DERRICK PERKINS
Daily Inter Lake
Recent Stories
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.
Public weighs in on affordable housing project
Backers of an affordable housing complex on Commerce Way outlined more details about the project at a public hearing before Libby City Council on Aug. 23.
Morris sentenced on arson charges
The Eureka man accused of starting multiple fires in north Lincoln County last summer received a suspended, 24-year sentence last month so long as he continues to manage his mental illness and abides by the terms of his probation.
Economic development district spending approved
County commissioners signed off on using targeted economic development district dollars to undertake infrastructure improvements on Lincoln County Port Authority property last month.
Libby lifts fire restrictions in special meeting
Libby City Council voted to lift fire restrictions on residents of the municipality in a special meeting Aug. 30.
Tax appeal board members sought
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners is on the hunt for a third member for the jurisdiction’s tax appeal board.
City crews clearing waste from public land once claimed by city council candidate
Libby officials are busy cleaning up piles of waste and debris on public land off City Service Road, land that resident and candidate for city council Darrel “DC” Orr claimed as his in a dispute with nearby Montana Sky earlier this year.
Peggy Williams appointed mayor of Libby
Mayor Pro Tempore Peggy Williams dropped “pro tempore” from her title Aug. 23 after Libby City Council voted to appoint her to the position through the remainder of the year.
Libby man arrested after allegedly drawing, firing gun at campgrounds
A Libby man who sent campers at Warland Creek Campground scrambling after allegedly wandering from site to site with a gun while drunk faces multiple charges in Lincoln County District Court.
City councilors search for avenues to aid statue project
City councilors continue to look for ways they can assist the American Legion Auxiliary No. 97 in restoring an angel statue that overlooks the veterans section of Libby cemetery.
Kendall pleads guilty to attempted burglary
Jeremiah Kendall has struck a plea deal with prosecutors for the crimes allegedly committed during his short-lived escape from custody earlier this year.
FWP officials clear proposed conservation easement
Officials with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks are recommending the state agency secure a roughly 27,000 conservation easement on private land in Lincoln County.
Lincoln County competing with other locales for wildfire resources
Officials with the team overseeing the Burnt Peak and South Yaak fires pushed back on rumors that crews were slow walking firefighting efforts earlier this week.
Gunshot complaint ends in arrest for assault on a peace officer
A south Libby man faces multiple charges after allegedly fighting with sheriff’s deputies when they responded to reports of gunshots on Farm to Market Road earlier this month.
Mail-in municipal election back up for debate in Libby
City councilors in Libby are reconsidering a mail-in municipal election in the fall after comparing the cost with opening an in-person polling location.
Officials take notice of visitors flocking to Kootenai Falls
U.S. Forest Service officials plan to open discussions with the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners over how best to handle the growing popularity of the swinging bridge over the Kootenai Falls.
After surrendering personal arsenal to feds, Kilgore back in district court
A Libby man brought up on federal charges after allegedly shooting a horse last summer is back in Lincoln County District Court.
Commissioners back feds in lawsuit over wolverines
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners last week waded into civil litigation between the federal government and a coalition of conservation groups over the status of the nation’s wolverine population.
Polson man accused of posing as U.S. marshal
A Polson man faces a felony charge after allegedly trying to pass himself off as a U.S. marshal to two minors last weekend.
Morris sentenced on assault with a weapon charge
Leroy Robert Morris has received a suspended, 10-year sentence for pulling a handgun during a confrontation near Therriault Pass Road last summer.
Changing of the guard at Libby Family Eye Care
Libby Family Eye Care is getting a new name and optometrist in the coming months.
Troy City Council returns Seifert to health board
Jim Seifert is headed back to the Lincoln County Health Board after Troy City Council voted narrowly to again name him the municipality’s representative to the panel.
City council nixes mail-in ballot for November
Voters likely will cast ballots in person during November’s municipal election after Libby City Council rejected a proposal for a mail-in election this week.
Drought, resource constraints pose challenges in wildfire fight
With two large wildfires already burning in the Troy area and the West suffering a major drought, local officials want to impress upon residents the severity of the strain on emergency services.
Effort underway to give cemetery angel a 'facelift'
For decades, an angel has stood silent watch over the veterans buried in the City of Libby Cemetery. Now members of a local veterans group want to see her restored in time for her centennial.
Rain did little to aid wildfire efforts
The much-anticipated rain overnight Sunday did little to aid efforts to curtail the Burnt Peak and South Yaak fires.
Suspected firebug pleads guilty in separate felony case
A Eureka man still facing multiple arson charges has pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon in Lincoln County District Court.
Major landowners close off access
Large landholders in northwest Montana, including Stimson Lumber Co., are closing off access in the wake of drought, hot temperatures and increased wildfire risk.
Teske sworn in as commissioner; Libby City Hall accepting applications for mayor
Brent Teske formally joined the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners by taking the oath of office last week, opening up his previous post as mayor of Libby to newcomers.
Commissioners issue emergency declaration for Lincoln County
With two large wildfires burning in the Troy area, the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners approved a declaration of emergency on July 26.
Fight leads to arrest of man under investigation for trafficking
A man suspected of trafficking drugs in Lincoln County faces multiple felony charges after leading Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a high-speed chase in March.
Libby adopts stage two fire restrictions
Libby followed the county’s lead last week, declaring stage two fire restrictions for the municipality.
Kincheloe tapped to replace Bernhard on health board
A name familiar to close watchers of the Lincoln County Board of Health is set to represent the Eureka area on the panel.
Riverfront Blues Festival gets noise variance
Libby City Council has granted the annual Riverfront Blues Festival a noise variance for its return to the busy summer slate of events in the county.
Proposed RV park near Bull Lake earns preliminary approval
A planned RV park located just north of Bull Lake earned preliminary approval from the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners earlier this month.
Mattis sentenced for sexual assault
A Libby man who admitted to raping a child in January was sentenced to 15 years behind bars this week.
Edmundson earns deferred two-year sentence
A Pipe Creek resident who pulled a gun on a UPS deliveryman last year earned a deferred two-year sentence in Lincoln County District Court on July 12.
Teske named to Lincoln County Board of Commissioners
Brent Teske will succeed Mark Peck as the Libby representative to the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners.
Hearing on affordable housing project moved to August
A public hearing scheduled for a proposed affordable housing project on Commerce Way has been moved to next month, Libby officials say.
Residents weigh possible 27k conservation easement
Officials with Stimson Lumber Co. were on hand in Libby last week to drum up support for a plan to place a conservation easement on more than 27,000 acres of company land in Lincoln County.
Road closure approved for Mineral Avenue trick-or-treating
Annual trick-or-treating down Mineral Avenue will garner a road closure this year.
Council approves replacement radios for Libby Police Department
Libby City Council approved July 6 spending $73,271 of incoming American Rescue Plan Act funds to replace police radios.
Officials extol Code Red, an emergency alert system
Officials in Lincoln County are urging residents to sign up for Code Red, a service that sends out emergency alerts, as fire season gets underway.
Lincoln County enacts stage two fire restrictions
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners voted to issue stage two fire restrictions in conjunction with area state and federal agencies on July 14.
Swimming pool initiative resurfaces in Libby
Talk of building a public swimming pool in Libby resurfaced last week.
CPMC named gold standard performer
Cabinet Peaks Medical Center has been named a gold standard performer by a national professional services firm.
Mattis sentencing delayed after judge rejects terms of plea deal
Lincoln County District Judge Matthew Cuffe this week rejected the terms of a plea deal struck by a Libby man who allegedly admitted to raping a child, saying the crime warrants a harsher penalty.
Meacham charged with DUI after early morning wreck
An alleged drunk driver tried unsuccessfully to convince Libby police officers he wasn’t behind the wheel of a passenger car that struck a parked vehicle last month despite being found in the driver’s seat.
Warren sees suspended sentence revoked
A local woman accused of violating the terms of her probation by owning and caring for animals will spend the next eight years behind bars with credit for time served.
Fires aside, Libby police receive zero fireworks-related calls over holiday weekend
While the Libby Police Department did not receive any fireworks-related complaints over the Independence Day holiday, officers lent a hand in a pair of pyrotechnics-related fires.