Classes resume after arson at Sacajawea
Sacajawea Middle School students returned to class Monday after an arson in the library Friday forced the closure of the South Hill school.
As of Sunday evening, all but one classroom had been cleaned and approved for student and staff use, Spokane Public Schools officials said.
The library is still unusable, and it is unknown when repairs will be complete. School officials met with insurance adjusters Monday, Principal Paula Ronhaar said.
“The library is just the hub of any school, so we’re just trying to regroup and figuring out how to move forward with this,” Ronhaar said.
The fire, which started about 3:30 a.m. Friday, destroyed the interior of the library and burned thousands of library books and other materials. The fire was contained to the library area, but classes were canceled because of smoke damage and carbon monoxide throughout the school.
About 65 people spent 15 to 16 hours cleaning the building during the weekend, district officials said. After an air quality assessment by the Spokane County Health Department and the Spokane Fire Department, school district officials determined the building was safe to use.
– Sara Leaming
Lincoln county
Students injured in crash
Several private school students suffered minor injuries Monday morning after the bus they were on failed to stop at an intersection and left the road.
The Christian Heritage School bus driver, Gloria Jean Briggs, 56, allegedly missed the stop where Moos Road meets Highway 231, said Washington State Patrol spokesman Trooper Jeff Sevigney. The bus ended up in a ditch off the highway between Edwall and Sprague,
Six students, ages 6 to 13, were treated and released from a hospital, officials said.
The accident was attributed to inattentiveness, the WSP said.
– Jody Lawrence-Turner
Stevens County
Man charged in shooting
A Moses Lake man appeared in Stevens County court Monday on a second-degree manslaughter charge after his hunting buddy was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound to the head.
Dustin K. Ferebee, 26, of Moses Lake, was found dead Sunday night on Sheep Creek Road in Stevens County about five miles off Highway 25 north of Northport, said Sheriff Craig Thayer. An autopsy was done Monday.
Lucas R. Keith, 26, was arrested at the scene and booked into the Stevens County Jail on the manslaughter charge and a count of carrying a loaded weapon in a vehicle, officials said. Keith was released Monday after his court appearance. His arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 26.
About 5:35 p.m. Sunday, Keith called 911 to report that Ferebee had been shot in the head, Thayer said.
– Jody Lawrence-Turner