North Idaho Briefs September 7, 2012

Unlawful possession of weapons nets two years

COEUR d'ALENE - A 30-year-old Spokane Valley man was sentenced Wednesday to two years in prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

Anthony V. Bird, 30, of Spokane Valley, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill, who also ordered Bird to serve two years of supervised release following his prison term and forfeit the firearm found in his possession.

He pled guilty to the charge on June 11, 2012.

At his plea hearing, Bird admitted that on Jan. 12, 2012, he sold a .45-caliber Glock pistol to another person.

Bird is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his 1999 conviction for first-degree robbery in Spokane, a felony offense punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force.

The task force investigates violent crimes, including armed robbery, kidnapping, felonious assault and drug trafficking.

The case was prosecuted as part of Idaho's Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, which seeks to reduce gun violence in Idaho.

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Nominations sought for top science teacher

The Idaho Science Teachers Association is seeking nominations for outstanding science teachers in the elementary and secondary school categories.

Anyone can nominate a teacher - students, parents, or administrators - by completing an online form at http://www.idscienceteachers.org.

Each regional winning educator will receive a plaque and a $100 stipend from the ISTA-Leroy Lee Memorial scholarship fund to be used for the teacher's professional development or resources for the classroom, free ISTA membership for a year, and waiver of the ISTA conference fee.

Nominations close Sept. 20.