Rider dies when cycle hits pickup
An 18-year-old Spokane County man was killed Wednesday afternoon when his unlicensed motorcycle slammed into the side of a pickup.
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said Joey D. Martinez, 4416 N. Bannen Lane, was southbound at high speed on Corrigan Road when he ran a stop sign at Wellesley Avenue.
Sgt. Dave Reagan said Martinez locked up the brakes on his 2002 Kawasaki EX-250, but he T-boned a 2002 Ford F-250 pickup driven by David A. Holt, 67, of Spokane. Holt suffered minor injuries.
Reagan said Martinez was wearing a helmet, but it came off during the crash. The intersection was closed more than four hours while officers investigated the accident.
Spokane County
Wood burning halt requested
Rising air pollution caused the county’s clean air agency on Wednesday to ask residents to voluntarily stop burning wood.
Measurements of particulate matter taken by the Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority indicate that pollution levels are approaching standards adopted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in September, said Ron Edgar, SCAPCA’s chief of technical services, in a press release.
A mandatory ban only would occur if state standards, which are not as strict, are violated. Therefore, the agency is asking for voluntary curtailment of fireplaces and wood-burning stoves that are uncertified, Edgar said.
SCAPCA requests that people who burn wood to check the agency’s burning information line at (509) 477-4710 or its Web site at www.scapca.org.
Hopefuls receive discount on filing
The five candidates for Spokane County commissioner got a discount this year when they filed to run for office.
Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton acknowledged Wednesday that those candidates were charged $820 to enter the race but should have paid $930.
Candidates for office pay a filing fee of 1 percent of the salary they would earn if elected. County commissioners earn $93,000 a year.
On March 1, commissioners received a raise from $82,000. Dalton said that when the elections office asked the payroll department on April 1 for salaries to determine filing fees, an employee accidentally provided the old figure. Elections and payroll are part of the auditor’s office.
“Mistakes do happen,” Dalton said. “This was an administrative mistake.”
The issue was raised Tuesday when Commissioner Phil Harris said he made $82,000 a year in an interview. Later, he said he assumed that was his salary because he had been charged an $820 filing fee for election.
Three Democrats and two Republicans filed to run in the race, which was narrowed to Harris and Democrat Bonnie Mager in the September primary.
Dalton said commissioner candidates will not have to pay the extra $110.
Kootenai County
Sheriff’s property stolen – again
Not even Kootenai County’s top cop is immune from thieves. But Sheriff Rocky Watson did get most of his stuff back a few days after a burglary on property he owns at Cougar Bay.
Someone broke into Watson’s shop and swiped a power pruner, toolbox and tools – an estimated loss of $855. But the sheriff recovered the pruner and toolbox from a pawnshop Wednesday.
The property was matched using serial numbers. He’s still missing a cordless drill and battery charger, though.
“I don’t get no respect,” Watson joked Wednesday when asked about the crime.
“Nobody’s exempt. … I’m fair game.”
He said it was the third time he’s been burglarized in his law enforcement career. A suspect has been identified in the latest incident, he added.
The same day Watson reported his burglary, sheriff’s Deputy David Dunkin reported the $945 theft of spike strips from an accident scene at the intersection of West Upriver Drive and West Jacobs Loop near Coeur d’Alene.
The sheriff said he has no idea why someone would steal a spike strip.
“It’s not something they should try at home,” he said.