NEW THIS MORNING: Wednesday, Oct. 23
Idaho Fish and Game
1. Duck hunting ruffles feathers for Thompson Lake residents after regulations lifted
When Norris Warner purchased his property on Thompson Lake in 1999, he was drawn in by the quiet of the lake and the surrounding wildlife preserve.
Up until now, there hasn’t been hunting in the area, but all of that changed recently.
“About three weeks ago, I woke up to gunshots, which is really weird,” Warner said.
After investigating, he found a large number of hunters by the lakeside and that all of the wildlife preserve signage had been removed.
After asking around, Warner and other residents reached out to Idaho Department of Fish and Game. They learned that the Thompson Lake waterfowl closure had been removed in the last few years.
“It's not just loss of serenity, it’s been a waterfowl refuge for years. It’s really quite sad,” Warner said.
2. Police raid yields drugs, guns, game camera
Police said a stolen game camera helped them locate a couple who allegedly possessed more than 2 pounds of methamphetamine and 14 firearms.
Daniel Grove, 54, and Christeena Ferguson, 45, both of Coeur d’Alene, face charges of unlawful possession of firearms and trafficking in methamphetamine. The pair also face habitual offender enhancements, according to police.
The charges stem from Oct. 15, when a game camera was reported stolen. The camera continued to transmit photos and GPS locations, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, leading police to a residence on 15th Street in Coeur d’Alene.
3. Hearing on Roosevelt Inn property pushed back
A public hearing scheduled Thursday on a proposed development for The Roosevelt Inn property has been delayed until next week.
Coeur d'Alene Community Planning Director Hilary Patterson said Blue Fern Management LLC based in Redmond, Wash., called the city Tuesday to request that the hearing with the Design Review Commission be rescheduled.
It is now set for noon Wednesday, Oct. 30, at City Hall.
4. Washington man charged with attempted child sexual abuse
A Washington man is in jail after police said he sent explicit messages and made plans to meet someone he believed to be a teen girl but who was really an undercover police officer.
Andrew P. Hanson, 60, of Deer Meadows, Wash., is charged with enticing children through the use of the internet or other communication devices and attempted sexual abuse of a minor, both felonies.
The charges stem from September when a Coeur d’Alene woman reported to police her concerns about a man who had contacted her via Facebook.
The woman told police she had posted on Facebook Marketplace about a toy desk she wanted to sell. Included in the post was a photo of her 14-year-old daughter holding the desk. The woman received a message from Hanson, who allegedly complimented her looks.