Newport Miner August 7, 2013

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Pend Oreille County Fair this week See pages 3B-4B

The Newport Miner

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THE VOICE OF PEND OREILLE COUNT Y SINCE 1901

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Wednesday, August 7, 2013

www.pendoreillerivervalley.com

Volume 110, Number 27 | 2 Sections, 20 Pages

Rosen can appeal firing Civil Service Commission strikes down last chance employment agreement BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

MINER PHOTO|DON GRONNING

Flag bearers These young men led the way at the 38th annual Kalispel Powwow, held Aug. 2-4 at Usk. Pictured are, from left, Chad Browneagle of Usk, Alec Bluff of Usk and Redsky Chimburas of Lapwai, Idaho. They led more than 300 people into the pavilion for the Grand Entry Saturday. Representatives of tribes from throughout the Northwest and Canada attended.

NEWPORT – The last chance employment agreement between a former deputy sheriff who was later fired by Pend Oreille County Sheriff Alan Botzheim is unenforceable, the three member Pend Oreille County Civil Service Commission said in a ruling handed down Friday, Aug. 2. They found that former deputy Cory Rosen may appeal his firing, even though the language of the last chance employment agreement said any discipline was “without

BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – The amended search warrant that was served July 17 on the home of Walter Randall Todd, 49, and Robert Patrick Todd, 48, offers some de-

tail into the allegations made by informants that led to the follow up of a June 4 search. The Washington State Patrol’s Spokane Regional Auto Theft Unit has twice conducted no knock searches of the Todd compound, both times accompanied by SWAT teams. The compound is located just off on Stohr Road, near Spring Valley Road, south of Newport. The first raid took place June 4 and the second raid took place

July 17. Law enforcement spent several days on the property in both cases. In the second search they were on the property Wednesday, July 17 through Sunday, July 21. As a result of the first raid, both Todds are facing four counts of possession of stolen vehicles. In addition, Walter Randall Todd is facing charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and possession a controlled substance, methamphetamine.

Robert Patrick Todd is facing charges of manufacturing marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of more than 40 grams of marijuana. Both men pleaded not guilty to all charges and are each free on $20,000 bond. An informant’s tip led to the first search, which turned up stolen vehicles, a small amount of meth, an indoor marijuana SEE TODD, 2A

SEE ROSEN, 2A

Event center breaks ground

Search warrant details chilling allegations Although informants say people were killed and buried on Todd property, no human bones found

right of appeal.” The Civil Service Commission found that the last chance agreement undermined authority given in state law to the commission. “To derogate from the substantial duties and obligations of the CSC hinders, and indeed weakens, the authority of the CSC to effectively achieve its ultimate goal to keep the hiring and firing of Deputy Sheriffs, like Deputy Rosen, subject to complete and final civilian review,” the CSC wrote. The next step is to schedule a hearing before the CSC on Rosen’s appeal. A date had not been selected by press time. Rosen was fired June 27,

BY DESIREÉ HOOD OF THE MINER

PRIEST RIVER –The Merritt family broke ground on a new event center in Priest River. R.H. Excavating began construction mid-July. The center will sit at the corner of Highway 2 and Bodie Canyon Road in Priest River. The event center has been in the works for more than two

years for the Merritt family. The family wanted to give residents and tourists a place to hold events. “It is just something that, as a family, we thought the community needed,” said Holly Janhsen, daughter of Buck and Carolee Merritt. “There is nothing here (in Priest River).” SEE EVENT, 2A

Sacheen Lake sewer bids $2.5 million over estimate

Commissioners considering options BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

SACHEEN LAKE – Bids for the Sacheen Lake sewer system came in more than $2.5 million over the engineer’s $7.25 million estimate. “The bids came out kind of high,” district administrator Shelia Pearman said. The bids were opened Wednesday, July 31. Kevin Koesel of Sewell Engineering evaluated the bids. The district board then held a special meeting Monday, Aug. 5, at the Sacheen Lake Fire Hall to discuss their options.

Commissioners could reject all the bids and look for some more funding. “That’s an option,” Pearman said. That would mean start of construction of the system would be pushed back about a year. Commissioners had hoped to start construction this year and complete the system in 2014. The Aug. 5 meeting was well attended by the public, Pearman said. “There were about 50 or so people there,” she said, both supporters and opponents of the project. “They were concerned because the bids came in so high.” Had the bids come in closer

to projections, the plan was to award the bids at the regular board meeting Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. That could still happen, Pearman said, although it is unlikely. She said because the cost to build the sewer system is so much higher than comparable systems, the district is looking at other funding options. The district has already spent more than $1 million on the project for design, easements, land and permitting, Pearman said. The district secured a loan from the Public Works Trust Fund at 2 percent interest to build the system, although the SEE LAKE, 2A

|| Sheriff’s office investigating baby’s death

NEWPORT – The Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a 4-month-old girl. Sheriff Alan Botzheim said an autopsy has been performed on the girl, who was found dead Wednesday, July 31 at the Willow Glen Apartments at 1600 W. Seventh St. in Newport. Botzheim said all unattended deaths are investigated, meaning all deaths unattended by medical personnel. Prosecuting attorney Tom Metzger, who also serves as the county coroner, said preliminary autopsy results showed the baby died of positional asphyxia. He is waiting for the results of further testing.

COURTESY PHOTO|PERRY PEARMAN

Hand pulling milfoil Bill Slusser was one of three divers hand pulling milfoil at Sacheen Lake Saturday, Aug. 3. Divers place the mesh bag over the plant before trying to remove it by the roots. The Sacheen Lake Water and Sewer District both chemically treats and hand pulls milfoil. They followed up the hand pulling with chemical treatment.

B R I E F LY

Low turnout and missing signatures during primary NEWPORT – The Washington primary election is came to a close Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 8 p.m., with more than 23.8 percent of Pend Oreille County taking part in the voting process by Tuesday afternoon. More than 2,000 ballots have been returned to the county auditor, but more are expected to trickle in as the last mail-in ballots are received. Elections supervisor Liz Krizenesky said that 12 ballots are still being held for lack of signatures. Auditor Marianne Nichols reminds people that signatures are important on the ballots and she said the only way for the votes to count is with a signature. “It’s important that they sign the oath on the bal-

||

lot, otherwise their ballot may not count,” Nichols said. “We want to make sure everybody gets credit for voting.”

Hospital union mediation continues NEWPORT – Mediated negotiations between the union representing the Registered Nurses and the district that operates Newport Hospital and Health Services continue, after no agreement was reached Thursday, Aug. 1. Fifty-seven nurses are part of the Service Employees International Local Union 1199, and are negotiating for a contract that would be retroactive to Jan. 1. Their last two-year contract ended Dec. 31, 2012. RN Sue Johnson, president of the local SEILU chapter, said economics aren’t the only issue still on the

table. She said a total of 10 issues are being negotiated, including pay for breaks, mandatory meetings, job postings and sick time policies. The biggest sticking point, however, is economics, and the pay nurses want versus what the district is willing or able to give. “We can’t budge on finances if you can’t budge on anything else,” Johnson told The Miner about the hospital district. District CEO Tom Wilbur said he and his staff are making a diligent effort to come to an agreement. “We’ve worked really hard,” he said. After some months of negotiations the two parties turned to a mediator, who has been working with both sides since May. The next meeting is set for Sept. 12.

SPORTS 2B - RECORD 6B - POLICE 6B - OPINION 4A - CLASSIFIEDS 7B-10B - PUBLIC NOTICES 9B-10B - DOWN RIVER 9A - LIFE 1B - OBITUARIES 6B


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