Memorial today will celebrate 8-year-old

An 8-year-old boy involved in a canoe accident last June has died of complications from his injuries.

Benjamin David Morin’s life will be celebrated at 1 p.m. today during a funeral at St. Peter Catholic Church, 3520 E. 18th Ave.

Benjamin was pinned underwater for about 20 minutes June 5 after the canoe he was in hit a bridge abutment in the Spokane River near People’s Park.

He was hospitalized for an extended period of time but later returned home and briefly went back to school. Spokane School District officials said Benjamin was attending Moran Prairie, a special education school, next door to where he had previously attended the first grade at Mullan Road Elementary School.

Paul Stone, Mullan Road principal, sent a letter home to families after learning Benjamin had died at home on Sunday: “Ben Morin loved life and enjoyed coming to school. He had many friends and enjoyed playing, learning and just having fun. Ben’s smile was infectious, and he was a happy boy who cared about everyone.”

- Jody Lawrence-Turner

YWCA plans program on date violence

The YWCA of Spokane will start a program in public schools to educate teens about dating violence.

A 2002 national survey found that 40 percent of teen girls know someone who has been beaten by a boyfriend, according to the YWCA.

The program, which aims to serve 2,500 students, will include educational plays, student-led discussion groups and after-school support groups.

“We are using this model of student educators because teens are more likely to discuss problems with and take advice from their peers,” said Monica Walters, YWCA Spokane’s executive director.The nonprofit received $19,000 from Group Health Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Group Health Cooperative. Women Helping Women contributed $10,000, and the YWCA will invest $17,380, according to Group Health.

Benjamin Shors

Residents warned of faulty fire alarms

Kootenai County Fire and Rescue is urging residents to check their fire alarms after reported problems with certain smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Fire districts across the United States have been warned that First Alert OneLink wireless alarms are having problems with batteries draining within weeks of installation, according to a news release.

The fire district said anyone who has one of the alarms – models SA500, SA520 or SCO500 – should contact the seller for information on replacing it.

– Taryn Brodwater