News Briefs
Nov. 26
Silva charged with felony child abuse
Mariano Ernest Silva, 34, of Polson, has pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault on a minor, a felony.
According to court records, Det. Mike Gehl, of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, was contacted by a social worker that Silva’s four-year-old son was brought to the hospital with bruising on his back and buttocks.
The child’s mother, Victoria Tejero, told Gehl that the child had been in Silva’s custody for the previous three days.
The child allegedly told his step-father that he got the bruises when “his Dad, the defendant, spanked him because he pooped his pants,” according to court records.
Tejero told Gehl the child “was born prematurely, has a disability, and they have been working for months to potty train…and she has [the child] wear diapers as part of his potty training, but the defendant does not because he does not believe the boy should be in diapers.”
Silva is being held at the Lake County Jail on a $50,000 bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 17.
-Reporter Aimee Niles
Middle school fight brings assault charges
After a serious fistfight last week at Polson Middle School, one juvenile has been issued a citation to appear in youth court for assault, Kim Liebenguth, Student Resource Officer at Polson Middle School, said.
The juvenile was not arrested, but will have to appear in youth court on the assault charge, she said.
Because of the ages of the students involved, neither have been released to the public.
-Reporter Aimee Niles
RHS speech and drama places in Hamilton
Ronan High School Speech, Drama, and Debate competed at the Hamilton Invitational Tournament on Friday & Saturday.
Several students placed in events in what was a very tough meet. Shelby Fisher and Andrew Crenshaw placed sixth in Humorous Duo. Acting Shelby Fisher and Robby Hocker placed fourth in classical duo. Acting Amber Metzger placed third in Pantomime. Joe Sanchez place sixth in Pantomime. Austin Butler placed seventh in Pantomime.
-Courtesy of Melissa Knabe
Polson drama takes first
Polson captured first place in drama sweepstakes at the Hamilton Invitational Speech, Debate and Drama Meet Nov. 20-21 with 99 points. Corvallis was second with 69 points and Libby third at 58.
Champions in their events were sister and brother team of Molly and Rob Ricketts in Humorous Duo Acting and Kelsey Koberg and Laura Bartle in Classical Duo Acting.
Josie Benedetti and Nation Garza placed second in Classical Duo.
In Serious Solo Acting Logan Garcia was third and John Bishop fourth. The boys were tied at the end of competition and Garcia won by a “judges’ preference” meaning he ranked higher in the final round by the three judges than Bishop.
Sydney Gambrel and Molly WhiteWater were fourth in Serious Duo Acting and Josh Ransom and Kyle Butterhof were fifth in that event. These two teams were also tied at the end of finals and the girls earned the higher place by judges’ preference in the final round.
Humorous Solo actress Barbara Kenmille placed seventh in her event. Also placing seventh were Ejnar Petersen and Nina Araos in Humorous Duo Acting.
Larissa Hanson was seventh in Expository Speaking.
The next meet for the Polson team is Ronan Dec. 5.
- Courtesy of Judie Woodhouse