In brief: Man loses $1,961 in telephone scam
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a possible telephone scam after a Liberty Lake grandfather was bilked out of nearly $2,000 over the weekend.
The man received a phone call that his granddaughter had been arrested on charges of possessing a large amount of illegal drugs in New York City, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office. The caller, claiming to be a police officer named Lambert, told the Liberty Lake man a bail of $1,800 had been set in the case and that he should wire the money via Western Union for his granddaughter to be released. The recipient’s name was Vivian Mensah.
The man complied, and with processing fees lost $1,961 in the transaction. His granddaughter had never been taken into custody, according to the release.
Those receiving similar calls are asked to contact Crime Check at (509) 456-2233 with the names and phone numbers of potential scammers.
Driver faces charges in Valley hit-and-run
A driver from Clarkston faces potential vehicular assault charges after a man in a wheelchair was hit by a pickup truck in Spokane Valley early Monday.
Seth A. Weathers, 33, of Spokane, remained in critical condition Monday night at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center after the 1:19 a.m. accident on Trent Avenue just west of Lily Road.
Carlos A. Nando-Hernandez, 29, was driving west on Trent in the left lane in a 2006 Ford F150 when he hit Weathers, who was in his wheelchair, according to a news release from the Washington State Patrol. It is not clear where Weathers was or if he was trying to cross the road when he was hit by the truck. Authorities responding to the accident found him in the left lane of Trent’s two westbound lanes.
After hitting Weathers, the pickup truck skidded to the right then stopped off the right side of the road. The vehicle then left the scene of the accident, heading west on Trent, and was located a short time later at a residence on Freya Street, the WSP said.
The WSP said drugs or alcohol were a factor in the accident.
Nando-Hernandez was not injured.
The accident is under investigation.
School district seeks support for council
Spokane Public Schools is asking parents and advocates to re-establish a Special Education Parent Advisory Council in the district.
The group is considered by the district to be helpful for parents of special education students, people who have experience with special needs children and those who have questions about the district’s special education programs.
The agenda includes an overview of the special education program, parent topics and a survey.
The meeting is from 6:30 to 8 tonight on the second floor of the Libby Center, 2900 E. First Ave.
Minimum wage to increase in 2014
OLYMPIA – Washington state’s minimum wage will increase 13 cents to $9.32 an hour starting on New Year’s Day, the state announced Monday.
The state’s current rate of $9.19 an hour is already the highest state minimum wage in the nation.