In brief: Murder suspected in man’s death

Police believe a man whose body was found Monday evening was a victim of homicide.

A citizen found William R. Nichols’ body about 5:15 p.m. Monday underneath a “No Trespassing” sign near Wellesley Avenue and Havana Street, in a grassy area at the base of Beacon Hill in Hillyard, said Spokane police Officer Jennifer DeRuwe.

Police are still investigating what happened.

Sgt. Joe Peterson said Nichols was likely killed Friday or Saturday.

Police are interviewing several people about the case and have served one search warrant in relation to it, Peterson said.

DeRuwe wouldn’t say why police believe Nichols died from homicidal violence, but he is in their system because of past criminal activity.

Police didn’t reveal the murder until early Tuesday morning, more than 12 hours after the body was reported to them.

“The less people around, the better for us,” said DeRuwe when asked about the delay.

School leader chats online today

Spokane Public Schools Superintendent Nancy Stowell will host the first of her monthly online chats for the school year from noon to 1 p.m. today.

The public is invited to submit questions for Stowell by visiting the district’s Web site at www.spokaneschools.org and clicking on “Chat with the Superintendent.”

Transcripts from previous chats – held the first Wednesday of each month – are available on the Web site.

Kootenai County

County to collect launch fees

Boaters soon will have to pay a fee to launch at Kootenai County’s 22 ramps and docks at lakes and rivers, including Lake Coeur d’Alene, to help maintain and improve the facilities.

The County Commission voted Tuesday to charge users with boats registered in Idaho a $4 daily launch fee or $20 for an annual pass. Owners with boats registered out of state will pay double: $8 a day or $40 a year.

The new launch fee, which will take effect Jan. 1, makes Kootenai County equal with the state and the city of Coeur d’Alene, which already charge $4 launch fees.

The money would go toward repair and maintenance as boater use increases each year.

Stevens County

More resources used against fire

Officials beefed up air support Tuesday for crews battling the 220-acre Wrights Valley wildfire about four miles southwest of Chewelah as winds blew from the northwest, a spokesman said.

Three helicopters and three air tankers helped more than 200 ground firefighters get the blaze 40 percent contained by Tuesday night, keeping the fire at a safe distance from six rural homes, said spokesman Steve Harris of the state Department of Natural Resources.

“It did burn a little bit more today,” Harris said Tuesday.

The Stevens County blaze started about 3:45 p.m. Monday. Its cause is still under investigation, Harris said.

Nobody has been injured, and no structures have been destroyed, he said.

BOISE

Fire debris forces highway closure

Flaming trees, boulders and other debris that were loosened by fire and sent rolling onto a state highway north of here forced the closure Tuesday of a 14-mile section of road.

The Chief Parrish wildfire began Monday night, doubled in size overnight and has so far blackened more than 3 1/2 square miles in an area four miles south of Banks near state Highway 55.