Fire damages Ugly Duck
A suspicious fire seriously damaged a building materials retail store in north Spokane early Saturday.
Spokane Fire Department crews responded to a 2 a.m. blaze at the Ugly Duck, located at 1725 W. Sinto Ave. It was the third fire in the past 2 ½ years at the business, which specializes in doors, kitchen cabinets and other wooden materials.
The fire was under control after 10 minutes, said Battalion Chief Bruce Moline, but crews spent another two hours removing stacks of wood boards and doors by hand to ensure that the flames were out.
The Ugly Duck was apparently the target of arsonists in April 2003 and again four months later, according to Spokesman-Review archives. The first fire was started in a stack of wood in front of the business. The second burned $15,000 worth of cedar products.
Saturday’s fire resulted in “considerable” damage, according to Moline, but no estimate was available.
– Virginia de Leon
SANDPOINT
Shooter accepts reduced charge
A Priest River man who shot a repossession agent in the head pleaded guilty to a reduced charge and was sentenced to time served.
Bruce Allen Spaude was originally charged with attempted first-degree murder in connection with the Sept. 27, 2002, shooting. Spaude, 41, shot Victor Grant in the head with a .22-caliber rifle as Grant drove away in Spaude’s repossessed Dodge pickup truck. Grant, of Greenacres, Wash., survived.
Spaude’s lawyer, Brent Featherston, argued that his client thought his truck was being stolen and was shooting at the truck’s tires. Prosecutors reduced the charge to aggravated assault, but plea negotiations faltered when a judge declined to bind himself to sentencing recommendations.
The charge was reduced again, and last week Spaude pleaded guilty to injuring another by careless discharge of a firearm, a misdemeanor.
Judge Charles Hosack sentenced Spaude to 180 days in jail with 153 days suspended. Hosack gave Spaude credit for the 27 days he had already served. Spaude was also fined $300, ordered to pay $72.50 in court costs, and placed on two years of unsupervised probation.
– Associated Press
Low-cost spaying, neutering offered
Pet owners can take advantage of low-cost spay and neuter clinics for the next two days as part of “Spay Day USA.”
The Pet Savers low-cost spay clinic at 7525 E. Trent is offering the surgeries from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday. Cat neuters are $20, spays $35. Dog spays and neuters cost $50-$70 depending on the size and condition of the animal. SpokAnimal Care will also perform low-cost spay and neuter operations from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday.
Spay Day USA is a national campaign sponsored by the Doris Day National Animal Foundation.
Pets that are spayed or neutered live longer lives on average, and the surgeries help prevent the birth of unwanted animals.
For more information, call Pet Savers at 924-7826 or SpokAnimal at 534-8133.
– Amy Cannata