In brief: Bike-motorcycle crash victims identified
A bicyclist and motorcyclist who died Saturday in a crash in the Millwood area were identified Monday as James Wilson, 46, and Jerrel I. Bailey-O’Neal, 22.
Wilson was riding his bicycle west on Buckeye Avenue in Spokane Valley when he stopped at a stop sign at North Dick Road between 6:30 and 7 p.m., then collided with Bailey-O’Neal’s motorcycle in the intersection, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.
Bailey-O’Neal was riding north on Dick Road and did not have a stop sign, authorities say. Witnesses said he was traveling at a high rate of speed.
The men were identified Monday after autopsies by the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office.
It is not known if drugs, alcohol or speed were factors, but authorities said neighbors in the area had complained about a speeding motorcyclist.
Brown announces bid for new Senate term
OLYMPIA – Lisa Brown, the top-ranking Democrat in the Senate, will seek another four years representing central Spokane’s 3rd District.
Brown, who was widely expected to seek re-election, was first elected to the Legislature in 1992 and now serves as Senate majority leader. She said she wants to continue work on protecting education and expanding jobs and opportunity in Spokane.
“I’ve led legislative efforts to restore the Fox Theater, redevelop the YMCA/YWCA community centers and build our Riverpoint medical campus,” she said in the news release formally announcing the campaign.
The 55-year-old Brown is a single mother with a son in college. She teaches economics at Gonzaga University when the Legislature is not in session.
While she has had relatively easy campaigns against novice candidates in recent years, 2012 could prove to be a tougher race. Spokane City Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin, a Republican, has talked about running against Brown and has scheduled a news conference this morning for an unspecified campaign announcement.
Driver in road rage death resentenced
A North Idaho man who fatally ran over a woman during a 2006 road rage incident was sentenced Monday to 18 years in prison.
Jonathan Wade Ellington, 51, had been serving a 25-year sentence when the Idaho Supreme Court overturned his convictions last May because of problems with his first trial.
Under the sentence imposed Monday by Kootenai County District Judge John Luster, Ellington will be eligible for parole after eight years and credited for time already spent in custody, according to the Associated Press.
A jury convicted Ellington on Jan. 31 of second-degree murder for the death of Vonnette Larsen and two counts of aggravated battery for ramming her daughters’ vehicle.
The fatal encounter began when Ellington punched Larsen’s daughters’ car window, and the women – and eventually their parents – gave chase at about 90 mph.
Vonnette Larsen’s husband fired a .44 Magnum pistol at Ellington seconds before she was run over.
Body believed to be Moses Lake man
Authorities on Monday found what they believe to be the body of a Moses Lake man missing since Dec. 23.
A remote-controlled underwater robot found the body Monday about 4 p.m. in Potholes Reservoir near the north shore west of Samson’s Beach.
Clothing and other identifying factors lead investigators to believe the body is that of Dan Toya, 64. Investigators believe Toya accidentally fell into the water while trying to rescue his golden retriever, Molly. The dog was found dead on Sunday.
An autopsy is expected Tuesday.
“I am so sorry for Dan’s family and friends,” Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones said in a prepared statement. “I hope this discovery brings them closure to a long three months of uncertainty. Dan was such a blessing in the lives of his loved ones, and I pray his family and friends find peace.”
The Sheriff’s Office said parts of the lake are covered in ice, and while some have speculated Toya might have broken through, it’s unclear if that’s how he ended up in the water.
Resource fair will aid laid-off mine workers
Workers laid off because of the closure of the Lucky Friday mine can meet with community resource representatives and employers during a resource fair Friday at the Idaho Department of Labor office in Kellogg, 35 Wildcat Way, Suite A.
The fair will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
“These agencies are here to help the workers and their families who have been hit by the mine closure,” Idaho Department of Labor Silver Valley Office Manager Sara Lamson said. “When a major employer is unexpectedly shut down like the Lucky Friday was, that’s the time for the community to come together.”
Department of Labor consultants can determine eligibility for special training programs and help people with their job and career searches. Companies that are hiring will also be represented at the fair, along with state agencies and nonprofits that can provide assistance to workers.
Capital Mall events targeted in Senate bill
BOISE – Idaho lawmakers continued their session-long skirmish with Occupy Boise supporters on Monday, with emergency legislation clearing a House committee to allow the state to make new rules about behavior on the Capitol Mall grounds.
HB 693 passed the House State Affairs Committee on a party-line vote with the panel’s minority Democrats opposing it.
The bill would allow the state to issue permits for use of the Capitol Mall grounds, and would give the state Department of Administration the authority to sue to halt any violation or threatened violation of the rules. The Legislature earlier passed emergency legislation to ban overnight camping on the Capitol Mall; a federal judge blocked parts of it, ruling that the Occupy encampment’s tents are protected, symbolic free speech.
The rules bill now moves to the full House.
Tax protester’s liens bring prison sentence
A Chewelah man was sentenced Monday to 41 months in federal prison after he filed more than $20 billion in false liens against four government officials.
Ronald J. Davenport, who was 62 at the time of his June 2010 arrest, described himself as a sovereign, a term typically used by people who do not recognize the authority of the federal government.
He was convicted in December of four counts of filing false retaliatory liens against government officials who were involved in an effort to collect more than $250,000 in back taxes from him.
Earlier in the case, his ex-wife described him as a vehement anti-tax advocate and told federal authorities that he might “go Ruby Ridge” if the government tried to seize his home for unpaid taxes, which it did. The Ruby Ridge comment was in reference to a fatal northern Idaho confrontation between Randy Weaver, who was anti-government, and government authorities in 1992.
S-R seeks examples of beautiful penmanship
Do you, or someone you know, have beautiful handwriting?
The Spokesman-Review wants to see a sample, as part of an upcoming story.
To show off your penmanship, please write out this sentence: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
Submissions must be mailed or dropped off at The Spokesman-Review by Friday.
Send them to: Spokesman-Review/ Penmanship, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA, 99210-1098. Or drop them off in our front lobby at 999 W. Riverside Ave.