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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Companies face fines for mussels

The Spokesman-Review

Two trucking companies face fines of up to $5,000 for bringing boats into Washington with alien mussels attached to their hulls.

The zebra mussels were discovered earlier this month during routine inspections when the boats were towed into the state from Idaho on Interstate 90, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife reported.

The boats were being hauled to the coast by companies – which the state has not named – from Ontario and Iowa.

Biologists fear that Northwest waters will become home to the Caspian Sea species, which could clog irrigation systems, fish screens and hydroelectric dams. Zebra mussels have devastated Great Lakes ecosystems and caused billions of dollars in damage.

Washington officially banned importation – even accidental – of the mussels in 2002 and regularly inspects boats coming into the state. Mussels have been found before, but these are the first citations.

Voters to get peek at ballot processes

Voters in Spokane, Stevens, Whitman, Ferry and 17 other counties around the state have an opportunity today to see how their local election officials count ballots.

Open houses, dubbed “Election Expos,” will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the county election offices.

Like Spokane County, Stevens County has a new election office to show off as well as new procedures associated with its switch to conducting elections entirely by mail.

Spokane County’s election office is in the Gardner Center Building, 1033 W. Gardner Ave., behind the Spokane County Courthouse.

The new Stevens County election office is at 425 N. Highway 395 in Colville, next door to Ronnie D’s restaurant.

The Whitman and Ferry County election offices are in the counties’ courthouses at 400 N. Main St. in Colfax and 350 E. Delaware Ave. in Republic.

Spokane county

Flu shot offering will test readiness

The Spokane Regional Health District and several other area agencies are testing their emergency preparedness Thursday.

The agencies are calling on the public to help by showing up at two locations for flu shots. Large numbers of people will help better simulate an emergency, agency officials say.

Students from the Washington State University College of Pharmacy will be on site to administer the shots.

Shots cost $20 and will be given from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at the Spokane Falls Community College Student Union Building, 3310 W. Fort George Wright Drive, and at the Spokane Community College Lair Student Center, 1810 N. Green St.

KELSO, Wash.

Russell drunk, toxicologist says

The toxicologist who dealt with blood samples taken from Frederick Russell testified that Russell’s blood-alcohol level would have been well over the legal limit for intoxication at the time his SUV collided head-on with a car, killing three Washington State University students six years ago.

Eugene Schwilke told jurors that blood drawn from Russell at a hospital nearly three hours after the wreck showed a blood-alcohol level of .12 percent.

That is above the legal limit of .08 percent, and would equate to about six drinks, Schwilke testified Monday.

In addition, based on a widely accepted scientific formula, Russell’s blood-alcohol level was probably .13 or .14 at the time of the collision, Schwilke said, because some of the alcohol in his system would have burned off by the time the blood was drawn.

Spokane

Police seize drugs in house raid

Spokane County sheriff’s detectives raided a north Spokane home Monday, arresting a man and woman and seizing drugs.

Tristian R. Burbery, 28, and Leslie C. Matzek, 27, were arrested on charges of possessing marijuana and intent to deliver and delivery of marijuana, according to a news release from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

Detectives seized half a pound of marijuana and cash in the raid. Detectives obtained a search warrant for the home after making undercover marijuana purchases from Burbery and Matzek.

The couple’s children, a 4-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy, were taken by state Child Protective Services workers.

Reward offered in vandalism

Spokane police officers think that vandals behind a string of Corbin Park-area crimes are breaking windows during time away from school. Secret Witness is offering a reward for information that helps solve the case.

Someone has broken picture windows at homes near the park at least 15 times using rocks or other objects. The crimes started in the summer but have been happening only on weekends since school started in the fall.

Police ask anyone with information about the vandalism to call Secret Witness at (509) 327-5111.

PULLMAN

Fight leaves man with broken jaw

The Pullman Police Department is investigating a fight this past weekend that left a 20-year-old Pullman man with a broken jaw that required his transfer to Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center for surgery.

Commander Chris Tennant said patrol officers responded at 6:30 p.m. to 850 Monroe St. on the call of an altercation in which three men were fighting with two others.

Two of the participants were taken to Pullman Regional Hospital, and the 20-year-old was transferred to Seattle. Tennant would not name either man because they were listed as victims.

Patrol officers continue to investigate the fight and talked with several female witnesses. But officers have not determined what prompted the fight or identified all of the participants, Tennant said.

No arrests have been made, but Tennant said any potential assault charge could be a felony based on the seriousness of the injuries to the man with the broken jaw.

From staff and wire reports