Ex-CEO of casino elected to council

David Matheson has been elected to a three-year term on the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s governing council.

Matheson, 55, was fired a year ago as chief executive officer of the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel. He was later sued by the tribe for breach of fiduciary responsibility over a $684,000 severance package paid to another casino executive who resigned over undocumented casino credit card expenses, according to tribal court documents.

Matheson, who contends that his firing and the lawsuit were politically motivated, said Monday that he felt vindicated by the election results. He said he received a majority of votes cast, although tribal officials did not return phone calls Monday with official results.

Charlotte Nilson was also elected. She could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon.

Matheson and Nilson will replace Francis SiJohn, who did not seek re-election, and Norma Peone, who was not re-elected.

After the new council members were sworn in, the seven-member council re-elected Chief Allan as chairman.

Allan did not return phone calls Monday for comment.

Matheson said he does not know how his election to the council will affect the pending lawsuit against him. “We haven’t talked about it,” he said.

Matheson filed a countersuit in tribal court for wrongful termination, which was dismissed earlier this year on grounds of the tribal government’s immunity. Matheson said he plans to appeal.

Spokane Valley

Officers named in Taser incident

The police officers involved in an incident that saw a man go to the hospital in critical condition have been identified.

During a May 2 incident, officers used a Taser on a man who appeared to have just had a seizure.

The man, Trent A. Yohe, 37, lost consciousness and has been in critical condition since, said Spokane Valley Police Department spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan.

The first Spokane Valley police officer to arrive at the scene was Scott Bonney, hired in 2002, said Officer Jennifer DeRuwe, Spokane Police Department spokeswoman. The department investigated the incident.

Also present were K-9 Officer John Cook, hired in 1985; Michael Wall, hired in 2001; and Griffen Criswell, hired in 1998.

Three of the four officers have returned to their normal duties, DeRuwe said.

Spokane county

Details sought on ex-convict

Secret Witness is offering a reward for information that leads to the arrest of a man wanted for first-degree possession of stolen property.

Scott Allen Johnson, 47, is described as 6 feet tall and 210 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes, said Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Dave Reagan.

Johnson has prior convictions for possession of stolen property and possession of a controlled substance, Reagan said. His arrest warrant carries a $50,000 bond.

Anyone with information is asked to call (509) 327-5111. Tipsters do not have to give their name to collect the reward but should leave a code name or number.

Inland northwest

Highs in 80s expected today

Much of the Inland Northwest is going to see 80-degree-plus temperatures today for the first time in more than half a year.

High temperatures are expected to reach 83 degrees in downtown Spokane and the Spokane Valley, with a high of 79 forecast for Coeur d’Alene.

If the National Weather Service is right, it will be the first time the thermometer has hit such heights since Sept. 29, when the temperature reached 81 at Spokane International Airport.

The record for May 8 was set in 1987, an 88-degree day.

Temperatures are expected to be 13 or 14 degrees cooler on Wednesday, said forecaster Jon Fox. But there is no mention of rain in the forecast during the coming week.

This year, Spokane has had 4.22 inches of precipitation, about 2 inches below normal.

Gardeners should note that May 4 is the average date of last frost at the airport.

Coeur d’alene

Group nears goal for Shasta house

The effort to build a house for crime victim Shasta Groene is nearly complete.

A “Shasta Fiesta” dinner and auction Saturday raised $94,000, enough to finish paying for the lot and cover future property taxes on the house.

The $94,000 brings the total amount raised to about $158,000, said organizer Midge Smock, of Windermere Coeur d’Alene Realty. Construction materials and labor have been donated.

The home is scheduled to be complete in time for 10-year-old Shasta and her father, Steve, to move in by July 4. The home still needs furniture, and more fundraisers are scheduled, starting with an opportunity for people to shred personal papers using a shredding machine that will be set up in Windermere’s parking lot May 15. For information, call (208) 664-9221.

From staff reports