In brief: Spokane waiter gets $500 tip from Last Wish project

A Spokane waiter got a $500 tip Tuesday night when Aaron’s Last Wish visited The Flying Goat restaurant.

Aaron’s Last Wish is a project started by the family of Aaron Collins, a Kentucky man who died in 2012. His will asked his family to leave “an awesome tip” to a waiter or waitress, and his brother, Seth Collins, has turned that directive into a nationwide project to leave a $500 tip to a server in all 50 states, according to published reports.

The recipient in Spokane was William Sherwood, who’s been a waiter at The Flying Goat since it opened three years ago, manager Beth McRae said. A group of 10 people came in and Sherwood happened to be the group’s waiter; the whole thing was a surprise, McRae said.

Sherwood wasn’t available for comment today, though – he started a weeklong vacation. “He just had a baby, too, so that helps out a lot,” McRae said.

Seth Collins posted on the aaroncollins.org website that the Flying Goat is his 69th stop and the second in Washington.

Addy Hatch

Priest Lake area campground evacuated; trees unsafe

Beaver Creek Campground at the northwest end of Priest Lake was closed Wednesday and visitors were evacuated after Forest Service inspectors discovered more than 40 hazardous trees that must be removed for visitor safety.

The Beaver Creek boat launch and canoe portage areas northeast of Nordman are outside the campground and will remain open, officials said, but the campground closure will continue at least through Labor Day, one of the most popular camping weekends of the year.

The agency ordered inspections of national forest sites in North Idaho after a Sandpoint man was killed by a 200-foot-tall tree that fell on his tent in Stagger Inn Campground during a severe thunderstorm on Sunday night.

Crews have been inspecting and taking down trees at developed recreation sites throughout the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. So far, Beaver Creek Campground, which is northeast of Nordman, is the only site where danger has required a temporary closure for tree removal, officials said.

Rich Landers

Poetry slam brings 72 artists to Spokane venues Oct. 3-5

A big poetry slam competition will be held in Spokane in October.

Called the Individual World Poetry Slam, the event will feature 72 poets from across North America, a news release from event organizer Poetry Slam Inc. says.

Early-round competitions will be held at multiple venues beginning Oct. 3, with the championship rounds to be held at the Bing Crosby Theater on Oct. 5.

Last year’s International World Poetry Slam was held in Fayetteville, Ark. Poetry slams have poets presenting original works within a specified time limit, with judging done by randomly chosen audience members.

For information on the Spokane event, including venues and times, visit iwps.poetryslam.com.

Addy Hatch