Stories from this compilation are excerpted from weekly newspapers from around the region.

DAYTON - During a special meeting Monday, the Columbia County Board of Commissioners rejected a motion to ban growing, processing and sales of marijuana in the unincorporated parts of the county.

The motion to ban, which was made by Commissioner Merle Jackson, failed on a 2-1 vote with Commissioners Dwight Robanske and Mike Talbott voting against.

After the vote, the commissioners asked Columbia County Planning Director Kim Lyonnais and county Prosecutor Rea Culwell, who were both in attendance, to begin work on drawing up a set of zoning and enforcement ordinances to regulate marijuana businesses. They said they would schedule a workshop in the next few weeks to review and finalize the new ordinances.

For nearly two years, the commissioners have imposed a moratorium on establishment of marijuana businesses in the county. The latest extension of that moratorium expires Sept. 17.

Earlier this year, the Dayton City Council imposed a ban on all marijuana businesses within the city limits.

- Ken Graham, The Waitsburg Times, Thursday

Second McCall ATM robber gets prison sentence

McCALL - McCall ATM robber Matthew Annable was sentenced to 10 years in prison Tuesday in federal court at Boise.

Annable, 40, got a year subtracted for time already served on a federal bank robbery conviction in Wyoming. Restitution was set at $528,000.

Federal prosecutors told U.S. District Court Judge Edward J. Lodge that Annable worked with co-defendant Nathan Davenport in 13 ATM robberies committed in six states.

Davenport, who was sentenced June 22 to 18 years in prison, committed 26 ATM robberies, prosecutors said.

Annable and Davenport were arrested Jan. 12, 2014, in Orem, Utah, two days after Davenport fired a hailstorm of bullets at two McCall police officers.

The two escaped after they stole $26,160 from the Idaho First Bank ATM in McCall.

- Dave Goins, The Star-News (McCall), Thursday

Sobotta to serve as Sts. Peter and Paul School principal

GRANGEVILLE - An Idaho native has taken the helm at Sts. Peter and Paul School.

Bob Sobotta is the new principal at the Catholic school, taking over from Teresa Groom. Groom will stay on as a middle school teacher for religion, science, social studies and keyboarding, as well as serve as assistant principal. School started Wednesday.

"I'm very happy to be here and there are several familiar faces," Sobotta said. "I have worked with Teresa and many of the people here throughout the years."

Sobotta was born and raised in Lapwai, where he was active in sports, especially basketball.

- Lorie Palmer, Idaho County Free Press (Grangeville), Wednesday

Valley County hears budget with 1 percent tax hike, 3 percent pay raise, change in trash rates

CASCADE, Idaho - Valley County commissioners Monday aired a proposed 2016 budget that has a 1 percent hike in property taxes and a 3 percent wage increase for county workers.

County homeowners would also see their annual solid waste costs rise from $65 to $85, while commercial customers would see their annual fee drop from $450 to $255.

The commissioners scheduled final approval for the budget for Sept. 8.

The total budget would rise from $16.7 million to about $21 million. But $5 million of that increase is a federal grant to revamp the Warm Lake Highway near Cascade and on the other side of Big Creek Summit.

The cost of a 3 percent wage increase for county employees is $191,000. The commissioners also approved paying 30 cents more per hour for Valley County sheriff's deputies and dispatchers who work at night.

- Dan Gallagher, The Star-News (McCall), Thursday