In brief: AAA collecting items for troops

AAA Washington/Inland is collecting care packages for military personnel serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The project, called “A Little Bit of Home,” is in its third year. Last year, more than 300 boxes were sent.

Donations can be dropped off at AAA offices between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. through Friday.

Suggested items include magazines, personal notes, phone cards, games, gum, hard candy, trail mix and smoked salmon. Items that will melt, such as chocolate, should not be donated.

– Amy Cannata

Spokane

SpokAnimal seeks gifts of kitty litter

Shelter cats already had nowhere to go. Now they really are running out of places to go.

A kitty litter shortage at SpokAnimal CARE has forced the shelter to use shredded paper in its cat boxes. But paper harbors more disease and bacteria than litter does, SpokAnimal director Gail Mackie said Monday in a news release.

The shelter, which goes through about 10 pounds of kitty litter every day, is seeking donations of non-clumping litter, Mackie said. The non-clumping style is important, she said, because the boxes are emptied and refilled every day to keep the cats from getting sick.

Donations may be taken to SpokAnimal, N. 710 Napa St., between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and between noon and 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

– Richard Miller

WSP planning 3-day crackdown

The Washington State Patrol will crack down on drivers of commercial vehicles today through Thursday as part of the nationwide Road Check 2006.

Officers will be spending 72 hours checking truck drivers’ paperwork, vehicle equipment and seat-belt use.

– Amy Cannata