Region in brief: Man sues Boy Scouts, Mormon church
SEATTLE – A man has sued the Mormon church and the Boy Scouts of America, claiming he and many other boys were abused by a church-sponsored assistant scoutmaster in the late 1970s.
The lawsuit was filed in King County Superior Court in Seattle – one of a handful filed up and down the West Coast on Monday by Portland attorney Kelly Clark. The man claims he was abused more than 30 times in 1978-’79 by Dustin Hall, who was picked for the assistant scoutmaster job by the church’s Shelton Ward near Olympia. Chuck Gordon, a Seattle-based lawyer for the church, said Monday the church would investigate the complaint and “act accordingly.”
Planned Parenthood clinic gets permit
PASCO – Planned Parenthood of Central Washington says it’s looking forward to opening a clinic in Pasco in April.
President Anna Franks said it’s been a long time coming, after the City Council voted to approve a permit, reversing a planning commission decision.
People flooded out of the council chambers after Monday night’s 5-2 vote, shouting, “Babies are a gift from the Lord, and you all voted to kill them – all except two!”
Planned Parenthood says no abortions will be performed at the Pasco location.
Councilman Matt Watkins said the council had to base its decision on the zoning code. Possible protests could not be used as a reason to deny a permit.
Would-be ninja impaled in attempted fence leap
SEATTLE – Seattle police say a man who thought he was ninja was impaled on a metal fence when he tried to leap over it.
An officer who was looking for an assault victim nearby Monday night heard the man screaming for help. Police supported him to prevent further injuries until medics arrived to take him to Harborview Medical Center. A hospital spokeswoman said Tuesday he was in serious condition in intensive care.
Police spokeswoman Renee Witt wrote in a department Web site posting that officers thought he might have been involved in the reported assault, but the man insisted he was just a ninja trying to clear a 4- to 5-foot-tall fence.
Witt said the man was “overconfident in his abilities” and alcohol likely played a role.
NIC to show latest Warren Miller ski film
North Idaho College’s Outdoor Pursuits program will present a winter sports film from Warren Miller Entertainment at 6:30 p.m. Sunday in Boswell Hall Schuler Performing Arts Center in Coeur d’Alene.
“Dynasty: Celebrating 60 Years of Filmmaking” highlights Warren Miller’s influence on the winter sports industry. Tickets cost $15 or $10 for NIC students, youths and senior citizens.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at the door or at the Outdoor Pursuits office on the lower level of the Edminster Student Union Building; at Ski Shack in Hayden; or at Inland Ski and Board in downtown Coeur d’Alene. Lookout Pass will distribute two-for-one lift ticket vouchers to ticket holders.