DERRICK PERKINS
Daily Inter Lake
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Commissioners tap Bennett as chair
Lincoln County Commissioner Jerry Bennett took over as the committee’s chair this week.
McDonald receives deferred imposition of sentence
Lincoln County District Judge Matthew Cuffe handed down a four-year sentence with a deferred imposition to a man accused of electronically stalking his estranged wife earlier this year.
Carr faces drug, theft charges
A man arrested for theft from a local pawnshop last month now faces drug charges in Lincoln County District Court.
City Hall issues reminder of winter weather parking ban
Libby Police Chief Scott Kessel is reminding residents that parking restrictions are in effect within city limits through the end of March.
Contractor charged for allegedly fleecing customers
A local contractor pleaded not guilty to theft charges after his former customers accused him of failing to complete the work he agreed, and was paid, to do.
Local officials begin rolling out vaccinations
Coronavirus vaccinations are rolling out in Lincoln County, but officials caution that many factors will determine how and when an individual receives a vaccine.
Wicka sentenced for role in barricade situation
Lincoln County District Judge Matthew Cuffe followed the terms of a plea deal struck with a Libby man who barricaded himself against law enforcement last year, but warned that any slip-ups could result in a 10-year sentence.
Palafox found guilty after bench trial
Lincoln County District Judge Matthew Cuffe found a man accused of abusing a pet dog guilty on two counts of tampering with a witness following a Dec. 23 bench trial.
Hileman receives suspended sentence
A Libby man facing his tenth driving under the influence charge received a suspended, five-year sentence in Lincoln County District Court on Dec. 7.
Libby Airport snowplow delayed by virus
The pandemic has delayed the long-anticipated delivery of a new snowplow to the Libby Airport.
Despite calls, commissioners cannot dismiss health board, Peck says
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners cannot, unilaterally, disband the health board.
Lack of response disappoints pandemic measure opponents
The leader of a group of residents opposed to pandemic restrictions admonished Lincoln County commissioners for not taking their proposed remedies, which included disbanding the health board, more seriously.
Bench warrant issued for Kusener
Lincoln County District Judge Matthew Cuffe issued a bench warrant for a woman accused of dealing drugs in the Troy area after she failed to show up for court Dec. 7.
Seifert pitches grading system to spur pandemic measure compliance
Lincoln County Health Board member Jim Seifert sketched out an audacious plan to press local businesses to adopt pandemic measures at the tail end of a Dec. 16 informational meeting for residents interested in learning about the panel.
Health board backs testing agreement with CARD clinic
Health officials have again sought to put to rest allegations that the Center for Asbestos Related Disease profited off of county coronavirus testing efforts.
Mertes reappointed to health board
County commissioners reappointed Dr. Sara Mertes to the health board Dec. 16 amid discussion about how best to ensure representation from all parts of the region on the panel.
Former Libby city councilor offers to help reconcile health board with residents
Former Libby City Councilor DC Orr has offered his services as a conflict mediator between residents and the Lincoln County Health Board.
Board backs health officer, but not health order
Asking for community backing to fight the coronavirus pandemic, the county’s top doctor got plenty of praise from Lincoln County Health Board members Dec. 9, but no clear endorsement for future measures.
Semi-nude man arrested after traffic stop now faces drug charges
A man arrested after Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies found a bevy of syringes in his vehicle and him without pants during a traffic stop in November now faces multiple drug-related charges.
Oxygen crunch exposes potential 'crisis'
Two patients consuming unsustainable amounts of oxygen at Cabinet Peaks Medical Center last week underscored the strains the pandemic has placed on rural hospitals and the local health care system.
Accused of burglarizing restaurant during shutdown, Watts takes plea deal
The man accused of burglarizing the restaurant where he worked during the pandemic shutdown changed his plea in Lincoln County District Court on Dec. 7.
Letcher replaces Peck on county health board
Commissioner Josh Letcher (D-3) joined the local health board Dec. 9 as part of an effort to make the group more representative of the county as a whole.
Jorgensen pleads not guilty to DUI charges
A 59-year-old man arrested after his vehicle got stuck on the edge of a U.S. Border Patrol agent’s private driveway last month pleaded not guilty to multiple charges related to drunk driving in Lincoln County District Court.
Quarantine guidelines updated locally after CDC changes recommendations
Local health officials tweaked quarantine orders for residents exposed to the coronavirus Dec. 4 after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidelines last week.
Mertes reappointment delayed as commissioners consider restructuring health board
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners held off on reappointing Dr. Sara Mertes to the local health board amid continued calls to reshuffle the organization’s membership.
Charging station proposal electrifies city council
Officials at Flathead Electric Cooperative are planning a regional network of charging stations for electric vehicles and eyeing Libby as a potential location.
Commissioners address pandemic measure opponents' petition
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners acknowledged Dec. 2 that a resident petition aimed at dismissing pandemic measures had gravitas, but lacked legal standing.
Kusener faces drug charges after traffic stop
A woman believed by authorities to be a drug dealer in the Troy area faces multiple charges in Lincoln County District Court.
McDonald pleads guilty to stalking charge
Nathaniel Ryan McDonald pleaded guilty to a single count of stalking in Lincoln County District Court on Nov. 16 for allegedly planting an electronic monitoring device in his estranged wife’s home over the summer.
Mertes nominated for another term as officials weigh health board expansion
Despite opposition from the Eureka area, Lincoln County Health Board members narrowly voted to recommend colleague Dr. Sara Mertes for another term on the body Nov. 23.
Health board plans informational meeting for residents
Given the sudden interest in the powers and duties of the Lincoln County Health Board, members plan to hold an informational meeting about the body, tentatively scheduled for Dec. 16.
Suspected arsonist arraigned on assault with a weapon charge
A Eureka man accused of threatening a couple with a handgun in August pleaded not guilty in Lincoln County District Court on Nov. 16.
Board demurs on latest local health order
Repeatedly expressing support for Dr. Brad Black, members of the Lincoln County Health Board voted narrowly against endorsing his latest pandemic-related local order during a Nov. 23 emergency meeting.
County records ninth coronavirus death
Local health officials reported a new coronavirus-related death Friday evening.
Open-hearth fireplace at Libby restaurant approved
The Shed has permission to light up its open-hearth fireplace so long as the smoke emitted does not exceed standards outlined in county environmental health regulations.
Palafox pleads guilty to aggravated animal cruelty
The Troy man accused of abusing a dog and then intimidating his neighbors in an attempt to cover it up changed his plea in Lincoln County District Court last week.
Health board to meet after governor announces new measures
The Lincoln County Board of Health will meet in emergency session Nov. 23 as COVID-19 deaths increase locally and cases of the coronavirus surge across the country.
Pandemic restriction opponents ask commissioners for action
Members of a loose confederacy of residents aimed at undoing pandemic restrictions locally again went before the board of commissioners Nov. 18, asking to know what Lincoln County’s top elected officials were doing to address their grievances.
Wicka reaches plea deal with prosecutors
The Libby man accused of barricading himself away from law enforcement near U.S. Highway 2 in June has struck a plea deal with prosecutors.
Area businesses given clean slate for mask mandate violations
Lincoln County Health Department officials have restarted the enforcement process for any and all area businesses reported for noncompliance with state and local pandemic restrictions.
Health board meets as coronavirus cases jump
As coronavirus cases surged ever upward this month, members of the Lincoln County Health Board amplified calls for residents to join in common cause against the pandemic’s worsening spread.
Second COVID-19 death at Libby Care Center
A second death related to COVID-19 has been linked to the Libby Care Center of Cascadia.
Cuffe deems Basham flight risk, keeps bond set as is
Lincoln County District Judge Matthew Cuffe denied this week a request to release a man accused of absconding to Oregon with his daughter on his own recognizance.
Peck: 'The enemy is the virus'
Commissioner calls on residents to be good neighbors, follow basic precautions
Mark Peck wants to hit the reset button on the debate surrounding measures meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Sheriff's Office blotter
The law roundup is compiled from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office incident log. It is not meant to serve as an exhaustive account.
City zoning commission prepares to tackle new issues
Along with updates from various subcommittees and public agencies, Libby City Council may soon get regular reports from the municipality’s relatively new zoning commission.
Troy man faces slew of charges after allegedly brandishing firearm
A Troy man pleaded not guilty to a slew of charges stemming from an incident where he allegedly flashed a gun after being asked to leave his former girlfriend’s home in October.
Libby police chief contracts COVID-19
Libby Chief of Police Scott Kessel has taken ill with COVID-19.
Residents again lobby commissioners to reject pandemic measures
A mixed group of civil libertarians, anti-vaxxers and pandemic deniers again pushed county commissioners last week to dissolve the health board, dismiss the public health officer and publicly defy statewide COVID-19 restrictions.
Federal aid underwriting law enforcement, public safety, health department expenses amid pandemic
Reimbursement dollars meant to support coronavirus-related expenses
The county already has received roughly $472,605 in federal pandemic reimbursement funds and officials estimate taking in up to another $680,000 from Washington, D.C., by the New Year, with the lion’s share likely going to law enforcement.