NEW THIS MORNING: Friday, Oct. 4

1. Kootenai County Mental Health Court celebrates 20 years of service

There was much to celebrate at the Kootenai County Courthouse on Thursday morning as Mental Health Court commemorated its 20th anniversary.  

Since 2004, Kootenai County’s MHC has helped its participants “transform their lives by changing their criminal behavior, and addressing their mental health, addiction and past trauma,” according to program coordinator Mary Wolfinger.

MHC is a post-conviction diversion program for people with serious mental illness and involves intensive court-monitored therapy and classes geared toward rehabilitation.   

2. Border Patrol takes three into custody after Kellogg traffic stop

A routine traffic stop last month resulted in the apprehension of three men by the United States Border Patrol.  

The stop was made by deputies with the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office on eastbound Interstate 90 near Kellogg.  

The vehicle was occupied by four adult men and one juvenile female.  

According to Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Capt. Seth Green, when the responding deputy attempted to communicate with the occupants of the vehicle, all began to behave suspiciously, which prompted the deputy to ask for everyone’s identification.  

According to Green, the deputy believed the documentation they had provided was fake.  

3. Hayden couple to stand trial for alleged attack on neighbors

 A husband and wife accused of attacking their neighbors are headed for trial. 

Christopher D. Duncan, 58, pleaded not guilty this week to aggravated assault, a felony. Danielle M. Duncan, 56, pleaded not guilty in July to battery, a misdemeanor. 

The charges stem from July, when police said Christopher Duncan pointed a loaded gun at his neighbors and Danielle Duncan allegedly grabbed her neighbor by the throat. 

4. Hanford nuclear waste could pass through North Idaho

 Thousands of gallons of liquid nuclear waste to be sent out from the Hanford site next year will pass through Spokane via the interstate highway system, the U.S. Department of Energy confirmed this week, but it’s not yet known if the materials will also travel through North Idaho on the way to treatment facilities in Utah and Texas.

The 2,000 gallons of liquid waste will be moved as part of the Test Bed Initiative, a project meant to “demonstrate the feasibility of an alternative option for the retrieval, treatment and disposal of a portion of the Hanford Site’s low-activity tank waste.” 

5. Shoshone County approves contract for broadband study

Shoshone County grants administrator Colleen Rosson met with the Shoshone County commissioners Wednesday to approve a contract between the county and D Covey Management Group, a network planning and facility management firm out of Texas, to complete a broadband network plan in Shoshone County.

In February, the county was awarded an $80,000 grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help develop a comprehensive plan.  

When Rosson applied for the grant, there were 6,800 sites across several regions of the county that didn't have access to what the Federal Communications Commission defines as broadband. These sites include homes, businesses and other anchor locations where a stable internet connection is needed.