Stories for May 13, 2004

• 

  Body found in sewage tank

  In City on Page A1 Emotionally shaken employees at Spokane’s Wastewater Treatment Plant on Wednesday remembered Mike Cmos Jr. as fun-loving and helpful, the kind of guy who would help you paint your house. His …

• 

  Family grateful for outpouring of sympathy

  In City on Page A1 Jennifer Cmos, a lanky, red-haired sixth-grader, bit her lip and fought back tears, her springer spaniel Annie at her side. On the front porch of her family home Wednesday afternoon, …

• Latest Iraqi-abuse photos stun lawmakers

  In Nation/World on Page A1 WASHINGTON — The latest round of photos and videos of American personnel abusing Iraqi prisoners — revealed only to lawmakers Wednesday — includes images of Iraqi women exposing their breasts …

• 

  Deal calls for al-Sadr to disarm

  In Nation/World on Page A1 BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi Shiite leaders and a rebellious cleric reached an agreement Wednesday that would demobilize his potent anti-occupation militia, as U.S. soldiers engaged in sharp street fighting against …

• Commission wants Blossom Mountain antenna torn down

  In City on Page A1 A Spokane-based communications company has until May 31 to tear down its illegal antenna on a mountaintop south of Post Falls. The Kootenai County Commission Wednesday denied Courtesy Communications’ request …

• In setback to Boeing, report says new tankers not needed

  In Nation/World on Page A1 WASHINGTON — There is no compelling reason for the Air Force to immediately acquire 100 air refueling tankers from The Boeing Co., a new Defense Department report concludes in another …

• Syria denounces sanctions imposed by Washington

  In Nation/World on Page A2 DAMASCUS, Syria – Syria denounced U.S. economic sanctions on Wednesday, and other Arab countries – including close U.S. allies – joined in the criticism. Europe ignored the penalties by dispatching …

• Lottery numbers

  Wednesday’s Washington Daily Game: 0-4-1. Wednesday’s Washington Lotto: 3-10-27-28-29-36. No winner. Next jackpot: $5.3 million.

• 

  Israeli armored convoy attacked

  In Nation/World on Page A2 GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Palestinian militants on Wednesday evening bombed a second Israeli armored convoy, killing an officer and four soldiers and injuring three others along the Gazan border …

• 

  Panel accuses bishops of regressing on reforms

  In Nation/World on Page A3 MORRIS PLAINS, N.J. – A key panel of lay Roman Catholics is angrily accusing American bishops of backsliding on a central plank of their reform program aimed at stopping clergy …

• Committee votes to delay base closings

  In Nation/World on Page A3 WASHINGTON – The Bush administration faced a revolt in the House on Wednesday as members of the Armed Services Committee voted to delay the 2005 round of military base closings …

• Fourteen nuns accused in Boston abuse suit

  In Nation/World on Page A3 BOSTON – Nine former students at a Roman Catholic school for the deaf filed a lawsuit Tuesday alleging they were raped, beaten and tormented decades ago by the nuns who …

• 

  Reform Party endorses Nader

  In Nation/World on Page A3 WASHINGTON – Independent Ralph Nader, reviled by some Democrats for his presidential bid, was endorsed Wednesday by the national Reform Party, giving him ballot access in at least seven states …

• 

  Experts examine aged inscription

  In Nation/World on Page A4 LONDON – The experts who cracked Nazi Germany’s secret codes are tackling a 10-letter enigma that has stumped fine minds for more than 250 years – D.O.U.O.S.V.A.V.V.M. Former code-breakers from …

• Web insults precede street brawl

  In Nation/World on Page A4 DALLAS – In a computer-age version of “West Side Story,” rival gang members battled it out in the street in a rumble organized over the Internet. Nearly three dozen people, …

• 

  Canadian man raised as girl commits suicide

  In Nation/World on Page A4 TORONTO – David Reimer, a Canadian who was born as a boy but raised as a girl after a botched circumcision, committed suicide after failed investments drove him into poverty. …

• Plan B backers call for FDA resignations

  In Nation/World on Page A4 WASHINGTON – A dozen members of Congress Wednesday called for the resignation of the two Food and Drug Administration officials most responsible for last week’s decision to keep emergency contraception …

• Low harvest prices prompt some refugees to plant marijuana

  In Nation/World on Page A5 FRESNO, Calif. – On the edge of suburbia here, where farmland awaits the developer’s plow, the magnificent gardens of Southeast Asian refugees rise and fall. On leased ground no larger …

• 

  River gets clean bill of health

  In City on Page A6 The fast-flowing Spokane River has already flushed and diluted most fecal matter from Monday’s sewage plant accident, water quality samples show. The first samples from the river were obtained Tuesday …

• 

  Montanans seek stability on their power rates

  In Business on Page A8 A new nonprofit yesterday bid $1.26 billion for the Montana assets of bankrupt NorthWestern Corp. The offer by Montana Public Power Inc. renews an effort by that state’s large cities …

• 

  Trade deficit at all-time high

  In Business on Page A8 WASHINGTON — The United States posted a record trade deficit in March, reflecting Americans’ voracious demand for foreign-made goods as well as the most expensive crude oil since 1983. The …

• 

  Rymond dies at age 95

  In Business on Page A8 Helen Hazen Rymond, a longtime community benefactor and business executive, died Sunday at the age of 95. For more than three decades she was president of Hazen & Jaeger Funeral …

• CenterStage lease is being disputed

  In Business on Page A8 The operators of the CenterStage performing arts center in downtown Spokane could be headed to court after being told by their landlord, Odd Girls LLC, that the lease they’ve been …

• LaunchPad to focus on new program

  In Business on Page A8 After more than a year of testing the idea, a Spokane group will formally launch a networking service to help startup companies grow and add jobs. That idea, called Connect …

• 

  Oil prices spurt to level not seen since fall of 1990

  In Business on Page A8 LONDON — Demand for oil is growing at its fastest rate in eight years, but the economic recovery could fizzle unless suppliers keep pace by drilling new wells and producing …

• NBC Universal takes its place among media giants

  In Business on Page A9 NEW YORK — NBC clinched its big media prize Wednesday, completing a merger with the Universal television and entertainment businesses to create a major media conglomerate. NBC Universal will rival …

• Market recovers from early losses

  In Business on Page A9 NEW YORK — Stocks ended a volatile session mixed Wednesday as late-day bargain-hunting erased earlier declines, helping the Dow Jones industrial average recover from an intraday loss of more than …

• Honda of Spokane becomes Valley Honda

  In Business on Page A9 The former Honda of Spokane dealership in Spokane Valley has been modernized in a $1 million renovation, and is now called Valley Honda. The remodeling included the showroom, sales offices …

• Krispy Kreme strategy has some holes

  In Business on Page A11 CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In the land where Krispy Kreme doughnuts are an institution, Matt Hollowell walked out of a Dunkin’ Donuts store with a large coffee in one hand and …

• Neighbors resist plans to build wastewater plant

  In City on Page B1 East Central Neighborhood residents mounted heated resistance Wednesday evening at a meeting to discuss plans to build a new Spokane County sewage treatment plant in their neighborhood. Neighbors said that …

• 

  Daily, they rise above the smell

  In City on Page B1 There are 800 miles of sewer lines in the Lilac City. And we all know it ain’t posies passing through these pipes.

• Accuracy watch

  In City on Page B1 For 05-13-2004

• 

  For students, grant is watershed event

  In City on Page B1 Eighth-grader Allie Lowry rolled her pants legs up, slipped into her friend’s flip-flops and waded into Thompson Creek. She carried a thermometer to record the water’s temperature. “Oh, it’s not …

• Idaho man killed in plane crash

  In Idaho on Page B1 SAN DIEGO — Two men killed when their plane crashed into the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve were identified Tuesday by authorities as student pilots from Idaho and Utah. The bodies …

• 

  Giant maples cleared to make way for retirement apartments

  The complaints came in to the city, the newspapers and the site’s neighbors when the giant maple trees were eliminated at the corner of Harrison Avenue and Third Street in …

• Online net snared al Qaeda suspect

  In City on Page B1 TACOMA – A 26-year-old Washington National Guard tank crewman accused of offering help to al Qaeda terrorists was apparently not discovered by the FBI, or military intelligence, or Homeland Security. …

• Trial focuses on Internet activity

  In Idaho on Page B1 BOISE — Computer records show a University of Idaho graduate student intentionally posted to the Internet four articles offering religious justifications for suicide attacks, federal prosecutors say. Those same computer …

• 

  Ready for summer

  In City on Page B1 Taking a small but concrete step in a 30-year, $359 million project to scrub mine wastes from the Coeur d’Alene Basin, state and federal officials are celebrating the nearly-finished cleanup …

• 

  Brodie has raised more than $24,000

  In Idaho on Page B1 Kootenai County Commission candidate Katie Brodie has raised $24,540 in her bid for office, which is probably the largest amount ever reported on a single campaign finance disclosure for a …

• Rape suspect jailed in Seattle

  In City on Page B2 SEATTLE — A California man being sought in attacks on women following break-ins at three homes in the southwest part of the city has been arrested, police said. Michael W. …

• Sonneland loses battle to keep tower

  In City on Page B2 A Spokane-based communications company has until May 31 to tear down its illegal antenna on a mountaintop south of Post Falls. The Kootenai County Commission Wednesday denied Courtesy Communications’ request …

• 20-year-old man arrested in knife attack

  In City on Page B2 A Spokane man suffered a 6-inch gash to his neck, a cut to his face and cuts to his fingers when an apparent robbery attempt turned into a stabbing, police …

• Moscow closes charter school for violations

  In City on Page B2 MOSCOW, Idaho — The Moscow School District is closing the Renaissance Charter School for noncompliance with regulations in several areas. The school board voted 3-2 to close the school, saying …

• Former congresswoman stumps Sunday

  In Idaho on Page B2 POST FALLS— Former Idaho Republican Congresswoman Helen Chenoweth-Hage is coming to Post Falls Sunday to stump for two District 5 legislative candidates. Chenoweth-Hage, who now lives in Nevada, is having …

• 

  Sandpoint ready for a classic celebration

  In Idaho on Page B2 SANDPOINT —This weekend Sandpoint will be filled with classic cars, penny loafers and poodle skirts as the town once again turns back the hands of time and celebrates the early …

• EWU faculty gets 3 percent raise

  In City on Page B3 Eastern Washington University’s board of trustees OK’d a 3 percent compensation raise for its full-time faculty in a special meeting Wednesday morning. Beginning July 1, 435 full-time EWU professors will …

• 

  WSP briefly closes I-90 exit

  In City on Page B3 Acrid white smoke wafted from the parking lot of the Washington State Patrol port of entry on Interstate 90 Wednesday afternoon. As a precaution, the weigh station, a highway on-ramp …

• 

  Murray leads Nethercutt, but by how much?

  In City on Page B3 George Nethercutt is “only” 9.5 percentage points behind Patty Murray in a recent poll of Washington state voters, the Nethercutt campaign said Wednesday. “New poll shows Washington Senate race in …

• Budget problems force school employee layoffs

  In City on Page B3 As area school districts continue to struggle with declining enrollment and increased expenses, Spokane Public Schools plans to lay off nine certificated employees, and the East Valley School District has …

• 

  That’s no litter - it’s a doggone crowd

  In City on Page B3 Pongo and Perdita only had a litter of 15 Dalmatian puppies. And that was a Disney cartoon. Heffe and – mostly – Hanna gave birth to 19 Rottweiler puppies Saturday …

• Movie fan allegedly robs video store

  In City on Page B4 BREMERTON — A 37-year-old man with a fondness for the movie “Rob Roy” has been arrested, accused of robbing a video store. A man asked a clerk at Total Video …

• Shot girl may need emergency surgery

  The 13-year-old Spokane girl who was shot Sunday between the eyes may have to undergo emergency surgery to release pressure on her brain, her mother said Wednesday. Tara Rader, 13, …

• Hanford demolition under way

  In City on Page B5 RICHLAND — Workers at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation have completed demolition of the first of three buildings where plutonium was concentrated for the nation’s nuclear weapons arsenal. The 233-S Plutonium …

• Idaho records

  In Idaho on Page B5 For 05-13-2004

• 

  Logging truckers make stand

  In City on Page B5 TACOMA — Andy Bishop, a second-generation independent logging truck driver from Buckley, says he makes no more money today than his dad did 20 years ago. In addition to stagnant …

• And another thing . . .

  In Opinion on Page B6 Universal care, stat! Both major political parties have been spooked by the costs of universal health-care coverage, but the Kaiser Family Foundation released a report Monday that shows that inaction …

• Black progress preceded civil rights

  In Opinion on Page B6 May 17, 1954 — half a century ago — saw one of the most momentous decisions in the history of the Supreme Court of the United States. Some observers who …

• Transparency vital on prisoner abuse

  In Opinion on Page B6 During the onset of the war, the Pentagon devised the clever public relations strategy of “embedding” the media so the awesome power of the world’s most powerful military machine could …

• Foes want to short-circuit AmeriCorps

  In Opinion on Page B6 This was to be a historic year for AmeriCorps, the decade-old national service program whose members tutor needy children, clean up public parks, build houses and provide homeland security in …

• Vote yes for the new, responsive STA

  In Opinion on Page B7 Tuesday’s election will give voters in Spokane County an opportunity to shape the future of public transportation in our community. The Spokane Transit Authority is asking for a 0.03 percent …

• Correction

  Because of an editing error, a percentage figure was deleted from a letter published Wednesday from Ron Johns of Spokane. The affected sentence should have read: “Wild salmon are healthier, …

• 

  Too little, too late for Seattle

  In Sports on Page C1 MINNEAPOLIS — Brad Radke gave the Minnesota Twins just what they needed. Radke took a shutout into the ninth inning, and the Twins held on after Edgar Martinez’s 300th home …

• Bilesky rescues wild-armed Kranches, Shadle Park squelches late Mead rally

  In Sports on Page C1 Brian Kranches does a pretty good Harry Houdini impersonation. The Shadle Park junior wriggled out of several jams against Mead in a Greater Spokane League loser-out playoff game at Avista …

• 

  Smarty Jones is Preakness favorite

  In Sports on Page C1 BALTIMORE — The Preakness field is far from wide-open. Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones was made the 8-5 morning-line favorite Wednesday for the second leg of the Triple Crown, and …

• Coeur d’Alene rides Grove’s strong performance to 5A Region I golf title

  In Sports on Page C1 Russell Grove had just finished off a 5-under par front nine and, golf being golf, numbers inevitably started dancing around in the back of his mind. “I think that might …

• 

  Number of agents still dwindling

  In Sports on Page C1 Wildlife enforce- ment officers come and go in Washington, but the losses have been exceeding the gains. Last week’s retirement of Tim Hood, state Fish and Wildlife Department officer for …

• 

  Kings hold their court

  In Sports on Page C1 SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Kings aren’t buried yet. After two heartbreaking losses left them in a desperate situation, the Kings picked themselves up Wednesday night and registered a season-saving 87-81 …

• Wednesday’s games

  In Sports on Page C2 Brewers 4, Expos 3: At Milwaukee, Lyle Overbay extended his hitting streak to a season-high 13 games with a two-run double that helped Milwaukee defeat Montreal. Cardinals 5, Braves 2: …

• 

  Posada out, nose broke on throw

  In Sports on Page C2 Yankees catcher Jorge Posada had surgery on his broken nose Wednesday night in Anaheim, Calif., after getting hit in the face with a throw while breaking up a double play. …

• On the air

  In Sports on Page C3 For 05-13-2004

• 

  Heat continue home-court mastery

  In Sports on Page C3 MIAMI — Lamar Odom asked for a show of hands from the room full of reporters and television cameras. “How many of you thought this series would be 2-2?” he …

• Today’s menu

  In Sports on Page C3 For 05-13-2004

• 

  Briefly

  In Sports on Page C3 Women’s Olympic basketball team adds Taurasi, Cash First she led Connecticut to a third straight NCAA championship, then she was first player taken in the WNBA draft. Now, to top …

• State-qualifying events

  In Sports on Page C4 Track 5A/4A Region I

• 

  Garcia makes dashing move

  In Sports on Page C4 Lake City High track coach Kelly Reed looked at his stopwatch and his decision was made. Meagan Garcia had just beaten 4A state sprint champion Amy Dyck of Sandpoint for …

• NO HEADLINE

  In Sports on Page C4 Looking ahead There is nothing to compare to the playoffs associated with spring sports.

• 

  Saxons ready for state trip

  In Sports on Page C4 They’ve already watched a state championship match from the sidelines. Now four Ferris seniors would like to see a title contest from a different viewpoint.

• 

  Murphy homing in on state golf tournament

  In Sports on Page C4 Lakeland golfer Casey Murphy said he likes to have fun. If his 3-under-par 68 medalist round at Stoneridge in Blanchard Monday in the 3A District I tournament is any indication …

• 

  No reason to start anew for stadium

  In Sports on Page C4 Why would anyone want to raze Albi Stadium? Jim West says he wouldn’t mind.

• North Idaho track honor roll

  In Sports on Page C4 Boys 100 — 1, Caleb Cazier (Timberlake) 10.9. 2, Person (Priest River) 11.0. 3, Wheeler (Coeur d’Alene) 11.2. 4, tie, Kaestner (Lake City) and Mehalechko (Post Falls) 11.3.

• high school schedule

  In Sports on Page C5 BASEBALL IDAHO

• Colville wins, qualifies for district tourney

  In Sports on Page C5 Travis LeCaire improved to 9-0 and Chris Salo finished 4 for 4 Wednesday as Colville qualified for the District 7 2A baseball tournament championship game with an 11-10 win over …

• Carr pitches Lakeland past Kellogg

  In Sports on Page C5 David Carlisle didn’t want to pitch Wednesday. The Lakeland High junior right-hander wasn’t frightened, mind you. Not after throwing a no-hitter Saturday in the first day of the 3A District …

• Krystkowiak returns to coach Montana basketball

  In Sports on Page C5 MISSOULA, Mont. — It looks like former Montana basketball player and nine-year NBA veteran Larry Krystkowiak will be introduced today as the school’s new head basketball coach. Krystkowiak arrived at …

• Carlson named NIC women’s coach

  In Sports on Page C5 At his several coaching stops throughout the Inland Northwest, Chris Carlson always kept his eye on the North Idaho College women’s basketball coaching position. Carlson, an assistant at Eastern Washington …

• Bech wins tiebreaker, earns state berth

  In Sports on Page C5 Katrina Bech had just earned a trip to the State 4A girls golf tournament with a 3-foot par putt on the first playoff hole but she didn’t crack a smile. …

• NAPA Auto Parts new INSSA sponsor

  In Sports on Page C6 If the excitement found in the opening race was any indicator, can the second event of the Inland Northwest Super Stock Association Saturday at Stateline Speedway get any better? For …

• Official records

  In Sports on Page C6 Spokane County Marriage licenses Nichlas R. Fox of San Diego, Calif., and Elizabeth A. Smelser of Moscow, Idaho.

• Symphony tackles Ol’ Blue Eyes

  In Features on Page D1 The Swing Era has been very, very good to the Spokane Symphony SuperPops. Two previous big band-themed pops concerts have sold out, and Friday night’s third installment should prove popular …

• 

  The Slice: You can’t wash away the love

  In Features on Page D1 Baby used to be dazzlingly white. Then Ryan Hueter started loving on him. Baby’s not white anymore.

• 

  Last call

  In Features on Page D1 When the blue-collar barroom comedy “Cheers” ended its run in 1993, it managed the neat trick of turning beer into champagne. “Frasier,” the “Cheers” spinoff about psychiatrist Frasier Crane and …

• 

  ‘Frasier’ often put Spokane on TV map

  In Features on Page D1 “Frasier” may be about as close to a hometown TV show as Spokane has ever had. Set in Seattle, the series made frequent references to the Lilac City. For example, …

• 

  Freuen’s latest take new shape

  In Features on Page D3 For the past two years ceramist Gina Freuen has been showing mostly wood-fired porcelain pieces that relied heavily on the chance environment of the kiln and ash to produce distinctive …

• 

  Can I buy a vow?

  In Features on Page D3 The subject of marriage has been batted back and forth like a squash ball recently. So the time is right for the Spokane Civic Theatre to revive the 1966 musical …

• 

  Destined to write

  In Features on Page D3 Phil Condon knew he wanted to be a writer early on. It may have been the authors that he read in high school: Thoreau, Dostoevsky, Shakespeare, Twain.

• 52.5 million click their farewell to ‘Friends’

  In Features on Page D4 “Friends” was a friend to the end for NBC, with the sitcom’s final episode boosting the network to its best weekly showing in two years. Last Thursday’s “Friends” finale, which …

• L.M. Boyd Trivia

  In Features on Page D4 • Estimators say the people in Hong Kong eat 800,000 pigeons a year. • Average female lion lives 17 years. Average male, 12 years. Client asks, Why this difference? Lion …

• ‘Frasier’ bids goodbye on NBC

  In Features on Page D4 Frasier just wanted to be your friend, too. But for a number of years now, his NBC sitcom has had a weirdly low profile. A lot of people wrote it …

• Spokane calendar

  In Features on Page D5 For 05-13-2004

• Idaho calendar

  In Features on Page D5 For 05-13-2004

• Symphony plans spring concert at EWU

  In Features on Page D7 The Spokane Symphony performs a spring concert Wednesday at Eastern Washington University’s Showalter Auditorium in Cheney. Jennifer Scriggins, the symphony’s principal horn player and an EWU faculty member, will be …

• Rumsfeld speaks and people make music

  In Features on Page D7 After hearing Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld dress down the media at Pentagon press briefings, two San Francisco musicians came to an inevitable conclusion: His words simply must be set …

• ‘Passion of the Christ’ coming out on DVD in August

  In Features on Page D7 Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” will be released on DVD on Aug. 31 through 20th Century Fox. Gibson couldn’t persuade any of the major Hollywood studios, including Fox, …

• NBC picks up ‘L&O’ series

  In Features on Page D7 Fans of the three “Law & Order” shows can look forward to more — and No. 4. An agreement between NBC and producer Dick Wolf, announced Wednesday, includes pickups through …

• Do you know who Enzo is?

  In Features on Page D8 Heading into tonight’s “Frasier” finale, here are some fun facts about the show: • Only one regular character has been played by two different actors: Eddie, Martin Crane’s dog. He …