Region in brief: Spokane to join in wreath-laying
Seven holiday wreaths will be laid in a ceremony at 1 p.m. Saturday at Greenwood Memorial Terrace in Spokane to honor veterans who are buried here.
The Esther Reed Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution has organized the event in conjunction with the Wreaths Across America group, which is providing the wreaths.
A color guard presentation, music and gun salute will be part of the observance at the cemetery at 211 N. Government Way. It will be the first holiday wreath-laying in Spokane. The tradition was started at Arlington National Cemetery in 1992 by Morrill Worcester of Worcester Wreath Co. in Maine.
After a photo of gravestones covered with the wreaths was seen nationally in 2005, the idea spread across the country. In 2008, ceremonies were held at more than 300 locations, and the number is expected to grow to 350 locations this year.
The events are held on the second Saturday in December and involve a wide range of organizations, sponsors and individuals. For more information, go to wreathsacross america.org.
Crawford chosen for commission
BOISE – Actress and author Christina Crawford, daughter of actress Joan Crawford and author of the book “Mommie Dearest,” has been appointed to the Benewah County Commission by Gov. Butch Otter.
Otter named Crawford, who now operates the Seven Springs Country Inn near Tensed and who has served on the Benewah County Soil and Water Conservation Board, to fill the county commission vacancy created by the death of Commissioner Terry Doupe, of DeSmet, on Nov. 22. Like Doupe, Crawford is a Democrat; she joins Commissioners Jack Buell and N.L. “Bud” McCall on the commission.
Crawford, whose best-selling 1978 memoir told of abuse by her adoptive mother, has a master’s degree in communication management from the University of Southern California. She is a former executive for the Coeur d’Alene Hotel & Casino, has written several books and is a former TV show host.
Accidental gunfire injures hunter
A Grant County man accidentally shot himself while hunting for pheasant east of Moses Lake, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Mitchell P. King, 43, was hunting with friends Dec. 4 when witnesses said he discharged his loaded shotgun by accident. The blast caused damage to the left side of his face and head, officials said.
Officials said King’s hunting dog may have accidentally made contact with gun’s trigger, or it may have discharged while King was bent over wringing the neck of the pheasant he was harvesting.
King is recovering at a Spokane hospital, officials said.
Former Montana senator has stroke
HELENA – Former Montana Sen. Conrad Burns, 74, has been hospitalized in Washington, D.C., after suffering a stroke, his family said Thursday.
U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg released a statement from Burns’ son, Garrett, who said his father was hospitalized in intensive care.
Crews fight fire at Sun Dance
A fire broke out at a golf course in Nine Mile Falls on Thursday.
The fire was reported in a maintenance building at the Sun Dance Golf Course, 9725 N Nine Mile Road, a dispatcher said.
The fire was reported at 7:17 a.m.
Crews from Spokane County Fire District 9 fought the blaze.
No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was under investigation.
Plans to keep center open OK’d
TWIN FALLS, Idaho – The state Board of Education has approved the University of Idaho’s plans to sign a five-year agreement with J.R. Simplot Co. aimed at keeping a cash-strapped agricultural research center open until 2014.
The Parma center was one of three university research sites slated for closure because of state budget cuts.
J.R. Simplot Co., a large food processing company that’s one of the main suppliers of McDonald’s french fries, would give the research center in southwestern Idaho $300,000 each year as part of the agreement the board approved Thursday.
In exchange, the university will share facilities with Simplot researchers at the center and allow the company access to up to 50 acres for crop studies and development.
The university would also dedicate half of a research faculty position for the coordination, oversight and some maintenance of the company’s research at the site.
Tuition-hike ceiling waived
TWIN FALLS, Idaho – The state Board of Education will allow Idaho’s public universities to seek tuition or fee increases higher than the 10 percent allowed each year. Trustees on Thursday approved waiving, for one year, a board policy prohibiting universities from requesting tuition increases for full-time students of more than 10 percent.