In brief: Cigarette tax hike boosts Quit Line

Washington state’s new $1-per-pack tax on cigarettes may be hard on some smokers’ wallets, but easier on their lungs. The state Department of Health says calls to the toll-free “Quit Line” jumped more than 25 percent after the tax started on May 1.

Tim Church, a department spokesman, said the Quit Line was averaging about 417 calls a week at the start of 2010, and jumped to 445 a week in the spring after an ad campaign. It got a bigger boost, though, from the tax hike, averaging 562 a week since then.

“We’ve had weeks with more than 600 calls,” Church said. The line helps smokers through a process that includes setting a quit date, checking insurance for help with nicotine gum or patches, and sends a kit to their home.

Washington had an estimated 770,000 smokers in 2009, the most recent year for statistics. The Quit Line is (800) 784-8669.

Judge Tari Eitzen to receive award

The Washington State Bar Association announced Thursday that it has selected Spokane County Superior Court Judge Tari Eitzen and two other judges to receive the 2010 Outstanding Judge Award.

WSBA president Sal Mungia will present the award, which is given for outstanding service to the bench and special contributions to the legal profession, at a dinner on Sept. 23 in Seattle.

Eitzen and two judges on the West Side received the award for their work on the executive committee of the Washington State Superior Court Judges Association during the last legislative session. As a result, the justice system retained about 96 percent of its funding for a number of projects.

Sting nets arrest

in extortion case

A former employee at a Spokane landscaping company is accused of trying to extort money from his ex-boss.

Tony W. Jones, 31, was arrested Thursday in an undercover sting at a convenience store on East Francis Avenue in which the victim gave him $1,000 in marked bills as undercover detectives watched.

Jones was arrested after he took the cash. The victim had called Crime Check Thursday morning to say a recently fired employee “was threatening to cause him trouble with state business and financial agencies,” if he didn’t get the cash by noon, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

Jones was booked into jail on a second-degree extortion charge about 2:30 p.m. Investigators said he admitted to the crime.

Burn restrictions

in effect for region

The Washington state Department of Natural Resources announced Thursday changes to fire danger and burn restrictions in Eastern Washington counties for the Fourth of July weekend.

Restrictions are in effect and permits are required in Spokane County, northern Lincoln County, and in Fire Districts 1 and 2 in Stevens County. Campfires are still allowed.

In Okanogan County, the fire danger rating increased from low to moderate.

Unattended campfires, as well as any use of fireworks on DNR lands, can result in fines up to $185, as well as any fire suppression costs should a campfire or fireworks start a wildfire, officials said.

Updates on burn restrictions are available by calling (800) 323-BURN (2876) or at www.dnr.wa.gov.

Tri-state emphasis patrols planned

Law enforcement agencies in Washington, Idaho and Montana will team up over the Fourth of July holiday weekend to conduct emphasis patrols focusing on unsafe driving.

The Idaho State Police, Washington State Patrol, and the Montana Highway Patrol will work together to focus on drunken or impaired driving and seat belt violations on area highways, according to a news release from the agencies.

The Coeur d’Alene Police Department will also be conducting a separate DUI emphasis patrol beginning Thursday.

Drunken drivers or erratic driving on area highways and roadways can be reported by calling 911.

Paper mill worker dies while on job

LEWISTON – A 35-year-old man has died at a Lewiston paper mill, and authorities are investigating whether he fell victim to an industrial accident, a health issue or a combination of the two.

The Lewiston Tribune said John A. Bergen III has been identified as the man who died Wednesday night while working on a paperboard machine at Clearwater Paper Corp.

KLEW-TV reports Bergen apparently fell while on the job, struck his head and landed on a conveyor belt that dropped him into a 1,500-gallon pulp vat.

Bergen was pronounced dead after being transported to a local hospital by medics, but more details are being withheld by the company as officials investigate the incident at the No. 2 paperboard machine at about 10:30 p.m.

“We want to do a thorough investigation so there’s no speculation,” said Matt Van Vleet, a spokesman for Clearwater Paper, adding there was no fire or explosion.