Man dies when car goes into slough

Sandpoint A 40-year-old Sagle man was killed Monday morning when he lost control of his car on Dufort Road and Lakeshore Drive, drove into a slough off the Pend Oreille River and drowned, according to the Idaho State Police

Scott A. Ingram was driving west on Dufort Road at 5:42 a.m. in a Honda Accord when he lost control at a sharp corner near the intersection of the two county roads, according to the ISP.

The car left the roadway and went through the brush, landing upside down in the water. The ISP believes Ingram may have been unconscious and drowned, but the investigation is ongoing.

Boy in canoe accident still in critical condition

Benjamin Morin, a 7-year-old boy involved in a canoe accident on the Spokane River Sunday morning, remained in critical condition Monday at Sacred Heart Medical Center, a hospital spokesperson said.

Morin was in a canoe with his father, and another father and 7-year-old son, when the boat hit an abutment that supports the Sandifur Memorial Bridge near People’s Park. Morin was submerged for about 20 minutes before a Spokane Fire Department Rescue team pulled the unconscious child out of the river. The others were thrown from the canoe and swam to safety.

The accident occurred about 11 a.m. Sunday, just west of downtown. All four canoeists were wearing life jackets, authorities said.

School board candidates narrowed to six

A field of 12 candidates for a Spokane Public Schools board vacancy was narrowed to six as the board of directors held an executive session Monday night. The meeting was called to evaluate applicants’ materials.

The job became available when Terrie K. Beaudreau stepped down in April after 20 years on the board, including four terms as president. Beaudreau said personal and family health issues prompted her to leave before her term expired this November, when her replacement will have to run for election.

The finalists are:

“Jeffrey Bierman, a professor of physics at Gonzaga University.

“Garret Daggett, a utilities relations manager at Avista Utilities.

“Louise Chadez, a social worker who holds a part-time position at Eastern Washington University school of social work.

“Susan Chapin, a registered nurse at Sacred Heart Medical Center.

“Ava Becks, an instructional assistant and substitute administration assistant and coach for Spokane Public Schools.

“Lorna Walsh, director of development for Washington State University, Spokane.

The other applicants were Patricia Schilling, Scott Kusel, Martinique Wood, Justin Felker, Curtis Fackler and Victor Buksbazen.

The candidates will be interviewed in an open public meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday at the district office, 200 N. Bernard St. The board plans to fill the position by June 24.

Meeting on sex offenders offered at grange

Southern Stevens County residents are invited to a public meeting Wednesday night on how to stay safe from sex offenders.

The 7 p.m. program at the Camas Valley Grange in Springdale, Wash., will feature state Department of Corrections community corrections supervisors Nanette DeGeorgio and Todd Wiggs, and Stevens County sheriff’s Detective Andrew Harbolt.

The speakers will explain the three-level system used to classify sex offenders according to their danger and likelihood to reoffend. They also will talk about how to identify sex offenders and will explain “offense cycles” and what can be done to prevent sex crimes.

Several ranch and farm families arranged the meeting.

Second Everett-Seattle commuter train added

Everett Sound Transit has added a second round-trip on its Sounder North line between Everett and downtown Seattle, despite lackluster ridership.

Trains will now leave Everett at 6:10 and 6:40 a.m. and arrive at King Street Station in Seattle 58 minutes later. For the evening commute, trains will leave Seattle at 4:33 and 5:13 p.m. and stop in Everett at 5:31 and 6:11 p.m.

The route has been attracting only 150 to 160 round-trip commuters on most workdays. Transit managers have said the low numbers are due in part to inflexible train times for most commuters, and hope the second train will boost ridership.

“I think the reaction to the second train will be a real harbinger of what’s in store,” said Mark Olson, vice chairman of the Sound Transit board.

Sound Transit also runs three trains between Tacoma and Seattle during the morning and evening commutes.