Montana News Headlines: Toddler’s Shooting Shocks Libby

A 24-year-old Libby man is now facing charges of negligent homicide and is being held on a half-million dollar bail, accused of allowing his 3-year-old son to pick up his pistol, shooting himself in the face.

The Western News reports that Timothy Frederick Allen Moore was arrested Tuesday after the shooting, which investigators said happened when Moore left the 22-caliber handgun on the couch, going outside to smoke with the boy who got hold of the weapon.

     Sheriff Darren Short says responding officers found Moore in a despondent state outside the home, with evidence of drug use.

Montana Man Apparently Drowns on the Lochsa

Idaho authorities now say the man they've been trying to find on the Lochsa River is a 68-year-old man from Montana.

In an online post, the Idaho County Sheriff said the man was reported missing, and as a possible drowning victim near the Wilderness Gateway Campground on Wednesday afternoon. That's 100 miles west of Missoula off Highway 12.

Searchers have been searching along the river, and from the air with a drone, along with helping from rafting operators.

     The Nez Perce County Dive Team had hoped to join the search yesterday if conditions allowed.

RELATED: Wilderness River Accident Kills Two 

Montana Fire Danger Climbing

More evidence of the growing fire danger, as Missoula County becomes the latest to raise the fire danger to "moderate" because of the hot, dry weather. Ravalli County already moved to "moderate" earlier this week.

     🔥 Most other counties have yet to ramp up fire danger lists, but that's expected to change after the hot spell continues to push temperatures higher through Saturday.

More Montana Measles

Two more measles cases are being reported in Gallatin County this week. The Gallatin County Health Department says an adult who was hospitalized May 23rd tested positive, with isolation protocols being followed.

     The second case is from an individual who was reportedly vaccinated but had been in public while visiting Casey's Corner in Bozeman the morning of May 20th.

The Flathead Beacon reports Flathead County health officials are reporting a second case of measles, involving an adult who'd traveled outside the area recently. Officials don't think this case is connected with another reported a few days ago. However, they are warning people there might have been some exposure who visited "The Rock" at Logan Health last Friday afternoon, as well as its' health clinics. Or, the Logan Health Emergency Department on Monday evening.

Missoula's new waterfront is about ready

Workers are putting the finishing touches on a piece of Montana "waterfront", completing a multi-million dollar renovation that's taken over 5 years to complete.

But when the final parts are complete, Missoula will have a showcase that is a dramatic change from the brushy, "junked up" area that used to border downtown along the Clark Fork River.

The new section of Caras Park will allow for greatly improved public access along the river. Not only is there a much wider, naturally winding "trail" along the length of the park, but there are new benches down to the river itself, and expanding opportunities to watch the surfers on Brennan's Wave.

Montana Friday Fact

Brennan's Wave has been a popular water feature since 2006, honoring hometown paddler Brennan Guth, who died while running whitewater in Chile.

     🌊 It's even been the site for world-class kayak competitions.