COEUR D’ALENE – Coeur d’Alene Police Detectives are actively investigating a business robbery that took place last month. According to the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, the incident occurred on June 16th at approximately 4:00 a.m. at the Fast Trip gas station located at 1720 Northwest Blvd.

Two male suspects, described as having a thin build and average height, entered the gas station wearing masks, hoodies, gloves, and pants. The suspects physically assaulted the employee and forced him into the restroom before stealing money from the cash register and a nearby file cabinet. The suspects then fled the scene on foot.

The attached surveillance footage stills show the unique clothing worn by the suspects. The Coeur d’Alene Police Department urges anyone with information about the identity of these individuals to contact Detective Cannon.

For any leads or tips, please reach out to the Coeur d’Alene Police Department.

MOSCOW – A Moscow home was damaged by fire on Wednesday night.

City of Moscow Volunteer Firefighters were called to the blaze on North Almon Street around 11:00. Crews quickly extinguished the fire which burning primarily under the home.

The flames did burn into a first floor bedroom. One adult and two children were at home when the fire started and tried to put out the flames. Two Volunteer Firefighters suffered minor injuries. Officials believe it was discharged fireworks discarded in a trash can that sparked the blaze. The Red Cross was brought in to assist the residents of the home.

Morons disregard the warnings.  A military surplus store burned overnight in Sandpoint.  The owner, Cornel Rasor, posted pictures on his Facebook account, explaining his business was a total loss.  Rasor is a Republican Party activist and somewhat of an institution in the panhandle.

Imagine celebrating a joyous Independence Day, and then some careless jerk wipes out your life’s work in hours.  The owner stated that investigators believe a bottle rocket was set off in an alley, ignited a pole, and then flames spread to his store.  As of this writing, we don’t know if there have been any arrests.

This is another example of self-centered people showing a reckless disregard for others and the property of others.  These people are always going to be with us.  It’s no different than the guy who gets a snoot full and then gets behind the wheel of a car or truck, careens across a dividing line, and kills a family of five.

In these types of cases, we need long prison sentences as a deterrence, and not just for others.  After a decade in jail and claiming you didn’t mean to hurt others, you will likely learn some respect for their livelihoods and lives.

If there’s no contrition, then tack on another 10 years.  I would be fine with paying for the three hots and a cot to ensure we keep these dangerous people off the streets.

The way I see it, stupidity is a choice.  Most of us know that playing with fire close to buildings, or in a hot dry forest is a bad thing.  There can’t be any excuses.