In brief: West in hospital with serious complications

Former Spokane Mayor Jim West is in a Seattle hospital with life-threatening complications after recent surgery.

West, who has been treated for cancer since 2003, had surgery at University of Washington hospital in Seattle last Tuesday and developed post-operative complications involving his kidneys, said Bill Etter, an attorney who represented West during last year’s recall.

West underwent three rounds of chemotherapy after he was diagnosed with colon cancer in early 2003, while he was in the state Senate. Doctors said that the cancer spread to his liver, and they removed portions of that organ, but that he tolerated the chemotherapy well. He won the mayor’s race that fall and underwent more chemotherapy before taking office.

He had a third round of chemotherapy in 2005, during the recall campaign that resulted in his ouster in December.

– Jim Camden

CHENEY

Firefighters continue battling flames, winds

Firefighters battled gusty winds Monday as they worked to contain a 113-acre fire that had threatened 10 structures.

The Gateway Lane fire was about 70 percent contained Monday afternoon. Steve Harris, of the state Department of Natural Resources, said mop-up was taking longer than expected, but that crews hoped to contain the fire today.

Harris said the fire was started Saturday afternoon by a spark caused by repairs to a piece of construction equipment.

Nearby, about 30 firefighters worked five hours Monday evening to control a two-acre fire in brush and timber at the corner of Spotted and Andrus roads, about four miles northeast of Cheney.

“With the wind, it could have been a lot worse than it was,” said Battalion Chief Don Mangis, of Spokane County Fire District 3.

Six crews from District 3 and eight from the state Department of Natural Resources fought the fire from 4 to 9 p.m. No one was injured and no structure was threatened. The cause was under investigation, Mangis said.

– From staff and wire reports

WENATCHEE

Figure in sex ring cases dies of head injuries

A key figure in the Wenatchee child sex ring cases of the mid-‘90s died after apparently jumping into the Wenatchee River to rescue two friends, officials said Monday.

Meghan Doggett, 21, died Sunday at Central Washington Hospital after striking her head on rocks in the river Saturday, Chelan County Sheriff Mike Harum said. Doggett was attempting to pull Mindy Cosart, 17, and Lisa Vargas, 15, from strong currents in Tumwater Canyon, about 1 1/2 miles west of Leavenworth.

Cosart was listed in critical condition at Central Washington Hospital on Monday, while Vargas was reportedly uninjured.

Mark and Carol Doggett were among scores of adults arrested in the 1994-1995 child sex investigations and were convicted of raping their daughter, Meghan.

The state Court of Appeals overturned their convictions in 1997.

– Associated Press