proposing a recreation fee increase on various campgrounds, day sites, group sites and cabins which could double fees in some areas.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

Quinlan steps up as athletic director

As fall sports loom around the corner this schoolyear, Superior High School will see a familiar face as the new athletic director.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

New gymnasium will greet returning students at Superior H.S.

Power tools, sawdust and patches of vacant floor boards will encompass the Superior High School gymnasium until classes begin for the school year.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Man pleads not guilty to assaulting youth at rodeo

Law enforcement vehicles lined the streets outside the Mineral County Courthouse on Aug. 14, during the arraignment for Curt Brockway, a Superior man, who pleaded not guilty to assaulting a 13-year-old boy at a rodeo.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Questions raised about Cruzane forest-thinning project

A forest thinning proposal intended to reduce wildfire potential is raising questions about its effect on elk calving due to its prime habitat area, which lies on Cruzane Mountain near Saltese.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Two who died in I-90 crash identified

Mineral County authorities released names of two individuals who died in a head-on collision after their car struck a semi-truck on Saturday, August 3.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Fire danger eased back to high on Lolo National Forest

The Lolo National Forest has declared High Fire Danger following heavy rains last weekend which downgraded the danger from Very High.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Man accused of assaulting boy at rodeo

A 39-year-old Superior man was charged with assaulting a minor at the Mineral County Fair in Superior on Saturday, Aug. 3, according to court documents.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

County confirms that hiring guards is key to re-opening detention center

After seven months without a detention center in Mineral County, the facility will remain inoperable until officials can find interested applicants to fill the vacant detention officer positions.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Charles, Temple impress at annual Quilt Guild show

Vibrant fabric and patterns lined Superior High School at the Cabin Fever Quilt Guild quilt show at the 2019 Mineral County Fair this past weekend.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Downed powerline causes grassfire

A small grassfire started after high winds caused a downed powerline on Remount Road in the Ninemile area Friday, August 2.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Fire crews battle Frenchtown fire

Frenchtown Rural Fire District and additional crews contained a structure fire involving a fifth-wheel trailer and a car on Ursus Way in Frenchtown Friday afternoon.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Two die in Crystal Springs head-on crash

Two passengers died after their car collided head-on with a semi-truck at about 6 p.m. Saturday, August 3, on Interstate 90. The accident happened at Crystal Springs in Mineral County.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Lolo National Forest declares very high fire danger

The Lolo National Forest has declared very high fire danger following dry weather.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Alberton family will welcome exchange student

In August, a teenaged girl will fly more than 7,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean from Thailand to live in Alberton for the school year.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Rabies vaccination clinic provides a shot of safety

When Cathy Kuhl’s husband was outside their residence with their granddaughter and Weimaraner, he saw something dark moving in the sky out of the corner of his eye.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Wolf count in Region 2 is up, but mostly stable

Following Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks 2017 Annual Report release this spring, officials estimate 633 gray wolves reside in Montana, more than the previous five years.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

U.S. Forest Service hosts Passport in Time

The U.S. Forest Service held the annual Savenac Nursery Reunion Friday, July 19, in Haugan to present projects and honor former employee Charles Schroeder.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Babysitting fundraiser to be offered to help out fairgoers

Parents who want to enjoy the Mineral County Fair Rodeo without supervising their kids are in luck this year after Superior students formed a babysitting fundraiser. Friday, Aug. 2 and Saturday, Aug. 3, parents can drop their kids off at the Superior Elementary School gym from 7 p.m. to midnight. …

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Cyr Bridge exit re-opened after inspection

Montana Department of Transportation officials announced that the Cyr Bridge exit re-opened Monday.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Veterans accept new mission: Riverboarding Alberton Gorge

After serving in the U.S. Army for more than 20 years with four deployments, Louis Matteau is nervous as he suits up to riverboard down the Alberton Gorge, a river with class III rapids.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

County works to attract guards to re-open jail facility

Following a failed attempt to reopen the Mineral County Jail with a private company last month, county officials met July 12 to brainstorm ideas to market the vacant detention officer positions.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Superfund cleanup making progress at Flat Creek

The once heavily contaminated Flat Creek is seeing great improvements as its Superfund cleanup nears completion, according to officials who visited the site earlier this spring.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Mineral County seeks money for Saltese trestle work

Mineral County officials agreed to apply for a federal grant that would help restore the Saltese trestle which provides recreation access to the county.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Construction on new skatepark in Alberton to begin in early July

Alberton kids and adults will be able to skateboard in the Hank Roat Memorial Park at the end of the summer once a custom designed skatepark is built.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Shooting Sports Association developing new practice facility

The Mineral County Shooting Sports Association will no longer resort to practicing their shooting in the gravel pit, thanks to their recent 236-acre land purchase east of Superior.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Still no deal to reopen Mineral County detention center

Following attempts to reopen the Mineral County jail with help from a nonprofit private corporation, the detention center will remain closed when both failed to reach an agreement.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Cedar Creek road relocation almost complete

Before a railroad was built next to Cedar Creek, the 20-mile stream meandered through the forest and served as prime habitat for the bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout, the creek's native species.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Suspect apprehended after stand-off near St. Regis

Montana Highway Patrol apprehended a suspect about three miles east of St. Regis following a vehicle pursuit Sunday, June 16 at around 8 p.m., according to Montana Highway Sgt. Shawn Smalley.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Alberton Community Center is beneficiary of a $4,940 grant

The cracked, rotted and leaking windows in the Alberton Community Center will soon be replaced after the town received a $4,940 grant earlier this month for the historic building.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

E-cigarettes banned in public places in the county

Electronic cigarette users will no longer be able to “vape” in public facilities after Mineral County commissioners passed a motion to add them to the county-wide Clean Indoor Air Act at a public meeting on Friday, June 7.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

Local afterschool programs in jeopardy

When Superior parent Roxanne Wyatt drops her kindergartner and fifth-grader off at Superior Elementary School for summer camp, she feels relieved to know her kids are being supervised and will be unplugged from their electronics while she’s at work.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

Meeting set June 25 to discuss detention center future

After the Mineral County Detention Center closed six months ago due to a staff shortage, county commissioners will meet again with the CEO of a private prison organization to potentially form a deal and reopen the facility.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

Decision on status of detention center on tap Friday

Mineral County commissioners and County Attorney Ellen Donohue hope to reach a solution to reopen the jail, which closed in January due to a staff shortage, on Friday, June 14 following a postponed deadline.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

Fifth-generation Mineral County brothers host festival in Haugan

Music enthusiasts from all over the nation attended the fifth annual Silvercloud Campout, a family and dog friendly music festival next to the 50,000 Silver Dollar Bar, in Haugan on Friday and Saturday, June 7 and 8.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

DeBorgia Foundation yard sale to benefit schoolhouse

The DeBorgia Historical Schoolhouse Foundation will host their annual yard sale on Friday and Saturday, June 14 and 15 from to benefit the schoolhouse maintenance.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

Community garden in Alberton to collaborate with schools

Last year, Ang MacDonald started a community garden filled with fruit trees, tomatoes and other vegetables in Alberton after two previous failed attempts. The Alberton Railroad Days Community Garden is a nonprofit that MacDonald runs and she’s responsible for most of the work. Her long-term goal is to start a …

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

Mineral County loses dispatcher Newart

After working for the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office for almost 10 years, 911 dispatcher Robert Newart has decided to hang up the dispatch phone on Tuesday, May 28. He’s one of three dispatchers who have recently left the job, right behind Roni Philips and Brandon Church. “He was very friendly …

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

Commissioners to decide jail's fate Friday

Mineral County commissioners will decide on Friday, June 7 whether or not to contract with a nonprofit private prison CEO to reopen the detention center which closed in January due to staff shortages. Commissioners met with Mike Thatcher, the CEO of Community, Counseling and Correctional Services Incorporated (CCCS), on Tuesday, …

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

The EMT shortage in Superior is nothing new

When Anita Parkin was substitute teaching at Superior High School on a Wednesday morning, she got a call on her pager from the 911 dispatcher for a medical emergency. She either had to abandon her class and hurry to the Superior Area Ambulance Service or deny the call. She opted …

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

Graduation Day in Superior

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

Commissioners commit to re-opening detention center

After two hours of heated discussion at a public meeting on May 20, Mineral County Commissioners decided the detention center must reopen following its closure in February due to staff shortages. The questions remain how officials will attain this goal and where they will find the funding, but they are …

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

St. Regis Spring Concert extraordinary

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

May 11 fire at Hilltop Motel claimed the second oldest building in Superior burns down

When Gary and Nancy Hill bought the second oldest building in Superior in October of 1992, the couple purchased not only a business but their home of the last quarter century.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Mineral County brainstorms ideas for community center

After a survey conducted by the Mineral County Health Department showed that the number one desire for the county was a community center, officials began discussing the idea of building one. Mineral County officials met in the packed Senior Center in Superior on Thursday, May 9 to brainstorm ideas to …

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Clark Fork tennis loses 5-1 to Granite

The Clark Fork Mountain Cats lost against the Granite Prospectors 5-1 in high school tennis at Superior High School on May 7. Lyssah Kromrey won both of her games by 6-0 scores against Granite. “After two rain delays, we gave it our best,” Coach Angie Hopwood said. SINGLES – Sierra …

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Korean War vets to be honored on Armed Forces Day

Three of Superior’s Korean War veterans will be honored for their military services at the Armed Forces Day ceremony on Saturday, May 18 at Superior High School. Cabin Fever Quilters will present Wayne Bricker, Lee Magone and Doug Cummings with quilts in honor of their services in the Korean War. …

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Crews respond to fire at Hilltop Motel

The Hilltop Motel in Superior was destroyed in a fire that started on Saturday night.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Road-kill wolf was found on interstate near Tarkio

A Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) game warden confirmed a gray yearling female wolf was dead on Interstate 90 near Tarkio early Wednesday morning on May 1. “We usually get several reports every year on road-killed wolves on I-90,” Wolf Management Specialist Tyler Parks said.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Missoula Public Assistance to help Mineral County this summer

The Missoula Field Office of Public Assistance will travel to the Mineral County Courthouse to assist residents with Medicaid, food stamps and cash assistance applications on May 14. This will provide low income families who aren’t able to travel to Missoula an opportunity to apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program …

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Happy, Healthy Hikers' first trek is a success

Hikers travelled through dynamite blasted gaps above the old Milwaukee Railroad to Point of Rocks on Tuesday, April 30 for the first Happy, Healthy Hikers event of the season. West of Alberton, hikers from Mineral County and Missoula gathered for some exercise, scenery and a history lesson on the Mullan …

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Clark Fork golfers place fourth at Thompson Falls

Izzy Santistevan (92) and runner-up Carly Stodghill (95) brought Bigfork to victory at the Gary Thompson Invitational golf tournament on Saturday, April 27 at River’s Bend Golf Course at Thompson Falls. Florence’s Gavin Zaluski won for the boys with 83. Florence finished 21 shots ahead of Bigfork, who took second. …

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Forest Service begins Summer Trails project in Mineral County

A decade after its initial proposal, the Lolo National Forest began the Summer Trails project in early April which will establish a motorized off-highway (OHV) route system. The project will allow utility-terrain vehicles (UTV) and all-terrain vehicles (ATV) access to 180,000 acres between St. Regis and Lookout Pass from June …

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Detention Center's future remains a mystery

Mineral County officials met once again on Friday, April 26 to discuss the the Mineral County Detention Center’s fate — following its closure in February due to a detention officer shortage. The jail’s future remains a mystery; however, officials are getting closer to a decision, which could mean finally having …

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Rep. Gianforte visits St. Regis and promotes telecommuting

In a reserved corner at Jasper’s Restaurant in St. Regis, U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., met with Mineral County officials to discuss current Montana proposals on Tuesday, April 16.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

'A-tisket, a-tasket, I filled my Easter basket!'

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Forest Service proposes Cruzane Mountain Project

When homeowner Kent Moeller looks out his window, he sees a beautiful landscape of dense ponderosa pine, lodgepole, and Doug Fir trees just beyond his backyard in the Lolo National Forest near Saltese.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Sheriff's office loses important asset

After serving with the Mineral County Sherriff’s Office for 25 years, Superior Mayor Roni Phillips announced her retirement from the Jail Administrator and 911-Dispatcher positions in early April. Phillips will remain Superior’s mayor, and will continue working as an EMT on Superior’s ambulance.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Detention Center closed County proposes alternative uses for facility

Mineral County officials met on Friday, April 12 to discuss proposals for the Detention Center’s future following its temporary closure in February.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Members head to State FFA Convention

St. Regis students competed at the Montana State FFA Convention in Bozeman on April 3 through April 6. Member Emma Hill was a finalist in the FFA’s Most Inspirational Contest, where she wrote an essay about inspiring others to become members. Although no students placed in the top ten, they …

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Fate of Mineral County Detention Center in limbo

Mineral County officials are currently deciding whether or not to close the Detention Center, which closed temporarily in early February, due to a detention officer shortage. Staff shortages caused a previous closure in 2017.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Frenchtown Fire: Two wrecks in two minutes

Frenchtown Rural Fire District responders scrambled on Tuesday, April 4 when two separate motor vehicle wrecks were called in only minutes apart.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO