Gun search leads to meth lab

The Kootenai County Drug Task Force, Idaho State Police and Coeur d’Alene Police discovered a methamphetamine lab in the 3200 block of North Seventh Street this week while looking for stolen guns.

Katie L. Bennett, 37, of Coeur d’Alene was arrested at the scene where agents found a “sizable” lab that was in the process of cooking meth. Recovered at the scene was a stolen 9 mm Glock handgun and a large amount of ammunition.

Arrested later that day was Sean F. Moore, 33, of Coeur d’Alene, on suspicion of manufacturing meth. Bennett and Moore were stealing power from Avista Utilities to operate the lab, according to police.

Police were alerted to the lab by a juvenile who was arrested after escaping from Anchor House boys’ home Wednesday. The juvenile reportedly stole weapons from his dad, but a 10 mm handgun reported stolen is still missing, according to police.

Police ask anyone with information regarding the case to call the task force at 769-2291.

Dead gray wolf ate poisoned meat

Boise U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents confirmed Friday that a male gray wolf found dead three weeks ago in a central Idaho wilderness area was poisoned.

The 2- to 3-year-old wolf, which wore a radio-tracking collar, was killed by eating meat laced with a gray granular poison known as “Temik,” a pesticide used on agricultural crops.

The killing of an animal protected by the Endangered Species Act is punishable by a fine of $100,000 and one year in jail.

“In this case, Temik not only killed a gray wolf, but it also poses a potential public safety hazard,” said Fish and Wildlife agent Scott Bragonier. “We are very interested in finding whoever is responsible for the crime.”

Car show features Chevys, Studebakers

Car buffs can spend today surrounded by old Chevys, Fords, Studebakers and other classics.

The show, held in the parking lot of Telect Inc. at 2111 N. Molter Road in Liberty Lake, is sponsored by Spokane Area Classic Chevy Club. The club was formed in 1978 and has held similar events for more than 25 years.

There’s a $15 entry fee for cars and the event includes a raffle, silent auction and concessions. Admission is free.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Spokane tribal officials face allegations

A criminal complaint has been filed against three members of the Spokane Tribal Council alleging misappropriation of tribal property, the tribal prosecutor said Friday.

During a hearing in Wellpinit, Wash., on Thursday, a tribal judge granted council chairman Greg Abrahamson, vice chairman Warren Seyler and councilman David C. Wynecoop a continuance until June 30, at which time the three officials are to be arraigned, according to Ronald L. Gutierrez, another tribal council member who spoke at a news conference in Spokane on Friday.

The conference was attended by more than a dozen tribal members.

“We as concerned tribal members trust in our Tribal Court system and in the tribal prosecutor to pursue the issue in a professional manner to the fullest extent of the law,” Gutierrez said.

Judge declines to stop timber salvage

Boise A federal judge has refused to stop the Wendover Fire Salvage Project, a timber sale near the trail used by Lewis and Clark 200 years ago on their historic trek to the Pacific Ocean.

A coalition of environmental groups filed suit in U.S. District Court last week, contending the Forest Service’s plan failed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act and other federal regulations and that the agency was cutting down healthy trees as well as those killed or damaged by fire.

But Judge Edward Lodge ruled Friday that the Forest Service adequately reviewed the project before it began cutting the trees on 117 acres in the Clearwater National Forest in northern Idaho. He cited a memo the agency released in March after public comment hearings.

“The purpose of NEPA is to require decision makers to take a ‘hard look’ at the impact of a project before action is taken,” Lodge wrote in his ruling. “In this case, the Decision Memo supports that the District Ranger did take a ‘hard look’ at the project.”