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News:
Attorney requests mental evaluation for man charged in daughter’s death (posted 1/31/12)
James Bonifas charged with deliberate homicide shooting death of his daughter, Susan K Campbell
Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio
A Troy man, 75-year-old James Bonifas, charged with the January 6 deliberate homicide in the shooting death of his daughter, Susan K Campbell, 41, will undergo a mental evaluation before more court proceedings.
Bonifas appeared with attorney Monday morning in Lincoln County District Court. He did not enter a plea. His attorney requested Bonifas’ plea be continued until a mental evaluation has been completed in Missoula.
A written evaluation should be complete March 12th when Bonifas is due back in court.
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by Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio, www.todaysbestcountryonline.com e-mail: klcb@frontiernet.net.
2 injured, 1 killed in head-on collision near Troy (posted 1/30/12)
Mavis Potter of Libby died from injuries in crash
Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio
Friday, January 27th, at approximately 2:00 p.m. several miles West of Troy, a west-bound pickup driven by Henry Lasala, 73, of Troy, turned left in front of the oncoming eastbound passenger car carrying Mavis Potter, 71, of Libby, driven by her husband Stan Potter, 72.
The collision, caused by Lasala, injured all three vehicle occupants. All injured occupants were transported to St. John's Lutheran Hospital in Libby. Mavis Potter died from injuries received in the head-on collision later Friday evening.
All three of the occupants were wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision. None of the occupants had been consuming alcohol or other intoxicants prior to the collision.
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by Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio, www.todaysbestcountryonline.com e-mail: klcb@frontiernet.net.
Alcohol compliance checks test selling alcohol to minors (posted 1/27/12)
7 of 8 businesses in Troy area pass
Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio
The Lincoln County Alcohol Enforcement Team, assisted by Troy Police Department, conducted their third round of Alcohol Compliance Checks – continuing their focus on preventing the retail availability of alcohol to minors in Lincoln County.
The team concentrated efforts in the Troy area and found the results follow the countywide trend toward more responsible sales and service regarding youth. Seven of the eight businesses involved in the operation passed their compliance check - the employee asked for valid ID, verified the buyer was under 21, and refused the sale or service of alcohol to the minor.
Town Pump, Booze N’ Bait, Stein’s Market, Vets Bar, The Silver Spur, Trojan Lanes, The Halfway House passed their compliance check.
The Home Bar failed
The latest results bring the countywide pass rate up from less than 50 percent in 2008 to nearly 80 percent.
Montana Board of Crime Control’s Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) grant will continue to fund enforcement operations aimed at reducing both retail and social availability such as compliance checks, party patrols, shoulder tap operations and source investigations through December 2012.
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by Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio, www.todaysbestcountryonline.com e-mail: klcb@frontiernet.net.
Libby Class of '92 20th Class Reunion July 27 & 28 (posted 1/27/12)
The Libby Class of '92 will hold their 20th Class Reunion July 27 & 28, 2012. Donna (Brue) Williams is collecting addresses as invitations will need to be sent out shortly. Please email Donna at donna.w3825@gmail.com and reference the class reunion in the subject line.
They can also be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/191713314229236/
Any and all teachers from K-12 who were teachers during that time are welcome to attend.
For more information, see the reunion website: www.lhsclassof92reunion.com.
LCC to host College Goal Montana Feb. 8 (posted 1/27/12)
Flathead Valley Community College’s Lincoln County Campus will host College Goal Montana, formerly called College Goal Sunday, a program that provides students who want to attend college and their families the opportunity to obtain assistance in applying for financial aid.
Free and open to all higher-education bound students and their families of all income levels, College Goal Montana is dedicated to guiding students and their families through the paperwork required to apply for financial assistance. Financial aid officers and other qualified professionals will be present to ensure students receive assistance in understanding and completing the necessary paperwork, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), to receive financial aid.
The event will take place February 8 from 4 to 7 p.m. on the college campus located at 225 Commerce Way in Libby. Appointments are not required.
Students and their families who attend will need to provide Social Security numbers, 2011 federal income tax returns (or 2010 federal income tax returns if 2011 returns are not completed), W-2 forms, tribal income or other aid information, such as TANF, child support or other benefits, and additional asset information including money market funds, stocks and other investments.
Students attending the event can enter to win a $500 scholarship that may be used at any accredited college or program in the nation. The college’s Lincoln County Campus is one of 18 locations throughout the state hosting College Goal Montana.
For more information, please contact Deb Huisentruit at 406-293-2721, or visit www.smartaboutcollege.org.
Peru Study Abroad program highlighted Jan 31st (posted 1/27/12)
Opportunity to earn college credits
Flathead Valley Community College
Flathead Valley Community College’s Lincoln County Campus will host an informational session on its Peru Cultural Immersion Experience study abroad program for the community January 31 at 3 p.m. in room 215 on the Libby campus.
The cultural immersion program will take place from June 12 through July 9 in the village of Urubamba outside of Cusco, Peru. Participating students will have the opportunity to earn up to eight college credits while participating in a number of activities including exploring Inca archaeological sites, trips to Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes, visiting and working at a local coffee farm, sightseeing in the city of Cusco, staying in a traditional Quechua home, traveling by boat to the remote island of Amantani on Lake Titicaca, participating in a local community service project involving adobe brick building for local homes and experiencing traditional Inca meals and local cuisine.
Space in the program is limited. A non-refundable deposit of $1,000 is due to the FVCC Business Office by April 1 in order to reserve a place in the program. Students must be 18 years of age or older to participate without a parent. Financial assistance is available to qualifying students. Payment plan options also are available. Information on trip itinerary, courses and accommodations are available by calling 406-756-3945, by emailing mstembor@fvcc.edu or by visiting www.fvcc.edu/studyabroad.html.
New deadline and drawing dates for Montana hunters (posted 1/27/12)
Important pre-season timeline update for hunters
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wants to alert all hunters to important updates to the 2012 preseason calendar, especially new deadline and drawing dates. The biggest change this year is the deadline for residents and nonresidents to apply for deer and elk permits – now March 15. This date was moved up to allow hunters more time to prepare for hunts. Drawings for those permits will now occur in mid-April as opposed to July.
IMPORTANT PRESEASON DATES FOR HUNTERS
February 16 FWP Commission addresses hunting districts with pending quotas
March 15 Deadline to apply for deer and elk permits (NEW)
March 15 2012 Season regulations available (ONLINE)
Early April 2012 Deer/elk/antelope regulations available (PRINTED)
Mid April Drawing for deer and elk permits
May 1 Deadline to apply for moose, goat, sheep, and bison licenses
June 1 Deadline to apply for antlerless deer B, elk B, and antelope licenses
July 16 Drawing for antlerless deer B and antlerless elk B licenses
At the February 16 FWP Commission meeting, quotas will be finalized for hunting districts with pending quotas. It is important that hunters interested in applying for special deer and elk permits in districts with pending quotas wait until after February 16 to make their choices and submit applications.
The deadline to apply for moose, sheep, goat, and bison licenses remains May 1, while June 1 remains the deadline to apply for antlerless deer B and elk B licenses as well as antelope licenses.
FWP urges hunters to apply for licenses online. For more information, log onto fwp.mt.gov and click on "hunting."
Update on Montana's hunting seasons (posted 1/18/12)
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Wolf, winter lion hunting with hounds, and trapping seasons continue in Montana where applicable quotas have not been met. Montana's bison hunting season by special permit closes Feb. 15.
Hunters can track quotas and when hunts close by going to the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov, or calling toll-free: 1-800-385-7826.
Trappers interested in the 2011-2012 season must obtain a license over the counter before the end of February. Trapping licenses purchased after Nov. 30 are not valid for bobcat or wolverine.
The last of Montana's waterfowl and upland game bird seasons and falconry season closed earlier this month.
Montana wolf harvest reaches 60 percent of quota (posted 1/18/12)
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reports that about 60 percent of the statewide wolf quota of 220 wolves has been met in Montana's 2011-2012 wolf hunting season.
A total of 100 wolves were taken during the regular archery and rifle seasons Sept. 3.—Nov. 27. The FWP Commission then extended the wolf hunting season until Feb. 15, or until the statewide quota is met. This season extension resulted in the harvest of an additional 33 wolves as of Jan. 11.
The commission will consider an additional wolf hunting season extension in the Bitterroot at its Jan. 19 meeting.
The FWP Commission has removed the requirement for wolf hunters to wear hunter orange during the extended season.
"Hunters may not realize that there are good, accessible areas for wolf hunting remaining, and that there are still open quotas," said Quentin Kujala, FWP fish and wildlife section chief. "For those wanting to harvest a wolf, now is the time."
For up-to-date information on the quota status of Montana's wolf management units go to the wolf hunting guide on the Hunting page at fwp.mt.gov.
Kujala reminds hunters that a wolf harvest must be reported within 12 hours of harvest by calling 877-397-9453 or 1-877-FWP-WILD. Check the FWP website for quota updates, or call 1-800-385-7826.
Related Links:
Wolf Watch By Cat Urbigkit
New this year—deer & elk permit application due March 15 (posted 1/18/12)
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Hunters in Montana can get an early start on making plans for the upcoming season thanks to recent license-purchase and special permit-application deadline changes.
This year hunting and fishing licenses go on sale Jan. 16 and the deadline for residents and nonresidents to apply for deer and elk permits has moved up to March 15.
In past years, new hunting licenses would go on sale at the end of February and special deer and elk permits were due June 1.
The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission recently adjusted the dates in response to public comment.
"Now resident and nonresident hunters will have their drawing results by mid-April, instead of the end of July," said Ron Aasheim, FWP spokesman in Helena. "That gives hunters three additional months to make plans, scout hunting areas, get in shape, and talk to landowners."
Resident and nonresident applications and information, including application success tips, will be available online at fwp.mt.gov, beginning Jan. 16. Click "New Deadline – March 15 Deer & Elk Permits".
Paper applications and information will be available from FWP offices and license providers by Jan. 18.
Hunters will also notice that the permit application packet has been revamped and simplified.
"We’ve heard for years that the application process is too complicated," Aasheim said. "In response to the deadline change we boiled down 120 pages of hunting regulations to an eight-page information and application packet."
Montana’s traditional deer, elk and antelope hunting regulations will still be available in early April.
FWP continues to urge hunters to apply online. "It’s fast, it’s convenient and it’s always accurate," Aasheim said. "The online system won’t allow you to submit an application that contains an error. This year, we’re really encouraging hunters to read the application information, and then carefully fill out a paper application to guide their online submissions."
Aasheim said the best tip he can offer is to start hunting plans early, but hold off on submitting deer and elk permit applications until sometime after Feb. 16. "There are many hunting districts with ‘pending’ quotas that won’t be finalized by the FWP Commission until Feb. 16. If you are interested in applying for one of the pending hunting districts, check the FWP website after the Feb. 16 meeting, make your choices and then submit your application."
Nonresidents who wish to apply for big game combination, elk combination or deer combination licenses and deer and elk permits for the 2012 fall Montana hunting season can also apply online or download an application from FWP’s website beginning Jan. 16. To request an application by mail, write to: Licensing Section; Montana FWP; P.O. Box 200701, Helena MT; 59620-0701; or call: 406-444-2950. The application deadline is March 15.
Aasheim stressed that the deadline to apply for moose, sheep, goat and bison licenses remains May 1. June 1 remains the deadline to apply for antlerless deer B and elk B licenses and antelope and antelope B licenses.
Montana's upcoming hunting and fishing license year runs from March 1 to Feb. 28, 2013.
Libby
lies in the northwest corner of Montana and is nestled in a valley carved by the
Kootenai River on the flank of the majestic Cabinet Mountain Range and Wilderness
Area. Today
about 2,800 people live within Libby proper. The main industries are lumber and
wood products, mining, tourism and recreation. The movies "The River Wild" and
"Always" were filmed here. Contact the Libby
Chamber of Commerce for brochures, info on lodging and events, general area
information, and contact information for local businesses and services.
SUMMER
When the weather warms and the mountain
snows melt away, the Kootenai National Forest comes alive with over 2.2
million acres of public land as a playground. Mountain trails and lakes
open up, beautiful wildflowers come in bloom, and wildlife have their young.
Libby is the basecamp for the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Area, 90-mile
long Lake Koocanusa, the Northwest Peaks Scenic Area, and the Ten Lakes
Scenic Area. There is good access to most of the Forest and plenty of room
to get away from it all!
WINTER
Winter in Montana means snow, and lots
of it! For those who love to play in the deep powder, the Libby area offers tremendous
winter fun. Turner Mountain Ski Area, located
just 22 miles from Libby, offers challenging downhill skiing with a beautiful
view. Their slogan is "steep, deep and cheap", and Turner definitely
lives up to that. It's still fairly undiscovered, so you can escape the crowds
and get the cheapest lift tickets around. For those who love snowmobiling,
there are hundreds of miles of backcountry roads to sled on in the Kootenai National
Forest. Cross-country skiers and ice fishermen also can find solitude on a lake
and miles of quiet forest trails to enjoy the outdoors. Those who are a bit on
the wild and crazy side will love the antics of the Libby Polar Bear Club.
Members take winter-time "swims" in frigid Libby Creek every Sunday
from October to April. Plungers have ranged in age from 3 to 61. As long as the
ice can be broken on the creek, if it has formed, the group will take their plunge,
no matter the temperature.
These people must be
craaaazzzzzy!
Libby
Polar Bear Club
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