Region in brief: One-car crash kills Cusick man
A 53-year-old Cusick, Wash., man has died after being injured in a car crash in Pend Oreille County on Thursday, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Mark S. Holder died Saturday afternoon at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, where he was flown after he was injured in a one-vehicle collision on LeClerc Road at milepost 32.
The State Patrol said Holder failed to negotiate a curve and rolled his 1985 Buick Regal, striking several trees before being ejected from the car. Holder was not wearing a seat belt, and the investigating officer believes drugs or alcohol was involved in the crash.
Officials to weigh wolf-hunt quotas
IDAHO FALLS – Wolf-hunting quotas will be considered today by Idaho Fish and Game commissioners.
The commissioners may phase in state hunting quotas for wolves as part of efforts to reduce their numbers to 518, about half the estimated 1,000 predators now roaming the state.
Last month, wildlife officials in neighboring Montana voted to let hunters there shoot 75 wolves starting in mid-September.
Cleanup feud costs $3 million
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash. – A disagreement between Washington and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over who should manage a Bainbridge Island Superfund site has cost the cleanup effort $3 million.
In April, the EPA directed $5 million in federal stimulus money to clean and contain contaminants at the Wyckoff-Eagle Harbor site.
The Kitsap Sun reports the EPA must return $3 million after failing to negotiate a new management contract with the state Department of Ecology. Without a new agreement, the money can only be spent on projects allowed under an old agreement.
The EPA wants to transfer site operations and maintenance to Ecology in 2011.
But Ecology’s Tim Nord said the state didn’t want that responsibility. He said the EPA also refused to share maintenance costs.
State to auction ski cabins, more
SEATTLE – The Washington State Department of Transportation plans to auction off surplus buildings, including 22 ski cabins in Glacier.
The buildings, including a two-story lodge and manufactured home, will be open for public viewing today.
The auction begins 10 a.m. Wednesday. Bids start at $10.
The cabins are on a 3.4-acre piece of property known collectively as the Glacier Creek Lodge. WSDOT purchased the property as part of an $11.7 million bridge replacement project near Gallup Creek.
Open house held for new museum
POST FALLS – After 15 years of planning and work, the Post Falls Museum has opened in North Idaho.
The Post Falls Historical Society held an open house Saturday for the museum that includes a room dedicated to the old Post Falls Sawmill, an area honoring military veterans, and another with historical items from school rooms.
John Reynolds, president of the society, said most of the items in the museum are owned by the society, with a few on loan.
“The city was built on lumber,” Reynolds said.
There is also an oral history and video room.
Day care sued after boy’s death
TWIN FALLS, Idaho – A Twin Falls woman has filed a lawsuit against the owners of a day care and two of its employees following the death of her 14-month-old son.
Shyloh Masuo filed the lawsuit last week in 5th District Court against Happy Feet Day Care owners Gloria Galan and Julio Silva, and two unnamed employees. The Times-News reports that she is seeking at least $25,000 in damages.
Masuo alleges that Brendan Joshua Becker died on July 5 due to negligence by the owners and two employees.
Twin Falls police say emergency responders were called to the day care on July 3 because Becker was not breathing.
He was resuscitated but died two days later at a Boise hospital. Police say the death is still under investigation.
Deaf, lame dog finalist for movie
MISSOULA – A deaf, three-legged Dalmatian-terrier mix from Missoula is one of a dozen finalists in an online casting call for the role of “Scrap” in an upcoming movie “Lucky and Rich.”
Torpedo, adopted by Elena Contreras, will compete with other finalists in an online, interactive show called “World Three-Legged Dog Idol,” where voters decide the winner.
Contreras said contest details remain uncertain, but she believes it will involve videotaping tricks, the ability to follow commands and giving people a sense of the dog’s personality.