Overhead lines that return unused power to Avista have been targeted by metal thieves since late August, according to a company employee.
Since Aug. 22, a suspect has stolen more than 1.5 miles of No. 6 copper for a loss exceeding $18,000. The company has been replacing the stolen copper lines with aluminum wire, which is less expensive.
The most recent theft occurred on Sept. 12 on North Hazard Road. Crews had just replaced the line at midnight and it was discovered missing again at 6 a.m.
Deer Park’s special teams lived up to its name in the Stags’ 37-19 win over Lakeside on Friday.
The unit was indeed special in contributing a kickoff return for a touchdown and a fumble recovery of a Lakeside kickoff return in the first half as well as bottling up the Lakeside attack in the second half. The Eagles (0-2) average start after Stag kickoffs in the second half was their own 16-yard line.
“It definitely controlled the field possession in the second half,” said Stag head coach Keith Stamps, who saw his team improve to 2-0 this fall.