Winda Benedetti

A U.S. Bank secutiry camera shot this picture of Friday's robbery suspect.

John Erwin of Post Falls, with his daughter, Kelsey, talks about the skull he found near Athol. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review

Capt. Willis Brownlee has returned home. After nine years away from North Idaho, the veteran police officer will head up the Idaho State Police's Coeur d'Alene office.

1. Uniform affection. Willis Brownlee, right, has 28 under his command at the ISP's Coeur d'Alene office, including, at left, his son Todd Brownlee. For more on the Brownlee, see Page B1. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review 2. Sheriff's Lt. Jeff Thomas and his wife, Post Falls officer Becky Thomas. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review

In Kim Conigliaro's first-grade class at Ponderosa Elementary School, each sheet of handwriting paper is sliced into several pieces. That way, numerous students use a single piece of paper.

Officer Jerry DuFresne thought he had awakened in the middle of a gunbattle Wednesday morning. He wasn't alone.

State narcotics officers say they found three pounds of methamphetamine Monday when they arrested a Bonner County man. It was the largest methamphetamine bust ever made in North Idaho, said Wayne Longo, supervisor for the state Criminal Investigations Bureau in Coeur d'Alene. Ron Keys, 51, of Blanchard, Idaho, was arrested on a charge of trafficking in methamphetamine. He faces 10 years in prison if convicted.

It wasn't a bird; it wasn't a plane. And even UFO experts don't think it was a spaceship. "It was a big, bright light; it was not quite round-shaped, and the whole back end was on fire," said Helen Swofford of Coeur d'Alene.

Evidence of drug explosion. Chet Park holds color spot tests for methamphetamine. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Brittany Christian gets a helping hand from her sister Ashlynn and mom while trying on ski boots Saturday. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

If Christina Campanelli's mother did not abuse her 2-year-old daughter, it at least appears she failed in her duty to protect the toddler from harm, a judge said Friday. So he ordered Eileen Campanelli and her boyfriend, Rick Cortez, to stand trial on charges of injury to a child. They face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Federico Cortez and Eileen Campanelli make their way into court Thursday on the second day of a preliminary hearing into the death of 2-year-old Christina Campanelli. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

An inmate who had to sleep on the floor at the Kootenai County Jail wants more than $700 for each day he spent behind bars. Richard J. Updegraff, 38, says the jail was so crowded he was forced to sleep on his cell floor near a toilet.

1. Beverly and Peter Finney. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review 2. Danielle Muncey leaves court with her parents after her sentencing. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Imagine a courtroom where the attorneys are just learning to shave, the jurors have braces and they all have math and geography homework to do when court isn't in session. It's called Youth Court - a place where wayward teenagers are judged, represented and sentenced for their crimes by kids their own age.

Wayward youths be warned: If you scrawl graffiti on a wall, it won't be long before you're cleaning it off. Hard work or hard time - that's the choice kids caught damaging property or committing other minor crimes will soon face.

Kootenai County's only dive rescue team was called to action twice last week - even though it doesn't officially exist. First, a truck careened into Fernan Lake, then another dropped into Hayden Lake.

Campanelli

Frank Wilkey, speaking before corrections officials Tuesday, argued that law should be taught in grade schools. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review

A 39-year-old woman who worked at the Bonner County juvenile detention home has been arrested on charges of having sex with a former teenage inmate. Carolyn Black of Sandpoint was charged with two counts of sexual battery of a minor Friday. She is suspected of twice having sex with a 16-year-old boy. Neither incident occurred at the detention center where the boy had spent two months on burglary charges, said Sheriff Chip Roos.

A 2-year-old Coeur d'Alene girl was flown to a Spokane hospital Wednesday, suffering from a serious head injury, said Kootenai County sheriff's officials. Sheriff's detectives are investigating the case as possible child abuse, said Capt. Ben Wolfinger.

Misty Sellers-Black finally proved her innocence Tuesday - she just wishes it hadn't taken 10 months. After all, it was only a traffic ticket.

Four firefighters were sent to the hospital early Tuesday after a Hayden, Idaho barn filled with hay burned to the ground in the middle of the night. Thirty-three firefighters from three departments battled the blaze, which apparently started when the hay spontaneously caught fire, said Wayne Syth, Hayden Lake fire chief.

A 16-year-old Post Falls girl has been charged with inattentive driving for causing a wreck that killed another teenager. Danielle Muncey is expected to plead guilty to the charge, which carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail.