In brief: Fire department seeks help identifying people on video

The Spokane Fire Department is looking for help to identify two people recorded on surveillance video in the 300 block of East Fifth Avenue before fires started in three vacant homes Sunday.

The homes had been recently purchased by new owners, who had plans to renovate them and turn them into office space. A separate fire started in each home and the fires are considered suspicious.

Both people seen in the video, which is attached to this article at spokesman.com, were riding bicycles. Anyone with information on their identity is asked to call the department’s Special Investigation Unit at (509) 344-3473.

South Carolina mayor will discuss race reconciliation

The mayor of Rock Hill, South Carolina, will talk about race reconciliation in his city at the 18th annual Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations annual banquet in Coeur d’Alene on April 13.

In 1961, nine African-American college students were arrested for a peaceful sit-in at a “Whites Only” lunch counter in Rock Hill. Mayor Doug Echols will tell the story of how the men, known as the Friendship 9, were cleared of their offense this year before a packed courtroom.

The banquet begins at 6 p.m. at the Best Western Coeur d’Alene Inn, with a 5 p.m. reception. Individual tickets are $40. Tables may be purchased for $500 or $1,000. All proceeds go to the Human Rights Education Institute for education programs and North Idaho College minority student scholarships.

More information is available by calling (208) 765-3932.

Post Falls man sentenced for lewd behavior with child

A Post Falls man was sentenced to up to life in prison Tuesday for lewd conduct with a minor, according to the Kootenai County Prosecutor’s Office.

The first seven years of the sentence for Patrick J. Bailey, 51, is fixed. The rest of the sentence is indeterminate.

Bailey pleaded guilty in January and admitted improperly touching a 10-year-old developmentally disabled child and having that child touch him. District Court Judge John Mitchell said he considered Bailey’s “grooming and predatory behavior” in setting the sentence, according to a Prosecutor’s Office press release.

Bailey’s history includes convictions for burglary, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, disturbing the peace and assault.

Annual county property tax payments due by April 30

The first half of Spokane County residents’ annual property tax bill is due to the Treasurer’s Office by April 30.

Property owners can submit their payments by mail, online, in person or by calling the office. Mailed payments must be postmarked by April 30 to avoid late fees or penalties. They should be sent to Spokane County Treasurer, P.O. Box 199, Spokane, WA 99201-0199. Those wishing to pay by phone should call (509) 477-4713. Credit and debit card payments are accepted.

Taxpayers also can pay in person at the treasurer’s office on the second floor of the Spokane County Courthouse, 1116 W. Broadway Ave. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. Taxpayers whose annual bill is less than $50, must make full payment by April 30.

Idaho lawmakers rework Turkey religion measure

BOISE – Idaho lawmakers have reworked a non-binding measure about human rights and religious freedom in Turkey after hearing concerns from the Turkish consulate.

“It implied a little bit of negativity toward the Turkish government, which was not intended,” said Rep. Mat Erpelding, D-Boise.

A line in the original measure said: “The continuing presence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey has been a living testament to the religious coexistence of Christians and Muslims,” adding, “This religious coexistence is in doubt because the Ecumenical Patriarchate is considered a minority religion by the Turkish government.”

In the new version, that last part was changed to say, “This religious coexistence is important because the Orthodox Christian Church is a recognized religion by the Turkish Government.”

The Ecumenical Patriarchate is a reference to the Orthodox Christian Church in Turkey.

Erpelding said Idaho and Montana are the only states that haven’t passed a resolution supporting human rights and religious freedom in Turkey.