Region in brief: Ex’s killer gets 20 years after plea
A Stevens County man who killed his girlfriend after she broke up with him will spend the next 20 years in prison.
Preston Lee Rogers, 43, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced on July 14, one year after Cheryl Lynn Hayward’s family reported her missing.
Authorities believe Rogers fatally stabbed Hayward, 28, as the two argued, then crashed her car. Rogers entered a psychiatric ward and told a Stevens County sheriff’s detective where Hayward’s body was a week after her murder.
The two had been dating since Hayward was 14. Rogers underwent tests at Eastern State Hospital before being found competent to stand trial.
Wildfire in Canada makes sky smoky
A Kelowna, B.C., wildfire caused smoky skies across the Inland Northwest on Monday morning, forecasters said, but a change in airflow should keep smoke away from the region today.
The haze led to a bright orange sunrise, but the smoke cleared out of the area by afternoon when steering winds aloft changed direction.
Forecasts call for temperatures in the middle and upper 90s through Friday and then possibly going to 100 degrees or hotter by this weekend.
Hearing planned on parking ban
Parking restrictions on narrow roads around Liberty Lake will be discussed Wednesday evening in a public meeting conducted by the Spokane Valley Fire Department.
The proposed parking bans would apply only to sections of 22 roads in unincorporated areas controlled by Spokane County commissioners.
Fire Marshal Kevin Miller said the independent fire district requested the year-round restrictions to make sure firetrucks can get through in emergencies, but some residents complained to county commissioners in May that restrictions are needed only during Fourth of July events. Commissioners postponed action and called for Wednesday’s forum.
The meeting will be in the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District’s Denny Ashlock Building at 22510 E. Mission Ave. in Liberty Lake.
House evacuated after kitchen fire
A kitchen fire damaged a duplex dwelling early Monday, forcing the evacuation of the six adults and four children who lived there.
Spokane firefighters said that hot grease in a pan was left unattended in the kitchen at 1423 E. Sanson Ave. and caught fire about 2:55 a.m.
Firefighters were able to quickly knock down the blaze with water from one of their smaller hoses.
Damage was estimated at $15,000. One of the occupants inhaled smoke from the fire, but declined to go to the hospital for treatment. No other injuries were reported.
Business fined for dumping again
The Washington Department of Ecology fined Big D Septic Services of Deer Park $4,500 for dumping septic sludge on the company’s property for the second time. Big D does not have a permit to apply sludge to the land as agricultural fertilizer, officials said.
The property is adjacent to homes and businesses, and just across the road from a special project designed to improve water quality in Dragoon Creek, which borders the property.
Big D Septic Services was fined $2,000 for similar violations in 2000.
Jury deadlocked on toddler’s death
OREGON CITY, Ore. – A jury says it is deadlocked in the trial of an Oregon City couple accused of relying on faith healing in the death of their 15-month-old daughter.
Judge Steven Maurer sent the jurors home Monday and told them to resume deliberations this morning.
Raylene and Carl Brent Worthington are charged with manslaughter and criminal mistreatment in the death of their daughter, Ava, in March 2008. The jury’s spokeswoman said the panel could not agree on any of the charges.