Briefs

Lakeside teacher waives hearing

A Lakeside High School gym teacher accused of having sexual contact with a child waived his right Monday to an evidentiary hearing in Benewah County.

Darin DeBolt, 26, of Spokane, is expected to enter a plea in district court on March 12.

DeBolt was arrested Feb. 2 at Lakeside High School in Plummer and charged with sexual battery of a minor child age 16 or 17.

He has been out on $50,000 bail since Feb. 3.

Employed by the Plummer-Worley School District for five years, DeBolt taught gym, health and coached at the 130-student high school. He has been on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

DeBolt is a graduate of Spokane's Rogers High School, where he played football, and a 2006 graduate of Eastern Washington University and former member of the university's cheer squad.

Fund set up for NIC instructor's husband

A fund has been established by coworkers of North Idaho College biology Instructor Karen Chamberlain for her husband Dave, who needs a heart transplant.

Dave, of Coeur d'Alene, underwent triple bypass surgery three years ago and recently had a pump placed in his heart at the University of Washington Medical Center.

He is now under 24-hour care over the next three months in Seattle to see if the pump helps him recover enough to be a healthy candidate for a heart transplant.

Meantime, Karen Chamberlain is continuing her teaching duties at NIC while traveling between Coeur d'Alene and Seattle.

The "Dave Chamberlain Help Fund" has been established at Mountain West Bank. Monetary donations will assist the family with medical bills and travel costs. All Mountain West locations will accept donations.

Information: NIC Pharmacy Technology Instructor Paula Lambert at (208) 666-8002

College considers LCSC president

College officials announced Monday that Lewis-Clark State College president Dene Thomas has been named one of three finalists for the presidency at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo., Fort Lewis.

A press release from LCSC states Thomas did not seek the job in Colorado, but was approached by the Fort Lewis search committee. She said the Colorado college is similar to LCSC in enrollment size and is noted for its work with Native Americans.

Thomas says her candidacy at Fort Lewis is an exploration and not a measure of her dissatisfaction at LCSC.

The Fort Lewis search committee will conduct interviews with the three finalists between this Friday and March 5, and hopes to have a decision by the end of March.