Idaho Briefs February 17, 2013
Idaho National Guard soldiers returning to Boise
BOISE - An Idaho National Guard spokesman said soldiers returning from a 9-month deployment in Afghanistan arrived in Boise this weekend.
Col. Tim Marsano said most of the 60 soldiers in Company A, 1-168 General Support Aviation Battalion will be returning to Boise on several commercial aircraft. He said the first group of 10 soldiers are expected to arrive at the Boise Airport late Saturday night.
He said the rest would continue to arrive throughout today.
The soldiers last weekend arrived at Fort Hood in Texas where Idaho Gov. Butch Otter welcomed them back.
While in Afghanistan the soldiers supported Operation Enduring Freedom, operating eight UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters assigned to the unit.
Inmate dies at Bonneville County Jail
IDAHO FALLS - Authorities in eastern Idaho said an inmate in the Bonneville County Jail has died.
Bonneville County Sheriff Paul J. Wilde said 47-year-old James Slate Dewitt of Idaho Falls died Saturday morning.
Wilde said jail deputies at about 5:50 a.m. determined Dewitt wasn't breathing and administered CPR until Idaho Falls emergency responders determined Dewitt had died.
Authorities said Dewitt was taken into custody at about 5 p.m. Friday on a probation violation.
An autopsy is planned as part of standard procedure when a person dies while in custody.
An investigative team has also been called in.
Ada County cuts ties with waste energy deal
BOISE - Ada County officials said they have terminated the county's agreement with a company that planned to build a waste-to-energy plant at a local landfill.
County Commissioners announced the decision Friday to sever ties with Dynamis Energy.
Commissioner Dave Case said the decision was difficult but ultimately in the best interest of the county.
In June 2012, the county signed a contract and paid Dynamis $2 million to design a facility on county land adjacent to the landfill in Boise. Dynamis was then expected to build, own and operate the plant on land leased from the county - then buy back its design plans for $2 million.
- The Associated Press