Fire conditions ripen, official says
Wildfire officials in North Idaho say they are bracing for an increase in backcountry fire activity.
So far, wildfire reports in the Panhandle have been modest. But Gary Weber, assistant manager at the Coeur d’Alene Interagency Dispatch Center, says August typically brings the hottest temperatures of the summer.
The forecast for the month features a steady diet of hot and dry weather, mixed with some thunderstorm activity later on.
Weber says conditions are ripening for wildfire season to take off.
Some of the agency’s firefighters are now battling blazes elsewhere, including California and Red Lodge, Mont.
Last month, Kootenai County banned open burning to limit wildfire risk.
Spokane County
Pool closes after lifeguard arrests
A north Spokane County swimming pool closed two weeks early Monday after deputies arrested nearly half its lifeguard staff for throwing an underage drinking party at the facility last weekend.
Deputies with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office called in a police dog named Gordy after 18-year-old Courtney E. Fagras and two 17-year-old boys locked themselves in the Holmberg Park pool house, 720 W. Holland Ave., when authorities responded to a 9-1-1 call of loud music just after midnight Sunday, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The three told deputies they’d used a key to enter the building after hours and planned to drink beer they’d gotten from a friend, according to the sheriff’s department. Deputies found a backpack with five unopened alcoholic beverages and 13 empty beer cans after the teens surrendered to Gordy’s barks.
Fagras and the boys were fired, and it’s too late to find replacements, said Spokane County Park Ranger Bryant Robinson. The pool employed seven lifeguards, Robinson said.
The teens face charges of second-degree burglary and minor in possession of alcohol. Fagras was booked into the Spokane County Jail and the 17-year-olds were taken to the Juvenile Detention Center.
Spokane
Man accused of assaulting ex
Police arrested a Spokane man for assault Monday hours after asking for the public’s help finding him.
Gary B. Moore, 27, was in Spokane County Jail Monday night on two charges of second-degree assault after being arrested in Airway Heights, according to Spokane police.
He’s accused of threatening an ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend with a handgun. The son he has with his ex-girlfriend was present, according to a news release.
OLYMPIA
High election turnout predicted
Washington’s top election official said Monday that voter turnout for the Aug. 19 election is likely to be the highest of any primary in recent years.
“We’re expecting a good, strong turnout across Washington,” said Secretary of State Sam Reed. He’s predicting 46 percent of registered voters will cast a ballot this month in the new “Top Two” primary.
The vast majority of Washingtonians vote by mail, he said, which improves turnout. Also, voters seem happy that they no longer have to pick a party to vote in the primary. A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling gave a green light to the state’s unusual top-two primary. In it, the top two August vote-getters – regardless of party – face off on the November ballot.
“People are just so pleased to once again be free to vote for whoever they want to vote for in the primary,” Reed said.