In brief: Fish Lake Trail mural vandalized
Vandalism has marred a mural in the Fish Lake Trail tunnel less than two weeks after volunteers put all but the finishing touches on the colorful farm-to-rail scenes.
Apparently on Friday night, a paint roller was used to write graffiti and ruin every panel on both sides of the tunnel near Marshall, said Dan Schaffer, who heads the friends group that stewards the trail.
Eastern Washington University art students had worked for weeks to design and outline the farm and railroad themed mural. Volunteers ranging from kids to retired helpers showed up on May 14 and 15 to add color to the outline.
The popular paved railroad right of way starts near Sunset Boulevard and Government Way and runs 7.4 miles to Scribner Road near Marshall.
Driver killed in Highway 27 crash
A Spokane man died Monday after a sudden medical problem caused him to crash his car on state Highway 27 one mile north of Rockford just before noon.
Joseph D. Tabish, 70, died after he lost control of his 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The vehicle left the highway and came to rest in a ditch, according to Washington State Patrol troopers.
A passenger, Rochelle Tabish, 71, was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries, troopers said.
Both were wearing seat belts.
Jumping accident closes rail lines
TROUTDALE, Ore. – A BASE jumping accident in east Multnomah County shut down all rail traffic as far east as Kansas City and along the West Coast as searchers looked for the victim on Sunday.
Emergency responders were first told that an illegal BASE jumper had plummeted to the ground after his parachute failed to properly deploy.
Although the group of BASE jumpers were launching themselves off the Crown Point promontory, 733 feet above the Columbia River near Corbett, Ore., the jumper did not have serious injuries and had just walked out on his own.
Because the BASE jumper did not have personal contact with authorities, the exact nature of the accident and the jumper’s injuries were unknown, said Lt. Mary Lindstrand of the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.
Multnomah County authorities say the rail lines were shut down because the search and rescue site was adjacent to BNSF tracks.