Standoff in park ends peacefully

Wed., Dec. 6, 2006

The Spokesman-Review

A standoff between police and an armed man in Plantes Ferry Park ended without violence Tuesday.

James A. Hilde, 28, was booked into Spokane County Jail on charges of attempting to elude police and violating a no-contact order after surrendering to deputies, said Spokane County sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Reagan. Police began looking for Hilde shortly after a 5 a.m. 911 call indicating he had driven off with a rifle and might pose a danger to himself, Reagan said. Officers spotted him near Trent and McDonald and pursued his car until it came to a stop in a soccer field at the park, Reagan said. A negotiator talking with Hilde on a cell phone persuaded him to surrender.

– Peter Barnes

Spokane

Treasurer-elect offers position to opponent

To the loser go the spoils.

Spokane Treasurer-elect Skip Chilberg has asked his Republican opponent in the November election, Bob Wrigley, to serve as his chief deputy, a position that pays slightly more than what will be Chilberg’s salary of $77,000.

Wrigley, who is the chief deputy to current Treasurer Linda Wolverton, said he has agreed to stay on.

“We’ll see how it works,” Wrigley said. “There’s no contentiousness between us.”

Chilberg had hinted before the election that if he won, he might ask Wrigley to stay.

“The role of the chief deputy is a professional role and one (Wrigley) has handled very well,” Chilberg said.

– Jonathan Brunt

Spokane County

County OKs budget with deficit spending

An 8 percent tax increase won’t stop the county from deficit spending in 2007.

County commissioners unanimously approved its 2007 general fund budget on Tuesday, which shows the county spending $141.2 million and taking in $138.5 million. The difference will come from the county’s reserves.

If money is collected as projected, 2007 will be the sixth budget in the past seven years to be supplemented by reserves.

Still, officials note that the forecasted gap for 2007 is $3 million less than it was in 2006 because of the 8 percent tax increase approved last month and trims of 2 percent from most departments.

Commissioners have aimed to stop using reserves to balance the budget starting in 2008 and argued that the county will be left with a healthy reserve of about 10 percent of the total budget.

Tuesday’s action earmarked $138.5 million to county departments and left the remaining $2.7 million to be divvied up before the end of the year.

– Jonathan Brunt

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