In brief: Man steals $71 from animal shelter’s till
The Kootenai Humane Society in Hayden reported Wednesday that someone stole $71 from the nonprofit organization’s cash register.
A man entered the shelter before it opened at noon, opened the cash register and took the money, according to a police report. An employee saw the man standing near the cash register and told him he wasn’t supposed to be there; the man said he was looking for a dog leash, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department report.
Police have identified a suspect, said Phil Morgan, executive director of the shelter, on Thursday. And, “some very nice lady donated $72 yesterday.”
Spokane Valley fires hit business, home
Two separate blazes destroyed part of a sheet metal business and damaged a home in Spokane Valley early Thursday.
Spokane Valley firefighters were called to Anderson’s Sheet Metal, Heating and Air Conditioning, 13903 E. Trent Ave., shortly before 1 a.m. When they arrived, flames were coming out of the front of the building, Spokane Valley Fire Department spokesman Bill Clifford said.
The blaze caused extensive damage to the business’s office, and smoke and water damaged the rest of the building and an adjacent nail salon, Kim’s Salon.
Authorities have yet to disclose the cause.
Around 6 a.m., a Veradale family awoke in their two-story house, at 1102 S. Burns Road, to a neighbor banging on the door to alert them the home was on fire.
The male homeowner grabbed a hose and knocked down part of the fire, which had penetrated the attic, Clifford said.
The family plans to stay with friends or family, Clifford said
Coeur d’Alene city water rates increase
The rates the city of Coeur d’Alene charges for water went up on Monday.
Single-family rates went from 65 cents to 67 cents per thousand gallons, up to 30,000 gallons per month. Additional water will cost 97 cents per thousand gallons.
Non-residential rates went from 57 cents to 59 cents per thousand gallons and irrigation-only accounts, from 75 cents to 78 cents per thousand gallons.
The rate schedule can be found at www.cdaid.org. Call (208) 769-2227 for more information.
Pair of crashes tie up I-90 traffic near U.S. 195
Interstate 90 was backed up for two miles Thursday afternoon after two separate collisions involving several cars at the interchange with U.S. Highway 195.
The first three-car crash occurred around 3 p.m., near the bottom of Sunset Hill at the off-ramp to southbound U.S. Highway 195, the Washington State Patrol reported. The second crash occurred shortly after the first, at the west end of Latah Creek Bridge on the highway, involving five cars.
The crashes blocked left lanes on the highway, causing traffic congestion. Minor injuries were reported, the WSP said.
Armed robbers steal woman’s prescriptions
A 43-year-old woman was robbed of her prescriptions at gunpoint Wednesday night.
Two men, armed with what may have been shotguns, stole cash, credit cards and six prescription medications, including OxyContin, hydrocodone and Xanax, from the woman about 10:20 p.m. at her home in the 22100 block of East Wellesley Avenue, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. The suspects fled northeast.
One suspect is described as a white man about 5 feet 7 inches tall, 150 to 160 pounds and wearing dark clothing with a dark bandanna over his face and a dark hooded sweatshirt.
The second suspect is described as a white man, 6 feet tall and 180 to 190 pounds. He wore dark clothing, a dark bandanna over his face and a dark ski cap or beanie, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.