March 2009 Archives


Highway 21 reopened to traffic

12:48 AM Tue, Mar 31, 2009

Highway 21 reopened to traffic

Highway 21 has been reopened to traffic as of 6pm Monday.

It was previously closed around noon from Grandjean Junction to Banner Summit due to avalanche danger.

The Idaho Transportation Department closed the route due to unstable snowpack and the threat of snow slides onto the roadway.

Before you go motorists should call 511 or log on to www.511.itd.idaho.gov for the latest road conditions.



Wanted man surrenders at home

8:06 AM Fri, Mar 27, 2009

Wanted man surrenders at home

A man is in custody after running from police when they tried to arrest him on a warrant.

Police say Andre G. Martin of Nampa was driving with a suspended license around 6pm Thursday night.

When police tried to pull him over he drove away, nearly hitting an officer.

Nampa police chased him to his house where he surrendered.



Three children taken from Air Force Base

6:32 AM Fri, Mar 27, 2009

Three children taken from Air Force Base

Police at Mountain Home Air Force Base are investigating after a mother has unlawfully taken her three children from their father. Police are looking for Robin McCombs, 35. She is described as 5'1" blond with blue eyes. She is driving a dark blue 2009 Chevy Malibu, that is described as a Thrifty rental car. It is not known were she is headed.

Her three children are all girls. They are described as a 3 year old with brown hair and blue eyes, a 6 year old with blond hair and blue eyes and a 7 year old with brown hair and blue eyes.

Police say as of now, the children are not considered to be in any immediate danger.



Road rage leads to armed robbery

7:10 AM Thu, Mar 26, 2009

Road rage leads to armed robbery

An armed robbery in Meridian and police are still looking for the suspect.

Police say just after 10p.m. Wednesday two men were involved in a road rage incident.
They then pulled into the Jackson's on Cherry Lane.

They argued, the suspect then pulled out a gun and took the other man's cell phone as he was going to call 911.

No one was hurt and no arrests have been made.
Police are still investigating.



Car Crashes into Dog Grooming Shop

5:07 AM Thu, Mar 26, 2009

Car Crashes into Dog Grooming Shop

A driver sideswiped a car, hit a business and a bus stop bench all around 10pm last night.

The driver's car is mangled and damaged after it hit a dog grooming shop that's on Broadway near Boise Avenue.

Before hitting the building the driver sideswiped a parked car damaging the left side.
The owner of the car heard the crash just as they were getting home from grocery shopping.

Other witnesses say after the man hit the parked car and the building he then hit a bus-bench nearby. Later, he backed into a bank parking lot.

The man was cited with DUI.




7,000 customers out of power last night

7:54 AM Tue, Mar 24, 2009

7,000 customers out of power last night

If the lights went out last night at your house, you are not alone.

More than 7,000 customers in Southeast Boise lost power Monday night into Tuesday morning. It was restored to all areas by 2:30am Tuesday.

It happened in the near Parkcenter and Apple, and Boise Avenue and Apple.

People called into Idaho Power reporting a loud bang and flash.

We spoke with Idaho Power this morning and they say a span of wire was down but they don't know why.



Man surrenders to police without incident

2:16 PM Fri, Mar 20, 2009

Man surrenders to police without incident

standoff surrender.jpg

The man involved in an armed stand-off with police has surrendered.

At about 2:30 p.m., the man exited the home with his hands up.

The stand-off happened in the area of 31st street and Irene street in Boise.

Police say the man who surrendered was intially armed with a rifle.

Streets are blocked off in the area between 30th Street, and 32nd, as well as Bella St. and Irene St.

More details to come, keep checking KTVB.com for updates.



Police Look for Possibly Armed Man After Car Chase

7:54 AM Fri, Mar 20, 2009

Police Look for Possibly Armed Man After Car Chase

Police are searching for a man who led them on a car chase yesterday afternoon. It started just after 5pm near Linda Vista and Fairview.

Officers stopped Shane Nichelson, 26, on a routine traffic stop there.Police say he wouldn't comply with the officer and then led them on a chase westbound on Fairview.During the pursuit Nichelson turned his car around and nearly struck the police cruiser. Police lost Nichelson but later found his car.

If anyone has any information about his whereabouts you are asked to call 377-6790 -- Officers believe he maybe armed.



Driver in custody after rollover into canal

3:21 AM Wed, Mar 18, 2009

Driver in custody after rollover into canal

A driver ran off the interstate this morning and into a canal. It happened on I-84 East near the Meridian exit. The woman driver wasn't injured, but she is currently in custody for suspicion of DUI.



Deadly rollover overnight on Happy Valley Road

1:53 AM Wed, Mar 18, 2009

Deadly rollover overnight on Happy Valley Road

One person has died after a single-car rollover into a ditch. It happened after 12:30am Wednesday morning on Happy Valley Road near Locust Lane in Nampa.

Preliminary information from the scene indicates the vehicle was driving at a high rate of speed and failed to negotiate a curve in the road.
Police say the vehicle then rolled, coming to rest in a ditch.

The driver appeared to have been ejected during the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene by medics.




Early morning homicide

10:36 AM Sat, Mar 14, 2009

Early morning homicide

Police have made an arrest in an early morning homicide after shots were fired outside of Backstreet Billiards off Overland.

Jeremy J. Hobbs, 27, of Boise has been charged with second degree murder of a young Boise man in his twenties.

Police say a verbal argument between the suspect and another man began inside the bar before they took the fight outside. The victim then tried to calm the situation unsuccessfully. Witnesses say the suspect then pulled out a small revolver and fired.

The victim's name will be released as soon as the family is notified.



Armed Robbery off Main Street

6:08 AM Fri, Mar 13, 2009

Armed Robbery off Main Street

Boise police are searching for an armed robber near the Shilo Inn on the 3000 block of Main Street. The woman at the front desk was locking the front door as the man pushed himself into the building before pushing her to the register.

The man was carrying a pistol as he threatened her and eventually pushed her to the ground before leaving. The man was last seen heading towards the Greenbelt.

The suspect is described as white barrel-chested man with a tan, approximately 5'4" to 5'5" with dark hair and eyebrows. He is thought to be between 35 and 45 years old. He was wearing charcoal pants, a dark zip-up jacket, gloves and a ski mask.

Police are still searching for the man, but one officer says that a hotel is an unusual place to target.



Chief Justice visiting Idaho

1:25 AM Fri, Mar 13, 2009

Chief Justice visiting Idaho

Supreme Court Justice John Roberts is in the Gem State to help the University of Idaho celebrate the 100th birthday of its college of law.

During a reception at the Boise Centre on the Grove Thursday night, Roberts spoke about the unique role law schools like the University of Idaho's play in our federal system. A system in which states are sometimes viewed as laboratories.

"Energetic state law schools are valuable assets for those laboratories, and western state law schools can make unique contributions by discovering innovative ways to combine the pioneering spirit with the rule of law," said Chief Justice Roberts.

He will deliver the University of Idaho college of law's Bellwood Lecture Friday in Moscow.
One thing his audience won't hear, lawyer jokes.

"Lawyers don't think they're funny, and the non-lawyers don't think they're jokes," he said.

The University of Idaho has hosted three U.S. Supreme Court Justices for the Bellwood Lecture Series, but Roberts will be the first Chief Justice.



Jonas Bros. to play Nampa

12:44 PM Wed, Mar 11, 2009

Jonas Bros. to play Nampa

BOISE - Look out Rolling Stones... the Jonas Bros. will play the Idaho Center on June 26th.
The three pop-star brothers will play the Idaho Center as the fourth US stop on their upcoming tour.
The trio will play the Idaho Center on a Friday night - one of just 37 American stops.
Pop radio has taken to the Disney Channel-fueled band - with hits like Hello Beautiful and Burnin' Up. The band also performed on Saturday Night Live on February.
"This tour is going to be about really connecting with our fans," Joe Jonas said in a prepared statement. "We've got new music that's taking us in new directions, plus a mind-blowing production that's going to surprise everyone. We want to give the audience the summer concert they're not going to ever forget."
Tickets are expected to be on sale Friday March 20th. Idaho Center officials say they are still working details.
Opening acts for the show has not yet been announced.
The tour will center around a planned summer album release.



Snowmobile trailer crashes into Boise home

11:36 PM Mon, Mar 09, 2009

Snowmobile trailer crashes into Boise home

Part of a snowmobile trailer ended up inside a North Boise home Monday night. It happened at about 9 p.m. on Hansen Avenue, just north of Sunset Park.

Tony Avalos, who rents the house, says his family was watching TV at the time.

"We were sitting on the couch watching TV," Avalos said. "The whole couch shifted over and this big thing flew over there hit us. Hit me in the head."

Avalos is referring to a piece of trim that was knocked off the front door.

A driver in a van had rear-ended the trailer, which was parked on the street.
The trailer was loaded with two snowmobiles and an all-terrain vehicle.
Police have not issued any citations.



Caldwell house fire quickly extinguished

11:31 PM Mon, Mar 09, 2009

Caldwell house fire quickly extinguished

Firefighters are investigating the cause of a fire that broke out at about 8 p.m. Monday on Willow Street near Indiana in Caldwell.

They were able to extinguish the fire quickly. Utility crews shut off power and gas in the area, and police directed traffic. The fire appears to have started in the home's attic. The family who lives there evacuated without injury.



Fire severely damages house in Eagle

8:45 PM Mon, Mar 09, 2009

Fire severely damages house in Eagle

Firefighters are investigating a fire that severely damaged a large home in northwest Eagle Monday night.

Crews began responding shortly after 8:30 p.m. to West Janet Court, north of Floating Feather Road off of Ballantyne. Three agencies sent firefighters.

Fire investigators say it appears to have started in the home's chimney and moved to the attic. The fire burned through the roof into the garage and part of the living area. The fire was completely out by 10:30 p.m.

One firefighter has suffered minor injuries.

The people who live at the house were home when the fire started. They escaped without injury, and are staying with a neighbor.



Middleton Shooting

9:14 AM Sat, Mar 07, 2009

Middleton Shooting

A shooting investigation is underway today into the death of a Middleton man. Canyon County Sheriff Chris Smith says that around 1:30 this morning his deputies tried to search a man's home when he open fire on officers.

Canyon County deputies fired back, but it's uncertain how the man died. A critical incident task force is investigating now. Sheriff Smith says it's unknown if an officer's shot killed the man or if the suspect shot and killed himself.

A news conference is scheduled for noon today.



I-84 Westbound traffic blocked at Meridian

4:04 AM Sat, Mar 07, 2009

I-84 Westbound traffic blocked at Meridian

All westbound traffic is stopped this morning at Meridian due to an accident at McDermott. Ada County Dispatch says the blockage will last approximately one hour.



Owner: "Heat lamp" started destructive shed fire

2:51 AM Fri, Mar 06, 2009

Owner: "Heat lamp" started destructive shed fire

A shed burned to the ground Thursday night and the owner thinks a heat lamp ignited it.
It happened near Franklin and Ustick.

The owner told firefighters his goats were getting ready to kid so he put a lamp in the shed with some hay to lay on.
Seventeen goats were in the shed and were able to get out safely.

At one point the owner used a farm tractor to block the fire.
Four crews from Nampa came and two water tanks from Star and Meridian helped.



Police chase through streets of Boise ends in North End crash

11:10 PM Thu, Mar 05, 2009

Police chase through streets of Boise ends in North End crash

A high-speed chase that began near Overland and Orchard about 9:45 ended a short time later when police executed a PIT maneuver, sending a pickup truck crashing into a Stop sign at 15th and Alturas.

No one was seriously injured.

Police say the driver of the truck is a known gang member, and police were looking for him when the chase began.

The chase reached speeds of 60 miles an hour, with witnesses reporting the pickup swerving into oncoming traffic on Overland to try to avoid pursuing police.

Police say a female passenger in the truck was in contact with Ada County dispatch on her cellphone, trying to negotiate an end to the chase.

They say it was not a hostage situation, and the female pasenger is an acquaintance of the driver.

KTVB.COM and NewsChannel 7 will have details on this story as they come in.



Three injured in early morning crash

7:12 AM Thu, Mar 05, 2009

Three injured in early morning crash

An early morning crash in Boise sent three men to the hospital. Now police are looking to see if alcohol was involved.

It happened around 1:30 am and shut down traffic for a number of hours. Police say a yellow Jeep collided with a van in the intersection of Cloverdale and Franklin.

Police believe the two men in the Jeep were not wearing their seat belts, but the man in the van was. "Both the occupants including the driver of the jeep were ejected upon the collision. And the driver of the van who was a solo occupant had to be extricated," said Lt. Bryan Hagler of Boise Police Department.

All three were taken to the emergency room with non life-threatening injuries. Boise police say there are indications the driver of the Jeep had been drinking alcohol.



Three killed in crash north of Wilder

11:31 PM Tue, Mar 03, 2009

Three killed in crash north of Wilder

Three people have died in a crash near the intersection of Red Top and Batt Corner roads north of Wilder in rural Canyon County. It happened at about 8:30 pm Tuesday night as a 2006 GMC pickup was headed Northbound on Batt Corner Road when it failed to yield for oncoming traffic at the intersection of Red Top Road.

The GMC pickup struck a 2002 Toyota Tundra pickup. The GMC pickup had two occupants and the Toyota Tundra had one. The driver of the GMC is Steve A. Mark, 28 of Caldwell, Idaho. His passenger was Kevin J. Snow, 21 of Caldwell, Idaho. The driver of the Toyota Tundra was Gaines M. Davidson, 37 of Boise.



Supplemental levy approved for Meridian schools

9:12 PM Tue, Mar 03, 2009

Supplemental levy approved for Meridian schools

Voters in the Meridian School District have approved the extension of a $10 million supplemental levy.

5,281 voted yes, and 1,855 voted no. About 10 percent of the district's registered voters cast ballots Tuesday. District spokesman Eric Exline says the turnout was about double the turnout seen during the 2007 school levy election.

The levy amounts to $58 per $100,000 of assessed property value. Exline says the revenue funds school operations, not buildings.

Tonight's vote does not increase taxes this year, and rejection of the levy would not have decreased taxes this year. Instead, revenue would have been used to pay down debt from past bond issues.



Suspect found hiding in insulation after a break-in

7:18 AM Tue, Mar 03, 2009

Suspect found hiding in insulation after a break-in

Police arrested a man after he barricaded himself in a Nampa apartment that officers say he broke into.

Police say Raymond Rangel refused to leave an apartment on the 1000 block of Ivy Street in Nampa.
Officers eventually found Rangel hiding in the attic of an adjoining apartment, hiding in insulation.

Rangel is being held on bond for trespassing and resisting arrest.



Driver survives 75 yd plunge near Lucky Peak

1:17 AM Mon, Mar 02, 2009

Driver survives 75 yd plunge near Lucky Peak

Idaho State Police shut down part of Highway 21 Sunday night -- after a driver went off the road -- plunging 75 yards below.
Amazingly -- he'll be okay.

It happened Sunday evening between Lucky Peak Dam Rad and Highland Valley Road.

A trooper says the driver veered into another lane, over-corrected and lost all control.

His car rolled three or four times down a steep ravine.
The trooper says a seatbelt saved the driver's life.

"The gentleman driving was very lucky. He happened to be wearing his seatbelt. And come away with, like I said, non-life threatening injuries," said Trooper Kenneth Beckner.

Emergency workers had to get the driver out -- and slowly and carefully carry him back up to the road.

The ravine was so steep -- the life flight helicopter had to land a quarter of a mile further up the street.


April 2009