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

Burglar”s intrusion wakes CdA woman

Compiled from staff and wire reports The Spokesman-Review

A Coeur d’Alene woman woke early Monday when an intruder touched her on the arm, police reported.

Police responded to a home on the 1200 block of A Street at 1:33 a.m. to a report of a burglary in progress.

The 31-year-old woman said she was home alone when the intruder woke her. She sat up, screamed and heard footsteps leaving her room, she told Coeur d’Alene police. She got up and went into her living room. After she heard a loud noise that she thought was her back door, she called 911, police reported.

Police who examined the back door found the knob broken – apparently intentionally. The woman said she had noticed it was broken a couple of days earlier.

The incident appeared to be unrelated to other recent home-invasion break-ins in the Coeur d’Alene and Spokane areas, according to Sgt. Christie Wood.

Spirit Lake officials hire chief of police

The town of Spirit Lake has a new police chief.

Chief Doug Camster retired six weeks ago and went to Afghanistan to train police forces, Spirit Lake Mayor Roxy Martin said.

The city hired Tony Lamanna, a school resource officer at Priest River High School, to replace Camster, she said. Lamanna ran for Bonner County sheriff last year, losing to Undersheriff Elaine Savage. The race was so close that Lamanna supporters insisted on a recount, which he lost by 37 votes in an election that drew more than 17,000 voters. Lamanna oversees a police force of four officers in the rapidly growing town, now about 1,500 strong. His salary is $38,000 a year.

Martin said Lamanna, a native of Priest River, brings his knowledge of the community and a sociable style to the job. “He’ll make a good leader for our city,” she said.

Post Falls limits use of water on lawns

As warmer weather approaches, Post Falls is reminding residents not to water their lawns and gardens between noon and 6 p.m.

The city’s water restrictions also ask residents with odd-numbered addresses to water Monday, Wednesday and Friday; residents with even numbered addresses can water Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The conservation efforts are not because of a water shortage or concerns about potential water shortages this summer. Conservation tips are available on the city’s Web site at www.postfallsidaho.org and the city’s cable channel 13.

City plans to make meetings more friendly

Idaho Falls Some City Council members say they’re getting tired of inconsiderate behavior at their meetings.

City leaders say interruptions, aggressive comments and a general lack of civility have thrown some meetings into chaos. It’s gotten so bad that the council made plans to discuss ways to make the meetings nicer.

Councilman Joe Groberg said some of his peers have suggested time limits for public comment or having a sergeant-at-arms on hand to preserve order.

Councilman Mike Lehto said fellow council members sometimes ask too many questions of residents at meetings.