The Newport Miner the voice of pend oreille county since 1901
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Volume 113, Number 41 | 2 Sections, 20 Pages 75¢
Skoog, Kiss win big Incumbents sweep legislature, judge seat Ballots that continue to arrive at the auditor’s office postmarked by Nov. 8 will be counted in the following days. Pend Oreille County voted in favor of Donald Trump for president, 3,641 votes to 1,609 for Democrat Hillary Clinton. At press time, the national race is too close to call. Pend Oreille Fire District No. 4’s levy for emergency medical services isn’t making the required 60 percent to pass, with 351 in favor and 346 opposed. Voters in that fire district are approving the annexation of Cusick into the district 507-154. Fire District No. 5’s lid levy lift to fund operations and maintenance is narrowly failing 46-42. The town of Cusick is rejecting Proposition 1, 34 to 27, and approving Proposition 2, 40-20. No. 1 would have increased property tax rates by $1.17 per $1,000 of
By Michelle Nedved and Don Gronning Of The Miner
NEWPORT – Incumbent Pend Oreille County Commissioners Karen Skoog and Steve Kiss are overwhelmingly ahead in Tuesday’s general election counts. Skoog, a Republican, is leading Democrat Bob Eugene nearly 64 to 36 percent, or 3,547 votes to 1,988, as of 8 p.m. Kiss is leading fellow Republican RJ Hampton about 75 to 24 percent, or 3,721 to 1,196 votes. “I can keep working,” Skoog said when contacted by The Miner Tuesday night. She expressed her appreciation for the people of Pend Oreille County, and for Eugene’s decorum during the campaign. “He was such a gentleman.” Eugene was disappointed with the outcome. “It doesn’t mean I’m going away,” he said. “I felt we ran a good campaign.” He plans to continue being involved in county politics as a private citizen.
Miner photo|Don Gronning
Pend Oreille County Auditor Marianne Nichols reviews initial election results Tuesday night along with a citizen observer. Ballots will continue to be counted in coming days as See election, 2A they arrive at the auditor’s office postmarked by Nov. 8.
County commissioners eye EMS district By Don Gronning and Michelle Nedved Of The Miner
NEWPORT – Pend Oreille County commissioners could form an Emergency Medical Services district by a vote of the board, without taking it to the public for a vote, South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue chief Mike Nokes told the Newport City Council Monday night, Nov 7. To levy any taxes is
Miner photo|Sophia Aldous
The Pend Oreille PUD wants to buy this apartment house, tear it down and fence the area so it could be used for storage. The deal wouldn’t close until January, if the PUD buys the apartment.
PUD to buy Pinewest Apartments Will tear down for storage, warehouse facility
By Don Gronning Of The Miner
NEWPORT – PUD commissioners voted to give general manager Colin Willenbrock authority to pursue buying the Pine Street apartments located on the corner of Union Avenue and Pine Street, behind the PUD. They took the action
Of The Miner
NEWPORT – In commemoration of Veterans Day, Nov. 11, there will be several events and ceremonies in the Pend Oreille Valley, including
local schools and service organizations. There will be a Veterans Day ceremony at the Newport Cemetery Friday, Nov. 11. Flags will go up at 8 a.m., with the ceremony at 11 a.m. Old flags will be sisposed
The city of Newport, and the towns of Ione, Cusick, Metaline and Metaline Falls need to be on board, as well as the various fire districts in Pend Oreille County, according to Mike Manus, county commission chairman. “If they don’t buy in, there will be an area that isn’t served,” he said. With the suspension of transport services See EMS, 2A
County wins Rosen federal case
at a night meeting Tuesday, Nov. 1, in Newport. Willenbrock told the commissioners that the asking price was $300,000 and that the PUD had put down earnest money that would be lost if the sale didn’t go through.
By Don Gronning Of The Miner
See PUD, 10A
NEWPORT – A judge granted most of Pend Oreille County’s request for summary judgment in the federal civil rights case brought by former Sheriff’s Deputy Cory Rosen, who was fired by the county in 2013. Rosen’s federal suit was dismissed and the state claims remanded to Spokane County Superior Court. U.S. District Court Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson found that the county, Pend Oreille Sheriff Alan Botzheim and Undersheriff Grant Sirevog did not violate Rosen’s rights to due process when they fired him. Rosen had signed a last chance employment contract following a number of
Communities honor vets By Sophia Aldous
a different matter. That would require a vote of the public. Nokes was before the council to let them know if the county commissioners vote to establish an EMS district, the cities would be approached to sign on, passing legislation that would allow their citizens to be taxed. He said the council will have a draft ordinance to consider at the next council meeting.
of and burned following the ceremony. Flags will be taken down at 3 p.m. The American Legion Post No. 217 of Cusick will host the event, which the public See Veterans Day, 2A
discipline incidents. Rosen violated the terms of that agreement when he failed to include an alleged incident of indecent exposure in his report about a drugs in jail investigation following a riot at the jail. He appealed to the county’s Civil Service Commission, which found in his favor. The county appealed the Civil Service Commission decision to Pend Oreille County Superior Court, where Judge Pat Monasmith found the last chance employment contract to be valid and upheld Rosen’s termination. Rosen charged that Pend Oreille County had violated his civil rights by making it “virtually impossible” for him to find employment in law See Rosen, 2A
B rie f ly Thanksgiving dinner open to all NEWPORT – Community members are invited to the second annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 24, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 601 1st Ave., Newport. The dinner is free to the public and the purpose of the event is to come together in the spirit of friendship and enjoy the Thanksgiving meal. To allow volunteers to serve everyone adequately, admission is by numbered ticket. To obtain a ticket,
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call Jim Hines at 509-477-5494.
Bedroom fire damages Priest River home PRIEST RIVER – The West Pend Oreille Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 579 Saddler Creek Road around 7:14 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1. According to Chief Les Kokanos, the approximately 1,800 square foot rental home had extensive smoke damage in the master bedroom, where the fire is thought to have originated. The residents were
not at home at the time and had put their dog outside before leaving. “No one was hurt, which is always a relief,” Kokanos said. Six emergency vehicles including two fire engines responded to the fire, which had blown the window out of the bedroom by the time firefighters arrived. Firefighters were on the scene until about 9:15 p.m. Kokanos said the cause of the fire is being investigated and that the occupants do have rental insurance.
classifieds
7B
Opinion
4a
Record
6B
Life
1B
Police Reports
6B
sports
7A-8B
Obituaries
6B
Public Notices
8B-10B
Turkey Contest
2B-3B
WIN A TURKEY! SEE PAGES 2B & 3B