In brief: Police charge man after girl hit, dies
A Lewiston girl died Monday after she and a 54-year-old man were struck by a vehicle that left the scene.
The driver was arrested in Clarkston, according to the Lewiston Police Department. James W. Schuetze, 45, has been charged with DUI, driving with a suspended license and felony leaving the scene of an injury collision.
At 7:39 p.m. Monday, Lewiston emergency crews responded to a report of an accident involving pedestrians. They found 8-year-old Sydney W. Byrd with extensive head injuries. She died at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center. Gregory D. Engel was treated at Saint Joseph, police Lt. Alan Johnson said in a press release.
The investigation has been referred to the Nez Perce County prosecutor’s office for review, and further criminal charges may be coming, Johnson said.
– Thomas Clouse
Region
Information sought for military memorial
Later this month The Spokesman-Review will memorialize members of the military from the region who have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
If you know of someone killed after leaving Eastern Washington or North Idaho to serve in those countries, please let us know.
Call the city desk at (509) 459-5403 or e-mail news@spokesman.com. Please use a subject line of “war memorial.”
– Staff reports
PORTLAND
Out-of-court deal struck in sea lion case
The Humane Society of the United States has reached an agreement with state and federal governments that blocks killing or permanent removal of sea lions in the Columbia River until early 2009.
In return, the Humane Society will drop its appeal in federal court against the U.S. Commerce Department and the governments of Oregon and Washington, Sharon Young, the society’s field director of marine issues, said Tuesday.
A panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was to hear a case Thursday that could have led to killing some sea lions at Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River. An appeals court panel authorized nonlethal trapping earlier but banned killings until it could hear arguments.
State and federal governments would be allowed to move sea lions temporarily, brand them for identification and return them to their original habitats.
Meanwhile, the body of a sea lion was recovered Tuesday from the Columbia River near Portland, and its death is under investigation.
The animal was spotted floating in the river Tuesday near the Interstate Bridge between Oregon and Washington – just two days after six sea lions were found shot to death in traps on the Columbia near Bonneville Dam.
There was no indication whether the latest sea lion death was also a killing or whether it was natural causes.
– Associated Press