Tracy Ellig

Magical moment. Monty Roberts demonstrated his horse-training techniques Sunday night at the Fairview Farms near Mead. Photo by Torsten Kjellstrand/The Spokesman-Review

George Martin sold tickets to the train museum from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day of the fair for the Inland Empire Railroad Historical Society. Photo by Torsten Kjellstrand/The Spokesman-Review

Juan Griffin wore a purple-and-white Huskies football jersey as he waited to board Southwest Airlines Flight 1709. For the next nine months, the 32-year-old Spokane native won't be dressing so comfortably.

Rolling thunder. Area Boy Scouts behold and contribute to the world's largest popcorn ball, weighing in at about 5,000 pounds. A previous heavyweight ball, half the bulk, is now bird feed in a farm field. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

Sheri Barnard

There's a Spam recipe contest, a pickle-making demonstration and an Elvis impersonator, but the most exotic sight at the Spokane Interstate Fair is supposed to be someone wandering around with a lighted cigarette. This year, smokers are supposed to stay in designated areas. The policy was adopted by the fair board last month after people had complained about secondhand fumes and the risk of running into burning cigarettes while weaving through crowds.

With thimbles on his fingertips, Washboard Willy leads a group of children in a march through Sunday's crowd at the Spokane Interstate Fair. Photo by Torsten Kjellstrand/The Spokesman-Review

FOR THE RECORD (September 5, 1997): Incorrect attribution: In a Thursday article about a proposed casino in Airway Heights, a quote was attributed to the wrong person. This statement actually was made by mayoral candidate Vern Patten: "(Casinos) are turning out to be lucrative only for their financiers and, in the meantime, they suck a lot of money out of the local economy."

With balloons of the school colors marking the way, Whitworth students and their families enjoy a picnic lunch on Sunday. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

In the two years since it opened, the STA Plaza has become popular with riders as a place to eat a meal, enjoy the art or just read a book. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Doctors tackling Gulf War syndrome may get a new tool to study the disease if Congress cooperates, Rep. George Nethercutt said Wednesday. When Congress reconvenes in September, it will consider creating a system for doctors to share diagnoses and treatments for the mysterious disease. The system would be created under an amendment Nethercutt sponsored. A Gulf War syndrome registry currently catalogs veterans' health complaints, but it doesn't give physicians any information on treatments being tried around the country, said Ron Porzio, associate director of the Spokane Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

1. The woods are alive. A member of the 3rd Special Forces Group out of Fort Lewis checks his rifle after parachuting into the mountains north of Colville at night. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Paratroopers are part of Woodland Cougar exercise.

A 120-acre fire near Chattaroy that spawned several flaming, 50-foot-high whirlwinds was still being mopped up on Sunday. Firefighters were aided by rain and cool weather, but it could be the end of the week before crews stop patrolling the area of Owens and Perry roads, said Ed Lewis, District 4 fire chief. There were roughly 60 firefighters, mostly with the Department of Natural Resources, mopping up on Sunday, Lewis said.

Sooty and sweaty Heading to dinner at the Long Lake Campground, firefighter Richard Long washes 12 hours of soot and dirt from his face on Monday evening. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

A 1,200-acre fire near Tum Tum was started by a person burning weeds behind a trailer home, a fire investigator said Sunday. No criminal charges have been filed against the person, and Department of Natural Resources Inspector Bill Fisher declined to name the individual. Investigators on Saturday said the blaze started on 1.5 acres owned by Dale Fox.

1. Pilot Robert Goldsworthy, fourth from right, was one of 5 crewmen to survive when the B-29 "Rosalia Rocket" was shot down over Japan. Three lived through prison camp. 2. Robert Goldsworthy still slips on his World War II boots to grill a steak and remember his hunger in a Japanese prison camp. He plans to visit the widow of the pilot who shot him down. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

The T-shirt Gabriele Von Trapp wore said it all: "It feels unreal." She woke to a day where she expected to celebrate her 12-year-old son's birthday and work on an addition to her house. By 1:30 p.m., the start of a 1,200-acre forest fire was burning a quarter-mile from her front door. A friend, David Bergman, had driven down the road to see the fire. He called back on a CB radio. Get out, he said. She did.

For the second time in five months, the state has rejected a Spokane County land-use ordinance designed to protect streams, wetlands and other sensitive areas. The Eastern Washington Growth Management Hearings Board ruled Monday that the county "failed to include the 'best available science' in the substance of its critical areas ordinance."

Eight-year-old Joshua Donohoe covers his ears as two cars blast off. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

Spokane County's tax on pull-tab games goes after "phantom money" and should be changed, a tavern owner told county commissioners on Thursday. The county levies a 5 percent tax on the amount wagered on pull-tabs, hand-held paper gambling games based on slot machine symbols. Under certain circumstances, the tavern owner ends up paying taxes on money that doesn't exist, said Bob Materne, owner of The Swinging Doors, a bar and restaurant on West Francis Avenue.

A view from the top. As sunrise breaks Thursday morning, window washer Eric Katzer hauls up ropes after finishing his day's work on the U S Bank Building downtown. Hot weather forced his early schedule. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Contaminated ground water from Fairchild Air Force Base is not expected to cause health problems for Airway Heights residents, according to a state Department of Health assessment released Wednesday. "The bottom line is it is good news. The exposures we determined are very low," said Rob Duff, with the state Department of Health.

FOR THE RECORD (August 12, 1997): No help: Family members of disabled veterans cannot receive medical assistance from Veteran's Affairs Medical Centers. A Wednesday story said otherwise. But the VA will sponsor Gulf War syndrome exams for eligible spouses and children of Gulf vets. Gulf War veteran Troy Corkins testifies that his wife is having some of the same symptoms as he. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

Shauna Duryea, right, and Marissa Caryl wait behind the curtain Sunday for their chance to audition for "The Wizard of Oz." Photo by Torsten Kjellstrand/The Spokesman-Review