Briefly

Republic man hurt in crash

A Republic, Wash., man was seriously injured Saturday afternoon when the truck he was driving crashed into a tree in Ferry County near Barstow, the Washington State Patrol reported.

Robert L. Simons, 33, was southbound on U.S. Highway 395 in a 2000 GMC U-Haul truck when he left the road and struck a tree.

Simons was airlifted to Sacred Heart Medical Center where he was listed in serious condition on Saturday night.

A passenger in the car, Shanna A. Simons, 4, was injured but not hospitalized, the patrol said.

Man dies after struggle with police

Mountlake Terrace, Wash. A man died after a brief struggle with police in Mountlake Terrace Saturday.

The struggle occurred when officers answered a domestic disturbance call at the Creekside Apartments. The man ran away and stopped breathing after the struggle, according to Mountlake Terrace police.

A citizen stopped by to assist the officer in controlling the man, who was described as being in his mid-40s.

Police gave the man CPR and medics were summoned, but resuscitation efforts failed.

The Everett Police Department and the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case, Everett police Sgt. Cheryl Braley said. An autopsy will be performed on the man on Tuesday.

Officials wouldn’t disclose the man’s identity until the Snohomish County medical examiner conducts an autopsy, Braley said.

Montana Scouts seek more funds

Billings The Montana Council of the Boy Scouts of America has been operating with a cash shortfall for several years and is $150,000 short this year alone, said Case Haslam, endowment director.

The council receives about $500,000 a year through popcorn sales by Scouts and plans other fund-raisers, Haslam said. They include a $1,000-a-table luncheon Sept. 24 in Billings.

“Scouting has probably the largest alumni of any organization in the state, and one of the big challenges for us is to have all who are alumni be aware that it takes money to make this organization go,” said Gordon Rubard, director of the Montana Council.

Despite the financial difficulties, no programs have been cut, Haslam said. The organization employs 13 people across the state to manage programs for 10,000 scouts.

Driver in Glacier wreck dies

Kalispell, Mont. The driver of a vehicle that went off Glacier National Park’s alpine highway, ejecting all five occupants, has died.

Angel Makescoldweather, 19, died within hours of suffering head injuries in the crash Friday evening, the Flathead County coroner’s office said Saturday. Her hometown was not identified.

She was driving a vehicle that went off the park’s Going to the Sun Road and down a steep slope. All four passengers were taken to hospitals.

Flathead County authorities said no seat belts were used, and it appears drinking and fast driving were factors in the crash.

The death raised Montana’s 2004 highway fatality toll to 149, compared to 179 at the same time last year.

Abbey clears monk of sex charge

Mount Angel, Ore. A 75-year-old Benedictine monk, accused of molesting a boy 40 years ago, has been cleared and will be allowed to rejoin his fellow monks during prayer.

It marks the first time in Oregon that Roman Catholic officials have lifted restrictions on a member of the clergy accused of sexual abuse.

Nathan Zodrow, abbot of Mount Angel Abbey, accepted the recommendation of a lay review committee last week, which determined that the evidence did not support the accusation against the Rev. Cosmas White.

Since 2002, when the lawsuit was filed against him, White has not been allowed to pray or attend Mass along with his fellow monks, although he was permitted to join them for nonreligious group activities such as meals, said Rita Kester, director of communications for Mount Angel Abbey.