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

Former security chief drops appeal of firing

The region’s fired Homeland Security coordinator, who was scheduled to fight his termination Monday before the Spokane County Civil Service Commission, has withdrawn that appeal, officials say, finalizing his termination.

David L. Byrnes notified Nancy Paladino, chief examiner for the commission, and various other county officials of his decision Sunday.

Paladino declined to say what reasons, if any, Byrnes gave. Byrnes, 64, was fired Oct. 30 by Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich for three charges of misconduct: being arrested for drunken driving, violating the sheriff’s office alcohol policy and failure to report for duty.

As Homeland Security coordinator for 10 Eastern Washington counties, Byrnes oversaw the distribution of more than $16 million in federal grants to local government agencies and coordinated emergency services training.

Body found in river in 2006 identified

The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the remains of a man whose body was pulled from the Spokane River in June 2006.

Jeffery Weinandt, 37, was from the Chehalis, Wash., area, according to a county news release. His decomposed body was found snagged on some branches on the north bank of the river, near where Boone Avenue ends, on June 18, 2006.

His body was identified through dental records after the medical examiner’s office received a tip from Ed McCarron, director of the House of Charity in downtown Spokane, about Weinandt’s identity, said county spokeswoman Martha Lou Wheatley-Billeter.

Anyone with information about Weinandt’s whereabouts during February and March 2006 is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233 and ask for Spokane Police Detective Brian Hammond.

Boise

Tax Commission bill passes Senate

Legislation to place new requirements on Idaho’s state Tax Commission when it settles large tax cases in secret passed the Idaho Senate on Monday on a 33-0 vote and headed to the House.

The bill comes in response to allegations in a whistle-blower’s report that the commission was improperly excusing millions in corporate taxes through the secret deals. The whistle-blower, state tax auditor Stan Howland, testified against the bill in committee, saying it didn’t go far enough to address the practice.

Senate Minority Leader Kate Kelly, D-Boise, who co-sponsored the bill with Senate Tax Chairman Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, said, “Some will say that the provisions of the bill don’t go far enough. Others will say that the provisions go too far. … Perhaps we’ve struck the right balance.”

The bill requires an additional review before settlements can be approved for more than $50,000, along with more documentation.

Spokane

Browne Street closure will last a few hours

Two lanes of Browne Street between Second and Third avenues in downtown Spokane will be closed this morning to accommodate a crane, according to the city.

The closure, which is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., affects the western lanes, and the sidewalk will be closed to pedestrians, city spokeswoman Ann Deasy said in a news release.

The closure was expected to last until about noon.

Bill Morlin Carolyn Lamberson Betsy Z. Russell Staff reports