In brief: Gregoire releases $500,000 for debris
OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire is releasing $500,000 from her emergency fund to address costs associated with potential debris washing up on the state’s beaches from the Japan tsunami.
Gregoire said Tuesday that the money will be released to the state’s Military Department Emergency Management Division, which is coordinating the state’s response to the debris.
The state Department of Ecology has already allocated $100,000 from its litter cleanup account for tsunami debris removal, but Gregoire said there has been a steady stream of debris showing up on beaches and costs to remove it are climbing.
Yakima man dies in tractor accident
WAPATO, Wash. – A 44-year-old Yakima man died Wednesday morning after he was run over by a tractor or the trailer connected to it in Wapato.
The worker had apparently been trying to change a tire on a sprayer trailer attached to a farm tractor that was still running around 9 a.m., according to the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office.
The tractor apparently moved forward and got away from the worker, according to officials.
Members from the Lower Valley Fire District attempted CPR on the worker but were unsuccessful. The Washington state Department of Labor and Industries will investigate because it was a work-related accident, according to officials.
Firefighter rescues dog from ledge
GRESHAM, Ore. – A firefighter rappelled down into a quarry in the east Portland suburb of Gresham and rescued a dog stranded on a ledge.
The Oregonian reports that Gresham Fire and Rescue got permission Tuesday night from the site’s owner to enter the quarry and save Daisy, a 2-year-old pit bull mix.
The dog was not believed to be injured.
She was first reported in the Knife River Quarry on Tuesday afternoon but it wasn’t known how she got stranded there.
Oregon Humane Society spokesman David Lytle said the dog’s owner said she disappeared at least two days ago.
Quarry workers lowered a cage containing food near the dog in an earlier rescue attempt. However, some of the food fell out and Daisy ate that and stayed out of the cage.
Bus driver blames caffeine for assault
SEATTLE – A Rainier School District bus driver who was convicted of assault for groping teens and women said an excessive intake of caffeine drove him to the acts.
Kenneth Sands, 51, tried to explain himself at his sentencing on Tuesday, KOMO-TV reported.
Sands had been convicted in Lewis County Superior Court of molesting three high school volleyball players and two women during and after a volleyball game in Onalaska on Oct. 18.
Sands said it was caffeine that had driven him to act out of character. He told the court too much caffeine caused a psychotic episode.
Sands was sentenced to 30 days for each of the five counts of fourth-degree assault.