U.S. 95 projects postponed

COEUR d'ALENE - The earlier-announced chip seal project on a 6-mile section of U.S. 95 through Athol will not happen this summer due to the lack of material availability and schedule, the Idaho Transportation Department announced on Monday.

The work may be rescheduled for next year.

In addition, a surface project on U.S. 95 in the Silverwood Theme Park area is also slated for next summer.

Shooting reported near Priest River

PRIEST RIVER - Deputies from the Priest River Police Department and Bonner County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a shooting around 6 p.m. Monday.

The shooting was reported at Old Priest River Road and Jachetta Cutoff Road.

"(A shooting) was what was reported but I don't know," Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler said. "We have deputies on the scene but have not made contact with a victim or suspect."

A nearby neighbor reported hearing a gunshot and seeing a male with what appeared to be a gunshot wound being transported via ambulance.

Numerous deputies were still combing the vicinity of Old Priest River Road after 8 p.m.

Sheriff Wheeler said the department would have more details on the incident this morning.

The West Pend Oreille Fire Department, Bonner County EMS and Newport Ambulance also responded to the scene.

Deputy pleads guilty to reduced charge in crash

SANDPOINT - A Bonner County sheriff's sergeant accused of causing a collision that injured two motorcyclists pleaded guilty to a reduced charge on Friday.

Phyllis Jean Jay pleaded guilty to failure to yield, an infraction, on Friday in Bonner County Magistrate Court. Judge Penny Friedlander fined Jay $90, court records show.

Jay, 63, of Sandpoint, was originally charged with inattentive driving in connection with the May 29 collision on U.S. Highway 95 at Sagle Road.

Idaho State Police said Jay was pulling onto the highway to go southbound when she drove into the path of a northbound motorcycle with two people on it.

The three-wheeled motorcycle's driver, Rodney Howard, a 67-year-old from Priest River, suffered a broken clavicle and ribs after being struck by Jay's patrol sport utility vehicle.

A passenger on the trike, Catherine Howard, 66, suffered a skull fracture with internal bleeding, according to court documents.

The Howards were expected to recover from their injuries, according to an ISP report. Both were wearing helmets and leathers in the crash.

Jay was charged with the misdemeanor after an ISP trooper concluded that Jay had ample sight distance from her stopped position to see the oncoming motorcycle, court documents said. The investigation ruled out distraction and impairment as factors in the collision.