Water level expected to fall this morning
In the ever-changing forecast at Bonners Ferry, the Kootenai River is expected to remain half a foot below the flood mark of 1,764 feet above sea level and begin to fall this morning, negating earlier reports that the city could expect water above flood stage today.
The forecast is partially good news, said Bonners Ferry Mayor Darrell Kerby, but high water is still an issue that plagues Boundary County.
“The higher it gets, coupled with the duration (of the high flows), is a problem,” Kerby said.
“It’s better that we didn’t get the additional altitude, but this is just as significant.”
In an e-mail update Thursday, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hydrologist Paul Koski said inflow into the Libby Dam reservoir through Wednesday was 34,700 cubic feet per second and increased to about 45,000 cfs Thursday.
The high flow is expected to continue through Saturday, Koski said.
He also said the reservoir is about 1.4 feet from being full and by next week will recede to about two feet from full capacity.
If the weather changes in some significant way, Koski said, the forecast could completely change today.
– Sam Taylor
Coeur d’Alene
Police seek tips in man’s stabbing
A 21-year-old man was stabbed several times after leaving a downtown Coeur d’Alene bikini bar early Thursday morning.
Nestor Cubillas-Ronquillo initially said he was attacked by two men who were looking for cocaine, but Coeur d’Alene police Sgt. Christie Wood said the victim had been drinking and police haven’t been able to get a description of the attackers.
Cubillas-Ronquillo, who was in fair condition at Kootenai Medical Center, was at the Torch Lounge prior to the attack.
According to police reports, Cubillas-Ronquillo was attacked around 1 a.m. in an alley in the 200 block between Lakeside and Coeur d’Alene avenues.
Police followed the blood trail from the crime scene to the Coeur d’Alene Brewing Co. at Second and Lakeside.
Patrons at the bar called 911 after they saw the blood-covered victim stumbling in the road.
A bouncer at the Torch Lounge told police that Cubillas-Ronquillo had come into the bar alone.
He said there was a group of three males, and Cubillas-Ronquillo got into an argument with one whom he accused of stealing his wallet.
The bouncer said employees at the bar found Cubillas-Ronquillo’s wallet and returned it to him.
The three men followed Cubillas-Ronquillo out of the bar when he left, the bouncer told police.
Anyone who was in the area at the time of the crime or has information on the crime is asked to call police at (208) 769-2320 or the Tip Line at (208) 769-2296.
– Taryn Brodwater