KRISTI NIEMEYER
Kristi Niemeyer is editor of the Lake County Leader. She learned her newspaper licks at the Mission Valley News and honed them at the helm of the Ronan Pioneer and, eventually, as co-editor of the Leader until 1993. She later launched and published Lively Times, a statewide arts and entertainment monthly (she still publishes the digital version), and produced and edited State of the Arts for the Montana Arts Council and Heart to Heart for St. Luke Community Healthcare. Reach her at editor@leaderadvertiser.com or 406-883-4343.
Recent Stories
AG says state will consider funding for PL 280
Whether fueled by election-year largesse or Lake County’s impending withdrawal from Public Law 280, Attorney General Austin Knudsen delivered some long-awaited good news Monday. The office of Gov. Greg Gianforte, he said, “has authorized me to convey to you folks they would sign a bill through the Legislature that provided some law enforcement funding for Lake County.”
Mercer applies to fill judicial vacancy for Lake and Sanders counties
Longtime Polson attorney and former state legislator and Speaker of the House John Mercer has applied to fill the remaining office term of former District Court Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher, who resigned from the bench effective April 5.
Officials look for answers from U.S. Attorney on Public Law 280
Frustration seemed to be the tenor this week at the Lake County Courthouse as public officials contemplate their withdrawal from Public Law 280, which has given the county felony jurisdiction over tribal members on the Flathead Reservation for nearly 60 years.
Jury finds Craig McCrea guilty of two counts of felony arson
During opening statements in the trial against accused arsonist Craig McCrea, Assistant Attorney General Thorin Geist told jurors what to expect from the prosecution as the trial unfolded this week at the Lake County Courthouse. After three days of testimony, they began deliberations around 11:30 a.m. Thursday, and emerged five hours later with a verdict of guilty on two of four charges of arson.
Redistricting reshapes local House and Senate races
Thinking of running for elected office? Filing opens Jan. 11 for a slew of county and state positions.
CSKT members elect new Tribal Council
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes members chose incumbent James “Bing” Matt as an at-large representative on the Tribal Council.
Founder of Salish Kootenai College remembered for contributions to community
Many flags across the Flathead Reservation are flying at half-mast this week in honor of Dr. Joe McDonald, a visionary educator and tribal leader who died last Thursday, Dec. 14. The founder of Salish Kootenai College was 92.
Public Law 280: The path forward
“You have my commitment that – no matter what happens going forward – if you call 911, we're coming,” Lake County Sheriff Don Bell said during a crowded meeting at the Lake County Courthouse last Thursday.
Lake County initiates withdrawal from law enforcement agreement
The Lake County Board of Commissioners sent a certified letter to Gov. Greg Gianforte on Monday, formally announcing their intention to withdraw from Public Law 280, the nearly 60-year-old agreement that gives the state jurisdiction over felonies committed by tribal members on the reservation.
The Last Harvest: Fleming brothers retire from growing seed potatoes
The Fleming brothers, Pat and Neal, stand in front of their final crop of seed potatoes, heaped into a knobby mountain at one of their cellars near Pablo. It's the end of an era.