Gas leak stops construction

By Lisa Dayley

Weekly News Journal

 

HEYBURN – A Knife River construction worker broke a gas line while operating a backhoe at the corner of Burger King and Overland adjacent to the neighboring ATM entrance.

 

The incident occurred around 4:45 p.m., Tuesday and caused Burger King to close for about 45 minutes.

 

“We were okay. The employees had to stay inside; they could not go outside. We had no customers. They told us to stay inside and wait until everything was okay,” said Burger King manager Esmer Garza.

 

According to Burley Fire Captain Ryan Taylor, a construction worker hit a two-inch gas line while operating a backhoe. Shortly after, the fire station started receiving calls from residents who complained of a strong smell.

 

“He hit right there next to the entrance to the ATM machine - right there at the Burger King corner and ATM entrance,” Taylor said.

 

An off-duty fireman happened to be near the scene and reported hearing a strong hissing sound. Shortly after, fire crews arrived at Burger King road.

 

“Before we got to the bridge, we could smell it. We upgraded it to a code call. We had a whole bunch of cars still driving. It had been going on for about 20 minutes before we went out there,” Taylor said.

 

Taylor’s crews diverted traffic and closed down the Burger King road. They also temporarily shut down Burger King and Ray’s Mufflers.

 

“We just had (employees) stay inside and back away from the big windows in case something happened. We cleared the area around there,” he said.

 

In the meantime, Intermountain Gas was called and workers from there stopped the gas leak. There were no injuries or damage to property.

 

Construction projects are notorious for hitting gas lines, said Idaho Department of Transportation official Nathan Jerke.

 

“It happens every now and then. Every road is a utility corridor. You always have the possibility of hitting something underground when you don’t know exactly where it’s at. There’s always a possibility of finding something. It’s at the wrong elevation or isn’t where you expected it to be,” he said.

 

The road was reopened within about an hour and traffic currently continues down Overland.

Meth results in charges

 

 

By Jeri Bosley

Weekly News Journal

 

BURLEY – A Burley woman end up in jail last week after giving birth to baby boy who tested positive for amphetamines at Cassia Regional Medical Center.

 

The Cassia County Sheriff’s office was dispatched to the Cassia Regional Medical Center birthing center. A representative from the Department of Health and Welfare informed the Cassia County Sheriff Deputy Clay Anderson that there was a new baby that had tested positive for methamphetamines.

 

The mother of the baby, Dawn Amber McClaflin, 27, admitted to using methamphetamines two days before she gave birth to the baby. She said she had used the drug at her residence with some friends.

 

The representative of Health and Welfare and Anderson decided it was in the best interest of the newborn to be placed into protective custody with Health and Welfare. After being informed that she was going to be arrested, McClaflin admitted that she had used meth four different times during her pregnancy.

 

The deputy talked to Donald Allen Markley, 29, who came in McClaflin’s room, about what was happening. Markley originally said that he didn’t know why the baby tested positive for meth. When he was told that he was not to have any contact with the infant until further notice from the court, he fainted and started stumbling to the ground. After being helped to sit down, Markley said he was okay.

 

Officer Anderson and Health and Welfare decided that all of the children in the residence of Markley and McClaflin were to be placed in protective custody, because they both felt that Markley and McClaflin were not telling the whole truth. The other children are 11, 9, 6, 5, 4, and 3 years of age.

 

Markley finally admitted to smoking meth and having meth pipes at his residence.

 

Both Markley and McClaflin admitted to smoking meth at the residence while the kids were outside playing. Markley was taken to the residence where he gave Anderson his pipes.

 

According to the police report, the house was in disarray and there was a horrible smell of mice throughout the house. There was mice feces all over the counters and in every cupboard. The floor was rotten through in the bathroom, which was the only working bathroom in the house and was next to the kids’ room. There was clothing all over the house, on all of the beds and on the floor.

 

McClaflin was arrested for possession of methamphetamines, possession of drug paraphernalia, and felony injury to children. Markley was arrested for possession of methamphetamines and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both are being held on $10,000 bond and are scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at 9:00 a.m. Friday July 30th in Magistrate Court before Judge Rick L. Bollar.