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Wednesday, July 24, 2013
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Volume 110, Number 25 | 3 Sections, 34 Pages
OHVs get access to county roads Pend Oreille County passes OHV ordinance By Desireé Hood Of The Miner
Courtesy photo|Dawna Hood
Floating the river More than 100 people floated the Pend Oreille River during the Tri Town Float Down, including one four-legged canine competitor. The float down took place in north Pend Oreille County between Ione and Metaline, Saturday and Sunday, July 20-21.
Bank of America leaves Newport SEATTLE – Seattle-based Washington Federal is acquiring 51 Bank of America branches in eastern Washington, Oregon, Idaho and New Mexico, including the Newport and Sandpoint branches. The change could be made by the end of December. The company announced the
move Friday with its earnings report and also said it has completed its conversion to a national bank charter. According to Washington Federal, every attempt will be made to keep all employees from the acquired branches. They will work to minimize the disruptions to customers and their banking routines as well.
Cathy Cooper, SVP Marketing and Communications for Washington Federal, said that the Bank of America branches will become Washington Federal banks once the deal closes in early December. “Washington Federal has wanted to expand into Eastern Washington for years as many of us grew up
East of the Mountains,” Cooper said. “We’re very excited to serve these communities.” The acquisitions will give Washington Federal a total of 236 branches. The company has been in the banking industry since See BOA, 2A
IONE – Commissioners adopted an Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) ordinance Tuesday, following last week’s three public hearings. It, along with new state laws, will allow OHV travel on county roads starting July 28. Commissioners Mike Manus, Steve Kiss and Karen Skoog were all in attendance at the three meetings. More than 20 north Pend Oreille residents were at the meeting in Ione, Tuesday, July 16. Meetings were also held Tuesday, July 16, in Newport with less than 20 community members and in Cusick, Wednesday, July 17, with four members of the community. Manus said there was no public testimony against the ordinance at any of the meetings. Opposition for the state law and proposed ordinance comes from the Washington State Patrol (WSP) saying that “public safety” is of concern. The WSP states that the vehicles are designed to be off-road only and that entering a roadway from a non-formal entrance, such as a non-marked intersection, may put the operator and motorist at risk. Citizens have also expressed concern in the past over the noise levels. Pend Oreille County Sheriff Alan Botzheim said the WSP’s opinion
is based on numbers from the whole state, not just in Pend Oreille County. The number of drivers is higher on the western side of the state and he said they have fewer OHV riders. “We have shown in Pend Oreille County and in Idaho that this can be done safely,” Botzheim said. “This is already an ATV friendly area. It’s commonplace.” Manus has been an advocate of opening up the county roads, some Forest Service roads and short sections of highways in Pend Oreille County, to give OHV riders more options of places to ride. With the passing of HB 1632, he will now focus on working with the Forest Service to open the roads under its jurisdiction. He wants to make the trails that are currently open to riders connect to other trails. The proposed county ordinance states that all Pend Oreille County “county roads” with a speed limit greater than 35 mph are open to OHV travel, but “only those sections of these roads that provide connectivity to other ORV roads and trails.” The county ordinance also sets the maximum speed limit for OHV travel at 35 mph or the posted limit, whichever is less. Roy March, an OHV rider and resident of Ione, become more aware of just how much this law will do for his recreation opportunities during the hearing. March asked Manus about an 18-mile See OHV, 2A
County reviewing Shore Master Program comments By Don Gronning Of The Miner
NEWPORT – Pend Oreille County Commissioners are preparing to respond to the 32 comments received on the Shoreline Master Program. The latest round of public comments wrapped up May 29. Commissioners planned a meet-
ing last week to go over the remarks but the meeting was canceled after it was pointed out that there wasn’t adequate notice for the meeting. Commissioners still plan a meeting, county commission chairman Mike Manus said, but that meeting hasn’t been scheduled yet. It is unclear how much the commissioners can influence the
SMP, which was adopted as is by a previous board of county commissioners. If they make substantial changes, it could start the process all over again, with the need for public hearings, Pend Oreille County Community Development Director See Shore, 2A
Priest River is an ‘Outdoor Wonderland’ Timber Days hits the city park this weekend PRIEST RIVER – Priest River’s biggest weekend of the year is here when the city park is converted into an “Outdoor Wonderland” for the annual Timber Days, Friday and Saturday, July 26 and 27.
Friday night kicks off with the Asphalt Angels Hot Neon Lights Car Cruise through downtown Priest River, from dusk till dark. Drivers start circling downtown earlier in the evening. A few food vendors and sidewalk cafés will be open. Saturday is Timber Day in the
See Days, 2A
|| Suicide attempt stopped at jail NEWPORT – Jailers prevented a suicide Sunday night, July 21, when they cut down a man who had tried to hang himself, according to Pend Oreille County Sheriff Alan Botzheim. The inmate is currently on suicide watch, Botzheim said.
WSP uses cadaver dogs to search Todd residence NEWPORT – For the second time in as many months dozens of law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on a Stohr Road resi-
Courtesy photo|John Stuart
park, located on the south side of Highway 2. The annual huckleberry pancake breakfast, sponsored by the Priest River Lamanna High School Spartan Adult Booster Club is from 7-11 a.m.
Bobolinks prepare to migrate The Bobolinks in the Cusick flats on the Pend Oreille River are forming pre-migration flocks at the same time as hay-cutting gets into full swing. Hay is their preferred nesting material. Between July 16 and 18, local bird watchers found three groups: 100, 50 and 10 respectively in different locations. “We have certainly missed some, since the flats has a couple areas from a mile to 2 miles across without public access,” birder John Stuart said.
B R I E F LY
dence. A SWAT team from Spokane, along with excavators and dogs were used in this search, which took place Wednesday and Thursday, July 17-18. “We brought out cadaver dogs,” said Trooper Jeff Sevigney of the Washington State Patrol. He said law enforcement received a tip that they might be needed. The dogs didn’t find any bodies but excavators found more buried car parts. The auto parts were alleged to have been stolen. Law enforcement also found other stolen property, Sevigney said, including a chain saw. Walter “Randy” Todd, 49, and Robert Patrick Todd, 47, were arrested in June. Both were
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charged with possession of stolen property. Randy Todd also faces possession of methamphetamine and two counts of unlawful possession of firearms. Robert Patrick Todd is facing manufacturing marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver charges. Both men are free on bond. Sevigney said he expects more charges to follow.
Man killed in ATV wreck NEWPORT – Going too fast was the cause of an accident that claimed the life of a 53-yearold man late Monday night, July 22, according
to a press release from the Washington State Patrol. The man was riding a 2005 Polaris Sport 50 ORV west on Tacoma Creek Road when he failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle left the roadway and the upper torso of the man struck a tree, according to the press release. Tacoma Creek Road is a county road with a 35 mph speed limit. The man’s identity was not released pending notification of next of kin. Pend Oreille County Sheriff Alan Botzheim said that the man was not riding his own vehicle when the wreck occurred. The rider was not wearing a helmet, he said.
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