Teen sentenced in hiker shooting

HUNTING – A teen hunter who killed a mountain hiker he mistook for a bear has been sentenced to 30 days in juvenile detention and 120 hours of community service.

Tyler J. Kales, of Concrete, Wash., apologized to the victim’s family at a recent sentencing and said he hoped they could forgive him.

The hiker, 54-year-old Pamela Almli of Oso, Wash., was killed Aug. 2 on a popular hiking trail north of Seattle. Kales, then 14, was hunting with his older brother, then 16.

Kales was convicted last month of second-degree manslaughter with a firearm. Skagit County Superior Court Judge Susan Cook also sentenced him to a year of probation and said his community service must include four hours of hunting safety education.

Associated Press

Trails get help from volunteers

NATIONAL FORESTS –Trails in the Colville National Forest and especially the Salmo-Priest Wilderness are targeted for some upgrades in the next few weeks from volunteers organized by the Washington Trails Association.

Several area trail projects have already been completed, and one group is just finishing a weeklong working vacation on the Shedroof Divide in the Salmo-Priest.

Want to join the group? Spots are available for volunteers on these upcoming hike-and-work sessions:

Aug. 1-2, day hiking work on Shedroof Divide.

Aug. 8-10, backpacking work on Salmo Loop in Salmo-Priest.

Aug. 22-23, Crowell Ridge in Salmo Priest.

Sep. 5-6, backpacking work trip on Slate Creek in Salmo Priest.

Sep. 12-13: Shedroof Divide.

Info and sign-up: (206) 965-8561; www.wta.org

Other area groups also are organized work parties:

•Spokane Mountaineers, Aug. 2-3, Salmo-Priest work based out of Gypsy Meadows car-camp. Info: (509) 921-8928; e-mail hmweiler@yahoo.com.

•Conservation Northwest, Aug. 14-16, backpacking work party along Crowell Ridge in Salmo-Priest.

Rich Landers

Lake Roosevelt centers open

NATIONAL PARKS – Two visitor centers have opened at Lake Roosevelt.

•Fort Spokane’s Visitor Center is opened for the season daily, offering guided ranger walks, canoe trips and evening talks. Info: (509) 633-3830 ext. 42.

•Kettle Falls has a new regional visitor information center than combines the permits and offerings of the National Park Service, Forest Service and the Kettle Falls Chamber of Commerce. The center is just off of Highway 395, open daily.

Rich Landers