In brief: Some offices will close for holiday

Wed., Nov. 21, 2007

The Spokesman-Review

The following offices and services will be affected by the Thanksgiving holiday:

In Spokane County

“Spokane, Spokane Valley and county offices will be closed Thursday and Friday.

“City libraries, the solid waste transfer stations and Waste to Energy plant will be closed on Thursday only. The Spokane County Library District is closed Thursday and Friday.

“Riverfront Park attractions will be open on Thanksgiving Day and throughout the weekend.

In Kootenai County

“City and county offices will be closed. City offices will remain closed on Friday.

In both counties:

“Garbage pick-up is one day late.

“State liquor stores will be closed.

“Most banks will be closed.

“Post offices will be closed with Express Mail delivery services only.

“State and federal offices will be closed.

spokane

Fire contained to basement

An early morning fire burned a basement bedroom Tuesday and sent smoke throughout an East Central Spokane home.

Spokane firefighters responded about 5:45 am. to 1604 E. Pacific Ave. No one was home, said acting fire Lt. Doug Ross.

“When we arrived, the lower basement window had some smoking and a glow,” Ross said. “Best I could tell it had been smoldering for some time.”

The fire was contained to the basement bedroom, but smoke damaged the entire house.

Firefighters had not determined a cause Tuesday.

Reward offered in search for man

Authorities are looking for a man wanted for escaping from community custody and Secret Witness is offering a reward to aid that search.

Raymond Allen Godsey was on probation for a drug conviction and has a criminal record that includes numerous probation violations, resisting arrest, assault on a police officer, attempting to elude police, burglary, domestic violence assault, harassment, reckless driving and DUI.

Godsey is 46 years old, six feet tall and 200 pounds. He has hazel eyes and brown hair and is last known to have lived at 415 Fifth St. in Deer Park.

Anyone with information about Godsey’s whereabouts is asked to call Secret Witness at (509) 327-5111.

Stevens County

Officials identify victim of crash

The Stevens County Sheriff’s Office released the name Tuesday of a man killed in a one-car crash in Suncrest on Sunday. That man is 20-year-old Benjamin T. Barcellos, of Spokane.

Barcellos crashed his car into a decorative rock sign at the entrance to a gated community at Lakeside Drive and Greenfield Road. Witnesses were unable to get him out of the car because it burst into flames.

Newspaper archives show Barcellos is a 2005 graduate of Lakeside High School.

BOISE

Ballard is state’s new tourism chief

Karen Ballard, a 15-year employee of Idaho’s state tourism division, was named the state’s new tourism chief on Tuesday, replacing longtime tourism administrator Carl Wilgus.

Wilgus is leaving after 20 years as the state’s top tourism official to become executive director of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau in Pennsylvania.

Ballard joined the division in 1992 to work on attracting international travelers to Idaho. She began her career at Elkhorn Resort in Sun Valley and has worked as a consultant for various professional associations and hotels in Idaho.

“Carl Wilgus was a great mentor to me and he did an excellent job with our staff getting the momentum going in Idaho’s vibrant tourism industry,” Ballard said. “Travel to the state is growing at a healthy pace, and I look forward to keeping it sustainable.”

Lawmaker’s son arrested in April

The son of a conservative state lawmaker was arrested in April for investigation of domestic violence but later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, court records show.

Rep. Steve Thayn, R-Emmett, is the head of the House of Representatives’ Family Task Force. He has recently used that post to advocate for policies fostering more two-parent homes and fewer working mothers, saying more traditional families could save the state hundreds of millions of dollars through reductions in crime, drug abuse and domestic violence.

In April, Thayn’s son, Damon M. Thayn, 29, was arrested for investigation of domestic violence at the Boise home he shared with his wife.

Steve Thayn said his son later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, misdemeanor disturbing the peace.

Police say Damon Thayn admitted throwing his wife, Jaclyn, to the ground and covering her mouth to keep her quiet.

Damon Thayn said the police account is exaggerated.

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