In brief: Winter begins tonight; solstice rites planned

Don’t despair: There’s light at the end of this cold, drizzly tunnel.

First, though, comes the shortest day of the year.

Winter officially begins in the Inland Northwest late tonight (and in the wee hours of Saturday on the East Coast). The winter solstice marks the gradual return of more hours of light each day.

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane will mark the event tonight with singing and symbolism.

“It just celebrates the return of the sun and a cleansing and reigniting of peoples’ souls,” says Deborah Jacquemin, music director for the church. Last year’s solstice program drew a standing-room only crowd of 250 people, Jacquemin says.

Doors open at the church at 4340 W. Fort George Wright Drive at 6:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. ceremony. Attendees are asked to bring a canned food item for the Second Harvest Food Bank.

Call (509) 325-6383 for more information.

– Heather Lalley

Athol

Gift cards for needy stolen from City Hall

Gifts and grocery money for needy families were stolen from Athol City Hall.

“About 70 families have been affected,” said Charlotte Hooper, the city clerk and treasurer. “It’s devastating.”

Burglars forced their way in through a back door sometime after 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, said Kootenai County sheriff’s Sgt. Lisa Carrington. The culprits then broke into and ransacked several offices. Hooper discovered the burglary when she arrived Thursday.

The thieves took about $3,000 worth of Fred Meyer gift cards, $200 in cash and gifts. The gift cards were valued between $70 and $30 and $70. At least one of the perpetrators was captured on video. Hooper said the person looked like an older teenager or young adult male. “Unfortunately, it was probably someone we know,” she said. “This is very sad.”

– Staff report

Coeur d’Alene

Man arrested in 2004 knife attack

Coeur d’Alene police arrested a man Thursday in connection with a knife attack on a hotel clerk – nearly four years after the crime occurred.

Brandon J. Aldridge, 24, is charged with aggravated battery for the Jan. 26, 2004, attack against a 39-year-old female clerk at the Coeur d’Alene Inn and Convention Center.

The clerk was stabbed multiple times in the attack, which occurred about 4 a.m., according to a news release from the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, and suffered severe injuries to her right leg and arm. The victim didn’t recognize the attacker, who didn’t say anything during the confrontation, according to police. They said the motive appears to be robbery.

Recent tips led to Aldridge’s arrest, according to the release.

– Meghann M. Cuniff

Kootenai County

Extra officers to patrol roads over holidays

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department has extra deputies on the roads over the holidays to bust drunken drivers.

The emphasis patrols will run through Jan. 2 and are funded by the Idaho Transportation Department’s Office of Highway Operations and Safety.

Last year 110 people died in drunken or drugged driving crashes in Idaho.

– Staff report