Reward offered in stabbing case

The Secret Witness organization is offering a reward for help in finding a felon who is wanted for stabbing another man in an Aug. 29 dispute over jewelry.

Sheriff’s deputies found the victim at Valley Medical Center with a knife still stuck in his shoulder. The victim told deputies that Juan Escobedo-Olvera, 33, stabbed him in the back when he confronted Escobedo-Olvera about a missing necklace.

Escobedo-Olvera, who gave an address of 1723 N. Union Road, is charged with second-degree assault. He is described as Hispanic, 5 feet 10 inches and weighing 150 pounds.

To collect the reward anonymously, call (509) 327-5111 and use a code name or number.

Valley church, office burglarized

Suspects got a cash box in one of two Spokane Valley burglaries Wednesday; a whiff of leftover pizza in the other.

Spokane Valley police said one of three teenage boys who broke into the Redeemer Lutheran Church dropped the loot – a box of leftover pizza – when employees spotted them about 9:20 a.m. Wednesday.

The boys – two 13-year-olds and a 14-year-old – ran into a wooded area near the church at 3606 S. Schaffer Road, but were rounded up and booked into the county Juvenile Detention Center on suspicion of second-degree burglary.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Reagan said the suspects had climbed onto the church’s roof and entered the building through an access hatch.

In the other Spokane Valley burglary reported Wednesday, Reagan said someone smashed a window at Rainwater Insurance, 9213 E. Mission Ave., and took the office cash box.

The box contained checks and money orders as well as cash, Reagan said.

The break-in was believed to have occurred between 6 p.m. Tuesday and 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Anyone with information about the insurance office burglary is asked to call (509) 242-TIPS.

Spokane

More charges may be filed after raid

Police said Thursday that additional charges may be brought against two alleged parole violators who were arrested Wednesday at a northeast Spokane home.

Cpl. Tom Lee said six children, including an infant, were placed in protective custody when the interagency Gang Enforcement Team raided a home at 3206 N. Lee St. and found two guns, a small amount of illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia.

The residents, Jeriehmie J. Franetich, 26, and Jody M. Piapot, 30, were booked into jail on suspicion of parole violation.

Nursing school to break ground

Ground is expected to be broken today on a $34 million nursing school in Spokane, a project intended to help address a shortage of nurses when it opens in 2008.

The new Washington State University Intercollegiate College of Nursing building will cover 87,000 square feet on the Riverpoint campus. Today’s groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled to start at noon at the site of the new building, next to the Health Sciences Building.

Several university officials and local representatives are expected to attend, WSU said in a news release.

The current college is located near Spokane Falls Community College. At its new location, it can serve as a regional center for education and research and will be closer to downtown medical services, WSU said. It will be able to educate more than 500 students on site, as well as others through distance programs.

Washington state

Last batch of ballots in mail

The last of the ballots being mailed in Washington state must be taken to the U.S. Postal Service today and they should arrive by early next week.

Registered voters who don’t receive their ballot by the middle of the week should contact their county elections office to request a replacement, elections officials said.

Residents who haven’t registered but want to vote in the Nov. 7 election can still sign up through Monday, but they must go to an elections office during regular business hours to register in person.

Here are some opportunities to see candidates for various offices:

Today

“7 p.m. Televised forum for judicial candidates, on KSPS-TV, Channel 7.

“9 p.m. Televised forum for Spokane County District Court candidates, sponsored by the Spokane League of Women Voters. Cable Channel 5.

Saturday

“6:30 p.m. Televised congressional debate between Republican incumbent Cathy McMorris and Democratic challenger Peter Goldmark, recorded live on Thursday. KREM-TV, Channel 2.