Racing-death trial will move ahead

Coeur d’Alene residents Dominick Salois and Daniel Cutting, both 19, face trial this summer on vehicular manslaughter charges after their Oct. 13 car race down Kathleen Avenue allegedly caused the death of a 14-year-old Hayden boy.

Salois and Cutting are accused of reaching speeds of nearly 65 mph in a 35 mph zone when Salois’ car hit a vehicle driven by Glenda Norris, critically injuring her and killing her son, Isaac Norris.

But although Norris was found bloodied and dead in a mangled car at the scene, there is no evidence directly linking Norris’ death to the crash, attorneys for Salois and Cutting argued in court Monday.

“There was no evidence whatsoever as to causation,” Fred Loats, who represents Salois, said in his argument to have the charge dismissed.

Cutting’s attorney, Michael Verbillis, added, “The most the state can show is my client exceeded the speed limit.”

The arguments prompted Deputy Prosecutor Art Verharen to question why a mother would be driving around with her dead son in the car. “It’s not very believable,” Verharen said.

Norris died because of the car crash, Verharen said. “To suggest otherwise, it doesn’t make much sense at all.”

Judge Fred Gibler agreed. He denied the motions to dismiss. Trial is set for Aug. 27.

If convicted, the men face 10 years in prison.

County to name new top planner

The Kootenai County Commission will announce today the hiring of a new planning director, who will fill the key position that has been vacant for 10 months.

The commission received about a dozen applications and narrowed the pool to four people. Three reside within a 200-mile radius of Kootenai County and the other is from the Midwest, Commissioner Rich Piazza said last month.

The commission will make the announcement during its 2 p.m. public meeting at the Kootenai County Administration Building, 451 Government Way.

Kootenai County

Sexual predators living in area

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department on Monday issued public notice of two violent sexual predators living in the area.

Ronald W. Hendrickson, 68, lives at 845 N. Tucson St. in Post Falls. He was convicted of indecent liberties in Spokane County in 1984.

Don Marcy, 77, lives at 1620 E. Sherman Ave., Apt. 1, in Coeur d’Alene. He was convicted of rape in Stevens County, Wash., in the ‘70s.

Authorities are required by law to notify the community when a violent sexual predator registers in the county.

Idaho’s sex offender registry is online at www.isp.state.id.us.

Post Falls

Training to close license office

The Post Falls vehicle license office will be closed Thursday and Friday while staff attends training.

The Coeur d’Alene office, 451 Government Way, will remain open both days from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Post Falls staff is attending an Idaho Transportation Department workshop on title, tax and registration.

The Post Falls office will reopen April 24 at 8 a.m.

From staff reports