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

In brief: Children’s center damaged by fire

From Staff Reports

Fire destroyed two rooms at the Loon Lake Children’s Center over the weekend, and other rooms were damaged by smoke and water, said Lt. Russell Armstrong, who is investigating the fire for Stevens County Fire District No. 1.

The center was empty when flames were reported by a passer-by around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Armstrong said.

Eight apparatus and 16 firefighters responded to the call, including a unit from county Fire District No. 4, he said.

“It was pretty actively burning,” Armstrong said.

He said crews remained on the scene until 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

The center consists of several trailers at 3988 Maple St., Armstrong said, adding that the two used for infant care sustained the most damage.

No cause of the fire has been determined, he said.

Armstrong said center owner Leona Adams is making alternative arrangements for the children at Loon Lake School.

Passenger killed in crash on U.S. 95

A 24-year-old Lewiston man died Friday night when the vehicle he was riding in crossed the centerline of U.S. Highway 95 and was struck by an oncoming car.

The Idaho State Patrol said Anthony Keller, 24, was a passenger in a 1985 Honda Civic driven by John Barker, 40. Barker’s car was struck seven miles south of Moscow by a 2000 Volkswagen Passat driven by Troy Spear, 44.

Barker was transported to Gritman Medical Center in Moscow, then taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center by MedStar on Saturday morning.

He was listed in critical condition Sunday evening, a nursing supervisor said.

Spear and passenger Kimberly Spear, 41, were treated and released at the scene.

A second passenger, Jamie Huminsky, was transported to Gritman, but later released.

All involved are from Lewiston.

Robber holds up ice cream shop

The Baskin-Robbins store at 1230 S. Grand Blvd. was robbed at gunpoint Sunday night by a man wearing a red ski mask and black hoodie, said Officer Brian Eckersley of the Spokane Police Department.

The female attendant was alone in the store around 7:30 p.m., but two off-duty firemen witnessed the robbery and gave chase, he said.

Spokane police cordoned off the area and brought in a K-9 unit, Eckersley said. The dog picked up a good track, but the thief may have been picked up by a white woman driving a white Toyota pickup without a canopy.

Eckersley said police want to talk to the driver of the vehicle in case she was just a witness.

An undisclosed amount of cash was taken.