Funeral for Jim West set for Friday
Flags at city of Spokane facilities will fly at half-staff through Friday when the funeral service for former Mayor Jim West is held.
The service has been scheduled for Friday at 4 p.m. at Life Center Church, 1202 N. Government Way in Spokane, with the Rev. Lonnie Mitchell officiating. Other details are still being worked out by family members and friends.
West’s family has asked that instead of flowers, donations be made to one of three organizations: The American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718 Oklahoma City, OK, 73123; University of Washington Foundation-Oncology Support Fund, P.O. Box 358240, Seattle, WA, 98195-8240; Richard Allen Enterprise Fund, 645 S. Richard Allen Court, Spokane, WA, 99202.
West died early Saturday at University Medical Center in Seattle of complications arising from surgery to remove cancer from his liver. In 2003, West was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer, which had spread to his liver. He underwent four major surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy in efforts to stop the disease.
– Staff reports
Missing man feared victim of foul play
The case of a 73-year-old man whose car was found in southwest Washington five days after he went missing in Spokane has been transferred to the major crimes unit, Spokane police said.
James F. Ehrgott was last seen July 7 eating dinner around 5 p.m. at the Sportsman Café and Lounge on North Market Street, according to a Spokane Police Department news release. His vehicle was found on July 12 in Lewis County, with a person unknown by Ehrgott’s family driving the gold Pontiac Sunfire.
“They believe foul play was involved,” Spokane police Officer Jennifer DeRuwe said.
Spokane police are assisting the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, which is taking the lead in the investigation, she said.
Ehrgott is 6 feet tall and weighs about 190 pounds. He has gray hair and brown eyes, and he wears prescription eyeglasses.
Police ask that anybody who knows or has seen the man call the Spokane Crime Reporting Center at (509) 532-9266 during business hours or call 911 after hours.
– Jared Paben
Spokane Valley
Woman may face charges in shooting
Criminal charges could be filed against a Spokane Valley woman whom investigators believe shot her husband Saturday before turning the 9 mm semiautomatic pistol on herself.
Both husband and wife are recuperating from the gunshot wounds and were listed in satisfactory condition in separate hospitals.
Although the Spokane County Sheriff’s Department was continuing Monday to withhold their identities, The Spokesman-Review has learned that the victim is Mike Long, who suffered a bullet wound to his side. His wife, Roberta Long, reportedly suffered self-inflicted bullet wounds to her chest and head during the Saturday morning encounter at 111 N. Locust Road.
Police believe the 52-year-old woman was angry that he decided to move out of their Spokane Valley apartment, sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Reagan said.
Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center confirmed Mike Long was in satisfactory condition on Monday.
– Jared Paben