In brief: Driver, passenger hurt in I-90 rollover

Two Spokane-area residents were injured Thursday night in a one-vehicle crash on Interstate 90 just west of the Geiger Boulevard interchange.

Karmalee R. Zelmer, 31, of Spokane Valley, and Raymond L. Patterson, 46, of Spokane, were both treated and released from Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Washington State Patrol troopers said Zelmer was driving a 1998 Ford Explorer east on I-90 about 8:30 p.m. when she went off the roadway two miles west of the Geiger interchange. The vehicle rolled.

Impaired driving is suspected in the accident, troopers said, and Zelmer was under investigation for vehicular assault.

Troopers said Zelmer was wearing a seat belt. It was not known if Patterson was wearing his.

CityLink riders getting benches

A volunteer committee has raised enough money in the past year to place benches at 18 CityLink bus stops throughout Kootenai County.

The Benches for Bus Stops Committee will celebrate with a ceremony at 4 p.m. Thursday at Post Falls City Hall, 408 N. Spokane St., said Craig Wilcox, committee chairman.

“A lot of high-need areas are getting benches,” Wilcox said, referring to bus stops along East Sherman Avenue and Government Way in Coeur d’Alene, as well as some in Post Falls and Huetter.

Businesses and individuals purchase five-year sponsorships for $1,000 and are recognized with plaques mounted on the benches. The committee’s goal is to raise money to install benches at all 70 CityLink stops in Kootenai County, Wilcox said.

OxyContin maker offers reward for tip

The company that makes OxyContin is offering a $1,000 reward for information that solves a Spokane pharmacy robbery Monday.

A white man in his 20s with dark stubble and possibly a black wig walked into Shopko, 4515 S. Regal St., at 9:42 p.m. and handed the pharmacist a note demanding OxyContin. He left with the note and an undisclosed amount of the drug, police said.

Surveillance photos show the robber wore sunglasses, a black T-shirt, blue jeans, white sneakers and a dark baseball hat with a white logo. Witnesses said he was about 6-foot-3.

Purdue Pharma is offering the reward through Crime Stoppers.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS, or submit tips online at www.crimestoppers inlandnorthwest.org. Tipsters do not have to leave a name but should provide a code name or number.

Immunization clinic tailored to children

Panhandle Health District is offering an after-hours immunization clinic for children Tuesday from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Immunizations at the clinic should be free to children whose health insurance covers the treatment.

Insurance carriers will accept billing for children’s vaccinations only until the end of September, the health district said in a news release. Children eligible for the Vaccines for Children program may be charged a small administration fee. The clinic will not include shots for seasonal or H1N1 flu.

The clinic will include refreshments, a movie and prizes, the release said. Appointments are encouraged but walk-in patients are welcome.

The clinic is open to children ages 2 months to 18 years.

The health district is located at 8500 N. Atlas Road in Hayden. Call (208) 415-5270 for an appointment.

Crackdown targets impaired drivers

Kootenai County sheriff’s deputies are on the lookout for alcohol- and drug-impaired drivers as summer comes to a close.

An emphasis patrol began Friday and will continue through Sept. 6, with deputies seeking strict enforcement of impaired driving laws in an effort to reduce injury accidents.

In 2008, 96 people were killed and 285 people were critically injured in Idaho accidents involving a driver under the influence.

Idaho had 110 deaths attributed to driving under the influence in 2006.

Power outage due in Lake CdA area

Avista and Kootenai Electric Cooperative are advising about 1,300 customers on the east side of Lake Coeur d’Alene that their power will be shut off for about four hours Tuesday.

The outage will begin at 3:30 a.m. and is expected to last until about 7:30 a.m. About 760 Avista customers on the east side of Lake Coeur d’Alene from Carlin Bay south to Ogara Bay, including the city of Harrison and customers on Hells Gulch Road, will be affected by the outage.

About 575 KEC members on the southeast side of Lake Coeur d’Alene and in the Harrison area will also be affected.

The outage will allow Avista crews to work on its Ogara substation, increasing its capacity and reliability.

A second planned outage will be required in mid- September to complete the project.

Avista officials said the upgrade is needed to meet growing customer demand in the Lake Coeur d’Alene area.

Some KEC members are also served from the Avista substation.