HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS BEGIN SEE PAGE 2B
The Newport Miner THE VOICE OF PEND OREILLE COUNT Y SINCE 1901
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Volume 111, Number 31 | 2 Sections, 16 Pages
75¢
25-year-old sentenced for killing mother Judge sends him to prison for maximum 17 years BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
NEWPORT – After friends of murder victim Sally Swancara told Pend Oreille County Superior Court Judge Pat Monasmith that she was a woman who helped other victims, he sentenced her son, Matthew Swancara, 25, to 17 years in prison for her murder. That was four months longer than the sentence requested by deputy prosecutor Dolly Hunt. Swancara pleaded guilty to second-degree murder July 31. Hunt said Swancara brutally stabbed Sally Swancara with a screwdriver and a knife, then fled to Montana. “He blamed his mother for everything that had gone wrong in his life,” Hunt said. Sally Swancara was loved by many, Hunt said. SEE MURDER, 2A MINER PHOTO|ROSEMARY DANIEL
Corps manages lake level for many purposes
Flooding, power, recreation, fish all considered, they tell group BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
NEWPORT – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has to take many things into consideration as it manages the flow of water through Albeni Falls Dam. Corps officials explained some of the
thinking at a public meeting held Wednesday, Aug. 27, at the Priest River Events Center. The first consideration is flooding – protecting life and property, both upstream and downstream from the dam. Another consideration is power generation. Water stored in Lake Pend Oreille in the spring and summer is later released in the fall SEE CORPS, 7A
An ‘Affair’ to remember The Metaline Falls Affair on Main Street celebration was well attended, Saturday, Aug. 30, with a car show, arts and crafts and many vendors in the park. See more photos on page 7A.
Idaho auctions 59 Priest Lake lakefront lots for $27 million COEUR D’ALENE – The Idaho Department of Lands auctioned 59 lakefront lots at Priest Lake for deeded ownership to the highest bidder during an auction at the Coeur d’Alene Resort last week. Fifty-eight of the current lessees submitted the highest bid for the lot they lease. There was competitive bidding on two of the lots. For the one lot that received the winning bid
from someone other than the current lessee, the successful high bidder separately must pay the lessee for the value of the cabin and other improvements. The median price was $456,000, with the highest bid coming in at $665,000. A handful of properties went for $200,000, the lowest price. SEE LEASE, 7A
Deputy Jerry Dobson starts school First resource officer in Newport in a decade BY DESIREÉ HOOD OF THE MINER
MINER PHOTO|FRED WILLENBROCK
Diamond Lake association holds annual meeting Rich Clubine, president of the Diamond Lake Improvement Association, talks about projects and issues the association has worked on during the annual meeting of the association Saturday, Aug. 30, at Carbon Lodge at Camp Cowles. Almost 100 people attended the meeting that began with breakfast. The members rejected a board proposal to increase dues and agreed again to fund the Fourth of July fireworks only if enough donations are raised to cover the costs and agreed to allow the board to move funds from one to another if needed. They elected Ken Schueman, Lori Largent and Paula Holman to the board.
NEWPORT – Deputy Jerry Dobson listens for the first bell to ring, Tuesday, Sept. 2. It’s his first day at Newport Dobson School District as the School Resource Officer (SRO). This is the first SRO in al-
most a decade for Newport. Dobson has 11 years experience in law enforcement and has been a Pend Oreille County Deputy for the last few years. He attended a 40 hour National SRO Basic Course in Tukwila, Wash., and then attended 40 hours additional advanced training at the WSSO Training Summit in Kennewick, Wash. The advanced course included Family Educational Rights and Privacy SEE OFFICER, 2A
B R I E F LY Retail pot store opens in Stevens County
Sullivan Lake drawdown begins
Work continues on Highways 20, 211
CLAYTON – The first retail marijuana store is open in Stevens County. Savage THC in Clayton is operating seven days a week, the first of six potential pot stores in that county. Employees told The Spokesman Review that the store is suffering from a lack of product, like many stores around the region. They are currently carrying strains from Farmer J’s, a grower in the Spokane Valley that has done business with Spokane’s first recreational marijuana store, Spokane Green Leaf.
NEWPORT – Sullivan Lake in the north end of Pend Oreille County, will be drawn down to winter elevation levels Sept. 3-22. The drawdown, which is necessary for the construction of the cold water pipe in Sullivan Lake, will result in high flows in Outlet and Sullivan Creeks. The public is cautioned to expect very high flow conditions during this time.
NEWPORT – Road work continues on Highways 20 and 211 in Pend Oreille County this week. Fog sealing is on schedule for Highway 211 from Highway 2 to Highway 20. When work is underway, drivers should expect delays of up to 20 minutes with flaggers and pilot cars directing alternating, single-lane traffic. Motorists should be alert for fresh oil and 35 mph advisory speeds. Motorcyclists should use extreme caution.
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CLASSIFIEDS
SEE BRIEFLY, 2A 5B-7B
OPINION
4A
RECORD
4B
SPORTS
2B
SENIOR CALENDAR
3B
LIFE
1B
POLICE REPORTS
4B
OBITUARIES
4B
PUBLIC NOTICES
6B-7B
WE SALUTE OUR FIRE FIGHTERS UPCOMING ISSUE