Sheriff requests robbery details

Lincoln County Sheriff Wade Magers appealed Wednesday for information about a man who robbed the Sprague, Wash., branch of U.S. Bank by threatening a teller with a knife.

Magers released surveillance photos of the robber and the pickup in which he escaped after the midafternoon holdup July 23.

The photos show the robber wearing khaki cargo shorts, a dark T-shirt with a dark logo on the front, sunglasses, cross-training shoes and a black felt hat. Also, Magers said, the robber had a red or blond Fu Manchu mustache, and thin or shaved hair that was reddish blond and graying on the sides.

Magers described the getaway vehicle as a 1994 or older GMC Sierra that was red with silver trim with a “tow package” and a trailer hitch, a diamond-plate toolbox, a bed liner and possibly Tennessee license plates.

Anyone with information about the robber or his truck is asked to call Chief Criminal Deputy Brian Telford at (509) 725-3501 or (509) 725-9262.

Spokane

Cougar reported on North Side

Several North Side residents reported seeing a cougar wandering the city early Wednesday morning.

The animal was first spotted at Garland Avenue and Stevens Street, then at Queen Avenue and Whitehouse Street and Division Street and Magnesium Avenue, said Spokane police Officer Glenn Bartlett.

It’s highly unusual but not impossible for a cougar to venture into an urban area in search of food, said Madonna Luers, spokeswoman for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The department is also investigating whether the cougar may be an escaped exotic pet, Luers said.

Police never found the cougar, but they believe it was on its way out of town, Bartlett said.

Valley, Wash.

Burn barrel sparks wildfire

A wildfire ignited by flaming debris from a burn barrel scorched more than 2 acres of land in Valley, Wash., on Wednesday afternoon.

The blaze at 2960 Huffman Road was near the 2006 Valley Mill fire that burned nearly 500 acres and destroyed four homes a year ago today.

Outside burning is currently banned, which includes incinerating debris in a barrel, said Stevens County Fire District 4 Chief Tim Van Doren.

The Department of Natural Resources is investigating because timber was threatened, officials said.

Wednesday’s wildfire was reported at 3:39 p.m., Van Doren said. Three homes were threatened during the blaze but were not damaged.

Extreme fire conditions exist in the area, Van Doren said.