Ex-mayor candidate barred from town hall

Thu., Aug. 3, 2006

The Spokesman-Review

A judge has granted an injunction barring a former Millwood mayoral candidate from the town hall and from any contact with town employees.

The legal action requested by the town follows years of conflict at council meetings and at the town’s service window, which was reinforced with safety glass after employees said they felt intimidated by Robert Mankin, 64.

Mankin has said he isn’t violent. He alleges that the town is rife with corruption.

Town officials said in the injunction request that Mankin’s behavior discourages people from coming to meetings. They also alleged that Mankin tried to run a town vehicle off the road and has followed employees home and videotaped them in public.

The order was signed Tuesday by Judge Kathleen M. O’Connor.

– Peter Barnes

Region

Wildfires result in air quality warning

The Washington Department of Ecology has issued an air-quality warning for several counties because of smoke from wildfires.

The warning, for today and Friday, covers Stevens, Lincoln, Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Grant and Okanogan counties, where poor ventilation is expected to trap smoke daily from early evening until the following noon.

The Department of Health said young children, pregnant women, elderly people and those with heart and respiratory problems may experience wheezing, shortness of breath and other symptoms.

State officials suggested staying indoors, using the recirculating mode on air conditioners, keeping air conditioner filters clean, avoiding exertion, drinking lots of water and, in severe cases, leaving the area. Paper dust masks won’t help, but an OSHA N95 mask might help if it doesn’t interfere with breathing.

– John Craig

Spokane

Developer donates to river cleanup

An annual Spokane River cleanup event received $6,000 Wednesday from a developer who plans to transform 80 vacant acres of land overlooking the river’s north bank into an urban village with housing and businesses near downtown Spokane.

“The Spokane River and the Gorge area comprise the ‘front porch’ of the Kendall Yards project,” Marshall Chesrown, CEO of Black Rock Development, said in a news release.

The annual cleanup, which began in 2003, will be held Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at High Bridge Park. Partners in the event are Avista Utilities, Friends of the Falls, and the city parks department.

Last year, 525 volunteers removed more than 9 tons of litter from the river banks, from the T.J. Meenach Bridge to the Peaceful Valley neighborhood. This year, organizers are adding informational and interactive booths in High Bridge Park.

– Alison Boggs

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.