Disasters declared after flooding
President Bush on Thursday declared major disasters in two North Idaho counties that suffered flooding in May, clearing the way for federal funds.
Flooding in Kootenai and Shoshone counties from May 15 to June 9 shut down roads, stranded residents and caused infrastructure damage for which federal aid will now be available, according to a news release.
State and local municipalities as well as certain nonprofit organizations can work with the federal funding on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and to repair damaged facilities, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
St. Maries
Abuse suspect released on bail
A St. Maries woman accused of abusing her 3-year-old daughter left jail Wednesday after a family member used a property bond to meet her newly reduced $75,000 bail.
Police booked Christina Haynes, 26, into the Benewah County Jail on June 17 after finding Kyra Wine with extensive bruising, missing hair and dead flesh on her hands and feet.
Haynes’ boyfriend, Charles W. Smith, 29, remains in jail. Neighbors say Smith had lived with Haynes for a few months after moving to St. Maries from Illinois.
A judge reduced Haynes’ bail in court; Smith’s remains at $250,000, according to jail records.
Both face charges of felony injury of a child and felony aggravated battery.
Kyra was still recovering Thursday at Sacred Heart Medical Center.
Okanogan County
Large wildfire burns uncontained
A large wildfire in north Okanogan County that began in a pump house and threatened homes had not been contained Thursday night.
Residents noticed the blaze about 5:30 p.m. off Green Lake Road, northwest of Omak, said Frank Rogers, Okanogan County sheriff.
It spread quickly up a steep hill.
“The wind was really blowing at that time, and it just kind of took off on us,” Rogers said.
Crews from local fire agencies and the state Department of Natural Resources responded to the blaze, as didseveral firefighting aircrafts.
“They’re hitting it from all kinds of sides,” Rogers said around 8:30 p.m. “I think they’ve got a good handle on it.”
Authorities told about 12 residents to evacuate, but most were already leaving, Rogers said.
Crews weren’t sure if a partially built home survived the fire. No other damage had been reported.
The fire danger warning in Okanogan County has been raised to “very high.”
The warning prohibits all outdoor burning, including campfires.
The fire danger ratings for Spokane, Lincoln, Stevens and Pend Oreille counties will remain at “high,” prohibiting burning on all DNR land, excluding campfires at approved campsites.
Spokane
Suspect allegedly rams deputy
A Spokane sheriff’s deputy suffered injuries after a teen allegedly driving a stolen vehicle rammed his car, shoving it into a light pole in north Spokane.
Spokane police picked up the pursuit and arrested two teens, said Spokane County sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Reagan. Deputy Daryl Smith was treated and released from a hospital for a whiplash-type injury.
A 17-year-old boy, booked into Spokane County Juvenile Detention Center, was arrested on suspicion of attempting to elude police, second-degree assault and theft of a motor vehicle, Reagan said. Vadym O. Chernavskykh, 18, who was also in the car, was arrested on one count of theft of motor vehicle and taken to Spokane County Jail.
The pursuit began about 1 a.m. Thursday, Reagan said. The crash occurred at Wall Street and Rosewood Avenue.
Shooting, standoff lead to arrest
Gunfire early Saturday morning led to an hourslong standoff between a suspect and Spokane police Wednesday evening.
Anthony D. Singh, 20, surrendered after the Spokane SWAT team released chemicals inside the home at 506 S. Hatch Road.
He was arrested and booked into the Spokane County Jail on one count of first-degree assault, the same charge facing Jamal R. Singh, 24, whom police arrested Tuesday evening at a home at 1653 E. Ostrander Ave.
Wednesday’s standoff shut down several blocks for hours as law enforcement negotiated Anthony Singh’s surrender.
Police believe the Singhs were involved in a shooting Saturday near Sprague Avenue and Stevens Street in downtown Spokane in which a man suffered a gunshot wound to the foot.
The firearm used in the assault has not been recovered, police said.
This shooting incident is not related to the drive-by shooting Saturday in the area of 3100 E. Marietta Ave., according to police.
Anyone with information about either incident is asked to call (509) 625-GANG (4264).
Kootenai County
Loud-boat contest halted by sheriff
A river party that was to include a contest for the loudest boat is not allowed this weekend after the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department revoked its permit, citing the contest as an invitation for partygoers to exceed the allowed noise level.
Now the event’s organizers are encouraging people to show up anyway to “express their displeasure with the county’s decision” in a peaceful manner, said Cory Rowe, who organized the party with neighbors along the Spokane River near Greensferry Road.
“We encourage them to be orderly and follow the rules of the river,” he said.
The River Rat Rage, scheduled Saturday in Post Falls, also advertised live music, which the permit did not allow, according to the Sheriff’s Office. County ordinances also require such an event to get a land permit, which organizers didn’t do, according to a news release.