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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Airway Heights inmate dies while clearing state property

An Airway Heights prison inmate died Thursday while clearing land for the state Department of Natural Resources.

Daniel J. Hall, 47, had been serving a sentence for drug and auto theft convictions since January 2011, the state Department of Corrections said in a news release. He was due to be released in September 2014.

The minimum-security inmate was clearing debris after a timber harvest in Stevens County, said DNR spokesman Peter Lavallee. The agency hasn’t disclosed what happened to Hall to cause his death.

It’s the second such accident in as many years. Last October, 22-year-old Airway Heights inmate Danny R. Bergeson was electrocuted cutting a tree near a power line on DNR land in Stevens County.

Lavallee said it’s common for prison crews to work on DNR property.

DNR and Washington’s Labor and Industries Department are investigating Hall’s death.

Two hurt in wrong-way crash on U.S. 195 south of Spokane

Two Spokane women were injured when a 93-year-old driver driving the wrong way on U.S. Highway 195 collided with another vehicle head-on Thursday evening, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Evelyn M. Emery was driving a 2004 Buick Century northbound in the southbound lanes about 5 miles south of Spokane, a WSP news release said. About 6:48 p.m., she drove into a 2006 Honda CRV driven by Kathleen M. Babbitt, 60. Babbitt was wearing a seat belt, and Emery was not, the release said.

Both drivers were taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. The WSP is investigating the cause of the crash.

Police arrest two suspects in connection to CdA shooting

Two men from Athol have been arrested in a drive-by shooting that took place Sept. 22 in Coeur d’Alene.

Police say investigation of the incident led them to Tyler R. Yonce, 44, and David D. Carter, 24, who were arrested at their respective homes on Thursday.

Witnesses reported the sound of gunfire on Second Street north of Anton Avenue just before midnight on Sept. 22. Coeur d’Alene police said the next day that a red or maroon four-door vehicle was believed to have been the shooters’ vehicle.

Several bullet holes and ricochet marks were found on the sidewalk, in trees and in the Coeur d’Alene Manor apartment building, police said, but there were no injuries.

Yonce and Carter face felony charges of shooting at an occupied dwelling.

Trial of two teens accused of killing vet may be delayed

The two teenagers accused of beating an 88-year-old World War II veteran to death sat side-by-side in a Spokane courtroom Thursday as their attorneys argued over a continuance that could push a jury trial to March or April.

An attorney for Demetruis Glenn, 16, said he was prepared to refute all evidence that has been collected by the state in the case, pending results of DNA testing, when the trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 4.

“I understand (the case) involves forensic evidence, and there’s some delay in that,” said Christian Phelps, who is representing Glenn. “But that’s not an excuse to not prosecute the case timely.”

Glenn and Kenan Adams-Kinard, also 16, are accused of beating Delbert Belton in his car outside the Eagles Ice-A-Rena in north Spokane on Aug. 21. Belton later died of his injuries.

Adams-Kinard’s attorney, Derek Reid, said he intended to request a continuance from a trial judge later this week and did not make a formal request Thursday.

Firefighters respond to alarm, find smoke but no flames

Heavy smoke coming from a Spokane smelter early Thursday was not a fire.

Responding firefighters found smoldering materials and potentially toxic fumes at Global Metal Technologies in an industrial complex near 3200 E. Trent Ave.

News reports say firefighters said the problem was contained and no one was injured. The Ecology Department will investigate.

The website for Global Metal Technologies says it provides milling and smelting services for precious metal miners.