In brief: YWCA seeks women of achievement
The YWCA of Spokane is calling for nominations for its Women of Achievement awards.
Awards are granted in six categories: arts and culture; business and industry; community enhancement; education; science, technology and environment; and the Carl J. Maxey Racial and Social Justice Award.
The nonprofit organization has been celebrating women of achievement for 33 years. Awards are announced at the YWCA’s annual luncheon. This year, the luncheon will take place Oct. 1. Cheryl Strayed, the author of “Wild,” will be the keynote speaker.
The deadline for submissions is June 15. Nomination forms can be found at www.ywcaspokane.org.
Job applicant’s suit claims discrimination
BOISE – A $10 million federal lawsuit filed against Idaho officials contends they discriminated against a job applicant because he’s gay and has epilepsy.
The lawsuit filed Friday names Idaho Department of Labor Director Ken Edmunds and former Idaho Human Rights Commission Director Pamela Parks as defendants, the Idaho Statesman reported.
Don Dew says in the lawsuit that Edmunds’ attitude and behavior changed during a job interview for director of the Idaho Human Rights Commission after Edmunds asked about a gap in employment and Dew stated he has epilepsy.
Dew also obtained notes Parks made during interviews with references about Dew being gay.
Edmunds declined to comment, and Parks couldn’t be reached.
County won’t permit new ethanol plant
NAMPA, Idaho – County commissioners in southwestern Idaho have denied a permit to a company that hoped to build an ethanol plant near Caldwell.
The Idaho Press-Tribune in Nampa reported Tuesday that the Canyon County Commissioners denied the conditional use permit sought by Demeter Bio-Resources. The company hoped to use the ethanol plant as part of a food processing facility to convert barley grain and Demeter’s proprietary crop SunSpud tubers into ethanol fuel.
The current zoning on the land allows for a food processing facility but not an ethanol plant.
Demeter Bio-Resources describes itself as a “conscientious agriculture” company that aims to use all parts of its feedstocks for its products, which include food and renewable energy.
Purchase deal signed for Macefield house
SEATTLE – The story of the little house that $1 million couldn’t buy appears about to have a new chapter.
Real estate broker Paul Thomas said Tuesday in a statement that the buyer with the best offer on Edith Macefield’s circa-1900 house in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood has signed a purchase agreement and has until late May to close, seattlepi.com reported.
Thomas said a YouTube virtual tour of the house attracted more than 700,000 views since March 29. He reportedly got 38 offers in a three-week listing period. He says he scored them for proposed memorial to Macefield, terms and dollar value.
She stood her ground in 2007 while developers built a commercial complex around her property, rejecting $1 million because she wanted to stay in her home. Construction superintendent Barry Martin befriended Macefield, who willed her house to him before she died in 2008 at age 86.
He sold the property in 2009 and it eventually went into foreclosure. The house went to auction in March but drew no bids and was listed on the open market.