Woman killed in crash on U.S. 195

A two-vehicle crash south of Colfax Saturday afternoon has claimed the life of a woman and injured three others.

The crash happened at about 4 p.m. on U.S. Highway 195, about 7 miles south of Colfax, said Jim Thompson, with the Colfax Fire Dept. The name of the victim, who was believed to be the driver of a northbound Chevy Suburban, has not been released. A young girl traveling in the car was flown to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Thompson said. Her condition is not known. At least two other people sustained minor injuries.

The Washington State Patrol would release no details about the crash Saturday night.

Sandpoint

Arrestee accused of Army desertion

A 36-year-old Sandpoint man was arrested early Friday morning after being accused of deserting the U.S. military. Christopher P. Sanders is now being held in the Bonner County Jail without bail, according to a deputy at the jail who did not give her name.

The dispatch report did not give details on the arrest of Sanders, which took place at about 7:30 a.m. near the intersection of 4th Street and Oak in Sandpoint. One of the arresting officers, B. Koch, refused to discuss the incident or provide a copy of the federal arrest warrant. He said the police chief would not be releasing any information until Monday afternoon.

Sanders will be housed at the county jail until he is picked up by representatives from the U.S. Army, according to a deputy at the jail. She did not know when Sanders would be leaving. “We don’t get that (information) until right before they pick him up for transport,” the deputy said.

School mold levels greatly reduced

A second air quality test has found that the mold level inside Farmin-Stidwell Elementary School has been reduced, officials say.

“Our classroom air was cleaner than the air outside regarding any mold spores,” Superintendent Dick Cvitanich said. “In fact, for the most part, the tests indicate that the air is cleaner than last week’s test.”

The school sent home letters with school children last week.

Cvitanich said they thought the smell came from the school’s underground tunnel system. Those areas have been sealed. A substance thought to be mold was discovered underneath the school but was not tested, Cvitanich said.

Spokane

Burglary call leads to marijuana bust

A Spokane homeowner was arrested after the man burglarizing his home discovered a marijuana grow operation, police said.

Police officers were sent to the home at 2528 W. Mallon about 4:30 p.m. Friday after they received a report of a burglary in progress, according to a statement issued by Spokane police Cpl. Brad Hallock.

When officers arrived, they found the homeowner, C. Dean Johnson, 43, fighting with the intruder in the living room. After being arrested, the accused burglar, 26-year-old Simon T. Arnzen-Jones, told police there was a marijuana cultivation operation in the basement.

The living room reeked of burnt marijuana, and officers spotted drug paraphernalia and small amounts of dried marijuana, according to Hallock’s statement. After obtaining a search warrant, police discovered a 40-plant grow operation.

Arnzen-Jones has been booked into Spokane County Jail on suspicion of first-degree burglary. Johnson, the homeowner, is accused of drug possession and manufacturing marijuana with intent to deliver. According to the police statement, Johnson was unhappy about being busted but happy overall by the outcome.

“At least we got the burglar,” Johnson reportedly told police. “I think this is the guy that has burglarized me four other times. We finally got him.”