Briefly

Home developers put plan for Canfield Mountain on hold

Developers who want to build a housing development on the lower region of Canfield Mountain have put the plan on hold while they re-evaluate the design.

Quest Development recently asked the Coeur d’Alene Planning Department to postpone a November public hearing on the proposal for 38 homes clustered in a planned unit development on 49 acres at the end of Shadduck Lane.

Quest attorney Steve Wetzel said the developers wanted to take another look at the plans for Copper Ridge, which has become a controversial proposal with neighbors who don’t want any development on Canfield Mountain.

“Quest isn’t completely sure they like the design and want to take some time to talk about it more,” Wetzel said.

Even though the current zoning calls for one home per acre, Quest had planned to ask for a variance to allow the homes to sit on lots smaller than one acre in exchange for more open space. The current zoning would allow for 49 homes.

The proposal included 33 acres of open space, which wouldn’t be open to the public.

Quest’s first two proposals have been denied by the city – sparking public outcry for some way to preserve the property for public open space. The city is currently investigating how an open space preservation program could work. One idea is asking city voters to pass an open space bond in February.

No date has been set for the new hearing.

Car hits pedestrian south of Maple Street Bridge

A pedestrian was hit by a car just south of the Maple Street Bridge on Wednesday afternoon.

Spokane police arrived at 4:06 p.m. and found a 36-year-old man with an apparent broken elbow and shoulder, Officer Paul Gorman said.

According to witnesses, the pedestrian, who police said had alcohol on his breath, ran into traffic.

A car traveling north in the left lane just missed the pedestrian, but a car in the right lane did not have time to stop, Gorman said.

Travis Church, 22, was driving the Subaru Loyale that hit the pedestrian. He said the pedestrian ran out in front of him.

“There was no time to stop,” Church said. “There was just no possible way to avoid it.”

The man’s stocking cap remained on the hood of the Loyale, next to a smashed windshield.

Gorman said the collision appeared to be the pedestrian’s fault.

Police pursue leads in Spokane homicide

Officers on Wednesday pursued several leads but were unable to locate a suspect in an apparent robbery attempt that turned into a homicide early Tuesday in a North Side motel.

According to police, victim Martin Harold Doerring, 43, and two employees of R & M Construction Co., of Waterloo, Iowa, returned to their room at the Apple Tree Inn, 9508 N. Division St., from a tavern near the motel. Doerring’s name was incorrect in a police press release Tuesday.

When they arrived about 11:45 p.m. Monday, the two employees heard a knock at the door and mistakenly thought it was Doerring. They described the man at the door as black, in his early 20s, about 6 feet tall and 200 pounds with close-cropped hair, Spokane Police spokesman Dick Cottam said.

The man held the two men at gunpoint until Doerring arrived about 45 minutes later. When he did, Doerring tried to grab the gun from the man, who fired one shot, Cottam said. Doerring was hit in the abdomen, collapsed and was later declared dead at a local hospital, Cottam said.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.

Oil-and-sun-powered bus to visit NIC

A bus powered by vegetable oil and sunlight will visit North Idaho College on Oct. 29 to help spread awareness of outdoor activities and encourage leadership, according to an NIC press release.

The community is invited to participate in the mobile program, which the Wyoming-based National Outdoor Leadership School is bringing to NIC. Visitors can learn about organic agriculture, alternative energy and a variety of outdoor activities. They can practice first aid skills and “rock climb” on the side of the bus.

In the evening, the bus transforms into an outdoor theater with videos from the National Outdoor Leadership School.

The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is sponsored by NIC’s Outdoor Pursuits program. Raffles are planned, scholarship forms for the outdoor school will be available and free samples of soy milk will be given away.

The bus will be parked in front of the Student Union Building.

For information, call (208) 769-7809.

Workforce Training Center open house planned

The public is invited to tour North Idaho College’s Workforce Training Center next week as the college celebrates the center’s 10th anniversary in Post Falls.

An open house is planned for 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday with refreshments and opportunities to learn more about the center’s offerings. A short program will begin at 3 p.m. with speeches from Workforce Training Center Director Robert Ketchum, NIC President Michael Burke, NIC Vice President Jerry Gee and others.

The center, located in the Riverbend Commerce Park, was dedicated on Oct. 27, 1994. The facility was funded by the NIC Foundation and offers classes as varied as training for Fortune 500 companies to line dancing.

Business advocacy group names director

Concerned Businesses of North Idaho recently named Kelly Richards as its new executive director.

The nonprofit business advocacy group picked Richards because she will build positive working relationships with local elected officials, community organizations, area businesses and the media, according to press release from the group.

Richards, who lives in Hayden, is the former Community Outreach Coordinator with Kootenai Medical Center. She’s also had marketing and public relations positions for Arbor Crest Wine Cellars, the University of Idaho-Coeur d’Alene, UI Athletics and McFarland & Alton. Richards has worked for KXLY-TV and for the Idaho Attorney General’s Office.

She has a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Idaho and a master’s of business administration from Gonzaga University.

“Richards brings a diverse and experienced background to CBNI,” wrote President John Young.

Domestic violence coalition honors officers

Local law enforcement officers were recognized Wednesday for their efforts in combating domestic violence.

The North Idaho Coalition Against Domestic Violence recognized 12 officers and the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police at its sixth annual officer recognition awards presentation at the Coeur d’Alene Inn.

The recognized officers are Jeffrey Walther of the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, Deputy Jonathan Brandel of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department, Post Falls police Officer Jason Dewitt and Rathdrum police Officer Dennis Sanchez.

Kellogg Police Department Officers Aaron Larson, Jason Woody and Jeff Thomas also were honored along with Osburn police Officer Rich Dolson and Shoshone Sheriff’s Department Deputies Art Harris, Tony Noto, Corey Thompson and Jeremy Groves.

The Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police received an award for adopting the North Idaho Joint Law Enforcement Strategy to Impact the Rise of Domestic Violence program.