"[2] The couple moved from North Dakota to Coeur d'Alene, lured by a job at the "Kootenai County Leader" in 1961.

Thompson moved to Sandpoint a short time later where he went to work for the News-Bulletin where he stayed until 1965 when he bought half interest in a local print shop.

The couple believed the community needed a daily newspaper to better serve the area.

According to "Beautiful Bonner," the couple "came up with the name for the new paper from a comment made by their typesetter, Jeannie Hottel.

[6] In July 1984, Thompson sold Pend Oreille Printers and the Sandpoint Daily Bee as well as the Bonners Ferry Herald, which he had purchased in 1978, and the Priest River Times, which he had purchased in 1976, to the Hagadone Media Group.