Man sought in Dog Beach rape

The Bonner County Sheriff’s office is looking for a man accused of raping a woman Saturday afternoon in the Dog Beach area near Sandpoint.

A woman told police that a white man rode up behind her on a bicycle Saturday about 3 p.m, climbed off the bike and forced her to the ground.

The suspect was described as about 6 feet tall with possibly bushy hair, wearing black bicycle spandex pants, a black T-shirt and a black bandana.

The victim was treated at Bonner County General Hospital and released shortly afterward.

Anyone with information should contact the Bonner County Sheriff’s office at (208) 263-8417.

Plummer, Idaho

Three installed on tribal council

Newly elected members of the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Council were sworn into office Monday during a public ceremony at the tribal headquarters in Plummer.

Valerie Fast Horse and Norma Jean “Jeanie” Louie join the seven-member tribal council, the governing body of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. Chief J. Allan won re-election for another three-year term. Elections were held Saturday.

Tribal elder Felix Aripa gave an invocation to begin Monday’s ceremony and administered the oath of office to the three council members.

Afterward, the council picked Allan to remain chairman and Francis SiJohn to remain vice chairman.

“Many critical issues lie before us, and I am confident of the superb nature of each and every council member here today as they come forward to offer their best abilities as we solve challenges and lead the way for many future generations of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe,” Allan said.

Post Falls

Utility work shuts stretch of road

McGuire Road is closed in Post Falls between Poleline and Prairie today through Wednesday.

The closure is for sewer and water work.

Tacoma

WWII crash site remains identified

A Tacoma man has been identified as one of four World War II airmen killed in a 1944 plane crash in Tibet, the Department of Defense said Monday.

On March 27, 1944, Pfc. Gerald L. Rugers Jr. was a radio operator aboard a C-46 that left a base in Kunming, China, as part of Allied resupply missions over the Himalayas.

The four-man crew included Rugers, pilot Capt. Douglas R. Wight of Westfield, N.J., co-pilot 1st Lt. Herbert W. Evans of Rapid City, S.D., and crew chief Cpl. John W. Hanlon of Arnett, Okla.

En route to Sookerating, India, one of the crewmen called out for a bearing, suggesting the aircraft was lost, according to a Defense Department news release. There was no further communication and the aircraft never reached its destination.

A crash site was never found during subsequent searches.

In 2001, China said wreckage from an American WWII aircraft had been found on Meiduobai Mountain in a remote area of Tibet. The site was excavated the following year, uncovering human remains, aircraft debris and personal items from the 1944 crew.

The remains were identified using DNA testing and dental analysis, the Defense Department statement said.

Crew members were to be buried today with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

From staff and wire reports