Craig Welch

A lucky break. Coeur d'Alene firefighters examine the crumpled remains of a warehouse that until recently had housed Lake City Gymnastics. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review <

A Fernan city councilman threatened to fire the city's dog catchers after they gave him a ticket and picked up his pet, according to sheriff's reports. Councilman Michael John Verbillis Sr., an attorney, also spit profanity at pet shelter workers, threatened to urinate on an animal control officers' truck and repeatedly called one deputy a Nazi, sheriff's deputies said. Verbillis, who serves as president of the state's trial lawyers association, was so abusive Kootenai County Sheriff Pierce Clegg has sought a written apology for his "impudent, vulgar, unethical and wrongful behavior."

G. Ray Lee, the new assessor. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Jack Buell

A group of Moscow teachers gathered Thursday to share stories about teacher Shirley Roberts, who was killed this week in a car accident. Roberts, 61, taught 28 years at Moscow's West Park Elementary School. She and her husband, Leonard, 65, died Monday when their car slid on icy U.S. Highway 195 south of Rosalia, Wash., and hit a semi-truck.

Where's Ace Ventura when he's needed? A pair of teenagers on Monday lured a Pet World cashier into a backroom with questions about kittens while a third boy made off with an 18-inch baby alligator. It was a caiman, to be precise - an alligator-like creature with hands like a monkey's - that can grow to 5 feet and snap a man's wrist in its jaws.

Harlan Collinsworth returned from a walk last weekend to find his house out of joint. Someone had burglarized the 20-year-old's Coeur d'Alene home. He'd been ripped off.

Ice storm forestry. Cemetery worker Kerry Clark saws up fallen trees at Forest Cemetery in Coeur d'Alene, where 44 trees were damaged and must be removed. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review

Deputy Assessor Mike McDowell's name is not among the three that Democrats submitted to fill Kootenai County's assessor position. But Republicans are expected to submit three of their own candidates - which likely will include McDowell - to replace Assessor Tom Moore, who died Nov. 12.

1. With more work than can be done in a day, Larry Morrison starts his day by clearing the snow from the driveway. At top, June Morrison adds some "non-dairy creamer" to the morning hot chocolate. 2. Above, Larry and June Morrison started early Saturday morning by clearing some of the many trees knocked down during the past week's winter storm. 3. Right, the Morrisons take a break after spending the morning cleaning up. Photography by Craig Buck.

Adults exposed to poisonous levels of lead as children here now suffer reduced nerve function, neurological problems and infertility at higher rates than other adults. Former Silver Valley children also report more cases of anemia, arthritis and urinary tract conditions - problems often linked to lead exposure.

A judge has fined a Coeur d'Alene man $495,000 after he refused for years to install septic tanks or properly store hazardous chemicals at his iron foundry.

Kootenai County Assessor Tom Moore left a legacy of public service that colleagues hope to carry on, friends and co-workers said Thursday. "In a time when it's popular to mistrust government ... Tom epitomized the good things about government," County Commissioner Dick Compton said at Moore's funeral Thursday.

Paul Thornton flew 71 bomber missions during World War II. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

James Chase helps pick up a barge that fell off its trailer in June. Chase was arrested Wednesday on charges of trying to have a man killed. File/The Spokesman-Review

Tom Moore handled a tough job with humor and an open door. File/The Spokesman-Review

Idaho Gov. Phil Batt said he'll recommend dramatic changes next year to help trim homeowners' burgeoning property taxes. Batt is floating reform ideas that range from new tax exemptions for rental properties to assessments for homeowners at a lower rate than businesses.

1. Unnerving heights. Paul Thornton's crew in action somewhere over Europe during World War II. 2. Paul Thornton's experiences in World War II left him with many memories. Thornton flew 71 missions during his service and returned home to be named "GI Spokane." Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review 3. Paul Thornton, bottom right, poses with his WWII bomber crew.

"I have a mandate," says Ron Rankin, "though I don't know what for."

Ron Rankin is interviewed on Tuesday. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review

A man who admitted beating his girlfriend's 20-month-old son to death was charged Friday with first-degree murder. Kootenai County prosecutors say Ralph J. Reyes inflicted "extreme and prolonged acts of brutality" when he punched, slapped and hit Anthony Mitchell while baby-sitting him this week, according to a new criminal complaint.

A one-time consumer credit counselor and a bed-and-breakfast owner quietly are battling for the right to keep Kootenai County's financial house in order. Democrat Dan English, 44, is taking on Republican Lee Knowles, 68, to be the next county clerk.

Dick Compton and Rollin Putzier, candidates for Kootenai County commissioner, are near opposites ideologically. A Republican, Compton was born and raised in Kootenai County, but spent 30 years as an IBM marketing executive, working as far away as Alaska and Asia before returning home a few years ago.

Kootenai County voters will choose between Democrat Chuck Sheroke and Republican Ron Rankin for a new commissioner. Rankin, 67, is a tax activist and author of the One Percent Initiative who claims elected officials typically work against their constituents.