MySpace will turn over sex offenders’ names

Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said Monday that MySpace has agreed to turn over the names of convicted sex offenders from Idaho who’ve registered as users on its Web site.

“I believe it is critical to receive this information to assess any threats by sexual predators to Idaho’s children,” Wasden said.

MySpace is an online networking site favored by young people.

Wasden and attorneys general from seven other states sent a letter to MySpace last week demanding that the company turn over information about sex offenders. On Monday, Wasden said MySpace had confirmed that it has identified registered sex offenders among its users. MySpace deleted those users from its site, he said, but preserved information about them and will provide it to the attorneys general. He commended the company for “taking this important safety step.”

– Betsy Z. Russell

Bonner County

Husband missing since Thursday

The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office is looking for Robert Keith Winter, whose wife reported him missing and possibly suicidal.

Winter was last seen Thursday at noon. He was given a ride to get his red 1967 Chevy pickup with a red and white canopy. Winter was supposed to drive the Chevy home but hasn’t been seen since, according to a press release by the sheriff’s office.

Winter is reportedly depressed. He loves to fish and may have gone to any of the area’s lakes or rivers.

He’s described as a white male with brown eyes, thinning gray hair and a graying beard. Winter weighs 175 pounds and is 5 foot 8.

Anyone with information should call Sgt. John Valdez at (208) 263-8417.

– Erica Curless

Sandpoint

Wine-tasting event to benefit soldier

All proceeds from a wine-tasting event in Sandpoint on Friday will be used to benefit U.S. Army Sgt. Brandon Adam, who lost both legs in an explosion in Iraq earlier this month.

Adam, 21, is recovering at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston.

On Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., four restaurants in Sandpoint’s Old Lantern District – Ivano’s, Spuds, Café Trinity and the Sand Creek Grill – are sponsoring the benefit for Adam, a 2003 graduate of Sandpoint High.

The $40 tickets, which include wine and hors d’oeuvres, can be purchased in the Spuds parking lot. Also, a fund has been set up at Mountain West Bank in Sandpoint where donations can be made “to the benefit of Brandon Adam.”

– From staff reports