The Newport Miner the voice of pend oreille county since 1901
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Volume 114, Number 51 | 2 Sections, 16 Pages $1.00
One deputy in serious condition after shooting
Three deputies serve arrest warrant, exchange gunfire with suspect By Michelle Nedved Of The Miner
BLANCHARD – A 53-yearold Bonner County sheriff’s deputy is in serious condition as of Tuesday afternoon, follow-
ing a shooting involving three deputies and a suspect near Blanchard late Monday morning. Deputy Michael R. Gagnon has been with the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office less than
two years. He and Deputy Justin M. Penn, 30, were shot when they attempted to serve an arrest warrant on Mountain View Road, southwest of Blanchard off Blanchard Elk Road Monday, at about 11:30 a.m. Penn, who
has been with the sheriff’s office for five and a half years, is in fair condition. The suspect, 30-year-old Adam Deacon, allegedly exchanged gunfire with the deputies. Deacon is also in fair
condition as of Tuesday afternoon. A third deputy, William T. Craffey, 47, was also on the call, but not injured. He’s been with See Shooting, 2A
Three school levies on Feb. 14 ballot By Sophia Aldous Of The Miner
CUSICK – Valentine’s Day will be a busy one not just for love birds, but for three school districts as they attempt to pass replacement Maintenance and Operations levies in Pend Oreille County. Newport, Cusick and Selkirk share the ballot, as they attempt to get voters in their respective districts to approve a separate levy each. Ballots should be postmarked no later than Tuesday, Feb. 14. The Newport School Board approved a levy resolution for a three year levy at the Nov. 14 board meeting with the following requests per year: $1,734,445, $1,760,445 and $1,786,945. The anticipated levy rate is $2.09 per $1,000 of assessed value each year. A public meeting is in the works to allow voters to learn more about the levy, but no date has been set yet, according to Newport School District Superin-
Miner photo|Don Gronning
Getting ready to ride Newport saddle bronc rider Austin Krogh works some rosin into the swells of his bronc saddle before riding at the Spokane Arena Friday, Jan. 13. Both Krogh and Priest River bronc rider Caleb Nichols were invited to compete at the Wrangler Rough Stock rodeo. They finished out of the money both nights.
See Levies, 2A
Planning commission recommends marijuana ban
Rep. Heather Scott removed from committees over remarks
County commissioners set Jan. 24 public hearing By Don Gronning Of The Miner
NEWPORT – The Pend Oreille County Planning Commission voted to recommend that the county ban all retail marijuana sales in the unincorporated areas of the county, as well as prohibit medical marijuana community
gardens. These were some of the marijuana related actions the planning commission took action on at the Jan. 10 meeting in Cusick. The planning commission was charged with making recommendations regarding marijuana and the county’s development regulations. They took
the action following a public hearing that started at the December meeting and was continued to the January meeting. A few people showed up to testify at the January meeting, with most speaking against allowing marijuana sales. One person expressed concerns about the
potential loss of tax revenue if the county bans sales. Six others spoke against allowing sales or expressing a concern about marijuana use. At the December meeting, one person testified that the notice for the meeting wasn’t proper. Former county See Marijuana, 7A
By Don Gronning Of The Miner
BOISE – Saying only female legislators who “spread their legs” advance to leadership positions in the Idaho Legislature, got Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard,
stripped of her committee assignments by House Speaker Scott Bedke. The remarks, made in a December GOP meeting, were enough for Bedke, R-Oakley, to remove Scott from the Commerce, See Scott, 2A
B r i e f ly Counting homeless in Pend Oreille County NEWPORT – The Point in Time count (PIT) is Thursday, Jan. 26 and is an annual nationwide survey of individuals who are homeless, both sheltered and unsheltered. This includes individuals who may be living in structures that lack any of the following amenities: drinking water, restroom, heat, ability to cook hot food, ability to bathe, or who are living in abandoned buildings, in tents, on the streets, or in vehicles. Family Crisis Network has conducted the PIT count for Pend Oreille County for at least the last 20 years. This year Family Crisis Network will be collaborating with Youth Emergency Services, Newport
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Hospital, Newport Food Bank, and Hospitality House. Anyone living in these conditions is encouraged to reach out to one of the many agencies in the community between Monday, Jan. 23 and Friday, Jan. 27 to find out what services may be available.
Calispel Valley Library: Adults need STEM too CUSICK – Calispel Valley Library received a $3,500 National Science Foundation grant from the Califa Library Group to provide four science-based programs for adults. STEM (Science, Technology, and Engineering & Math) 6B-8B
and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math) are rarely mentioned in relation to adults. The program, “Pushing the Limits,” is essentially, “Book club meets science café.” Adult attendees read a pre-announced popular book selection, then come to the library for an event in which they discuss the book. The program will be held on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 10 a.m. in the Cusick Community Center and will last about an hour or so. Refreshments will be served. Free copies of the book are available from the Calispel Valley Library. For more information, contact the library at 800-366-3654 or email pamt@pocld.org.
Opinion
4a
Record
5B
sports
1B-2B
Life
4B
Police Reports
5B
Obituaries
5B
Public Notices
6B-8B
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