In brief: County extends burn ban 30 days
A burning ban in unincorporated portions of Spokane County was extended Wednesday for 30 days.
Jim Manson, the county’s fire marshal as well as its director of building and planning, said the ban doesn’t apply to backyard barbecues, patio warmers using approved fuels or burning authorized by permits, such as field burning.
The ban on recreational and trash fires was imposed July 13 because of high wildfire danger.
Man killed after falling from tree
A 50-year-old man died Wednesday after falling nearly 70 feet from a tree he was trimming, officials said.
The man and his son, who own a private business, were hired to trim trees at 10700 W. Granger Road in the Nine Mile Falls area.
The father was in a Ponderosa pine when his son heard a yell, looked and saw his father fall, said Spokane County sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Reagan.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The son tells us he inspected all the climbing gear and it was in good working order,” Reagan said.
Slow-speed chase ends with arrest
A slow-speed chase through north Spokane on Wednesday morning ended with one arrest.
A Washington State Patrol trooper saw the driver of a Chevy Blazer starting to make an illegal turn near Maple Street and Northwest Boulevard and also noticed that the vehicle had an expired license tab, said Trooper Mark Baker.
When the trooper tried to stop the Blazer, the driver took off through residential streets. Chase speeds never topped 35 mph, and the Chevy was eventually stopped at a dead-end on Hemlock Street, just north of Dalton Avenue, Baker said.
The driver and a passenger ran, and one was arrested after a citizen tipped police about his location.
Christopher J. Hyde, 26, was arrested on charges of obstructing justice, felony eluding a police officer and outstanding Washington Department of Corrections warrants for escaping community custody and drugs.
John M. Fay, 43, is still being sought by police.
Riverside closed at People’s Park
The intersection of Riverside Avenue and Clarke Street is closed through Sunday for roadwork. Drivers will not be able to get through the intersection at People’s Park, even for local access.
The closure is part of work to repair Browne’s Addition and Peaceful Valley streets.
Parking is prohibited on Cannon Street from Pacific Avenue to Riverside, and on First in Browne’s Addition.
Spokane Valley
Fire official put on paid leave
Spokane Valley Fire Assistant Chief Dave Lobdell has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation, officials confirmed Wednesday.
Chief Mike Thompson would not elaborate on the reason but said it’s not criminal and is being investigated internally.
Lobdell has been with the department for more than 30 years, Thompson said.
Once the investigation is complete, the information will be discussed with Spokane County Fire District No. 1 fire commissioners, who govern the department, Thompson said. The next session is scheduled for Sept. 24, but it’s unknown if the investigation will be complete at that time.
Driver accused of using drugs
A drug-affected 33-year-old woman fell asleep at the wheel of her car Wednesday morning, hitting another car head-on on Dishman-Mica Road near Hallett Road, according to police.
Spokane County Sheriff’s deputies found drugs and syringes in Joy L. Ferguson’s Ford Taurus after the 5:45 a.m. crash.
Ferguson was driving south on Dishman-Mica when she crossed the centerline and hit a northbound Toyota Corolla, according to a Sheriff’s Office release on the crash.
The driver of that car, 46-year-old Carl R. Lee, tried to avoid Ferguson by driving onto the shoulder, but couldn’t prevent the crash. Lee was injured slightly in the face when he was hit by the airbag.
Deputies suspect that Ferguson had been using cocaine. She was taken to a hospital to be treated for ankle and back injuries and was then arrested for driving under the influence of drugs.
Video game thief sought by police
Spokane Valley police are seeking a man who stole a $4,000 video game last month from Statz Bar and Grill.
The tabletop “Mega Touch” machine likely held $300 to $400 cash, according to a news release.
The thief made off with the game about 6 p.m. on Aug. 1, after playing pool at Statz, 12303 E. Trent Ave. He was caught on a security camera.
He is described as white with tattoos on his right arm.
Police ask anyone with information to call Detective Rich Gere at (509) 477-3324 or the Spokane Valley police tip line at (509) 242-8477.
Car gets wedged underneath semi
A driver whose Toyota got wedged underneath a semi-trailer suffered minor injuries Wednesday.
About 4:25 p.m., a Toyota and a semi-truck had both exited Interstate 90 and were turning north in the two left-turn lanes onto Sullivan Road in Spokane Valley, said Spokane County sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Reagan. The Toyota failed to stay in its lane and failed to give the semi enough room to turn. The Toyota ended up getting stuck underneath the rear wheels of the semi.
The crash blocked northbound Sullivan at the eastbound freeway on-ramp.
The Toyota driver was cited for improper lane usage and failure to provide proof of insurance, Reagan said. The driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital. The truck driver was unhurt.
Valley official takes another job
Spokane Valley’s second highest administrator has announced her resignation to take a job in California.
The city announced Wednesday that Deputy City Manager Nina Regor will leave Oct. 12 to serve as the city manager of Cloverdale, a community of 8,500 north of San Francisco.
Hired in 2003 shortly after the city formed, Regor helped oversee the development of the city’s organizational structure and a number of significant city policies.
“We always hate it when we lose talent, but we understand it’s pretty normal,” said Councilman Steve Taylor.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for her,” he said.
Regor’s departure follows the resignation of the city’s first community development director, Marina Sukup, who left in June to take a job in her home state of Texas.
Coulee City
Bus garage fire ruled accidental
Investigators determined Wednesday that a Saturday morning fire that destroyed six buses, a driver’s education car and much of the Grand Coulee Dam School District’s bus garage was accidental.
“We’ve gone through the rubble for the past several days and we’ve finally found the cause of the fire. We believe it to be an electrical short in one of the buses,” said Coulee City Police Chief Pat Collins.
Collins said that he and others working on the fire initially suspected that it might be arson.
“We’ve had two arson fires already this year at Lake Roosevelt High School,” he said. “That’s why we were really carefully looking at whether it was arson.”
Collins estimates the bus garage damage, including the vehicles, to top $1 million.