In brief: Wife, daughter Idaho fire victims

Two bodies found in a home near Blanchard, Idaho, following a fire early Wednesday are believed to be those of the homeowner’s wife and daughter.

When Bonner County sheriff’s deputies arrived, homeowner Robert Sands, 66, said he believed his wife, Mary, 52, and daughter, Angela Sands, 23, had been trapped in the home, a news release from the Sheriff’s Office said.

The fire began early Wednesday at 320 McDonald Creek Road and fully engulfed the home, the release said.

Robert Sands told authorities he believed the fire started when the door of the wood stove was left open. Bonner County detectives and the Spirit Lake Fire Department will investigate the fire.

There is no suspicion of wrongdoing, the release said.

Board seeks input on superintendent

Spokane Public Schools’ board is asking for public input as the first step in its search for a new superintendent.

Officials want to hear from community members, staff and parents about preferred characteristics for the district’s next top administrator.

“It will be really helpful if as many people as possible participate in both forms of input,” said School Board President Bob Douthitt.

There will be two open forums: 7 p.m. Jan. 31 at Glover Middle School, 2404 W. Longfellow Ave., and 7 p.m. Feb. 1 at Sacajawea Middle School, 401 E. 33rd Ave.

Additionally, there’s an online survey people can fill out at spokaneschools.org through Feb. 3.

A professional search firm – Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates – hired by the district’s board of directors will lead the forums and collect the surveys.

The board plans to make the names of the finalists available to the public sometime in April and hopes to announce the new superintendent in May.

Man killed by own knife identified

A man who police say was accidentally stabbed to death by his own knife Saturday has been identified as Rene Chico Salas, 52, of Spokane.

An autopsy concluded Salas died of a stab wound to his chest, the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office said Wednesday.

Police say Salas had a knife when he was banging on a locked door at the Danmor Apartments, 410 W. Third Ave., after an altercation with a resident. Police say the door opened and the impact apparently knocked the knife’s blade into Salas’ shoulder, which cut an artery.

Salas walked a short distance before collapsing on the sidewalk.

Police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer DeRuwe said a thorough investigation showed Salas’ death was a “tragic” accident.

“We realize it is very hard to believe,” she said.

Bill would evict Occupy campers

BOISE – With two dozen Occupy Boise supporters quietly looking on, an Idaho House committee voted 15-1 Wednesday to introduce legislation to evict the group’s encampment from state land across from the Capitol.

“This is not a prohibition of freedom of speech – this is a prohibition of camping on the lawns in the Capitol Mall,” said House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, the bill’s lead sponsor; it’s co-sponsored by every member of the House GOP leadership.

No law currently prevents the encampment, and the occupiers have coordinated their three-month campout thus far with the state Department of Administration. Lawmakers promised a full public hearing on the bill.