In brief: Sex offender moves to Medical Lake

A level 3 sex offender has moved to the 9200 block of South Silver Lake Road in Medical Lake, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

Craig S. Cockle, 35, was released from prison in August 2000 after serving six years for first-degree child rape and first-degree statutory rape in Adams County.

His victims were 6- and 7-year-old strangers he met in areas frequented by children.

Level 3 sex offenders are considered the most likely to re-offend. Cockle is no longer under Department of Corrections supervision, but the Sheriff’s Office wants people to be aware of his presence.

SEATTLE

Sims says he’s done campaigning

King County Executive Ron Sims says he’s done with running for office.

Two weeks ago President Barack Obama announced that he will nominate Sims for deputy secretary of housing and urban development, the number two post in HUD. The job is subject to Senate confirmation.

Sims told the Seattle Times his biggest achievement as head of the state’s most populous county was preserving forestland.

He has been in King County government for 23 years, including a record-breaking 12 as executive, but says he’ll never run for elected office again. Sims says people who work with him know that he loves governance but hates campaigning.

TIGARD, Ore.

Toffee recalled due to peanut problems

A Tigard candy company recalled toffee Saturday that it had made with peanuts from a Texas plant linked to six cases of salmonella, the Oregonian reported.

Heavenly Candy Co. President Tom Hurst told the newspaper he was pulling Peanut Bliss candy sold in bulk bins in Market of Choice stores in Oregon, Full O’Life Natural Foods Markets in Burbank, Calif., and in Whole Foods stores nationwide.

The candy amounts to about half of his sales. He said he decided to pull the product after reading about filthy conditions at the Peanut Corp. of America’s plant in Plainview, Texas.