ISP: Man accidentally kills his son
A 2-year-old Princeton, Idaho, boy died Friday afternoon when his father unknowingly backed a pickup over him, the Idaho State Police reported.
Cliff Heilman-Mueller, 26, also of Princeton, was backing the Ford pickup toward a camp trailer on private property off McKinneyville Road when the accident occurred in the northern Latah County town, the ISP said.
Troopers responded about 2 p.m. The boy, whom the ISP did not identify, died at the scene.
Idaho Guard to send 12 more to Iraq
The Idaho Army National Guard will deploy a dozen more soldiers to Iraq after a month of training, which begins next Tuesday at Fort Carson, Colo.
The troops, who come from towns all across Idaho, will join the 116th Brigade Combat Team, the bulk of which is stationed near Kirkuk in north central Iraq, according to the Guard’s public information office in Boise. Similar troop movements also occurred in February, March and April.
With the latest deployments, the total number of Idaho Army National Guardsmen taking part in Operation Iraqi Freedom will increase to 1,800, leaving more than 2,500 Guard members available to deal with emergencies in Idaho. The 116th Brigade is made up of about 4,300 troops from 20 states.
Panhandle Health honors four heroes
The Panhandle Health District named four North Idaho health heroes this week based on community nominations.
Health Heroes is a new award recognizing people, organizations and businesses that protect, promote and enhance health for North Idaho residents.
Becky Stein, board chairwoman for the Community Health Clinic in Shoshone County, was recognized for the time she spends finding medication and health care supplies for uninsured residents in the Silver Valley.
Dr. Wayne Ellenbecker in Coeur d’Alene was honored for his attention to the early detection of vision problems in young children. Ellenbecker donates his time to screen infants and toddlers for vision problems at the health district. When he finds problems, he refers parents to a pediatric ophthalmologist rather than his own practice.
John Beck, a physical education specialist in Boundary County, was named a Health Hero for his dedication to student health through physical activity. Beck engaged children in walking and skiing programs. He helped students who couldn’t afford to raise money through recycling. He motivated students to raise more than $3,800 for the American Heart Association through Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart programs.
Fred Weber and Charlayne Streeter, who run Competitive Fitness and Physical Therapy in Coeur d’Alene, were honored for developing programs for basic fitness, overweight children and senior fitness based on feedback from doctors and patients.
Bank trainer to lead United Way campaign
Linda Holehan, an operational trainer for Mountain West Bank, will lead the 2006 United Way of Kootenai County campaign that runs Sept. 1 to Dec. 15.
The annual campaign raises money for 27 nonprofit agencies in Kootenai County. Money raised in the county stays in the county.
Holehan began working with United Way six years ago as a loaned executive and has led the Mountain West Bank campaign for five years.
“I’m very excited,” Holehan said in a prepared statement. “I see nothing but positive community support from the people in Kootenai County.”
State has jobs program for some seniors
The Idaho Department of Commerce and Labor wants to put a few good seniors to work.
The Senior Community Service Employment Program, a Commerce and Labor service, offers low-income people older than 54 job training and support needed for permanent jobs. The program pays wages for participants to work at temporary assignments in community nonprofit organizations, such as libraries, hospitals, community colleges and social service organizations.
Participants earn minimum wage and may work up to 40 hours a week.
As part of the program, Commerce and Labor assesses job skills and interests, helps set goals, updates resumes, provides job leads and conducts workshops and counseling about job searches and interviews. Judy Gray, Commerce and Labor spokeswoman in Coeur d’Alene, says most participants find permanent employment after a few months.
For more information, call 769-1558, ext. 3980.
Two men charged in reservation assault
Boise Federal prosecutors have charged two homeless men with felony counts of aggravated sexual abuse in the alleged abduction of a Lapwai woman on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation in north-central Idaho.
The men, who federal authorities believe are from the Spokane area, were arrested April 23 in White Bird outside the reservation by Idaho County sheriff’s deputies after the woman said she escaped from a motorhome driven by the men.
Arnold Scott, 53, and Gerald Bainbridge, 44, had an initial hearing on the charges Friday in Coeur d’Alene via video-conferencing with a federal judge in Boise. Prosecutors say additional evidence may be presented to a federal grand jury and another hearing in the case is scheduled for Thursday.
The two men had been held in the Idaho County Jail in Grangeville since their arrest, each charged with first-degree kidnapping. On Thursday, Idaho County prosecutors dropped the state charges and the men were arrested by federal officers. They were moved to Coeur d’Alene to face the felony counts, which carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and $250,000 in fines.
Town may ban some vacation rental homes
Cascade, Idaho Members of Cascade’s Planning and Zoning Commission want to ban vacation rental homes near the lake and golf course. Officials claim the renters create too much noise, garbage and traffic in residential areas.
But Jackie Lee, who manages rental properties in the area, said a ban would be discriminatory and conflict with the city’s effort to promote tourism.