Stories from Wednesday, December 18, 2002

When the state budget cuts forced the Mountain Home School District to ax its plans for a Junior ROTC program this fall, Geoff Schroeder, the local Army National Guard recruiter, stepped up and offered to teach a military science class. A total of 94 students quickly signed up, hoping for one of the 21 spots in the class...

It is still relatively rare for rapes to be reported and go to trial in Elmore County, but the number, along with other sex crimes, is increasing, according to county Prosecutor Aaron Bazzoli. "We've been seeing a significant increase in serious felonies" involving sex crimes, he said. ...

Hearing dates have been set for four of the individuals charged in connection with an alleged rape of an 18-year-old woman at a party on Dec. 8. The woman, who lives on the airbase and had only moved to this area with her family a few months ago, was allegedly raped by two men at the party while several others prevented some other females attending the party from entering the room and attempting to stop the attack, court documents show. ...