In brief: Man charged in 1992 murder

Thu., May 12, 2011

A longtime felon and convicted armed robber is back in Spokane on a first-degree murder charge for the 1992 shooting death of a furniture store owner.

Patrick K. Gibson, who will be 59 next week, did not contest the $1 million bond request from prosecutors Wednesday in Spokane County Superior Court.

Gibson was booked into Spokane County Jail Tuesday at 3:24 p.m. after he was arrested May 4 at his home in Stanwood, Wash., where he was registered as a level 3 sex offender.

Gibson has convictions in Oregon, Nevada and California for kidnapping, rape, robbery and bank robbery.

DNA from a fake beard worn during the Nov. 7, 1992, shooting of Brian Cole during a robbery at Cole’s Traditions in Oak connected him to the crime, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

Gibson is to be arraigned this month.

Meghann M. Cuniff

Megaload hearing concludes

BOISE – Testimony in a hearing over more than 200 megaloads of oil equipment proposed to travel scenic U.S. Highway 12 in north-central Idaho wrapped up Wednesday, and a decision is due in June.

The final day’s testimony in the three-week hearing included disputes over how much the giant loads will damage the highway’s pavement; megaload opponents called an expert witness who said the damage would far exceed revenue the Idaho Transportation Department would gain from fees or gas taxes as the loads travel through the state.

The Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil megaloads plan also faces a Monday court hearing in Montana on an injunction to block construction of new turnouts and other roadwork there to allow the giant loads to travel through the state; and a lawsuit is pending in federal court over the loads, which would take Korean-made equipment to the Alberta oil sands project in Canada.

Betsy Z. Russell

Motorcyclists plan fundraiser

Spokane-area motorcycling enthusiasts will celebrate Motorcycle Awareness Day on Saturday with a group ride and fundraiser benefiting Shriners Children’s Hospital.

Sponsored by Lilac City Wings, the event is open to all motorcycle riders. The group plans a 102-mile ride with games along the route and five checkpoints. Cost is $20 per person, with proceeds benefiting the hospital.

The group will meet at Northern Quest Resort and Casino in Airway Heights. Open enrollment begins at 8 a.m. and the ride is scheduled to begin at about 10 a.m.

Staff reports

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