Region in brief: Armed, masked man holds up mini-mart

Spokane police were searching Sunday night for a man who robbed a Browne’s Addition mini-mart.

Shortly after 9 p.m., an armed, masked man robbed the Sunset Grocery at 1908 W. Sunset Blvd., taking an undisclosed amount of cash, said Sgt. Tracie Meidl of the Spokane Police Department.

Officers were searching Browne’s Addition for the robber late Sunday. He was described as in his mid-30s, medium build, wearing a green or gray hooded sweatshirt and camouflage pants.

Cascades highways closed for season

YAKIMA – The Washington state Department of Transportation has closed two highways in the Cascades for the season due to heavy snow and avalanche risk.

Officials first announced Saturday that they would temporarily close state Route 410 over Chinook Pass and state Route 123 over Cayuse Pass. They reviewed that decision Sunday and decided to keep them closed for the rest of the season.

Chinook Pass has received more than 3 feet of snow since Friday. The North Cascades Highway, state Route 20, remains closed at least temporarily.

All three roads typically close during the winter due to heavy snow.

Heavy snow has ski areas opening

MOUNT BAKER, Wash. – Heavy snowfall in the Cascade Mountains has some Washington ski areas preparing to open.

Mount Baker Ski Area said it’s received more than 45 inches of new snow in the last few days, and it plans to open Thursday.

Crystal Mountain, meanwhile, said it’s gotten about 2 feet recently and could open for limited operations on Wednesday.

Woman rescued, then arrested

CLACKAMAS, Ore. – A woman rescued from a cold, rushing creek is back where she started: in hot water.

The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said Amy Marie Brandt, 32, of Milwaukie, Ore., fell into Johnson Creek early Sunday after she stepped out of a hot tub. She managed to cling to blackberry bushes until rescuers pulled her from about 15 feet of water.

Brandt was taken to a hospital – but arrested after she was released. Deputies learned that a court order barred her from contacting the man she had been sharing the hot tub with.