In brief: Man who died in crash identified

The Washington State Patrol released the identity of a man who died in a head-on collision Friday night in Spokane Valley.

Jessie J. Skiles, 26, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 10:30 p.m. crash at Trent Avenue and Progress Road.

The crash demolished both vehicles – Skiles’ red 1993 Ford Explorer and a 2001 Dodge pickup truck driven by Allen R. Craft, 21, of Spokane.

Skiles was driving west in the eastbound lanes on Trent Avenue when he crashed into Craft’s pickup, the WSP said.

“We do have some reports of an erratic red SUV just prior to the collision,” said Sgt. Jim Hays of WSP.

Craft suffered broken bones and was taken to Deaconess Medical Center. A nurse Saturday evening said he was no longer at the hospital.

Spokane

Sex offender resides in Hillyard

A 40-year-old sex offender has moved to Hillyard. Russell E. Bartz pleaded guilty in 1990 to third degree rape of a 14-year-old girl.

According to Spokane Police, Bartz is living on the 3500 block of East Grace. He is being supervised by a Washington Department of Corrections officer for the next nine to 12 months.

Bartz has convictions for assault and failing to register as a sex offender, however he is not wanted.

Bartz is 6-foot-4, 325 pounds and has blond hair and blue eyes.

SEATTLE

March marks war vote anniversary

Thousands of people from across the Northwest marched in Seattle on Saturday to protest the Iraq war.

The march was one of about a dozen around the country marking the fifth anniversary of the Senate vote that approved the war.

The Seattle protesters marched from Judkins Park to Pioneer Square, led by a small group of Iraq war veterans. Along the way, they chanted and sang anti-war songs.

Signs and banners identified groups from all around Washington, as well as Oregon, Idaho and other states.

At Occidental Park, where the protesters rallied after the march, the American Friends Service Committee – a Quaker organization that promotes peace and social justice – displayed scores of combat boots, one pair for each U.S. solider killed in Iraq. Washington was represented by more than 80 pairs, and Oregon by more than 90.

Seattle police say there were no arrests.

NAMPA, Idaho

Scenic byway will push ag tourism

The Idaho Transportation Department has approved the Snake River Canyon Scenic Byway, a 50-mile route in southwestern Idaho that takes travelers from petroglyphs to pinot noir.

“The unique feature for this byway is the ag tourism aspect,” said Garry Young, Scenic Byway coordinator for the department. “None of the other byways have stressed that.”

The route will go through the area’s burgeoning wine country. Much of it will run parallel to the Snake River Canyon with interpretive signs explaining everything from ancient floods and volcanic events to vineyards.

Approved Thursday, it will be the 28th designated scenic byway in the state, Young told the Idaho Press-Tribune.

“I definitely think (the byway) will ultimately help wine country in that area,” said Sherise Jones, executive director of the Idaho Grape Growers and Wine Producers Commission.