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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Region in brief: Nights of noise at Fairchild just a drill

Schimpf (Courtesy Spd / The Spokesman-Review)
From Staff And Wire Reports

West Plains residents living near Fairchild Air Force Base might notice more noise – airplanes, helicopters and gunfire – at night from Thursday through next Monday. While it may sound at times like the base is under attack, it’s all just a drill.

The 75th Ranger Regiment from Fort Lewis will be using parts of the base for a major night training exercise, Fairchild officials said. It involves low-flying airplanes and helicopters and training ammunition. All of the exercise is conducted on the base, so nearby residents and motorists won’t see anything, but they will probably hear parts of it

South Brooks Road near the base will be closed from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m. each night to accommodate the exercise.

Burn restrictions imposed on DNR land

The Washington Department of Natural Resources Tuesday announced burning restrictions on DNR-protected lands in Spokane, Stevens, Ferry, Lincoln and Okanogan counties.

All burning on DNR-protected lands will be prohibited with the exception of campfires in approved campgrounds. Precautions are also in effect for forest work sites.

In Kootenai County, open burning is being restricted by fire chiefs. However, existing permits will be honored until they expire, according to the Kootenai County Fire Protection Cooperative.

Reward offered for tip on fugitive

Crime Stoppers of the Inland Northwest is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of a 50-year-old fugitive wanted for second-degree theft and misdemeanor traffic violations.

Kevin Leon Schimpf is known as a repeat offender by local law enforcement.

He is white, 5-foot-10, 160 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Schimpf’s last known address is 3408 W. Greenwood Road.

Anyone with information should call (800) 222-TIPS or submit a tip online at www.crimestoppersinlandnorthwest.org. Tipsters do not have to leave their own name to be eligible for the reward, but should provide a code name or number.

Park to be site of police exercise Aug. 4

Spokane police plan to use part of Riverfront Park on Aug. 4 for a SWAT team exercise involving a school bus.

City officials Tuesday sent out a notice of the demonstration, which is part of a conference for the Washington Association of Pupil Transportation, hoping that no one in the area thinks a real hostage situation is taking place.

The demonstration in planned for a parking lot on the north bank of the river, west of Washington Street near the old park maintenance building.

Smoking ban extended to bars, clubs

MOSCOW, Idaho – The Moscow City Council has banned smoking in bars and private clubs, relegating smokers to designated areas at least 20 feet away from entrances and prohibiting any indoor smoking rooms.

Some bar owners say the ordinance dramatically alters the way bar owners operate. Proponents say the ban would protect public health.

Idaho law already prohibits smoking in public buildings, except bars and clubs. The state law also allows for cities to impose additional restrictions.

A public hearing on the proposed fines is set for Aug. 3. If the fees are approved, the ban kicks in on Aug. 4.

Man charged in shooting death at motel

TWISP, Wash. – A 57-year-old Seattle man has been charged with second-degree murder and reckless endangerment in the shooting death of a sound engineer who worked on the live performances of internationally known musicians.

Police say Tom Pfaeffle was shot at the Blue Spruce Motel when he apparently put his room key into the wrong door Friday night. Bail has been set at $100,000 and an arraignment for Kino Michael Gomez is scheduled for July 30.

Gomez’s attorney, Michael Haas, told Okanogan County Superior Court Judge Jack Burchard on Monday that Gomez was sleeping with two handguns and began shooting when he awoke and thought someone was coming into his room.

Numbers point to big sockeye run

BOISE – Fish biologists say this year’s return of sockeye salmon to Idaho is on track to be the biggest in decades.

Through Sunday, 1,108 endangered sockeye salmon have crossed the Lower Granite Dam, which is near Lewiston and the last dam for salmon en route to Idaho waters.

Last year, 907 sockeye crossed the dam, an amount double the combined returns of the previous 23 years. Idaho Fish and Game officials are not sure how to explain the recent success.

But they say one factor may be that Idaho is producing more young sockeye in its hatchery program that ultimately swim to the ocean, where they live for two years before returning to Idaho to spawn.