Fire destroys stables at Valley Mission Park

A fire Thursday night that destroyed two of four stables at Valley Mission Park was being investigated as either arson or spontaneous combustion in a large stack of hay.

The stables at Mission Avenue and Bowdish Road are used only during events at the adjacent arena, and there were no animals in the buildings. No one was injured.

Battalion Chief Stan Cooke of the Spokane Valley Fire Department said two stables were fully ablaze when the first of six firetrucks arrived about 6:35 p.m. The fire was starting to spread to the other stables, but firefighters quickly protected them with water and foam, Cooke said.

Fire crews also had to quell a 2,000-square-foot grass fire that was being fanned by strong winds, Cooke said.

– John Craig

NBC documentary focuses on local vet

Vernon Baker is the subject of a documentary airing before the Olympic closing ceremonies on Sunday.

Baker, of St. Maries, was one of six black WWII veterans who were belatedly awarded the Medal of Honor. Baker was the only one alive to accept it.

Baker is credited with playing a crucial role in helping capture northern Italy, near where the Olympic games are being played. He led an all-black infantry platoon against Nazi fortifications in that area in 1945.

The 86-year-old was an orphan and raised by his grandparents in Cheyenne, Wyo.

Besides the Medal of Honor, which he received in 1997, more than 50 years after his heroic act, Baker also earned a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star and the Distinguished Service Cross.

Bantam Books is reissuing Baker’s biography in conjunction with the screening. Former Spokesman-Review reporter Ken Olsen co-wrote “Lasting Valor” with Baker.

The documentary will air on NBC at 7 p.m. Sunday.

– Rasha Madkour

Bloody gauze auction withdrawn, for now

The bloody gauze from Adam Morrison’s nose has been pulled … from eBay.

Morrison pulled the gauze from his nose shortly before halftime at Monday night’s West Coast Conference game against Pepperdine and threw it on the floor under the basket, near where an anonymous eBay seller said he was seated.

The gauze was put up for auction on Tuesday for $1 and, as of early Thursday evening had been viewed 13,084 times and had a high bid of more than $60.

The eBay auction item was pulled Thursday apparently at the request of Gonzaga and the NCAA.

“Per NCAA and Gonzaga University student-athlete rules, I have decided to shut down my current auction since I respect their wishes,” wrote the seller. “Once Adam Morrison is no longer a student-athlete, I will start a new auction for the item. Look for this auction to start again around the date of the NBA draft in 2006 or 2007.”

Morrison, a junior, is expected to declare for the NBA draft after the current season is over.

– Joe Palmquist