Region in brief: UI student treated for meningitis
Officials with the North Central District Health Department say laboratory testing has confirmed that a University of Idaho student fell ill from bacterial meningitis.
The potentially deadly disease is contagious through close contact, and the health department has been working with the school to identify people who may have been exposed to the bacteria.
Health officials are giving antibiotics to anyone in danger of contracting the illness. Department officials said Friday that early treatment can get rid of the bacteria and that risk to the general public is very low.
The student, a member of a fraternity, fell ill last week and was taken by friends to Gritman Medical Center in Moscow. He was transferred to a Boise hospital for treatment and his condition was stabilized.
Spokane
Woman sought on felony drug warrant
Police are looking for Patricia A. Neal, 38, who is wanted on a felony drug warrant. She has one conviction for possession of a controlled substance. She is 5-foot-5 and weighs 120 pounds, with red hair and blue eyes. Her last given home address was 6123 E. Trent #1.
Crime Stoppers of the Inland Northwest is offering a reward for information that results in her arrest. Anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (509) 327-5111 or (800) 222-TIPS. Callers do not have to give their name to collect the reward.
YACOLT, Wash.
Man hurt in fall into St. Helens crater
A snowmobiler from Oregon suffered an injured leg but survived a fall of up to 200 feet into the crater of Mount St. Helens on Saturday.
Skamania County Undersheriff Dave Cox says 52-year-old John Slemp, from Damascus, Ore., was on one of three snowmobiles that climbed to the west crater rim.
Cox says Slemp got off his snowmobile and walked out onto a cornice overhanging the crater when it gave way.
He reportedly fell 100 to 200 feet before landing on the inside slope of the crater. He then slid on his hands and knees to the bottom of the crater.
He was wearing his snowmobile helmet, and Cox said there is a heavy snowpack in the area, so snow may have broken his fall.
Officials were notified at 5:20 p.m., and a private helicopter flew two paramedics to the crater and located Slemp about 7 p.m.
He had an injured leg, but was able, with assistance, to get to the helicopter and be flown out to Yacolt.
His exact condition and whether he required transport to a hospital weren’t immediately known.
Cox says the U.S. Forest Service will investigate the incident.
Seattle
City clearing out homeless camps
City officials plan to continue clearing out homeless camps on public property. But they won’t be throwing away tents, sleeping bags and other items belonging to homeless people.
Homeless advocates called that treatment inhumane. Seattle will now give 72 hours notice before clearning camps, and outreach workers will talk with the people there about available services.
Officials estimate 100 to 300 people live in encampments on 25 sites around the city.
Under the executive order signed this week by Mayor Greg Nickels, three tents or shelters within 300 feet of each other will be considered an unauthorized encampment.
ARLINGTON, Ore.
Former mayor alleges fraud in recall
The lingerie mayor senses a cover-up.
Carmen Kontur-Gronquist, the former mayor of Arlington, filed a lawsuit in Gilliam County Circuit Court this week alleging election fraud and mishandling of ballots in the February recall that cost her the office. It seeks to have the election overturned and Kontur-Gronquist reinstated as mayor.
Kontur-Gronquist, 42, got worldwide press this winter after some constituents complained about revealing photos the mayor posted on her MySpace page.
The shots show the mayor on a town fire engine clad in bra and panties. Kontur-Gronquist said she had permission from the fire chief to use the engine and had intended to submit the photos in a contest about fitness. She said a relative posted them on MySpace in hopes it would improve the social life of the single mother.
The lingerie issue, along with gripes about sewers and the municipal golf course, led residents to recall Kontur-Gronquist by a 142-139 vote.
The suit alleges the city recorder mishandled ballots and a postal worker kept mail ballots from several of the mayor’s supporters.
“There were a lot of loopholes that were brought to my attention after the election,” Kontur-Gronquist told the Oregonian newspaper. “I’d like to see this situation be looked into.”
The lawsuit lists as defendants the city of Arlington, its mayor and city council, the city recorder, a recall leader, the city attorney and an assistant postal worker.
“This is the most silly, frivolous thing ever,” Alice Courtney, a city councilwoman, said Friday.
Since her recall, Kontur-Gronquist has been selling signed copies of her most popular MySpace photo on eBay.