In brief: Man shot to death in Moses Lake drive-thru; two arrested
Two Moses Lake residents were arrested on suspicion of murder Sunday after an altercation at a fast-food restaurant drive-thru led to a young man being fatally shot.
Christian Guerra, whose 22nd birthday was Sunday, died at Samaritan Healthcare after he was shot outside a Jack in the Box in Moses Lake about 1:30 a.m., Moses Lake police Capt. Dave Sands said.
Soon after the shooting police arrested Jason D. Williams, 37, and Martha S. Mejia, 34. Both were booked into the Grant County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder, Sands said.
The suspects were in an SUV in the drive-thru that backed up and almost struck a car in which Guerra was a passenger, police said. Williams and Mejia got out of their vehicle and confronted Guerra, leading to a physical altercation with him, Sands said.
Williams allegedly retrieved a gun from the SUV and fired several rounds at Guerra and the car, and Guerra was struck and fell to the ground, police said. No one else was hurt.
Williams and Mejia fled the scene and soon were apprehended nearby, Sands said. Detectives later recovered a Beretta 9 mm handgun believed to have been used in the shooting.
Jacklins giving land for veterans home
The descendants of grass seed pioneer Ben Jacklin will donate a $1.1 million piece of property in west Post Falls for a home for disabled and elderly veterans.
Brothers Don, Doyle and Duane Jacklin, all veterans, agreed to donate almost 10 acres in their Riverbend Commerce Park, a 300-acre campus for light-industrial and software companies. The lot is just east of Buck Knives.
Veterans organizations are working with the city and state on an application to the Veterans Administration for a grant to fund two-thirds of the construction cost for a 95-unit veterans home. Prerequisites for the grant are a donated site and state funding equal to 35 percent of the construction cost.
The Post Falls facility would employ about 50 people, Post Falls Mayor Ron Jacobson said Sunday.
Idaho has three veterans homes, in Boise, Lewiston and Pocatello. An estimated 19,000 veterans live in the state’s northern counties.
The Jacklins sold Jacklin Seed to J.R. Simplot Co. in 1997. They own and operate Riverbend, a venture capital business and Jacklin Land Co.
Report finds strong Idaho snowpack
IDAHO FALLS – A recent report finds a majority of Idaho has above-average snowpack and precipitation levels halfway through the wet season.
The report was issued by the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service. It paints an encouraging picture, but experts caution that there’s still time for the trend to reverse.
Boise-based water specialist Ron Abramovich told the Post Register that the panhandle typically sees more precipitation than the rest of the state.
But he said the roles have switched this season, with North Idaho snowpacks below normal while other parts of the state are at or above their typical levels.
High winds leave West Siders in dark
SEATTLE – More than 25,000 electricity customers in Western Washington were still without power by halftime of the Seahawks-Packers game.
A windstorm left more than 65,000 people without power on Sunday morning throughout the region.
Power companies were able to keep their promise to 40,000 Seahawks fans, who did get their power back in time to watch the football game.
KOMO-TV reported wind gusts reached more than 40 mph Saturday night.
Thurston County slide danger high
OLYMPIA – Officials in Thurston County have notified a handful of homeowners of a potential landslide hazard in the Lacey area.
The Thurston Conservation District warned the county’s emergency management late Friday that a slope near Marian Drive Northeast is actively sliding. The district said it extends to neighboring properties.
Officials said the landslide potential is increasing, thanks to heavy rains and high groundwater in recent weeks.
UW suspends frat’s social activities
SEATTLE – The University of Washington has suspended all social activities at a fraternity after a student told police someone had tried to force her to have sex after a party where others say their drinks may have been spiked.
The Seattle Times reported the university and its police department are investigating.
University Police said a student reported on Friday that she felt coerced into accepting a ride home from a man who had also attended a party at the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house. He offered her a drink and after drinking some she said she felt strange. She told police the man then drove her to a parking lot and tried to force himself on her.
The student said she was able to get away.
Three other women who attended the fraternity party also reported to police that their beverages may have been spiked.