Barge fire adds to fireworks show
A fireworks barge floating on Hayden Lake caught fire during Tuesday night’s Independence Day celebration. No one was injured when the barge flared up near the end of a fireworks show in front of the Hayden Lake Country Club, said Northern Lakes Fire District Chief Marion Blackwell.
Northern Lakes Fire District keeps a specially equipped fire boat on the lake. The vessel was staffed at the time and just a short float away when flames were spotted, Blackwell said.
“The guys saw it when it caught on fire. They were right on top of it,” he said. “They just hit it with the deck gun.”
Flames from the barge could be seen from far across the lake. As they grew taller, several rockets appeared to explode from the barge, casting showers of colorful sparks onto the lake and prompting shouts and whoops from the armada of nearby pleasure boaters.
Blackwell said a cause has not yet been determined. “It probably had to do with the pyrotechnics,” he said. The district’s fire marshal will inspect the charred barge today.
– James Hagengruber
Bonner County
Charges in crash await test results
Bonner County Prosecutor Phil Robinson said his office is awaiting reports from an accident reconstructionist and results of urinalysis tests before charging Jason C. Miller in a deadly crash.
The 25-year-old Oldtown, Idaho, man was arrested Saturday after he hit a Cadillac Deville while trying to pass several cars. The driver of the Cadillac, 78-year-old Richard M. Boge, of Spokane, died at the scene, according to Idaho State Police.
Miller was arrested on charges of felony possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and felony vehicular manslaughter, according to ISP. So far, he has only been charged for possession of meth.
Bail was set at $25,000 on that charge. Miller remains in custody at the Bonner County Jail.
– Taryn Brodwater
Boise
Lobbyist registration required under order
Gov. Jim Risch has issued an executive order requiring anyone who lobbies his staff to register with the state and disclose spending.
The order expands HB 707, a bill unanimously passed by the Legislature this year to require those who lobby the executive branch to register and disclose spending, just as those who lobby the legislative branch do. The measure was prompted by concerns over agencies being lobbied regarding multimillion-dollar contract awards without any registration or disclosure.
“In reviewing the law, it appears that it does not cover employees of my office,” said Risch, a lawyer. “While the law requires registration and reporting by lobbyists that discuss issues with me, due to time and schedule constraints, those same people will often talk to my staff instead. The purpose of this law is to report the expenditures of lobbyists that work to influence a decision. This executive order will extend that law and require registration and reporting when contact is made with my staff as well.”
The order is good through Dec. 1, 2006 – the remainder of Risch’s term in office.
– Betsy Z. Russell