7 minute read
Courts
from 12-29-21 issue
Stories by Jeff Smith of Anderson Broadcasting for the Valley Journal
Steele to face trial for criminal possession
POLSON — A Pablo man is facing a jury trial in April for allegedly dealing drugs, namely heroin, in Lake County.
John Emery Steele, 30, entered a plea of not guilty at District Court in Polson Dec. 16 to two counts of criminal possession with intent to distribute and three counts criminal possession of dangerous drugs. The charges span four separate cases. One involves a forgery conviction that has not yet gone to sentencing.
According to court records, Steele was seen by law enforcement sitting in the passenger seat of car in Polson Jan. 9, with a “tooter” straw on his lap. When the officers became aware of the “tooter,” Steele was seen pushing it off his lap. After being advised of his rights, Steele admitted that he intentionally pushed the paraphernalia off his lap. During a pat down of Steele after his arrest, officers allegedly found a baggie with a brown substance. The brown substance tested positive for heroin at the state crime lab.
The first charge of criminal possession with intent to distribute came from an incident March 11 in which Steele was found to be in possession of more heroin. Steele was one of three occupants of a vehicle that was the subject of a routine traffic stop at about 3:48 a.m. A search of the vehicle allegedly turned up heroin near where each occupant was sitting. Officers also found other items in the vehicle used in the distribution of drugs, such as baggies and scales. The vehicle had Washington license plates. One of the other occupants told Polson police officer Aaron Sutton that he routinely travels to Washington where
he has contacts to obtain large quantities of various drugs for distribution in Polson. On Aug. 7, Ronan police were dispatched to a local gas station on a report of possible drugs being found in a baggie that had been dropped on the floor. Video surveillance at the business allegedly showed Steele drop the baggie. The baggie contained 20.91 grams John Steele of heroin, 1.35 grams of methamphetamine and .54 grams of cocaine. District Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher set a trial date of April 11. Steele remains in the Lake County jail with bail totaling $125,000.
Nichols sentenced to 10 years for violation of release conditions
POLSON — An Elmo woman had a six-year deferred sentence for felony criminal endangerment revoked at District Court in Polson Dec. 16 and turned into a 10-year term in the Montana State Women’s prison for continued violations of her release conditions
Rachel Rae Nichols, 50, was initially given the deferred sentence plus 15 days in the Lake County jail on one count of felony criminal endangerment. The charge stems from a drunk driving crash July 29, 2018.
According to court records, Nichols was traveling in the southbound lane of U. S. Highway 93 near mile marker 78 when her vehicle went into the ditch on the right side of the road. The vehicle came back onto the roadway into the northbound lane and into the left side ditch before returning to the northbound lane and colliding with a northbound car. The occupant of the northbound car went to check on Nichols and could smell alcohol on her and Nichols appeared intoxicated.
Nichols admitted to responding law enforcement officers that she had consumed Budweiser and stated, “I am drunk.”
In a separate matter, Nichols was committed in District Court at Polson Dec. 16 to the Montana Department of Corrections for a total two years to be followed by five years’ supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a fine of $5,000 on felony charges of DUI and criminal endangerment.
According to court records, on Oct. 8, 2020, a motorist traveling on U. S. Highway 93 reported to law enforcement that a Buick had just hit his car and fled northbound. The reporting party followed the
Buick at speeds reaching up to 80 MPH and allegedly witnessed the Buick almost hit another vehicle on Jette Hill north of Polson. Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Jeremy Lee intercepted the Buick a short time later and was able to make a traffic stop on it. Nichols was identified as the driver. She refused to provide a preliminary breath test or conduct any field sobriety tests. A search warrant was obtained for a blood draw. An analysis of the blood showed the alcohol content at .220. Rachel Nichols Nichols was also ordered to pay restitution of $2,261.51, the remaining balance of restitution ordered in the 2018 case, and restitution of $7,499.99 in the 2020 case. That is in addition to a fee of $800 for the cost of a public defender in each case. Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher gave Nichols credit for having already served a total 751 days in jail.
briefs
Honor loved one with gift to library
POLSON — December is the perfect time to honor or remember a loved one with a gift to the North Lake County Public Library. Giving before the end of the year is a great way to maximize your charitable contributions for yourself and the library with the help of the CARES Act.
Mondays mean Mother Goose. Join us at 9:15 a.m. Mother Goose is geared toward ages 0 to 3, but all are welcome. We encourage parents and caregivers to participate with their children for this early learning time. The doors open at 9 a.m. We will practice social distancing. Face masks are recommended but not required.
The North Lake County Public Library has a Starry Sky Project STEM Kit available for checkout. The Montana Learning Center in Helena is launching the statewide Starry Sky Survey Project, which is part of a larger effort to track light pollution globally. Anyone 18 or older with a library card in good standing can check out the kit, take measurements, and upload findings to the international database “Globe at Night.”
We will be closed Friday, Dec. 31- Jan. 1 for the New Year. We will reopen Monday Jan. 3 at 9 a.m.
RONAN — A special meeting of the Flathead Irrigation District will be held Jan. 6, 2022, at 1 p.m. Enter through the Lake County Extension office back door, 303 Third Ave. NW., Ronan. Visit http:// www.flatheadirrigationdistrict. org/ for more details.
Department of Commerce awards grants
By Taylor Davison Valley Journal
HELENA — The Montana Department of Commerce recently announced it will be awarding $320,000 in grants to 24 Native-owned small businesses throughout the state, including three in the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribe.
All American Autoworks in Ronan will receive $12,000 to purchase welding equipment and tools, Arrow Rock in Polson with receive $14,000 to purchase a large capacity dump trailer, and Hair to the Throne in Polson will receive $14,000 to purchase equipment and supplies.
Part of the Indian Equity Fund meant to support new and expanding Native-owned small businesses in the eight federally recognized tribes in Montana, the grant is an annual program funded by the State Legislature.
“The Indian Equity Fund has a proven record of successfully infusing capital into Native-owned small businesses in Montana,” Department of Commerce Director Scott Osterman stated in a recent MDC press release. “Ninety-two percent of recipients over the past five years are still operating and even expanding further.”
To receive the grant, future recipients must undergo a competitive application process. Anastasia Burton, Communications and Public Affairs Supervisor at the Montana Department of Commerce explains, “Applications go through two rounds of review: one from a state committee and one from [a committee] local to the tribe the applicant is affiliated with.”
Each business can receive up to $14,000 and the funds are paid on a reimbursement basis. As businesses make eligible expenses, they are reimbursed up to the amount of the grant. Burton added that purchases can also be made by the Department of Commerce for eligible expenses on behalf of the business.
Applications for the 2022 grant open July 1.
NRCS announces new EQIP funding
News from USDA
BOZEMAN — The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Montana is offering a new assistance opportunity for agricultural producers through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program. While NRCS accepts applications year-round, producers and landowners should apply by the Feb. 18, ranking date to be considered for this year’s funding.
“EQIP is our flagship conservation program. By focusing the expanded benefits of the Conservation Incentive Contracts in high priority areas, we’re enabling Tribal producers to strengthen their land management and conservation practices,” said Tom Watson, NRCS State Conservationist for Montana.
The EQIP Conservation Incentive Contracts will be targeted to include socially disadvantaged producers operating on Montana’s reservations and in Blaine, Cascade, Glacier, and Hill counties.
The 2018 Farm Bill created the new Conservation Incentive Contracts option to address high-priority conservation and natural resources concerns. Through 5 to 10-year contracts, producers manage, maintain and address important natural resource concerns and build on existing conservation efforts. Conservation Incentive Contracts were piloted in select states in fiscal year 2021. The opportunity is now available nationwide.
Ranking dates for all programs and states are available online. Applications received after ranking dates will be automatically deferred to the next funding period.
To learn more visit the NRCS website and click on Programs, then Environmental Quality Incentives Program or visit your local USDA Service Center.
