Fire damages house; cause unknown
A fire did an estimated $250,000 in damage to a north Spokane house early Sunday.
The Spokane Fire Department arrived around 2:30 a.m. at the unoccupied one-story house at 6916 N. Wiscomb and found flames burning through the roof, battalion chief Bruce Moline said in a news release. The main level also was filled with flames, Moline said, and the fire lit up the night sky.
More than two dozen firefighters fought the blaze, knocking it down in about 15 minutes, Moline said. The fire destroyed the kitchen, living area, bathroom and bedrooms; the basement was water-damaged.
The cause was unknown Sunday. No one was injured, Moline said.
– Richard Miller
Memorial Day holiday affects many services
Many government offices and other services will be affected by today’s Memorial Day holiday.
“Public schools: closed.
“Mail: no window service or delivery. Box service will be provided at the Riverside and Liberty Lake post offices. Special-delivery service and Express Mail services will be provided on a normal weekday schedule. Other post offices will be closed.
“Buses: Spokane Transit Authority will operate on its holiday schedule. Riders should refer to Sunday route schedules.
“Government: County and city offices will be closed. The Spokane City Council briefing session and legislative meeting will be held Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively, in the City Council chambers on the lower level of City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.
“Libraries: All Spokane County Library District facilities will be closed today and Tuesday. Because city libraries normally are closed on Mondays, the holiday will be observed Tuesday.
“Banks: Free-standing branches will be closed.
“Liquor stores: closed.
“Parking meters: free.
“Garbage: Pickup and curbside recycling will be one day late all week.
– From staff reports
Hoquiam, Wash.
Suspects arrested in attack on elderly pair
An elderly man was killed and his wife was critically injured in an apparent home-invasion robbery in this coastal Grays Harbor County town, police said.
Investigators believe the attack occurred several days before the couple’s son found them Saturday.
“Just thinking of the victim lying there in the residence for four or five days makes the crime more horrific – the indifference to her life,” Hoquiam Police Chief Jeff Myers told the (Aberdeen, Wash.) Daily World.
Authorities identified the victims as Vernon Bishop, 75, and Maxine Bishop, 80.
An autopsy showed that Vernon Bishop died of blunt-force trauma to his head and neck.
Maxine Bishop was listed in critical condition Sunday at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, a nursing supervisor said. Police arrested a suspect – a 38-year-old Aberdeen man – on Saturday evening, several hours after officers had been called to the home. They also arrested the man’s 35-year-old girlfriend and consider her a suspect, the newspaper reported.
– Associated Press