Idaho Week in Review

Eight co-defendants were sentenced Monday and Tuesday in Coeur d’Alene for involvement in a smuggling ring police believe brought in 17,000 pounds of “B.C. Bud” and generated $38 million in cash. Most received sentences ranging from two to three years. But the alleged ring leader, Nate Norman, was sentenced to 12 years behind bars. Norman, 21, said in a jail interview that smuggling started as a lark, but he soon became addicted to the adventure of playing cat-and-mouse with the Border Patrol. “I’m no kingpin,” he said. “I never told anybody what to do.” Police say Norman is lucky to be alive. They believe that the leader of a rival smuggling ring had hired thugs to kill him and one of his co-defendants when the plan backfired and the rival himself was killed. “That’s when it totally hit me this is a serious business,” Norman said.

MONDAY

Quest Youth Group, a recently created support group, aims at helping for gay and bisexual male youths cope with the stresses of life. Studies show that gay youths are at least three times more likely to commit suicide than others. A Spokane businessman sponsors the group, at $50,000 a year.

“ Courtesy Communications has dismantled its illegal tower, which has stood since 1984 on a mountain south of Post Falls, and a judge has dismissed the company’s appeal of Kootenai County’s decision to deny a permit that would make the antenna legal. The judge says company owner John Sonneland of Spokane failed to pay transcript fees; Sonneland’s owner says that was an oversight and has asked the judge to reconsider.

TUESDAY

The White House wants to give states more control over the management of roadless portions of national forests. The plan, which would reverse the Clinton-era ban on road-building on nearly a third of the forests, is criticized by conservationists and Washington Gov. Gary Locke, but is praised by the timber industry and Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne.

“ Two of three Moscow buildings owned by Christ Church will be put back on local tax rolls. Latah County’s Board of Equalization ruled they serve commercial purposes so don’t meet state requirements for tax-free status.

WEDNESDAY

Washington and Idaho are legions apart in providing for uninsured residents. An Idaho family of three can make no more than $23,508 to qualify for free children’s health care. The same family could make $31,344 and still qualify in Washington. But the states are edging slightly closer, as Washington looks to cut costs by dropping some families and Idaho offers a new program to offer low-cost insurance for families that don’t quite meet the state’s financial guidelines.

“ The international evangelical group Youth for Christ is reaching out to low-income kids in Spokane’s West Central neighborhood by offering a place where they can come three times a week to eat a meal, play games and socialize. The group is trying to raise $300,000 to renovate an old warehouse into a ministry center.

“ Washington records detail a nine-year history of complaints against a nurse arrested last month for allegedly raping a patient at Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake. Among the details: Guy M. Johnston was placed on home duty in 1997 for “alleged patient abuse.”

“ Tenants at Coeur d’Alene Mobile Home Park have been told that the park has been sold and they must move. But many live in trailers so old that state law makes it difficult – and expensive — to move them. “I’ll probably just tack the title to the door and walk away,” said one tenant. She and others are angry they didn’t have more warning.

THURSDAY

About 150 Marine reservists based in Spokane have been placed on active duty. The 5th Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment is scheduled to serve seven months in Iraq, on infantry security operations.

“ Patsy Clark’s Mansion is undergoing a $1 million overhaul. The 1897 Kirtland Cutter mansion in Browne’s Addition, which formerly housed a restaurant where the first President Bush once dined, was purchased last year by a law firm that is now housed there.

“ Ending 14 months of accusation and denial, a former manager at a Coeur d’Alene assisted living center confessed to a detective that she stole $3,000 from an elderly resident. Mary Jane Vann outlined a theft scheme she says also involved two other Fairwinds Retirement Community employees.

FRIDAY

Changes in federal housing policy will boost the rents of poor disabled and elderly residents on voucher programs overseen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Rents in Spokane County are expected to increase $25. Similar changes are expected in Idaho.

“ About 6,500 BMW motorcycle owners are in Spokane for a gathering that’s expected to pump $3.15 million into the local economy. One participant has logged 1.2 million miles on BMW bikes.

“ Neighbors in the rural Hidden Valley area west of Rathdrum don’t like new development plans for 260 acres in their neighborhood much better than the old ones. The first developer met heavy opposition by proposing 184 houses; a new developer seeks county permission for 64 houses, with 160 acres of open space.

“ Kootenai County’s sheriff says the 3 percent merit-based raise commissioners have proposed for employees is too little. “We need closer to 30 percent,” considering that deputies often leave to work in Spokane County, where they’re paid $1,000 more a month, said Sheriff Rocky Watson.

COMING UP

About 400 property owners at Spirit Lake and Twin Lakes don’t actually own their waterfront land because of a botched 1880 land survey. Read The Idaho Spokesman-Review on Monday to learn how it happened and what’s being done to correct the problem.