Valley Journal
Valley Journal

This Week’s e-Edition

Current Events

Latest Headlines

What's New?

Send us your news items.

NOTE: All submissions are subject to our Submission Guidelines.

Announcement Forms

Use these forms to send us announcements.

Birth Announcement
Obituary

Articles with the Tag: Crime

Columbine survivor challenges community to be kind Columbine survivor challenges community to be kind

RONAN – Community members in Ronan put their arms together and swayed as one to the tune of “Lean on Me” as part of a commitment to be more compassionate toward others last week, after hearing a presentation called “Rachel’s Challenge” from a man who lost his sister and fr...

ATM stolen from local bank ATM stolen from local bank

POLSON — Thieves removed the automated teller machine from the front entrance of Community Bank in Polson early Friday morning. The theft was discovered at approximately 6 a.m. when Polson Police officers and Lake County Sheriff’s deputies responded to an intrusion alarm. Security video revealed ...

Guard against scam artists

News from the Internal Revenue Service Aggressive and threatening phone calls by criminals impersonating IRS agents remain near the top of the annual “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams for the 2015 filing season, according to the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS has seen a surge of these phon...

Bail set for man accused of shooting at police officer

POLSON — Arraignment for James Wilson Allen, 39, was delayed for a second time on Jan. 28, and set for Feb. 4.  Allen is accused of shooting at an off-duty police officer that had to duck and roll in order to avoid being hit by bullets on Jan. 20.  Deputy County Attorney James Lapotka r...

Hawk pleads guilty to negligent homicide Hawk pleads guilty to negligent homicide

POLSON – A Ronan man pled guilty Wednesday, Jan. 28 to negligent homicide, charges resulting from an Oct. 22, 2014, shooting death of a 3-year-old.  Galen Hawk, 26, kept his eyes downcast and answered in one word answers of “yes” to questions posed by his defense attorney about the ...

Supreme Court

HELENA – The Montana Supreme Court has granted permission for a Missoula man convicted of stalking a Lake County woman in 2014 to appeal his sentence.  The high court granted the out-of-time appeal for Brandon Bagnell, 46, because confusion in the public defender’s office led to a timely ...

Man charged in bear deaths

MISSOULA – A Bigfork man who lives in the Ferndale area of Lake County has pleaded not guilty to federal charges that resulted from him allegedly shooting and killing a grizzly May 2014.  Dan Calvert Wallen, 54, pleaded not guilty Jan. 27 to three counts of unlawful taking of a threatened speci...

Hawk pleads guilty to negligent homicide Hawk pleads guilty to negligent homicide

POLSON – A Ronan man pleaded guilty yesterday to negligent homicide charges resulting from an Oct. 22, 2014 shooting death of a 3-year-old.  Galen Hawk, 26, kept his eyes downcast and answered in one word answers of “yes” to questions posed by his defense attorney about the events t...

Suspects arrested on Melita Island Lane Suspects  arrested on Melita Island Lane

BIG ARM — A manhunt on Melita Island Lane Jan. 15 netted James Rand Hernvall, 34, and Jessica Erin Taylor, 37. Both were wanted on warrants — Hernvall in Montana and Idaho and Taylor in both Flathead and Lincoln County. Law enforcement was alerted when a resident called Lake County dispatch at...

Mathewson guilty of criminal endangerment

A  Polson man accused of rape and kidnapping has plea-bargained for lesser offenses. Robert Mathewson, 32, changed his plea to no contest for two amended offenses of criminal endangerment, both felonies. Per the plea agreement, Mathewson was released and ordered to not make contact with victims. Cour...


Sponsored by: