Sandpoint legislator a Capitol mover

Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Sandpoint, is one of the top walkers at the state Capitol.

Anderson participated in the Regence BlueShield’s “Legislators on the Move” contest to raise money for health education by wearing a pedometer during the 2005 legislative session.

Anderson placed fifth in the state, logging 510,981 steps or 255.5 miles and Regence BlueShield awarded him $250 to donate to the school of his choice.

On Thursday, the insurance company presented the superintendent of the Boundary County School District with a check.

In addition to raising some money for health education, the contest was designed to raise public awareness about the importance of healthy living and the critical role exercise plays in preventing obesity and related health problems.

Labor Day weekend no holiday for sheriff

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement agencies statewide are increasing patrols for drunken drivers this holiday weekend.

The Idaho Transportation Department announced a statewide effort to crack down not only on drunk drivers, but those impaired by drugs.

The department said 103 people died in alcohol- or drug-related auto accidents in Idaho last year.

“Our message is simple – you drink, you drive, you lose,” Kevin Bechen of ITD’s Office of Traffic & Highway Safety said in a press release.

Small Statue of Liberty target of vandalism

Sandpoint A small replica of the Statue of Liberty has been removed from a city park because of vandalism.

City workers found the metal sculpture dangling in Lake Pend Oreille with severe cracks and gouges to its face and body, said Kim Woodruff, parks and recreation director.

Vandals had apparently unbolted the statue from its mount on a cement pier, he said, and it was hanging by a wire.

“She’s been severely damaged as well as defaced,” Woodruff said.

“We’re all pretty disappointed that something like this happened, and a lot of residents are very upset and have taken offense to the vandalism. For one thing, the Statue of Liberty is a symbol of our country, and secondly, it’s public property,” he said.

Woodruff didn’t immediately have an estimate on repair costs.

The statue was not the only thing the vandals hit.

City workers also found the City Beach concession stand broken into, the swim line in the lake severed, picnic tables turned over and garbage strewn throughout the park.

It’s the second time the Lady Liberty replica has been defaced since it was erected in 2002. Two years ago, Woodruff said, vandals colored the statue with magic marker pens. That mess was easily cleaned, he said.

Nampa library gets high-tech system

Nampa, Idaho The Nampa Public Library is reportedly the first in the state to go high-tech with a new computer-based check-out system.

All the library’s 90,000 books are being given bar-coded computer chips this week, said Camille Wood, assistant library director.

The system, designed to eliminate the long wait patrons now have in check-out lines, allows librarians to check out several books at once by placing a stack of them on top of an electronic pad, Wood said.

The library is also getting a self-serve check-out line in which patrons can scan their own books, similar to those used in some grocery stores, she said.

Library usage has grown by double digits in recent years, and so have complaints about long check-out lines, officials said.

The high-tech makeover costs more than $125,000. The money came from a grant from the Nampa Urban Renewal Agency, officials said.

Three charges dropped against Boise player

Boise Three of four felony charges against a Boise State University football player were dropped Thursday during a preliminary hearing on a traffic accident this spring that killed three members of a young family.

Ada County prosecutors announced in 4th District Court that they had decided to drop three counts of vehicular manslaughter against Cam Hall.

Hall, a 22-year-old senior from Kennewick, Wash., who voluntarily left the team following the May 7 accident.

Boise television station KTVB reported that prosecutors will seek to bind Hall over for trial on the remaining felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident. He also faces a misdemeanor count of reckless driving.

Prosecutors claimed Hall raced his black Ford Mustang at speeds of more than 100 miles an hour on State Highway 55 between Boise and Horseshoe Bend in an attempt to pass a truck driven by another man, Mark Lazinka of Boise.

Lazinka’s truck slammed into a Subaru, killing driver Tony Perfect, 23, his wife, Stephanie, also 23, and their 5-week-old daughter, Zoe.