Man freed from hole in his yard

A Spokane man was recovering Monday night after being stuck head-first in a hole for four hours.

Albert Hughes, 70, was attempting to fix a sprinkler connection that was five feet under ground in his yard. Assistant Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said the man apparently leaned too far forward and fell in.

A postal carrier noticed the man about 2:13 p.m., and called for help, Schaeffer said. Firefighters quickly responded to the home at 4125 S. Madelia.

The fire crews pulled him out of the hole, Schaeffer said. He was taken to a hospital for a routine evaluation.

His wife, Valerie Hughes, said that her husband was fine Monday night. “We’re just very lucky,” she said.

Spokane

Lynch to take medical leave

Spokane Deputy Mayor Jack Lynch has gone on a medical leave for at least a few weeks and his position will be temporarily filled by the city’s economic development director, Mayor Dennis Hession announced on Monday.

Hession told City Council members at the end of their weekly meeting on Monday that Lynch is under a physician’s care, but he did not specify the nature of the care. He said in a brief interview that he has no details about Lynch’s health.

John Pilcher was being elevated to acting deputy mayor in Lynch’s absence, Hession said.

For the past five years, Lynch has held the top appointed position under the mayor. He joined the city in 2001 as the chief administrative officer for then-Mayor John Powers.

Lynch continued to serve under Mayor Jim West, and has been retained by Hession, who moved into the mayor’s office after West’s recall in late 2005. Lynch previously served as the elected chief executive for the consolidated government of Butte-Silver Bow County, Mont., for 10 years.

Pilcher was appointed by West as economic development director in December 2004.

North Bend, Wash.

Fall from trail kills hiker

A hiker fell to his death Monday near North Bend, the King County sheriff’s office said.

The man, in his early 20s, had gone hiking with three other people on the Iron Horse Trail, said Deputy Bob Conner. He became separated from them, and when they found him, he was dead.

Ashford, Wash.

Nisqually trust gets Rainier land

The Nisqually Land Trust has purchased 404 acres of timberland near the main entrance to Mount Rainier National Park for conservation.

The group bought the land from Pope Resources for $1.4 million, using federal grant money it received through the state Department of Natural Resources. Eventually, it hopes to conserve 4,500 acres as part of its Mount Rainier Gateway Initiative.

The deal will protect the habitat for spotted owls, marbled murrelets, and bald eagles, all of which are protected.

In addition, the Department of Natural Resources says it will transfer into permanent conservation status 406 acres of spotted-owl habitat within Tahoma State Forest.

“We have a responsibility to deliver economic returns … and in this case we were able to balance that objective with recognition of other important values, such as protection of wildlife habitat, view corridors, and water quality,” said Pope Resources President David L. Nunes.

From staff and wire reports