In brief: New sports complex dedication is today
The Dwight Merkel Sports Complex near Joe Albi Stadium will host its grand opening celebration today.
The new facility is flush with six soccer fields, five softball diamonds, a baseball field, football fields, a BMX track, skate park, splash pad playground and more.
The dedication ceremony is at 10 a.m., with events running all day. The complex is located at 5701 N. Assembly St.
Activities for the grand opening include skate competitions, flag football and volleyball, according to Spokane Parks & Recreation.
The facility is named for Spokane youth sports advocate Dwight Merkel, who served with the Spokane Youth Sports Association from 1966 until he died of cancer in 1997.
The facility was funded by public bond and the sale of park property approved by voters in 1999, according to Spokane Parks.
Three Mexican nationals will serve federal prison sentences after being arrested last year during a drug task force raid of large marijuana growing operations in the Okanogan National Forest.
Luis Vargas-Mercado, 19, was sentenced to 30 months in prison this week for conspiracy to manufacture more than 1,000 marijuana plants. Marcial Cardenas-Villanueva, 22, and Juan Vargas Piedra, 25, were previously sentenced to 10 years in prison for the growing operation at Gobler’s Knob, a remote area near Winthrop, Wash., in which nearly 4,000 mature marijuana plants were seized by a federal, state and local task force.
The Gobler’s Knob bust was the first of two large growing operations a joint task force raided in late August. The second, on the Colville Federation tribal reservation, turned up thousands more plants but no arrests.
Tom Rice, assistant U.S. attorney for Eastern Washington, said federal officials believe the growing operations are connected to a Mexican drug trafficking organization, which pays illegal immigrants to live in the forests to tend the plants. All three men pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges.
Classes offered for food worker card
The Grant County Health District will hold two food worker card classes at the Moses Lake office, 1038 West Ivy, Suite 1, on Aug. 16 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The class costs $10, and only cash or money order is accepted for payment. Participants are required to bring a photo ID.
Participants will watch a 30-minute video and take an exam. The Washington State Food and Beverage Workers manuals are available in advance at www.doh.wa.gov.