Child likely second victim of swine flu
Health officials say a 5-year-old at Sheridan Elementary School is the second person in Spokane with a probable case of swine flu.
The child, the son of a Spokane man in his 40s who health authorities said was the region’s first suspected case, has been home and not attending school since last week, said Spokane health officer Dr. Joel McCullough.
Schools remain open and teachers, staff and students have been asked to remain vigilant about washing hands and covering their nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing, said Terren Roloff, spokeswoman for Spokane Public Schools.
Health officials believe the risk to other children in the school is minimal.
The Spokane Regional Health District will not staff its phone information line this weekend.
The total number of probable swine flu cases in Washington state is now 16. There is one probable case of swine flu in Kootenai County.
John Stucke
Lincoln County
Man arrested in rollover; six hurt
Five children and one adult were injured Friday and the driver of the car they were in was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and vehicular assault after a rollover accident on State Highway 25 north of Davenport.
Benjamin L. Yow, 40, was driving a 1998 Buick north on the highway about 15 miles north of Davenport in Lincoln County when the vehicle swerved off the road, and Yow overcorrected and crossed back across both lanes of the highway before losing control and rolling the vehicle into a ditch, the Washington State Patrol reported.
One 10-year-old passenger was airlifted to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries, the WSP said.
The other children, ages 11, 13, 15 and 16, were injured and taken to Davenport Hospital by ambulance, where they were treated and released. Another passenger, 41-year-old Jeffrey P. Grinolds, was also taken to Davenport Hospital for injuries.
Yow was arrested for driving under the influence and vehicular assault, the WSP said.
– Sara Leaming
Liberty Lake
Liberty Lake ORV Park opens Sunday
The Liberty Lake ORV Park will host its fourth annual Kick Off Event on Sunday.
Festivities are scheduled for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will include a kids trail ride at 9:30 a.m. and lunch provided by Allstate Insurance at noon, according to Spokane County Parks.
Additional activities include free dirt bike and ATV safety inspections. Organizers say representatives of various organizations, ranging from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office to the Panhandle Trail Riders Association, will be on hand to answer questions.
– Staff report