Son admits role in mom’s robbery
An 18-year-old is being held on $250,000 bond in the Kootenai County Jail after allegedly robbing his mother of more than $3,000.
Robert F. Sullivan came into his mom’s Post Falls apartment while she was sleeping Wednesday night, shoved her to the floor and said there was someone in the apartment with a knife who was robbing them both, Post Falls police Lt. Greg McLean said.
A man in dark clothing and with his face partially obscured by a bandanna entered the apartment, McLean said. He left with the woman’s wallet, and Sullivan allegedly told his mother he was going after the suspect.
McLean said the mother thought her son was involved in the crime and told police.
Sullivan was arrested and admitted that he helped devise a scheme to rob his mother, McLean said.
Sullivan reportedly told police he had a gambling problem.
McLean said police are continuing their investigation and do not yet know the identity of the second suspect.
North Idaho
Grants will fund tourism efforts
The Idaho Travel Council awarded more than $500,000 in grants Thursday to chambers of commerce and other tourism entities marketing North Idaho.
The Coeur d’Alene Area Chamber of Commerce was the largest recipient, with $293,000 in grant money. The Post Falls and Sandpoint chambers and the North Idaho Tourism Alliance also received funds.
The money comes from a state tax on hotel-motel receipts. Part of the funds collected are used for statewide tourism marketing, and part flows back to region where it was collected for local marketing.
Coeur d’Alene
Business leaders unhappy with NIC
North Idaho College President Michael Burke is under fire from some regional business leaders who are frustrated with the school’s professional-technical options.
As many as 25 business owners said they plan to sign a “letter of no confidence,” addressed to the community college’s governing board.
A draft of the letter states that the business community disagrees with the board’s decision to renew Burke’s contract and complains that the school is not doing enough to address business owners’ need for more vocational workers.
Ron Nilson, owner of Ground Force Manufacturing in Post Falls, said the letter is not calling for Burke to be fired.
“There is no malicious intent,” he said. “The message we’re sending to the board is that the college is responsible for matching the needs of the community, and we don’t think that’s being done to the level it should be.”
NIC spokesman Kent Propst said “it’s unfortunate and impolite” that business leaders circulated the letter before sending it to the board.