SCOTT SHINDLEDECKER
Scott Shindledecker is the editor of The Western News. He covers public safety, city, county, sports and outdoors news. He is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a degree in journalism. He has been the sports and outdoors editor for the Courier-Express newspaper in DuBois, Pa., and worked for Hagadone Montana newspapers in Northwest Montana. He can be reached at 406-293-4124 or sshindledecker@thewesternnews.com.
Recent Stories
Eureka man receives suspended sentence for felony theft
Wolf pleaded guilty to an amended charge of felony theft on Aug. 22.
Troy man accused of stealing boat jailed
Travis Wade Pefferman, 39, failed to appear for arraignment on the charges on Sept. 19 and Sept. 26 in Lincoln County District Court.
Libby's Malyevac, Foss qualify for state golf tournament
Junior Reece Malyevac and senior Mackenzie Foss will be playing at the Class A state tournament on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at the Hamilton Golf Club.
Libby considered for Northwest Montana business expansion
As part of their efforts to have a Libby location, the company is holding a workforce exploration event from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4 at the Lincoln County Campus of Flathead Valley Community College.
Libby man accused of assaulting county deputy at jail
Bohdan Yuriyovych Yakovenko, 24, is charged with one felony count of assault on a peace officer.
Libby man accused of assaulting child, driving drunk
Ty Reed Orsborn, 35, pleaded not guilty to felony assault on a minor and misdemeanor DUI on Sept. 19 in Lincoln County District Court.
Western A golf Divisional comes to Libby
Golfers will play a practice round at 1 p.m. Thursday. The divisional will be a "chainsaw" start at 10 a.m. Friday.
No letup with house fires in Libby area
The most recent occurred on the Tuesday afternoon on Parmenter Drive.
Libby benefitting from LOR Foundation work
They have already completed a number of projects benefitting Libby and are looking to do more.
Concerned citizen gets alleged drunk driver off road
A Lincoln County citizen helped get an alleged drunk driver off the road during an incident near Rexford.
Local officials discuss suicide prevention methods
At the Lincoln County Commissioners Sept. 14 meeting, Public Health Manager Jennifer McCully said there have been three teen suicide attempts in the last six weeks in the county.
Libby man charged with gun crime near bar
Filip Matthew Schertel, 30, is charged with two felony counts of assault with a weapon.
Commissioners approve Happy's RV park subdivision
The state Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Natural Resources Conservation will also have to approve the subdivision application.
Trojans celebrate Homecoming with win over Plains
Derek Cole’s recovery capped a wild game as the Trojans picked up their first win of the 2022 season.
Amtrak train fracas leads to assault charge
According to charging documents, Schneider has a history with law officers in South Dakota and Wyoming.
Two Libby residents file as write-in candidates for county offices
Amanda Eckart of Libby filed for the office of the county Public Administrator on Aug. 24 and Stu Crismore of Libby filed for the District 1 County Commissioner seat on Aug. 18.
Libby volleyball battles in defeat to Whitefish
In the first set, Libby jumped out to leads of 5-1 and 12-7.
Libby VFD extinguishes structure fire
The lone resident of the home - a wheelchair-bound man - was not home at the time, but firefighters didn’t know that until they searched the burning and smoke-filled home.
Dozens attend hearing on proposed RV park at Happy's Inn
Commissioner Jerry Bennett said a decision would be made on Wednesday, Sept. 21.
Troy parents voice displeasure; teacher tenders resignation
The teacher's resignation followed a school board meeting Monday night in a packed library where several parents and concerned citizens spoke their feelings about the situation.
Soley steps in to take over Troy volleyball
In Thursday’s match, Plains won the first two sets, 25-10 and 25-11, before the Lady Trojans won a nail-biter in the third, 25-23.
Bull Gin Complex fires continue to grow
According to the Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 7, the fires have burned a little more than 3,000 acres in Sanders County, near the Lincoln County border. There was 0% containment as of Monday morning.
Browning woman sentenced for drug offense in Lincoln Co.
Valerie Sue Dog Taking Gun Grant, 56, received a 5-year suspended sentence.
Lincoln County woman accused of meth possession
According to the affidavit of probable cause, county Sheriff Deputy Clint Heintz was on patrol shortly after midnight on April 22 when he saw a vehicle with the driver’s side headlight out.
Fire destroys home outside of Libby
The white, single story home, which was located at the corner of White Avenue and Rose Street, had flames coming out of the roof and heavy smoke.
Malyevac leads Loggers at Libby Invitational
Malyevac's 2-over par score was good for third place in the 53-man field.
Sanders County killer gets 80 years in state prison
A jury convicted Aaron Eugene McLaughlin, 41, in June following a successful prosecution by the Attorney General’s Office Prosecution Services Bureau.
Watson's Market finally bears its name
The new signage recently went up and the only change was that Watson’s handles Harvest Foods.
Libby man accused of sexually assaulting woman
Jason D. Buford, 45, is charged with three...
County will hold another public hearing on proposed RV park
The developers of a proposed RV park at Happy’s Inn and those opposed to it are sharing more information that they believe is relevant to the project.
Wind spurs growth of wildfires in Bull Gin Complex
The trio of fires is now more than 1,400 acres in size and two of them saw growth due to gusty winds that drove fire fighters from one of the blazes.
Troy Trojans keep battling in loss to Mission
Players hugged and high-fived new head coach Justin Young after a 78-42 defeat to the Mission Bulldogs in 8-man football action in Troy.
Type 2 team takes over as Bull Gin Fire Complex grows
Thompson’s team helped bring the Elmo Fire in Sanders and Flathead counties earlier this summer. Now, they’ll deal with four growing fires on the Cabinet District on the Kootenai National Forest.
Labor Day weekend busy for Lincoln Co. first responders
A holiday weekend may mean an extra day off from the job, but for first responders it often means an increased chance of more work.
Northwest Montana woman accused of fentanyl possession
Halie Maria Herzog, 28, was charged with five counts of felony possession of dangerous drugs, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, hydrocodone/acetaminophen, psilocybin mushrooms and Suboxone without a prescription.
Kootenai National Forest announces Bull Gin Complex closures
While many fires were contained and controlled, Kootenai National Forest officials decided on the evening of Friday, Sept. 2 to combine the Isabella Lake, Government, Billiard and the North Star fires into the Bull Gin Complex.
Troy man accused of spraying wife with fire extinguisher
Joshua Michael Glaese, 39, pleaded not guilty to one felony count of assault with a weapon.
County won't pursue sex assault case against Lincoln Co. man
County Attorney Marcia Boris told District Judge Matt Cuffe on Monday the county was dismissing the charge against 61-year-old Timothy William Ague, 61.
Storm leaves residents without power; fire crews busy on new starts
According to Flathead Electric, the storm, which moved through the area a little after 9 p.m., left most customers without power until about 1 a.m.
Man escapes serious injury in garage fire east of Libby
The scene was initially chaotic before everyone knew the man was OK.
Former Libby City Councilor accused of fraud
Angel Lee Ford, 53, of Libby, who previously pleaded not guilty, appeared in Lincoln County District Court on Aug. 15.
Libby cross country teams host invitational
Both the girls and boys teams are fielding full squads that can score as teams. Katzer said between the varsity, junior varsity and middle schools teams, there are 40 runners.
Lincoln County residents seek remedy from unruly neighbor
They are concerned that if something isn’t done soon, the situation could escalate to violence.
Loggers rough up East Helena, 37-0
The hosts got 164 yards and two touchdowns from Cy Stevenson and 155 yards and one TD from Jace DeShazer. Senior quarterback Trevor Collins ran for 26 yards and two touchdowns.
Two men charged with burglary, vandalism at golf course
Cole Douglas Murphy and Shane Brian Rice, 20, are charged with felony burglary, felony criminal mischief and misdemeanor unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
Eureka woman accused of stealing from blind man
Sofiah Eden Serene Slette, 20, is charged with one count of felony theft, one count of felony drug possession.
Vote postponed on Happy's RV Park subdivision
The development was apparently that a property owner with land adjacent to the proposed subdivision didn’t receive a letter until a day after the Aug. 10 hearing.
Teamwork prevents blaze from destroying apartment complex
The man, a Libby City Police officer and the Libby Volunteer Fire Department worked to extinguish the blaze inside the office of the Libby Plaza II complex on Commerce Way.
Libby welcomes Montana Shakespeare in the Parks
An estimated crowd of 200 enjoyed the performance of mistaken identity and an unintended love triangle.
Libby man headed to Ukraine on a mission of mercy
Cohan, 74, was expected to arrive in Ukraine on Thursday, Aug. 25, to help train citizens of the war-torn country in medical techniques as it faces a continued invasion by the Russian Army.