Region in brief: House race clearer as count continues

The race for second in the 9th District House race opened up a bit Wednesday as Pat Hailey expanded her lead over Glen Stockwell.

Susan Fagan, a Pullman Republican, remained firmly in the top spot, winning 5,728 votes from residents in Spokane, Whitman, Adams, Garfield, Asotin and Franklin counties in Tuesday’s primary. Hailey, a Republican from Mesa, stood at 5,126. Stockwell, a Democrat from Ritzville, garnered 5,003 votes.

The only race in Spokane County that showed significant movement as ballot counting continued Wednesday was for Spokane school board. Appointee Jeff Bierman maintained a healthy lead, with 10,227 votes. However, challenger Deana Brower, who was in third by more than 600 votes to Heidi Olson after Tuesday’s count, cut that gap nearly in half. Olson stands at 7,857 votes, while Brower has 7,531.

Ballot counting is expected to continue next week.

Carolyn Lamberson

Deaconess ends care for serious trauma

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center will be the region’s only hospital treating serious trauma patients starting Sunday.

Deaconess Medical Center will quit accepting patients suffering from injuries such as gunshot wounds or traumas from car crashes.

The move leaves Sacred Heart as the only Level 2 trauma care center in Spokane. Providing trauma care is unprofitable for hospitals, officials have said.

Valley Hospital and Medical Center and Providence Holy Family Hospital will continue to provide Level 3 trauma care, licensed to treat less-serious injuries such as broken bones and cuts.

Deaconess has said it will keep its emergency room open.

Sacred Heart is preparing for more trauma patients by adding staff and ensuring it has enough critical care beds.

John Stucke

Tveit is new judge in Stevens County

Stevens County Deputy Prosecutor Gina Tveit will be sworn in Wednesday as the county’s District Court judge.

County commissioners appointed her to replace Judge Pam Payne, who will retire Aug. 31.

Tveit, 46, graduated from Colville High School in 1981 and Gonzaga Law School in 1989. She worked for McGrane & Schuerman law firm in Colville until joining the prosecutor’s office in 1995. Her position will be subject to election in November 2010.

Others interviewed were Colville defense attorney Bob Simeone, former deputy prosecutors John Troberg and Michael Clay, and David Turplesmith, a deputy prosecutor who took another job after his interview.

John Craig