In brief: Police investigating three stabbings

Spokane police on Wednesday were sorting out the circumstances that led to the stabbings of three people earlier in the day. Two of them were booked into jail on assault charges.

Jeremiah McNew, 31, and Terrence Smith, 25, were locked up on first-degree assault charges, police said.

Police were called about 2:30 a.m. to the 900 block of West Augusta Avenue, where they discovered a woman with a stab wound to her upper abdomen, police said. Her injuries were serious but not life-threatening, and she was taken to a local hospital.

While police were investigating, a vehicle carrying McNew arrived at the scene. He had a stab wound to the back and was treated at a local hospital.

Later, police found Smith at the hospital with a stab wound to the neck.

Investigators said versions of the events differed among the people involved.

Mike Prager

County libraries seek trustee applicants

The Spokane County Library District needs a new trustee.

County commissioners will take applications for the unpaid director’s job until 5 p.m. Dec. 2.

Although the library district has its own tax base and operates separately from the county government, state law requires county commissioners to appoint the district’s governing board.

The opening is for someone who lives in the West Plains or the northern part of the county.

The appointee will replace Jacob Laete on Jan. 1. Laete has served two five-year terms, the maximum allowed by state law.

Application forms are available under the “Boards and Commissions” link at www.spokanecounty.org/ commissioners.

For more information, call Ginna Vasquez at (509) 477-2265 or email gvasquez@ spokanecounty.org.

John Craig