In brief: Girl, 14, dies in fire; two hospitalized
A 14-year-old girl died early Friday in a fire that destroyed a log home east of Moyie Springs.
The girl’s parents, David and Cheryl Elsberry, and an unidentified sibling escaped through an upstairs window. David Elsberry was seriously burned while trying to rescue his daughter, whose name isn’t being released, according to the Boundary County Sheriff’s Department.
He and another family member were hospitalized. Their condition was unavailable Friday.
The blaze was reported at 1:55 a.m. The home was engulfed in flames by the time Curley Creek volunteer firefighters and police arrived.
A fund has been established for the Elsberry family. Donations may be sent to Panhandle State Bank, P.O. Box 1479, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805. They also are accepted at any Panhandle bank branch.
Officials think the fire was accident- tal but have not determined the cause.
– Staff reports
Spokane
Health district thinning field of candidates
Spokane Regional Health District officials will interview six candidates this month for the district’s health officer position.
Those telephone interviews will result in finalists who will be introduced to the public, said David Crump, the new chairman of the district board.
The six candidates are the only applicants in a nationwide search to meet requirements for the position, which is expected to pay between $130,000 and $145,000 a year. Candidates generally must hold medical degrees and master’s degrees in public health, and have supervisory experience in a public health setting.
The former health officer, Dr. Kim Thorburn, was fired in November 2006 for what board members described as communication problems.
Officials had hoped to have a new health officer in place by January, but that’s unlikely given the distractions of the holiday season, Crump said.
– JoNel Aleccia
Parks and Recreation director fired
Spokane Mayor Mary Verner fired the city’s Parks and Recreation director Thursday, hours after the city Park Board called for his dismissal in an 8-0 vote.
No reason was given for Mike Stone’s dismissal, which was confirmed Friday. Efforts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful.
Verner had previously said she wanted to replace Stone. “She was waiting for that unanimous vote,” said Mark Earley, Verner’s chief of staff.
Earley said Verner will appoint an interim director soon and a permanent replacement by the end of March.
Stone has been with the parks department more than 25 years. His contract allows him to revert to a job equal to the one he had before becoming interim director in 2000 and director in 2001. He had managed the department’s operations division, and previously was golf manager.
Stone, who was paid $101,331 this year, was responsible for 55 developed parks, a $17 million budget and a staff that ranged from 85 to 400 depending on the season.
– John Craig
Coeur d’Alene
Police cruiser crash sends two to hospital
A police car collided with another vehicle Friday, sending both drivers to Kootenai Medical Center.
The collision happened at 3 p.m. as two police cars were responding to a report of a suicidal woman. The lead cruiser crossed Ramsey Road while westbound on Hanley Avenue, but the second collided with a vehicle traveling north on Ramsey. The police car had its lights and sirens on, and the northbound car had a green light, according to a news release.
Both vehicles were badly damaged, according to the release. Additional officers responded to the suicide call, which was resolved peacefully.
Neither the police officer nor the other driver, a woman, has been publicly identified, and their injuries were not life-threatening. Idaho State Police is investigating.
– Meghann Cuniff