PEND OREILLE COUNTY FAIR UNDERWAY SEE PAGE 3A BONNER COUNTY FAIR: SEE PAGE B3
The Newport Miner THE VOICE OF PEND OREILLE COUNT Y SINCE 1901
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Volume 111, Number 28 | 2 Sections, 16 Pages 75¢
Hunt, Dansel maintain their lead
Candidates disappointed by low voter turnout BY MINER STAFF
NEWPORT – The primary election is over and the few candidates with an opponent have some idea Dansel of where they stand. Only one race actually narrowed the field. In the race for the 5th District seat in the U.S. House of Repre- Hunt
sentatives, incumbent Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican, will face Democrat Joe Pakootas in the general election. Dave Wilson, an Independent, and Tom Horne, a Republican, were eliminated in the Booth primary. McMorris Rodgers is leading in Pend Oreille County with 1,673 votes. Next is Pakootas, McCroskey
SEE VOTE, 8A
Three severe weather advisories in three weeks
PUD has all power restored; waits for next hit BY DESIREÉ HOOD OF THE MINER
NEWPORT – Three severe weather advisories have been placed on Pend Oreille and West Bonner counties in as many weeks, with thousands of residents barely having power restored from the first two
storms before new fears arise of more days in the dark. (Follow The Miner Online for updated information during the week.) Storms tore through the region on July 23 and Aug. 2, both leaving thousands of residents without power. A red flag warning was issued Tuesday, Aug. 12, for most of the Inland Northwest, stating high winds, SEE PUD, 2A
MINER PHOTO|MICHELLE NEDVED
A peaceful paddle The weather was perfect Saturday for the annual Pend Oreille River Poker Paddle. These paddlers come into Cusick Park Saturday afternoon, after paddling the river from Gregg’s Addition just north of Newport. Sixty-three paddlers signed up this year, down from last year’s 75. This year’s paddle included a Water Festival at the Cusick Park Saturday afternoon. Community Development Director Mike Lithgow said overall the event was a success and he hopes to do it again next year. Revenue from the Water Festival goes to support the Pend Oreille County Parks and Recreation fund.
Power generation can be done at home BY DESIREÉ HOOD OF THE MINER
NEWPORT – Kim Gentle knows first-hand how power generation functions after being raised by parents who generated power for their own use in Pend Oreille County. Now she is the PUD’s expert on
acquiring and selling electric power through a complex system, in her role as power and risk manager. New technology and laws that make it mandatory for utilities to buy power from individuals have created new interest in small electricity producing around the country and here.
When reflecting on her past she says: “It’s [producing your own power] pretty common in very rural areas like ours. It’s just stand alone, you are completely on your own.” Gentle said they were considered “odd” during her childhood for not SEE POWER, 2A
County fair livestock sale rewards top stock BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
CUSICK – Kaleigh Driver remembers one of her first times taking an animal through the Market Animal Sale at the Pend Oreille County Fair. “When I was 9, my steer got away,” she says. “My father and another man helped me catch it.” Driver, now 16, is a veteran at the sale. While her first sale was memorable, it didn’t compare to the time that a steer licked her face the entire time she was showing it. “That probably got me a better price,” she laughs. The Market Animal Sale is the payoff for raising and caring for the animals. Young people spend every day from spring up until mid-August preparing their animals for the fair. Driver plans to have a hog and a steer in this year’s auction. SEE STOCK, 2A
COURTESY PHOTO|KELLY DRIVER
Kaleigh Driver shows her hog during last year’s sale. Driver plans to have a hog and a steer at this year’s sale. The money she earns will go towards college. She hopes to go to law school.
COURTESY PHOTO|ALYX HANSON
Ashley and Alyx Hanson put their hogs through the Market Animal Sale at last year’s Pend Oreille County Fair. They raised the hogs from birth. The sale is an opportunity to support the young livestock producers.
B R I E F LY Vegetation drop extended another week
NEWPORT – People will still be able to drop off vegetative debris at the road shop, located at 9302 Deer Valley Road, through Aug. 21. Pend Oreille County commissioners extended the vegetative debris drop because of the demand. While the vegetative debris will be accepted for free at the road shop, it will not be accepted for free at the transfer station. The vegetative debris collection site is open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The transfer station will be also open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through the month of August, to handle debris at their normal tipping fee of $108 per ton plus tax. The extended schedule is due to the two
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CLASSIFIEDS
storms that hit the area in July and early August.
Man arrested for battery, pot possession PRIEST RIVER – A 68-year-old Priest River man was arrested for allegedly putting a baggie of marijuana under the shirt and bra of a girl under 16 years old. Nathan E. Lawrence was arrested Saturday, Aug. 9. He was charged with misdemeanor battery and possession of a controlled substance. He is held on $300 bond. According to a statement of probable cause, Lawrence was allegedly drunk when he approached the girl and asked if she wanted some pot. The girl said no and 5B-8B
left. Lawrence allegedly went to his home, located on the same property, and returned with some marijuana. He asked again if she wanted any pot and she said no. He then put the bag of pot down her shirt, according to the statement.
Road closed for three weeks NEWPORT – Best Chance Road at Skookum Creek will be closed near mile marker 5 in Pend Oreille County, starting Aug. 18. The road will be closed for three weeks while a bridge is replaced. Call the public works department at 509-447-4513 for more information.
OPINION
4A
RECORD
4B
SPORTS
2B
BONNER COUNTY FAIR
3B
LIFE
1B
POLICE REPORTS
4B
OBITUARIES
4B
PUBLIC NOTICES
6B-8B
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