Feds plan to seek execution for Duncan
Federal prosecutors want to seek the death penalty for Joseph Duncan, the U.S. attorney’s office confirmed Friday.
The ultimate decision on whether Duncan could face death for alleged crimes against Dylan and Shasta Groene lies with the U.S. attorney general, said Jean McNeil, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Idaho. McNeil said there is no timeline set for that decision.
Kootenai County prosecutors are already seeking death for Duncan for the May 2005 deaths of the children’s mother, their 13-year-old brother and their mother’s boyfriend. Duncan is set to be tried on those crimes Oct. 16.
Duncan has yet to be charged with the kidnappings of the children and 9-year-old Dylan’s subsequent death. Federal authorities have said he may also be charged with production of child pornography and related sex crimes against the children.
– Taryn Brodwater
Post Falls
Six finalists named for city administrator
Post Falls officials have named six finalists for the city administrator position, vacated by Jim Hammond, who is running for the Idaho Senate.
The public can meet and greet the finalists at 7 p.m. Monday at the Post Falls Library.
The finalists include:
“ Kelly Arnold has 25 years of public sector experience related to city management. He has been the city manager of Grand Junction, Colo., for six years.
“ Eric Keck is the senior project coordinator for the Wadsworth Development Group in Utah. Keck has more than 10 years of public sector experience, primarily related to city management.
“ Larry Lehman has been a city manager for nearly 30 years and has served as the Pendleton, Ore., city manager for the last 13 years.
“ Gary Milliman has more than 25 years of experience in local government management, including 17 years as city manager for Fort Bragg, Calif. He is currently the city manager for South Gate, Calif.
“ Paul Schmidt has been with the city of Cheney for more than 20 years and has been the city administrator for the past seven years.
“ Robert Strope has nearly 10 years of city management experience, and is the city administrator for Long Beach, Wash.
– Sam Taylor
Contest to decide the Strongest Man
Think you’ve got the brawns to pull an 8-ton semi-truck or flip a 700-pound tractor tire? Then test your muscles today at the Strongest Man Competition in Post Falls.
About 35 people are signed up for the competition, organizer Luke Patterson said, which is recognized by the North American Strong Man Society, an official organization for competitors.
In its second year, the competition is free to spectators and open to anyone, man or woman. There are teams and women’s divisions, as well as divisions for different weight classes. Anyone wanting to sign up for the competition today must pay $75.
Many of the men signed up have been in similar competitions many times before, Patterson said.
The top two winners in each division will go on to a national competition. The event begins at 9 a.m. today at the Hot Rod Café.
– Meghann M. Cuniff