In brief: Bill bans new elk farms, blocks ‘canned hunts’
A new bill seeks to ban controversial “canned hunts” at Idaho’s domestic elk ranches starting in 2009 and to prohibit future elk farms.
Introduced Thursday by Sen. David Langhorst, D-Boise, the legislation is just the latest of a handful of bills that would restrict elk ranching after a large elk escape from an eastern Idaho ranch last summer.
Langhorst’s bill would forbid new elk ranches starting this summer and would make importing domestic elk a felony.
Langhorst also proposed a bill to require two layers of 8-foot fencing for elk farms to help prevent escape and transmission of disease.
The Idaho Elk Breeders Association, whose members include Panhandle ranchers, introduced competing legislation that would create a license system for elk farms overseen by the Idaho Department of Agriculture and funded by a one-time $200 fee.
The Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee will likely start hearings on domestic elk in two weeks.
– Parker Howell
Spokane
Trial delayed in crash that killed five children
The trial of a Deer Park man accused of killing five children from a Chewelah family has been postponed.
Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor Clint Francis said the trial of Clifford Lee Helm has been rescheduled from later this month to April 7.
Helm, 56, was charged with five counts of vehicular homicide in connection with the Nov. 1, 2005, collision on U.S. 395 north of Spokane.
Helm was heading north in his 1999 Ford F-250 pickup when he crossed into oncoming lanes and crashed head-on into a 1986 Ford pickup driven by 39-year-old Jeffrey Schrock, investigators said.
Helm and Schrock suffered serious injuries but have since recovered.
Killed were Carmen,12; Jana, 10; Carinna, 8; Jerryl, 5 and Craig, 2.
Six weeks after the crash, Schrock’s wife, Carolyn Schrock – who was not in the truck – gave birth to a baby girl, Jolynn.
The Schrocks, who live near Chewelah, have told prosecutors that they don’t want Helm to face trial for what they called a tragic accident.
– Thomas Clouse
Spokane Diocese details bankruptcy plan
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane filed court papers further detailing a $48 million plan to end its bankruptcy by paying victims and lawyers, and restructuring how parishes are operated.
The disclosure statement submitted Thursday acts as a prospectus, soliciting support for the sweeping plan that calls on parishes to secure $16 million in notes.
It does not detail exactly how the diocese and parishes envision financing any shortfall from fundraising efforts.
The diocese filed for bankruptcy in December 2004.
To read the disclosure statement and plan of reorganization, go to www.spokesman.com.
– John Stucke