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The Western News
Hecla says ‘bad actor’ lawsuit dismissed, coalition vows to keep fighting mine
With the dismissal of a “bad actor” lawsuit following the retirement of former CEO Phillips Baker Jr., mining company Hecla said it is ramping up exploration in the Cabinet Mountains area south of Libby.But a coalition of Indian tribes and environmental groups said it will keep fighting to enforce Montana laws that prevent “irresponsible mining” and leave Montanans to pick up the tab.Hecla describes itself as the largest silver mining company in the country and as owning “a number of exploration and pre-development projects in world-class silver and gold mining districts throughout North America.”It acquired the Montanore project near Libby...
Loggers close home schedule with two wins
With his senior season coming to an end, Libby Loggers American Legion player Cy Williams is finishing it with a flourish.Williams got the win after throwing five innings and allowing just one run Monday evening at Lee Gehring Field against the Flathead As in a 11-7 win.Williams was honored at Senior Night festivities during Monday's game.The Loggers (7-28) led 9-1 when he exited for Tanner Wolfe. Williams also had a run-scoring triple. Brody Gilmore, Ian Thom and Isaac Lamere also threw for Libby.July 11, the Loggers hosted the South Valley Screwballs and won a slugfest, 13-12.According to the Daily Inter Lake,...
City wades back into Flower Creek spoils pile discussion
Libby City Councilors covered a lot of ground at Monday’s meeting, but the topic they discussed the most was a pile of rock and dirt near the Flower Creek Dam.The spoils pile, left following the construction of the newer dam in 2016 because the project was over budget, has been discussed before. It consists of sandy silt, gravel, rock and concrete rubble.In 2021, council approved a plan to grade and armor the eastern edge of the mound because it was the most at risk of erosion. At the time, some thought city workers could get the job done.In 2023, the...
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:Business is booming: American Rounds is installing ammunition vending machines at market locations across the nation, and demand for the machines is growing, Newsweek has reported.New data from Oxfam, reported in Axios, shows there are now fewer low-wage workers in the U.S. At this time 13% of workers earn less than $15 an hour, as compared to 31.9% two years ago.The following is from a spectrum of media sources: A would-be assassin’s bullet from an AR-15 assault rifle grazed Donald Trump’s ear July 13...
Dennis Leroy Norstebon
Dennis Leroy Norstebon was born in Libby, Montana on Dec. 10, 1957, and passed peacefully at home on June 22, 2024, at the age of 66.Dennis was true outdoorsman, a jack of all trades. His hobbies he loved were camping, hunting, fishing, logging, cutting and splitting firewood, welding and watching his birds out of his window. While entertaining family and friends his favorite thing of all was huckleberry picking and being at Huckleberry Camp. Dennis was a hard-working man, a family man, a true and honest friend to all who knew and loved him.Dennis had a big blended family through his...
Multiple charges for Kalispell woman following hit-and-run crash
A Kalispell woman accused of hit-and-run following a traffic accident in Libby last month is facing felony drug and DUI charges.Shanita K. Lundin, 38, formerly of Libby, is accused of DUI, fourth offense, failure to give notice of an accident, driving a vehicle on a suspended license, not having required insurance for the vehicle, two counts of criminal drug possession and one count of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia.Lundin was held on $15,000 bail in the Lincoln County Detention Center, but has since been released.Lundin appeared in county District Court Monday, July 15, and pleaded not guilty to all charges....
Sheriff's Office blotter
The law roundup is compiled from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office incident log from July 8 to July 14. It is not meant to serve as an exhaustive account.A county deputy received a report of vehicle vandalism in the 400 block of Forest Road, Troy.A deputy responded to an arson call on U.S. 93 and Indian Springs Road, Eureka. He reported a criminal endangerment situation.A deputy made a traffic stop for someone speeding excessively on Highway 37 near River View Road.Two officers investigated a report of a stolen boat in the 13200 block of U.S. 2, Troy.Four officers conducted a...
Fugitive warrant issued for county inmate's return to Wyoming
A Wyoming fugitive who tried to enter Canada at the Eureka crossing earlier this year is fighting extradition to his home state.According to court documents, Todd I. Faass, 58, of Cheyenne, was trying to enter Canada on April 30. U.S. Border Patrol officers checked and found Faass had a warrant for his arrest following an alleged probation violation on an aggravated assault case.He’s been in the Lincoln County Detention Center since. Faass first said he’d waive extradition, but at a June 3 court hearing, Faass changed his mond. Deputy County Attorney Lauren O’Neill said Wyoming has issued a governor’s warrant for Faass to be returned to answer the allegations of the alleged probation violation.In the court document dealing with the possible extradition, authorities also said Faass was a registered sex offender in California.
Libby Chamber has no opinion on J. Neils bull statue
Dear Editor: We would like to address the comments made in the “Commissioners hear proposals for J. Neils bull” article that appeared in the Thursday, July 9, 2024, edition of The Western News. This article has direct quotes made by a member of the public regarding the Chamber of the Commerce. The board would like to take this opportunity to clear up any misconceptions that may have been created by those quotes. The Libby Area Chamber of Commerce is a 501 (c)(6) non-profit that is dedicated to promoting and supporting local businesses, encouraging economic growth, and enhancing the quality of life in the Libby area. We offer marketing opportunities, networking events,...
Michael D. Knock
Michael D. Knock was born on July 19, 1965, in Chamberlain, South Dakota, to Clayton and Cheryl Knock. On July 4, 2024, Michael gained his wings and went home to Jesus. He left this Earth doing one of the things he loved most, riding a motorcycle. Michael had one of the biggest hearts. Anyone who crossed paths with him knew what a giving and caring person he was. Not only did Mike have a heart of gold with the people on this Earth but his love and gift with any animal. It was truly remarkable.Mike was a jack of all trades....
Reader didn't care for column about Joe Biden
In response to George Ochenski in July 12 Western News.Ochenski wrote about the "endless lies Trump spouts with every breath." Really?My question to you, editor Shindledecker, is why are you obsessed with publishing this kind of nonsense, including the TDS rants from a Lorraine H. Marie?When Trump was president we had a booming economy, the most secure border in our lifetime and the world was at peace.It's time to get a grip on reality.Quit listening to the lies & disinformation coming from "the other side."PS. Yes, this is to be published. And please don't hide it on the last page.Bill Weidemoyer, Libby
Martha Marie (Bowen) Burrell
Martha Marie (Bowen) Burrell, passed away at Logan Health in Kalispell, Montana, on July 4, 2024, due to complications with cancer. She was born on June 26, 1955, in Spokane, Washington, to Gary and Willa Bowen but was raised in Libby, Montana. She worked with her mom Willa Bowen for many years at the Tog Shop and as many know, those two were inseparable.Martha had a joy for so many things. She loved being in her yard, loved her flowers and had a soft spot for animals of any kind (except for snakes). Martha loved her family and friends. She always...
Veterans retreat expands near Thompson Falls
Close to 100 people gathered recently on a peaceful mountain retreat in Thompson Falls to celebrate the acquisition of a new 60-acre facility for a veterans group called Patrol Base Abbate Return to Base.Located on Tanager Road, this off-grid mountain base above the Clark Fork River exists as a place for veterans to rest, reconnect with fellow military personnel and rediscover the meaning of service to themselves, families and communities.The unique name of the organization, Patrol Base Abbate, was used to honor the legacy of Marine Sgt. Matt Abbate, a Navy Cross recipient who received the award posthumously. A 26-year-old...
WILD ART-Lincoln County Pride Festival
Lincoln County hosted its fourth Pride Festival Saturday, July 13, at the Kootenai Heritage Memorial Center in Libby. The events included a dog fashion show, live music, dancing, speeches, drag performances, raffles and prizes, aerial performances by members of Kalispell-based Levitation Nation Aerial Studio and a showing of the documentary, "Stonewall Uprising." Redheaded Stepchild performs Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Lincoln County Pride Festival at the Memorial Center in Libby. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Sheriff's Office blotter
The law roundup is compiled from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office incident log from July 1 to July 7. It is not meant to serve as an exhaustive account.Two deputies took a theft call on Tamarack Lane, Libby.The county animal control officer investigated a report of a dog biting a female juvenile in the 36800 block of U.S. 2, Libby.An off-road vehicle operator was warned by a deputy for riding on the road and in the fairgrounds.A resident from the 4600 block of Kootenai River Road, Libby, came to the sheriff’s office to report the theft of his fifth wheel.Dionne...
Montana’s Headwaters Tech Hub gets $41M grant from feds
The U.S. Department of Commerce and Montana’s U.S. senators announced July 2 that a technology consortium known as the Headwaters Tech Hub will receive a $41 million grant to help build out jobs within the optical and laser technologies field in four regions of Montana.Last October, the White House announced the Headwaters Tech Hub, led by Accelerate Montana, was one of 31 consortiums to be designated a Regional Innovation and Technology Hub and would get $500,000 to help launch a strategy.The hub will involve photonics, which includes optical and laser technology, autonomy, artificial intelligence and machine learning. The consortium wants to figure out how to...
A tribute to Yaak, America
On America’s Independence Day, when other candidates were waving to large parade crowds from the streets of Butte, Red Lodge, Bigfork and other great Montana towns, I traveled, instead, to a quieter corner of our state to celebrate America’s birthday in one of our more secluded communities – Yaak, Montana. And the day turned out to be a perfect reflection of all that is good in our country and our state.Unlike many parades aimed at celebrating every aspect of the Fourth of July, the Yaak Community parade has a singular mission – to celebrate the founding of America.The parade formed in...
Local governments seek candidates for study commissions
Local governments in Lincoln County will get a helping hand from Montana State University Extension’s Local Government Center as they prepare to build study commissions for review.Required every 10 years, the local government review election asks voters to decide if they want to review their local government. Voters overwhelmingly supported the creation of study commissions in the county, Libby, Troy and Eureka.The purpose of the study commission is to look at the existing form and powers of the local government and compare them with other forms available under the laws of the State of Montana. The study commission members must write a...
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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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