In brief: Aide to elderly suspected in thefts
A former Cooper George retirement home employee was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of stealing from several elderly residents.
Police say Melody D. Roper, 38, stole nonprescription medication, a collector coin and other items from at least four clients during her three-month stint at the Spokane home, which ended two weeks ago.
“The alarming part of this incident is that this person was employed for the sole purpose of taking care of those who cannot take care of themselves,” Officer Brian Eckersley said in a news release.
The items each were valued at less than $30, and victims did not realize someone was stealing from them, according to police. Cooper George employees reported the theft.
Police booked Roper into the Spokane County Jail on four counts of theft.
Two public pools will open July 6
The first of six new swimming pools in Spokane will open to public swimming at A.M. Cannon and Shadle parks on July 6, park officials announced Wednesday.
The two pools are among six being built under a 2007 voter-approved bond issue that is also paying for new spray and splash features at neighborhood parks as well as a softball and sports complex at Joe Albi Stadium.
The Shadle pool will have a ceremonial ribbon cutting on July 1 at 10 a.m., while the Cannon pool will be celebrated in a ribbon cutting that day at 2 p.m.
Engineers to release water for sturgeon
BONNERS FERRY, Idaho – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will release water from Libby Dam to help sturgeon spawning in the Kootenai River.
Flows will double to peak at about 27,000 cubic feet per second today. People who live, work or recreate on the river should be aware of rapidly changing conditions, corps officials said.
The high flows will decrease throughout the month. The flows mimic historic conditions in the Kootenai River and help move sturgeon into suitable upstream spawning habitat.
The river is expected to rise to 1,759 feet at Bonners Ferry during the high flows, which is below flood stage. When the sturgeon operation is finished at the end of June, river flows will drop to 7,000 to 9,000 cubic feet per second for the summer.
Weekend winds confirmed as twisters
The National Weather Service confirmed four tornadoes touched ground Saturday between Wilbur and Creston, Wash. The tornadoes were spotted between 2:50 p.m. to 3:15 p.m., the weather service said.
No damage was reported as a result of the tornadoes. They were spotted over wheat fields.
To see pictures and a map, go to www.weather.gov/spokane.
Children from I-5 wreck will ‘be OK,’ WSP says
DUPONT, Wash. – A Washington State Patrol spokeswoman says two children seriously injured when the SUV in which they were riding was hit and overturned on Interstate 5 “are going to be OK.”
Trooper Brandy Kessler says the two were in a Ford Expedition that rolled over a concrete barrier after the SUV was hit by a Honda Civic near DuPont, Wash. The Civic driver was arrested.
The WSP on Wednesday updated some information originally released on Tuesday’s accident. Kessler said there were 10 people in the SUV and they included two women and eight children. Kessler also said the 31-year-old female driver and a 13-year-old boy have told authorities they were wearing seat belts.