In brief: Biker crashes; condition serious
A Pullman motorcyclist was in serious condition late Friday after losing control and crashing on state Route 194. He was not wearing a helmet, according to a Washington State Patrol report.
Jonathan M. Eastman, 25, was driving a 1982 Kawasaki motorcycle westbound on the highway near milepost 18, approaching a T intersection, when he drifted onto the shoulder. The motorcycle went down, flipping Eastman onto the pavement, the report states.
The bike skidded through the intersection and caught fire, according to the report.
Eastman, a Washington State University student, was transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center.
OLYMPIA
Sunday is deadline to sign up for test
High school juniors and seniors have until Sunday to sign up to retake the 10th-grade Washington Assessment of Student Learning this summer.
Ten percent of the class of 2008 has yet to pass the reading and writing portions of the test, which they are required to pass to graduate. State officials are still reviewing test results for the class of 2009, but preliminary numbers show that of next year’s juniors, 85.1 percent have passed the reading WASL, 88.4 percent have passed the writing WASL and 53.4 percent have passed the math.
Students can sign up to take the summer WASL online or by telephone and they are not required to take the exams in their home district. The tests will be given in August around the state.
Athol
Car show coming to Silverwood Park
The fifth annual Excelerator Import, Sports Compact, Truck/SUV and Sports Bike Car Show comes to Silverwood Theme Park on July 14.
For the first time, the event will be sanctioned by the National Custom Car Association, which allows participating vehicles to earn points toward cash prizes.
This year’s show will also feature an expanded number of domestic and exotic cars. Organizers expect between 300 and 400 cars.
As in previous years, the event will feature live music, DB Drags and neon-light competitions. This year’s music headliners are DJ Faust and Shortee.
For more information, visit exceleratorcarshow.com
Region
NAACP plans burial for epithet
It’s time to bury the N-word, and its funeral is Monday, according to the Alaska, Oregon and Washington Area Conference of the NAACP.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s Northwest branch is joining members nationwide in support of the thousands expected to march in Detroit on Monday in the symbolic burial of the derogatory epithet.
“Individuals are asked to show their support of this national effort by pinning a black ribbon or small piece of black cloth to their clothing on the day of the funeral,” said Oscar Eason Jr., conference president.
The funeral was conceived by the NAACP STOP campaign to eliminate demeaning African American words and images in television and film, as well as the hip-hop and rap industry, and particularly with respect to African American women.
“This is not just about burying the N-word,” said DJ Eric B, who will be among “pallbearers” carrying the N-word’s coffin. “This is more importantly about burying the attitude and behaviors that cause you to act like or be called that word. It’s time to take a stand.”
For more information, call (206)854-3620 or visit the NAACP’s Web site at www.naacp.org.
From staff and wire reports