Body may be that of missing man
North Idaho searchers found on Sunday what authorities believe to be the remains of an 83-year-old Spokane Valley man who had been missing since Nov 14.
A body, believed to be that of James H. Warner, was found by Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department and Search and Rescue members at about 3:15 p.m. in a remote area of the Coeur d’Alene National Forest.
The search for Warner began at about 5:50 p.m. on Saturday after an all-terrain vehicle rider discovered the man’s abandoned vehicle on a forest road near the top of Colt Mountain in northeastern Kootenai County.
Investigators believe Warner’s 2005 maroon Buick LaCrosse became disabled and Warner, who reportedly suffered from dementia, attempted to walk out.
Inland Northwest
Heavy snow could arrive soon
The Inland Northwest has had it pretty easy so far this winter, but the weather might take a colder, whiter turn by the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
Whatever precipitation Spokane was to get overnight Sunday would pass into the Idaho Panhandle today, said weather service meteorologist Jeff Cote.
There also may be a chance of snow showers or snow mixed with rain Tuesday and Wednesday.
But the chance for some significant snowfall will come Friday with a cold trough of low pressure that has the potential to bring with it heavy snow for the weekend, Cote said.
The area also can expect temperatures in the 20s on Saturday, and “the highs will only get into the upper teens on Sunday,” the meteorologist said.
Pocatello, Idaho
Idaho Power seeks rate hike
State regulators are preparing to hear public comment from around the state on an Idaho Power Co. request to raise rates nearly 10 percent.
Public hearings on the request are planned for Pocatello, Twin Falls and Boise this month. Idaho Power made the request for a 9.8 percent rate increase, saying it needs to increase annual revenue by more than $66 million. The Idaho Public Utilities Commission responded with a proposed rate increase of 1.4 percent, which would amount to an annual revenue increase of $9.7 million a year.
Under the utility company’s proposal, residential customers would see an increase of 6.3 percent, while industrial and irrigation customers would see rate increases of 15 percent.
Port Townsend, Wash.
Paper mill will close for 10 days
The Port Townsend Paper Corp. mill will close Dec. 19 for at least 10 days, affecting about 275 employees.
The mill is Jefferson County’s largest private employer.
Mill manager Roger Loney said if sales don’t improve, another shutdown could happen in the next quarter of 2009. Loney said the market has decreased in both pulp and container board.
Loney said the plan is to get the mill back in operation on Dec. 29, but that timeline could change depending on sales during Christmas week.
Loney said the 275 employees will not be paid during the shutdown unless they use company vacation time, except for Christmas and Dec. 26, which are paid holidays.