050317newportminer

Page 1

The Newport Miner the voice of pend oreille county since 1901

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

www.pendoreillerivervalley.com

Volume 115, Number 14 | 2 Sections, 20 Pages $1.00

Manus: Counties depend on federal money By Don Gronning Of The Miner

WASHINGTON D.C. – Pend Oreille County commissioner Mike Manus joined officials from other Western states in explaining the need to fund the federal Secure Rural Schools and Payment in Lieu of Taxes programs during a hearing in the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee Tuesday, May 2. Manus was invited by Democratic Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell. Cantwell is the ranking member on the committee, the highest Democrat on the committee chaired by Lisa Murkowski, RAlaska. Cantwell opened the meeting. “The White House does not seem to understand the need for the SRS program or the PILT See money, 2A

Miner screenshot|Don Gronning

Pend Oreille County commissioner Mike Manus testifies Tuesday in Washington D.C about the importance of Secure Rural Schools and Payment in Lieu of Taxes funding.

Sheriff’s office faces staffing challenges By Sophia Aldous Of The Miner

NEWPORT – The Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office is down another deputy after the resignation of Deputy Joseph Carman March 20. Carman, who has been with the sheriff’s office for 15 years, took a job with the Kalispel Tribe starting April 5. His resignation means there are currently only 13 deputies in the

sheriff’s office, which is budgeted for 16. “It is hard to recruit new deputies to the area, because honestly we can’t pay as much as big municipalities can,” says Pend Oreille County Sheriff Alan Botzheim. “It makes it so competitive to hire and keep employees.” As of Monday, May 1, the Sheriff’s Office has 10 jailers. They are budgeted for 11, but Botzheim says there haven’t been 11 jailers

for some time. Botzheim said he was going to make a job offer to an applicant for the county’s 911 dispatch center, bringing in the employee count in that department up to eight. The dispatch center is budgeted for 11. The county is currently in negotiations for pay and benefits for deputies with Teamsters Local No. 690. When Botzheim was elected See sheriff, 2A

Two arrested for beating SANDPOINT — Two men, one from Priest River and one Spokane, have both been arrested for allegedly beating another man as retribution for stealing a guitar and bicycle. Lance Joseph Sinka, 42, of Spokane was arrested and booked into Bonner County

Jail Monday, April 10, according to the Bonner County prosecuting Attorney’s office. The second suspect, Shane Alan Carson, 30, of Priest River, was arrested April 21. Both men were arrested on charges of first degree kidnapping, aggravated battery, and aggravat-

ed assault. Judge Lori Meulenberg set Sinka’s bail at $45,000 and appointed a public defender to represent him, court records show. Sinka made an initial appearance via video feed from the Bonner County Jail. Carson made his first court

appearance in front of judge Meulenberg on April 24. His bail has been set at $35,000 The alleged attack came to the attention of authorities when the alleged victim’s mother was stopped after speeding through

Priest River Lamanna High gets recognition U.S. News and World Reports says PRLHS one of nation’s best schools By Don Gronning Of The Miner

PRIEST RIVER – U.S. News and World Reports has named Priest River Lamanna High school as one of the best schools in the nation, based on a school’s overall student performance measured against statewide performance. “Our teachers have worked hard to improve the rigor of our core instruction, elective programs, dual credit opportunities as well as provided a vast array of support for college and workforce readiness skills,” said high school principal Joe Kren. “The efforts of our counseling department, Gear-Up program and Near Peer support have given our students an excellent picture into what options they have.” Kren says the school works hard to encourage students to continue their education in some way after graduation. “Our students are exposed to opportunities that can be achieved through an entry level employment position, completion of a technical training program, completion of a certified apprenticeship program, a two or four year college degree,” Kren said. West Bonner School District Superintendent Paul Anselmo credited the high school staff.

See arrest, 2A

See high, 2A

B r i e f ly Oldtown home burns to the ground OLDTOWN – The cause of a house fire is still under investigation after the home burned to the ground Saturday, April 29, at 2413 Hwy. 2, Oldtown. According to Les Kokanos, Chief of West Pend Oreille Fire District, no one was home and no one was injured when the fire occurred. Around 25

Follow us on Facebook

firefighters responded to the structure fire at about 1 p.m., including firefighters from South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue, Fire District 4 and Fire District 6. Four tenders and three fire engines were on the scene until around 7:30 p.m. that evening. “We had a firefighter that did have to go to he hospital for dehydration, but he is all right,” said Kokanos. Kokanos described the home as, “a

total loss.” An awning from a nearby trailer on the property caught fire and was damaged, but otherwise no outbuildings were burned.

Veterans Stand Down May 13 COEUR D’ALENE – The North Idaho Veterans Stand Down is Saturday, May 13, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. Services to

classifieds

6B

Opinion

4a

Record

5B

Life

7A

Police Reports

5B

sports

1B-3B

5B, 10B

Public Notices

7B-9B

Obituaries

senior Calendar

8B

homeless and disadvantaged veterans in Coeur d’Alene and the surrounding communities are available at the event, which is a day of appreciation for veterans and their families. The Stand Down is sponsored by St. Vincent de Paul, The American Legion Post 143, The United Way of Kootenai County and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Mother’s Day

Sunday, May 14 Find the perfect gift


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
050317newportminer by The Newport Miner - Issuu