County leaders OK $17.5 million in bonds
Spokane County will borrow as much as $17.5 million to pay for its new raceway, expand its sewer system and improve two golf courses.
On Tuesday, county commissioners voted unanimously to use a bond to pay for the items.
County CEO Marshall Farnell said the raceway cost about $4.5 million and improvements to Liberty Lake and Hangman Valley golf courses will cost about $7 million. Expansion of sewers is estimated at $5.1 million. Farnell said the county opted to authorize borrowing a bit extra in case sewer construction costs more than expected.
Spokane Raceway Park in Airway Heights was purchased by the county at an April auction using reserves that will be replenished through Tuesday’s vote.
Commissioners also voted 2-1 to spend $254,550 on raceway expenses. Commission Chairwoman Bonnie Mager, who cast the lone opposing vote, has argued the county is taking an unnecessary risk with taxpayer money. At Tuesday’s hearing, Commissioner Todd Mielke noted that much of the expenditure was for a study that already has been completed and for securing the site.
Jonathan Brunt
Bank robbery suspect nabbed minutes later
Police nabbed a suspected bank robber fewer than five minutes after the crime was reported Tuesday, thanks to a witness.
Larry J. Kabage, 45, sits in the Spokane County Jail on a first-degree robbery charge.
Officer Paul Carpenter was in the area of the Bank of America at 3009 E. Olympic Ave. when police responded to a robbery at 1:53 p.m., according to police.
A witness waved down Carpenter and said the robbery suspect fled through an alley, where Carpenter found Kabage at 1:57 p.m.
A large amount of money was found in Kabage’s pocket, according to police.
Meghann M. Cuniff
Shooting suspect arraigned in Montana
A Spokane man with a warrant for first-degree murder involving a gang-related homicide in September was arrested in Montana over the weekend and has been arraigned in Justice Court in Missoula.
Freddie Miller, 28, was arrested Saturday at Rock Creek Lodge east of Missoula for allegedly killing Adama Walton in a drive-by shooting on Sept. 14. Miller was being held at the Missoula County jail on $175,000 bail.
Miller has been a suspect in Walton’s death for several months, but not formally charged until last week, police officials said.
Spokane police will arrange Miller’s return to the area to face the murder charge.
Miller said during Monday’s hearing that he wanted to waive extradition. He will have to officially do so in Missoula’s District Court before he can return to Washington.
Jody Lawrence-Turner
Crews working on restoring gas service
Nearly 700 homes in Post Falls lost natural gas service Tuesday as a result of a line dig-in that morning near Pleasantview Road and Seltice Way.
The outage encompassed the area from Seltice Way south to the Spokane River and from where Chase Road would intersect I-90, all the way west to the state line.
Tuesday night, restoration efforts concentrated on about half the affected residences, according to an Avista news release. Crews were expected to go door-to-door through midnight Tuesday to restore service. This morning Avista was to continue restoration efforts.
According to the news release, restoring service is time-consuming. Gas service must be shut off at the meter, and the line must be purged to eliminate any air. Once the natural gas line is re-pressurized, Avista must relight the pilot light inside the home or business. That means an Avista worker must personally contact a customer to gain entry to the building.
From staff reports