Arson suspected in garage fires

The Spokane Fire Department is investigating suspicious fires that damaged two garages in the same neighborhood early Wednesday.

Firefighters responded at 12:10 a.m. to 1203 W. Columbia Ave. to a fire in a detached garage, Battalion Chief Mike Inman said.

While crews battled the first fire, which caused moderate to severe damage inside the garage, they noticed a second fire down the alley.

Some of the crews responding to the first blaze went to the second fire at 1337 W. Columbia, which started outside a garage, Inman said. They put the fire out before it caused much damage, he said.

Fire investigator Capt. Mike Zambryski was summoned and is examining both fires as possible arsons.

Woman beaten, robbed; police arrest three

A woman was abducted, stripped, beaten and robbed early Wednesday by three other women, Spokane Police said.

The 50-year-old victim met the women at an apartment in the 1800 block of West Mallon Avenue and was taken by them to a remote area near Ohio Avenue between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., said police spokesman Dick Cottam in a press release.

The victim was forced to take off her clothes and the women hit her and took her purse, Cottam said.

After the attack, she was left naked and walked to an acquaintance’s home, where she called police.

Police later arrested Shawn Marie Masingale, 38; Amanda M. Managhan, 30; and Susan Lanaye Lyghts, 18. They were booked into jail on charges of first-degree robbery, Cottam said. Masingale also faces charges of vehicle theft and possession of cocaine.

The women told police that the victim had stolen drugs from them, Cottam said.

Tree falls on moving car, kills passenger

A tree fell onto a car traveling on Highway 12 near Orofino Tuesday evening, resulting in the death of a passenger in that car.

Patricia L. Angle of Kamiah, Idaho, was eastbound on Highway 12 when a tree fell from the roadside and onto the top of her 1999 Subaru Impreza, according to Idaho State Police. The impact caused the vehicle to go off the road and down a 100-foot embankment, ISP reported.

Passenger Erma Radon, 73, also of Kamiah, died at the scene.

Angle was reportedly taken to Clearwater Valley Hospital in Orofino. The hospital said it had no information on Angle, but ISP said she was treated but not critically injured.

Woman released after plea in animal cruelty case

Okanogan, Wash.

A Tonasket woman, jailed in January after authorities removed more than 100 dogs and cats from her home, has been sentenced to time served.

Karen K. Johnson, 55, was released from jail Sept. 15 after entering a modified guilty plea to first-degree animal cruelty in Okanogan County Superior Court.

With her Alford plea, Johnson maintained her innocence but acknowledged that the evidence in the case would likely lead a jury to convict her.

I have never intentionally injured an animal,” Johnson wrote in the plea agreement, which bars her from possessing an animal for two years.

Prosecutors dropped 13 other counts of animal cruelty, and one charge of criminal mistreatment of her 12-year-old daughter, who prosecutors alleged had been living with Johnson in unfit conditions.

Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers said the girl was sent to live with her father. The parents are divorced.

In January, animal rescuers found straw and feces piled waist-deep inside the woman’s home 25 miles east of Tonasket, authorities said. The dogs and cats were taken to animal-rescue centers in Spokane and Tonasket.

‘Days of Swine and Posies’ at Rockford

A pie-eating contest, livestock judging and a table-setting competition are just a few of the highlights at this weekend’s Southeast Spokane County Fair in Rockford, themed “Days of Swine and Posies.”

It kicks off at 4 p.m. today with carnival rides. The fair begins at 9 a.m. Friday and continues through Sunday night. Admission is free.

Visitors will find classic fair attractions, such as carnival rides and live music, but the 61-year-old county fair’s charm also rests in its old-fashioned traditions.

Livestock, rabbits and poultry will be judged, and so will pigs dressed in “purchased garments.” Fiddlers will provoke jigs, bingo numbers will be hollered by Lion’s Club members and zucchini bread will be auctioned off after a variety show.

Neighbors in the town of about 500 people will compete for a year’s worth of bragging rights for their harvested produce, perfect preserves or pristine farm animals. For some church and community groups, the fair is their sole fund-raiser.

The children’s parade starts at 10:15 a.m. Saturday immediately followed by the grand parade.

To get to the Southeast Spokane County Fair from Spokane Valley, follow Highway 27 south approximately 18 miles to Rockford and follow the signs to the fair. For more information call 291-FAIR.

Wishing Star needs Christmas stars

The Wishing Star Foundation is seeking community sponsors for its annual Christmas program.

Sponsors are asked to adopt one of the Wish families for Christmas, buying gifts for everyone, including Mom and Dad, and purchasing a gift certificate from a local grocer for Christmas dinner.

If sponsors cannot do the shopping themselves, they can make a donation toward one of the families and Wishing Star volunteers will do the shopping. Many Wishing Star families are unable to afford Christmas gifts or festivities because of medical expenses.

For more information, contact the Wishing Star Foundation at (509) 744-3411, or visit the Wishing Star Web site at www.wishingstar.org.

Mission Avenue stretch to be closed

Mission Avenue will be closed this weekend for construction near Avista headquarters.

The closure from Perry Street to South Riverton begins at 7 p.m. Friday and will continue until 5 a.m. Monday.

Detours will take eastbound drivers from Mission along Perry to Illinois to Greene and back to Mission, and westbound drivers from Mission to South Riverton to Helena to Trent to Hamilton and back to Mission.

Park Road shut through Monday

Park Road will be closed today through Monday between Appleway and Eighth avenues.

The closure is necessary to make utility adjustments and final paving.

Traffic will be detoured.

Events support breast cancer patients

Two events to support breast cancer patients and raise awareness of the disease are coming up in North Idaho.

The sixth annual Komen Coeur d’Alene Race for the Cure, which raises money to help North Idaho women who have breast cancer, takes place Sunday.

The race, a 5K run/walk or one-mile walk, begins at 10 a.m., with registration and T-shirt pickup beginning at 8 a.m. on race day. The race begins at North Idaho College.

Same-day registration is $30 or $10 for kids. Call (208) 665-9888 for more information, or log on to www.cdakomen.org.

On Sunday, Oct. 9 is the Pink Tulip Tea, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, at the Hayden Lake Country Club. The tea is from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and costs $17 a person. For tickets, call (208) 640-9073 or e-mail pinktuliptea@yahoo.com.