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

In brief: Weather makes conditions ripe for fires, officials warn

From Staff Reports

Officials are warning of increased fire danger this year after illegal fireworks sparked a small grass fire in Coeur d’Alene.

Firefighters and neighbors contained the fire in the 100 block of Hattie Avenue to a tenth of an acre about 5 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department.

“Despite the rain we received earlier this week, weather conditions have returned to above normal temperatures and vegetation is dry enough to quickly spread even a small fire out of control,” Deputy Chief Glenn Lauper wrote in a news release. “These dangerous fire conditions, coupled with fireworks being used throughout the community, can result in serious or catastrophic property loss and pose a threat to the public’s safety.”

Two arrested, accused of stealing medications

Two people were arrested Tuesday on drug trafficking charges and for allegedly stealing prescription medications from an adult care facility, the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Bren A. Goodnight, 20, of Lewiston, and Lisa A. Nixon, 45, of Clarkston, were allegedly selling methamphetamine and prescription pain medications in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The prescription drugs were believed to be stolen from Paul’s Place in Colfax, an adult home for the mentally ill and physically disabled, where Nixon had been employed.

Detectives with the Quad Cities Drug Task Force served a search warrant at Nixon’s home, 1104 15th St. in Clarkston, and seized drugs, drug packaging materials and counterfeit money, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Pilots will take children for plane rides Saturday

Local pilots will take kids ages 8 to 17 for airplane rides Saturday as part of the Young Eagles program.

Participating pilots take small groups for short flights over Spokane to introduce the kids to aviation, said local chapter coordinator Christian Sturm. “It gives them a different take on aviation … than flying at 40,000 feet,” he said.

There is no charge; pilots volunteer their time and pay for the fuel.

Young Eagles will be held at Felts Field from 9 to 11:30 a.m., Sturm said. Parents can register at www.eaa79.org. Similar sessions will be held in August and September.

Elk farmer says he shot grizzly after it killed elk

ROSE LAKE, Idaho – The grizzly bear that was shot near Rose Lake this week had killed an elk on the Bugle Mountain Elk Farm, said owner Dave Riley.

“It was kind of unusual because he attacked a mature bull elk with horns,” said Riley, who killed the grizzly Sunday night.

Riley said the bear crawled under an 8-foot fence to attack the elk Saturday. When the bear returned for the elk carcass at about 11 p.m. on Sunday, Riley said he shot it, thinking it was a black bear.

Riley contacted the Idaho Department of Fish and Game when he realized that the bear was a federally protected grizzly. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the incident.

The grizzly was the first confirmed in the area for many decades.

Washington Supreme Court considering school funds

OLYMPIA – The state Supreme Court will decide whether school districts are receiving state money in a fair and equitable way.

The high court heard arguments Thursday morning on a lawsuit filed by the Federal Way school district in 2006.

In November 2007, a King County Superior Court judge agreed that the state’s method of distributing school money was unconstitutional. Now, the state has appealed to the Supreme Court.

Federal Way Public Schools estimates it would have $11.5 million more in state and local money each year if all districts were treated equally.