In brief: Nine Mile man wins new house in NIC’s Really Big Raffle

A Nine Mile Falls man won the grand prize of a new house in the North Idaho College Foundation’s Really Big Raffle.

Wayne Kenny’s name was drawn Wednesday night for the $255,000 Coeur d’Alene home built by students in NIC’s carpentry program.

Other winners were George Wilson, Coeur d’Alene, a $20,000 car; James Peters, Post Falls, a $10,000 boat; Edward Laggart, Des Moines, Wash., a $3,500 travel package; and Lowell Mills, Spokane, a $2,000 shopping spree.

It was the 20th year of the fundraiser, and all 5,000 tickets have been sold each year.

The college foundation will receive about $220,000 from this year’s raffle to support student needs, programs, technology and equipment.

Central Valley District named in sex abuse claims from 1960s

Two more lawsuits were filed this week against the Central Valley School District, claiming students were sexually abused decades ago by a former elementary school teacher. The first suit was filed in 2011.

Lawsuits have now been filed by Seattle attorney James S. Rogers on behalf of three men who claim they were sexually abused by Howard Clayton Moos when they attended McDonald Elementary School in 1964 and 1965.

“Central Valley School District should have known that they had a pedophile on the faculty, particularly since he sexually abused students on the property,” Rogers wrote in a news release. “The school district did not protect these students and failed to properly supervise Mr. Moos.”

The victims were abused during class and recess, after classes and during sporting activities, according to court documents. One of the victims said he was abused during tutoring sessions.

Moos taught in Central Valley School District from 1962 until March 1969. He was convicted of second-degree child molestation involving a Cheney School District student in 1989.

Moos died in 2011.

Central Valley School District officials had not seen the two new lawsuits Thursday and declined to comment.

Record $25 million gift for Gonzaga goes for center

A $25 million gift from a Gonzaga University trustee to help build a new university center is the single largest donation in the college’s 125-year history.

“It is an honor to be able to help contribute to the continued success of Gonzaga … . This center is about Gonzaga, its incredible mission and the support of students who will go out and make a difference in the world,” said donor John J. Hemmingson, who has been a GU trustee for several years.

GU President Thayne McCulloh said the university is “extremely grateful. It is his gift that is making this happen.”

Hemmingson is a self-described entrepreneur who has invested in many sectors, including education, insurance, real estate, technology and agriculture. He’s a Montana native and moved to Post Falls 20 years ago.

“With this gift, John demonstrates his personal commitment to the institution and his optimism and faith in the future,” said Fritz Wolff, chairman of GU’s board of trustees. “He sees the University Center as a vital step in advancing the campus for the next generation of Zags.”