Man, 83, drowns when boat capsizes

An elderly man drowned after the rowboat he was in with his brother overturned Friday morning on Deep Lake in northern Stevens County.

Franklin W. Gadberry, 83, and Wesley M. Gadberry, 79, both of Evans, north of Colville, were fishing when their boat capsized about 9:30 a.m. on the lake about 10 miles south of the Canadian border.

Wesley Gadberry made it to shore uninjured after trying to save his brother, according to the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies estimated the water depth to be about 15 feet.

Neither man was wearing a life jacket, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Meghann M. Cuniff

Spokane Valley

Kitchen fire damages home

A kitchen fire badly damaged a Valley home Friday morning, but the occupants got out safely, Spokane Valley Fire Chief Mike Thompson said.

Two adults and their two grandchildren, who live at 13815 E. Wellesley Ave., said they could smell smoke coming from the kitchen. They called 911 just before 8 a.m. and went outside, Thompson said.

A Spokane Valley police officer, who was first on the scene, found flames coming out the rear windows of the home, Thompson said.

Fire crews arrived and quickly knocked down the fire.

“There is pretty extensive damage to the kitchen, and heat and smoke damage in the rest of the home,” Thompson said.

The Red Cross was called to make sure the couple and their grandchildren, ages 10 and 12, had a place to stay, he said.

A fire investigator was still trying later Friday to determine what caused the fire, Thompson said.

Spokane County

Phosphate ban starts Tuesday

Dishwasher users who prefer Cascade, Sun Light, Electrasol or other brands that have phosphates have three days left to purchase the soap in Spokane County.

On Tuesday, stores no longer will be allowed to sell dishwasher detergents with phosphorus in Spokane County as what manufacturers say is the strictest detergent law in the country becomes effective.

In many cases, shelves will be dominated by Palmolive, the only main-brand soap manufacturer with a phosphate-free option on the market. Other brands that will be available include Seventh Generation and Ecover.

The law on phosphates in dishwasher detergent also will become effective on Tuesday in Whatcom County, but lawmakers decided that Whatcom stores could continue to sell detergent tablets with phosphates. Statewide restrictions on all detergents for residential use become effective in 2010.

County and city leaders pushed for the ban to help the Spokane River comply with federal water law. Some officials fear that if new phosphorus limits aren’t met, it will be difficult to get permits to discharge more sewage and building moratoriums could become necessary.

From staff reports