DERRICK PERKINS
Daily Inter Lake
Recent Stories
Libby ordinance committee takes up recreational marijuana
Libby City Council’s ordinance committee began debating how to regulate future recreational marijuana sales this week and raised the prospect of reviving an effort to regulate medicinal cannabis facilities in town.
Libby City Council urged to take action on encroaching grizzly bears
Taylor Loop resident Martin Dunbar urged Libby City Council to alert the public about a sloth of grizzly bears in the area and develop a plan to deal with the animals in the future.
FSPW volunteers clear more than 66 miles of trail
Volunteers with the Friends of the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness (FSPW) cleared more than 66 miles of trail in Lincoln and Sanders counties this year, organization officials say.
Employee accused of worksite thefts
An employee of a Helena-based homebuilder faces a felony charge in Lincoln County District Court for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of equipment in 2021.
Judge maintains bail in sexual assault case
District Judge Matthew Cuffe has denied a bail reduction for a Eureka man accused of pressuring a juvenile for sex, sexual assault and assault with a weapon.
City council prepares to take up rules for marijuana sales
At the behest of Police Chief Scott Kessel, members of Libby City Council’s ordinance committee will begin considering rules around the sale of recreational marijuana locally this week.
Rebo charged with failure to register upon return to Montana
A recently returned Montana man faces a felony charge in Lincoln County District Court for failing to register as a sexual or violent offender upon his homecoming.
Health board looking for a governing body
Members of the Lincoln County Board of Health broached the topic of adopting a governing body during a work meeting last month.
Vehicles, programs and an air curtain burner top health department's ARPA request
Health department officials gave the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners last week a little more than $300,000 wish list for American Rescue Plan Act monies.
Hinz faces assault charges
A local man stands accused of assaulting his wife and repeatedly threatening to kill her and anyone who helps her.
Ballard sentenced on endangerment, possession charges
Wallace Ballard will spend the next five years with the state Department of Corrections after his Oct. 18 sentencing in Lincoln County District Court.
Health board debates process for divvying up at-large seats
Health board members broached the idea of cementing geographical preferences for at-large seats during an Oct. 19 work meeting, but failed to make much headway.
City council votes to pursue grant for wastewater projects
Libby City Council voted to pursue grant money Oct. 25 aimed at funding much-needed wastewater improvements.
Carvey reaffirmed as health board appointee
Commissioners upheld their decision to add Eureka’s Dr. Dianna Carvey to the health board after more than 30 minutes of public testimony in a packed meeting room inside the Lincoln County Courthouse this week.
Man convicted for killing dog back in district court
A Eureka man convicted of aggravated animal cruelty with a firearm enhancement after shooting a dog last year could see his suspended sentence revoked.
City council candidate accuses Black Lives Matter of meddling in health board appointment
Libby City Council candidate Darrel “DC” Orr warned last week that the Black Lives Matter campaign is orchestrating the removal of a recently appointed local health board member.
Commissioners reopen public comments on health board appointment
Residents will get another chance to weigh in on the appointment of Eureka’s Dr. Dianna Carvey to the Lincoln County Health Board this week.
Health board member pushes colleagues to take COVID-19 seriously
After a serious bout with COVID-19, county health board member Debra Armstrong last week pushed for the development of a more robust plan to treat the disease locally, but stopped short of promoting vaccinations.
Eureka man charged with sexual assault, solicitation of incest
A Eureka man faces sexual assault charges in Lincoln County District Court after allegedly groping a minor and repeatedly badgering her for sex.
DEQ closes complaint on Libby dumpsite
Municipal workers spent an estimated 22-and-a-half hours cleaning waste from a dumpsite linked to a Libby City Council candidate found on public land earlier this year.
Black sees signs for optimism but warns of possible hard winter
Pointing to low vaccination numbers locally, Dr. Brad Black warned that the county could see continued suffering and death from COVID-19 as winter approaches.
Eureka doctor appointed to county health board
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners selected a Eureka area doctor Oct. 13 to fill the vacant at-large seat on the county health board.
Libby pool effort remains afloat
Plans to build an aquatic facility in Libby remain alive, but treading water, a spokesman for the local group behind the effort told city officials last week.
Atkins charged for drug possession after domestic dispute
A local man faces drug charges after officers from multiple law enforcement agencies responded to an August disturbance call at a Libby area trailer park.
Sheriff seeks to avoid taking budget hit for unexpected cost overrun
Sheriff Darren Short urged the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners last week to share the burden of a cost overrun on a major overhaul of local emergency services’ communications systems.
Marthe faces multiple charges after alleged assault
An out-of-town visitor faces a felony assault charge in Lincoln County District Court after local authorities responded to a disturbance call outside a Libby area restaurant in mid-September.
Sikes appointed city administrator of Libby
Libby City Council backed Mayor Peggy Williams’ appointment of Samuel Sikes as city administrator this week, but not before clashing over procedure.
Accused drug dealer pleads guilty
One of three individuals arrested in Libby after local detectives busted open a drug ring in late summer has entered a guilty plea after reaching a deal with prosecutors.
Viereck faces revocation of suspended sentence
A Libby man who pleaded guilty to stalking in 2019 could see his suspended four-year sentence revoked after allegedly getting into a vehicle wreck while intoxicated earlier this year.
Beckman accused of starting May 20 structure fire in Libby
A woman accused of trying to burn down a Libby salon in May allegedly started the fire because she thought the shop was home to criminal activity.
Library saw digital gains in fiscal year marked by disruptions
Circulation at the Lincoln County Library fell in 2021, but given the pandemic and other disruptions, Director Alyssa Ramirez said that dissemination of materials was not the best statistic to measure success.
Search for mangled and erratically driven vehicle leads to DUI charge
A motorist arrested after allegedly driving erratically along U.S. Highway 2 while dragging behind vehicle parts earlier this month faces his fifth driving under the influence conviction.
Libby man accused of dealing Suboxone
A Libby man brought up on charges after allegedly selling drugs to an informant has pleaded not guilty to two counts of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs.
City crews fixing leaks after water shutoff
Libby’s water system experienced five leaks following a scheduled shutoff earlier this month.
Purdy accused of selling horse belonging to his ex daughter-in-law
A Eureka man who allegedly admitted to selling a horse owned by his former daughter-in-law faces a felony theft of a commonly domesticated hoofed animal charge in Lincoln County District Court.
Zimmerman tapped as Libby City Council president
Brian Zimmerman succeeded Mayor Peggy Williams as president of the Libby City Council on Sept. 20.
Driver sentenced for role in illegal border crossing
A Washington, D.C., man arrested after helping three people illegally cross the border from Canada will spend the next three years under supervision.
McNew joins Libby City Council
Local businessman Zachariah McNew joined the Libby City Council on Sept. 20, taking Mayor Peggy Williams’ former seat on the governing body.
Three brought up on charges after detectives bust drug ring
Authorities broke up a drug ring in the Libby area in late August, arresting three and seizing methamphetamine, heroin and a supply of drug paraphernalia, according to court documents.
Sheriff's office requests extra $31k for dispatch overhaul
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office needs an additional $31,000 for an already pricey project to overhaul local law enforcement’s dispatch and records system.
City Hall backs chamber in pursuit of grant
City officials are supporting a Libby Chamber of Commerce effort to help rebrand a region known by the outside world largely for its Superfund site.
Appointment of new Libby City Council member expected for Sept. 20
City councilors in Libby are expected appoint a new colleague to the six-person governing body on Sept. 20.
Police: Johnson apologized before allegedly fleeing arrest
A man who allegedly apologized to a police officer before speeding off from the scene of a traffic stop last month has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges in Lincoln County District Court.
Boil order lifted
City officials lifted Sept. 15 the boil order placed on residents tapped into Libby’s water system following a temporary shutoff earlier this week.
Kendall sentenced — again
In Jeremiah Kendall’s last scheduled court appearance in Libby before the start of a lengthy prison stint, he received a suspended 20-year sentence for attempted burglary.
Zoning changed for land near golf course
Land near Cabinet View Golf Course received new zoning last week after earning Libby City Council overwhelming approval ahead of a proposed residential development there.
County seeing spike in COVID-19 cases
More than a year into the pandemic, Lincoln County is seeing more cases of COVID-19 than ever before.
Tapping the brakes: Residents want to see speed limit on state highway lowered
A group of residents along state Highway 37 want to see the speed limit dropped to 55 miles per hour, saying the thoroughfare has grown increasingly busy and dangerous in recent years.
Deadline missed for election change
Attempts to revisit a decision to hold a poll election quietly faded this week after Libby officials learned they had missed the deadline to switch to a mail-in vote.
Libby to experience water shutoff next week
Libby residents will briefly lose water on Sept. 13 owing to work on the waterworks system, officials said in press release.