Murder suspect gives ‘helpful’ information

Spokane police said Wednesday that information provided by triple-homicide suspect John Wayne Thomson has been “helpful” in their search for missing Spokane resident James F. Ehrgott.

Thomson, 46, is suspected of killing the 73-year-old Ehrgott, who was last seen on July 6 at a restaurant on North Market Street.

Thomson was arrested Monday in San Bernardino County, Calif., and subsequently gave detectives some information about Ehrgott.

So far, though, the information has not led authorities to Ehrgott.

“It has been helpful, but we want to try and get some more information and nail it down a little bit tighter,” Spokane police spokesman Cpl. Tom Lee said of Thomson’s information.

He said the information has been relayed by a Cowlitz County, Wash., sheriff’s detective who has interviewed Thomson in the San Bernardino County jail.

According to a report in Wednesday’s Los Angeles Times, citing court affidavits, Thomson showed an acquaintance credit cards with Ehrgott’s name and said he had put “a bullet in his head.”

Cowlitz County also is investigating Thomson in the murder of 36-year-old Kelso, Wash., resident Lori A. Hamm.

Thomson is charged with her murder as well as the death of 55-year-old Charles Ray Hedlund, of Lucerne Valley, Calif.

Charlie Rosenzweig, chief criminal deputy for the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, declined Wednesday to characterize Thomson’s statements as a confession.

Rosenzweig appealed to anyone with information about Thomson’s activities between July 1 and Aug. 7 to call the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office at (360) 577-3092.

Or, to remain anonymous, call the Crime Stoppers program at (888) 577-1206.

– John Craig

Ferry County

Tree blamed when 3,000 lose power

More than 3,000 electricity customers in Ferry County spent Tuesday night without power because of problems with a line between Colville and Republic, according to the Bonneville Power Administration and the local power district.

The power failure, which affected the city of Republic and most of the northern half of the county, was caused by a tree, BPA spokeswoman Carrie Reese said. Reese said she didn’t know more details about how it was caused.

The outage was reported at 11:03 p.m. Tuesday night, and crews were dispatched Wednesday morning, she said. Power was restored at 8:19 a.m.

– Jared Paben

Spokane

School board approves budget

The Board of Directors for Spokane Public Schools on Wednesday unanimously approved the district’s budget for the year. Here are some of the numbers compared to past budget years.

For a complete copy of the district’s budget, go to www.spokane schools.org/BudgetAccounting/.

Dollar amounts in millions:

– Sara Leaming