In brief: County may clean up Mead property tied to meth, bill owner
Spokane County may clean up a nuisance property in Mead tied to the methamphetamine trade and bill the property’s longtime owner for the costs, according to a ruling handed down Tuesday.
Spokane Hearing Examiner Mike Dempsey ordered Jerry McDowell to pay $250 weekly to the county in fines if his property is not cleared of junk cars, piled garbage and other hazardous materials. The decision follows a hearing last month in which McDowell’s neighbors testified at length about his flouting of court orders requiring clean-up and illegal activity dating to 1981.
The Mead School District and Spokane County are currently conducting soil tests at the property, which is located at 12509 N. Freya St., to determine if they will buy the land. McDowell said last month if he sold the property he’d move to Montana, where he owns some land.
City to encourage more voting
Utility bills in Spokane will feature voter registration and election information after low voter participation spurred Council President Ben Stuckart to get the city involved in voting advocacy.
The ordinance, which the council approved unanimously Monday, also directs the city to create a page on its website devoted to election resources, including links or information on voter registration, election dates, online voter guides and ballot drop box locations.
During last month’s general election, 56 percent of voters in Spokane County filled out a ballot. Nationwide, voter turnout was 36 percent, the lowest since 1942.
Former employee accused of theft
A woman suspected of stealing more than $25,000 from the Liberty Lake Vet Clinic spent the money on a new car and vacations to Las Vegas, according to court documents.
Kellie M. Smart, 27, was arrested by Liberty Lake Police this week for theft. Smart worked as a receptionist at the business but was fired in October 2013 when the business owner became suspicious that Smart had been stealing money from the cash drawer. He reported that she was living a “lavish” lifestyle that she couldn’t afford on her salary of $12 an hour, according to court documents.
The owner told police that he had secretly marked several of the bills in the drawer. After they vanished he asked another employee to request change from Smart. He told police that she pulled the marked bills out of her purse.
The business owner said he tried to work out a restitution agreement with Smart but it failed.
Teens to be tried for vet’s death
Two Spokane teenagers accused of killing a World War II veteran will stand trial in January.
Kenan Adams-Kinard and Demetruis Glenn, both 17, appeared in court Wednesday in advance of their scheduled Jan. 12 trial for the murder of Delbert “Shorty” Belton.
The teens are accused of beating Belton to death in his car after robbing him in August 2013. Both are being tried as adults.
Their scheduled trial has been pushed back several times, but all three attorneys involved said Wednesday they were ready for trial.