NEW THIS MORNING: Thursday, September 26

1. Man imprisoned for assault of sleeping woman

A man who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a sleeping woman received a prison sentence. 

Walter W. A. Bell, 42, of Coeur d’Alene, pleaded guilty in accordance with Alford to aggravated battery, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. He also pleaded guilty to sexual battery, a misdemeanor.  

By entering an Alford plea, Bell did not admit guilt but acknowledged there was enough evidence to convict him at trial. 

First District Judge John Mitchell sentenced Bell on Wednesday to 15 years in prison for aggravated battery, the maximum possible sentence for the crime, with parole eligibility after six years. Bell also received a sentence of 180 days in jail for sexual battery, with credit for time served, and must pay $810 to his victim as compensation for lost wages. 

2. Three cases of whooping cough confirmed in Kootenai County schools

School districts confirmed three cases of pertussis in local schools Wednesday.

Letters to parents of students at Ponderosa and NExA elementary schools and Woodland Middle School informed them of the positive cases.

Since April, the number of reported pertussis cases in North Idaho has grown from a few dozen to 166 as of mid-September, and that number is continuing to increase. The number of cases is likely much higher when unreported cases are factored in.

3. Idaho sees an 'above average' wildfire season for 2024

The state of Idaho has seen an “above average” wildfire season in terms of the number of wildfires and total acres burned, according to the Idaho Department of Lands.  

As of Tuesday, there have been 301 wildfires across the state — burning a total of 49,128 acres, according to IDL’s Chief of Fire Management Josh Harvey. The 22-year average for the number of wildfires in Idaho is 271.  

This wildfire season saw “almost double the 20-year average in terms of acres burned,” said Harvey. This especially active fire season can be largely attributed to hot, dry conditions early in the year that left wildlands primed for wildfire.  

4. NIC celebrates surgical technology program milestone

North Idaho College leaders and students are celebrating a milestone for the college’s surgical technology program.

Several NIC programs, including surgical technology and nursing, are separately accredited through specialized bodies. The surgical technology program has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs since 2019.

During the regular board meeting Wednesday night, program director Terra Lawson-Gilbert announced that CAAHEP renewed the program’s accreditation through 2034. The decision came after a recent virtual site visit.

“It’s further evidence that NIC is a great community college,” Trustee Tarie Zimmerman said.

5. Soroptimists offering grants to help women with training, education

Women who serve as the primary wage earners for their families and seek financial assistance to continue their education or receive training can now apply for the Soroptimist Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women.

Applications are available at apply.soroptimist.org or by emailing Elise Burton, program chair, at elisemburton@gmail.com. The application deadline is Nov. 15.

The Coeur d’Alene club will provide cash to its award recipients, who will then advance to the Soroptimist Northwest Region level where they could receive up to an additional $5,000. The program culminates with three $10,000 finalist awards.