Burn ban lifted in county, Valley

Spokane County and Spokane Valley have lifted their burn bans.

Meanwhile, the state Department of Natural Resources has issued a similar order for all state and national forest land across Washington, the county said in a statement.

The decision to lift the ban was made by the county’s interim building director, Mark Holman, who consulted with the Inland Empire Fire Chiefs Association.

Kevin Miller, fire marshal for the Spokane Valley Fire Department, made the decision for Spokane Valley. Miller said Liberty Lake and Millwood were considering whether to lift their bans.

Coeur d’Alene

Deputy forest supervisor named

A U.S. Forest Service district ranger in Montana has been named deputy forest supervisor for the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.

Maggie Pittman, the Lolo National Forest’s Missoula district ranger since October 2004, will report to her new position in December and be based in Coeur d’Alene.

Pittman said she emphasizes partnerships and collaboration with the public, including groups interested in recreation, watershed restoration and reducing fire fuels. She cited the Upper Lolo Watershed Restoration project, where Trout Unlimited was a critical partner, as one of the most important examples of successful collaboration.

Spokane

Vehicles vandalized at Manito Park

More than three dozen vehicles have been broken into at Manito Park during the last two months, officials reported Monday.

“Thieves are using tools that can silently break the windows,” said Steve Nittolo, a Spokane Parks and Recreation spokesman. “They grab what they can see and are gone in a flash, all in broad daylight.”

Spokane park operations staff has been working with police and neighbors in the Manito Park area regarding a recent rash of thefts and vehicle vandalism in parking lots.

Anyone with information about the recent break-ins or vandalism should call (509) 242-8477.

From staff reports