Reward offered for man wanted on drug charges

A cash reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of a man wanted on drug and other charges.

Tomico S. Mims, 30, is wanted for possession of controlled substances with intent to deliver, intimidation of a witness, theft and domestic violence-related assault.

Mims is 5-feet-11 and 155 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Mims can call Secret Witness at 327-5111. Callers do not have to use their name to be eligible for the reward.

Plowing to begin at Glacier Park

Kalispell, Mont.

Plowing is scheduled to start Monday on Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road, with park officials expecting to open the road sooner than usual.

The Many Glacier Valley should be accessible to hikers and bicyclists by the end of the coming week, park spokeswoman Amy Vanderbilt said, but the road to the Many Glacier Hotel will remain closed to motor vehicles at least through April.

Vehicles on Going-to-the-Sun Road won’t be allowed beyond the Avalanche area for several weeks, because of construction work planned at the West Side Tunnel and to prevent accidents with plows working above the Loop.

The early opening date is due partly to low snowfall at lower elevations. However, Vanderbilt said more than 3 inches of precipitation fell above 6,000 feet in March. About 20 percent of the park’s annual snowpack has arrived over the last two weeks, she said.

K9 deputy retires in Canyon County

Boise

A well-known deputy that has served with the Canyon County Sheriff’s office for the past seven years has retired.

K9 deputy Basco, a 9-year-old Belgian Malinois, is best known for his capture of serial murder suspect Michael “Cowboy Mike” Braae in July 2001 after a high-speed chase ended at the Idaho/Oregon border. Braae abandoned his pickup and jumped into the Snake River.

Malheur County Sheriff Andy Bentz said Braae’s capture would have been more dangerous without Basco.

“Had it not been for him and the handler being there and being able to get on the boat, we would have had to use a lot higher level of force,” Bentz said.

Basco and his handler Cpl. Paul Maund hopped a boat to follow Braae. Maund attached a towline to the dog and pushed him in the water to chase after the suspect. Basco bit onto Braae’s back, and Maund was able to pull the two to shore.

The incident could have ended badly for Basco, Maund said. Braae had pushed the dog underwater and Maund had to tug on the towline to get him out from under his grip.

Maund said retirement might not be easy for Basco because he’s worked for the sheriff’s office most of his life – tracking missing people, sniffing out narcotics and apprehending suspects.

Maund said he got a lukewarm reception after leaving Basco home a few days this month.

“When I got home, he was lying under a tree. I called to him. He looked at me and turned his head away,” Maund said. “It’s going to be a big transition for him.”

The Sheriff’s Office threw a retirement party for Basco Saturday. Meanwhile Maund is working with Basco’s replacement, another Belgian Malinois named Darco.

Basco will live out his retirement as a pet for Maund’s family.

Distemper striking Oregon raccoons

Salem

Canine distemper, a virus fatal to raccoons, is striking the masked critters in parts of Salem and threatening other animals, wild and domestic, as well.

Humans are not affected.

Melanie Smith, a raccoon rehabilitator with the Salem Wildlife Rehabilitation Association, has received 23 calls since mid-January and has had to euthanize about 20 raccoons, since they cannot be cured.

Symptoms often include a pus-like discharge from the eyes and nose and a dehydrated or starved look.

A neurological form of the disease creates paralysis and seizures, said Dr. Janette Ackermann, a veterinarian with the American Wildlife Foundation in Molalla, Ore.

She said the virus is being passed to dogs, mainly strays. Vaccinated dogs are immune.