In brief: Centennial trailblazer Castleberry dies

Robbi Castleberry, a pillar of Spokane-area conservation efforts since the 1970s, died Monday of an apparent cardiac arrest in her home near Indian Canyon, her husband, Vic, has confirmed.

Castleberry, 80, was on the original city-county committee that spearheaded development of the Spokane River Centennial Trail.

She was the energizer behind the improvements and additions to the city’s Palisades Park and the closure of Rimrock Drive so it could be enjoyed by walkers and bicyclists.

“Robbi was involved with groups like the Back Country Horsemen and the Spokane Canoe and Kayak Club, and when it came to issues such as trails and river access she could be counted on as an absolute driving force to keep them open for all users,” said Julia McHugh, another original member of the Centennial Trail committee. 

Memorial service arrangements are pending.

Driver killed in collision with pickup

A Spokane woman died Monday afternoon when her car collided with a pickup truck along U.S. Highway 95 north of Garwood.

Mikki J. McGoldrick, 70, was pronounced dead at the crash scene, according to the Idaho State Police.

Her car is reported to have drifted into the oncoming lane, where it collided with the truck driven by an Idaho woman. The pickup truck’s driver was not injured.

The crash is under investigation.

Man, 22, dies in crash with log truck

A 22-year-old St. Maries man died Monday afternoon when his car crashed into a logging truck.

The Idaho State Police said Wade W. Norton died in the collision along state Highway 5 a couple miles west of St. Maries.

The logging truck driver was injured and taken to the hospital.

The accident is under investigation.

Biking brothers make stop in Spokane

Fraternity brothers from around the country rolled into Spokane on Monday, a pit stop on their ride to raise more than $600,000 for people with disabilities.

Seventeen cyclists and 8 crew members from the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity arrived at Christ the Redeemer Church in West Central about 1:45 p.m., stopping to catch their breath after a 75-mile ride from Pullman with a superb tailwind.

The ride began 26 years ago, and has grown from a group of 21 riders raising about $20,000 to a three-pronged team leaving each year from San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle and converging in Washington, D.C.

Those interested in donating to the group or following its progress can visit pushamerica.org.

Police: Barista pepper-sprayed, robbed

A man used pepper spray on a drive-through coffee shop barista this morning and drove away with her car, police said.

Spokeswoman Monique Cotton said the man approached the window of Hot Tottie’s Coffee Shop, at West Francis Avenue and North Atlantic Street, on foot around 6 a.m., showed a knife and used the pepper spray on the woman in the window.

He attempted to break into the cash register, then stole the employee’s belongings and drove away with her car.

The car was recovered a few blocks away but police did not find the man.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic man in his early 20s wearing a black hat and a black hoodie.

Searchers seek naked Vancouver woman

STEVENSON, Wash. – The Skamania County sheriff’s office says searchers will try again today to find a Vancouver, Wash., woman who reportedly set out naked on what was described as a spiritual quest in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest of southwest Washington.

The sheriff’s office says 19-year-old Maureen Kelly, of Vancouver, was reported overdue early Monday, when she failed to return after leaving the Canyon Creek Campground about 5 p.m. Sunday.

Undersheriff Dave Cox said search teams including two dog teams were unable to find Kelly on Monday.

She was reported to be wearing only a fanny pack with a compass and a knife. The Canyon Creek area is steep with heavy timber and brush.

UW enacts diversity course requirement

SEATTLE – Students at the University of Washington will be required to take a course in some area of social, political or economic diversity before they can graduate.

The requirement has been approved by President Michael Young and the Faculty Senate. Deans in each school and college must approve a list of three-credit courses to satisfy the diversity requirement, which takes effect for the incoming class next fall.

The Seattle Times reports two-thirds of students already take classes that would likely satisfy the requirement. Other major universities, including Washington State University, already have a diversity requirement for graduation.

Some possible UW diversity classes include Peasants in Politics, Class and Culture in East Asia, Gender and Spirituality, and World Music.

The Faculty Senate approved the measure in April.