The Newport Miner the voice of pend oreille county since 1901
Wednesday, APRIL 19, 2017
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Water bank blues
Volume 115, Number 12 | 2 Sections, 20 Pages $1.00
Spokane, Pend Oreille County differ on how to govern water bank By Don Gronning Of The Miner Miner photo|Michelle Nedved
NEWPORT – County officials from Pend Oreille, Stevens and Spokane counties held a conference call Thursday, April 13 to discuss language on a tri county water bank agreement for the water bank the three are trying to establish. The idea was first brought up about two years ago and the counties have been meeting on and off to hammer out an agreement. The water bank would be pretty much what it sounds like, a vehicle to store water rights. Counties would put water rights into the water bank and would be able to draw them out for sale, as needed. The first few water rights would likely be funded with grant money. The counties were anticipating the state Supreme Court case that became known as the Hirst decision. The judges decided in that case that counties must sign off on availability of water before issuing water permits. Since the instream flows for the Little Spokane River must be protected, future building permits in that area, which is mostly in Spokane County but also includes parts of Pend Oreille and Stevens counties, the counties are taking a hard look at building permits. Before the Hirst decision, the counties depended on the state Department of Ecology to say if there was enough legal water to issue building permits. After the Hirst decision, at least for counties planning under the Growth Management Act, as all three counties are, property owners must prove there is enough legal water before getting a building permit. One way to solve that problem is to have a water bank from which people could purchase water rights. Pend Oreille County would have to scramble to pay for water rights on their own if See water, 2A
Miner photo|Don Gronning
Consulting attorney Nathan Smith and Pend Oreille County Prosecutor Dolly Hunt confer during a conference call with Stevens and Spokane counties over a water banking agreement.
The hunt is on Area children swarmed the Newport City Park Saturday morning, as the annual Easter egg hunt got underway. This years event was sponsored by Newport Mayor Shirley Sands, the Newport/Priest River Rotary Club, Newport/Priest River REACT, Soroptimists, and the Newport Rodeo Association.
School districts share homeless students’ struggles Daily search for food, housing leave studies behind By Grace Swanson WNPA Olympia News Bureau
OLYMPIA – High school years: for students it’s a time to prepare for college, a transition period to becoming an adult. However, for some students in Washington State it’s a time fraught with rapid change when
they must grow and learn to survive on their own during those high school years. Often these students are hungry. It’s uncertain where they will sleep each night. These students are classified as unaccompanied youth. Essentially, they’re homeless.
According to Martina Coordes of Youth Emergency Services of Pend Oreille County, the organization did 45 new intakes of homeless teenagers in March, not counting 27 homeless teenagers in the Newport community and a combined total of 14 in Cusick and Ione. Unaccompanied youth
are those ages 12 to 24 – defined by law and social services – who live on their own in unstable situations without a legal guardian. One recent South Whidbey High School graduate has lived on her own for See homeless, 10A
Spokane man arrested for stabbing in Laclede LACLEDE – A violent altercation led to a local manhunt Easter Sunday, with the suspect apprehended Monday after trying to hide from law enforcement in a chicken coop. On Sunday, April 16, just after 4 p.m., the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a stabbing on Campbell Homestead Road in Laclede. Deputies learned from their investigation that an adult male had been stabbed with a kitchen knife, once in the chest and once in the back, and was transported to Bonner General Health for treatment. The victim is still in the hospital and is in stable condition. Both the suspect and
victim were known to each other and were attending a gathering at the same home. The suspect, Shawn M. Harp, 34, of Spokane, fled the scene riding a side-by-side UTV that he took from the same residence. A Nixle advisory was sent, warning residents in the area of heavy police activity and that the suspect was at large. The notice advised residents to stay in their homes and lock doors and windows. The UTV was found later in the area, and a police tracking dog was called in to track the suspect. After losing the track, deputies remained in the area searching for
Harp. At 6:30 a.m. Monday, April 17, deputies located Harp in the area of the stabbing. Harp initially ran from deputies, but he was unsuccessful in hiding in a chicken coop and was taken into custody without incident. Harp was charged with Attempted Murder, Operating a Motor Vehicle Without Owner’s Consent, and Possession of Paraphernalia. He is scheduled for a first appearance, and bail will be set at that time. This case is still under investigation, as detectives are following up with additional information that has been provided. The name of the victim is being withheld at this time.
B riefly Maws and Paws Booster Club auction April 29 NEWPORT – The Grizzly Maws and Paws Booster Club ‘Grrrreat Grizzly Auction,’ is set for April 29. There are already a number of items donated, including an instant wine cellar with 50 bottles of wine, a guided Montana fishing trip for four and a night at Northern Quest and dinner at Maselow’s. There are also a number of themed baskets, all valued at more than $100.
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Donations are still being accepted. There is a Grizzly Alumni Basket Challenge, with alumni invited to donate cash for an alumni basket that will be auctioned. The goal for the alumni basket is $500. The auction will take place Saturday, April 29, at the Beardmore Bistro Wine Bar and Tap House in Priest River. There will be hors d’oeurves and a silent auction from 6:30 – 8 p.m., with the live auction getting underway at 8 p.m. All proceeds support students of the Newport School District.
For more information, email mawsandpawsboosterclub@gmail.com.
Candidate forum for West Bonner May 9 PRIEST RIVER – The West Bonner County School District is holding a Candidate Forum for Trustee Elections. This will be at Priest River Junior High auditorium Tuesday, May 9 at 5 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend and bring questions for the candidates.
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