Forest trails, roads topic of meeting

Proposed changes to trails and roads in the national forest surrounding Coeur d’Alene will be the subject of an open meeting Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at headquarters for the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, 3815 Schreiber Way in Coeur d’Alene.

The U.S. Forest Service has been working with the public in recent months to designate which trails and routes are appropriate for vehicles and which should be preserved for silent sports enthusiasts. The changes have not yet been finalized.

Spokane Valley

Transportation panel seeks input

The Spokane Regional Transportation Commission will conduct an open house meeting this evening to discuss a planned study of the eastern Spokane Valley and western Rathdrum Prairie.

The study will focus on existing and anticipated transportation problems in the area bounded by Sullivan Road, Idaho Highway 41 in Post Falls, Trent Avenue (Washington State Route 290) and the Mica Peak ridgeline.

Commission officials invite people to drop in from 5 to 7 p.m. at Central Valley High School, 821 S. Sullivan Road.

For more information, go to www.srtc.org.

Spokane

Fund to help pay for teen’s funeral

A fund has been established to help with costs for 13-year-old Jesse McNerney’s funeral.

The Bancroft School student died on Easter after a tunnel he built in the dirt at a construction site collapsed on him. The teen was playing across the street from his home in the 1800 block of East Vanetta.

Donations can be made at any Washington Trust Bank to the Jesse Ryan McNerney Memorial Trust Fund.

Service for teen killed in crash

A memorial service will be held today for the 14-year-old boy who died in a car wreck last week.

Richard “Cameron” Ross died last week after the car he was riding in crashed into a piece of machinery at Waterworks and Union near Felts Field.

The three teens inside were reportedly trying to evade a police car because they mistakenly thought they were being pursued for stealing a box of doughnut holes.

The service is scheduled for 5 p.m. on the sixth floor chapel located in the Sacred Heart Doctor’s Building.

The names of the two girls who were also in the car have not been released.

Shooting inquiry nearly complete

The investigation of Spokane police Officer James “Jay” Olsen’s off-duty shooting of a man he claims was stealing his truck is expected to be completed Friday.

Toxicology reports of Olsen are now being reviewed by detectives, Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said Tuesday. Knezovich would not reveal details of the report.

However, television station KXLY reported Tuesday night that the report will show Olsen was legally drunk when he shot Shonto K. Pete in the head. No one from the Sheriff’s Office or the Police Department would comment about KXLY’s story.

Pete encountered Olsen outside Dempsey’s Brass Rail downtown about 3 a.m. Feb. 26. The officer says Pete was stealing his truck. Pete’s attorney says his client just asked Olsen for a ride.

A chase ensued into the Peaceful Valley neighborhood where Olsen fired several shots at Pete, hitting him once in the head. Pete was treated at a Spokane hospital and survived.

From staff reports