WILL LANGHORNE
The Western News
Recent Stories
Lady Loggers rally late to beat Wildkats
Mounting a stunning late-game rally, the Lady Loggers beat the Columbia Falls Wildkats 13-12 on April 21.

Planning begins for future of detention center
Constrained by limited funds, commissioners say Lincoln County is years out from building a badly needed law enforcement and detention center.
Ordinance committee tweaks proposed golf cart ordinance
Libby City Council’s ordinance committee lent its support for a third time to a proposal that would legalize golf cart usage on local streets under certain conditions.

Real estate prices soar across county
Lincoln County has seen a slightly more than $100,000 spike in average real estate sales prices since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Tennis team struggles against Whitefish
The Logger tennis squad faced staunch competition from their Whitefish counterparts during an April 13 match in Libby.

Semi-retirement didn't last long for Brad's Burgers owners
When Dale and Kathy Merkt opened Brad’s Burgers in December, everyone thought they were crazy.
Libby Loggers warming up for season's start
Guided by a core of seasoned sluggers and bolstered by a crop of rising talent, the Libby Loggers are eager to get their uniforms dusty during their first games of the year later this month.
Budget committee takes first crack at fiscal year 2022
Libby City Council’s budget committee has recommended a set of counter-offers to union-proposed amendments to the municipality’s upcoming financial roadmap.

Board votes to lift mask requirement in May
After months of debate, Libby Public School Board members voted in favor of lifting the district’s mask requirement early next month.
Lady Loggers topple Eureka
Braving cold and snowy conditions, Libby tamed the Eureka Lady Lions 16-8 last weekend.
Commissioners tackle vacant elected positions in county
Lincoln County Commissioners took the first steps towards filling elected county administrative positions left vacant.
Forest Service projects waiting in the wings
U.S. Forest Service officials are continuing work on a slate of projects designed to increase local timber harvests in the coming years.

Wood reflects on half-century career
Tom Wood has seen a lot in his nearly 50-years with the Libby Volunteer Fire Department.

Mask talk heats up as date to lift policy nears
The longstanding debate over lifting mask requirements within the Libby Public School District became increasingly complicated in recent weeks.

Lady Lions roar over Lady Trojans
Despite building an early lead, the Lady Trojans fell 34-11 to the Eureka during their April 6 home game.
Daines, Tester secure funding for rural schools
Montana’s two senators, Steve Daines and Jon Tester, have helped secure over $12 million for rural counties by reauthorizing critical federal funding.

Family of missing man seeks justice after body discovered
Authorities believe they have recovered the body of a Troy man missing since last summer.

Rabbit Tracts partnership receives approval
State officials have approved a local forest management project, which aims to build a partnership between private landowners and county, state and federal officials.
Troy awash in pandemic relief funds
Local government coffers stand to receive a windfall from federal legislation aimed at curbing the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lauer elected new Libby fire chief
The Libby Volunteer Fire Department saw a changing of the guard during their annual elections held April 1.
Troy receives grant to bolster police patrols
Troy City Councilors approved a grant that will bolster the municipality’s police force during the summer season.
FWP looking to hire at area parks
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks are looking for full- and part-time hires at several Flathead Valley parks.
Election integrity a hot topic in Helena
Amid the slew of bills that have cycled through Montana’s legislative chambers this year, state Sen. Cuffe (R-Eureka) said there’s one issue that has dominated his constituent’s attention: voting and election regulations.

Smoking Gun BBQ comes out blazing
When Jeremy Canary opened Smoking Gun BBQ in August, he was concerned that the pandemic might hamstring his business.

Loggers shine in doubles despite loss
Although the Loggers boys and girls tennis teams fell to their Hamilton counterparts last week, Libby came away from the season opener with victories in the doubles categories.

Commissioners apologize for surreptitious meeting
A pair of county commissioners have apologized for violating state law by holding a meeting outside of the public eye last month and released minutes of the gathering.

Youthful Lady Trojans squad looks forward to softball's return
After sitting out last year’s season, the Troy softball team is set to come back swinging.

State evidence not enough for charges in Ranch For Kids case
The Lincoln County Attorney’s Office will not pursue charges against a former facility for troubled youth in Rexford after reviewing a state investigation into allegations of child abuse at the site.

Teck fined $60 million for polluting Koocanusa tributary
A Canadian coal mining company faces $60 million in fines after pleading guilty to polluting a tributary of Lake Koocanusa and the Kootenai River.

Commissioners, mayor and volunteer board members met in violation of state law
Two county commissioners, a mayor and members of a local board met over breakfast earlier this month to discuss the future of the Troy Area Dispatch District, in what open meeting law experts deem a violation of the Montana Constitution and state law.
Flower Creek watershed report nears completion
Without the Flower Creek watershed, there is no City of Libby.

Rescue teams turn up missing outdoorsman
Following a day of search and rescue operations, on March 24 authorities found a missing Libby man who disappeared in the brush with his dog earlier this week.
Tester, Daines push for National Asbestos Awareness Week in April
Montana’s U.S. senators are pushing a resolution that would again designate the first week in April as National Asbestos Awareness Week.
Dozens quarantined after virus resurfaces at schools
Libby Public Schools saw a coronavirus outbreak this week, which put dozens of students and staff members into quarantine.

End of year traditions return to local schools
After canceling or modifying spring traditions and sports seasons last year, south Lincoln County Schools are ramping end-of-school events back up.
Hagen arrested after string of robberies
A Libby man faces a single robbery charge so far after allegedly stealing from local gas stations while armed earlier this month.
Schools outline coronavirus relief spending
Lincoln County schools are set to receive an infusion of federal funds thanks to recent coronavirus relief legislation.
Troy officials ink land deal with ambulance group
A buy-sell agreement between Troy Volunteer Ambulance and the City of Troy is off to the title company.

Fantozzi hopes to bring mental health issues into the foreground
Touting a background in mental and public health, Amy Fantozzi, newly minted county health board representative, said she would use science to guide her decisions on the panel.

Softball squad warming up for season
After a couple days of indoor practice, the Libby softball team hit the fields March 17 to take advantage of last week’s good weather.

Libby tennis players prep for return to courts
Libby tennis players got back into the swing of things with their first practice of the year last week.

Superfund site handoff going well, officials say
Just over nine months since oversight of residential and commercial properties in the Libby Asbestos Superfund Site shifted from federal to state hands, officials say all is going according to plan.

Loggers prep for track and field season
Libby track and field athletes began pounding pavement this week, getting in shape for their upcoming season.

Forest officials eye potential projects
The Kootenai National Forest is set to receive another boost in federal funding courtesy of the Great American Outdoors Act.
Charges against trailer park owner dismissed
Justice Court Judge Jay Sheffield has dismissed charges against the owner of two local trailer parks who stood accused of environmental health violations.
'Bear aware' season is in full swing
With the onset of spring comes an uptick in wildlife activity in northwest Montana.
Substitute teachers, seasonal workers will see bump in pay
Libby Public School board members have approved a bump in pay for certain employees.

Seepage near Libby Creek nonhazardous, officials say
Recreationalists walking the trail along Libby Creek were alarmed to find an orange-colored substance seeping into the stream in January, though officials have since deemed the runoff nonhazardous.

Getting back to the basics at Rosita's
When Jose Enrique Figueroa Castillo founded Rosita’s 12 years ago, he had a plan to bring authentic Mexican cuisine to Lincoln County. After resuming ownership of the restaurant, his commitment to the craft remains just as strong.

Investigation clears deputy involved in shooting
Officials have declared that the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office deputy who shot and injured a man during a January domestic disturbance call used an appropriate and justified amount of force.