‘Nomad Bandit’ gets prison term
A man who became a bank robber after becoming miffed over an $800 overdraft charge from a Spokane bank will spend the next nine years in federal prison.
Jeremy Lewis Stewart, the “Nomad Bandit,” robbed 15 banks in Washington, Idaho and Oregon before being arrested in October 2006 while living in a rental house in Reardan, west of Spokane.
The 29-year-old robber pleaded guilty in May to robbing seven banks, including a US Bank branch at 7307 N. Division in December 2005.
He got away with $2,500 in that first holdup after being tagged with an $800 assessment by the bank while he was in the Spokane County Jail on an unrelated charge.
“Stewart stated that he tried to have the fees reversed, but US Bank officials would not cooperate or provide him assistance,” according to court documents filed in the case.
“Stewart stated the bank fees along with $30,000 in legal fees and court costs (he incurred) is what motivated him to start robbing banks,” the documents said.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Rice urged Judge Edward Shea to sentence Stewart to 120 to 150 months. Assistant Federal Defender Kim Deater asked the court to impose a sentence of 77 months.
The court was told the defendant was raised by a heroin-addict mother before beginning using drugs himself as a teenager.
Fatal crashes kill man and woman
Emergency workers were busy Thursday morning responding to fatal crashes south and north of Spokane.
One person was killed in a crash on Valley Chapel Road at Spangle Creek Road, south of Spokane.
Spokane County sheriff’s deputies responded to that wreck just before 5 a.m., when a driver reported seeing a tree blocking the road. When Deputy Daniel Knight investigated, he found a pickup truck under the tree.
The driver was found dead inside the cab of that truck. It appears he drove off the road and hit a dead pine, authorities said.
Another crash claimed the life of one person in Stevens County. That accident happened shortly before 5 a.m. on Quarry-Browns Lake Road, west of Highway 395, according to the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office.
The driver, Dolly Fauske, 29, was alone in a Toyota 4Runner that rolled off the road. She was not wearing a seat belt and was partially ejected from the SUV.
Kootenai County
Call DEQ before backyard burning
Kootenai County Fire and Rescue officials are reminding residents they must call the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality air quality phone line before burning outside yard waste.
Fire officials responded to 23 illegal burns over the weekend, eating up department resources.
“It’s a huge problem,” said Jim Lyon, spokesman for the fire and rescue agency. “Our resources get stretched over the district. That could impact response times.”
People who obtain an open burning permit must call the DEQ air quality phone number – (800) 633-6247, Option 3 – each day before burning to make sure conditions are green. Burning is not permitted during yellow or red conditions. Open burning permits cost $10 per year, $5 for seniors. A 10-day permit can be purchased for $3, $1 for seniors.
HAYDEN
City plans parade, more vet honors
The city of Hayden will hold a Veterans Day Parade at 11 a.m. Saturday.
The parade, which honors all veterans who have served in the nation’s defense, will begin at Miles Avenue and Government Way and move south to Prairie Shopping Center.
The city also will recognize the recent return of “The Wolfpack” – Bravo Company, 321st Engineers – from its tour in Iraq. Unit commander Lt. Jan Silbert and First Sgt. Scott Dale are grand marshals.
The parade also will honor Hayden’s first “Distinguished Veteran,” selected by a panel of veterans based on military service and ongoing involvement for the betterment of the community. During a public ceremony at 12:30 p.m., the city’s Historical Commission will present an oil portrait by local artist Patsey Parsons to the selected veteran, in the City Hall council chambers.
Pullman
Elton John to sing at WSU in April
Pop singer Elton John will sing in the Palouse wind at Washington State University for Mom’s Weekend in April.
John will be touring in support of his new album “Rocket Man: Number Ones,” which was released in March. That album features John’s No. 1 hits from the past three decades.
Prices to the April 12 concert haven’t been announced, but tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Jan. 25.
Get more information at www.beasley.wsu.edu.
BOISE
BSU will allow 21-gun salute
Boise State University officials, who earlier rejected a request from veterans to allow a 21-gun salute on Monday to mark Veterans Day, have now decided it can take place at Bronco Stadium.
School officials initially said they were concerned that gunshots on campus during classes could scare students and staff.
But late Thursday, officials gave the OK for the salute, though they still had concerns.
“We certainly promote Veterans Day activities, and yes we can send e-mails to all of our students and hand out fliers,” BSU spokesman Frank Zang told KTVB television in Boise. “Truthfully in this day and age not everyone reads their e-mail – it is hard to communicate with everyone.”
The school already planned events that included a flag-raising ceremony, the national anthem, an armored Humvee on campus, and a speech by Brig. Gen. Alan Gayhart, deputy commanding general of the Idaho National Guard.
Zang cited the fatal shootings last April at Virginia Tech as one reason why Boise State at first wasn’t going to allow the 21-gun salute. Boise State has recently practiced response training for such an event with Boise police.