In brief: County reduces proposed tax hike

Spokane County officials on Tuesday lowered the estimated tax rate on a ballot measure to pay for removal of low-income residences beneath the runway approach to Fairchild Air Force Base.

County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to place a property tax increase on the Nov. 5 ballot.

The county initially said that the tax rate would be 7 to 8 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, but the resolution approved by the board calls for a tax of no more than 6.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

That would equal $13 a year on a $200,000 home. The tax collections would be limited to no more than nine years.

The money could only be used for purchase of residential property beneath the Fairchild landing and takeoff zone in Airway Heights, plus relocation costs for residents and demolition of existing structures, according to the resolution.

Spokane man dies in ATV accident

A Spokane man died in an all-terrain vehicle accident in Pend Oreille County late Monday night, the Washington State Patrol said Tuesday.

Kenneth McCrady, 53, failed to turn quickly enough at a bend on Tacoma Creek Road in the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge around 10 p.m. Monday, according to an accident report. His ATV veered off the road and his body struck a tree. He was not wearing a helmet.

McCrady and the vehicle were found in a ditch about 7 miles northwest of Newport on Tuesday morning, according to the state patrol. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Teacher accused of child molestation

An Othello elementary school teacher faces one count of first-degree child molestation, the Adams County Prosecutor’s Office announced Tuesday.

Lisa Davis is accused of inappropriate behavior with a 10-year-old student who was reportedly in her reading class, police said.

Davis’ arraignment is scheduled for Monday, court officials said.

The fifth-grade teacher came under investigation on May 30 after school officials received information that she was engaging in inappropriate activities with a student.

Davis taught 16 years in the Othello school district, officials said. She taught third and fifth grades.

Home burglaries lead to charges

A 28-year-old man kicked in the doors of two Spokane Valley homes early Tuesday morning and had to be subdued with a stun gun and a police dog, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said.

Jason Jones was found standing next to a shattered car window near 17600 E. Alki Ave. shortly before 3 a.m. by sheriff’s deputies. Two homeowners in the area reported a man had kicked in their front doors and stolen a purse containing $160, which was found nearby. One identified Jones to police.

Jones ran from officers, and a police dog was used to stop him. When they attempted to handcuff Jones, he broke free again and was shot with a stun gun. Jones was thought to be in a state of “excited delirium,” according to deputies.

A Spokane Superior Court judge set Jones’ bail at $15,000 on Tuesday afternoon on charges of residential burglary, malicious mischief and obstruction.

Group plans lawsuit over water quality

Waterkeepers Washington, a coalition of clean water advocates including the Spokane Riverkeeper, is threatening to sue the federal government over fish consumption standards used to set pollution discharge rates.

Washington relies on one of the nation’s lowest fish and shellfish consumption rates – 6.5 grams per resident per day, which is less than an 8-ounce filet per month. The state has kept the low rates, despite studies showing that fish consumption is much higher, particularly among Native Americans and people of Asian descent, according to a 60-day notice of intent to sue.

The notice was filed Tuesday with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which declined to comment.

Waterkeepers Washington wants the EPA to adopt fish consumption standards for the state that would result in water quality standards more protective of human health.

Waterkeepers Washington said the notice of intent to sue was filed after years of efforts to convince the EPA and the state to adopt a more realistic standard.

Nuke plant probe studies cooling

RICHLAND – The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is conducting a special inspection at the nuclear power plant near Richland after lack of maintenance caused a problem with a cooling system.

A large heat exchanger that cools a room housing electrical circuit breakers and batteries to provide direct current to switches and alarms was not working to full capacity, which could be an issue in an emergency at Energy Northwest’s Columbia Generating Station.

However, a separate backup system was available to provide cooling in case of an emergency.

There was no question or concern about the cooling system being able to keep the room cool during normal operations, said Don Gregoire, Energy Northwest manager of regulatory affairs. The temperature in the room was monitored, and had it become warm, an alarm would have sounded well before the room was hot enough to cause a problem, according to Energy Northwest.

The problem was discovered during the refueling outage at the nuclear power plant this spring as an engineer was checking the inside of the cooling coils and decided to take a look at the side of the cooling coils where the problem was discovered, Gregoire said. Dust and material from the air filters was found on the coils, reducing the system’s capacity to cool.