Spokane agrees to settle Hahn suit

Spokane County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to settle a lawsuit from two men who say they were molested by a county sheriff’s deputy in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The county will pay Robert Galliher, 37, $225,000 and will pay $100,000 to Douglas Chicklinsky, 41.

The men filed a lawsuit in 2004 that alleges the county was negligent for the actions of Deputy David Hahn, in part because Hahn was allowed to keep his job even after his commanders were told that he abused boys. The deputy committed suicide in 1981.

The money will come from the county’s risk pool, a fund dedicated to paying claims.

Region

Part D enrollment begins today

Beginning today, more than 1 million people in Washington and Idaho are eligible to sign up for Medicare Part D, the government’s prescription drug plan for those 65 and older.

The 2007 enrollment continues through Dec. 31, but Medicare officials are urging people to change plans or to sign up by Dec. 8 to ensure that their coverage is properly in place by Jan. 1.

“Already, it’s been crazy,” said Penny Wilhelm, regional coordinator of Idaho’s Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program.

Wilhelm has been fielding 75 calls a day from people worried about which drug plan to choose.

“They have a lot of decisions to make in 45 days,” she said.

In Washington, SHIBA coordinator Leslie Noll said she wants to make sure people know help is available. She expects at least 50 people to show up between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. today for the first of weekly Wednesday sign-up sessions held at the offices of Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington, 1222 N. Post St., Spokane.

Seniors who don’t choose a drug plan by Dec. 31 are at risk of losing coverage for all of 2007 or for being enrolled in a plan that doesn’t cover the drugs they need.

Federal officials said this year’s options offer more choices and better coverage for about the same average premium as last year. But many local seniors are finding that premiums for the plans they want have increased and sometimes doubled.

To get help, check out the following resources:

“In Eastern Washington, call (800) 562-6900 or (509) 625-4801.

“In North Idaho, call (800) 488-5725. Or call 211, where trained staff members can help you sign up or refer you to an in-person site.

“Call (800) MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov.

Las Vegas

Charges dropped against Hells Angels

Federal criminal charges in Nevada have been dismissed against Richard “Smilin’ Rick” Fabel and six other members or affiliates of the Washington Nomad chapter of the Hells Angels, based in Spokane.

Fabel, who had risen within the ranks of the West Coast-based outlaw motorcycle organization, and the six others were charged with violent crime in the aid of racketeering in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas.

Charges also were dismissed against Ricky Jenks, Michael Mills, Brian Wolff, Steve Pearce, Ron Arnone and prospective member Jeff Carney, authorities confirmed Tuesday.

The Washington defendants were among 42 Hells Angels indicted in connection with an April 2002 brawl with members of the Mongols motorcycle gang at Harrah’s in Laughlin, Nev.

The fight, captured on the casino’s security cameras, left two Hells Angels and one Mongol dead and 12 others injured.

The charges against Fabel and 35 other defendants were dismissed after plea bargains were reached with six other defendants considered key players in the fight. The plea bargains were reached after a trial began last month.

As the result of a separate federal investigation, Fabel and Jenks, along with ex-Hells Angels Ron Rollness, Josh Binder and Paul Foster, are scheduled to stand trial in January on federal racketeering and conspiracy charges filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

Spokane

Work may slow South Hill traffic

South Hill drivers may be delayed today and Thursday at the intersection of 29th Avenue and Fiske Street.

Crews will be working on a water main, and the two center lanes of 29th Avenue will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Also, Monroe Street will be reduced to two lanes today through Friday just south of First Avenue.

Drivers should expect slower traffic while crews work on a conduit in the alley there.

Compiled from staff reports