Suspect in arson fires arrested
The Associated Press and The Daily Inter Lake | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 13 years, 5 months AGO
Officials in Lake County have arrested a St. Ignatius man suspected in a string of recent fires in St. Ignatius and Pablo.
Chase Kuntz, 19, is charged with one count of arson for a fire that destroyed a log cabin east of St. Ignatius on June 5.
Prosecutors say Kuntz is a person of interest in several other structure fires, including a June 2 fire that destroyed the 110-year-old former Beckwith Mercantile building — the second oldest building in St. Ignatius.
The same day the mercantile building burned, a separate fire burned a business in downtown St. Ignatius.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, at least eight fires in the Pablo and St. Ignatius areas in May and early June were ruled suspicious.
Detectives are following several other leads and still are asking for tips.
Anyone with information about the fires is asked to contact Lake County Crimestoppers at (888) 883-7309. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.
ARTICLES BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND THE DAILY INTER LAKE
Judge dismisses tribes' lawsuit over Flathead water
A federal judge has refused to get involved in a fight over water rights between the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and nontribal farmers and ranchers on the Flathead Indian Reservation.
Crowds pouring into national parks
Visitors heading to the Grand Canyon lately know they are going to get two things when they arrive: breathtaking views and long waits, whether it is to get into the national park itself or to find a parking spot inside. A few frustrated tourists have even turned around and left.
Lincoln County native at center of race dispute
SPOKANE — Rachel Dolezal, a native of Lincoln County, leads the Spokane chapter of the NAACP, teaches African studies to college students and sits on a police oversight commission.