In brief: March flirts with snow records
If you think this snow seems a little out of place, you’re right.
Nearly 15 inches fell in Spokane during the last half of March, topping the previous record of 8.1 inches in 1985, according to the National Weather Service.
Total accumulation in the Spokane area for March sat at 15.2 as of 5 p.m. Monday, 1.2 inches shy of the record for the snowiest March, set in 1897.
Light overnight flurries were expected to bring the total to 15.3, which would tie the record for second-snowiest March, said Jeremy Wolf, a meteorologist with the Weather Service in Spokane.
Light snow could fall this morning, but the Weather Service forecast calls for the rest of the week to be snow-free.
Wednesday and Thursday should be mostly sunny.
Slight rain or snow could fall in Coeur d’Alene Wednesday morning, but the end of the week should bring the same dry weather Spokane will see, according to the Weather Service.
– Meghann M. Cuniff
Spokane
Council votes boost stabilization fund
Most of the money the city of Spokane had left over from 2007 will be saved to balance the books in bad economic times.
The city ended 2007 with $6.7 million extra because of higher-than-expected sales tax revenue and lower-than-budgeted spending. On Monday, the Spokane City Council voted to shift $5 million of that to a stabilization fund that can be tapped if the city gets short on cash because tax revenues fall because of a recession.
“Especially with the downturn in the economy, I’m especially pleased that they took that action,” Spokane Mayor Mary Verner said after the vote.
The city has been working to add to its reserves for the past few years partly to improve its bond rating. Last year, the City Council accomplished its goal of creating an emergency reserve fund with $14 million.
– Jonathan Brunt
Undercover deputy, bicyclist collide
An undercover sheriff’s deputy collided with a bicyclist near the intersection of Sprague Avenue and Division Street early Monday evening.
The bicyclist, 34-year-old Jeremy M. Baugh, of Spokane, was westbound on the sidewalk on the south side of Sprague.
The sheriff’s deputy, whose name was being withheld, was northbound on Division and stopped at the stop sign at the intersection.
Baugh didn’t stop and struck the deputy’s vehicle as it turned onto Sprague, according to the Spokane Police Department.
Baugh wasn’t wearing a helmet. He suffered a cut lip and puncture wound on his leg, according to police.
– Meghann M. Cuniff