In brief: South Hill brush fire contained, under investigation
Crews remained on scene of a 7-acre brush fire Tuesday, a day after flames threatened a dozen homes in a quiet South Hill neighborhood overlooking the Hangman Valley.
Firefighters completely contained the flames overnight, and Tuesday was devoted to dousing lingering hot spots and investigating a cause. Spokane Fire Department spokesman Brian Schaeffer said a homeless camp was found in the area, but it could be a long time before investigators know exactly where the fire started.
State resources were called to battle the blaze Monday. The size of the fire was downgraded Tuesday from earlier reports that flames had engulfed close to 30 acres.
The Spokane Fire Department said in a news release it urges homeowners to maintain 30 feet of moist “green space” around their homes to prevent the spread of brush fires.
Mail probe prompts carrier’s suspension
A Spokane city Postal Service carrier has been suspended without pay in connection with possible theft or delayed delivery of residential mail.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing, said John Masters, a spokesman with the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General.
Masters said the female carrier’s name will not be disclosed during the investigation. He also declined to say when the undelivered or lost mail had been postmarked.
Investigators gathered undelivered mail found inside the carrier’s vehicle by employees of a Spokane auto repair shop where the carrier left her vehicle, according to a KXLY news report.
Residents whose mail was not delivered have been contacted by the inspector general’s office. The federal mailing told residents that they have the option of receiving compensation for any late fees or credit card penalties due to the delayed or lost items.
Journalist Popkey leaves Statesman
BOISE – Dan Popkey, longtime political reporter and columnist for the Idaho Statesman, is leaving journalism to become the press secretary for 1st District GOP Congressman Raul Labrador, Labrador announced Tuesday.
“I’ve learned that one has to have an exceptional communications strategy to effectively represent Idaho in Congress,” Labrador said in a statement. “I know that Dan will help me better communicate my message to constituents and the media.”
The Statesman announced Tuesday that Popkey’s resignation, after three decades with the newspaper, is effective immediately.
Popkey, 55, has been at the Statesman since 1984 and has won numerous awards for investigative reporting.
Bank, Kohl’s donate to area hospitals
Two large donations to area hospitals were announced Tuesday.
Mountain West Bank is giving $100,000 to the Kootenai Health Foundation to help pay for the hospital’s expansion in Coeur d’Alene, the hospital said in a news release. To be paid over five years, the contribution is the largest ever by the bank.
Kootenai Health is building a three-story, 100,000-square-foot addition set to open in 2016. It will house a family birthing center, neonatal intensive care unit, patient rooms, new entrance and registration area, and expanded waiting areas.
Mountain West Bank is a division of Kalispell, Montana-based Glacier Bank.
Kohl’s Department Stores is giving $54,800 to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Spokane to continue Kohl’s Health Smart Kids, a childhood obesity prevention program, Sacred Heart said in a news release.
Since 2008 Kohl’s has given nearly $319,000 to the children’s hospital.
Deputies identify body at lakeshore
The body of a man found on the shore of Lake Coeur d’Alene by North Idaho College on July 19 has been identified as Daniel E. Moreno, 40.
Moreno was known to be a transient in the Coeur d’Alene area, according to a news release from the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office. His body was discovered by an NIC employee who had gone there to clean the restrooms.
There were no obvious signs of foul play, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The results of the autopsy and toxicology tests won’t be available for several weeks. Anyone who had contact with Moreno prior to his death is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (208) 446-1301.
One injured when truck goes into lake
A Coeur d’Alene woman received minor injuries Tuesday morning when the pickup truck she was in crashed into Fernan Lake near Coeur d’Alene.
The 2006 Chevrolet pickup went into the water about 6:30 a.m. along Fernan Lake Road just east of Fernan Village, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office said. Responding law enforcement found the truck on its driver’s side partially submerged in a few feet of water.
The driver and passenger were standing on the side of the truck and were assisted to shore and up a steep bank, the sheriff’s office said.
The driver, Kristopher S. Corey, 39, of Hayden, was not injured. His passenger, Adrian El-Qare, 30, was taken to Kootenai Health for treatment.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.