In brief: Milfoil found in Montana lake
A water weed that chokes out native plants and can clog shallow areas has been found in Montana for the first time, the state Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department says.
Montana and Wyoming had been the only states in the Lower 48 to escape an invasion of Eurasian water milfoil.
The weed was recently found near two boat launches on Noxon Reservoir near Trout Creek.
“We’ve been looking for it for years,” said Eileen Ryce, FWP’s aquatic nuisance species coordinator. “This is the first time we’ve recorded it in Montana.”
The weed probably made its way to Noxon Reservoir on the bottom of someone’s boat or trailer, officials said.
“It’s very easily moved around on trailers and boat props,” Ryce said. “It only takes a small piece of the plant for it to get a start in a new place. Once it gets started, it can grow very quickly.”
The state is surveying the Kootenai National Forest reservoir, a popular fishing spot, to determine the degree of infestation and will then think of ways to control it.
Twin Falls, Idaho
Alleged shoplifter detained, shot
A 19-year-old was fatally shot at a WinCo Foods store in Twin Falls after he was detained for alleged shoplifting and was being questioned by police.
Police Sergeant John Wilson says the dead man, identified as Logan Brizee, of Declo, was shot about 2 p.m. He was taken to St. Luke’s Magic Valley Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Wilson says he doesn’t know how many shots were fired, who fired the shots, or what led to the shooting.
Wilson says WinCo employees had detained a man for shoplifting and called police.
He says Brizee and two officers were in a side room when the shooting occurred. It’s not known if any store employees were in the room.
Wenatchee
Last locally owned bank bought out
The only locally owned bank with headquarters here is being bought by a larger bank based in Walla Walla for about $18.5 million.
The agreement has been approved by the boards of both NCW Community Bank of Wenatchee and Banner Corp. of Walla Walla, but the deal has to pass federal regulators and NCW Community Bank shareholders before it can close near the end of the year.
Mel Hansen, president and chief executive officer of NCW Community Bank, said he believes the bank’s 240 shareholders, all local, will approve the deal. He said they will get Banner stock and cash equaling $18.5 million at approximately $41 a share. The bank’s original stock sold at $16.67 per share in 1999, he said.
NCW is a state-chartered commercial community bank with $100 million in assets, $90 million in loans, $89 million in deposits and shareholder equity of about $9 million, he said.
YAKIMA
Stabber gets two life sentences
A man who killed his former girlfriend’s new boyfriend and stabbed her repeatedly after warning them to stop dating has been given to two life prison sentences.
Richard Rangel, 53, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, first-degree assault and domestic violence.
Yakima County Superior Court Judge James Gavin sentenced him Friday to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole.
On April 27, 2006, Rangel showed up at Kevin Underwood’s home near Grandview, stabbed him to death, and then stabbed Lee Ann Ferson 38 times after chasing her to a neighbor’s trailer.