Bald eagle count rises sharply
The number of bald eagles congregating in the Wolf Lodge Bay area of Lake Coeur d’Alene has soared in the past week.
A weekly winter survey found 127 eagles in the bay on Monday, up from 88 last week and 59 the week after Thanksgiving, said Scott Robinson, U.S. Bureau of Land Management wildlife biologist.
Bald eagles from around the region are attracted by the kokanee that spawn in the bay from November through December.
A record 156 eagles were counted in December 2004. The highest counts usually occur the week before Christmas.
Driver identified in fatal crash
Ludomir Scislo, 83, of Rockford Bay, was the driver killed in a single-vehicle crash Monday night, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department.
Scislo drove off the roadway at Rockford Bay Road near West Spyglass Lane about 5:40 p.m. Monday and struck a tree, said Capt. Ben Wolfinger. The crash caused his Land Rover to catch fire. The SUV was full of bags of wood pellets, which fueled the flames and destroyed the vehicle.
“Due to the damage from the fire, investigators may not learn why Mr. Scislo initially drove off of the road,” Wolfinger said.
Spokane
Sex abuse suspect arrested in Texas
A fugitive wanted in Spokane on child-molestation charges was arrested Tuesday in McAllen, Texas, by deputies assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service.
Eduardo Garcia, whose age wasn’t available, was booked into the Hidalgo County Jail in McAllen pending extradition to Spokane, said Marshals Service supervisor Bob Doty.
A warrant for Garcia’s arrest on a charge of first-degree child molestation was issued Jan. 3. Details leading to that charge weren’t available.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force located him in Texas, Doty said.
Teen fleeing police hits power pole
A teenage girl who police suspect had been drinking told officers she sped away from them in downtown Spokane late Monday because she didn’t have a driver’s license, Spokane police said.
An officer tried to stop Latasha N. Warden, 18, for reckless driving at Bernard Street and Third Avenue about 11:25 p.m., but she sped through downtown in a 2000 Nissan Maxima before another officer spotted her driving the wrong way on Spokane Falls Boulevard at about 50 mph, according to police.
She lost control of the car in the 3000 block of East Trent Avenue, striking a power pole before being arrested, police said. Warden was taken to a hospital with a bloody nose and neck pain before being booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of attempting to elude and hit-and-run.
Region
Medicare Part D deadline near
Open enrollment in Medicare’s prescription drug program – called Part D – ends Dec. 31.
Washington insurance officials say that as that deadline approaches, the chance for delays at the drug counter may increase.
There are many plans to sort through, and state officials encourage people with questions to call the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors at (800) 562-6900.
In Idaho, call the Department of Insurance consumer hotline at (800) 721-3272.