Woman dies in U.S. 95 crash

An 88-year-old Montana woman died following a collision on the U.S. Highway 95 bridge that crosses over Northwest Boulevard near downtown Coeur d’Alene Wednesday.

Leona W. Maughan of Ronan, Mont., was a passenger in a car driven by Mary M. Brown, 68, of Federal Way, Wash., according to the Idaho State Police.

Brown was driving south on U.S. Highway 95 and crossing the bridge when she tried to turn left across the northbound lane to get on the on-ramp for Northwest Boulevard, according to ISP.

Driving north on the bridge was Edna L. Tuttle, 62, of St. Maries, who struck Brown’s Ford Taurus broadside on the passenger side at 10:42 a.m., according to ISP.

In addition to Maughan, Brown had two other passengers in her car, a 13-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl. All were transported to Kootenai Medical Center, where Maughan was declared dead.

Brown was treated and released, and the hospital had no information on the two girls. Tuttle was still being evaluated by hospital staff late Wednesday afternoon.

CdA man accused of defrauding girlfriend

FBI agents in Coeur d’Alene have arrested a man who allegedly defrauded his girlfriend out of $227,000 in an investment scheme and sold her possessions to pawn shops.

Wilfred Randal Mallet, a 56-year-old man with no permanent address, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of interstate transportation of stolen goods. The Idaho State Police assisted in his arrest.

According to police reports, Mallet offered to store the personal possessions of the victim after she lost her California home in a fire. A romantic relationship ensued, and Mallet convinced the woman to cash out her savings to invest in a pawn shop business which Mallet claimed to own in Idaho and Montana.

Police said that a week after Mallet’s girlfriend gave him the $227,000, he bought a motor home, new Dodge pickup and BMW motorcycle. He sold most of his victim’s personal belongings to pawn shops in Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene and Spokane, according to a police investigation.

Interstate transportation of stolen goods is a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Mallet is in custody at the Bonner County Jail. A hearing is scheduled on Monday.

HUD helps Idaho beat homelessness

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is offering a hand to North Idaho residents trying to stay ahead of homelessness.

The federal agency awarded the Idaho Housing and Finance Association $517,264 this week for homeless prevention and assistance. The money will go to 17 agencies throughout the state. St. Vincent de Paul in Coeur d’Alene will receive $44,459 and is the only North Idaho agency on the list.

“We couldn’t live without that grant,” said Lynn Peterson on Wednesday. Peterson directs St. Vincent’s North Idaho operations, which include separate emergency shelters for men, for women and children, and a transitional housing center for families working their way out of homelessness.

Nearly $9,000 of that money will help families in trouble pay for utilities and rent, Peterson said.

To qualify for assistance, people must show an eviction or utility shut-off notice. Peterson encouraged people in need to apply soon.

“It goes so fast,” she said.

The rest of the grant will help cover food, insurance, utilities and other needs at the emergency shelters, she said.

Shasta soda donated for Groene fund-raiser

The company that makes Shasta soft drinks is making a donation to help 8-year-old kidnap victim Shasta Groene.

National Beverage Corp., of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is sending 12,500 bottles of Shasta water and soft drinks for people to drink at a Saturday fund-raiser for the girl. The company said Wednesday it also is sending 50 T-shirts for volunteers to wear.

That donation came after Midge Smock of Coeur d’Alene, whose husband owns Windermere Coeur d’Alene Realty Inc., contacted the company.

“We were just sitting around, kicking around ideas, when I thought of Shasta soda,” Smock said. “I used to love drinking Shasta as a kid, it was a big thing back then.”

Smock and the Protect the Innocence Foundation, formed by area businessmen, are raising money for Shasta Groene at an event at the Post Falls Greyhound Park and Event Center.

Shasta was kidnapped from her home in mid-May after her mother, her 13-year-old brother, and her mother’s boyfriend were killed. Shasta’s 9-year-old brother Dylan, was also kidnapped, and was later slain.

Shasta was rescued on July 2. Registered sex offender Joseph Edward Duncan III has been charged with murder in the three deaths at the family’s Coeur d’Alene-area home.

Smock said she called the beverage company recently and left a message, not really expecting a response.

But marketing director Brent Bott called back in 20 minutes.

It turned out that executives with National Beverage had been following the harrowing story, and had been looking for a way to help Shasta, company spokeswoman Grace Keene said Wednesday.

“We didn’t want to appear insensitive,” Keene said.

“We were thrilled to be asked by these organizations to help.”