Best of the Northwest — 6/7/05

Washington state Democratic Chairman Paul Berendt, left, speaks during a news conference about the Democrats victory in the governor’s election challenge trial in Seattle today. After spending millions of dollars to overturn the election, Republican Dino Rossi actually lost 4 votes here .

A year ago, Carrie French celebrated her graduation, ending a busy year marked by cheerleading, dance and spending time with her many friends in the Nampa/Caldwell, Idaho, area. Now, she has become the first Idaho woman and 13th Idahoan overall killed during hostilities in the Iraq war, according to the Idaho Press-Tribune, here .

Rossi supporters can find a little Huckleberries humor to brighten their day here .

1. Freelancer Milt Priggee targets Washington’s indifference to the Amber Alert system here .

2. A fifth and final member has been named for independent panel that will investigate Spokane Mayor Jim West and his use of city computers and an internship program to solicit dates from young gay men, according to Mike Prager /SR, here .

3. Jeff Clement , a 21-year-old USC catcher labeled the “best power hitter” among college prospects was selected by the Seattle Mariners third in the first round of the annual Major League Baseball draft here .

4. Two 4-year-old Spokane boys remain in critical condition from burns ignited by static electricity after pouring gasoline on a slide to go faster, according to speculation, here .

5. Randy Mueller , a native of tiny St. Maries in North Idaho, has been named general manager of the Miami Dolphins, after stints in Seattle and New Orleans here .

6. IMHO-NW: Spokesman-Review ( It’s time to put election behind us ), Tri-City Herald ( High court off base on marijuana ruling ), Doug Clark /SR ( Child killer got what he deserved ), Kate Holloway /WSU Daily Evergreen ( Dating etiquette of “calling dibs” ), and Tacoma News Tribune ( Spokane’s clingy mayor , free registration).

*A $175,000 jackpot means a Clark County woman can finish her education at WSU and, after 16 years of marriage, finally have a honeymoon here .

*Grizzly kills mountain cycling athlete near Banff, Alberta, here . And another grizzly was destroyed after killing 3 sheep here .

*Montana log truck drivers are rallying for higher wages here .

*The Pullman Alliance for Responsible Development has collected 7,500 signatures in an attempt to stop Wal-Mart from building a store in the Washington border town here .

Orbusmax provides the rest of the Northwest here .