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The Western News
William Joseph Guynup
William Joseph Guynup, 72, passed away in Moyie Springs, Idaho on May 11, 2024.Will was born to Carl and Agnes Guynup on Aug. 17, 1951, in Plattsburgh, New York.He served in the U.S. Army for three years and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in the Ordinance Corps in 1973.Will is survived by his siblings Susan (Richard) Fifield, Daniel (Peg) Guynup, Andrew (Judy) Guynup, Ellen (Jim) Lundy, Russell (Laura) Guynup, and Miles (April) Guynup; along with 14 nieces and nephews and 21 great nieces and great nephews. He was preceded in death by both his parents and his brother Robert Guynup.Will had a passion for mining, metal working, music and puzzles. He will be interred with his parents in Cadyville, New York.
Libby Lofts to hold grand opening event at old high school
Libby Lofts developers recently issued a press release about work going on at the grounds of the Historic Libby High School. "Libby Lofts extends heartfelt thanks to the Rotary Club of Kootenai Valley for their generous donation of a concrete picnic table to the park located on the grounds of the Historic Libby High School," said Tracy McNew. "This thoughtful contribution enhances the community space as the historic building undergoes restoration. Libby Lofts also thanks Noble Excavating for their excellent work in placing the picnic table, ensuring it is perfectly situated for Libby residents and visitors to enjoy."In addition to the...
Man gets suspended sentence in DUI homicide case
A man accused of driving under the influence during a vehicle crash in November 2022 when two Troy men died was recently sentenced.David Daniel Lefell, 68, formerly of Troy, entered no contest pleas on two counts of felony vehicular homicide under the influence on March 18 in Lincoln County District Court.Lefell was sentenced June 6 by District Judge Matt Cuffe to two six-year suspended terms, to be served consecutively.In Cuffe’s sentencing order, he wrote that, “the sentence is consistent with Montana law and given the weather conditions and conflicting evidence regarding intoxication, the sentence is an appropriate resolution under the...
The religious underpinnings of one of America’s most sacred concepts, private property
Newsflash: Property law in the U.S. is not rooted in the Constitution.America’s legal foundation for property law (possession), “anti-Indian law,” and the concept of nation-states is religious, not secular. Where did this deep sense of entitlement, hierarchy and dominion over unknown lands and its original sovereign peoples originate? How was this wilderness continent, upon which its people depended – for millennia – for survival, end up being converted into “real estate” by a bunch of European Christian princes and pirates? Most people who own real estate, work and live on this settler-colonized land we now call “America,” cannot answer the...
Accused sex offender drowns in Flathead's North Fork
On June 20th, the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office received a tip about the possible location of an adult male who was a wanted fugitive from North Carolina. The fugitive, 35-year-old Steven Jeffrey O’Shields of Franklin, NC, was reported to be in the Kalispell/Evergreen areas. O’Shields had extraditable felony warrants for his arrest regarding various crimes, including burglary, theft of services, obstruction of law enforcement, and sexual battery against a child, all out of North Carolina. He was...
Birth announcements
Andrey and Natalya Bokov of Trout Creek and Family Birth Services are pleased to announce the birth of Ksenia Emmarika. Born June 2, baby Ksenia weighted 8 pounds, 11.5 ounces. Welcomed into the family by brothers Andrew and Dennis, and sister Masha. Grandparents Mykola and Galyna Vasyanovich and Alexander and Nadezhda Bokov also reside in Trout Creek. She was delivered by Joyce Vogel, CPM LM, and Rebekah Sweet, LMA.Zarach and Mary Epperson of Trout Creek and Family Birth Services' Joyce Vogel CPM LM and Rebekah Sweet LMA are proud to announce the birth of Mary Carmen. Born Sunday morning, May 19, 2024, Mary weighted 8 pounds, 5 ounces. She was welcomed home by her loving sisters and brothers, Bethany, Diana, Hawkins, Henry, Carrie, Katie, Jackie, Rebecca, Thomas and Victoria. Blessed are her parents and grandparents, Robert Epperson of Leakey, Texas, Yvonne Epperson of Trout Creek, Montana as well as Delores Knoll of Rathdrum, Idaho.
Troy excited to host annual Fourth of July celebration
Those who dislike the heat that sometimes comes with the July 4 holiday, forecasters are predicting a pleasant Independence Day in south Lincoln County.According to the National Weather Service, the day is expected to be sunny with a high near 85 degrees. Weekend high temperatures are expected to hit 91.As it always is, Troy is the place to be with its more than a century old festival planned.Troy’s Old Fashioned Fourth of July on Thursday at Roosevelt Park on the Kootenai River is the highlight as several thousand people are expected to attend.The celebration will include the traditional fireworks display,...
‘Sacred Return’: Tribal ceremony honors birth of prophesied white buffalo calf
HEBGEN LAKE, Montana — The birth of a sacred white buffalo calf earlier this month in Yellowstone National Park’s Lamar Valley fulfills a tribal prophecy, according to Native American spiritual leaders.The prophecy means people need to take better care of Mother Earth and must come together to do so, leaders and elders told a group of about 500 people gathered Wednesday on the north shore of Hebgen Lake.“It’s up to each and every one of you to make it happen for the future of our children. We must come together and bring that good energy back,” said Chief Arvol Looking Horse,...
David Lee Kieffer
David Lee Kieffer, 85, of Libby, Montana passed away peacefully at home on June 20, 2024, after a long battle with cancer. He was born on Feb. 24, 1939 in Stevensville, Montana to Casey and Roxy Kieffer.Dave was Hazel’s devoted husband for 56 years and a loving father to his children Pam, Steve, Heidi, and the late Terri and Brian. He was also preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Wanda. He had seven grandchildren, Sara, David, Sean, Dan, Rachel, Katerina and Aidan and eight great-grandchildren.He was a long-time owner of the Libby Credit Bureau and was active in...
Libby Loggers Legion falter against Bitterroot
The Bitterroot Bucs swept a doubleheader Libby Loggers American Legion baseball team Saturday at Lee Gehring Field.In the opener, the Loggers scored three runs in the second inning to take a 3-0 lead before the Bucs answered with five in the third for a 6-3 lead. Libby scored two in the sixth to make it close, but the Bucs tacked on an insurance run in the seventh.Aidan Rose pitched a complete game for the Loggers.In the second game, the Bucs jumped all over Libby with eight runs in the first inning. They led 11-0 after three and won 15-4 in five...
Legals for July, 2 2024
PUBLIC HEARING PETITION FOR ABANDONING A COUNTY ROAD BETWEEN Part of Creekwood Road between Pinewood Lane and Tamarack Lane NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held in the meeting room of the Lincoln County Commissioners at 512 California Avenue, Libby, Montana, at 11:00am, Wednesday, July 24, 2024 for the purpose of hearing comments regarding the abandonment of part of the Creekwood Road running north between lots 1 & 8 of Block 9 and Lots 5 & 6 of Block 8 pursuant to 7-14-2615 MCA. The portion of road affects property owners: Jim Webb 270 Tamarack LN, Margie Rorke 292 Tamarack LN, Mike Noble 275 Pinewood LN, Robert Wilburn 303 Pinewood LN For questions or further information please contact: Clerk & Recorder Corrina Brown at 283- 2306 or email lcclerk@libby.org PUBLISHED IN The Western News July 1 & 19, 2024. MNAXLP Lincoln County Transportation Committee will meet to vote on transportation resolutions for the 2024-2025 school year. The public is invited to attend on Thursday July 18, 2024, at 11:00am in the conference room in the Lincoln County Courthouse. PUBLISHED IN The Western News July 2, 5, 9, & 12, 2024. MNAXLP
Searchers recover missing woman's body from Kootenai River
The search for a woman missing in the Kootenai River near Libby came to a sad ending Sunday morning.Lincoln County Sheriff Darren Short told The Western News searchers from David Thompson Search and Rescue and the sheriff's department found the body of Jessica Prado at 8:45 a.m.Prado, a 40-year-old resident of Moyie Springs, Idaho, was missing since Wednesday evening after a two-person kayak she and companion Jared Satterlund, 42, who recently moved to Libby, were in capsized just below China Rapids.Members of David Thompson SAR and the county sheriff’s office combed the river and its banks for three full days...
Search continues for woman missing in Kootenai River
Searchers continued to look Saturday for a missing woman who disappeared in the Kootenai River Wednesday evening.Members of David Thompson Search and Rescue searched the river and its banks a few miles below the China Rapids section of the waterway west of Libby.According to Lincoln County Sheriff Darren Short, the county and David Thompson Search and Rescue were using everything in their tool boxes to locate the missing woman, Jessica Prado.In addition to dogs and a drone, underwater camera equipment was used to aid in the hunt for woman.Also, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held back water at Libby...
Libby's Williams inducted into the state Broadcasters Hall of Fame
Long-time KLCB and KTNY local broadcaster Duane Williams was inducted into the Montana Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame this month recognizing his commitment and dedication to Montana broadcasting and the Libby community.Williams began his broadcast career as an announcer on a 500-watt daytimer in 1967. In the early 1970s he worked with KARR-KOPR, and later, KMON-KNUW, in Great Falls. In 1977 he moved to Libby and KLCB and built KTNY in 1986. Duane is former Chairman of the Board of the Montana Broadcasters Association, former President of the Libby Rotary Club, former board member of the Libby Chamber of Commerce, and...
Local vandalism spurs use of more surveillance cameras
Vandalism is not a new problem in south Lincoln County, but what can be done when first graders are engaging in destructive behavior?That was the case earlier this summer when some very youthful vandals made their way inside Libby’s Lee Gehring Field. They got into the bathrooms and proceeded to smash sinks and toilets, rendering them unusable.“We never imagined kids that young breaking fixtures,” Loggers Legion coach Kelly Morford said. The fixtures were replaced in time for last weekend’s Big Bucks Tournament, but even that didn’t go off without a hitch.Someone entered the stadium and stole a laptop computer and cables...
Motocross racers share thrills at Libby's Millpond
They came from northwest Montana, Washington, Idaho, British Columbia and the Flathead.Saturday’s Millpond Motocross track in Libby was the site of the annual races involving some of the best young riders in the region.One hundred seventy people attended the races to see 42 riders, some of who competed in multiple classes.“We also had 50 amazing volunteers who helped make the day a success,” event organizer Jenn Remp said. “And we are so thankful for the support we get from the local community and generous businesses.” Libby had four racers win in five events. Westin Remp won the schoolboy and 85cc events....
No zoning in Lower Yaak
My husband and I live on Pine Creek in the Lower Yaak area. We areopposed to zoning proposals as infringements on the independent spiriton Montanans and personal property rights.There are many land development controls already in place which directsafe and responsible preservation of Montana's outdoor areas. Zoning is entirely inappropriate in the rural outdoors and lacks the structure orfunding to guarantee protection of Montana's beautiful areas. Surely the deplorable condition of areas within zoned municipal areas should show how effective zoning really is in preserving a healthy environment.James and Elizabeth HolmesPine Creek Road, Troy, Montana
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:Ending no-fault divorce, currently legal in all 50 states, is a new target of conservative lawmakers, The Guardian reported. For those who think it can’t happen, it was noted that Roe vs. Wade was regarded as stable, until the current right-leaning Supreme Court reversed it.The first presidential debate between Trump and Biden was June 27 on CNN. Both sides agreed to no studio audience and muted mics, except for when it was their turn to speak.Belt tightening? Under a new program requiring no receipts, over...
Troy man accused of threatening officers, harassing 911 dispatchers
It’s been about a decade since Dan J. Savage Jr. was making headlines in Lincoln County for some of his run-ins with the law.The 47-year-old man from Troy is facing new charges after some alleged incidents earlier this year, allegedly occurring between Jan. 19 and Feb. 11.Savage was most recently in district court June 17 for a hearing to determine the length of a possible trial. County attorney Marcia Boris and public defender Scott B. Johnson agreed two days would be sufficient.May 20, Savage was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to multiple counts, including felony intimidation. He is also facing...
In 2024, it’s a plodding geezer versus a grifting sleazer
Having lost an election, I know it hurts to lose. I know, too, that there is a good life beyond losing because I’ve been living it for the past 20 years.I know that the people’s will in a democracy can only be determined by a process of elections; American democracy has successfully functioned on that model since George Washington.When the people lose their faith in elections, democracy is finished.There have been as many losers as winners in our legacy of elections extending back more than 230 years. By their respect for the will of the people in elections, those who...
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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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