Forecast prompts a fire weather watch
Lightning and gusty winds in the forecast for tonight and Monday accompanied by low humidity and near record heat over the last few days has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a fire weather watch.
The alert begins tonight and continues through late Monday for areas throughout Eastern Washington and North Idaho, according to the weather service.
On Saturday, the humidity was in the teens. Today’s high temperature is forecast for 102, officials said. The record for Aug. 17 is 100. Winds will start to pick up tonight.
On Monday, there’s a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms with high temperatures in the 90s, officials said. Winds up to 20 mph are expected.
Eastern Washington
More marijuana plants found, destroyed
An estimated $375 million of marijuana has been seized and destroyed in Eastern Washington during recent weeks, officials said Saturday.
Using helicopters, the Washington State Patrol Statewide Incident Response Team (SERT), several K-9s and law enforcement officers from around the state spent four days spotting and removing marijuana from the Columbia Basin, said Grant County Undersheriff John Turley.
More than 2,257 fully grown plants were harvested and destroyed in Adams County, Turley said. The estimated value of the marijuana is $3.38 million. In Grant County, 11,464 plants with an estimated value of $17.2 million were destroyed.
The number of marijuana plants found throughout the basin is nearly 250,000, Turley said.
Harrison, Idaho
Information sought on missing woman
A 73-year-old Harrison, Idaho, woman last seen Wednesday is considered missing, officials said Saturday.
Fern Leora Bates-Ehrlich may be suffering from a diminished mental state and untreated high blood pressure, said Kootenai County sheriff’s Sgt. Lisa Carrington.
The woman could be driving a white 2007 four-door Subaru Legacy Outback with Idaho license plate 3B36504, officials said.
Anyone with information regarding Bates-Ehrlich’s whereabouts should call (208) 446-1300.
BOISE
Hundreds of bicyclists join gold medal winner
Less than a week after Olympic cyclist Kristin Armstrong raced to victory in Beijing, she returned home to a throng of fans in downtown Boise.
Supporters gathered on Saturday to celebrate the city’s first Olympic gold medalist. About 1,700 bicyclists joined Armstrong on a ride through downtown Boise.
Lt. Gov. Jim Risch attended the festivities and dubbed Aug. 16, 2008 “Kristin Armstrong Day” in Idaho.
Armstrong claimed her gold medal during the women’s time trial and she finished more than 24 seconds ahead of her closest competitor.