Body in lake identified as missing CdA man
A body found in a submerged car in Lake Coeur d’Alene over the weekend has been identified as that of Dale F. Nelson, a Coeur d’Alene businessman missing since Jan. 22.
An initial autopsy showed no signs of foul play that might explain how Nelson and his car ended up in water 40 feet deep off the Higgens Point boat ramp, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department said Monday.
A determination of the cause of death is pending toxicology and final autopsy reports.
Nelson, 49, was owner of J and D Stereo.
Divers found his 1999 Honda Civic upside down and partially covered in silt at about 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The car was even with the end of the docks, about 80 feet to 90 feet from the water’s edge and directly in line with the boat ramp, investigators said.
– Scott Maben
Spokane
Driver charged with malicious mischief
A man was arrested Sunday night after allegedly driving over 17 no-parking signs in northwest Spokane and destroying landscaping at Holy Family Hospital.
Joey D. Faris, 28, faces multiple charges including first-degree malicious mischief, driving under the influence and reckless driving, said Spokane Police spokesman Cpl. Tom Lee. Two boys, a 16- and a 17-year-old, in Faris’ pickup were charged with being a minor in possession of alcohol.
Faris’ truck was found stuck in bushes and small trees on the north side of Holy Family, Lee said.
The no-parking signs were in a five-block stretch of Belt Street north of Shadle Park.
– Jody Lawrence-Turner
Inland Northwest
Procrastinators sign up for Medicare drug plan
Last-minute clients flooded Inland Northwest offices Monday as they rushed to beat a sign-up deadline for Medicare Part D, the government’s new prescription drug plan.
In Idaho, 45 people had called or walked into the local office of the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors program by Monday afternoon.
“I think they’ve started to panic a little bit,” said Penny Wilhelm, the agency’s regional coordinator.
No final enrollment tally was available for Idaho and Washington late Monday, but officials said they expect the percent of eligible clients who have signed up to peak at about 70 percent, said Michael Marchand, a spokesman for the regional office of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
In Idaho, that would be about 135,800 people. In Washington, the figure would be closer to 621,000.
The deadline spurred tens of thousands to sign up for the program despite lingering questions. Many people who are eligible didn’t sign up because they are covered by pensions or private plans that offer benefits as good as or better than the Medicare option, officials said.
Still, across the country, procrastinators swelled the ranks of the newly enrolled, Marchand said.
“We had 70,000 nationally who enrolled online Friday,” he said.
Meanwhile, those who have helped senior citizens sort out their drug options said they’re glad the next deadline isn’t until November.
– JoNel Aleccia