Reporter
EMILY MESSER
[email protected]
Emily Messer joined the Lake County Leader in July of 2025 after earning a B.A. degree in Journalism from the University of Montana. Emily grew up on a farm in the rolling hills of southeast Missouri and enjoys covering agriculture and conservation. She's lived in Montana since 2022 and honed her reporter craft with the UM J-School newspaper and internships with the RMEF Bugle Magazine and the Missoulian. At the Leader she covers the St. Ignatius Town Council, Polson City Commission and a variety of business, lifestyle and school news. Contact Emily Messer at [email protected] or 406.883.4343
ARTICLES BY EMILY MESSER
New Mexican restaurant will open in 4B’s
Veterans of another Polson Mexican restaurant will open one of their own early next year.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 6 HOURS, 19 MINUTES AGO
Win, win: Mission Council discusses annexation of ‘Indian Town’
Mission Town Council invited James Steele Jr., the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes councilman and St. Ignatius representative, to their meeting last Tuesday, Dec. 16, to begin an open dialogue about annexing land south of Mission Creek.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 6 HOURS, 19 MINUTES AGO
Windstorm caused heightened dispatch calls, thousands of outages
The western Montana windstorm on Wednesday, Dec. 17, kept emergency personnel and linemen busy as nearly 200 calls rang out for downed trees and power lines, leaving 3,866 Mission Valley Power customers without power.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 6 HOURS, 19 MINUTES AGO
Polson Commission updates impact and general fees
During the Polson City Commission meeting on Monday, Dec. 15, the second reading to change residential impact fees to fixture-based calculations was passed.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 6 HOURS, 19 MINUTES AGO
LES Haven Ranch provides sanctuary for blind horses
For Louise Schmidt, the co-founder of LES Haven Ranch, the mission began with a college equestrian club and a horse.
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 6 HOURS, 19 MINUTES AGO
LES Haven Ranch provides sanctuary for blind horses
For Louise Schmidt, the co-founder of LES Haven Ranch, the mission began with a college equestrian club and a horse.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 6 HOURS, 19 MINUTES AGO
St. Ignatius Town Council moves closer to letting golf carts back on the road
The St. Ignatius Town Council passed the first reading of its golf-cart ordinance on Dec. 2.
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 6 DAYS, 6 HOURS AGO
Three incumbents retain seats on Tribal Council, two ousted
Polls across the Flathead Reservation were open all day on Dec. 13 to fill the five seats open on the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Tribal Council.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 WEEK AGO
Owner of submerged truck charged with DUI
The driver and owner of the submerged truck in Flathead River faces several charges after an investigation by the Polson Police Department determined that Kobe Schamp “drove and exited himself” from the truck.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 WEEK AGO
Inquisitive Ronan senior earns leadership award
Ronan High School senior, Carter Gainan was recently awarded the Winslow Nichols Leadership Award for his “intellectual curiosity, leadership and character,” stated his nominator and mathematics teacher, Bonnie Eva.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 WEEK AGO
Ronan City wrap-up: Infrastructure, annexation & new businesses
Ronan council members Larry Hall and Lindsay Myers, along with Public Works director Dan Miller, presented an end-of-year recap at the Ronan Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on Thursday, Dec. 4.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 WEEK AGO
Trees and power lines down as hazardous winds hit county
Dispatch sounded off Wednesday morning across Lake County with reports of multiple down trees from Polson to Ronan.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 WEEK AGO
Tour of Asia restaurant headed to Polson
Missoula restaurant owners will bring a variety of Asian food to Polson soon and plan to open a dine-in option once they complete renovations on the former Thai Hot Spot Cafe.
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 4 DAYS AGO
Mission council passes golf-cart ordinance, swears in council members
The St. Ignatius Town Council passed the first reading of its golf-cart ordinance and swore in the returning council members during last week's meeting on Dec. 2.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 2 WEEKS AGO
