Local Briefs January 5, 2012

Vandals damage Winton trees

COEUR d'ALENE - A pair of pine trees at Winton Park were reportedly cut down over the New Year's weekend.

A Coeur d'Alene Parks Department employee told police that the damage appeared to be caused by a hatchet or an axe, and that a third tree was also damaged, but appeared to be salvageable.

Each pine tree is about 30-feet-tall, and valued at $1,000, according to a Coeur d'Alene police report.

A beer can was found next to one of the trees but the employee told officers he was unsure if it was related to the incident.

The hatchet job occurred sometime between Saturday and Monday.

No damage in Rathdrum fire

RATHDRUM - Clothes in a dryer that caught on fire at a Rathdrum residence late Wednesday afternoon were quickly extinguished by the female homeowner.

The fire at 13926 Cassia, Unit 2, off Nagel and Arizona was contained to the clothes and there was minimal smoke damage to the structure, said Jim Lyon, Northern Lakes Fire District spokesman.

A youth at the home reported smelling smoke and noticed the fire coming from the laundry room.

There were no injuries.