Former athlete held in marijuana case

A former standout football player for Lake City High School is one of two men taken into custody by authorities who say they found 75 pounds of marijuana in their car during a traffic stop in Hayden.

Chase R. Storlie, 23, of Coeur d’Alene, and 51-year-old Wylie G. Hunter, of Scottsdale, Ariz., were arrested on trafficking charges about 2:30 p.m. Sunday by the Idaho State Police at Highway 95 near Honeysuckle Road, the agency said in a news release Monday.

The arrests were part of a two-year ISP investigation, authorities said.

The potent marijuana known as B.C. bud was found in the car the men were traveling in and had a street value of $225,000, the ISP said.

Both men were being held in the Kootenai County Jail and were expected to make their initial appearance in Kootenai County court today.

According to the state police, Hunter is on probation in connection with a prior drug smuggling case.

– Taryn Brodwater

Idaho

Activist seeks to replace Craig

An anti-immigration activist who planned to run against Sen. Larry Craig in 2008 is asking Idaho Gov. Butch Otter to appoint him to fill the remainder of Craig’s term.

Robert Vasquez announced Sunday that he wants to replace the senator, who is resigning from office Sept. 30.

Vasquez earlier announced he would challenge Craig in the 2008 election but bowed out in April citing fundraising challenges.

The former Canyon County commissioner lost to U.S. Rep. Bill Sali in the May 2006 Republican primary.

Otter will appoint the replacement for Craig, who resigned Saturday following a week of news reports about a June arrest and guilty plea. The arrest stemmed from an incident in which an undercover police officer said the senator was soliciting sex in a Minneapolis airport restroom.

Front-runners for Craig’s post include Lt. Gov. Jim Risch, 2nd District Rep. Mike Simpson, former Gov. Dirk Kempthorne and top Craig aide Sandy Patano.

– Taryn Brodwater

Hope, Idaho

Tree falls, killing 2 motorcyclists

A tree that fell across State Highway 200 knocked two people off a motorcycle Monday, killing them.

About 3:30 p.m., emergency crews were called to the accident near Hope, Idaho, where Tiffany Reindel, 29, and Rickie Blumer, 57, died at the scene, according to a news release from the Idaho State Patrol.

Blumer was driving a 2000 Harley-Davidson with Reindel when the tree on the north side of the road fell, according to the release.

Blumer and Reindel were wearing helmets.

– Peter Barnes