WV levy ballots must be postmarked today
Mail-in ballots for West Valley school district’s requested $7 million replacement maintenance and operations levy must be postmarked by today.
In March the majority of voters approved the levy, but it fell 43 votes short of the 60 percent supermajority needed to pass.
The levy maintains the current educational programs and activities that the state doesn’t pay for and accounts for one-fifth of the district’s budget.
People may also drop their ballots off from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Spokane County Elections office, 1033 W. Gardner Ave.; from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Spokane County Auditor’s office, 1116 W. Broadway Ave.; or from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Argonne Library, 4322 N. Argonne Road.
– Kandis Carper
Coeur d’Alene
Body in lake identified as missing CdA man
A body found in a submerged car in Lake Coeur d’Alene over the weekend has been identified as that of Dale F. Nelson, a Coeur d’Alene businessman missing since Jan. 22.
An initial autopsy showed no signs of foul play that might explain how Nelson and his car ended up in water 40 feet deep off the Higgens Point boat ramp, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department said Monday.
A determination of the cause of death is pending toxicology and final autopsy reports.
– Scott Maben
Spokane
Driver charged with malicious mischief
A man was arrested Sunday night after allegedly driving over 17 no-parking signs in northwest Spokane and destroying landscaping at Holy Family Hospital.
Joey D. Faris, 28, faces multiple charges including first-degree malicious mischief, driving under the influence and reckless driving, said Spokane Police spokesman Cpl. Tom Lee. Two boys, a 16- and a 17-year-old, in Faris’ pickup were charged with being a minor in possession of alcohol.
Faris’ truck was found stuck in bushes and small trees on the north side of Holy Family, Lee said.
The no-parking signs were in a five-block stretch of Belt Street north of Shadle Park.
– Jody Lawrence-Turner
Inland Northwest
Medicare deadline draws late enrollees
Last-minute clients flooded Inland Northwest offices Monday as they rushed to beat a sign-up deadline for Medicare Part D, the government’s new prescription drug plan.
No final enrollment tally was available for Idaho and Washington late Monday, but officials said they expect the percent of eligible clients who have signed up to peak at about 70 percent, said Michael Marchand, a spokesman for the regional office of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
In Idaho, that would be about 135,800 people. In Washington, the figure would be closer to 621,000.
The deadline spurred tens of thousands to sign up for the program despite lingering questions.
– JoNel Aleccia