Idaho Briefs May 13, 2013

Police: ISU student's death was a suicide

BLACKFOOT - Eastern Idaho law enforcement authorities who reported finding the body of an Idaho State University student on Friday have provided additional information indicating the death was a suicide.

The Bingham County Sheriff's Office said that the body of 29-year-old Daniel Machado was found on a mountaintop northeast of Blackfoot by three brothers riding motorcycles.

Bingham County Sheriff Craig Rowland said a gun was found next to the body. There was no note.

Machado had been missing since August.

Good Samaritan attacked on interstate

POCATELLO - Eastern Idaho authorities are looking for a couple police say attacked a man and stole his wallet after he stopped on Interstate 86 to help when he spotted what appeared to be a disabled vehicle.

Power County Sheriff Jim Jeffries said the 30-year-old Idaho Falls man stopped on May 5 when he spotted a 1980s model Honda CRX with the hood up between American Falls and Pocatello.

Police said that while he talked with a heavyset woman about 5-foot-6, a man about 6-foot-3 came up and punched him in the head several times, knocking him to the ground. He wasn't seriously injured.

Police said the man went through the victim's pockets and took his wallet, which was recovered about 25 yards away. The couple then closed the hood and drove off.

Salmon voters poised for 9th shot at bond

BOISE - Voters in the east-central Idaho town of Salmon have made a habit of rejecting plans to raise taxes to replace the elementary and middle schools.

Eight times in as many years, the electorate has denied the requests of school district leaders to build one new school to replace two schools built more than 55 years ago and now suffering the effects of age, antiquated electrical systems and damage attributed to jolts from earthquakes.

When voters go to the polls May 21, for the ninth time, they will have two options: Approve spending $14.5 million for a new school to serve students kindergarten through eighth grade or endorse a plan to pay $3.6 million to put two new roofs on the elementary and middle schools.

But this time, there's a twist: Even if voters in this mountain town of more than 3,000 residents say "no" again, the state is expected to step in and loan the district money for new roofing and ultimately leaving taxpayers with a debt owed to the state.

- The Associated Press