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The Western News
Libby Food Pantry gets a big lift from LOR Foundation
For many years Libby Food Pantry and its volunteers have been a safe haven and blessing for many families and individuals throughout the community.The nonprofit, which has no paid employees, is an all-volunteer operation whose members donate their time and talents. In 2023, they served more than 250 food-insecure households, providing nearly 140,000 pounds of food to local Libby families.The pantry, through its Back Pack Program, bought, packaged and distributed food to about 120 food insecure kids at participating local schools.The pantry, which moved from the older Asa Wood School to the former JC Clubhouse in 2022, typically serves an...
Bits n' pieces from east, west and beyond
East, west or beyond, sooner or later events elsewhere may have a local impact. A recent sampling:President Joe Biden, 81, after showing confusion and signs of infirmity at the June presidential debate with Donald Trump, said on Sunday he will not run for re-election, various media reported. He’s endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, 59, as the presidential candidate. Biden had been under pressure from Democratic leaders to step aside. He plans to complete his term of office.Harris has been flooded with endorsements and donations and has more delegate support than is required for securing the presidential nomination. In a public speech...
Libby woman gets prison time in meth possession case
A Libby woman accused of drug trafficking following an incident late last year was recently sentenced to prison time.Rochelle Denise Styles, 44, was first charged with three felony counts of transferring illegal articles (dangerous drugs), criminal distribution of dangerous drugs and a misdemeanor count of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Styles pleaded guilty on May 20 in Lincoln County District Court to the drug distribution charge. The other charges were dropped according to the terms of a plea deal.District Judge Matt Cuffe sentenced Styles on July 15 to four years in a state Department of Corrections facility. Styles was taken into...
Eureka man gets 30-year term for killing father
A Eureka man who pleaded guilty to shooting and killing his father during an incident in a remote part of Lincoln County more than two years ago was sentenced Tuesday in district court to 30 years in the Montana State Prison.Joshua Joseph Sauls, 26, the son of the victim John Sauls, pleaded guilty to an amended count of mitigated deliberate homicide May 13 in front of District Judge Matt Cuffe.Sauls was first charged with deliberate homicide after investigators with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said he fired three rounds from a .45 caliber handgun into the back of 64-year-old John...
Arrest warrant issued for Libby man accused of stabbing woman
A Libby man accused of stabbing a woman during an alleged incident at a local bar in September 2023 had a bench warrant issued for his arrest after a recent incident.David Kenneth Reid, 38, pleaded not guilty last year to one felony count of aggravated assault and two misdemeanors, including obstruction and carrying a concealed weapon while under the influence.According to a court document filed July 26, Reid was at a local business June 24 to pay a bill for the repair of a tire. According to employees at the business, Reid was agitated about the cost, $98.95. The employees...
Legals for August, 2 2024
Troy School District #1 P.O. Box 867 Troy, MT 59935 **NOTICE OF FINAL BUDGET MEETING** The budgets for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, as prepared by the Trustees for Troy School District #1, are on file in the District Office and are open to inspection by all taxpayers. The Trustees will meet on Monday, August 19th, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. in the Troy High School Library, Troy, Montana for the purpose of adopting the Final Budgets of the District. Any taxpayer of the District may appear at the meeting and be heard for or against any part...
Possibility of wildlife-to-human crossover heightens concerns about CWD
Each fall, millions of hunters across North America make their way into forests and grasslands to kill deer. During the winter, people chow down on the venison steaks, sausage, and burgers made from the animals.These hunters, however, are not just on the front lines of an American tradition. Infectious disease researchers say they are also on the front lines of what could be a serious threat to public health — chronic wasting disease.The neurological disease, which is contagious, rapidly spreading, and always fatal, is caused by misfolded proteins called prions. It currently is known to infect only members of the...
Arrest warrant issued for Troy man accused of felony theft
A Troy man accused of stealing thousands of dollars in unemployment benefits is being sought by authorities after missing a recent court appearance.Austin Joel Zugg, 47, charged with two felonies, including making false claims to public agencies and theft, had a bench warrant for his arrest issued July 22 by Lincoln County District Judge Matt Cuffe after failing to attend a pre-trial conference.Zugg first appeared in court Jan. 23, 2023, for arraignment on felony charges of theft and making false statements to public agencies after authorities say he walked away from a job. He pleaded not guilty to those charges.Zugg...
County election officials want separation from clerk and recorder
The Lincoln County Commissioners will continue a discussion at its Aug. 7 meeting of separating the election department from the clerk and recorder’s office.The matter arose at the July 10 meeting when Election Administrator Melanie Howell presented the idea to the commissioners.She and assistant Sierra Gustin cited many reasons for wanting to split the operations of the offices. Howell also cited state code that the Clerk and Recorder is the default election administrator unless another is appointed.“When we had to move to the clerk and recorder’s office, the space we had was not big enough,” Howell said. “We’re doing several...
Kathryn Marie Fulcher
Kathryn Marie Fulcher, 79, of Libby, Montana passed away at the Libby Care Center of natural causes on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. She was born July 8, 1945, in Columbia, South Carolina to Truman and Jean (Wolters) Struck. A full obituary will follow at a later date. Arrangements are under the care of Schnackenberg Funeral Home of Libby, Montana.
Sports briefs
The Libby Loggers Legion baseball season ended last week in Florence at the Western A Tournament.The Loggers dropped games on Thursday and Friday, finishing the season at 7-34, according to reporting in the Daily Inter Lake.Thursday, the Glacier Twins claimed a 4-1 win over Libby. Friday, the Cranbrook Bandits won 11-1.Twins 4, Loggers 1 Maddox Miller and Michael Muller combined on a one-hitter and the Glacier Twins used RBIs from Dawson Juntunen and Matthew Mitts. Miller allowed the hit, along with one unearned run, in five innings of work. He walked five and struck out two. Muller finished up, striking out...
Geraldine (Kay) Urdahl
Geraldine (Kay) Urdahl, 86, fell asleep in death on July 16, 2024, in Libby, Montana from natural causes. Kay was born on Oct. 2, 1937, to Mildred and Jerry Howard, the second of three daughters. She spent her childhood in Libby with her family until she graduated high school. During her senior year, while working at a soda fountain called the Blue Bear, she met her future husband, Larry. They were married that fall on Oct. 30, 1955.Her family soon grew with the birth of two sons, Larry and Tommy, which kept her plenty busy, but eventually she got a job...
John Everett Carlock
John Everett Carlock, 70, of Libby, Montana, passed away July 14, 2024 at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, Washingtoin, from acute myeloid leukemia. After fighting a long battle John was called into the arms of Jesus. John was born Aug. 2, 1953, in Morgantown, West Virginia. He moved to Libby with his family around the age of five. John married Tina (Jones) Carlock in 1981. They met and married in Libby where they raised their two children. John was lovingly known to his grandchildren as “Grandpa Bear.” John went to work at St. Regis Lumber Company immediately after graduation. John worked in the sawmill through...
Minnie “Becky” Boothman
On Saturday, July 20, 2024, at the age of 85, Minnie “Becky” Boothman entered her heavenly mansion, comforted by friends and family in her home in Libby, Montana. She was born Feb. 4, 1939, in Powers Lake, North Dakota, to Harry and Verna (Barker) Edwards.Minnie married Billy Bob Boothman on Feb. 4, 1956. She was the matriarch of her family. She worked as a wilderness cook, S & S Logging, at the mill and Libby Cab. She enjoyed her family, drawing, swimming, singing, telling stories, going to church, visiting, riding horses, gardening, going for a drive, exploring and getting lost, and...
Donald Norbert Elgas
Join our family in toasting a life well lived. Donald Norbert Elgas, 89, passed away at home in Salem, Oregon, on July 17, just a few months shy of 90 years old. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Nancy M. Elgas, 11 children, two stepchildren, 31 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren with two more on the way.Don was born on Nov. 8, 1934, in West Allis, Wisconsin to Louis and Helena Elgas and was the youngest of four brothers: Clarence, Leroy and Eugene. While his family would eventually relocate, he carried his love for the Green Bay Packers for the rest of his life. At the age of nine, his family...
Libby Friends of Library book sale set for Aug. 2
The Libby Friends of the Library will have a book sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, in the book sale room downstairs at the library. Due to some generous donations, this sale includes lots of new titles in adult fiction and nonfiction, religion and faith, young adult and children’s books.There will also be some featured favorite author collections. Purchase of items is by donation, with all money received going to support programs for our library.
Kootenai River Stampede 2024 results
Here are the results from the Kootenai River Stampede, held July 26-27, in Libby.Ladies BreakawayCharleyne Yeager, Choteau; 2. Payton Levine, Wolf Creek; 2. Nichole Lake, Polson; 2. Cadee Williams, Weatherford, Texas; 2. Alicia Bird, Cut Bank; 6. Celie Salmond, Choteau.Team RopingBrad Yerian, Corvallis/Brandon Nicholls, Whitehall; 2. Dustin Bird, Cut Bank/Ike Folsom, Dillon; 3. Dillon Anton Johnson, Belt/Kory Mytty, Lolo; 4. Ty Schlect, Cheney, Washington/Sam Parker, Northport, Washington; 5. Dustin Allen Datisman, Arlee/Riley Bailey, St. Ignatius; 6. Jaret Whitman, Whitehall/Landon Williams, Big Timber.Barrel RacingMilee Dailey, Pray; 2. Abigail Knight, Charlo; 3. Tammy Stedmen, Arlee; 4. Cadee Williams, Weatherford, Texas; 5. Leigh...
Legals for July, 30 2024
NOTICE OF FINAL BUDGET MEETING Notice is hereby given that the Yaak School Board of Trustees will meet at the Yaak School on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at 3:45 p.m. to consider and adopt the district’s final budget for the 24-25 school year starting July 1, 2024. Any District taxpayer may attend aand be heard on this budget’s adoption. D’Rae Hammond District Clerk PUBLISHED IN The Western News July 30, August 6 & 13, 2024. MNAXLP
Troy man faces trial in Idaho child sex assault case
BONNERS FERRY —A Troy man is charged with two counts of lewd conduct upon a nine-year-old and is set to stand trial on August 8. Kevin R. Alyea, 50, of Troy, Montana is charged with two counts of lewd conduct to a minor under the age of 16. According to court documents, the child told his mother that Alyea and he had engaged in oral sex during car rides between September and November 2023. On January 31, 2024, Boundary County Sheriff Deputy Brandon Blackmore watched the child during a forensic interview with the Child Advocacy Center in Coeur d’Alene. In...
Troy enacts Stage 1 fire restrictions; road closure ordered for Libby OU3
Troy is the first municipality to institute fire restrictions in 2024 in south Lincoln County.Troy Volunteer Fire Department Chief D.J. Welch called for Stage 1 fire restrictions July 22 inside city limits.City officials said the goal is for “everyone to be cautious.”Stage 1 restrictions include the prohibition of building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire. Also, smoking is prohibited, unless done within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.There are exceptions to the restrictions, including...
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The Western News, a twice weekly newspaper located in Libby, was one of the first Montana newspapers to go online - the first among smaller publications. The first online issue appeared in early Spring 1995 with our Spring and Summer Visitors Guide. The Western News reaches roughly 3,000 households with every edition and is the largest paid-circulation newspaper in our region. We cover southern Lincoln County, including Libby and Troy.
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