In Brief: Rathdrum man dies after crashing into post

A Rathdrum man died after his car left the pavement on Interstate 90 and crashed into a sign post and light post, according to the Idaho State Police.

Shane A. Novak, 24, was driving westbound on the freeway in Post Falls when his 1995 Buick Skylark left the road for an unknown reason around 10:30 a.m. Saturday, the ISP said in a news release. Novak died at the scene.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Staff report

Man seriously injured in shooting

A man was seriously injured in an early morning shooting Saturday in north central Spokane.

Witnesses told investigators that two men got in a fight in the 800 block of West Maxwell Avenue about 2 a.m. and one got a gun and shot the other, said Spokane police spokeswoman Officer Teresa Fuller. The injured man was taken to a local hospital for treatment and police located the man who fired the shot, Fuller said.

Fuller said she did not know if anyone had been arrested as of early Saturday afternoon.

Anyone who witnessed what happened and has not talked to police is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.

Staff report

Adopt-a-family campaign begins

PATEROS – About two dozen people have stepped forward to adopt a family who suffered significant losses in the Carlton Complex fires for Christmas.

Kristin Wall, a Pateros resident who came up with the idea, said she wanted something a little more special than a generic holiday basket for families who will be facing their first Christmas without the homes they lost.

For the past few weeks, she’s been gathering names, ages and wish lists of families who suffered losses in the fires.

Those names are vetted through caseworkers who have been working with victims. About 35 families signed up, she said.

People who want to adopt them then have to agree to spend at least $500 on a family with two or three people; $750 on a family of three or four; and $1,000 for families of five or more people.

Wall said people who did suffer significant losses who haven’t signed up, or people willing to adopt a family, can contact her at AdoptAFamilyCampaign@gmail.com.

Wenatchee World

Four area ski resorts remain closed

A lack of snow continued to delay the opening of four Inland Northwest ski resorts Saturday.

Lookout Pass, Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park, Silver Mountain Resort and 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort were unable to open Friday and Saturday.

A cold front arrived Saturday, but snow is not in the forecast for today. Snow is possible Monday afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service. The ski resorts recommend that skiers check their websites for daily updates on expected opening dates.

Only Schweitzer Mountain Resort near Sandpoint has opened for the season.

Staff report