In brief: Mother, son charged in City Hall burglary

A mother and son have been arrested in connection with a burglary at Athol City Hall that saw more than $3,000 in grocery money and gifts that were to be given to needy families for Christmas.

Angela Louise Wolfinjer, 38, and her son, 19-year-old Dale Lee Rhea III, were arrested at their Athol home Friday evening.

There, police found more than 40 items they say were purchased at a Spokane Fred Meyer using the stolen cards, along with drug paraphernalia and “a large quantity of meth- amphetamine,” according to a news release from the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department. The burglary occurred late Dec. 19 or early Dec. 20.

Wolfinjer is charged with conspiracy to commit burglary and possession of stolen property. Rhea faces burglary, grand theft, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia charges. They are being held at the Kootenai County Jail without bail and are scheduled to attend a video arraignment hearing Monday at 2 p.m.

Police haven’t located all the stolen gift cards. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department at (208) 446-1300.

– Meghann Cuniff

Coeur d’Alene

Stretch of I-90 narrower, slower

Westbound drivers on a stretch of Interstate 90 will be limited to 55 mph until April after emergency repairs were made to three bridges Saturday, an Idaho State Police officer said.

Westbound traffic was limited to one lane, and the speed limit has been reduced from near milepost 12 to milepost 9, said Cpl. Ron Sutton. At times Saturday, traffic was flowing at just a crawl, and Sutton said vehicles backed up as far as the interchange with Highway 95.

Crews used a quick-setting compound to patch concrete decks of the bridges, located between the Northwest Boulevard interchange and Huetter rest area. The decks have “deteriorated because of sever winter weather,” according to the Idaho Transportation Department.

More repairs are slated for spring.

For highway driving conditions in Idaho, call 511 or visit 511.idaho.gov.

– Parker Howell

Clarkston, Wash.

Aquatic center used by church for services

The roughly 70 members of Trinity Baptist Church will worship at the Asotin County Family Aquatic Center for the next 27 Sundays, as their 109-year-old church undergoes about $300,000 in repairs and remodeling.

The church was badly damaged in November 2006, when water ran all one night, overflowing the baptismal.

Church members spent 2007 squeezing into a house for Sunday worship services, filling the den, living and dining rooms and spilling into the kitchen, said the Rev. Doran Williams, senior pastor. Now, the church will spend nearly $200 per week to use the aquatic center – rates previously established by the county. And the pool is available for baptisms.

“Obviously we have the water,” said Susan Beaurain, aquatic center director.

– Lewiston Tribune