Chairman, others elected to council
Two Coeur d’Alene Tribe members were re-elected to their posts Saturday, and a third, new member joins the seven-member tribal council, officials announced Monday.
Tribe Chairman Chief Allan, who was elected to a third term, was also unanimously reappointed to the chairman post by the council.
“This victory is not my win, but that of the people,” Allan said in a press release.
Norma Jean “Jeanie” Louie was re-elected to her seat. Louie is the director of the tribe’s social services department.
Newcomer Paulette Jordan replaced Valerie Fast Horse, who did not seek re-election. Jordan, 29, is the youngest member of the tribal council and serves as director of enrollment for the tribe.
The tribal election, held Saturday, had the highest voter turnout in 11 years, with 573 voters. Council members serve staggered, three-year terms.
Spokane
Stolen car found with sleepy teen
A Spokane teenager who police say asked convenience store customers for help hot-wiring a stolen car eventually fell asleep in it, leading to his arrest.
Cody A. Gronau, 19, was in the parking lot at the Zip Trip at 1523 W. 10th Ave. early Saturday when he had problems getting his car started and asked a clerk for a screwdriver and pliers, then tried hot-wiring the car with a customer, according to Spokane police.
The car wouldn’t start, and Gronau fell asleep inside until police arrived about 5:50 a.m. and discovered the car had been stolen a few hours earlier, according to court papers.
Gronau appeared in Spokane County Superior Court Monday on a felony charge of first-degree possession of stolen property. Bail was set at $2,500.
Burglary suspect turns himself in
One of two men wanted in an overnight prescription pill burglary turned himself in to police.
Anthony D. Barton, 20, appeared Monday in Spokane County Superior Court on charges of second-degree burglary, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and second-degree malicious mischief. Bail was set at $25,000.
He’s accused of stealing more than 2,400 pills of hydrocodone and the anti-anxiety medicine clonazepam from the Community Health Association of Spokane clinic on North Maple Street on March 2.
Suspect Dale J. Chodorowski, 22, remains at large, and police are asking anyone with information about his whereabouts to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.
Barton traveled from Oregon to turn himself in, said his lawyer, David Miller.
OLYMPIA
Gregoire signs felon voting bill
Starting this summer, convicted felons will be able to reregister to vote once they’re no longer on parole or probation.
Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a bill Monday that eases the restoration of voting rights for felons who are no longer in Washington state custody but owe court-ordered fines and restitution. It takes effect July 26.
“We have come to understand we can’t create a debtor’s prison here,” Gregoire said.
The new law removes the requirement that felons must pay off all restitution and other court fees before their voting rights are restored. However, under the new law, voting rights could be revoked if a felon willingly fails to make regular payments on those financial obligations.