Director Rich Hartzell was “a little bit worried” that Friday’s opening of the Spokane County Interstate Fair was too good to be true, but the day’s worst wrinkles were on Jim Tourtillotte’s floppy ears and plastic elephant nose. “You couldn’t pay somebody enough to do this stuff,” the Spokane Valley resident said as he attracted customers for the Moonshriners charity fundraising elephant ear stand.
Director Rich Hartzell was “a little bit worried” that Friday’s opening of the Spokane County Interstate Fair was too good to be true, but the day’s worst wrinkles were on Jim Tourtillotte’s floppy ears and plastic elephant nose.
Former Stevens County Sheriff Craig Thayer will begin his new job next week in Spokane as the U.S. marshal for Eastern Washington. Thayer stepped down as sheriff Tuesday and traveled to Washington, D.C., to be sworn in as marshal. The Senate confirmed President Barack Obama’s nomination of Thayer, a fellow Democrat, last month.
Spokane County commissioners can only hope that Assessor Ralph Baker is a trendsetter in budget discussions as well as technology. “I’m OK,” Baker told commissioners Wednesday as they began a series of budget meetings with department heads. “The budget’s good.”
Spokane County Commissioner Todd Mielke said Tuesday that Spokane and Spokane Valley city officials have indicated they may seek a countywide vehicle tax. A countywide “transportation benefit district” requires the cooperation of the county and 60 percent of the cities in the county – including cities that control 75 percent of the county’s incorporated population.
Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich plans to keep his bullhorn, but he soon will have a more subtle way to warn Spokane County residents of emergencies. Starting Monday, residents may register their cell phones, voice-over-Internet phones and e-mail addresses to receive emergency messages.
Three dozen properties have been nominated for purchase by Spokane County’s Conservation Futures program. The candidates to become permanent open space vary from half an acre to 920 acres and are scattered across the county.
Spokane County’s Holmberg swimming pool would close indefinitely under a plan presented to commissioners Tuesday. Parks Director Doug Chase said Holmberg pool, at 9615 N. Wall St., was little-used this year and needs major repairs to operate safely.
Recently retired Undersheriff Greg Conner would become a $70-an-hour consultant under a contract Spokane County commissioners may approve today. Jeff Tower, the county’s remaining undersheriff, said officials hope to fill a temporary gap and save money.
Spokane County is poised to extend a sewer line to a 415-acre property where commissioners hope development will boost their tax base. “This is one of the last areas where Spokane County has any ability to do this,” Commissioner Todd Mielke said.
Emergency communications are about to join the Information Age in Spokane County – and get more expensive. Residents will pay 75 cents a month next year for 911 service, a 25-cent increase in a rate that hasn’t changed in two decades.
Spokane County Jail inmates will start returning today to cells they flooded with toilet water Saturday evening. Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich plans to seek felony charges against those who were responsible if an assessment confirms the damage was as costly as county officials expect.
A lawsuit over river discharges threatens the January 2012 startup of a new Spokane County sewage treatment plant, so officials are working on a backup. Plan B, restoration of a wetland with treated wastewater, requires county officials to exercise many of the land-use tools in their kit – and one that doesn’t yet exist.
The race for second place in last week’s primary for Spokane County Commissioner Bonnie Mager’s position remained too close to call Monday. Jeff Holy shaved five votes off Al French’s lead for runner-up when 4,544 more ballots were counted. They were separated by 153 votes, 4,887 to 4,734, but more ballots are to be counted today and Wednesday.
Spokane County Jail inmates will start returning Tuesday to cells they flooded with toilet water Saturday evening. Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich plans to seek felony charges against those who were responsible if an assessment confirms the damage was as costly as county officials expect.
Dog license fees may be increased to prevent service cuts in the Spokane County animal-control program. County commissioners informally endorsed a plan to increase fees to match those in Spokane.
A second tribal casino in Airway Heights would pay out for Spokane County under a deal county commissioners approved Tuesday on a split vote. With Commissioner Todd Mielke dissenting, the commission agreed not to oppose the Spokane Tribe’s bid to open a casino on 145 acres of tribal land to be annexed by Airway Heights.
About half of Spokane County voters in Tuesday’s mail-in primary probably have returned their ballots. Typically, though, the rest wait until election day to cast their ballots, according to elections manager Mike McLaughlin.
Spokane County assessor candidate Sadie Charlene Cooney is suing prosecutor candidate Frank Malone for alleged failure to pay an $81,077 debt. The dispute springs from a contract in which Malone purchased the law firm of Cooney’s late husband, Joseph M. Cooney.
Spokane County commissioners saw the future this week and it looked like “Waterworld.” Court officials told commissioners the county needs to gear up for a massive adjudication of water rights that is to begin in 2012.
County commissioner candidate Steve Salvatori says a weekend “attack” mailing by rival Al French improperly put words in his mouth. “Steve says, ‘Zoom,’ ” according to the mailing, which facetiously shows Salvatori and fellow Republican candidate Jeff Holy standing on the track at the Spokane County Raceway in orange jumpsuits and racing helmets.
Spokane County Commissioner Bonnie Mager dissented again Tuesday during final action on a $588,500 racetrack expenditure. Commissioners Todd Mielke and Mark Richard said the money was needed for safety improvements at Spokane County Raceway.
