Task force probing BPA vandalism

Thu., Feb. 9, 2006

The Spokesman-Review

A federal terrorism task force based in Spokane is investigating the removal of nine bolts from a 250-foot Bonneville Power Administration transmission line tower at a key crossing over Interstate 82 and the Yakima River.

The vandalism was discovered Jan. 18 but not made public until Wednesday by the BPA.

BPA linemen noticed the vandalism, said Pete Jeter, the agency’s lead security specialist.

The bolts were in place when the same line crew visited the tower six weeks earlier.

The 4-inch bolts were removed from three of the tower’s four legs and placed on the ground, Jeter said.

The tower, located about 15 miles west of Kennewick, supports two 500-kilovolt electrical lines.

The BPA is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

City leaders seek aid agency funds

Spokane Mayor Dennis Hession and three City Council members said Wednesday they are still looking for extra money in the 2006 city budget to help agencies serving low-income residents, children and seniors.

The City Council last month approved a budget that denied funding for seven nonprofit agencies, in part because they failed to properly fill out the city’s grant applications.

Those agencies provide health care, schooling for homeless children, meals and other programs.

About $750,000 was left over from the 2005 budget. Hession and other council members said during a finance meeting Wednesday that they could use a small portion of that money to make up for funding denials to the Community Health Association of Spokane, the YWCA and others agencies.

The city’s Human Services Advisory Board was asked to come up with a recommendation to the council for an appropriate funding level.

That recommendation is expected in about a month.

CdA school will go Renaissance

The Coeur d’Alene High School commons will be turned into a Renaissance banquet hall Saturday night for a fund-raiser to benefit the fine arts department.

For $15, guests can dine on English cuisine; be entertained by dancers, jugglers, musicians and court jesters; and peruse staff- and student-made crafts.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are for sale at the high school, 5530 N. 4th St., or at The Great Harvest Bread Company, 2106 N. Government Way. They will not be sold at the door.

For information, call the high school at (208) 667-4507.

– From staff reports

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