Hearing planned on water rate increase
A proposed 87 percent increase in water rates for the customers of the Diamond Bar Water Estates is the topic of a Sept. 26 public hearing.
The hearing takes place at 7 p.m. at the Rathdrum Senior Center, 8037 W. Montana St. The Idaho Public Utilities Commission will conduct the meeting.
Diamond Bar Water Estates serves about 43 households. The company is proposing raising rates from $21 per month to $50 per month for the first 7,500 gallons of water used. Each additional 1,000 gallons of water would cost customers 52 cents.
Idaho PUC staff is recommending charging $29 per month for the first 4,000 gallons and 73 cents for every additional 1,000 gallons of water used. Commission staff said that proposal would help encourage water conservation, while still allowing Diamond Bar to cover its costs.
More information is available at the commission’s Web site, www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on the water icon, then on “Open Water Cases,” and scroll down to Case No. DIA-W-07-01.
– Becky Kramer
Spokane
2 men in car accused of racial harassment
As they walked along Wellesley Avenue about noon Monday, a black man and his 15-year-old stepdaughter chose to ignore two men who repeatedly harassed them while driving past.
Until the sixth pass. The hecklers gave up commenting about the pedestrians’ clothing and yelled out a derogatory racial slur, throwing a bag of garbage at them, according to a Spokane police news release.
The stepfather called police, who spotted a white sedan matching the description of the suspects’ vehicle 10 minutes later at 5100 N. Driscoll Blvd., police said. Two men were inside, and police detained them until the victims could arrive at the scene and identify them.
Joseph W. Wentz, 19, of Spokane Valley, and Joshua J. Driggs, 18, of Spokane, were arrested on charges of misdemeanor harassment. Police described Wentz as Hispanic/Native American/white and Driggs as white.
– Nick Eaton
Boise
Proposal could give BSU geothermal heat
Boise State University could get geothermal heat to some of its buildings in the next few years.
U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo announced Monday that he has obtained committee approval for $250,000 in federal funding for the city of Boise’s Public Works Department to expand its geothermal system across the Boise River for use at BSU.
The funding is part of the Fiscal Year 2008 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. It still must be approved by the full Senate and signed by the president.
– Idaho Statesman