Race a reminder each vote counts
A recount apparently will be required because of a single vote in the 6th Legislative District race between Rep. John Serben and Don Barlow.
Spokane County Elections Manager Paul Brandt said Barlow’s paper-thin general election lead slipped within the 0.5 percent threshold for an automatic recount by one vote when 170 ballots were counted Monday.
In Monday’s unofficial total, Democrat Barlow had 26,226 votes to Republican Serben’s 25,966.
Brandt said the recount likely will occur Friday.
– John Craig
3 police officers receive awards
Spokane Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick on Monday gave medals to three officers.
The officers responded on Aug. 14 to a group home at 1700 W. Ninth Ave., where a caller reported that a woman suffering from mental illness was threatening a staff member with a knife and had started a fire, police spokesman Cpl. Tom Lee said in a press release.
Officers Max Hewett, Kim Thomas and Paul Taylor searched the house, which was rapidly filling with smoke.
Forced back by the smoke, Hewett re-entered with a breathing apparatus and the help of firefighters. He took the woman into custody, and Thomas and Taylor escorted her to safety, Lee said. The woman was hospitalized for a psychiatric evaluation, Lee said.
Kirkpatrick awarded Hewett the Silver Star, which is given for courageous action. Thomas and Taylor received medals of merit.
The award was Thomas’ second in his 31-year career. Hewett has been with the force since 1995 and Taylor started working since 1994, Lee said.
– Thomas Clouse
Grandmother aids in five arrests
Five burglary suspects were arrested Sunday night after an elderly woman recognized one of the men as an acquaintance of her grandson’s.
The woman’s arm was bruised when four men pushed past her when she opened her door in the 1200 block of East Queen Avenue, police said.
Cpl. Michael Carr said the men wanted to confront the woman’s grandson, but he wasn’t at the home. The suspects left in a vehicle driven by a woman, Carr said.
The victim recognized one man as Richard Urbanski, 21, according to Officer Jennifer DeRuwe. Police knew Urbanski lived in the 2100 block of East Euclid Avenue, so officers waited there, she said.
Arrested at that location were Veronica Marry, 29; Christopher Dailey, 19; Matthew Moulton, 30; and Jesse Naclerio, 36. Urbanski fled but a police dog found him hiding in a garage, DeRuwe said.
All were booked on suspicion of first-degree burglary.
– John Craig
Two questioned in bank robbery
Police were questioning two men Monday night in connection with a robbery about 6:20 p.m. at the Farmers & Merchants bank branch in the Safeway store at 933 E. Mission Ave.
Cpl. Michael Carr said the men were “persons of interest” in the robbery, but hadn’t been arrested.
No other information was immediately available.
– John Craig