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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Briefly

Compiled from staff reports The Spokesman-Review

Two students die in motorcycle crash

Two University of Idaho students from Boise were killed in a motorcycle accident in Moscow, Idaho, early Sunday morning.

Jason C. Yearout, 20, was driving the motorcycle and Jack K. Shannon, 19, was the passenger as the two were returning home to their fraternity on University Avenue at about 3:30 a.m. The bike hit an object in the yard and then struck a tree, according to reports.

The men were taken to Gritman Medical Center, where Yearout was pronounced dead of massive head injuries. Shannon was flown to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane where he died Monday afternoon. Idaho State Police, who are investigating the crash, said neither man was wearing a helmet and that alcohol may have been a factor.

Yearout was a junior studying theater arts and Shannon was a sophomore studying journalism and mass media. They were both members of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity.

“This is a day of profound sadness,” said UI President Tim White at a press conference Monday afternoon. He talked of the two friends’ death as well as the fatal shooting of UI football player Eric R. McMillan. “Our hearts go out, our sympathies go out to the families, the parents, the brothers and sisters and the friends.”

Couple suing Dalton Gardens over variance

Marvin and Sharon Erickson are suing Dalton Gardens for denying a request for a variance that would excuse them from needing 110 feet of frontage on a city street.

The Ericksons, who filed the lawsuit Friday in 1st District Court, own five lots in the Dalton Gardens city limits that they want to develop. City law requires them to have 110 feet of frontage along a city street, which would be Hanley Avenue.

Yet those lots don’t have frontage on Hanley Avenue. Instead they are accessed from the Ericksons’ private road that winds up Canfield Mountain to their home. Marvin Erickson claims it’s impossible to improve his road to meet city standards. That’s why he wanted the variance.

Erickson argues the city’s denial was illegal and an abuse of power that has resulted in the taking of private property without just compensation, which violates the U.S. and Idaho constitutions. Erickson is asking a judge to review the case.

Seat-belt crackdown to get in gear

Statistics from the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office show that citizens are not wearing their seat belts on a regular basis. Through Sunday, the Sheriff’s Office and the Idaho Transportation Department Office of Traffic and Highway Safety will be conducting saturation patrols to enforce safety restraint usage.

Deputies add a $10 fine to the ticketed offense for each passenger not strapped in, unless an adult is driving with a minor without a safety restraint. The fine is then raised to $48. Drivers cannot be stopped for failure to use a seat belt alone, but can be ticketed after being pulled over for another traffic violation.

Studies have shown that one driver in four does not wear a seat belt in Bonner County. Sixty-two percent of pickup drivers fail to click it while on the road. The Sheriff’s Office cites these numbers as the reason for its intent to strictly enforce Idaho’s seat belt law.

Kids to get chance to name winter storms

The Coeur d’Alene Street Maintenance Department is having a “Name the Winter Storms” contest for third-graders from Fernan and Sorensen elementary schools.

The city is looking for unique storm names for the department to use this winter to keep track of each storm. The storm names are similar to the unique names used to track hurricanes, such as the recent Hurricane Ivan.

Street officials will visit the students Oct. 7 to explain the contest.

Last year a Skyway Elementary second-grader came up with names based on an animal theme. The first of last year’s eight storms was called Anaconda, followed by storms Bear and Crocodile.

The winner of this year’s contest will be announced in the fall.

For more information, call 769-2233.

Draft horse show starts Thursday

The 28th Annual Idaho State Draft Horse and Mule Show is coming to Sandpoint this week.

Starting Thursday, all six breeds of draft horses – American Cream, Belgian, Clydesdale, Percheron, Shire and Suffolk – along with draft mules will harness up at the Bonner County Fairgrounds.

The show runs through Monday and includes a variety of events from harnessing and driving contests to halter classes, barrel racing and log skidding. There also will be numerous exhibitors and food vendors.

Patrick Stoddard will demonstrate horse archery on his wild mustang, Diablo, on Saturday. There’s a private treaty horse sale and equipment and tack auction Monday.

Robert Andrejeski of Eltopia, Wash., is this year’s horse and mule judge.

For a schedule of events, go to www.idahodrafthorseshow.com or call (208) 263-3258. For auction information, call (208) 265-0429 or go to www.drafthorsetack.com.

Center can assist military families

A National Guard Family Assistance Center is open in the Silver Lake Mall in Coeur d’Alene to assist families of members of the military with legal, medical, financial and other matters.

The Coeur d’Alene center is one of six around the state where trained people are standing by to help military people, from any branch, and their families. Information is available at the centers on benefits available to military families, along with referrals to needed services.

The Coeur d’Alene center is at 200 W. Hanley, Suite B-229 in the Silver Lake Mall. It can be reached by phone at 666-6862.

Scholar to address changes in nursing

A nationally known scholar will speak Thursday on the changing role of nursing.

Carol Reineck’s talk, titled “The Registered Nurse: A National Treasure,” will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Washington State University Intercollegiate College of Nursing, 2917 W. Fort George Wright Drive. A reception will begin at 4:30 p.m.

Carol Reineck, a retired U.S. Army colonel, is an assistant professor in the Department of Acute Nursing Care at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, and an associate scientist for nursing research at the Center for Health Economics and Policy, San Antonio.

She will speak earlier the same day to nursing students and health-care professionals. Both presentations will be broadcast to sites in Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, Walla Walla and Yakima.

Reineck is a 1972 graduate of the Intercollegiate College of Nursing and Whitworth College.

Breastfeeding expert to speak in Spokane

Canadian pediatrician and breastfeeding expert Jack Newman will speak Thursday and Friday in Spokane. Newman is the co-author of “The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers.”

His talks are sponsored by the Spokane Breastfeeding Coalition.

On Thursday, Newman will give a free public talk from 7 to 8 p.m. at Sacred Heart Medical Center’s Women’s Health Center. Call (509) 474-2400 to register.

On Friday, Newman will speak from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. to health-care providers. Call (509) 474-4531 to register. The cost is $80 for those who register. The cost at the door, if space is available, will be $95.