Local Briefs February 23, 2013
Habitat for Humanity event sold out
Good news for Habitat for Humanity of North Idaho: The organization's annual fundraising event tonight is sold out.
Yes, that's also bad news for those who wanted to go but didn't purchase tickets yet.
Michaelle Sande, one of the event organizers, said a lot of the credit for selling out in advance goes to a group of sponsors who made the fundraiser so attractive. They include: Century Publishing; Family of Hal Dally; North Idaho Title; Sterling Bank; Agency Software; BankCDA; Coeur d'Alene Association of Realtors; Clark, Anderson, McNelis & Co.; Diversion Window Coverings; Frontier Communications; Hayden Qwik Stop; Jan Jesberger Insurance; Kootenai Electric Cooperative; and Namaste Foods.
Third Street parking lot closed this week
COEUR d'ALENE - The city-owned parking lot off Third Street next to The Coeur d'Alene Resort will be closed Monday through Friday to allow for a trench to be dug to move utility lines of the right of way along Front Avenue.
Diamond Parking has agreed to allow those holding monthly parking passes at the Third Street lot to park in lots that they manage.
Parking pass holders must make sure that their pass is visible to the lot checkers or they will be ticketed.
Parking is also available at Memorial Field and in the City Hall parking lot.
Info: 769-2300
Meals on Wheels program seeks volunteer drivers
COEUR d'ALENE - A program that delivers meals to homebound seniors is facing a shortage of volunteer drivers.
Kris Wright, coordinator of Meals on Wheels at the Lake City Center, said she needs three more volunteers to have a complete staff.
"It's from the heart. You have to have a passion for it," she said.
The program delivers meals Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Drivers work about two hours, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Routes cover Coeur d'Alene, Hayden and Dalton Gardens.
Those interested can pick up an application at the Lake City Center. Applicants must provide their own vehicle, insurance and be at least 21 years old.
Info: 667-4628
Ordinance workshops to continue
Workshops reviewing the first draft of Kootenai County's new development ordinances will continue next week, the county announced on Friday.
Webinar Technical Advisory Committee workshops on the Unified Land Use Code are scheduled from 1-3 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The meetings will be in Room 2 of the County Administration Building at 451 North Government Way, in Coeur d'Alene.
The public is welcome. To view the workshops remotely, contact Scott Clark with the Community Development Department at sclark@kcgov.us, for webinar login information.
Judge orders prison in spree burglaries
SANDPOINT - A Sagle man who relapsed on drugs and embarked on single-handed crime spree to feed his addiction was given a last chance Tuesday to avoid a lengthy prison term.
First District Judge Barbara Buchanan ordered Jason Lee Williams to serve up to five years in prison, but retained jurisdiction over the defendant. That means he'll serve up to a year in prison before a decision is made to put Williams on probation or require him to serve the underlying sentence.
Williams burglarized four homes, a workshop and an antique shop, resulting in six counts of burglary and six counts of grand theft. Williams committed the thefts last autumn and was caught in the act by one startled homeowner, to whom he simply said, "ma'am," before calmly driving away.
In exchange for pleas of guilt to the felony theft charges, the burglary charges were dismissed, according to the terms of a plea agreement.
Bonner County Deputy Prosecutor Roger Hanlon and Deputy Public Defender Dan Taylor recommended retained jurisdiction, court records show.
Williams apologized to his victims and told Buchanan he wished to move on with his life, records further show.
Buchanan adopted the attorneys' recommendations.
"I believe the therapeutic community may be the best for you," Buchanan said, referring to the retained jurisdiction program, also known as a rider.
Williams was ordered to pay full restitution to his victims, although a hearing on the amount will be held after he returns from prison for a rider review.
Buchanan also ordered Williams to obtain the equivalent of a high school diploma.
Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on two counts of burglary and one count of attempted burglary on Tuesday in Kootenai County. He committed those offenses last October, around the time of his offenses in Bonner County.