Rifle Club Loses ‘Driving Force’

Sun., May 21, 1995

With the Spokane Rifle Club’s new indoor firing range nearly rebuilt, club members are mourning the untimely recent death of former president George Fischer, 72.

The shooting facility was just a few weeks from being completed when it burned to the ground in last summer’s forest fire in Riverside State Park. Fischer spearheaded the effort to rebuild the facility, which is set to open June 3. Unfortunately, Fischer died April 2.

“This was his second term as president, and he was the driving force for the project,” said Jim Groves, rifle club spokesman.

Fischer was past Northwest regional director for the Cast Bullet Assoc.

“He preferred target shooting with bullets he made himself, especially out of his Remington .308,” Groves said.

The club will hold an open house at the new indoor range June 3, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The club is at the end of Rifle Club Road along the Spokane River downstream from the Bowl and Pitcher. Info: 327-9632.

His heart had barely slowed down after bagging his gobbler on the opening morning of the turkey season last month, when Duane Larson of Princeton, Idaho, had to make a second shot.

At a cougar.

Fish and Game Department spokesman Gregg Losinski confirmed that the cougar first jumped on the fallen bird, then threatened Larson. The hunter shot and killed the cougar at a distance of 12 feet, Losinski said.

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