In brief: Idaho man dies after crashing into ditch along Highway 57

Priest River resident Charles A. Burke, 58, was killed Friday when his Ford Explorer ran off the road and crashed into a ditch on state Highway 57 just north of Priest River.

Burke was northbound around 7:15 p.m. when he crashed a little more than 3 miles from Priest River. He was not wearing his seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle, the Idaho State Police said in a news release. Burke died at the scene.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Warming Center for homeless closes after busy season

The Salvation Army Warming Center is closing its doors after a busy season that saw 660 people make more than 6,000 visits this year – a substantial increase over last year’s numbers.

The center provides a warm place for the homeless in Spokane to stay during cold weather.

Several changes were made this winter to provide greater accessibility to the homeless and those changes helped boost the usage numbers up more than 500 percent from last year, according to a news release from The Salvation Army.

This year the Warming Center was opened anytime the overnight temperatures dropped below 32 degrees instead of the 20-degree threshold that was used previously.

This year also was the first time the Salvation Army opened a centralized location that accepted single men, single women and families.

Woman escapes home fire that started on kitchen stove

A woman in the 2500 block of North Upriver Court was able to escape her home safely Friday after her smoke detector alerted her to a kitchen fire.

The woman was cooking and left the kitchen to take a phone call, according to a Spokane Fire Department news release. A fire started on the stove, triggering the smoke detector around 7:30 p.m.

Damage to the home from smoke and fire is estimated at $20,000.

Volunteer musicians, dancers sought for Bloomsday route

Bloomsday organizers are looking for a few good bands – and dancers and singers – who want to perform along the 7.46-mile race course on the first Sunday in May.

Performers need to register by March 25 by filling out the application form found at bloomsdayrun.org under “race information.”

Those who are selected to perform along the course will be eligible to win cash prizes.

Runners and walkers who participate in the race will vote for their favorite entertainer after the race to determine winners.

Last year singer Tori Whitten was voted the favorite entertainer of the 28 that performed. Nixon Rodeo finished second and the Angela Marie Project was voted into third place.

Those interested in running the race have until April 14 to register via mail and until April 19 to register online with an $18 entry fee. Entries received after those dates will have to pay a $35 fee.