Hearing set in burglary case Briefs
By KEITH KINNAIRD
Hagadone News Network
SANDPOINT - A preliminary hearing is set for today in a burglary case pending against the son of a federal prosecutor.
Christopher Alan Cook's arrest stems from a series of theft cases that one of the victims managed to crack using a software application on his Smartphone.
Cook, a 22-year-old from Dalton Gardens, is charged with burglarizing six vehicles parked in a residential area in December of last year.
A Motorola Droid phone was stolen from one of the vehicles and the handset's owner used an app designed to locate missing devices using GPS technology. The victim used a laptop computer to track the device to a dwelling in the 100 block of Fourth Avenue.
Sandpoint Police obtained a search warrant after a stolen snowboard was positively identified through a window in the residence, according to court documents.
Sean Brendan Mahoney, also 22, was arrested and charged with felony theft by possession of stolen property. He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of misdemeanor theft in an agreement with the state.
A condition of the agreement required him to give up his alleged accomplices in the string of thefts, which resulted in Cook's arrest on a $5,000 warrant. A third suspect is wanted on a $10,000 warrant, court records show.
City seeks
opinions on bypass
SANDPOINT - City officials hope to follow the public's lead as they begin planning a bypass project that will yield a more pedestrian-friendly downtown.
Scheduled for Wednesday, April 6, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., a public workshop will help planners shape their objectives as they begin the first stages of planning for the U.S. Highway 2 bypass.
"We are starting this meeting with a clean slate," Sandpoint Public Works Director Kody Van Dyk said. "We don't have any preconceived notions about what this project needs to look like."
Known as The Curve, the Highway 2 bypass project is a high priority project for Sandpoint based on the specifications of the Urban Area Transport Plan. The construction will divert highway traffic from downtown using a connector situated between Fifth Avenue and Pine Street. That construction will put downtown streets back in city control, allowing a safer and more pleasant experience for pedestrians.
CareNet announces second annual
Rake & Run event
COEUR d'ALENE - CareNet will be participating in the 2nd annual Rake and Run on April 27.
The community service event is geared toward assisting area seniors with spring yard cleanup, and already has 14 homes on the docket for CareNet's teams of volunteers.
"We're hoping for sun this year," said 2011 Rake and Run Chair, Stephanie Godinez, "but rain or shine, it feels so good to help out our seniors in need."
Community members who would like to nominate a senior in need or who would like to join one of the CareNet teams of volunteers may contact Stephanie Godinez or Tiffany Jones at Crest Home Health, (208) 765-4343.
Seminar will help defuse bullying
PONDERAY - For kids around the world, school bullying can turn into a nightmare with no signs of recourse in sight.
Mike Szotkowski, owner of Sandpoint Taekwondo Center, hopes to help empower Bonner County's bullying victims with a free seminar on Wednesday from 5-6:30 p.m.
The class is open to all kids as long as they are accompanied by a parent. It will emphasize verbal and body language techniques that children can use to extinguish bullying tactics before the situation gets out of hand. Using role-playing situations and drills that kids and parents can practice at home, the seminar teaches skills that help kids keep their cool in a confrontation.
"The idea is to help the child feel more prepared and calm when being picked on by a bully," Szotkowski said.
Sandpoint Taekwondo Center is located in the Walmart Shopping Center and is reachable at 610-2577.
Exchange student program seeks
host families
The ASSE International Student Exchange Program is seeking local host families for the 2011-2012 school year.
Students arrive in August and are with families until June 2012. Students have their own spending money and medical insurance.
Information: www.asse.com or contact Dave and Kathy Lankford, ASSE North Idaho representatives, at 771-1114 or dklankford@gotsky.com.
House unanimously passes airplane hunting limit
BOISE (AP) - Hunters who fly airplanes to impromptu landing sites in Idaho's backcountry would have to wait a day before pursuing big game after touching down, under a bill passed unanimously by the House.
Sponsor Rep. Mike Moyle of Star thought it was unfair that hunters who got a good view of elk or mule deer while landing could immediately set off to stalk game.
The bill was more controversial than it sounds, however, with plane-flying hunters accusing Moyle, the House majority leader, of cronyism.
Their charge: He was trying to protect a prime piece of big-game hunting ground for a relative of Lt. Gov. Brad Little.
Moyle told representatives on Wednesday that the accusations were unfounded; he didn't even know Little's family member.
The measure now heads to the Idaho Senate.