It’s time to Rodeo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o Newport Rodeo Celebration Section Inside
The Newport Miner
Hot Box See 7A
THE VOICE OF PEND OREILLE COUNT Y SINCE 1901
75¢
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Volume 109, Number 20 | 3 Sections, 30 Pages
Investigation underway in boy’s death Preliminary results show cause medical condition, not injuries from bullying BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
DALKENA – A 15-year-old Cusick junior high student who told his family he was bullied on the last day of school died a week later of what appears to be some sort of bacterial infection, said Pend Oreille Vanderholm County Prosecutor Tom Metzger, who also is the county coroner. Quenton Vanderholm, 15, died at home Thursday morning, June 14. An autopsy was performed by the Spokane Medical Examiner. While full results won’t be back for weeks, Metzger says preliminary findings show Vanderholm died of a medical condition, not
injuries. “They strongly indicate the death had nothing to do with any scuffle or fight,” Metzger said. Pend Oreille County Sheriff Alan Botzheim said his office is conducting an investigation into Vanderholm’s allegation of bullying. Vanderholm told his father he was jumped by a group of boys at Cusick High School on the last day of school, Friday, June 8. “What he said was, these kids jumped on him,” a grieving Mervin Vanderholm said Monday. “He said they kicked him in the stomach and put him in a shed.” Quenton Vanderholm went through eight grade completion exercises that night, Mervin Vanderholm said. The next day, he started complaining that his ankle hurt. He was taken to Newport Hospital a few days later, where the family
SEE VANDERHOLM, 2A
MINER PHOTO|JANELLE ATYEO
Mobile home destroyed Firefighters battle a blaze at a mobile home at 351 Stadium Drive in Newport, late Sunday night, June 17. The homeowner was awakened by smoke in the kitchen and was able to escape with his pet, but the mobile home was destroyed. Fire crews from Fire District 4, South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue and the city of Newport turned out to put out the fire, but the home was fully engulfed when they arrived. An investigation is being conducted into the cause of the fire, according to District 4 Fire Chief Chris Wyrobek.
Rodeo activities include breakfast, carnival, parade, music
Rodeo gets underway 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
NEWPORT – Organizers are wrapping up final details for the 63rd edition of the Newport Rodeo.
The rodeo is much more than just a rodeo. It is the biggest event of the year for Newport, with a cowboy breakfast, a parade, music in the park, a carnival and a rodeo dance all scheduled for Friday and Sat-
Commissioners make first cut, lay off their clerk
Vehicle replacement fund in red, budget discussions continue BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
SEE RODEO, 2A
Long time rodeo ticket taker named Grand Marshall
NEWPORT – Department heads and elected officials in Pend Oreille County government continue to grapple with a projected budget deficit for 2013. This week county commissioners heard a presentation from Don Ramsey, the county’s engineer, at their regular meeting Monday, June 18. He told commissioners the $1.22 million Equipment Repair and Replacement fund will have a
BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
NEWPORT - When Vi Shanklin rides in the Newport Rodeo Parade, she may be one of the most prepared grand marshals the parade has had. “I’ve been practicing my parade wave,” laughs Shanklin. When she was chosen Grand Marshall, she saved the rodeo committee the trouble of finding her a car to ride in by lining up her own ride – a Thunderbird convertible.
SEE GRAND MARSHALL, 2A MINER PHOTO|DON GRONNING
Vi Shanklin, a long time rodeo volunteer who has worked in the ticket booth, has been named Grand Marshall and will ride in Saturday’s parade.
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WASHINGTON D.C. – Pend Oreille and Bonner counties will receive their annual funding under the 2012 Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, the Department of Interior announced Thursday, June 14. Pend Oreille receives $823,086 this year for its nearly 485,000 acres in the program. Bonner has nearly 455,000 acres and will receive $528,602. That’s an increase of about 8 to 10 percent over last year’s funding. The PILT program is for local governments, usually rural counties, that contain nontaxable federal lands. In Pend Oreille, the money goes into
Bonner commissioners add their thoughts for the record BY JANELLE ATYEO OF THE MINER
COOLIN – After the initial hearing on proposed caribou habitat drew more than 150 people, Saturday’s public hearing was relatively quiet. About 35 people attended the hearing at the Inn at Priest Lake, hosted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service after it released its draft economic impact study for the critical habitat plan. “People have vented a lot,” said Bonner County commissioner Mike Neilson. He thinks most of
B R I E F LY
the current expense fund for general operations. Pend Oreille received about $66,000 more than was budgeted in 2012. That extra cash will go to a reserve fund. The county also received more timber tax than expected. That nearly $27,000 will also go into reserves, used to cover shortages in this year’s budget and to boost the carryover funds to help balance the budget for next year. This is the last PILT payment to be funded under a 2008 law. Local delegation in Washington, D.C., have been pushing for extending funding for the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act and the PILT program in the surface transportation reauthorization legislation.
SEE BUDGET, 2A
Caribou hearing draws fewer comments
Vi Shanklin has organized ticket takers since 1992
Counties receive PILT funding
negative cash balance in 2014 if changes aren’t made. The problem is manageable, Ramsey said, but if steps are taken now, it will be easier. The ER&R fund pays for replacement and repair of the county’s 100 vehicles. The road department has about 70 percent of those and the sheriff’s office has 20 percent. The remaining vehicles are used by other county departments. The idea is that each county department that uses county vehicles contributes to their maintenance and replace-
those that, like the commissioners, are opposed to the USFWS plan, are now leaving it to the county board to speak for them. Neilson, the District 2 commissioner that serves the Priest Lake and Priest River area, testified Saturday, reading a statement signed by commission chairman Cornel Rasor. He said no one spoke out in support of the agency’s proposal for designating critical habitat for the endangered woodland caribou Saturday. “Bonner County strongly requests the Service to reconsider the size and scope of its 375,562 SEE CARIBOU, 10A
|| Weeds to be treated near Diamond Lake this week
DIAMOND LAKE – In an effort to release some water from Diamond Lake, the outlet channel known as Moon Creek will be treated for weeds, starting Friday if weather permits. A licensed applicator, hired through the Diamond Lake Improvement Association, will use Touchdown herbicide, which has glyphosate as the active ingredient. Applicators will travel the creek in a canoe, using a backpack sprayer to apply the herbicide. The contractor will be working under Pend Oreille County’s noxious weed control board’s permit. County weed control coordinator Sharon Sorby also plans to be on hand.
Rainy or windy weather will delay the treatment. They will be targeting reed canary grass, but the herbicide is not selective. Sorby said they will to their best not to spray any brush or trees. Areas that are treated will be posted, but there are no restrictions on swimming or fishing. The grass will turn a yellow or light green, then wrinkle up and drop like it does in the fall. The grass has an extensive root system, Sorby said. While the Touchdown product is supposed to kill the roots, some usually remain and the weed will likely come back. Sorby said they are working on a revegetation program that would replant with shrubs and trees.
SPORTS 1B - RECORD 3B - POLICE 3B - OPINION 4A - CLASSIFIEDS 4B-5B - PUBLIC NOTICES 6B - DOWN RIVER 9B - LIFE 2B - OBITUARIES 3B - HOT BOX - 7A