MAC exhibit draws record attendance
“A T. rex Named Sue” rampaged its way to an attendance record for the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC) last weekend.
A total of 1,726 paid admissions flooded the MAC for opening day of the dinosaur exhibit Saturday, far surpassing the previous daily attendance record of around 1,400. That previous record was for the outdoor USS Constitution exhibit in 2005, which was largely unpaid attendance, said Jill Strom of the museum.
About 535 paid admissions were recorded on Sunday, bringing the weekend total to 2,261, which was also a MAC record, Strom said. Attendance was about five times larger than an average weekend.
Meanwhile, the Museum Store tripled its normal sales. The exhibit continues through Sept. 2.
– Jim Kershner
Spokane County
Higher bond ratings may benefit taxpayers
Taxpayers may save about $100,000 in a $25.7 million bond sale today because of an improvement in Spokane County’s bond ratings.
Marshall Farnell, the county’s chief executive officer, said the savings over the 20-year life of the bonds is possible because the Standard & Poor’s rating service lifted its assessment of the county’s creditworthiness from AA- to AA.
Also, Farnell said, Moody’s Investors Service kept its Spokane County rating at AA.
He said Standard & Poor’s was satisfied that the county had avoided financial losses the company had feared would result from the 2003 incorporation of the city of Spokane Valley. Moody’s felt the county’s economy is strong, and both firms were impressed with the county government’s financial position, Farnell said.
Today’s bond sale includes about $17 million for sewer improvements, to be paid from utility bills, and $8.65 million to refinance old debt at lower interest rates.
– John Craig
Spokane Valley
Valley car theft probe results in drug arrests
Authorities arrested five people on drug charges Monday after searching a Spokane Valley house for evidence of auto theft and a chop shop.
Detectives discovered about a half dozen cars, including one that was partially disassembled, said Sgt. Dave Bolton, who supervises the Washington State Patrol’s auto theft unit. Evidence of identity theft may also have been found.
WSP detectives searched the home at 12326 E. Valleyway just after 10 a.m. Monday.
The search warrant stemmed from information received after police stopped a man for driving a suspected stolen car, officials said. The man told authorities he had purchased the car for $500 from someone at the Valleyway address, according to documents related to the search.
David James Wood, 18; Glen Anthony Gendron, 44; Michael P. Williams, 37; and two others were arrested on suspicion of drug possession, Bolton said.
– Peter Barnes