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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Resident unearths old explosives

The Spokesman-Review

The bomb squad was called Tuesday evening to a home where a resident doing home-improvement work found a bucket of old explosives underground in his backyard.

The blasting caps, which are used to light dynamite, were “very deteriorated,” Spokane police Officer Tim Moses said. The bomb squad would take the caps and dispose of them – most likely by exploding them – at a safe location, Moses said.

Generally, whenever the bomb squad is involved, authorities set up a 300-foot perimeter, but Tuesday’s incident at 1812 W. Augusta Ave. did not prompt such a clearing, Moses said.

“There’s always danger when you’re dealing with explosives, but they’re very deteriorated,” Moses said. “Probably been there for God knows how many years.”

– Nick Eaton

Gunman holds up pizza deliverers

Police are looking for a man who has been calling in orders to pizza delivery businesses, then robbing the deliverer at gunpoint.

It’s happened at least four times to four different pizza companies in the past two weeks, according to a Spokane police statement.

The incidents all involved a masked gunman who approached the deliverer and demanded money. On Sept. 14 near 2100 E. Boone Ave., the victim saw two accomplices waiting behind, police said.

The other robberies were on Sept. 11 near 2500 N. Calispel St.; Sept. 15 near 1000 S. Elm St.; and Sept. 17 near 1400 N. Atlantic St. All were between 9 p.m. and 12:30 a.m., according to police.

Anyone with information is asked to call (509) 242-TIPS.

– Nick Eaton

Statewide

Grants will fund child health care

Seattle-based Group Health Cooperative will announce $1 million in statewide grants today for programs to improve children’s access to health care.

The grants include $170,000 for the Health For All program, run by Spokane’s Community Minded Enterprises. The service connects Eastern Washington families with health insurance programs.

Group Health grants will go to eight agencies. Other recipients that serve Eastern Washington include The Children’s Alliance, Within Reach, Communities Connect and school-based health centers around the state.

The grants are part of a $2 million promise made by Group Health officials last year, with the goal of having all Washington children insured by 2010.

– Heather Lalley

Spokane county

Incidents clog morning traffic

Commuters encountered a wild morning of gridlock Tuesday.

A driver crashed a car into a light pole about 7:30 a.m. off the shoulder of Interstate 90 near the Freya Street interchange, temporarily blocking two lanes and causing backups as far east as Park Road.

Elsewhere, a moose created traffic frustrations near the Spokane Valley Mall as it wandered along the freeway and Indiana Avenue, closing Indiana for a time.

Law enforcement authorities were able to herd the moose away from traffic and toward the Spokane River at Mirabeau Park.

– Amy Cannata