In brief: Hayden pipe break leads to large sewage spill

About 100,000 gallons of raw sewage was released from a broken pipe Wednesday in Hayden.

The spill happened on Honeysuckle Avenue between Maple and Fourth streets at around 3 a.m. and was reported at 5 a.m.

Officials routed traffic around the area for about 9 1/2 hours while crews cleaned the spill and disinfected the area.

A hydrogeologist has been hired to study potential effects to groundwater and nearby wells, said Ken Windram, manager for the Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board. Impacts to drinking water are expected to be minimal.

Becky Kramer

New Year’s holiday affects offices, services

Local banks, schools, government offices, libraries and post offices are closed today for New Year’s Day.

STA will operate on holiday service today, and parking meters don’t need to be fed.

For customers served by the city of Spokane or by Waste Management or Sunshine Disposal within Spokane County, trash normally collected today will be collected Friday. Those with Friday pickup will be served on Saturday. In Cheney, trash scheduled for pickup today will be collected on Friday.

Jaclyn Archer

Police warn of citations for keeping car running

Spokane police are warning that they may issue $124 citations to those who leave their cars running and unattended on public property.

Police officials are asking people to stop warming up cars while they are unattended, even on private property, where it is legal, because it presents an opportunity for car theft.

Three cars were stolen this week in Hillyard, the Shadle area and downtown Spokane when owners left them running.

Jaclyn Archer

Missing teen at-risk without medication

Spokane police are looking for a missing juvenile considered to be at-risk.

Felicia L. Higgins, 16, was last seen in the area of 800 W. Seventh Ave.

Higgins requires medication that she does not have with her, police said in a news release. She is about 5 feet 4 inches tall with brown hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a dark gray hoodie with black writing, dark-blue skinny jeans and Converse sneakers that are black, gray and red.

Anyone with information on Higgins’ location is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.

Staff report