In brief: Bracelet’s original owner identified

The original owner of the brass bracelet Jenifer Priest purchased nearly 20 years ago has been identified.

After the a story ran in The Spokesman-Review on Aug. 22, Priest heard from Ray Geraghty, who said the bracelet was made by his mother, Catherine Geraghty, for his grandmother Ethel Geraghty.

It was stolen from Catherine Geraghty’s house in the 1970s.

Catherine Geraghty had four sons and her brother had two, hence the six old charms with boys’ names on them.

“I’m just so happy,” Priest said, after meeting with Ray Geraghty.

The two newer charms, also with boys’ names on them, were Ethel Geraghty’s great-grandchildren.

Ray Geraghty declined to talk to The Spokesman-Review.

“He told me he is very close to his daughter and he hopes to give the bracelet to her,” Priest said. “It all feels complete now.”

Death related to Ecstasy

The June 28 death of a 22-year-old Portland man who had attended the Paradiso Festival in Central Washington has been ruled an accident related to the illegal drug Ecstasy.

Beau B. Brooks died the morning after the two-day festival, held at the Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington. He died from complications of acute methylendioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) poisoning, Chelan County Coroner Wayne Harris said.

MDMA is a stimulant and psychedelic drug, and it raises body temperature, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

A second man died after becoming ill at the outdoor electronic dance music showcase. Vivek Pandher, 22, died July 4 at Vancouver General Hospital in British Columbia, the British Columbia Coroners Service said.

Many who were treated after attending the festival suffered from drug intoxication or heat exhaustion. The temperature reached 107 degrees June 27, the second day of the festival.

Brooks was one of 53 concertgoers brought for emergency room care at Quincy Valley Medical Center over the course of the weekend. He died after being transferred to Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee.

Police: No foul play in death

MOSCOW, Idaho – Police believe a man found dead behind a sporting goods store Sunday evening may have been under the influence of alcohol when he tumbled down a steep embankment.

No foul play is suspected in the death of Kristofer Cannard, 37, whose body was found in a narrow space against the back wall of Tri-State Outfitters off the Pullman-Moscow Highway.

Police and fire officials responded to a 911 call from a resident of the apartment complex at the top of the embankment. The caller was concerned about a man “lying down” behind the building, Moscow police Lt. David Lehmitz said.

Residents watched as authorities used a stretcher and ropes to hoist Cannard’s body out of the crevice, up the hill and through a hole in a chain-link fence into the apartment complex parking lot.

The incident is still under investigation, and a preliminary toxicology report is expected by today. It’s not clear when or why Cannard went to the area, and Tri-State doesn’t have a security camera behind the store, Lehmitz said.

“We’re still trying to track down the time he was last seen,” Lehmitz said. “Alcohol, we believe at this point, may have been a contributing factor.”

Cannard and his girlfriend recently had relocated from the Coeur d’Alene area and had been staying in various motels in Moscow, Lehmitz said.

Avista rate workshop planned

Idaho customers of Avista Utilities can learn about the company’s request for higher rates at a 7 p.m. Wednesday workshop at the Lake City Center, 1916 Lakewood Drive in Coeur d’Alene.

Avista is asking for a two-year rate plan that would raise base rates for electricity by 5.2 percent in 2016 and 5.1 percent in 2017, and natural gas rates by 4.5 percent in 2016 and 2.2 percent in 2017.

Idaho Public Utilities Commission staff will give an overview of Avista’s request and answer questions about the process. The staff is in the midst of a six-month review of the process.

Idaho air quality upgraded

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality on Monday lifted the air quality warnings in North Idaho.

Air quality in Kootenai, Boundary, Bonner, Shoshone and Benewah counties was registering in the “good” category Monday, according to a news release.

Officials caution that as wildfires continue to burn across the region, air quality can change. Area residents can visit Idaho’s “smoke blog” at idsmoke.blogspot.com to check for readings and updates.