In brief: ATV proposal gets fourth public hearing
A proposal to open some Stevens County roads to all-terrain vehicles will receive a fourth public hearing Monday in Colville.
County commissioners plan to present a new draft ordinance for exercising the county’s right under state law to designate roads for ATV use. They plan to discuss a list of roads that might be designated as well as a procedure for adding roads in the future.
The revised ordinance, much diminished from an earlier version, says only that ATV use must conform to state law. A list of designated roads and procedures for future designations is to be added.
State law says designated roads must provide a direct connection between cities of 3,000 people or less and “an off-road vehicle recreation facility,” such as a trail, campground or park designated for ORV use.
Monday’s hearing will be at 6:30 p.m. in the Stevens County Courthouse.
More information is available on the county’s Web site: www.co.stevens. wa.us/pressrelease/press/pr.htm.
Comments can be e-mailed to commissioners@co.stevens.wa.us or mailed to: County Commissioners, 215 S. Oak, Room 214, Colville WA 99114.
– John Craig
SCAPPOOSE, Ore.
Off-duty officer shoots, kills prowler
An off-duty Portland police sergeant shot and killed an armed man who was prowling through a neighborhood in Scappoose, just north of Portland, officials said.
Sgt. Gregory J. Stewart, 36, an 11-year Portland police veteran who was at home in Scappoose with his wife and two young children, fired several shots at the man when he approached the sergeant’s front door.
He was identified as Jeffrey Dean Turpin, 42, of Ocean Park, Wash.
The man, who had taken an American flag from the front of one home and wrapped it around his bare chest, had been walking through neighborhood yards before dawn, pounding on doors and at times holding a gun to his head.
“I’m very glad a police officer lives across the street,” said neighbor Kevin Hindal.
Stewart was placed on paid administrative leave pending a review of the shooting.
– Associated Press
Spokane County
Colbert man killed in single-car crash
A Colbert man died Friday night in a single-car crash about 20 miles north of Spokane.
Marc R. Sorger, 56, was southbound on Highway 291 when his 1999 Dodge Intrepid went off the road, struck a rock embankment and rolled, according to the Washington State Patrol. Sorger was found dead at the scene about 11:10 p.m.
Officials say speed was the cause of the crash. According to the patrol, Sorger was not wearing a seat belt.
– Jody Lawrence-Turner
Some offices closed for Columbus Day
This is the schedule for several public offices and services Monday in the Spokane area on Columbus Day:
Garbage pick-up: normal
Banks: closed
Post offices: closed
Schools: open
Spokane city offices: open
Spokane Valley offices: open
Spokane County offices: open
Federal offices: closed
– Staff reports