Margin razor thin in 9th District race
As ballots continue to trickle in, a rural Eastern Washington legislative race has become a razor-thin contest between Mesa rancher Steve Hailey and Colfax farmer Joe Schmick.
Late Thursday night, Hailey had 3,668 votes to Schmick’s 3,644, a lead of just 24 votes out of more than 11,000 GOP ballots counted so far.
The two were the leaders among four Republicans running to replace 9th Legislative District Rep. Don Cox, R-Colfax.
Hailey is polling best in Adams, Franklin and Garfield counties. Schmick’s stronghold is Whitman County.
The numbers will change again this afternoon, when the district’s six counties will tally the next batch of ballots.
Washington, unlike many states, counts ballots so long as they’re postmarked by Election Day.
–Richard Roesler
Spokane
Gravel falls on I-90, damages vehicles
Gravel from a railroad trestle fell onto Interstate 90 on Thursday morning damaging at least 12 vehicles, causing officials to temporarily shut down westbound onramps to the downtown area while a hole in the trestle was repaired.
The temporary closures and lane restrictions caused traffic congestion on Highway 2 and areas around downtown throughout the afternoon, officials said. Eastbound Interstate 90 was backed up for nearly four miles.
The gravel caused cracks in the windshields of those who reported damages to their vehicles, said Washington State Police spokesman Trooper Jeff Sevigney.
Burlington Northern was doing maintenance work on the trestle about 10:30 a.m. when gravel spilled onto the interstate just west of the Maple Street off ramp, Sevigney said.
The state Department of Transportation closed the westbound Division, Monroe and Maple Street ramps to the downtown area at 2 p.m. for about 12 minutes, Sevigney said.
Traffic was flowing normally by early evening, officials said.
– Jody Lawrence-Turner
Route of the Hiawatha
Hiawatha trail open through Oct. 1
The historic Route of the Hiawatha bike and hike trail will remain open through Oct. 1.
The 15-mile trail crosses the border from Idaho into Montana and, along the way, takes hikers and bikers through 10 tunnels. The longest tunnel is the 1.7-mile St. Paul Pass Tunnel.
There is a fee for using the trail, and those passing through the tunnels must have lights with them. Bicyclists must wear helmets.
Shuttle service from the bottom of the trail to the top is available Fridays and on the weekends.
For information, visit www.ridethehiawatha.com or call (208) 744-1301.
– Taryn Brodwater
Newman Lake
East Farms school to reopen today
East Farms Elementary School in Newman Lake will reopen this morning after an electrical problem closed the school on Thursday.
“We have power, and school will be on as scheduled,” Judi Christianson, community information specialist, said Thursday night.
The problem began Wednesday when a circuit breaker failed while contractors were installing an electrical transformer as part of an upgrade in the school’s lighting.
The blown breaker left the school without power, and a replacement could not arrive until Thursday.
“Everything went fine. … We look forward to greeting all those students back,” Christianson said.
– Staff reports