In brief: Iraq vet sentenced in OxyContin robbery

An Iraq war veteran who robbed a pharmacy of OxyContin while undergoing drug abuse counseling will stay in jail for about two more months.

Terran D. Schatz, 24, was sentenced to six months in jail Friday after pleading guilty to second-degree robbery.

He’ll be credited with about 120 days he’s served since his arrest June 12, five days after he robbed the Walgreens at 2830 E. 29th Ave.

An additional charge of second-degree assault was dismissed as part of the plea deal approved Friday by Spokane County Superior Court Judge Maryann Moreno.

Schatz joined the Army when he was 18 and spent six months in Iraq. He was enrolled in drug counseling at the Spokane Veterans Affairs Medical Center when he walked into the pharmacy and handed an employee a note stating he had a gun and demanding OxyContin. No gun was displayed.

Schatz apologized in court Friday.

“I know I can do right,” he said. “I’m just going to try, try real hard.”

Meghann M. Cuniff

Panhandle will have flu shots next week

Swine flu vaccinations will be available next Saturday in North Idaho.

The Panhandle Health District will provide the H1N1 vaccinations by appointment to people in Idaho’s five northern counties who fit into target groups set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They include pregnant women; people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age; people ages 6 months to 24 years old; people age 25 to 64 with chronic health problems that weaken the immune system; and health care and emergency response workers.

Clinics will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., a health district news release said. Clinic locations will be given when appointments are made, starting Thursday at 9 a.m., on the toll-free appointment line: (877) 415-5225. Appointments will be taken until the vaccine is gone.

Vaccinations begin in North Idaho schools on Monday. More public vaccination clinics are planned in upcoming weeks. For more information, visit www.phd1.idaho.gov or call the toll-free information line at (866) 528-3501.

In Spokane, the regional health district is offering a similar family clinic at Spokane Arena next Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until its initial supply of the vaccine runs out.

Staff reports