North Idaho Briefs March 27, 2012

Funds sought for Highway 3 medal of honor project

Funds are still being raised to support State Highway 3 as the "North Idaho Medal of Honor Highway."

The highway runs from I-90 exit 34 at Rose Lake to junction with I-95 near Lewiston. It will have 20 signs and a poster at each end. The project is being funded through donations.

"The intent of this project is to honor those 13 recipients who were either born, lived, served, died or have a final resting site in Northern Idaho," a press release said. "This is also to provide a educational tool and a point of interest for future generations.

Congress designated March 25 as National Honor Day" a day dedicated to Medal of Honor recipients. There will be a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery today.

Last year, Gov. Butch Otter signed the Senate bill designating State Highway 3 as the "North Idaho Medal of Honor Highway."

Donations can be deposited at any Bank of America branch to North Idaho Medal of Honor Highway Project, account 55534911.

Learn about Lincoln on

spring break

Stop by the Community Library Network at Post Falls during spring break and explore "Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War."

The traveling exhibition is composed of informative panels featuring photographic reproductions of original documents, including a draft of President Abraham Lincoln's inaugural speech, the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment.

The exhibit ends on April 5.

Tonight, from 6:30 to 7:30, Idaho Humanities Council Scholar David Adler will discuss Lincoln's presidency in depth. His talk will explore the relevance of Lincoln's presidency for the challenges that confront America as it attempts to balance security concerns with constitutional government in an Age of Terrorism.

Adler will also present at the Pinehurst library on Wednesday, from 3-4 p.m., Athol library on Thursday from 6-7 p.m. and at the Spirit Lake library on Friday, from 5-6 p.m.

Information: CommunityLibrary.Net/LincolnExhibit

Washington man gets seven years for meth bust

COEUR d'ALENE - A Washington man was sentenced Monday in United States District Court to seven years in prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to the plea agreement, Severiano V. Valle, 49, of Royal City, was stopped by the Kootenai County Interdiction Team on Feb. 8, 2011.

A dog specially trained to detect the presence of drugs alerted law enforcement to 449 grams of methamphetamine in the trunk of Valle's vehicle. Valle admitted that he was taking the methamphetamine to another person.

U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Valle to serve four years of supervised release and pay a $5,000 fine.

Sex offender pleads guilty to failing to register

COEUR d'ALENE -

Jason Ray Sijohn, 45, of Plummer, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court for failing to register as a sex offender, a violation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

According to the plea agreement, Sijohn was found guilty of sexual abuse in 1999 in U.S. District Court in Idaho, and was sentenced to 84 months in prison.

Following his release from prison in 2005, Sijohn registered as a sex offender as required by SORNA.

In 2008, Sijohn failed to comply with registration requirements and was sentenced in 2009 in Idaho state court to five years probation.

In April 2011, authorities learned that Sijohn moved without providing his current address to probation officials.

According to the plea agreement, between last April and July 12, the date of his arrest, Sijohn did not have contact with his probation officer and was not living at his address in Plummer.

In August, Sijohn admitted in state court that he had moved without notifying authorities.

Sijohn faces up to 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000 and not less than five years of supervised release.

Sentencing is set for June 19 before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Coeur d'Alene.

More wastewater

flows into St. Maries River

More wastewater overflowed from Fernwood's pumping station No. 1 into the St. Maries River on Monday morning due to heavy rains and melting snow.

"Although unfortunate, it is mostly all storm water," according to a press release.

The Fernwood Water and Sewer District said it does not expect any public health hazard as a result of the release.

It said the St. Maries River is at flood stage, "so there is a tremendous amount of additional dilution occurring."

Officials did not release an estimate of the amount of wastewater released.

It is the third time the pumping station has overflowed this year due to rain and snow melt.

On March 15, 11,000 gallons of wastewater escaped into the St. Maries River, and more overflowed into the river on Feb. 22.

The district is considering four different options for fixing the deficiencies at the pump station. It's estimated to cost around $500,000 or $600,000 to make the changes.