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Volunteer firefighters fought defensive battle at Craigmont

Volunteer firefighters fought defensive battle at Craigmont

A fire in Craigmont, Idaho started in a wooden grain elevator near the high school and quickly spread, destroying an area roughly two city blocks in size in the process.

Residents who live just a half block away say they could feel the heat from the fire as they packed their items getting ready to evacuate. All that's left of three grain elevators and two outbuildings is a couple of smoldering piles of ruins. School in Craigmont was canceled because of the smoke those piles are putting out.

Watching from his home nearby, Steve Steuerwald saw everything unfold.

"Was out here on the porch and it started smoking at the top just a little bit," said Steuerwald.

The Craigmont Volunteer Fire Department quickly sprang into action.

"They set up an engine right over there and they were spraying it but they were still 30 to 40 feet from the flames from the top of the building," said Steuerwald

The fire grew hot enough to spread to neighboring buildings.

"When the second one caught then we called for mutual wherever we could find it," said Craigmont Volunteer Fire Department Chief Richard Samsel.

Craigmont declares emergency after massive grain elevator fire

The city of Craigmont, Idaho declared a state of emergency in the wake of a massive grain elevator Sunday afternoon.

There were no reported injuries or deaths as a result of the fire.

Nezperce dispatchers received the first call of a fire at 2:25 p.m. in the Hinrichs Trading Company's garbanzo bean elevator and the first fire units from Craigmont arrived moments later.

The fire's spread prompted a massive interstate mobilization of fire and law enforcement personnel from Craigmont, Lewiston, Kamiah, St. Maries, Nezperce, Koosia, Ferdinand, Cottonwood, Asotin County and Lewis County sending fire, ambulance and deputies to the scene to fight the massive blaze.

The fire quickly spread to three nearby Columbia Grain bins, prompting local police to evacuate several blocks in the vicinity of the fire. A temporary shelter was set up in the Highland High School gym for displaced families.

Craigmont issued an emergency declaration at 3 p.m., followed at 9:10 p.m. by Lewis County.

N. Idaho man charged with murder denied release

A northern Idaho judge has rejected a request by a Moscow man charged with helping another man kill his wife to be released on his own recognizance or have bail set.

The Moscow-Pullman Daily News reports that 2nd District Court Judge John Judge rejected 49-year-old David Stone's request Thursday.

Stone and Charles Capone, 51, of Clarkston, Wash., are both charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Capone's estranged wife, Rachael Anderson of Lewiston.

She was 40 when she disappeared three years ago and her body hasn't been found.

Judge also delayed a preliminary hearing for the case to June 27 after Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson cited a large amount of evidence and documents still being copied for defense attorneys.

Both defendants waived their right to a speedy trial.

Kyra Wine defies the odds

Kyra Wine defies the odds

In 2008, three-year-old Kyra Wine became the victim of the worst case of child abuse in Benewah County history, her injuries so severe doctor's amputated her feet. Now, five years later, she's an active, happy eight-year-old girl.

The abuse Kyra and her sister Amanda endured is heartbreaking and unimaginable but now they are thriving.

"Every birthday, yeah, every birthday is special," Kyra's grandma, Deanna Wine said.

For her eighth birthday, Kyra didn't ask for anything special.

"I just let them get whatever they want," Kyra said.

Making the gifts on her grandma's kitchen table an even bigger surprise; a birthday is always a big deal when you're a kid, but when you're Kyra, each candle carries more than a wish. They're a symbol of survival, a light of hope.

"When this all happened with Kyra the doctors said that basically she had hours," Deanna said. "If she hadn't been taken to the hospital she had just hours to live."

On June 17, 2008 Benewah County Sheriff's deputies responded to a home for a welfare check on Kyra, then three-years-old, and her six-year-old sister Amanda. They couldn't have found them any sooner.

Defense submits motion to dismiss federal explosives charges against Clarkston man

Defense submits motion to dismiss federal explosives charges against Clarkston man

Following a hearing in U.S. District Court yesterday, Judge Lonny Suko has taken a motion to dismiss federal explosives charges and a motion to suppress evidence against a 22-year-old Clarkston man "under advisement."

 

Joey Brice pled guilty in September to manufacturing an explosive device and attempting to provide material assistance to terrorists. He faces up to 15 years in prison when sentenced on June 6th. Authorities began to investigate Brice after he suffered serious injuries from a bomb he made that exploded in April of 2010 just west of the Red Wolf Bridge. Federal investigators say they later learned that Brice posted videos advocating suicide bombings and instructions on how to make explosive devices. 
 

North Idaho man dies following ATV crash

A 70-year-old northern Idaho man has died following injuries sustained in an all-terrain vehicle crash.

The Nez Perce County Sheriff's Office says Paul R. Lane of Peck died about 6 p.m. Monday.

Authorities tell the Lewiston Tribune that Lane was seriously injured in the ATV crash at about 2:30 p.m. on his property.

He was taken by helicopter to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston with multiple injuries.

Stipulation releases convicted rapist from commitment center

ASOTIN, WA - Convicted rapist Monte Hoisington will be released June 12th after Asotin County Superior Court Judge William Acey today signed a stipulation for order of dismissal without prejudice. The stipulation takes affect 35 days after today to allow the various entities time to prepare for his release.

The 61-year-old Hoisington has been confined as a sexually violent predator at the McNeil Island Special Commitment Center since 2001.