In brief: Voter registration forms stolen

An estimated 100 people who filled out voter registration forms recently will need to re-register and should monitor their accounts and credit reports, law enforcement officials said Wednesday.

The completed forms – which include name, address, date of birth and a driver’s license number – were stolen before they could be turned in to the Spokane County elections office.

The voter forms were filled out between June 28 and July 4 in the city of Spokane during a registration drive by the Washington State Democratic Coordinated Campaign.

Most were either filled out at the Democrats’ booth in Riverfront Park on the Fourth of July or during that week at the Spokane Transit Authority Plaza.

They were in a bag that was stolen from a car parked at the Northtown Mall on July 7.

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office estimated the bag had as many as 200 registration forms, but a spokesman for the Democratic Party put the number at about 100.

Because the forms weren’t turned in, the elections office has no record of the registrations and can’t answer questions about them.

– Jim Camden

Celebration held for new exhibit hall

Spokane celebrated the $75 million expansion of the Convention Center – the Group Health Exhibit Hall – with an invitation-only dedication and reception Wednesday afternoon.

State and local politicians gathered with tourism officials, Spokane Public Facilities District board members, visiting convention meeting planners and others for the official unveiling of a plaque commemorating the new exhibit hall at Spokane Falls Boulevard and Division Street.

“There’s so much happening in Spokane. To be right in the middle of it all is right where we want to be,” said Scott Armstrong, president and CEO of Group Health, the name sponsor for the 100,000-square- foot exhibit hall.

Others acknowledged the work that went into building the ship-shaped structure on the east end of downtown.

“I have so much admiration for the workers and what they pulled off,” said Bill Bouten of Bouten Construction, one of the general contractors on the two-year project.

Public tours of the new building will be offered today from 2 to 7 p.m.

– Alison Boggs

Spokane Valley

Police think more involved in arsons

Although two juveniles have been arrested in connection with last Thursday’s early morning arson spree, the Spokane Valley Fire Department and Spokane Valley police think more people could be involved. Investigators are asking for help in identifying more crimes.

Six arson fires occurred early July 13 after juveniles stole bundles of Spokesman-Review newspapers and then lit them on fire at various locations, said Spokane Valley Fire Chief Mike Thompson.

Two 16-year-olds were arrested for the arsons and were still in Juvenile Detention on Wednesday afternoon, facing multiple arson charges.

After interviewing the suspects, more information surfaced that indicated the teens could have been involved with as many as 30 crimes, including rocks being thrown through windows, and mailboxes being smashed, said Spokane Valley Police Chief Cal Walker.

Because of the wide scope of the crimes, police are asking anyone who might have further information to call the main desk at (509) 447-3300.

– Staff reports