In brief: Colville tribes name executive director
The Colville Confederated Tribes have named a new executive director.
John Gonzales, of New Mexico, replaces former interim executive director Carleen Anderson, who announced her resignation late last month amid controversy over her restructuring of the tribal government.
Gonzales is executive director of the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council Inc. in San Juan Pueblo and is a past president of the National Congress of American Indians. He holds a bachelor’s degree in social-political science from Stanford University and a master’s degree in city planning, specializing in regional economic planning, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“He has a lot of experience at all levels of tribal government, from the tribal level on up to the national policy levels,” said Mike Marchand, chairman of the Colville Tribal Business Council.
Gonzalez’s wife, Carla, is a member of the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho and a former Nez Perce tribal executive committee member.
– Kevin Graman
Region
New snow blankets mountain passes
Late winter brought fresh snow Saturday to some Washington mountain passes.
About 6 inches fell on Sherman Pass in Ferry County, causing two truck accidents and partial blocking of the roadway, the Washington State Patrol reported. Oversize vehicles were prohibited through Saturday evening.
No injuries were reported in either accident.
Stevens Pass reported moderate snowfall late Saturday, enough to slow traffic but not restrict vehicles or require chains, the WSP reported.
– Tom Sowa
Spokane
Threats target workers at VA center; man held
Police arrested a 37-year-old man early Saturday on suspicion of felony harassment and death threats directed at people working at the Spokane Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Police said Robert M. Waggy, 37, threatened the VA center with “deadly force in a large confrontation” through letters and phone calls to U.S congressional offices. Local authorities learned of the threats through U.S. Capitol Police officials in Washington, D.C.
Waggy is a convicted sex offender who pleaded guilty to third-degree rape of a child and second-degree child molestation. In May, he filed a $250 billion lawsuit against the state, alleging officials repeatedly refused to allow him contact with his daughter.
Waggy has filed a multibillion-dollar lawsuit against Cowles Publishing Co., saying a Spokesman-Review news item about the state lawsuit was libelous. He has also filed recent lawsuits against RentalDirectory.com, U.S. Bank, Spokane Mental Health, the state Department of Corrections and Spokane County, according to court records.