Spokane woman named to UW board

Spokane’s Kristianne Blake – civic activist, accountant, and sister of Microsoft’s Bill Gates – has been named to the board of regents at the University of Washington.

“She will bring a unique geographic perspective to the university and will work to make sure the UW continues to serve the entire state,” said Gov. Chris Gregoire, who announced the appointment Monday.

Blake graduated from UW in 1975 with a bachelor of arts in business administration. She sits on several boards of directors, including Avista Corp.’s, and is the board chairwoman for Russell Investment Co. and Russell Investment Funds.

“It’s nice to be back on campus,” she said Monday. “It makes you feel young again.”

As a regent, Blake will join eight other unpaid board members who set policy for the university. She was on the search committee that in 2004 selected Lousiana State University chancellor Mark Emmert to take over as president of UW.

Blake said that she views the Seattle-based university as a statewide asset and hopes to expand that role.

UW in July said it plans to train 28 first-year medical and dental students in Spokane in 2008, something local officials had sought for more than a decade. Both Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown and Gregoire have said they support the move, which must still win the approval of legislative budget writers. Washington State University and Eastern Washington University would provide local faculty.

“I think it’s a good start, a good model,” Blake said of the program.

Blake is also known for her community involvement in Spokane, including work with the Junior League, YMCA, St. George’s School, United Way and Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce.

TACOMA

EWU student among fire victims

Three young adults who died in a weekend house fire were identified Monday, and the victims included a student at Eastern Washington University.

Killed were David Sawyer of Eatonville and Nathen Hoffman of Gig Harbor, both 22, and Suzanne Surface, 19, of Ashford, the Pierce County medical examiner’s office said.

All were reportedly graduates of Eatonville High School, and Surface was a student at Eastern Washington University.

They were among nine people inside the home early Sunday morning when the fire began, apparently ignited accidentally by a candle. Six people escaped the home, but the three victims died from smoke inhalation, the medical examiner said.

Colfax

Idaho man dies of crash injuries

A 51-year-old man injured in a single-car crash near Colfax over the weekend has died.

Jeffrey M. Sloan of Hailey, Idaho, crashed just after midnight Saturday, the Washington State Patrol said.

Sloan was southbound on Highway 195 when he lost control on a curve, officials said.

He died at Deaconess Medical Center.

Speed and alcohol were factors in the crash, the WSP said.

Pullman

Driver faces two counts of homicide

The Washington State Patrol has arrested the driver in a Friday crash that killed two people near Pullman.

Luis O. Dominguez, 32, of Lewiston, was booked into the Whitman County Jail on two counts of vehicular homicide Sunday, said WSP spokesman trooper Jeff Sevigney.

Traffic investigators said the 2002 Chevrolet Blazer driven by Dominguez was southbound when it rolled early Friday. Fredi Perez-Araujo, 24, and Ramon Soto-Soto, 25, both of Clarkston, were killed.

Speed and alcohol were factors in the crash, officials said.

Rathdrum

Motorcyclist chased with boy aboard

A Rathdrum man was arrested Saturday after allegedly speeding on his motorcycle with his 7-year-old stepson on the bike, according to sheriff’s reports.

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s deputy who was chasing the motorcycle lost control while rounding a corner and crashed the police cruiser into a fence.

Jason Michael Genge, 28, was arrested on suspicion of driving without privileges, injury to a child and reckless driving. He has since been released from the Kootenai County Jail.

According to sheriff’s reports, Deputy T.G. Nordgaarden was near Hayden Avenue and Ramsey Road when he saw a speeding motorcycle.

Nordgaarden said he followed Genge down Hayden Avenue at about 70 to 80 mph. When the motorcycle turned onto Happy Trails Road, the deputy slid through the fence. No one was injured.

Nordgaarden said he didn’t know a child was on the bike until a witness told him.

– Compiled from staff and wire reports