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
PL 280 saga winds down with three signatures
Monday marked a quiet end to a long-running saga as the three Lake County commissioners each signed a resolution rescinding three previous attempts to remove the county from the responsibilities enshrined in Public Law 280.
Fire season amps up on and off reservation
Fire season appears to be amping up earlier than usual in western Montana, with two fire starts last week. Ongoing dry, windy conditions prompted the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes Division of Fire to elevate the danger level from moderate to high on Tuesday.
Young Polson resident says ducks deserve a hearing
Ducks face discrimination in the City of Polson, and Johnny Lapotka aims to change that.
Filing deadline June 11 for municipal elections
Several seats remain unclaimed with the filing deadline for municipal elections in Polson, Ronan and St. Ignatius next Wednesday. The general election will be held Nov. 4.
Charlo Class of '25: Small but mighty
Fourteen seniors collected their diplomas in the Charlo gym Sunday – perhaps the smallest graduating class in Lake County. Small but mighty, according to commencement speaker and social studies teacher Mike Mercer, who described them as “the most fun, interesting, thought-provoking group of young adults I've ever been around.”
Commissioners backpedal on controversial resolution
Lake County Commission Chair Gale Decker seemed a little wary as he stepped to the microphone for last Thursday’s public hearing. The topic, a resolution to impose a Notice of New Construction for any property improvements in Lake County, had already drawn ample ire on social media, and the commissioners were apt to attract more of the same from the crowd of at least 75 people filling the courthouse conference room, and another 20 or so tuning in via Zoom.
Honoring those who gave their today so we can have tomorrow
Amid the sturdy ponderosa pines, fresh flowers, wreaths and miniature flags punctuated the graves of veterans at Mountain View Cemetery in Ronan Monday. Chaplain and Korean War veteran Richard Tobel quietly invoked President Franklin D. Roosevelt and General George Patton.
Commissioners hold hearing on proposed construction notice
The Lake County Commissioners are holding a public hearing today on a resolution that would require property owners to file a “notice of new construction” with the planning department. The proposed fee is $5 if filed before the project begins, and goes up to $1,000 if filed after construction begins.
St-Char-Ro: A blooming success at 50
Main Street in Ronan was closed to traffic Saturday as St-Char-Ro celebrated its 50th anniversary with a street fair, inflatable bounce houses, classic cars and even a miniature race track.
BREAKTHROUGH: Governor signs PL 280 bill
“Well, it’s the end of a long journey,” said Lake County Commissioner Gale Decker about newly minted legislation regarding Public Law 280, a law enforcement agreement between Lake County and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.