In brief: Military hero dog dies of cancer
Lucky, a military working dog and two-time cancer survivor at Fairchild Air Force Base, has died from cancer.
The Air Force said Lucky, a Belgian Malinois, died Sept. 30 at age 11. In its career, the dog was deployed four times to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan, providing security and sniffing out explosives and weapons caches.
In one incident, Lucky discovered explosives attached to a generator in Afghanistan, potentially saving numerous lives, Air Force officials said.
Lucky had been honored by American Red Cross as a 2010 Hometown Hero and was one of Dog Fancy’s Working Canine Heroes of the Year.
Lucky underwent surgery for cancer in a rear leg in 2005 at Washington State University’s veterinary school.
Mike Prager
Vote allows City Council to cut its pay 3 percent
Following the lead of the state Legislature, the Spokane City Council voted unanimously to allow council members to take a 3 percent pay cut to help balance the budget.
Council members earn $30,000 a year. The council president earns $55,000.
Spokane resident Gretchen McDevitt told the council that the proposal appeared to be election-year “grandstanding” and would barely make a difference in the city’s budget.
But Councilman Richard Rush, who proposed the rule, said it allows city leaders to be in solidarity with city workers who have taken concessions to help balance the budget.
Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin said she is “fine” with the rule but that since she already puts 25 percent of her pay toward charities within her district, she wouldn’t be cutting her pay 3 percent unless all city unions agreed to do the same.
Jonathan Brunt
Sculpture is stolen from downtown street
A sculpture displayed in downtown Coeur d’Alene as part of a public art program was stolen last week.
“Great Blue Heron” by Spokane artist Rick Davis was stolen from the corner of Lakeside Avenue and Fourth Street sometime Thursday night or early Friday, said Steve Anthony, the city’s recreation director. The sculpture was part of the city’s “ArtCurrents” program. After a year of public display, they are offered for sale and the city receives 25 percent of the proceeds.
Davis placed a value of $3,000 on the sculpture. Anthony said the metal would not be of value to thieves looking to make money through recycling. The city insures all the artwork, he said.
Alison Boggs