Sex offender living downtown

Spokane police warned Thursday that a level 3 sex offender who molested a 7-year-old girl is living downtown.

He is Russell A. Clinger, 41, who was released from prison Nov. 29 after serving a six-year sentence for first-degree child molestation.

Clinger will be under supervision for three years and is not allowed to be near anyone younger than 18.

Police say level 3 offenders pose a high risk for new sex crimes.

Clinger is white, 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighs 180 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes.

Clark Fork, Idaho

Tree lighting set for Saturday

Cabinet Mountain Calvary Chapel in Clark Fork will host the fifth annual community tree lighting event at 6 p.m. Saturday at Clark Fork Junior/Senior High School on state Highway 200.

The tradition began five years ago when Avista helped church members string the 40-foot-tall fir tree with lights, and the school allowed the church to run an underground power supply to the tree.

Attendance at the event has continued to grow and last year attracted about 200 people, according to CMCC Pastor Scott Douglas.

The tree was re-strung with new LED lights this year and should add a whole new dimension of color, Douglas said.

Following the lighting ceremony, there will be indoor treats, singing and a Christmas play in the school auditorium.

For information, call Pastor Douglas at (208) 266-1911.

OLYMPIA

Pastor seeking to undo gay rights

A pastor opposed to civil rights protections for gays and lesbians has filed an initiative to the Legislature to overturn them, but it’s not likely to go anywhere because he would have to gather nearly 225,000 signatures by the end of the month.

The Rev. Ken Hutcherson, pastor of Antioch Bible Church in the Seattle suburb of Redmond, filed the initiative on Nov. 28.

The initiative, which has not yet been given a number and whose language has not yet been reviewed by the state code reviser’s office, would remove the sexual orientation aspect of the state ban on discrimination in housing, employment, insurance and credit.

State lawmakers passed the gay civil rights bill in January after nearly 30 years of failed attempts by several longtime legislative sponsors. The law took effect in early June.

Hutcherson is out of the country until next week and was not available for comment.