THE MINER
FEBRUARY 13, 2013 |
New deputy prosecutor brings trial experience BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
MINER PHOTO|DON GRONNING
Robin Harris, Pend Oreille County’s newest deputy prosecutor, is a graduate of Seattle University’s School of Law. The University is renowned for its legal writing program.
NEWPORT – Pend Oreille County’s newly hired deputy prosecutor, Robin Harris, 28, passed the Washington State Bar exam in 2011, but has tried a dozen cases in her previous position as a prosecutor with the city of Seattle. “Seattle didn’t believe in negotiation,” Harris said. If the offer that was first made wasn’t accepted, the city took the case to trial, she said. The result was that Harris got quite a bit of trial experience early in her career. She tried cases for things such as driving under the influence, harassment and assault. Cases she tried resulted in 10 convictions, one hung jury and on acquittal, she said. Harris got her undergraduate degree from Eastern Washington University, where she
majored in government. She attended EWU on an athletic scholarship. “I did the long jump and triple jump,” she said. She graduated from Puyallup High School, where she still holds school records in those events. After moving back to the west side of the state following graduation from EWU, she went to work as a court clerk at Auburn Municipal Court. “That reemphasized my desire to be a lawyer,” she said. With the support of Municipal Court Judge Patrick Burn, she was accepted into Seattle University’s School of Law. “They’re known for having one of the best legal writing programs in the nation,” she said. Professors from Seattle University wrote several textbooks that are used by law schools all over the country, she said. Following graduation, she
WOLVES | FROM PAGE 4A
accepted a temporary position for the city of Puyallup and also did pro tem work for other cities when their prosecutors were on vacation. She moved on to another temporary position with the city of Seattle, where she worked from March to December 2012. She has been on the job in Pend Oreille County for about a month. The county reorganized the prosecutor’s office after long time deputy prosecutor Tony Koures left to return to Montana. Harris will be working mainly in District Court, although she has also made appearances in Superior Court. Harris makes her home in north Spokane and commutes in a car pool with several Hall of Justice workers. She is still athletic and enjoys running, snowboarding and soccer. She also enjoys reading, having recently finished the “Game of Thrones” series.
Sadie Halstead Middle School honor roll released, 17 with perfect grades NEWPORT – Eighty-four students were named to the Sadie Halstead Middle School honor roll for their academic achievements. Honor roll honors go to students with grade point averages of 3.5 or better. Another 17 students received the principal’s award for perfect 4.0 grade point averages and 83 students received honorable mentions for grade point averages above 3.0. The students received the principal awards: Fifth grader Clark Bennett; sixth graders Megan Vaughn, Faith Rosen, Alexis Polensky, Cydni Lewis, Myriah Dittmar, Jessie Dillon, Matthew Burkett and Racine Balow; seventh graders Erika Moore, Faith Jones, Stephanie Huang, Tyler Hill, Jason Hansen and Kari Goodrich; and eighth grader Sonja Moore. These students were named to the honor roll: Fifth grade – Kayla Larson, Samuel Thomas, Micah Baker, Augustus Newman, Abigail Newcomb, Hedy Seeber, Maisi Armstrong, Maree Graves, Cambria Mitcham, Scheila Ward, Amy McMeen, Natalie Geary, Blake Childers, Ashley Cox, Connor Furman, Cora Pelleberg, Gage Seger, Trevor Wylie, Kiara Kinney, Kayd Moss, Lucas
LETTERS | FROM PAGE 4A
Swords were the main weapon of personal protection during Jesus’ time. Jesus also apparently allowed them to be carried for self-defense. Even then, as today, there was a criminal element that was intent on harming the people. Jesus never told his disciples not to pack weapons. It is said that even in one of Christianity’s most sacred moments, (the Last Supper) that weapons were present. Jesus did not forbid his disciples from carrying the weapon of their day, the sword. Even Jesus took precautions then. See John 2:2325, as it is reads: “During the time he was in Jerusalem, those days of the Passover Feast, many people noticed the signs he was displaying and, seeing they pointed straight to God, entrusted their lives to him. But Jesus didn’t entrust his life to them. He knew them inside and out, knew how untrustworthy they were. He didn’t need any help in seeing right through them.” Of course Jesus could have defended himself, but instead he took precautions to avoid bad situations. When people carry concealed, the first line of defense is to avoid the situation. Just like Jesus did. If avoidance is not enough, it is prudent to be prepared by carrying a weapon. In the United States, we have the right, through the Second Amendment, to arm ourselves for our protection. Christians also believe that the Constitution was written by men of God, under the guidance of their Christian beliefs. -Michael J.D.R. Wilson Ione
Nichols, Brandon Hein and Hunter Stiner. Sixth grade – Zachary Hein, Dylan Ralston, Daylan Kiss, Claire Brock, Chelsea Hansen, Tabitha Horton, Alexander Adams, Matthew Ragsdale, Madysen Baldwin, Gerry Bradbury, Kaylee Sawyer, Aurora Zeason, Adam Moorhead and Cody Warner. Seventh grade – Paige Dice, Rylan Hastings, Parker Martin, Brad McMeen, Esme Peck, Trystan Potter, Brandon McMeen, Alexandria Poisel, Jocelyn Endicott, Brock Rosen, Madison Hofstee, Justin Gill, Joel McDermeit, Cierra Amende, Starr Cape, Miriah Otterson, Robert Owen, Jacob Wagar, Aleque Fraser-Robinson, Alexis Musso, Kylyah Mercurius, Angus
Armstrong, Kainoah Bowman, Erica Simila, Rianna Smith, Tiara Hamberg, Natasha Pilskalns, Koa Pancho, Lilly Gray and Kyle Malsbury. Eighth grade – Laurel Behrend, Madeline Green, Brittney Jackson, Christopher Ownbey, Joshua Cunningham, William VanDyke, Shawna Zubaugh, Stormy B. Anderson Persyn, Grace Johnson, Johnathan Quandt, Gabriel Furman, Darion Ralston, Timothy Luback, John Hilden, Jesse Reyes, Makenzee Ranck and Mariah Stott. These students were earned honorable mention: Fifth grade – Dawsen Baldwin, Jacob Kirkwood, Heather Lee, Megan Petek, Chase Graham, Joel
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Miller, Jonathon Frantz, Mattea Sigfrinius, Bailey Corkrum, Amanda Pletsch, Dyllin Hoisington, Dylan Gilmore, Klayten Baldwin, Secret Fox-Reed, Benjamin Stark III, Troy Hill, Joshua Lauzon, Kylie Craft, Braden Anderson, Allison Weber, Morgan Endicott, Jesse Cummings, Wyatt Dikes, Chloe Zaragoza and Trey Feldner. Sixth grade – Brittany Noble, Sadi Librande, Rocco Sherman, Kyle Larson, Kyra Sawyer, Katelynn Dean, Emmily Bronkhorst, Tanya Howard, Adrian Lopez, Jerome Stroup, Dylan Melville, Bailey Martin, Elizabeth O’Neal, Matthew Reel and Maquenzie Arnold. Seventh grade – Emily Millage, Tessa Pillers, Chelan McCuen, Ashley Held, Brayden Zinsky, Blanca
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Fuentes-Calderon, Justin Egland, Taven Groves, David Skaugstad, Austin Lelle, Robert Fox, Jack Long, Derek Cape, Jacob Weber, Cazden Garcia-Medrano, Victoria Helton, Grace Newman, Michael Warner, Christian Waterman, Christian Loutzenhiser, Kiara Hanni, Kathleen Carvell and Braedon Corkrum. Eighth grade – Kailey Lacy, William Balentine, Dalton Arrand, Jasmine Solis, Cassy Davidson, Adam McMeen, Samuel Hanley, Amanda Fox, Chelsea Graham, Jacob Dean, Diana Harper, Conrad Madison, Mikhail Hammer, Makayla Bowell, Nathaniel Buhler, Samantha Siemsen, Andrew Donley Russell, Cecianna Auld, Jalin Earl and Jace Hoadley.
I don’t think they had in mind that we should hide inside of our houses as predators destroy our property,” he said. “We’re looking to defend our God-given right to protect our own property and our territory.” An amendment has been proposed that would add pets to the list of animals to protect in the event of a wolf attack. Last year 12 calves were injured and nine killed by wolves, according to WDFW. SB 5188, also sponsored by Smith, would allow county law-enforcement officers to kill wolves attacking livestock under three conditions: the wolf or wolves had attacked livestock on private property on at least two occasions; the attacks present a pattern that pose an imminent threat to private property or commercial livestock operations, and WDFW has yet to take action to prevent these threats. Okanogan County commissioner Sheila Kennedy supports this legislation. “We should have the authority to make those tough decisions when they are before us and they are devastating the people of our county,” she said. Smith stated that the purpose of this bill is to reiterate the rights that counties already have to protect the property and livelihood of residents, and to ask the Legislature to acknowledge that duty. Roger Chapanis of Sammamish expressed concern about the way counties would apply the legislation if it were to pass. “It seems the intentions are good, but I fear that the fear (of wolves roaming around in the night) will give into a desire to kill anything that moves,” he said. SB 5187 and 5188 have yet to be scheduled for final committee consideration.
Inn at the Lake to Close March 1st
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Banquet, Auction & Fundraiser Sa ndp o int F rie nd s o f N R A Saturday, March 9, 2013 Doors open 5:30 pm at
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Thank you to all the supporters who contacted the County, sent letters of support and assisted us in any way! Thank you to the new County Commissioners who listened and inserted some of our requests into the settlement discussion… but ultimately the settlement offer was overreaching, outrageous and did not make economic sense. After over 15 years, the County loses a premier lodging establishment.
Thank you Blane & Virginia Coffey! You ran an amazing establishment and you put your trust in the County in 2005 when you permitted a legal addition to the Inn at the Lake. You were good neighbors. You made the Inn a 4-star establishment. Guests loved you, your breakfasts and the way you treated them. You did everything right. This story did not have to end this way, but we won’t subject the County to endless litigation. What a loss to the County. What a blow to tourism. We can only hope that this will change the way that the County interacts with businesses and residents in the future and that nothing like this ever happens again.
For updated information on the settlement offer and the reason we are closing the Inn ~ www.supporttheinn.com