A Washington state appellate court has granted a new trial for a Clarkston woman convicted of killing her former boyfriend three years ago.

The state Court of Appeals in Spokane reversed the first-degree murder and burglary convictions of Kelley Wilson, 42, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the March 5, 2005, stabbing death of Charles Thrush at his Clarkston Heights residence.

Court documents show that Wilson, while in jail on a domestic violence charge, had told a cell mate that she was going to stab Thrush to death. Appellate judges ruled that the Asotin County trial court erred in admitting that evidence as highly prejudicial. Other issues of a Miranda rights violation and the inexperience of Wilson’s public defender in murder cases also contributed to the Appeals Court ordering a new trial.

Wilson, who has been serving her prison term in Gig Harbor, is expected to be transported back to Asotin County within the next month.

The victim in Tuesday’s accident near Alpowa Grade has been identified as a Clarkston man.

The Washington State Patrol says John Teed, 38, died after the GMC van he was driving on U.S. Highway 12 collided with a semi-truck that lost its cargo hauler at about 1:30 PM. Teed’s vehicle was forced over the guardrail and down and embankment where it caught fire.

Teed was pronounced dead at the scene – the semi driver, 23-yuear-old Benjamin Pratt of Pierce, was uninjured.

The accident closed the highway for several hours.

A fatal crash involving a semi-truck and a box van has claimed the life of one person Tuesday afternoon near the bottom of Alpowa Grade west of Clarkston, Washington on U.S. Highway 12. Details are sketchy at this time, however the Washington State Patrol has confirmed that at least one person has died as a result of the accident that reportedly happened at about 1:30 p.m. PDT. The identity of the victim has not been released and the WSP’s investigation is continuing.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will temporarily increase water discharge from Dworshak Dam near Orofino, Idaho starting at 9pm PDT Sunday, March 30, for flood control. Discharge flow will be increased from approximately 8,400 cubic feet per second to 10,700 CFS beginning Sunday night and will be maintained until further notice. Corps officials advise boaters and other persons using water ways both in Dworshak Reservoir and below the dam on the Clearwater River to be alert to changes in water elevation and volume of flow during this time period. For more information the public can contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs Office at (509) 527-7020.

The Clarkston Chamber of Commerce building was shut down on Monday after the chamber received a letter containing a white, powdery substance.

Clarkston fire and police departments evacuated the building and closed off the area at around 11 AM, and a hazardous materials unit from Yakima was called to the scene.

Investigators say the letter, with an African return address, contained a substance resembling potato flakes. No injuries were reported.

A Clarkston man will get separate trials on charges that he fatally shot a Lewiston man then tried to elude police in a high-speed chase several hours later.

Idaho 2nd District Judge Jeff Brudie has ruled that Leotis Branigh, 31, will get separate trials for charges of first-degree murder and felony eluding. The charges stem from the Oct. 1 shooting death of Michael Johnston, 32, in Lewiston and a subsequent police chase.

Branigh’s attorney had argued the two events occurred almost two hours apart and a jury could be persuaded his failure to stop when pursued by the police was evidence of guilt.

Branigh remains in custody at the Nez Perce County Jail and is scheduled to stand trial March 17.

A 2^nd District Judge has denied a Lewiston murder suspect’s motion to get move his trial to another county. Judge Jeff Brudie denied that request, along with another to have the charges against Leotis Branigh dropped.

Branigh, 31, of Clarkston, is charged in the Oct. 1 shooting death of Michael Johnston, 32, outside Johnston’s Cedar Avenue home in the Lewiston Orchards. Branigh was taken into custody following a high-speed chase just a few hours after the shooting.

Branigh has pleaded innocent to charges of first-degree murder and felony eluding. He is scheduled to stand trial March 17.

The Lewiston-Clarkston Chapter of Habitat for Humanity is sponsoring informational meetings about the organization and future home availability. LC Valley Executive Director Rich Goodwin says the meetings serve as a way to introduce interested families to the Habitat for Humanity program and eligibility requirements.

Rich Goodwin comments

The meetings are designed to address questions and to discuss other requirements involved in the process, however attendees do not need to bring any financial documents.

Goodwin continues

The hour-long meetings are scheduled for 11am, 3pm and 7pm PST both Thursday and Friday, February 28 and 29 in Clarkston, Washington and Lewiston, Idaho. The February 28 meetings will be held at the United Methodist Church located at 1242 Highland Avenue in Clarkston, while the February 29 meetings will be conducted at the Community Action Agency located at 124 New Sixth Street in Lewiston.

For more information contact the Lewiston-Clarkston Chapter at (509) 758-7396.