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

In brief: Silver Mountain closed for ski gondola repair

From Staff Reports

Silver Mountain Ski Resort in Kellogg shut down Thursday and will remain closed at least through the weekend after a gondola bearing failed.

Officials anticipate operations to resume Monday, but no later than Thursday, said John Williams, marketing director. The Morning Star Lodge, Silver Rapids, Noah’s and all Village shops are still open.

Lodge guests who bought a ski package for this weekend are being shuttled to nearby Lookout Pass, Williams said. 49 Degrees North in Chewelah is offering $20 lift tickets for Silver Mountain season pass holders.

Most other area ski resorts agreed to offer Silver’s pass holders $5 off their regular lift price, Williams said.

Two teens suspected of shooting at passing cars

Two juvenile males were arrested Friday for shooting at passing cars on a rural Latah County highway.

The Latah County Sheriff’s Office and the Idaho State Police responded to the area near Highway 8 and Forks Road, just east of Helmer, Idaho, after as many as 10 cars reported being shot at by a sniper. The shootings began about 1 p.m.

No one was hurt, but several cars were damaged.

Both teens were located and arrested several hours after the shootings began, and were charged with felony unlawful discharge of a firearm at a vehicle, officials said.

Police say men used stolen cars in burglaries

Two men have been accused of burglaries in which vehicles stolen from Spokane Community College smashed through storefronts last month.

Aleksey Y. Solodyankin, 30, appeared in Spokane County Superior Court on Friday on charges relating to Dec. 7 smash-and-grab burglaries at Pawn One, 3705 N. Market St., and Pounders Jewelry, 3131 N. Division Ave.

Spokane police say he and Yan Yefremov drove a stolen Sequoia into Pounders but failed to gain entry. Twenty-five minutes later, police say the men drove a stolen Honda through the front doors of Pawn One.

Yefremov was arrested Dec. 9 after sheriff’s deputies found him with a third stolen vehicle, a 2001 Lexus, in the Motel 6 parking lot near Interstate 90 and Argonne, police said. Solodyankin was arrested Wednesday.

He is out of jail on $50,000 bond, according to court records.

Suspect in robbery of espresso stand named

A man police believe was involved in a recent espresso-stand robbery has been identified as Jeremy L. Hubbard, 37.

Hubbard is wanted for first-degree robbery. He was last seen driving a 1994 silver 4-door Ford Taurus with Washington license plate 070-SIL, Spokane police said Friday.

His alleged accomplice, Shawn Michael Westlie, 44, was arrested last week.

Police think Hubbard was the man seen on video surveillance using a credit card stolen during the robbery of Spokane’s Best Espresso, 5226 N. Division St. A reward is being offered for information that leads to his capture.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS or (509) 327-5111, or leave a tip online.