Lake County, MT

The Daily Inter Lake swept the category for best column writing in the Montana Newspaper Association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest. The trifecta was a highlight for the Daily Inter Lake staff, which garnered 18 total awards in the 2021 contest. The honors were announced at the Montana Newspaper Association’s annual convention held Saturday in Big Sky. The Inter Lake competes in a division against other large daily newspapers in the state.

RONAN — Where many people see a plain old massive pine log, Julie Zimmerman sees something a little different. Somewhere deep in the log behind the thick bark, she envisions a work of art just waiting to come out with a little coaxing from her chainsaw. Zimmerman is a chainsaw...

Tucked along the roadside on the way to one of of American’s most beloved hiking areas, the Jewel Basin, the Echo Lake Café has been a favorite eatery for locals since 1960. But going into the busy season this year, the eatery sent out an honest message to customers, warning...

Major infractions (all misdemeanors) Stephen Allen Hathcock, 61, fined $50 for failure to stop at an invasive species management area check station. Tanya Rose Kato, 32, fined $1,000 with $500 suspended and sentenced to six days in jail, all suspended, for hunting or fishing during a closed season - game animal; fined $1,010 with $500 suspended and sentenced to six days in jail, all suspended, for unlawful possession, shipment or transport of game.

District Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher revoked the three-year deferred sentence of a St. Ignatius woman after she violated conditions of her release by committing more crimes. Shaylynn Jamie Reid, 25, pleaded guilty to felony charges of forgery and theft of identity, and she was sentenced on June 17 to two...

Two inmates in the Lake County Detention Center are accused of a brutal attack of another inmate. Nicholi Thomas Assiniboine, 31, and Larrs Jalen Omingo, 20, both of St. Ignatius, each entered pleas of not guilty at District Court in Polson on June 16 to aggravated assault. Assiniboine is facing one count of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, to which, he pleaded not guilty.

The North Lake County Public Library's summer reading program continues this week with a special presentation by Dillon Tabish of Fish Wildlife and Parks starting at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 24 at Sacajawea Park across from the library. If there is bad weather, call the library to register for a spot for the program. The program for Thursday, July 1 will be a boat building day.

William Antoine Jr. sentenced on revocation to 10 years DOC, with five suspended; credit for 70 days jail time. Alex Patrick Finley Sr., 57, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to felony burglary and felony assault with a weapon; jury trial set for Nov. 1. Numa Arnold Alexander Caye, 34, pleaded guilty...

A person camping near Mystic Lake in Gallatin County on Saturday was bitten by a bear and then flown to a hospital for treatment, according to Gallatin County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue. The incident is one of two involving bears last week in the Bozeman Ranger District of the...

FLATHEAD RESERVATION — Last November, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes received $400,000 from the Volkswagen Tribal Trust Settlement as part of a 2016 $14.7 billion settlement case. The funds will be used to replace four older vehicles owned by CSKT with new low emission vehicles and to put up four electric charging stations. One vehicle will go to the Tribes’ Forestry Department and the other three will go to Salish Kootenai College. The older vehicles must be completely scrapped for them to be replaced as part of this settlement.

Jim Willis was born Jan. 11, 1944 in Fremont, Ohio, and died June 9 in Polson. He was respected by many as “Doc Willis.” For over 40 years he served as a town dentist for thousands of grateful patients. Along with his beloved staff, he made dentistry an unfrightening appointment. Constantly learning new techniques and tools, he delighted in helping others through a frequently difficult time.

A St. Ignatius man is accused of leading law enforcement on a pursuit while in possession of drugs. Marko Lee Trombly, 32, entered a plea of not guilty at District Court in Polson on June 10 to several felony charges, including criminal possession of dangerous drugs and one count of criminal endangerment.

A St. Ignatius man was committed to the Montana Department of Corrections for a total five years for violating probation. Judge James Manley imposed the sentence at District Court in Polson on June 9 in the case of James Joseph McGuire, 38. McGuire was on probation for assault with a weapo...

A cool head and some quick thinking one night last December has resulted in a statewide award for a member of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. Det. Scott Sciaretta received the Deputy of the Year award during a ceremony in the District courtroom at the Lake County Courthouse. Broadwater County Sheriff Wynn Meehan, president of the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, was in town to present the award. He congratulated Sciaretta, then read from a nomination document submitted by Lake County Undersheriff Ben Woods.

Recent birth announcements for Lake County. You can click through the photos above. Stetson Kass Alfred May was born May 30, 2021 at St. Luke Community Healthcare’s New Beginnings Birth Center in Ronan. He weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces. His parents are Daniel and Marselle May of Polson. His paternal grandparents are Joseph and Anna May of Polson. His maternal grandparents are Kass and Kady Walhood of Polson. Stetson joins sister Millie.

LAKE COUNTY — There was no shortage of local athletes when it came to the 2021 MHSA all-conference and all-state post season selections. Seventeen Mission Valley area softball players were named to the all-conference teams in their respective classifications with nine players taking first-team honors. Five more were named to the second team and three were named as honorable mention. Additionally, eight players garnered all-state honors.

POLSON — Although he typically tries to avoid the limelight, Lake County Detective Scott Sciaretta said being recognized by his peers is “very special” and appreciated. He was given the 2021 Deputy of the Year award from the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. Broadwater County Sheriff Wynn Meehan, who...

GREAT FALLS – The University of Providence announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Salish Kootenai College (SKC) for an advanced degree for nursing students, specifically in the Nurse Educator track. This MOU will be an ongoing partnership in order to provide an additional pathway for students to advance their education to receive a master’s in nursing.

ST. IGNATIUS — Lake County Sheriff Don Bell released the name of the woman who was killed on U.S. Highway 93 on Thursday at around 4 p.m. Shirley Crawford Moody, 85, of Polson, died from injuries sustained during a single-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 93 near Lemery Road. The Montana...