Investigators say that Saturday night’s two armed robberies of pizza delivery drivers in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley may be related.
Clarkston police say the first robbery was reported just after 10 p.m. at the Pizza Hut on Bridge Street when a white male approached a female delivery driver just after she returned to the restaurant’s parking lot. The driver said the man displayed a handgun, took an undisclosed amount of money and fled on foot southwest toward the intersection of Sixth and Bridge streets. The suspect was described as 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet tall, weighing about 200 pounds, and wearing a green jacket with a hood.
A similar description was given for a the man who robbed another pizza delivery driver a short time later on Normal Hill. Police said the male driver was robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash after he had returned to his vehicle following a delivery. A weapon was also displayed in the Lewiston robbery, but it was not specified what type.
Meanwhile, Lewiston Police are investigating an early morning robbery at the Strike and Spare in the Orchards. Officers responded to a robbery in progress at about 2:30 AM Sunday morning.
The suspect apparently pried open a rear door to the Thain Road business and fled after being spotted by an employee. The suspect was described as wearing dark clothing and a military-style gas mask.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the LPD at 746-0171.
The North Central District Health Department along with area physicians are reminding the public that the fall season is a great time to get vaccinated against influenza. Health Department Director Carol Morehle says there are a number ways people can obtain vaccinations.
Health Department Director Carol Morehle comments
Vaccine shortages have been reported in various regions of the country in recent years, but officials say inventories this year are well above normal levels.
Morehle continues
Flu clinic shots are administered at a cost of $25 per person and people are reminded to bring with them, a copy of Medicaid, Medicare, or insurance cards at the time of vaccination.
For more information on upcoming flu clinics contact the North Central District Health Department in Lewiston at (208) 799-3100.
Lewis-Clark State College and the Warrior Athletic Association have announced the finalists for the 2008 WAA High School Awards. Twenty-one area high schools in north central Idaho and southeastern Washington submitted nominees for Male Athlete of the Year, Female Athlete of the Year, Coach of the Year, Team of the Year, and the Meritorious Award. The nominations were reviewed by a selection committee assembled of officials from Lewis-Clark State College, the Warrior Athletic Association, and area high school sports enthusiasts.
The three finalists for Female Athlete of the Year include – Morgan VanderEsch of Grangeville, last year’s winner Ellen Rouse of Orofino, and Cory Druffel of Pullman.
The Male Athlete of the Year finalists are Brian O’Kelley of Clarkston, DJ Wright of Orofino, and Jason Smith of Troy.
For Team of the Year, the finalists are – Clarkston boys tennis, Orofino baseball, and Prairie softball.
Coach of the Year finalists are – Genesee girls basketball coach Lucas Rae, wrestling coach Dan Mauer of Lewiston, and Moscow track coach Dean Walker.
Although the purpose of the October 15 dinner is to announce the overall winners, the event will also sere as a means to congratulate all of this year’s nominees. Tickets for the banquet are $25 per person and can be purchased from the LCSC Athletic Ticket Office, located upstairs in the Activity Center. Tickets can also be purchased with a credit card by calling (208) 792-2471.
Those planning to attend the event and accompany a nominee are advised to purchase tickets early because tickets bouth at the door will be on a first-come, first-serve basis and will be available seating only.
Staying in first place will be one of the themes for area high school football teams as the season approaches the mid-way point. Three games are on tap in the Whitepine League – the biggest of which is in Lapwai as the one-loss Wildcats host the league’s only unbeaten team Prairie. Lewis County travels to Genesee and Timberline will host Kendrick in Weippe. In the Long Pin Conference – undefeated, defending state champion Salmon River will host winless Meadows Valley.
Orofino and Timberlake – two of the three top teams in the Intermountain League will battle in Spirit Lake with live coverage on AM 1300 KLER. In the Central Idaho League - unbeaten Grangeville is home after a bye week and will host Spokane Christian with live coverage on AM 1230 KORT, while Kamiah will meet DeSales Saturday at 3pm in Walla Walla.
On the Palouse – Moscow is home with Connell, Washington; Pullman travels to Cheney; and its homecoming for Colfax as the Bulldogs host Davenport.
In the LC Valley – Asotin is on the road to face Tekoa-Oakesdale-Rosalia; Clarkston is at Deer Park; and Lewiston looks to stay perfect as the Bengals play at Sandpoint.
Two Lewiston men are being held in the Whitman County Jail after allegedly trying to purchase methamphetamine from what turned out to be an agent from the Quad Cities Drug Task Force.
According to the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office, Timothy Torrez, 40, and Jonathan McLaughlin, 37, were arrested Tuesday after giving the agent $3,300 in cash for a drug buy. The men had a combined 52 grams of meth and over $1,400 in cash on their persons at the time of the arrest.
Both men are charged with possession of meth and conspiracy to purchase with intent to deliver – McLaughlin was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.
Investigators say Torrez is a seasonal commercial fisherman in Alaska and had apparently been mailing meth from the LC Valley to Alaska, where the drug reportedly sells for $1,800 an ounce. The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General has been notified.
It’s the second time the Quad Cities Drug Task Force has arrested McLaughlin. He was taken into custody in July 2007 at a Clarkston motel in possession of meth and about $6,000 in cash, and was convicted on felony charges.
Both men are being held in the Whitman County Jail.
Despite possessing the NAIA’s best record the Lewis-Clark State volleyball team didn’t move in the latest national top-25 poll. The Warriors are 17-0 and remain the nation’s 12th ranked team for the third straight week.
LC can match the program’s best start with a pair wins this week over Carroll College and Rocky Mountain College Thursday and Saturday at home.
Meanwhile, Warrior freshman Josi Lyman has been named the Frontier Conference Volleyball Player of the Week. Lyman, a 6′ 2” right-side hitter from LaGrande, Oregon, had a match-high 12 kills and recorded three assists, two block assists, and one dig in leading LC past Westminster last weekend in Salt Lake City.
Lyman is the second Warrior to earn the honor this season, joining junior outside hitter Anile Clemente who brought home the inaugural Player of the Week award earlier this season.
Some Idaho counties say excitement over the 2008 presidential election between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama is enticing more absentee voters, a sign total turnout could be very strong in November. Nez Perce County Clerk Patty Weeks says the trend is no different here as the number of requests for absentee ballots is so high elections officials are making special arrangements to accommodate voters.
Nez Perce County Clerk Patty Weeks comments
Nez Perce County has not seen voter participation this strong since the 2004 general election.
Weeks continues
Elsewhere in the state, Twin Falls County voters have requested 650 absentee ballots, up from just 564 requests for May’s primary election, while in Minidoka County, 180 people have already voted absentee. Registered voters can request mail ballots until October 29th, or can register and vote absentee until November 3rd in their county courthouse.
According to Idaho rules, voters wishing to vote absentee must request such a ballot every two-year election cycle. For more election information contact the nearest county clerk’s office.
Emergency crews will stop providing ambulance services outside Lewiston city limits next year.
The Lewiston City Council voted on Monday to terminate contracts for those services in 2009 because the agreements do not require the areas to reimburse the city for bills that go uncollected. Last year, the city provided $370,000 in unpaid ambulance services outside Lewiston. In comparison, the city provided $554,000 in unpaid ambulance services in Lewiston during 2007, but those costs were covered by taxpayers.
The city has offered to negotiate to provide future emergency services. (AP)
