November 26, 2008 in City

Man crushed by crane at job site

The Spokesman-Review

A 46-year-old man died Tuesday when a crane fell on him at a work site in Whitman County, according to the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office.

Steven H. Woods, of Culdesac, Idaho, was helping unload a 46,000-pound section of crane from a trailer when the loading straps broke and the piece fell on him about 10:15 a.m., Sheriff Brett Myers said in a news release.

Woods likely died instantly, Myers said.

Gaylord Newbry, of TGM LLC, said Woods worked for ANR Craning, of Lewiston.

That company could not be reached Tuesday night.

The Washington Department of Labor and Industries is investigating the accident.

Hayden

Robbers demand Oxycontin

Two men in black ski masks robbed a Hayden pharmacy at gunpoint Tuesday, and the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department is asking for help finding them.

The men left the Medicine Man Pharmacy, 8093 N. Cornerstone Drive, about 6 p.m. after demanding Oxycontin, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

The robbers were described as white men in their early 20s with what appeared to be dark hair. They wore black clothing.

One man was described as 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds; the other was described as 6 feet tall and 210 pounds.

Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call Secret Witness at (208) 667-2111 or the Sheriff’s Department at (208) 446-1300.

Excavator breaks sewage pipe

About 2,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled Monday in a residential area in Hayden after an excavator ruptured a discharge pipe, the Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board said in a news release.

The spill occurred near Prairie Avenue and Rude Street when the Woodland Meadows Lift Station discharge pipe was ruptured. The spill will not immediately threaten drinking water supplies, but nearby wells will be monitored, the release said.

City Engineer Jeff Zaugg said about half of the raw sewage was cleaned up immediately by a pumper truck.

The rest flowed into soil near the construction site, but would have to filter through 200 feet of soil to reach the water table, Zaugg said. The nearest groundwater well is the city of Dalton well.

Hayden contracted with a hydrogeologist to evaluate the impact on groundwater and nearby wells.

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality also has been contacted and will be given follow-up reports, the release said.

Zaugg said the spill resulted from “inaccurate record drawings” of the Woodland Meadows Lift Station.

“It was unanticipated by the contractor,” he said. “What was indicated on the plans was not what was on the ground.”

BAYVIEW, Idaho

Low water closes boat launch

Farragut State Park has closed the Eagle boat launch because of low water in Lake Pend Oreille.

Every four to five years, water levels are drawn down to help improve kokanee spawning habitat.

The current water levels have resulted in boaters getting their trailers stuck as they go beyond the end of the ramp surface.

“In the interest of public safety and to protect the launch ramp from damage,” said Randall Butt, park manager, “we have closed the ramp to trailer launching.”

From staff reports