Dan Hansen

McCaslin

FOR THE RECORD (January 29, 1997): Correction: Spokane County Commissioner Phil Harris was a master sergeant when he retired from the Air Force. A story in Sunday's newspaper indicated otherwise. 1. Spokane County's point man. Phil Harris bursts into laughter while meeting with Rep. George Nethercutt in the Spokane County commissioners conference room. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review 2. A toy sheriff's badge in Harris' office. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

Members of the audience await a chance to speak Wednesday as Commissioner Kate McCaslin appears on a nearby monitor. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

Spokane County government spends more than $200,000 to belong to professional organizations, with more than half that total going to just two groups. Saying they're not sure taxpayers are getting their money's worth, county commissioners want to drop some memberships and offer other organizations less money than requested.

1. Bernice Buchanan 2. Sign-waving members of the group Unity in Action stand as Bernice Buchanan pleads with county commissioners for charges to be filed in the stabbing of her son at the county fairgrounds. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

After three years of debate, Spokane County commissioners appear ready to decide which areas of the county should be off-limits to urban development. Although they can be modified in about a year and every five years thereafter, the "urban growth boundaries" commissioners plan to set early next month will provide a blueprint for county growth for the next 20 years. Outside the boundaries, no new urban subdivisions will be allowed. Under temporary rules, the minimum lot size of new lots will be 10 acres. County officials will spend the next year writing permanent regulations.

Renee and Herbert Smith bought their Dragoon Creek property in 1969. They say they've lost more soil from their 125 acres in the last year than the previous 20. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review

A leading critic of local politics is suing the city for hampering his drive to change its government. In a suit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court, attorney Stephen Eugster says he should be allowed to count signatures gathered last year toward a petition drive to put the strong-mayor proposal back on the ballot this year.

Spokane County commissioners Tuesday approved the request of a couple who want to build a dock in front of their Fish Lake home. Some 15 feet of county property and more than 100 feet of lily pads separate Joseph and Jane Feil's land from open water at the county-owned lake near Cheney.

The county would like to remove a foot or two of silt left in the stream bed from erosion upstream, he said. Spokane County commissioners on Tuesday told staff to come up with a plan to prevent flooding along Chester Creek, and to do it quickly.

Golfers who play on Spokane County courses will be spared a couple of quarters for greens fees, but may need the money for pancake batter and spaghetti.

Taxpayers were the losers in a labor dispute that pitted Spokane County District Court judges and the county prosector against commissioners and union employees. The bills from attorneys who represented various sides of the dispute have topped $85,000. At times, attorneys hired by taxpayers were arguing both sides.

There's a new Spokane County commissioner in office, so it must be time to discuss greens fees. Parks staff want commissioners to raise the cost of playing 18 holes of golf from $14.50 to $15 for adults. There would be similar increases for kids and senior citizens, and for nine-hole games.

Maintenance workers at Hangman Valley Golf Course remove fencing from the No. 3 hole bridge Thursday. It was the second time course flooded is less than a year. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

The federal government will set up a Spokane field office next week to help process requests for money to deal with damage from November's ice storm. President Clinton on Tuesday approved federal disaster relief money for Spokane, Pend Oreille and Klickitat counties.

Kate McCaslin attends her first county commissioners meeting Tuesday. She was elected to the office last fall after ousting incumbent Steve Hasson. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

After a year and a half with Phil Harris at the helm, Spokane County commissioners voted Tuesday to make John Roskelley their chairman. The chairman presides over meetings and signs documents approved by the board, but otherwise has no more authority than his two colleagues.

Economic potholes. A new study show that U.S. Highway 395 north of Spokane is bearing the brunt of increased truck traffic as a result of NAFTA. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review <

Spokane County Sheriff John Goldman, left, walks with Gov. Mike Lowry through Spokane Produce on Friday. The business was heavily damaged by this week's flooding. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

Count Mickey Mantle, Dan Marino and Jerry Rice among the victims of Wednesday's floods. Those sports heroes, among others, were on trading cards destroyed when Rock Creek washed over its banks and into Ron Roche's video/sports memorabilia store in Rockford.

Former Spokane City Councilman Jack Hebner is among 13 men and two women vying for a District Court judgeship. "I think I'd bring a different sort of perspective" than the typical judge applicant, said Hebner, who served 12 years on the City Council and is a partner in the Fulcrum Institution, which does court-ordered mediation of lawsuits, disputes and other matters.

The worst flooding in 35 years hit the tiny farming community of Rockford on Wednesday, heavily damaging downtown businesses and some homes. At least 11 buildings were damaged in the city 15 miles south of the Spokane Valley when Rock Creek surged over its banks about 3 a.m. Wednesday.

From the Pacific Ocean to the east flank of the Rockies, the monotony of roads coated with ice and packed snow is broken only by the occasional stretch of deep snow. Some mountain passes are closed, and chains are required on others. Drifts cover many country roads, while city streets are axle-deep in white crust.

The Cascade Curtain became an impenetrable wall for holiday travelers Thursday as avalanches and blinding storms closed every route over the mountains in Washington. Commercial flights into and out of Seattle also were delayed by severe weather west of the Cascades. Portland International Airport lost power for three hours during an ice storm reminiscent of the one that knocked Spokane to its knees before Thanksgiving.