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  • Fort Peck Journal August 6, 2026 issue

    These images are the original digital files of the Fort Peck Journal—the same files sent directly to the printer to produce the printed newspaper. Each page has been uploaded here so readers can view the complete issue online.

  • Analyzing Political Interference in Fort Peck Custody Hearings

    Did the Chairman and a Tribal Councilman violate the law by using their political influence to sway a custody case? You decide! During a child custody case in Tribal Court, a letter signed by Tribal Chairman Justin Gray Hawk and Tribal Councilman/tribal chairman candidate Bryce Kirk was presented to lay advocate Robert Welch. The letter…

  • Key Ruling in Poplar Drug Case: Charges Dropped Due to Jurisdiction Issue

    A felony drug case against a Poplar man was dismissed by Tribal Court because the prosecution never proved the defendant was Indian. Ralph Hamilton walked free from the Tribal Court after his defense counsel introduced a motion to dismiss the charges based on the fact that the Tribes did not prove Hamilton was indeed an…

  • Murder suspects arraigned in Tribal Court

    Four individuals were charged with murder in Fort Peck Tribal Court following the death of Gifford Standing in Wolf Point. Abrianne Deserley and Calvin Lester Jr. face murder charges, while Dillon Wetsit and Michael Menz are charged with complicity. All pleaded not guilty and were remanded into custody, with a pretrial hearing scheduled for April…

  • Four Arrested in Wolf Point Murder Case: Details Inside

    Four individuals are facing murder charges related to the death of Gifford Standing in Wolf Point. Standing was found dead in an abandoned building, and subsequent investigations identified Abrianne Deserley, Calvin Lester Jr., Dillon Wetsit, and Michael Menz as suspects. The community is responding with protests against violence.

  • Tribal Police Arrest Three in Recent Drug Busts

    Tribal Police arrested three people in different drug related cases this past weekend. On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Fort Peck Tribal Court, suspects Desi Schaffer, Izzy Ackerman, and Torry Flynn. Schaffer, 60, was arrested after being pulled over on C Street East in Poplar. She was charged with unlawful possession of dangerous drugs with…

  • Two Arrested in Stabbing of 12-Year-Old Boy in Poplar

    Tribal law enforcement arrested two people in connection with the stabbing of a 12-year-old boy. On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, some children were observed and recorded engaging in a physical altercation. This took place in the field north of US Highway 2. It was located between the main road and Airport Addition in Poplar. It…

  • Former Poplar Fire Chief to plead guilty to Theft Charges

    A Poplar man scheduled to go to trial for stealing from the fire department changed his plea to guilty. David Mathison was initially charged with 10 counts of wire fraud, according to a federal indictment. The matter was set to go to trial. Nevertheless, Mathison, through the Federal Defenders of Montana, sent the court a…

  • Tribal Member will not face murder charges in New Orleans killing

    A grand jury in New Orleans refused to indict a tribal member on murder charges. Courtney Cantrell, 36, was originally booked on murder charges in the death of Patricia Fitzgerald, 45, in September 2024 after allegedly fleeing Louisiana to Montana in the aftermath of the killing. Fitzgerald was found under a wharf by the Mississippi…

  • Fort Peck Community College: Meeting Community Workforce Needs

    Healthcare and government working are the primary employers of people in the community, and the local college is aiming to cater to these needs. Fort Peck Community College’s calendar states final grades were due December 16, 2024, bringing the Fall 2024 Semester to an end. Classes are scheduled to resume January 13, 2025. Fort Peck…