DERRICK PERKINS
Daily Inter Lake
Recent Stories
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.
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.
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.
Man charged after allegedly threatening to shoot ranch employees
A former Libby man faces a felony charge after allegedly leaving a threatening and profane phone message for the owner of a dude ranch south of the municipality.
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.
Health board keeps liaison positions vacant, disbands Superfund committee
Health board members last week put its focus area liaison position for asbestos issues on ice and formally disbanded its committee dedicated to institutional controls at the Superfund site.
Real estate agent specializing in relocating conservatives to Montana slapped with lawsuit
A local real estate agent and consultant that caters to out-of-state conservatives relocating to what’s known as the American Redoubt faces a breach of contract lawsuit in Lincoln County District Court.
Commissioners meet with new Yaak Valley Forest Council director
County commissioners last week welcomed a reopening of dialogue with the Yaak Valley Forest Council, but said protecting area residents and property from wildfire remained a priority.
Commissioners put hold on new cannabis dispensaries
County commissioners moved this week to block new marijuana dispensaries from coming into the region until July of next year.
Sonju sentenced on criminal endangerment charge
Jared Sonju earned a deferred, four-year sentence last week after pleading guilty to criminal endangerment for firing a gun at a popular campground last summer.
Libby Chief offers more detailed statistics during regular report
Libby Police Chief Scott Kessel expanded the range of statistics he presents city councilors last week, saying he wanted to give officials a clearer picture of the goings-on in the municipality.
Omicron wave less lethal than delta as it passed through county, officials say
The surge of the omicron variant of COVID-19 kept health officials busy through January, but proved less deadly than the delta wave locally.
Kirkedahl sentenced on mitigated deliberate homicide
A Trego man accused of killing his adult son following years of abuse at his hands earned a partially suspended 30-year sentence in Lincoln County District Court on Feb. 7.
Kootenai Pets for Life seeks expansion
Representatives of Kootenai Pets for Life lobbied Libby City Council on Feb. 7 for permission to expand the shelter’s County Shop Road facility.
Aquatics center proposal taking on water
An effort to erect an aquatics center in Libby seems headed toward its swan song, though supporters plan to continue working on the project.
Libby City Council takes up retail cannabis rules
Libby City Council took its first look at a proposed retail recreational marijuana ordinance on Feb. 7.
City council issues letter of support for Hotel Libby project
City councilors backed an effort Jan. 18 to secure grant dollars for the historic Hotel Libby.
Libby Food Pantry faces temporary shutdown even as demand rises
In a room cramped by shelves laden with dry goods, volunteers juke and jive around one another on a typical Tuesday morning as they fill paper bags with packaged foods.
Troy to consider four-day school week
The Troy Public School Board will consider the adoption of a four-day week for the next school year when it meets on Feb. 14.
Crews discover body while fighting house fire on Bald Eagle Road
Firefighters with the Libby Volunteer Fire Department discovered a body while sweeping through the interior of a Bald Eagle Road home during a Saturday evening blaze.
Suspended sentence revoked for man accused of drunk driving
A local man that police say rolled his vehicle while intoxicated in December saw his suspended sentence on a previous drunk driving charge revoked in district court late last month.
Cuffe makes final bid for Helena
With plenty of unfinished business ahead of him, state Sen. Mike Cuffe said last week that he hopes voters in Lincoln County see fit to send him back to Helena one last time.
Mental health evaluation requested for man accused of attacking law enforcement
The Troy man accused of injuring Police Chief Katie Davis during his Jan. 2 arrest will undergo a mental health evaluation at the Montana State Hospital.
Barrows pleads guilty to amended felony charge
A man brought up on drug distribution charges after allegedly offering to sell methamphetamine to a criminal informant over text message changed his plea this week.
After not guilty verdict, Orr advocates for criminal justice reform
A failed Libby City Council candidate has become an unexpected advocate for criminal justice reform in Lincoln County in recent weeks.
Fettig allegedly took swig of alcohol at scene of rollover, police say
A local man with a history of drunk driving pleaded not guilty to new charges in Lincoln County District Court last month after police say he rolled his truck while intoxicated.
ARP officials: Zonolite insulation bags found in local attic
Asbestos Resource Program officials said they are preparing to aid a U.S. Highway 2 homeowner who recently stumbled across two bags of Zonolite insulation in an attic.
County lands about 4,000 take home COVID-19 tests
Lincoln County is receiving about 4,000 of the 650,000 at-home COVID-19 tests secured by Gov. Greg Gianforte in January.
Libby Vendors Market announces new location
The Libby Vendors Market will take up shop around the former high school after a roiling turf war complicated last year’s selling season at Fireman Park.
Border Patrol agents disrupt alleged crossing near West Kootenai
Two Seattle residents face charges in federal court after Border Patrol agents allegedly caught them helping six Mexican nationals cross the border in the West Kootenai area last week.
Man involved in 2020 police chase admits probation violations
A Great Falls man on a suspended sentence for partner assault and for leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase in 2020 admitted to multiple probation violations earlier this month.
Commissioners approve financial aid for Libby Food Pantry
Facing homelessness, the Libby Food Pantry stands to receive about $15,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds from the county for help arranging a possible new location.
Shooting range grant deadline draws near
The deadline to apply for state shooting range improvement grants is fast approaching.
Health officials weighing inspection software proposals
Health officials say the online inspection systems they are considering adopting could prove beneficial for other county departments.
Accused dealer pleads not guilty
A Kalispell man arrested after allegedly offering to sell drugs in Lincoln County via text message has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges.
Increasing number of deaths stretches coroner's office thin
An uptick in deaths in recent years spurred commissioners to bring on a fourth deputy coroner in the county.
Eureka Airport fuel upgrade stalls
County commissioners shelved a proposed fuel system upgrade at the Eureka Airport after the project missed out on possible state funding earlier this month.
Blanton back behind bars
A Eureka man arrested for shooting a dog will spend a year behind bars after admitting last month that he broke the terms of his suspended sentence.
Group seeking speed limit reduction pushes for update
Representatives of a group of state Highway 37 residents hoping to see speed limits on the busy roadway lowered returned before the board of commissioners on Jan. 12.
Engineering firm sought for landfill expansion
Health department officials say they are reviewing the qualifications of engineering firms interested in working on the county’s planned landfill expansion.
Troy man accused of attacking police chief
A Troy man who allegedly attacked and injured Chief Katie Davis while attempting to escape law enforcement earlier this month now faces multiple charges.
Accused drug smuggler pleads not guilty to new charges
Prosecutors have brought new charges up against a man long under investigation for smuggling drugs into Lincoln County.
Thompson Contracting Inc. awarded Angel Island Bridge project
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners signed off on Thompson Contracting Inc.’s bid for the Angel Island Bridge rebuilding project Jan. 12.
Commissioners open up recreational marijuana discussion
County commissioners indicated last week they will honor voters’ wishes for legalized recreational marijuana sales locally, but seek to keep the industry on a short leash.
Letcher named chair of county health board
County Commissioner Josh Letcher (D-3) took the reins as the chair of the county health board last week as members elected new officers to mark the start the year.
Health officials see jump in flu, COVID-19 immunizations at year's end
The number of flu shots administered by the county health department increased in the last quarter of the year, officials said last week.
Avalanche safety course open to public
David Thompson Search and Rescue, in conjunction with local snowmobile groups, is hosting a public avalanche workshop Jan. 21-22.
Weed department seeks air conditioning after last summer's heat took a toll
The county’s noxious weed department may soon get air conditioning.
Supporters seek help in securing funding for Yaak Community Hall
Yaak Community Hall supporters are petitioning the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners for help in repairing the building’s aging foundation.
Graves pleads guilty to drunk driving charge
A local man who once boasted to deputies that they would never catch him driving under the influence pleaded guilty to operating with an alcohol concentration of .08 or more on Jan. 3.