July I-90 crash claims third victim

A third family member has died from injuries suffered last month in a head-on collision along Interstate 90 near Post Falls.

Ebin Lewis, 9 months, died Tuesday afternoon at Sacred Heart Medical Center. He was one of six people on their way to Silverwood Theme & RV Park when their van was struck by a vehicle that crossed the median.

Ebin’s mother, Tonia Lewis, and his aunt, Henrietta Lewis, both of Spokane Valley, were killed in the July 23 crash. The others in the van were treated at area hospitals.

Prosecutors believe the driver of the vehicle that crossed the median, Kevin T. Culp, lost control of the SUV he was driving because he had a seizure. Culp, who did not have a license, told investigators that he had gone two or three days without taking medication he needs to control seizures. He faces two counts of vehicular manslaughter and remained at the Kootenai County Jail Tuesday on $250,000 bail.

In 2004, Culp was charged with first-degree manslaughter after he shot a man to death while fiddling with a loaded gun in Spokane County. A jury deadlocked on that charge earlier this year, but he’s scheduled to be retried in the fall.

Ingalls gets new position with Coeur d’Alene

Coeur d’Alene hired a new deputy city administrator Tuesday, the first person to hold the position in three years.

Jon Ingalls, the current street superintendent, will become the deputy administrator Sept. 19. In the new job, Ingalls will oversee day-to-day operations of the city.

The position has been vacant since Wendy Hague became city administrator in July 2002.

Coeur d’Alene’s rapid growth is reason for hiring a deputy administrator, Hauge said. “This is just what the City of Coeur d’Alene needs at this challenging time of growth,” Hauge said in a news release.

A Coeur d’Alene native, Ingalls became the street superintendent six years ago after serving 20 years in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineering Corps. Ingalls led a Navy civilian work force of more than 500 people as the public works officer for the naval shipyard in Bremerton, Wash.

As street superintendent, Ingalls is credited with creating the Adopt-a-Street program, assisting with the new stormwater utility and enhancing snow removal. His salary will start at $29 per hour.

Assistant Street Superintendent Tim Martin will become the interim street superintendent. Martin has worked for the city for five years.

Presentation to focus on development density

Officials from the Urban Land Institute will be in Coeur d’Alene on Monday for a 9 a.m. presentation on development density.

“Higher Density Development Myth & Facts” will be an interactive presentation discussing misconceptions about density, pros and cons of high- and low-density development, and examples of high-density development done well. The speaker will be Maureen McAvey, the institute’s senior resident fellow.

The cost is $20 for members of the Urban Land Institute, and $35 for nonmembers. The event will be at the Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second St. Pre-registration is encouraged, but not required. To pre-register, call (800) 321-5011 or register online at www.myuli.org. The registration number is 8149-0609.

The presentation is sponsored by the Lake City Development Corp., the city of Post Falls, Hatch Mueller and the Coeur d’Alene Resort.

Deadline nears on Stars Award nominations

Idaho residents have a week left to nominate an individual, business or organization for the Brightest Stars Awards.

Gov. Dirk Kempthorne started this annual honor in 2001 to recognize the “unsung heroes” who help families and children.

The selection committee is composed of the governor, the Association of Idaho Cities, and both the governor’s Coordinating Council for Families and Children, and the Commission on Service and Volunteerism.

In selecting the award recipients, committee members look for people or entities that: provide necessities (food, shelter and safety); help at-risk youths; have given many years of volunteer service; are positive role models; inspire others to get involved.

Nomination forms may be obtained from the Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene city halls or downloaded from www.brighteststars.idaho.gov. The deadline for submissions to the mayors’ offices is Aug. 31. The awards will be presented in January at the state Capitol.