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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ken Olsen

This individual is no longer an employee with The Spokesman-Review.

Most Recent Stories

News >  Spokane

Widow, family honored by help

As Vernon Baker’s family flew east for his memorial service at Arlington National Cemetery earlier this week, workers tackled a roster of repair projects at the late World War II hero’s Benewah Valley home, from reroofing to rebuilding the drainage system. With hard labor, luck and more than $22,000 in donations from across the country, they hope to have all of the work finished by the time Baker’s widow, Heidy, her daughter Alexandra Pawlik and her grandson Vernon return on Sunday. That will include installing new skylights, replacing sheet-rock damaged by leaks, the new roof and a new woodshed to hold 10 cords of donated firewood.
News >  Nation/World

Batt Vetoes Funding For Aquifer Protection

In a surprise veto Tuesday, Gov. Phil Batt erased protection for the Spokane-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer. Batt's veto puts him at odds with both houses of the Idaho Legislature, which had unanimously endorsed the $58,000 appropriation to the Panhandle Health District. If not fixed next session, it could cost small water districts hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in additional water tests, legislators say.
News >  Nation/World

Bn Tank Plans Multiply Neighbors Of Proposed Railroad Fuel Depot Now More Nervous Than Ever

A railroad refueling depot proposed near Rathdrum will put far more chemicals above the area's primary drinking water source than originally proposed. The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe railroad now wants to build at least eight storage tanks holding more than 2.2 million gallons of diesel fuel, lubricating oil and water laced with petroleum products, according to Kootenai County planning records.

News >  Nation/World

Gop Women Move Against Superfund Group Rallies Politicians Against Epa’s Expanded Study Of Mining Contamination

Local Republican women are super mad over Superfund. It's leading to a war-room session with U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth, officials from U.S. Sen. Larry Craig's office, the Kootenai County Commissioners and the mayors of Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls. The objective: stop the EPA from using the Superfund program to clean up mining contamination outside of the Kellogg area.
News >  Idaho

Probe Of Landslides Sought Environmentalists Criticize Clearwater Forest’s Study

Eight Idaho environmental groups want the federal General Accounting Office to investigate a U.S. Forest Service study of hundreds of landslides that occurred on the Clearwater Forest the past two winters. Idaho's congressional delegation is being asked to initiate the GAO study in a letter mailed Friday by groups including the Idaho Conservation League, the Ecology Center and Friends of the Clearwater.
News >  Idaho

Group Files New Cougar Bay Suit Opponents Press On Despite Legal Setback

Cougar Bay developers have won a round in Kootenai County District Court but already face another lawsuit over their proposed $2.2 million subdivision. Judge James R. Michaud ruled last week against the Rural Kootenai Organization, which has opposed the Cougar Bay development since 1993. The organization sued Kootenai County commissioners, alleging they had broken the law when they approved the final plat for the Cougar Bay subdivision.

More Stories By Ken Olsen