In brief

Girl to be removed from life support

An 8-year-old Spokane girl, who was critically injured after falling into a northern Pend Oreille County creek Thursday morning, was to be removed from life support Friday night, authorities said.

Pend Oreille County sheriff’s officials said the girl was riding a small motorcycle on a Forest Service road when she fell into the west branch of LeClerc Creek about 15 miles southeast of Ione.

Sgt. Questin Youk said the girl was in the area with members of her family, but there was no eyewitness to the accident.

Investigators speculated that the girl may have lost her balance when she stopped on a bridge over the creek, which was gorged with spring runoff, Youk said.

The victim’s name was not being released Friday.

The Sheriff’s Office received a call for help at 10:50 a.m. Thursday and were told about a half-dozen people already were searching for the girl.

Youk said emergency workers and volunteers found her under a log in the creek about 100 yards downstream.

The victim was given cardiopulmonary resuscitation and was flown by MedStar to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane in critical condition.

Youk said the girl had been wearing a helmet and a plastic chest protector.

– John Craig

Coeur d’Alene

NIC registration open for summer, fall

Registration for North Idaho College summer and fall classes is under way.

The course schedule contains start times and locations for hundreds of courses. This year’s summer schedule also offers two, four-week sessions and an eight-week session as well as a variety of Internet courses.

All students will receive in-state tuition rates for summer classes, regardless of state residency. Summer tuition is $122 for the first credit and $117 for each additional credit, or $939 for full-time students. Out-of-state rates will be charged to out-of-state residents for fall and spring semesters.

New students who have been accepted for summer session or fall semester can schedule an appointment with NIC Advising Services at (208) 769-7821 to register.

Current students, or those who are not seeking a degree but are interested in taking classes, can enroll online at www.nic.edu/admissions.

Call or e-mail the NIC Admissions Office at (208) 769-3311 or admit@nic.edu for more information.

– From staff reports

Deer Park

Student arrested after cutting copper

A Deer Park High School student was arrested this week on suspicion of putting his knowledge of economics and current affairs to illicit use.

The 16-year-old boy was arrested after a teacher caught him cutting copper wire and copper pipe from a storage building behind the school last Saturday, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. High metal prices have caused a recent rash of copper thefts around the county.

The suspect was booked into juvenile detention on suspicion of third-degree theft and third-degree malicious mischief.

Sheriff’s Deputy Dave Morris, the high school’s resource officer, said Friday that the copper caper caused more than $200 worth of damage.

– John Craig