In brief: Chase Commission names champions
The Chase Youth Commission has announced its Champions of Youth Award winners for 2010.
The adult winners are chosen based on their ability to provide opportunities for youth to have a voice and become empowered community leaders. They will be honored at the annual Breakfast of Champions, 7-8:30 a.m., April 9 at the Lincoln Center.
Winners are Taylor Weech, from the Youth Sustainability Council; Cleve Penberthy, principal, West Valley’s Contract Based Education; Vicky Dalton, Spokane County auditor; Lupito Flores, Thin Air Community Radio; Kitara McClure, founder of PONY TALES Youth Services; and Sterling Savings Bank.
Third arrest made in drive-by slaying
Law officers arrested Thursday a third suspect in a shooting near Mattawa, Wash., on March 7.
Martin Ochoa Ramos, 41, of Sunnyside, was arrested by Grant County sheriff’s deputies and Sunnyside police on a felony warrant for being an accomplice in a first-degree murder in the drive-by shooting death. Arrested earlier were Luis A. Mejia Nunez, 20, and a 15-year-old boy on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, according to the sheriff’s office.
Earlier this month, Carlos D. Leyva, 17, and two companions were walking between the small communities of Beverly and Schawana when a car drove by slowly. Someone inside the car shot at them, fatally striking Leyva and wounding one of his companions.
Struggling town buries soldier
COLUMBIA FALLS, Mont. – Residents from the small communities just outside Glacier National Park have buried a young soldier from Hungry Horse who was killed in Afghanistan.
The death of 19-year-old Nicholas Cook has hit hard the 900 people living in Hungry Horse and those in neighboring Columbia Falls, where the Army private’s funeral was held Saturday. About 300 people gathered for the service, including Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Sen. John Tester.
Cook was raised by his grandparents and was an avid snowboarder. His grandmother, Kathy Taylor, said he joined the Army last year because there were no jobs at home and the military fit his search for adventure.
The Department of Defense said Cook’s unit was on patrol in Kunar province when it came under fire on March 7. The Army has not released any further details.