Police say man robbed friend
Police say that when Jacob Stephen Beck learned a friend was in jail, he decided to burglarize her home. Now Secret Witness is offering a reward for information leading to Beck’s capture.
Beck disappeared after police caught him leaving the woman’s home Oct. 25 with her credit card, check cashing card, cell phones, jewelry and police scanner. He also had a methamphetamine pipe and meth in his possession, police say.
Now police are looking for Beck, 29, who is 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds with hazel eyes and brown hair. His multiple previous convictions include forgery, theft, burglary and unlawful possession of firearms.
Anyone with information about Beck’s whereabouts is asked to call (509) 327-5111.
Can in car may have been bomb
Police are investigating whether a suspicious device found in a used car Monday was actually an explosive.
The improvised pop can was found about 12:30 p.m. at Spokane Auto Sales, 3011 E. Sprague Ave., while the car was being detailed for resale, said Devin Presta, a Spokane police spokesman.
Spokane’s bomb squad detonated the device, Presta said.
COLUMBUS, Mont.
Winds, snow close interstate
Howling winds, black ice and blowing and drifting snow shut down Interstate 90 from Bozeman to Columbus on Sunday night.
It was still closed to semi-trucks and other tall vehicles until 9:37 Monday morning. At midday, tall vehicles were still being detoured through Livingston.
Around 300 trucks were parked in Columbus at 9 o’clock Monday morning, lining interstate access roads and filling super-sized parking lots. The interstate reopened about half an hour later.
MISSOULA
WIC making cuts to save money
A program that provides food to low-income women and their children is cutting the amount of milk participants receive to meet dietary guidelines and save money, officials said.
The program is called WIC, for women, infants and children. It serves more than 21,000 people and spends about $1 million a month on food in Montana. Rising food prices are cutting into that budget, said Joan Bowsher, WIC director for Montana.
Participants are given vouchers with a shopping list that allow them to buy a certain amount of milk, eggs, cheese, cereal, and peanut butter or dry beans or peas. The state reimburses the stores.
“The food package issues more milk to our clients than is recommended now,” Bowsher said.
The program is cutting the amount of milk the program will pay for from an average of six gallons per person, per month, to five. The cut does not apply to pregnant women under age 19, she said. The reduction will save the program about $70,000 a month, Bowsher said.