In brief: Bomb fatality goes to jury

A jury began deliberating Tuesday the first-degree manslaughter charge against a man who brought a homemade bomb to a Halloween party that killed a Chattaroy man.

Earlier this year, a different jury decided 9-3 to acquit 20-year-old Christapher A. Harris, but Deputy Spokane County Prosecutor Dale Nagy decided to retry the case. A co-defendant, James J. Crouchman, who lit the device that killed Cody R. Hathaway, was allowed to plead guilty to misdemeanor reckless endangerment.

Harris brought three homemade bombs to the party on Nov. 6, 2010, and Crouchman attempted to detonate one of them. Hathaway was struck in the neck by shrapnel when he later approached the device and it exploded. Harris later emptied bomb-making materials from his apartment and dumped them in the forest north of Osburn, Idaho.

Defense attorney James Kirkham said the case was tragic and horrific, but said his client is innocent of the manslaughter charge.

No injuries, but rat dies in fire

A family of four was displaced from their home after a fire tore through a second-story bedroom Tuesday.

No injuries were reported in the 5:12 p.m. fire at 729 E. Broad Ave., but one pet rat perished in the blaze, a fire official said. Crews rescued one cat, but several cats and a dog were still unaccounted for Tuesday evening.

There is smoke damage throughout the house. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

About 25 firefighters responded, and the fire was knocked down in about 10 minutes.

Crews said the residents were the homeowners and had insurance.

A thief who stole a 20-foot trailer from Silverlake Automotive in Coeur d’Alene last weekend got some unexpected loot: a 1967 Mustang Coupe.

Silverlake’s owner, Will Sando, thinks the thief targeted the trailer without realizing what was inside. “It’s a very high-profile car,” he said, noting that it will be difficult to resell without attracting attention.

The restored Mustang is black with white stripes. Sando said it was painted to resemble a high-end Mustang Shelby GT350. He estimated the value at $25,000.

Sando told the Coeur d’Alene Police Department that the trailer and Mustang were missing when he arrived at work Monday morning.

County raises camp fees

Spokane County commissioners on Tuesday approved higher fees for using Camp Caro in Spokane Valley.

The fee will double to $400 for private functions and will increase from $150 to $200 for events involving not-for-profit organizations.

In addition, daily campsite fees at Liberty Lake Regional Park will go from $18 to $20 a day for tent sites and $24 to $28 a day for an RV site.

Private swimming parties will also see higher fees depending on the size of the group.

Jobless benefits ending

OLYMPIA – The Washington Employment Security Department says extended benefits will be phasing out over the next month for 85,000 people in the state.

The department said Tuesday it’s informing people who receive benefit extensions through two federal programs. The decision could be reversed if Congress votes to continue the programs.

Another 108,000 people in Washington are claiming regular unemployment benefits.