KAYE THORNBRUGH

Woman charged with animal cruelty

A woman is facing criminal charges after police said she kept dozens of animals in unsanitary conditions. Samantha R. Ohara, 30, of Coeur d’Alene, is charged with 20 counts of cruelty to animals and one count of injury to a child, all misdemeanors.

Morgue trailer agreement approved

Three counties will share use of mobile morgue

Kootenai County commissioners approved an agreement Tuesday that details the use of a new refrigerated morgue trailer that will be shared with Benewah and Bonner Counties. The morgue trailer is intended for “mass fatalities,” defined as more than five deaths in a 24-hour period or resulting from a sole incident.

New Cd’A sign code in effect

The city of Coeur d’Alene’s new sign code is in effect. That means, among other things, that business owners must now apply for permits in order to temporarily place the A-frame signs commonly seen on sidewalks downtown. The Coeur d’Alene City Council voted unanimously in March to repeal its 2007 sign code and adopt a new one, primarily for legal reasons.

State declines to proceed with People's Pen prosecution

Case did not appear strong enough to Secretary of State and Attorney General

After investigating allegations that a publication called the People’s Pen violated Idaho campaign finance laws, the Secretary of State’s Office has declined to proceed with prosecution at this time. The investigation launched after North Idaho resident Sandy Patano filed two complaints, alleging that the People’s Pen presented itself as an independent local newspaper but was really created and controlled by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee.

Sheriff’s Office aims for helicopter unit

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office plans to ask commissioners to approve a two-year, donation-funded pilot program for a helicopter unit. If it takes off, the Kootenai County Regional Air Support Unit would be the first of its kind in Idaho. Sheriff Bob Norris pitched the idea to commissioners on Tuesday. The unit would operate with volunteer pilots who have at least 1,000 hours of flight time and would focus primarily on search and rescue.

Potlatch Hill cell tower permit approved

Kootenai County commissioners voted 2-1 Thursday to approve a proposed cell tower off Potlatch Hill Road that received overwhelming negative feedback from the public.

Candlelight to remain polling place

Candlelight Christian Fellowship will remain a polling place through November’s general election. Commissioners voted 2-1 on Tuesday to to approve the location of all polling places for the Nov. 8 election, including Candlelight. The vote came a week after Commissioners Bill Brooks and Chris Fillios sought counsel on the legality of moving the location for precincts 403 and 405 from Candlelight to Community United Methodist Church.

NIC terminates Fort Ground Grill lease

Interim Vice President of Finance Sarah Garcia confirmed Monday that the college gave the seller a 60-day notice on Friday.

Kovacs seeks reversal of commissioners' decision

Assessor files petition for judicial review

A petition for judicial review was filed by Kovacs last week in district court. It alleges that Commissioners Bill Brooks, Chris Fillios and Leslie Duncan exceeded their authority when they made the “unprecedented” decision to slash Kovacs’ pay. He alleges that, in doing so, commissioners have impeded his ability to perform the duties of his office.

Candlelight likely to remain polling place

Kootenai County commissioners are likely to reverse a tentative decision to move the polling place currently located at Candlelight Christian Fellowship. Commissioners Bill Brooks and Chris Fillios voted Tuesday in favor of changing the polling location for precincts 403 and 405 from Candlelight to Community United Methodist Church, pending an opinion from the county’s legal team.

Potlatch Hill residents oppose cell tower

Emotions ran high Thursday night when Kootenai County residents shared their concerns on a proposed cell tower off Potlatch Hill Road with commissioners. The board will deliberate the proposal Oct. 6 at 9 a.m. at the Kootenai County administration building. Ingle, AT&T and SmartLink are seeking a conditional-use permit to build a “wireless communication facility to provide the latest 5G and 4G LTE technology.”

County will fund lake water analysis

Kootenai County commissioners voted Wednesday to commit $50,000 to a project analyzing lake water samples for trace and toxic metals. Bill Brooks and Chris Fillios voted to provide the funds, which will come from the fiscal year 2022 community support budget. Leslie Duncan was not present for the meeting.

Sebaaly resigns from NIC

Former interim president leaves position as head wrestling coach

North Idaho College wrestling coach and former interim president Mike Sebaaly has resigned. Chief communications officer Laura Rumpler confirmed Wednesday that Sebaaly resigned Sept. 23. Sebaaly was placed on administrative leave Sept. 1 for an undetermined period of time.

Sebaaly resigns from North Idaho College

North Idaho College wrestling coach and former interim president Mike Sebaaly has resigned.

Candlelight ousted as polling place

Candlelight Christian Fellowship may no longer be a polling place. Citing concerns about the church’s political activities, Kootenai County Commissioners Bill Brooks and Chris Fillios made a tentative decision Tuesday to change the polling place for precincts 403 and 405 from Candlelight to Community United Methodist Church.

Commissioners criticize assessor’s request

Despite reservations about the hefty cost, Kootenai County commissioners reaffirmed their decision Tuesday to allow Assessor Bela Kovacs to hire a private company to conduct property appraisals and assist with training personnel. Commissioners voted 2-1 on the request last week, with Bill Brooks opposing. The estimated cost of the work and services to be performed by Highland Appraisal Inc. under the proposed agreement is $260,000, plus other expenses for travel, lodging, meals, milage and materials.

Drag performer sues Bushnell for defamation

A drag performer has sued a blogger who falsely accused him of indecent exposure and posted doctored footage of him online. Eric Posey, a Kootenai County resident whose stage name is Mona Liza Million, performed June 11 at the Pride in the Park celebration in Coeur d’Alene. The next day, North Idaho blogger Summer Bushnell published an edited video of Posey’s performance on her Facebook page, The Bushnell Report. Posey’s pelvic area is blurred out in the edited video, implying nudity.

Coalition forms to support mobile home residents

Residents and local leaders are joining forces to support those who live in manufactured or mobile home communities in Kootenai County. Their immediate goal is to help the almost 500 residents of Oak Crest, a mobile home community in Coeur d’Alene, in the wake of its purchase by Utah-based investment company Havenpark Communities. “Oak Crest residents need rental support and other supportive services,” said Victoria O’Banion, a marketing and acquisitions specialist for ROC Northwest, a nonprofit that helps residents purchase their mobile home communities. O’Banion spoke at a Monday meeting of the Regional Housing and Growth Issues Partnership, which has formed a subcommittee dedicated to ROCs.

Time to unite: Cd’A mobile home residents hope to buy their park

Amid an ongoing housing crisis, manufactured or mobile homes are among the few affordable housing options that remain for Kootenai County residents. Those who live in these communities are especially vulnerable to displacement — but residents of one such neighborhood are fighting to take real ownership of their homes and inspire others to do the same. Last August, a Utah-based investment company called Havenpark Communities purchased Oak Crest, a manufactured home community in Coeur d’Alene with nearly 500 residents.

Cougar Gulch residents seek zone change: New zoning could buy time to address water woes

New zoning could buy time to address water woes

In an effort to protect their water, Cougar Gulch residents are petitioning the county to change the area’s zoning. The proposed rezoning area includes about 340 parcels, totaling a little more than 3,600 acres, currently zoned as agricultural-suburban. The minimum parcel size for that zoning is two acres, with some exceptions. Residents say they’ve experienced water supply problems, with too many wells drawing on a limited water supply. “The people that have lived here for years are concerned that, if we leave it up to the county to address, it may be too late,” said Cougar Gulch resident Karl Meier. “The entire community banded together to let (the county) know.”

Cell tower pushback continues to grow

Kootenai County commissioners are expected to vote this month on a proposed cell tower off Potlatch Hill Road in Coeur d’Alene that has received significant public pushback. A hearing on the proposal is scheduled for Sept. 29 at the Kootenai County administration building. Ingle, AT&T and SmartLink are seeking a conditional-use permit to built a “wireless communication facility to provide the latest 5G and 4G LTE technology.” The proposed tower would be located south of the intersection of E. Potlatch Hill Road and E. Sky Harbor Drive.

Kootenai County considers opioid settlement funds

Kootenai County commissioners are weighing whether to accept the county’s $2.4 million cut of nationwide opioid settlements or allocate the funds to Panhandle Health District. Idaho will receive approximately $120 million as part of settlements with Johnson & Johnson and three major opioid distributors.

Commissioners deny assessor’s request for lawyer

Kootenai County commissioners rejected a request from embattled Assessor Béla Kovacs to approve funding for outside legal services. The request came almost two weeks after commissioners slashed Kovacs’ salary in half, from about $90,000 per year to $45,000, citing a failure to perform the duties of his office.

Cd’A considers putting lid on short-term rentals

The Coeur d’Alene City Council may soon discuss putting a moratorium on new permits for short-term rentals. Councilwoman Christie Wood floated the possibility during Monday’s General Services/Public Works Committee meeting, where half the body considered a city proposal to better regulate short-term rentals, or STRs. Wood said she thinks a moratorium will be necessary if the council puts a cap on how many STR permits are issued annually.

Honoring the fallen

The Coeur d’Alene Fire Department honor guard conducted a flag ceremony Sunday morning at the Fallen Heroes Memorial Plaza on Cherry Hill. “It’s important to visibly remember the sacrifices of first responders and civilians and make sure that we’re still here,” said fire inspector Craig Etherton.

9/11: A day to remember

NYPD officer shares 9/11 story

More than 20 years later, the memories of 9/11 are still fresh for retired New York City Police Department Lt. George Howley. “They say, ‘Never forget,’” Howley said Sunday, addressing a crowd of first responders, elected officials and Kootenai County residents at the Silver Lake Mall. “Sometimes I try to forget.” Howley became emotional as he described the aftermath of the attacks. The crowd clapped, encouraging him. He and his fellow officers had seen the towers burning from miles away, as they raced toward danger on roads blocked off to all but law enforcement and first responders. But they could not have imagined what they would find at ground zero.

NIC trustee candidates finalized

After several candidates withdrew from the race, six candidates will seek election to the North Idaho College board of trustees in November. The positions up for election are those now held by Pete Broschet in Zone 5, John Goedde in Zone 2 and David Wold in Zone 1. Broschet, Goedde and Wold were appointed in May to serve on the board until the Nov. 8 election, following the resignations of Michael Barnes, Ken Howard and Christie Wood.

Spirit Lake man gets life sentence for murder

The Spirit Lake man who admitted to killing 56-year-old Tina Swor received a life sentence Friday. Judge Scott Wayman sentenced John D. Dalton, 56, to life in prison with 20 years fixed for the crime of murder in the second degree. That means Dalton will be eligible for parole when he is 76 years old.

Aquifer protection approved: Some say it doesn't go far enough to protect water supply

Kootenai County Commissioners approved an ordinance Thursday that aims to protect the county’s drinking water supply. Commissioners Bill Brooks and Leslie Duncan voted to adopt the ordinance that restricts septic density over the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer to one dwelling per 5 acres. Chris Fillios was not present for the meeting. “I don’t think there’s any question that the mass majority of people are in favor of this,” Brooks said.

Poll worker found not guilty of electioneering

A jury determined on Wednesday that a former poll worker accused of misconduct during last November’s local elections did not commit an illegal act. After about an hour of deliberation, the jury found Hayden resident Laura L. Van Voorhees not guilty of electioneering, a misdemeanor offense. The charge stems from Nov. 2, 2021, when Van Voorhees reportedly offers pamphlets printed with information about critical race theory to voters while she worked at the polls. Critical race theory (CRT) is an academic concept. The central idea is that race is a social construct and that racism is not just a product of individual prejudice, but also embedded in legal systems and policies.

Spirit Lake woman gets jail for child abuse

A woman convicted of “monstrous” mistreatment of a child will spend about seven months in jail. Last month, a jury convicted Monica E. Schug, 37, of Spirit Lake, on three counts of injury to a child, all misdemeanors. In Idaho, injury to a child can be a misdemeanor or a felony offense. If the circumstances are unlikely to “produce great bodily harm or death,” the crime is generally a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail.

Most county salaries going up — again

County commissioners’ decision this week to reduce Kootenai County Assessor Bela Kovacs’ salary by half comes a year after the commissioners approved generous raises for themselves and other county elected officials, including Kovacs. “A wage study indicated the county electeds were underpaid, and it was substantial,” Commissioner Chris Fillios told The Press Friday.

Candidates file for NIC trustee races

Nine candidates will vie for three seats on the North Idaho College Board of Trustees in November. Thursday was the deadline to file. The applicants are:

Impact fee plan moves forward

Kootenai County Commissioners gave approval Wednesday to send forward a recommendation to impose impact fees on development to support the sheriff’s office, jail accommodations and parks and waterway improvements. The recommendation will now go to the county’s Planning and Zoning Commission. The impact fee plan is based on projections that Kootenai County will grow by more than 50,000 residents and 20,000 homes within the next decade.

County commissioners slash assessor’s pay

Citing both a failure and an inability to perform the duties of his office, county commissioners made the unprecedented decision Wednesday night to cut Kootenai County Assessor Béla Kovacs’ salary in half. Effective Oct. 1, Kovacs’ salary will drop from about $90,000 per year to $45,000 per year. Commissioners voted unanimously to cut the assessor’s pay during a public hearing where they also voted to approve a $120 million budget for fiscal year 2023. The board is expected to formally adopt the budget today.

Commissioners choose Mortensen for prosecutor

County commissioners voted 2-1 on Wednesday to appoint Stanley Mortensen to the office of Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney. Mortensen, who has 10 years of prosecutorial experience, will take office after Barry McHugh resigns Sept. 30. McHugh is set to take the bench in January, replacing Judge Lansing Haynes, who retired in May. Bill Brooks and Chris Fillios voted in favor of Mortensen, while Leslie Duncan opposed. Commissioners chose Mortensen from among three candidates recommended by the Kootenai County Central Committee. Because McHugh is a Republican, the county GOP is empowered to nominate his potential replacements. The candidates were Mortensen, county prosecutor Bryant Bushling and attorney Donald Gary.

Commissioners to weigh impact fees

Kootenai County commissioners will consider a recommendation today on whether to impose impact fees on development to support the sheriff’s office, jail accommodations, the coroner’s office and parks and waterway improvements. If commissioners vote to impose impact fees, cities within the county must agree to collect the fees. The impact fee plan is expected to include a commitment from the county to hire 29 more patrol deputies over the next decade.

Kovacs' salary on the agenda: County commissioners will consider reducing assessor's compensation when they meet today at 6 p.m.

A new agenda item was added Tuesday afternoon to the official notice of today's special meeting of the Kootenai County commissioners. The agenda for the 6 p.m. meeting, scheduled as a county budget hearing, was updated to include a new topic for discussion and possible action by the commissioners: "Elected Official Salary – Reduction in Assessor Salary." The initial agenda, posted last week, did not include this item referring to Kootenai County Assessor Bela Kovacs.

Commissioners to pick new prosecutor

County commissioners are expected to choose Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney Barry McHugh’s replacement at a special meeting Wednesday.

Patriot Front leader appears in Idaho court

The leader of the white nationalist hate group Patriot Front pleaded not guilty Monday in Coeur d’Alene to a misdemeanor charge of conspiracy to riot. Thomas R. Rousseau, 23, of Grapevine, Texas was one of four suspects who appeared before Judge Anna Eckhart via Zoom. The other three are James M. Johnson of Sioux Falls, S.D.; Cameron K. Pruitt of Midway, Utah; and Wesley E. Van Horn of Lexington, Ala. They also pleaded not guilty. The men are among the 31 Patriot Front members accused of planning to violently disrupt a Pride celebration on June 11 in Coeur d’Alene City Park.

Fini flight: Retired Fairchild colonel honored following sea plane flight

Strong winds buffeted the steely waters off Independence Point Saturday morning as retired Col. Bruce Lauderdale took off in a sea plane. Lauderdale, 88, didn’t know who would be waiting at the dock for his return. Gathered on the dock were more than 30 members of his family — adult children, grandkids and great-grandkids — as well as a group of airmen from Fairchild Air Force Base who had come to honor him. Lauderdale is a former commander of the Air National Guard’s 141st Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild.

Chain saws, axes and logrolling: Lumberjacks show skills at North Idaho State Fair

Chainsaws whirred and sawdust flew Friday afternoon at the North Idaho State Fair, under a blazing sun. The heat didn’t wilt the cheering crowd that filled the stands to watch the day’s first lumberjack show, where two professional lumberjacks put their skills to the test. “The crowds have been great, despite the weather,” said Chet Isaacson, who hosted the contest. “It’s lovely.”

Pop culture celebration: Library comic convention continues today

A row of superhero standees greeted fans as they entered the Coeur d’Alene Public Library, letting them know they’d come to the right place to celebrate pop culture. Coeur d’Con kicked off Friday. It’s the first time the free, all-ages fan convention has occurred fully in-person since 2019. Young Adult Coordinator Angela Flock, who also organized the event, said it’s good to be back after a hybrid event last year.

VIDEO: Sheriff talks public safety at town hall

From the possible threat of school shootings to the fentanyl flooding North Idaho, Kootenai County residents shared their concerns about community safety with local law enforcement.

Branson receives life sentence for abuse of 7-week-old

A man who admitted to grievously harming a 7-week-old infant received a life sentence for the abuse. Nicholas T. Branson, 27, of Hayden, pleaded guilty in June to injury to a child and forcible sexual penetration by foreign object, both felonies. District Judge John Mitchell sentenced Branson this week to life in prison with 25 years fixed for sexual penetration and 10 years for injury to a child. The sentences, which are the maximum allowed for the crimes, will run concurrently.

County to retain penalties, interest from delinquent property taxes

Some city leaders in Kootenai County say the county is converting tax revenue belonging to their cities for the county’s use and that the move will cost local taxing districts thousands of dollars. Meanwhile, the county asserts that the change is based on a section of Idaho Code that went previously unexamined.

Blood supply plummets

With the local blood supply depleted by almost half since the start of summer, and only a day’s worth of O-positive blood available, donations are more important than ever. “We’re in an emergency shortage,” said Jennifer Hawkins, regional director of Vitalant Northwest. “We’re seeing numbers we’ve never seen before.” Vitalant is a nonprofit organization that provides donated blood to more than 40 hospitals throughout the Inland Northwest, including Kootenai Health. The number of regular donors has plummeted in the last decade, from about 100,000 to around 23,000. More than 200 donors a day are needed to maintain a five-day blood supply in the region.

Six more Patriot Front members appear in Idaho court

Six more members of the white nationalist hate group Patriot Front pleaded not guilty Monday in Coeur d’Alene to misdemeanor charges of conspiracy to riot. The men are among the 31 Patriot Front members accused of planning to violently disrupt a Pride celebration on June 11 in Coeur d’Alene City Park. Those who appeared before Judge Clark Peterson are Jared M. Boyce of Springville, Utah; Nathan D. Brenner of Louisville, Colo.; Colton M. Brown of Midvale, Utah; Mitchell F. Wagner of Florissant, Mo.; Graham J. Whitson of Haslet, Texas; and Robert B. Whitted of Conroe, Texas.

Teacher accused of having inappropriate relationship with student

A Lake City High School teacher is accused of having a sexual relationship with a former student. William J. Keylon, 48, of Hayden, is charged with lewd conduct with a minor under the age of 16, a felony punishable by up to life in prison. Keylon turned himself in late Wednesday after a judge issued a $100,000 warrant for his arrest.

Fighting for Idahoans

Democrat from Eagle challenging Fulcher in first congressional district

Kaylee Peterson said she’s ready to fight for Idahoans — and that fight begins now. She’s running as a Democrat for the U.S. House of Representatives in Idaho's first congressional district. In November, she’ll face incumbent U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher, a Republican, and Joe Evans, a Libertarian. The 32-year-old Eagle resident decided to enter the race in part because many Idaho politicians run unopposed.