Bearded cops for cancer

COEUR d'ALENE — Members of the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, Rathdrum Police Department and Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office are taking a break from shaving to help fight cancer during “No-Shave November."

Officers and deputies are normally clean-shaven, with the exception of a possible mustache. Chief Fuhr, Chief White and Sheriff Wolfinger have endorsed this effort by their officers to bring attention to the fight against cancer.

The idea was formed on a national level in 2009 that rather than spending money on shaving or hair removal for one month, people could donate that money to help fight cancer. Nearly 1.5 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year.

Officers participating pay a fee of $10 for every week they fail to shave or $40 for the month. The money raised will be donated to a local organization that continually seeks a cure for cancer. The police departments and sheriff’s office challenge other law enforcement agencies to join in this worthy cause.

American Legion Kootenai Post 14 in Coeur d’Alene invites the public to school assemblies at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Atlas Elementary and Hayden Meadows Elementary that will celebrate veterans.

The Press will publish a complete list of Veterans Day activities next week. Veterans Day is on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

Submit details of Veterans Day-related events that are open to the public to [email protected].

COUNCIL, Idaho (AP) — A crash between a car and a bull near a tiny Idaho town turned into a bizarre tragedy when an armed rancher confronted Idaho deputies planning to shoot the animal that was charging rescuers, leading to a gunbattle that left the well-known businessman dead, authorities said Monday.

A Subaru station wagon struck a bull on a highway Sunday just north of Council, a town of roughly 800 people, and Adams County sheriff’s deputies responded to the crash. The injured bull began charging emergency responders as they worked to get the driver and passenger out of the car, said Idaho State Police, the agency that is investigating the shooting.

“The bull was very agitated and was aggressive to emergency services, as well as the other cars coming up and down the highway,” Adams County Sheriff Ryan Zollman said.

Jack Yantis, the bull’s owner, arrived with a rifle just as deputies decided to put down the animal. There was an altercation, and Yantis and two deputies all fired their weapons, State Police said in a statement.

Yantis died at the scene, and one deputy suffered a minor injury. The bull also was shot and killed.

Both deputies, whose names have not been released, were placed on paid leave.