The Year in Review, part 2

June 20

A Morrison Elementary Student in Troy has been selected as one of two students from Montana to participate in a youth leadership conference in Washington, D.C. Gunner Jordan, 12, will depart for the nation's capital on July 28.

June 22

The 49th consecutive Libby Logger Days began on Thursday, June 21 this year. The first day of summer was warm enough for the water fights and the weatherman promises a nice weekend.

June 27

Ella Ackley returned to her home in Troy with not one, but five Senior Olympic gold medals in her age division. Not only did she race the clock to win the medals in five events she also broke the state record in all five events.

June 29

A Libby native and the company she co-founded was featured on The Today Show Thursday morning. Heather Stephenson, Libby High School graduate class of 1991, is co-founder of IdealBite.com . Ideal Bite, created in 2005, is an online source for ideas on impacting the environment in positive ways. The information is conveyed through tips, editorial and interaction.

July 4

Montana Sen. Jon Tester has stated that he hopes Montana will reside at the forefront of efforts designed to confront global warming, and much of his discussion with locals Saturday revolved around his support of the 2007 Energy Bill. Tester addressed a curious crowd of about 30 people who peppered him with questions ranging from the latest divisive Supreme Court rulings to the state of health care, and from the oil industry to, of course, the war.

July 6

A former Troy city council member is taking legal action against Troy mayor James Hammons to prevent Hammons from annexing his own property as a way to continue acting as mayor. Don Banning, who served on the Troy city council for six years, filed for a court-ordered injunction from Lincoln County Judge Michael Prezeau on June 22.

July 11

An exploding propane tank, bursting tires and detonating ammunition marked the latest motor home fire in Libby Thursday afternoon as 16 firefighters rushed to douse the blaze in the Antler's Restaurant parking lot.

July 13

An ore body found below the existing Troy Mine could extend the current 6-year life of the mining operations.

Preliminary results from the 2006/2007 Revett drilling program confirm four mineralized horizons, including a previously unknown higher grade zone in the Lower Revett Formation. Revett expects to complete a new resource estimate for these horizons prior to year end.

July 18

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals made the decision Thursday to overturn a Missoula judge's decision to bar witnesses from testifying against W.R. Grace & Co. A tentative court date of Sept. 3 has been set for the trial in Missoula against W.R. Grace & Co., the company made famous for allegedly hiding documentation of asbestos contamination from vermiculite mining in the Libby area.

July 20

A line of multiple single cell thunderstorms rolled northward from the Montana and Idaho border Tuesday night, dropping more than 500 lightning strikes on parched forests around Libby and igniting numerous small forest fires, according to the national weather Service and the U.S. Forest Service.

July 25

Almost all the power has been restored in Libby and the surrounding areas after a battery of storm activity on Tuesday and Wednesday. Between 9 p.m. on Wednesday and 1 a.m. last Thursday, a section of residents from the middle of Libby to the south of town lost their power. Approximately 1,500 households were without power during that time frame. West of town, another 1,500 households lost electricity from 9 p.m. on Wednesday until 5 a.m. on Thursday.

July 27

A public hearing was held Wednesday morning with Lincoln County Commissioner Chairman Rita Windom to discuss increasing the service fee for the Fisher River Fire Service. Currently, a service fee of $90 is assessed on each housing unit in the district. The Fisher River Fire Service is asking to increase that fee to $140 to provide enough funding for adequate coverage. The increase was derived from equipment costs and increased fuel costs, according to Fisher River Fire Service Chairman George Neils.

Aug. 1

A miner was killed by a rock slide at the Revett Mine in Troy on Monday morning. Mike Ivins, a mine mechanic who was working in the area along with other mining crew members, became trapped in a vehicle. Ivins did not survive the accident.

Aug. 3

Montana Sen. Max Baucus, frustrated over asbestos cleanup efforts, will bring the head of the Environmental Protection Agency to Libby on Monday, Aug. 6. Baucus announced Tuesday that EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson has accepted his invitation to hold a public meeting to discuss asbestos cleanup efforts with local community members.

Aug. 8

The first ever American Cancer Society Relay for Life fundraiser in Libby raised more than $34,000 and was one of the best first-time events the society has seen, said ACS community relationship manager Janell Kuhn.

In about four weeks, up to 7,000 Lincoln County residents will effectively relocate. And they'll do that without ever moving an inch.

Aug. 10

A statewide effort to enhance 911 and emergency services has pinpointed with GPS technology all rural addresses. These addresses must change within 30 days of the Post Office's notification, which should be arriving by mail within the next four to six weeks.

Aug. 15

At least two vermiculite-contaminated rocks have been found near Callahan Creek in Troy, prompting officials to soon conduct a more thorough investigation into the extent of the potential asbestos contamination.

Aug. 17

Libby's water main system is approaching 100 years old and its leaky infrastructure is undergoing a piece-by-piece replacement. Infrastructure all around the nation is deteriorating and the state of Libby's system is illustrated by a few telling examples.

Aug. 22

Bonneville Power Administration, a U.S. Department of Energy agency, is planning to rebuild a 17-mile section of power transmission lines between Libby and Troy next summer. The construction is slated to begin in May and should be finished by November, barring any significant public opposition.

Aug. 24

Another Kalispell developer came forward Tuesday night with a $150,000 offer to buy the old high school building and renovate its three floors into stylish lofts, office space and an artist space. But a wary school board of trustees attempted to dig through the plans and emerge with the raw information it has been unable to find with four previous prospective developers.

Aug. 29

It's been two weeks since mining operations reconvened at the Revett Mine in Troy following a fatal incident that killed one man and sent two others to the hospital with minor injuries. On July 30, an isolated rockfall in a tunnel roof of the mine killed mine mechanic Mike Ivins, 55, and sent Josh Peterson and Allen Layer to receive emergency care.

Aug. 31

A Florida filmmaker was in the area last weekend shooting scenes for his upcoming documentary that will examine the life of explorer David Thompson. George Sibley's film, "Shadows of David Thompson," is one of many tributes to have surfaced this year as David Thompson buffs are arising from relative obscurity to celebrate the explorer's bicentennial.

Sept. 5

As of Sept. 1, 2007, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) began its fall smoke management program. Both major and minor open burning sources will be required to comply with Best Available Control Technology (BACT) for smoke management.

Sept. 7

The owner of American Muscle Autoworks in Libby was arrested Friday after an FBI investigation found that he paid $50,000 to have his estranged wife killed. Shane Douglas Sichting, 1639 U.S. Hwy. 2 S., is behind bars in Missoula County on charges of using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire.

Sept. 12

Libby High School must forfeit two football victories after a student who played in them has been found academically ineligible. The Montana High School Association handed down the penalty after the high school informed the organization that the student, whom school officials declined to identify, mistakenly enrolled himself as a freshman despite having taken high school level classes last year in another state.

Sept. 14

Members of the Troy Volunteer Fire Department held their annual memorial ceremony for the anniversary of the attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center in Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001.

Sept. 19

An Arlee man was found guilty on Friday of assault on a sports official in Libby Justice Court. Francis Lavern Pierre was found guilty by a jury of six Libby residents of hitting his son's former head basketball coach Brandon Hobbs following a game in the District 8-B boys' basketball tournament in Libby on Feb. 16, 2007.

Sept. 21

The old high school building, a city landmark that has endured in ruin and community indecision of historic proportions, has finally been sold to a Kalispell developer with serious plans for its revival. A unanimous vote and audience applause Tuesday night set in motion the next stage of the building's existence, motion that's expected to last until late 2008 or maybe early 2009.

Sept. 26

A catastrophic crash occurred at 1 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22 at the intersection of Lower Granite Creek Road and Granite Creek Road. This crash involved one vehicle with 10 unrestrained juvenile occupants which was heading back to town from the Granite Creek area.

Sept. 28

The old Plummer Elementary School that now houses Head Start was a crime scene Thursday morning with investigating detectives. There were no broken windows when detectives from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office received the call at approximately 6:10 a.m. on Thursday.

Oct. 3

The Libby groundwater contamination, a more enduring yet lesser known counterpart to the city's asbestos contamination, was thrust to the forefront Wednesday night as city leaders faced a packed chamber of residents interested in the city's well ordinance and possible compensation for their high water bills.

Oct. 5

Steve Garrett, a Troy School Board member, attended the Libby City Council meeting on Tuesday to garner support for the Troy Activity Center from the city of Libby. The city of Troy is already behind the project and has committed to helping with site preparation, in-kind services and electric hook-up needs. Lincoln County has also pledged support for the center.

Oct. 10

One or more burglars busted their way into two Libby businesses last week and directed their efforts into apparently aimless acts of aggression. Vacuum cleaners, stepladders, doors, a bottle of wine and a bracelet were the victims. But cash register contents and valuable merchandise were left alone.

Oct. 12

A two-year, $40 million mine exploration beneath a grizzly bear habitat has stoked interest from those who live and play there. Hunters, at least one miner and a county commissioner showed up at a U.S. Forest Service public meeting to voice their opinions of the proposed mitigation.

Oct. 17

One of Libby's most famed festivals has entered a precarious turning point, one that will likely resolve in either its elimination or its transformation. Nordicfest just completed its 22nd year and at this point no one can really say if it will survive until its 23rd. The festival's survival ruffled some town talk back in May, when its tired president appealed for community help.

Oct. 19

A 24-year-old Troy man who police say died Saturday after smoking a prescription pain medication that's almost 100 times as potent as morphine was the second serious prescription overdose incident in Troy in fewer than three months.

Oct. 24

The Libby Logger Boys soccer team defeated Colombia Falls last Saturday in the second round of the State finals in Libby, advancing the Loggers to their first-ever state championship berth. Although the Wildcats took an early lead that lasted the half, scoring a penalty kick 17 minutes into the game, seven minutes into the second half, senior Riley Hoyer tucked a shot into the corner of the net to even the score at 1-1.

Oct. 26

A traffic stop ended in a car chase Saturday evening in Libby, sending one man to jail on a felony arrest. Lincoln County Sheriff's Office deputies had been doing surveillance on Casey M. Decker, 26, of Libby, as a person of interest for other crimes. A patrol deputy attempted to pull Decker over on Granite Avenue in Libby at approximately 5:15 p.m. on Saturday. Decker had three warrants for contempt for his arrest. Two of the warrants were from the city of Libby and one was from the Montana Highway Patrol in Kalispell.

Oct. 31

Specialist Casey T. Clausen, of Libby, was recently injured in Iraq. Clausen and his unit is 2-22 Infantry Battalion, 10th Mountain Division of Ft. Drum, N.Y. was deployed to Iraq in September 2007.

Nov. 2

City of Troy officials met this morning with consultants to discuss the practical feasibility of constructing a 10 Megawatt biomass facility to supply energy to the city and surrounding areas.

Nov. 7

The construction on U.S. Highway 2 between Libby and Kalispell in the Swamp Creek area is just about completed, however the stretch of road won't be chip sealed until next year. Crews are still working on the highway between mileposts 53.8 and 57.2. Work should wrap up by the end of this week with guard rails, seeding and chip sealing still needing to be completed, he explained.

Nov. 9

Peggy Williams received 227 votes, 28 percent of the 801 cast for city council. Incumbents Bill Bischoff and Doug Roll split with 193 votes. Stu Crismore, who dropped out of the election but not before he could retract his name from the ballot, received 88 votes, almost 11 percent of the total. In Troy, the challengers Lary Coryell and Don Banning swept the race and ousted incumbents Ron Pierce and Ron Rebo. Coryell received almost 29 percent of the votes with 113 while Banning received almost 26 percent with 102 votes. Pierce came in third with 79 votes and Rebo came after with 59 votes.

Nov. 14

Dell and Jo Osborn were sleeping soundly at 4 a.m. Friday at their Milnor Lake Road home when an explosion in their guest house blew out a bay window in their main home and left nothing at the foundation of the guest house.

Nov. 16

Two Libby area young adults, one male, 22, and one female, 21, were killed in an early morning vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 2 near milepost 61, just west of Manicke Church. The approximate time of the crash was 3:20 a.m. One male passenger, 28, remains in critical condition at Kalispell Regional Hospital.

Nov. 21

Libby mayor Tony Berget underwent emergency eye surgery Saturday night after he suffered severe blunt force trauma to his right eye while working on a well pump. Berget, who owns Tony's Pump Service, suffered the injury while trying to remove a defective pump from the bottom of a well in the Yaak around 4:30 p.m.

Nov. 28

Students at Libby High School are discussing ambient air issues in Gene Reckin's environmental health class. The students in Libby are studying a type of air pollution called particulate matter. Particulate matter (PM) is a mixture of solids and liquid droplets in the air. A particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers, or less, is called a "fine" particulate, and is a greater threat to human health.

Nov. 30

Gov. Brian Schweitzer was in Libby Wednesday where he presented a $1.5 million check to the Lincoln County Board of Health to help finance treatment for asbestos-related diseases. The $1.5 million comes from an allotment created by the 2007 Legislature and is critical to supplement health care coverage with limited W.R. Grace funds.

Dec. 5

A Libby man appeared in a U.S. District Court jury trial starting Monday in Missoula on federal murder-for-hire charges. Shane Douglas Sichting, 39, was arrested on Aug. 31 during divorce proceedings at the Lincoln County Courthouse. Sichting faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for allegedly hiring an Oregon man to kill Sichting's wife Sheilagh M. Sichting, formerly Sheilagh Clinch, according to court documents. Ronald M. Morales, 44, of Eugene, Ore. was allegedly paid $35,000 by Sichting to arrange to have someone kill Sheilagh.

Dec. 7

A guilty verdict was reached after three days of trial against Shane Douglas Sichting accused of a failed murder-for-hire plot. Sichting faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for hiring an Oregon man to kill his wife Sheilagh M. Sichting.

Dec. 12

On Thursday, Dec. 6 at approximately 8 p.m., a team of Lincoln County Sheriff's deputies served multiple arrest and search warrants in the Libby area. These warrants were the culmination of an extensive investigation led by Sheriff's Detective Boyd White. The first warrants were served at the Sandman Motel, where thanks to the cooperation of motel management, deputies located and arrested Wayne Leroy Waldron, Jr., 39, of Libby. During a subsequent search of the room, firearms, camera equipment and cash, as well as a number of other items believed to be stolen in several recent local burglaries were found.

Dec. 14

The project developer for the old high school building in Libby met with the Libby Merchants' Association on Tuesday morning to discuss the plans for the renovation project. Eric Berry, of DEV Properties in Kalispell, conversed with business owners and residents of Libby about the plans for the project.

Dec. 19

Residents in Libby are hailing the brand new addition to an aging transport fleet Thursday after Montana Sen. Max Baucus announced the donation of a new van to the Senior Citizens of Lincoln County transport service. The Ford Motor Company donated the van after representatives attended Baucus' Economic Development Summit in Butte in May.

Dec. 21

The election results have been counted for the Troy Activity Center and the bond passed with a 30 point majority in the elementary district and a 26 point majority in the high school district. Voters in the elementary district cast 418 votes in favor of the activity center and 388 votes against the construction. Within the high school district, there were 547 votes for the activity center and 521 votes against the center.

Dec. 26

Gene Reckin, a science instructor at Libby High School, invited Dr. Walter Kemp, (known as Willy) to speak to his students about his work at the state crime lab in Missoula. Kemp is the deputy state medical examiner and Reckin introduced him as, "the real-deal CSI." Willy Kemp, grew up in Libby and graduated from Libby High in 1989.

Dec. 28

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has extended the public comment period on the Yaak River Watershed Sediment Total Maximum Daily Loads until Jan. 14, 2008.