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The Western News
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...
Top talent performing at Riverfront Blues Festival
Libby City councilors approved a noise variance at the July 15 meeting for the 15th annual Riverfront Blues Festival.Hosted by the Libby Revitalization Project, the festival will be held at the Riverfront Park Aug. 9-10.The event begins at 5 p.m. Friday with Missoula-based Blue Shadows. The Lucky Losers of San Francisco take the stage at 7 p.m. followed by Florida’s Bridget Kelly Band at 9 p.m.St. Louis’ Hurricane Ruth caps the evening at 11 p.m. Saturday, British Columbia native Terry Robb, who now hails from Portland, kicks off the day’s events at noon.At 2 p.m., Money Penny performs, followed by Portland’s...
WILD ART-Car fire
Montana Highway Patrol trooper Bryce Ford's vehicle shields a car from traffic on U.S. 2 near the Kootenai rest area at the intersection of Bull Lake Road Tuesday afternoon. The car was severely damaged in a fire. Troy Volunteer Fire Department members extinguished the blaze, cause unknown, and prevented its spread to nearby conifer trees on a steep hillside above Cole Road and the railroad tracks. Traffic was backed up for several miles and about one hour.
Hydrothermal explosion causes damage in area of Yellowstone National Park
A hydrothermal explosion in Yellowstone National Park damaged a boardwalk and sent debris several stories into the air Tuesday morning in the Biscuit Basin area northwest of Old Faithful, according to the scientist-in-charge at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.The explosion, which Scientist-in-Charge Michael Poland said was a “small” one, happened around 10 a.m. Tuesday about 2.1 miles northwest of Old Faithful, likely in the Black Diamond Pool in Biscuit Basin, Poland said.Poland said in an information statement early Tuesday afternoon there had so far been no injuries reported in the explosion.Videos posted online by people who witnessed the explosion...
Community briefs
The Cabinet View Women’s Golf League played “Guess Your Net” Wednesday, July 10. Prior to play, members had to guess their score. The winner of Flight A was Susie Jahn and Phyll Macki won Flight B. The low gross Flight A was Susie Jahn and Shirley Chase took Flight B. Low net winner was Susie Jahn in Flight A and Dorothy Hintz in Flight B. Wednesday, July 17, the ladies had a “not so fun” day playing Black Ball. Each player received a point for going into the sand, water, hitting a tree or going out-of-bounds.Lowest points won the game. It was a Grand Slam day for Barb Mee in Flight A and Phyll Macki in Flight B. They both won the game, low gross and low net! The ladies play each week at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
First-ever hoot owl fishing restrictions ordered for part of Flathead River basin
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is putting hoot-owl fishing restrictions in place starting Wednesday on the North Fork Flathead River – the first time such restrictions have ever been put in place in the Flathead River drainage.The restrictions went into effect at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 24 and prohibit people from fishing between 2 p.m. and midnight each day until they are lifted.The new restriction will be on both sides of the North Fork from the U.S.-Canadian border to its confluence with the Middle Fork Flathead River near Blankenship Bridge.“It is common for FWP to implement hoot-owl fishing restrictions in...
Game wardens seek info on bighorn sheep shot near Troy
Montana game wardens are seeking information on a bighorn sheep that was shot and wounded near Ross Creek Cedars Scenic Area south of Troy last weekend.The bighorn ewe was left wounded and had to be euthanized on July 21 near the parking lot of the scenic area.Anyone with possible information is encouraged to call Warden Sawyer Johnson at 406-291-6539 or visit the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ violation reporting website at tipmont.mt.gov. Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.
Libby Senior Center August menu
The Libby Senior Center has meals available for in house, home delivery or pick up.Meals are ready from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday or 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday.Also, customers are asked to call 293-7222 for all meals 24 hours in advance to reserve a meal.Friday, August 2: beef stew with potatoes, carrots, celery, peas and onions, salad - lettuce, tomato, cucumber & carrot, cornbread, peanutbutter brownieTuesday, August 6: ground beef stroganoff w/creamy mushroom sauce & egg noodles, dinner roll, green beans, salad- lettuce, tomato, cucumber & carrot, lemon bar & milkWednesday, August 7:...
Keeping political power in check
My favorite father-in-law (yes, there have been more than one) once told me that if I ever went fishing make sure that I took two ministers with me. So, I took the bait, “Why is that, Dick?” And he reeled me in, “Because if you take only one, he’ll drink all the beer.”Besides being just a joke of dubious quality, the more I thought about it the more wisdom I saw in it. It’s easy to succumb to temptation if nobody’s watching, but if there is someone else there, well, people behave a little better. When the café closes at...
Legals for July, 26 2024
PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO PROTEST ISSUANCE OF ONE NEW Montana All-Alcoholic Beverages with Catering Endorsement License EUREKA GAMING LLC (Micheal Medlin, Marco Forcone, and Paul Reder , Owner(s)) has applied for one new Montana All-Alcoholic Beverages with Catering Endorsement License No. 56-999-4363-002 to be operated at EUREKA GOLD CASINO, 17 Arena Ln, Eureka, Lincoln County. The public may protest this license transfer in accordance with the law. Who can protest this transfer? Protests will be accepted from residents of the county of the proposed location Lincoln County, residents of adjoining Montana counties, and residents of adjoining counties in another...
Fire crews battle Tepee Fire
A helicopter gets water from Schrieber Lake east of Libby while fighting the Tepee Fire Thursday morning. Gusting winds out of the Southwest helped the blaze go from two to eight acres in a short amount of time.Crews from the Kootenai National Forest, Fisher River Volunteer Fire Department, the Libby Unit of Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and McCormick Volunteer Fire Department were on scene.Resources working the fire included multiple engine crews and hand crews along with heavy equipment and two Type 2 helicopters.
One dead in Mineral Co. hostage incident
One person is dead in Mineral County after an officer-involved shooting Sunday with a man who allegedly stabbed and took another person hostage.According to the Mineral County Sheriff Ryan Funke, two people were in a fight that led to a stabbing and subsequent kidnapping near Fish Creek.While law enforcement was setting up a scene perimeter, the suspect came out of the heavily wooded area with the hostage and a weapon. The suspect refused to obey law enforcement commands and was shot. Life saving measures were attempted, but the person died at the scene at about 11 a.m.The state Department of Criminal Investigations, Missoula County Sheriff’s Office detectives and a City of Missoula detective were called to process the scene. The body was transported by a Missoula County Coroner to the Montana State Crime Lab for an autopsy. Due to this being an ongoing and active investigation, the names of the officers, victims and the decedent will not be released at this time. Funke thanked the agencies and law enforcement partners that assisted Mineral County with the dangerous situation.
Car, van shows come to Lincoln County
Fans of classic cars and vans had their choice of shows they could attend in south Lincoln County last weekend.Happy's Inn hosted its annual classic car show pitting Lincoln and Flathead counties against each other.Flathead County came out the winner in 2024.Van lovers headed to the first Northwest Regional meet at Timberlane Campground outside of Libby.Event organizers said the Northwest regional will rotate annually to a different established location each year with the first one hosted in Montana. The Northwest Regional Van Meet was held at Timberlane Campground last week outside Libby. (Taylor Resch/The Western News)
Man hospitalized in bear encounter north of Columbia Falls
KALISPELL — A man was hospitalized after an encounter with a grizzly bear on Thursday evening approximately two miles north of Columbia Falls in Flathead County.A 72-year-old man was alone picking huckleberries on Flathead National Forest lands off the North Fork Road when he reported encountering a bear that charged and attacked him. The individual shot and killed the bear with a handgun.FWP wardens and bear specialists responded to the incident and confirmed that an adult female grizzly bear was killed. FWP is working to verify if any cubs are present. FWP determined it to be a surprise defensive encounter. No...
Troy man accused of fifth DUI
A Troy man was arrested for DUI after allegedly pulling out in front of a Montana Highway Patrol trooper during a recent incident at Kootenai Falls.Dennis Gregory Keen, 57, is facing one felony charge of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense. He also faces two misdemeanor counts for allegedly driving with an open container of alcohol in the vehicle and failing to yield to another vehicle.Keen pleaded not guilty to the charges on July 15 in Lincoln County District Court while appearing with his public defender Scott B. Johnson. His next court appearance is...
Area 4H members represent county at state congress
4H members from Libby, Troy and Eureka came together to represent Lincoln County at 4H State Congress, which was held at Montana State University. The week was filled with workshops, keynote speakers, leadership skill building, community service projects, dances and time to get to know other 4H youth throughout the state.Lincoln County Youth compete in events such as quilting, livestock judging, horse hippology, public speaking and even parliamentary procedures.The teens were involved with pre-congress planning which they plan the opening and closing ceremonies, decorations and the awards banquet."I feel privileged to have been able to attend State and National 4H events with our teens and each time I come home with more admiration for the 4H program, their values and the kids involved," 4H leader Kara Matthews said. "Each event seems to ignite a spark in these kids and it has been so much fun to watch them grow into amazing young adults through the skills 4H has taught them."The Lincoln County Fair is held in Eureka, Montana on Aug. 21-25."Don’t miss your chance to fill your freezer at the livestock auction on Saturday, Aug. 24, followed by the PBR Bull Thing," Matthews said.
Roy Jay Yoder
Roy Jay Yoder, 69, of Emmett, Idaho, formerly of Libby, Montana, passed on peacefully at 3:30 a.m. Thursday, July 18, 2024, at his home after a 7-year battle with Lyme and Parkinson’s diseases.He was born on Sept. 11, 1954, in Millersburg, Ohio to Ervin E. and Betty (Troyer) Yoder. On Oct. 28, 1976, he married Mary (Miller) Yoder and had two children.He was a member of the Eagle Valley Amish Church in Libby, Montana. Roy was an ordained minister and loved preaching the word. He also loved doing jail ministry for many years. He always had a word of encouragement...
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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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