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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Blue Creek Bay hearing planned

The Spokesman-Review

The public will have another chance Monday to comment on a public recreation plan for about 736 acres along Blue Creek Bay.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has three draft plans for how to manage the area, which is considered a key piece of property providing public access along the shore of Lake Coeur d’Alene.

The agency will use the public comments to develop an environmental assessment of each plan’s impacts. Once the assessment is complete this winter, there will be another public comment opportunity.

Local businessman Jack Forest sold the majority of the property, which is a mix of meadows and treed hillsides with views of Lake Coeur d’Alene, to the BLM.

The 7 p.m. meeting is at the Coeur d’Alene BLM Office, 3815 Schreiber Way.

For more information, call Brian White at (208) 769-5031 or go to www.blm.gov/id/st/ en/fo/coeur_d_alene/ programs/planning/0.html.

Post Falls

Police name new captain

Post Falls police Lt. Scot Haug has been promoted to captain of the department, effective Sept. 20.

Haug has been with the department for more than 20 years and was recently instrumental in adopting a wireless computer network to put laptops in patrol cars.

As a result, Post Falls police officers can securely run criminal background checks, file investigative reports and more – all in their patrol cars.

In his new position, Haug will be the department’s second-in-command, reporting directly to Police Chief Cliff Hayes. Haug will oversee the force on a daily basis, guiding its patrol, investigations, communications and computer services divisions. He has proven to be an “excellent leader” whose management and technology skills make him a natural for the added responsibilities, Hayes said.

Haug began his career in 1987, climbing the ladder from animal patrol officer to lieutenant. He will receive a raise of approximately 5 percent, bringing his annual salary to $78,000.

Hayes said Haug will bring the high-level staff always on call to four.

The department has been without a captain since the 2003 retirement of Jim Simmerman.

DIABLO, Wash.

Missing hiker found in park

A 31-year-old hiker who had been missing in the North Cascades National Park for six days was found tired and dehydrated Friday afternoon, about two miles from notes she had left for would-be rescuers.

Mary Hyde Wingfield, an administrative assistant at the heart center of Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, was picked up by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter crew from Bellingham at 2:30 p.m. She said she just got lost.

“I thought that possibly I wouldn’t make it,” she told KOMO-TV. She said she spent her days scrambling along the Stetattle Creek, drinking river water, eating berries and “feeling lost, but also hopeful.”

Wingfield was picked up by the helicopter about five miles from the trailhead at Diablo where she left her car, Schilling said.

About 30 searchers were looking for Wingfield with dogs when she was found, search spokesman Roy Zipp said.

She failed to return from a hike last weekend. Searchers this week found notes saying she was out of food and following the creek downstream.

Wingfield’s car was found Wednesday at the entrance of Stetattle Creek Trail.

Searchers discovered two shoe prints that matched Wingfield’s size. They also found a water bottle, a dental insurance card, a grocery store membership card and a note indicating she was without food or water.

Staff and wire reports