Idaho briefs February 12, 2012
Hunter kills brother of lonely Oregon wolf
PORTLAND, Ore. - A hunter in Idaho shot and killed a sibling of an Oregon wolf that became a celebrity by wandering hundreds of miles from Eastern Oregon and into Northern California looking for a mate.
Oregon Department Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman said the wolf shot in Idaho, tagged OR-9, came from the same parents as his famous brother, OR-7.
OR-9 was shot on Feb. 2, said Idaho Department of Fish and Game spokesman Michael Keckler.
The wolf was taken between Emmett and Banks. Its collar is being returned to Oregon.
Keckler said the hunter's tag was out of date and he was given a warning. The hunter had valid tags through the end of 2011, but was incorrectly told he didn't need new tags in 2012.
Under new Idaho legislation, the hunter's name is not considered public record.
The wolf hunting season in most of Idaho lasts from Aug. 30 to March 31. The wolf was last seen in Oregon last summer, and is believed to have crossed into Idaho with two of his siblings, including OR-7.
OR-7, Oregon's famous wandering wolf, became a media celebrity while looking for a mate last year.
OR-9's hide may be kept by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game or sold at auction. The two wolves are part of the Imnaha pack.
Lawmaker still wants wind farm moratorium
BOISE - An Idaho Falls lawmaker again introduced legislation calling for a moratorium on wind power development in the state.
Republican Rep. Erik Simpson wants Idaho to take a breather on wind energy projects for two years. He is pushing for the moratorium on behalf of southeastern Idaho residents who are unhappy with dozens of turbines that have been erected.
The House Local Government Committee agreed Friday to introduce Simpson's legislation, which will now get a hearing. His previous effort in 2011 failed to win over the House State Affairs Committee.
Lawmakers who voted against measure last year conceded that rapid development of Idaho wind farms was creating some concern, but felt the decision to halt such projects should be left to local county commissioners.
Tour bus catches fire on way to Sun Valley
BOISE - Fire officials said no one was injured when a bus caring Australian tourists to the central Idaho resort area of Sun Valley caught fire and burned east of Boise on Saturday.
Boise Fire Battalion Chief John Peugh said that the bus caught fire near a rest stop and all the passengers got off safely.
Peugh said another tour bus picked up the group and took them to Sun Valley.
College aiming for accreditation
NAMPA - Officials at the College of Western Idaho said the school is moving forward in becoming accredited.
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities placed the southwestern Idaho community college in Nampa on accreditation candidacy status.
The commission said the candidacy status started Jan. 11 and goes through 2017.
The school had been offering degrees and college credits through a memorandum of understanding with the College of Southern Idaho.
College of Western Idaho officials said the College of Southern Idaho will continue to provide accreditation status until full accreditation is obtained.
Maple trees off limits to tree tappers
MOSCOW - Officials in Moscow said the city's maple trees are off limits to tree tappers looking to make maple syrup.
Officials on Friday issued a statement reminding North Idaho residents that maple trees located within the street right-of ways are subject to city laws and protections.
That means tapping the trees requires first getting city permission.
But officials say the city is not granting permission for the process that requires drilling into the trees.
The city said tapping can harm trees, especially older or stressed trees.
- The Associated Press