In brief: Site-specific plans for barns required
The Kootenai County Building and Planning Department is requiring site-specific building plans for all pole structures, such as barns.
The new policy takes effect July 23. The change is the result of too many inconsistencies in how people submitted plans for pole structures.
For more information, call the department at (208) 446-1071.
Sandpoint
Festival poster will be unveiled
This year’s Festival at Sandpoint poster will be unveiled during an event today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Seasons at Sandpoint Clubhouse downtown at 424 Sandpoint Ave.
This year’s poster was designed by Janene Grende, a local artist known for her vivid paintings of animals and nature.
The reception today will include complimentary beverages and hors d’oeuvres, live music, an opportunity to buy a signed poster and a silent auction for the original artwork.
Spokane
Higher wage may get on ballot
Get ready for a contentious debate on Spokane’s November election ballot.
Backers of a plan to force Wal-Mart and other big box retailers in Spokane to pay most workers nearly double the state’s minimum wage say they have enough signatures to force a citywide vote.
Spokane Citizens for a Living Wage turned in 3,871 signatures Tuesday to the City Clerk’s office; 2,915 Spokane-voter signatures are needed to secure a spot on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.
Unless the Spokane City Council decides to put the issue on the ballot itself, the county’s elections office will be asked to verify that the signatures belong to registered voters living within city limits.
Paul Brandt, elections spokesman, said most signature drives with 20 percent to 30 percent more signatures than required make the cut. The living wage proposal has 33 percent more than needed.
Under the proposal, companies with 95,000 square feet of retail space would have to pay most workers 165 percent of the state’s minimum wage, which would be about $13 per hour. The requirement would drop to 135 percent for employers who provide health care benefits.
Driver who struck, killed teen fined
A city recycling truck driver whose rig struck and killed a 16-year-old boy May 8 has been cited with a traffic infraction, according to a Spokane police news release.
Chris Schoonover, who stopped and then started turning right onto Nevada Street from Magnesium Road with a green light, was fined $163 on Wednesday for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. After the Spokane city recycling truck struck Andrew Rosell when he was crossing Nevada, Schoonover immediately jumped out to give aid, the release states.
Schoonover was put on paid administrative leave for the investigation but is now back at work with Spokane’s Waste Energy Plant, where he has worked since March 2006.
Suspect in killing pleads not guilty
The man accused of killing an adult shop owner and robbing the store pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a charge of first-degree murder.
Bond is set at $1 million for Jeramie R. Davis, 36, who police said went into Best Buy Adult Entertainment, 123 E. Sprague Ave., and beat owner John G. “Jack” Allen, 74, to death with a baseball bat June 17. Authorities said Davis stole sex paraphernalia with a friend and left, returning about 2 a.m. with his sister to call 911.
Deputy Prosecutor Dale Nagy suggested Wednesday that if bailed out, Davis should have no contact with his sister, Tina Jackson, and not be allowed to possess firearms or pornography.
Spokane County Superior Court Judge Maryann Moreno set Davis’ trial for Oct. 1.
Davis has 12 felony convictions including forgery, trafficking in stolen property and possession of stolen property. He initially was accused of first-degree murder with robbery and first-degree robbery, but he has been charged with murder.
Spokane County
Fair will accept job applications
Applicants for some 200 temporary jobs at this fall’s Spokane Interstate Fair must attend one of two “job fairs” next week.
County officials say applicants must bring two pieces of government-issued identification to the job fairs, and military identification alone will not be accepted.
Jobs available during the Sept. 7-16 Interstate Fair include ticket takers, clerks, laborers, cashiers and barn cleaners.
The job fairs will be at the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center office at Havana and Broadway, from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, and from 8:30 to 11 a.m. on July 21.
For more information, call the fair office at (509) 477-1766 or the Spokane County human resources office at (509) 477-5750.
Air Force museum plans fundraiser
The Armed Forces & Aerospace Museum is having a fundraiser for a new museum with a state of the art facility.
Dr. Laura Schlessinger, radio talk show personality will be the special guest at the event, which will also feature a Stearman fly over and vintage aircraft including the museum’s MIG-17.
The mission of the new museum is to be an educational center for history and technology in the region. The new facility will include classrooms and theater spaces, teacher-training seminars and an operational B-52 flight deck simulator in its original railroad car.
The event will be held at the Spokane International Airport at XN Air, 8125 W. Pilot Ave., next Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets cost $100.
For more information, call Katie at (509) 325-0701, Ext. 41.
From staff reports