Bowdish still open despite weekend fire

Spokane Valley Fire Department investigators arrested two teenagers Sunday on second-degree arson charges after they allegedly started an early morning fire on the roof of Bowdish Middle School.

Joseph Shoop, 18, was released to the custody of his parents, said Fire Chief Mike Thompson. A 17-year-old boy was also released to his family, although he was not identified because he is a juvenile.

Nine fire rigs were dispatched about 5 a.m. Sunday to the school at 2109 S. Skipworth Road, investigators said. A flaming umbrella evidently sparked a fire that charred a 10-by-10 foot area on the roof, allowing heavy rains to seep inside the school and causing damages estimated at $10,000 to $15,000, Thompson said.

The teens apparently climbed on the roof of the school after an early-morning party, said Bill Clifford, public information officer for the Central Valley School District.

School will be in session as usual today, Superintendent Mike Pearson said Sunday.

– JoNel Aleccia

Spokane

Juvenile held in North Side stabbing

A 17-year-old boy was being held in the Spokane Juvenile Detention Facility on a charge of felony assault early Sunday after he allegedly stabbed a 35-year-old man several times during a fight at 1619 W. Boone Ave., Spokane police said.

Officers were called at about 2:45 a.m., according to police. The victim was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center, where he remained in serious condition Sunday.

Witnesses directed police to an apartment complex in the 1700 block of west Boone Avenue and identified the suspect.

– JoNel Aleccia

Olympia

Gregoire won’t force Guard to border

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire said she will not compel any of the state’s National Guard troops to serve on the Mexican border if they’re asked.

“I’m not going to force any National Guard member to go there,” Gregoire said. “If I have volunteers who want to, we will support their request.”

President Bush wants to post 6,000 troops along the border of four Southwestern states during the next year as the government hires and trains new Border Patrol agents to capture people trying to come to the U.S. illegally.

The governors of those states – California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas – signed agreements with the federal government Thursday to provide the first deployments of this effort starting this month.

Federal officials have not begun talks with Washington leaders on a similar pact.

“We have been involved in the process from the beginning,” Maj. Phil Osterli, public affairs officer for the Washington National Guard, told The (Everett) Herald for a story published Sunday. “We have not been asked by the Department of Defense to provide anybody.”

– Associated Press

Spokane

One injury, one arrest after downtown fight

One man was treated for stab wounds and another was arrested on a charge of second-degree assault late Saturday after a knife fight under a downtown freeway overpass, Spokane police said Sunday.

William Rice, 43, no known address, was treated and released at Sacred Heart Medical Center after the 9 p.m. incident under the I-90 overpass near Division Street and Third Avenue. Police arrested Dahsane W. Vielle, 30, no known address, said Cpl. Michael Carr.

Carr said several people apparently sleeping under the overpass were involved in the fight. Police arrested Vielle after he showed up, intoxicated and bleeding, at a pizza restaurant on Indiana Avenue, Carr said.

– JoNel Aleccia