4 injured in U.S. 95 collision
Four people were injured in a crash on Highway 95 on Monday evening, and police said alcohol may have been a factor.
Jason D. Tastad, 36, was driving south about 10 miles south of Coeur d’Alene when his 1997 Dodge Ram veered off the road and struck a guardrail, according to Idaho State Police. Tastad’s truck then came back onto the road, crossed the centerline and ran head-on into a 1998 Ford Contour driven by 66-year-old Ronald Womeldorff of Coeur d’Alene.
The Ford’s passengers, 60-year-old Nancy Womeldorff and 35-year-old Thomas Goldthorpe – were taken to Kootenai Medical Center. Ronald Womeldorff was listed in serious condition Tuesday night, said a KMC spokeswoman, and Nancy Womeldorff was listed in fair condition. Goldthorpe was treated and released.
Tastad, who also suffered injuries, was treated and released.
According to ISP reports, Tastad was under the influence of alcohol and could be charged in the crash.
NIC to hold free health seminars
North Idaho College is holding a series of evening seminars about health and wellness.
Feb. 6: “Recognizing and Treating Depression,” a talk by Amy Anderson, a family medicine doctor, about the causes, symptoms and treatments of depression.
Feb. 27: “Brain Attack! Stroke,” a talk by Madeleine Geraghty, a neurologist, about early intervention for stroke.
March 13: “Traveling Well,” a talk by Richard Gower, an internist, about medications, vaccines, jet lag prevention, and food and beverage consumption.
All seminars are free and open to the public. They run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Room 106 of the Meyer Health and Sciences Building on NIC’s main campus. For more information, call (208) 769-7818.Boise
Qwest gave money to lawmakers
At least 11 North Idaho legislators received campaign contributions of $300 or more from Qwest Corp. in recent months, though the company provides telephone service mainly in southern Idaho.
Qwest sponsored controversial legislation last year to deregulate local telephone service statewide. The bill passed, though it was a tied vote in the Senate and Lt. Gov. Jim Risch broke the tie.
According to 2005 campaign finance reports filed by Tuesday’s deadline, all but two House members – Reps. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries, and George Sayler, D-Coeur d’Alene – in districts 1 through 5 received at least $300 from Qwest in the past four months. Harwood and Sayler were the only two out of the group who voted against Qwest’s bill, HB 224, in the 2005 House vote. But in the Senate, Qwest gave $300 to Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, who voted against the bill, and nothing to Sen. Dick Compton, R-Coeur d’Alene, who voted for it. Risch got a $3,000 campaign contribution from Qwest PAC on Dec. 2.
To see complete campaign finance reports on the Internet, go to www.idsos.state.id.us, and click on “elections” and then “campaign finance.”
CdA library fines voided for food
Food will be as good as money this month at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library.
Patrons with overdue fines can pay with food instead of cash during the last two weeks of February..
The “Love Your Library – Food for Fines” amnesty starts Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. The library will forgive all debts to patrons who bring useable, nonperishable food items to the library, 201 E. Harrison Ave.
The amnesty applies only to overdue fines and not to charges for lost or damaged items. Food will be given to Community Action Partnership Food Bank in Coeur d’Alene. Pet foods collected by the drive will be given to the Humane Society.
Library patrons who don’t have overdue fines also are encouraged to donate.
For more information, go to www.cdalibrary.org or call (208) 769-2315.