White supremacist helps accused killer post bail
The victim, 60-year-old Scott Bryan, was from Eureka, Montana.
Man accused of threatening Tester takes plea deal
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and a $100 special assessment.
Homicide in Marion under investigation
Sheriff Brian Heino confirmed Wednesday that his office was treating the death as a homicide.
Olney woman pleads guilty to shooting husband
Clutching a tissue, Johnson conceded the prospect of a jury returning with a guilty verdict was “a possibility” between sobs as she answered questions at the Dec. 7 hearing.
Troy man accused of rape arrested in Alaska
William James Pillans, 26, allegedly fought local police officers in Juneau after being informed of an extraditable felony warrant out of Montana.
Lincoln Co. animal abuser faces gun charge in Flathead
Prosecutors accuse Domingo J. Palafox, 31, of shooting at a pair of anglers on the Hungry Horse Reservoir.
Alleged campground killer charged with deliberate homicide
The man arrested for allegedly killing one and wounding another in a campground shooting near Libby over the weekend made his first appearance Tuesday in Lincoln County Justice Court on deliberate and attempted deliberate homicide charges.
Troy man accused of raping, sexually assaulting teen girls out on bail
The 25-year-old accused of raping one teen and sexually assaulting two others at a 2021 Halloween party is out on bail.
Class-action lawsuit filed following Kalispell hospital data breach
Former patients of Logan Health allege in a new class-action lawsuit that the medical provider’s November data breach left them open to identity theft and represented negligence, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty.
Commissioners cover cost of office overhaul for crisis response team
Commissioners agreed last week to use $2,000 in payment in lieu of taxes funds to cover the refurbishment of office space for the county’s fledgling crisis intervention team.
Doney faces assault charge after allegedly tossing stool at bartender
Authorities charged a local man with assault with a weapon for allegedly hurling barstools at a Libby bartender after being refused service in early February.
FWP reiterates willingness to aid Libby in turkey problem
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials pushed back on an assertion that the state was unwilling to help Libby with its turkey problem earlier this week.
Landfill to start taking payment via credit card
In an effort to crack down on contractors skipping out on their bills, health department officials have procured a credit card reader for the county landfill in Libby.
Libby City Council approves new playground equipment at Fireman's Park
The aging playground equipment at Fireman’s Park is getting an upgrade.
Libby schools to test for lead in mid-spring
Superintendent Ron Goodman said this week that administrators in Libby plan to begin testing for lead levels in school water by late April or early May.
Wilkes earns deferred sentence
A local man accused of aiding a pair of out-of-town drug dealers last summer and allegedly caught with methamphetamine while on pretrial supervision in December has earned a four-year deferred sentence.
County leases JC Clubhouse to Libby Food Pantry
Despite passing on the former JC Clubhouse once already, the Libby Food Pantry will move into the Pioneer Park building as time runs out on the nonprofit’s effort to find a new home.
Neighbors unload on gravel pit project
Concerns about water rights, air quality and property values – interspersed with insults, catcalls and implied threats – dominated a March 15 public meeting on a proposed gravel pit along Farm to Market Road.
Purkhiser picks up 18 additional counts of tampering
Prosecutors filed a slew of new charges last month against a man accused of felony partner or family member assault, saying he has continued to contact witnesses in his case from the county jail.
Familiar names vie for Libby county commissioner seat
Libby area Republicans will pick between two men with plenty of previous experience as local elected officials to serve as their next representative to the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners.
City councilors turn attention back to turkeys
When City Councilor Gary Beach broached the idea of contacting state officials to discuss getting a handle on Libby’s wild turkey population on March 7, colleague Hugh Taylor wished him luck.
Dionne remains in jail awaiting mental health evaluation
A Polson man arrested in August for posing as a federal marshal using a fake badge remains incarcerated in Libby awaiting a mental health evaluation nearly three months after changing his plea.
McNew asks city council to look at playground equipment
City Councilor Zach McNew laid out early plans to take a look at playground equipment citywide on March 7.
Air quality district burn permits available online this year
Residents of the Libby Air Quality Control District can apply for burn permits online beginning this year.
Revocation sought after Bock allegedly caught with firearm
Authorities are seeking the revocation of a Eureka man’s partially suspended sentence after probation and parole officers found a firearm in his home earlier this year.
Hartsock faces new charges in district court
A Libby man arrested last year for allegedly dealing drugs is now accused of strangling his girlfriend and breaking her phone to keep her from contacting authorities.
Medina, Rivera plead not guilty to charges stemming from alleged border crossing
Two Seattle residents involved in an attempted illegal border crossing in Lincoln County earlier this year have pleaded not guilty to multiple charges in U.S. District Court.
County to consolidate polling locations
Lincoln County’s seven polling locations will soon be consolidated into three central hubs in the region’s major municipalities.
Libby asks commissioners to pursue 3 percent tax on recreational cannabis
Libby city councilors this week formally petitioned the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners to pursue an additional 3 percent local tax on recreational marijuana sales.
Eureka swaps out health board rep
Eureka Town Council added a fresh face to the Lincoln County Health Board last month, likely realigning the panel’s outlook on the pandemic and public health in the process.
Revocation sought for deferred sentence
Prosecutors are seeking the revocation of a Troy man’s suspended drug possession sentence after multiple violations, including fleeing after an alleged assault and keeping a firearm.
Fettig pleads guilty to driving under the influence charge
A Libby man who paused to take a swig of alcohol while talking to police officers at the scene of a December vehicle wreck has pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol, fourth or subsequent offense.
Permitting system proposed for morel mushrooms
Following last summer’s wildfires, the U.S. Forest Service is seeking public comment on a proposed morel mushroom permit system for 2022.
Health advisory issued for municipal water in Libby
Health officials placed a health advisory on Libby’s water supply after an increase in turbidity late last week.
Purkhiser arrested after alleged partner assault
A man with a history of abuse who moved to the Libby area for a Facebook romance faces multiple felony charges after allegedly attacking his then-girlfriend in January.
Zoning commission weighs in on retail cannabis rules
The Libby Zoning Commission took its first crack at the municipality’s draft recreational cannabis ordinance Feb. 28.
Wastewater treatment plant upgrade going out to bid
Libby officials are poised to put a long awaited upgrade to the city’s water treatment facility out to bid.
Ellis changes plea, faces 10 years behind bars
A Eureka man caught on an audio recording trying to badger an underage relative into having sex with him is poised to spend the next decade behind bars.
Zonolite bags removed from U.S. Highway 2 home
Officials with the Asbestos Resource Program successfully removed two bags of Zonolite insulation found in the attic of a U.S. Highway 2 home in recent weeks.
With fundraiser, KPFL on its way to paying for expansion
Volunteers with Kootenai Pets for Life raised roughly $15,000 in a one-day fundraiser hosted on social media last week, but still lack the official OK on plans for an expansion from Libby City Council.
Commissioners issue new letter panning selenium standards
County commissioners put the finishing touches on a letter opposing the state Department of Environmental Quality’s new selenium standards for Lake Koocanusa and the Kootenai River on Feb. 23.
Health officials select engineering firm for landfill project
Officials have selected Great West Engineering, which boasts experience in Lincoln County, to lay the groundwork for the planned Libby landfill expansion.
Bungled burglary ends in felony charges
A local man faces felony charges after allegedly stealing cash, marijuana and pipes from a Trego garage in January.
Downing raises alarm on cybersecurity
The state commissioner of securities and insurance last week warned business owners to prepare for cyberattacks in the wake of sanctions levied on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Three more graduate from county's treatment court program
Thomas Eaker, Chelsea Faber and Marvin McKeever sat at the defendant’s table, looking up at District Judge Matthew Cuffee on Friday afternoon — and not for the first time.
Eureka man accused of breaking into girlfriend's home, threatening her
A Eureka man faces burglary and partner or family member assault charges after allegedly breaking into his girlfriend’s home in December.
Graves sentenced on drunk driving charge
District Judge Matthew Cuffe handed down on Feb. 7 a suspended, three-year sentence to a local man caught driving under the influence last year.
Greenfield tapped as Cabinet Peaks CEO
Cabinet Peaks Medical Center has a new chief executive officer.
Air curtain burner for landfill OK'd
Health department officials got the green light this month to move forward with the purchase of a roughly $184,000 air curtain burner for the county landfill.
Commissioners plan to update county procurement process
Commissioners are poised to update the county’s procurement policy to allow for purchases up to $80,000 without requiring the bidding process.