In brief: Malnourished horses seized

Two dead horses and eight other horses showing signs of malnourishment were discovered in recent days by animal control officers with the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department, according to a statement issued by Capt. Ben Wolfinger.

The horses were discovered Oct. 24 after officials obtained a warrant to search the old Coeur d’Alene Auction Yards on Seltice Way near Atlas Road.

After finding the dead and malnourished animals, officials gave the owners guidelines on proper nourishment. Five days later, on a follow-up visit, the officers decided the recommendations were not being followed and seized the animals, Wolfinger said.

In addition, officers found two other dead horses at another location near Stateline that’s associated with the former Coeur d’Alene Auction Yards.

The names of the owners are not being released until decisions are made on whether to file criminal charges, Wolfinger said.

The Sheriff’s Department is asking the public to keep watch for animal abuse and malnourishment because of recent steep price increases in the cost of hay and feed.

Festival of Trees tickets go on sale

Tickets go on sale today for the Festival of Trees “A Christmas to Remember” Senior Social on Nov. 24 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. The light brunch for seniors and their families, sponsored by the North Idaho Eye Institute, will include live entertainment, a raffle and viewing of the festival’s 38 lavishly decorated Christmas trees.

Tickets cost $17 and can be purchased today in the hallway by the cafeteria at Kootenai Medical Center. After today, tickets will be sold at the Kootenai Medical Center Foundation office, or by mailing a check payable to the Kootenai Medical Center Foundation, 2003 Lincoln Way, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814. Tickets must be purchased prior to the event.

Proceeds from all Festival of Trees events will be used to expand and enhance critical care facilities at the hospital.

For more information, call (208) 666-2345 or (208) 666-8733.

Winter Swap set at fairgrounds

The Lookout Pass and Silver Mountain volunteer ski patrols will host the ninth annual Winter Swap at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds on Saturday. The event begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.

Admission is $4. Children 12 and younger enter free with a paying adult.

Items for sale will include new and used ski equipment, snowboarding gear, accessories and winter clothing.

Bring items to sell to the fairgrounds 3-8 p.m. Friday. Items must be clean and in good condition. Only “shaped” alpine/downhill skis will be accepted; older straight skis do not sell well.

Merchandise will be accepted on consignment only, with 16 percent of the sale price withheld.

Pick up checks and unsold merchandise at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday.

Proceeds will be used primarily for patroller training to improve rescue and first aid capabilities.

Electronics stolen in school burglary

Burglars stole more than $17,500 in electronics and caused nearly $4,000 in damages at the Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy last weekend.

A custodian arrived early Monday to find a glass door on the east side of the public school shattered. Damages included three tipped vending machines and three broken classroom door windows. Stolen items include 16 Toshiba laptop computers valued at $925 each and a $1,500 projector, according to a report from the Coeur d’Alene Police Department.

Police collected a tire iron and a near-empty bottle of orange Gatorade from the school as evidence.

A teacher told police he had been at the school Sunday grading papers until about 3 p.m. and didn’t see any damage.

Colville

Missing hunter found safe

A 20-year-old Colville hunter who left on an evening hunt Saturday walked out of the woods Wednesday, a Stevens County dispatcher said.

Samuel Green was hunting from a campground near Sheep Creek Road, about eight miles west of Highway 25, near Northport. When he didn’t return by Sunday afternoon, Green was reported missing, said Stevens County Undersheriff LaVonne Webb.

Personnel from the Stevens County and Spokane County sheriff’s offices and the U.S. Border Patrol helped in a search, Webb said.

Searchers used helicopters, ATVs and horses in their search for Green. It was believed that Green had survival gear – including a sleeping bag, compass, water and dehydrated food – with him on the hunt.

Otis Orchards

Pickup crashes into two houses

An Otis Orchards man was arrested on charges of driving under the influence early this morning after he allegedly crashed his pickup into two houses.

Mathew W. Hansen crashed into one home in the 4300 block of North Canal about 3 a.m., then hit a boat and trailer, forcing them into another house, according to a Spokane County Sheriff’s Office press release.

The 26-year-old man told sheriff’s Deputy Todd Miller that he jumped the curb on his way home from Stateline.

Miller said that Hansen was showing signs of being drunk. Miller administered a field sobriety test and then arrested Hansen on the DUI charges.

No one was injured in the crashes.