Workers’ illness leads to evacuation of store

A north Spokane Wal-Mart store was evacuated Sunday morning after employees became ill from an unknown substance in the bathroom.

The Spokane Fire Department was called to the store, 9212 N. Colton Road, about 6 a.m. after one employee requested medical assistance. After firefighters arrived, 10 more employees complained of headache and dry mouth, fire officials said.

The store was evacuated, and the hazardous materials team, more ambulances and police were called to the store to investigate.

One employee was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening issues, fire officials said. The other employees who reported symptoms refused to be transported, officials said.

Fire crews found no hazardous substance in the store, officials said.

– Sara Leaming

Kootenai County

County wants to know prices of sold property

Kootenai County officials may require property owners to reveal sale prices to make it easier to assess property value for taxes.

Previously, the county received sales prices and dates from the Coeur d’Alene Multiple Listing Service, but it no longer does.

“We lost that ability when the Multiple Listing Service withdrew from an agreement with the county in June,” Kootenai County Assessor Mike McDowell told the Bonner County Daily Bee. “It looks like residential markets are moderating in sales price, and in some neighborhoods going down. If we don’t have the information, we can’t factually prove it.”

Rick Currie, County Commission chairman, said other counties are also looking at requiring disclosure of prices on home sales.

“It’s extremely important that we have sales information because by statute we have to be at market value,” Currie said. “We do need accurate numbers.”

– Associated Press

Sandpoint

Panel opposes testing herbicides for milfoil

An advisory board has recommended against testing a variety of herbicides on Eurasian milfoil infestations in Lake Pend Oreille and surrounding areas later this month.

The Bonner County Aquatic Invasive Species Task force voted 6-2 last week against the proposed testing of the herbicides in cold-water conditions in North Idaho.

The state Department of Agriculture and Bonner County Public Works want to test 2,4-D, triclopyr, diquat bromide and other weed killers in colder water when the lake is at winter pool.

The feathery weed grows in shallow water less than 20 feet deep and can eventually reach the surface, forming a dense layer that can entangle swimmers and hinder boats. The 2006 Idaho Legislature allocated $4 million to fight the weed in waterways statewide.

The Bonner County Commission is scheduled to make a decision about whether to adopt the task force’s recommendation Tuesday.

– Associated Press