Idaho guards for Tom Hanks can keep guns

The Associated Press • Published July 25, 2008 A Blaine County judge has ruled he has no authority to stop guards employed by actor Tom Hanks from carrying guns while accompanying inspectors at the star's sprawling compound north of the central Idaho resort town of Ketchum. Fifth District Court Judge Robert J. Elgee made the ruling Wednesday. Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, accuse Storey Construction Inc. of shoddy workmanship in the building of a house and three cottages, but lost in arbitration and earlier this year had a second arbitration request rejected. They have appealed to the Idaho Supreme Court. An attorney for Storey Construction says inspectors must enter the property to prevent destruction of evidence, but don't feel safe if accompanied by armed... [read full story]