Basque leader speaks in Washington, D.C.

The president of the Basque government, Juan Jose Ibarretxe, addressed the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday morning as part of a visit arranged by an Idaho-based Basque group.

Former longtime Idaho Secretary of State Pete Cenarrussa, chairman of the American Basque Foundation, said, “It means a great deal to the effort that is going on in Europe right now, and in Spain particularly.”

The peace institute was created by Congress to help prevent and resolve violent international conflicts and work toward peace. Ibarretxe also was scheduled to meet with members of Congress.

The Basque separatist group ETA declared a permanent cease-fire last March after decades of violence in the Basque country of northern Spain. Idaho’s Legislature unanimously passed a resolution this year lauding the cease-fire and calling for “a lasting peace in accordance with the democratic voting process” along with moves to “enhance an appropriate degree of governmental autonomy for the Basque Homeland of Spain.”

A previous Idaho legislative resolution in 2002 favoring Basque self-determination caused an international incident after Spanish officials thought it didn’t sufficiently reject ETA’s violence; that resolution was rewritten and a new one passed unanimously that same year. Idaho is home to an estimated 30,000 ethnic Basques.

For more information, see the peace institute’s Web site at www.usip.org.

– Betsy Z. Russell

Farragut State Park

Get out those shovels and metal detectors

Those interested in learning more about buried treasure need look no further than the North West Treasure Hunters Club’s 34th annual hunt June 16-18.

Beginning at 7 a.m. June 16, the club will search for buried booty in Idaho’s Farragut State Park. This year’s theme is “Rootin’ Tootin’ Coinshootin’ Good Time,” and scheduled hunts play off the theme with the Wells Fargo Old ‘n’ Gold hunt, the Horse Trough hunt and more.

The club’s raffle includes gold coins worth $20, $5, a one-tenth-ounce gold coin and some one-ounce silver rounds. Raffle tickets cost $1.

“This is a perfect time for interested people, both young and old alike, who have wanted to learn more about the hobby of metal detecting to watch and see how it is done,” said Clay Soliday, club president and co-chairman of the June hunt.

In addition to the planned hunts, parents and their children can learn how to pan for gold from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. June 17 at the site.

For more information and a full schedule of the weekend’s events, contact Clay Soliday at (509) 796-3952 or e-mail cstreasure@centurytel.net.

– Sam Taylor

Spokane

Deputy prosecutor drops charges

A man originally charged with kidnapping and robbery was allowed Tuesday to plead guilty to riot in connection to an incident last year in which a marijuana dealer had his safe, guns and cash stolen.

Jose “Junior” Sanchez Zavala, 35, pleaded guilty after deputy prosecutor Mark Cipolla agreed to dismiss kidnapping and robbery charges.

Superior Court Judge Ellen Kalama Clark asked about the dismissals, and the prosecuting attorney said the case had been weakened by witnesses unwilling to cooperate.

Clark then sentenced Zavala to 37 days in jail with 37 days credit for time served and 12 months of community custody.

According to court records, Zavala either paid or assisted five other suspects as they stole $5,500 in cash, a pound of marijuana and several guns from 2708 N. Napa St. on May 9, 2005. The woman living at the house was tied up with duct tape and assaulted.

Also charged in the case are Herman Tyrone Stanley, 32; James Robert Allen, 27; Toby T. Allen, 30; and Chantel Y. Mathieu, 28. All except Mathieu, who told police she was the getaway driver, face first-degree kidnapping and first-degree kidnapping charges, according to court records.

– Thomas Clouse