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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Boundary County passes school levy

The Spokesman-Review

Voters in the Boundary County School District approved a $1.7 million, two-year property tax levy Tuesday. The supplemental levy passed with 57.9 percent voting yes, the district reported.

The levy will raise about $172,290 more than was collected under a tax levy that will expire this year. The new levy rate is $1.21 per $1,000 of taxable property value, the amount available to be taxed after the state homeowner’s exemption is applied.

Superintendent Don Bartling said last week that if the levy were to fail, the district would be forced to cut extracurricular activities totaling $258,727 a year; principal positions at Naples, Evergreen and Mt. Hall elementary schools; teachers for drama and the gifted and talented program; a fifth-grade teacher; a technology maintenance position; and a part-time high school vice principal.

The levy also will cover inflationary costs, new staff positions, technology maintenance, textbook replacement and a new school bus, Bartling said.

Coeur d’Alene

Missing child group confused Idaho, Iowa

A national group confused Idaho with Iowa on Tuesday when it reported that an abducted 3-year-old girl may be in the Coeur d’Alene area.

Coeur d’Alene police Sgt. Christie Wood said a caseworker at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provided wrong information and that Aiko Jasmine Stubbs actually may be in Iowa.

Wood said that a center official called her Tuesday afternoon to clarify the mistake. It’s unclear why the center used Coeur d’Alene in the earlier press release, Wood said.

Stubbs was reportedly taken in April 2006 by her noncustodial father, Preston Pratt Stubbs, from San Diego, Calif. Previously it was reported that Stubbs may have traveled to Iowa or Texas.

– Erica Curless

Missoula

Father, kids possibly spotted at restaurant

Two young Washington state children who are the subjects of an Amber Alert and their father were reportedly seen here Tuesday at a fast-food restaurant, according to tips authorities received from the public.

Earlier in the day, the FBI told the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office that an ATM card belonging to the father, John Baugher, was used near the Missoula airport, KHQ-TV of Spokane reported.

Remi Baugher, 4, and Lars Baugher, 2, both had shorter hair than when they disappeared, according to the tips. The man with them had several days’ growth of beard.

Baugher, 34, was charged Monday in Walla Walla County Superior Court with two counts of first-degree custodial interference, accused of failing to return his children to their mother after a visit, Walla Walla police said. A warrant was issued for his arrest, with bail set at $100,000.

– Associated Press