In brief: Snowstorm cancels flight from Denver

One Frontier Air Lines flight was canceled and another delayed coming into Spokane on Friday morning because of a major snowstorm that was lashing eastern Colorado and Denver International Airport.

It was the second storm to strike Denver in a little more than a week, although authorities said the snow was falling at a slower rate than last week, allowing crews to keep air traffic moving.

At Spokane International Airport, air traffic was moving well Friday afternoon, although a few flights were showing delays. Spokane arrivals and departures can be monitored on the Web at spokaneairports.net.

Weather in the Inland Northwest was expected to remain good for travelers with mostly dry conditions through the holiday weekend and a minor risk of snow showers Monday night in the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene area. Nighttime patches of fog were also in the forecast through the weekend. Highs will be near 30 and lows near 20 with light winds.

– Mike Prager

Man found dead in field near home

An 81-year-old man missing since Tuesday was found dead Friday less than a mile from his Five Mile Prairie home.

George Kubes’ car was found in the middle of a field at the end of Prescott Road, and his body was about 10 feet away, police said. No foul play is suspected.

Kubes left for a doctor’s appointment at the VA Hospital on Tuesday morning and wasn’t seen again, Spokane police Cpl. Tom Lee said.

The car and Kubes were found in tall grass. It appears as though Kubes’ car got stuck and he tried to back up.

“To know he was so close to home, and we didn’t find him is so frustrating,” Lee said.

Kubes retired from a career with BNSF Railway. He has volunteered at Spokane Police Department for a little more than two years, often staffing the information booth in the Public Safety Building two days a week, Lee said.

“We suspect he was suffering from dementia for some time,” Lee said.

An autopsy will likely be done to determine the cause of death.

– Jody Lawrence-Turner

Offices close Tuesday in honor of Ford

In addition to the New Year’s holiday, several government offices will be closed Tuesday in honor of President Gerald Ford, who died Dec. 26.

Spokane county offices and the crime reporting center will be closed Tuesday, although the Public Safety and Broadway Center buildings will remain open.

Spokane superior, district and municipal courts, as well as the Valley Precinct District Court, will all be open Tuesday and their scheduled dockets heard.

Spokane Regional Health District offices will be closed Tuesday, as will Spokane Valley City Hall.

Tuesday’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting has also been canceled, although a special meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday for ongoing discussions of the city’s new development code.

Offices in Liberty Lake and Spokane will remain open on Tuesday, and their public meetings will be held as scheduled.

In Idaho, government offices for Kootenai County and the cities of Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls will also be open Tuesday.

– Peter Barnes