Teen suspect may face trial as adult

A 15-year-old Spokane boy, who turns 16 next month, may be tried in adult court for allegedly robbing a South Hill convenience store at gunpoint.

Christopher Bradley Burgess, faces a hearing Wednesday to determine whether he should be transferred from juvenile to adult court. If he had been 16 at the time of the alleged crime on March 14, Burgess would automatically go to adult court.

Burgess was charged Wednesday with first-degree armed robbery in connection with a holdup at Hai’s Mini Mart, 1020 S. Perry. A security video showed a suspect aiming a handgun at a clerk to obtain cash and cigarettes. Police said Detective John Miller arrested Burgess at the county Juvenile Detention Center, where Burgess was serving time in an unrelated incident.

Coeur d’Alene

Earth Day fair set for Harding Center

An Earth Day fair is planned for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Harding Family Center, 411 N. 15th St. in Coeur d’Alene.

The free fair includes kids’ activities, informational exhibits, live music, food, and a live wolf, courtesy of Mission: Wolf and the Wolf Education and Research Center. The event will also showcase the environmental protection work of 35 local, regional and national groups, including The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Forest Service, North Idaho Flycasters, Northwest EcoBuilding Guild and Project Coeur d’Alene.

The fair is organized by Earth Day Coeur d’Alene.

YAKIMA

Employers must develop heat plan

The state Department of Labor and Industries has ordered employers to develop an effective plan for guarding their workers against heat-related illnesses while working outside.

The agency had been considering a proposed rule regulating heat exposure in outdoor workplaces, an idea that has been called unnecessary by farm and business groups.

Instead, state officials announced a new emergency rule Wednesday requiring employers to evaluate their workplaces, determine if employees will be at risk from heat-related illness, and have a safety plan in place to train employees on recognizing symptoms and prevention. The emergency rule goes into effect June 1 and lasts for 120 days, agency spokeswoman Elaine Fischer said.

The United Farm Workers of America began pushing for a tougher rule after Manuel Camacho, 64, died at Roy Farms in Moxee in July. The coroner said the cause of death was heat stroke.

BOISE

Arrest made in death of girl, 14

A man has been arrested in the shooting death of a 14-year-old girl at a party last weekend and is being held on charges of first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated battery, police said.

Kenneth Edward “Face” Elcock, 25, of Treasure Valley, was taken into custody on a warrant without incident after 10 p.m. Wednesday, Lt. Eugene Smith said.

Earlier, Capt. Gary Compton said witnesses had intentionally misled police in the investigation of the shooting death of April Buenrostro and the wounding of three others at the Whispering Pines apartments in the western part of town shortly after midnight early Saturday.

Compton would not discuss possible motives but said he didn’t believe Buenrostro was targeted or that Elcock attended the party before shots were fired into an apartment window. The girl, wounded twice in the head and chest, died Saturday evening at a hospital.

Compiled from staff and wire reports