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Stories for Saturday, May 17, 2008.
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BOISE – Low-income Americans who receive government benefits are getting perhaps a surprising message from the federal government about their economic stimulus checks: Use it or lose it.
Spokane County could be on the hook for repaying $500,000 in federal money if it cannot replace 23 affordable housing units lost when the Martindale Apartment building in Hillyard closed Friday because its former management company hadn't paid utility bills.
Note to parents: Discourage children from playing catch with bombs.Three tennis balls wrapped in duct tape were found at West Valley School District's Pasadena Park Elementary on Thursday. Spokane sheriff's officials determined the balls were homemade bombs.
In the three decades since the Vietnam War, Spokane's Gold Star Mothers had all but disappeared. Only a handful remained when the chapter was dissolved several years ago.
Robert Mondavi, the pioneering Napa Valley vintner whose drive and salesmanship revolutionized the way the world thought about California wine, died Friday at his Yountville, Calif., home, a spokeswoman for the Robert Mondavi Winery said. He was 94.
For Saturday, May 17, 2008.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – President Bush failed to win the help he sought from Saudi Arabia to relieve skyrocketing gasoline prices on Friday, a setback for the former Texas oilman who took office predicting he would jawbone oil-producing nations to help the U.S.
WATERTOWN, S.D. – Sen. Barack Obama pushed back Friday against President Bush's implicit criticism of his approach to foreign policy, condemning his administration for not capturing Osama bin Laden and blaming its Iraq war policy for strengthening and emboldening Iran.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Republican Mike Huckabee responded to an offstage noise during his speech Friday to the National Rifle Association by suggesting it was Barack Obama diving to the floor because someone had aimed a gun at him.
SAN DIEGO – The U.S. Border Patrol is installing razor-sharp concertina wire atop border fencing between San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico, marking a major shift in approach along a frequently violent stretch of the border.
Seven weeks after the presidential election, Zimbabwe finally set a runoff date Friday, saying longtime President Robert Mugabe and rival Morgan Tsvangirai will face off in a June 27 ballot that the opposition fears will be skewed by thuggery and fraud.
YINGXIU, China – A powerful aftershock knocked out roads and communications in some of the most quake-ravaged parts of central China on Friday, as emergency crews rescued 163 people who had survived up to 100 hours trapped in the ruins.
YANGON, Myanmar – The official death toll nearly doubled to 78,000 from Myanmar's killer cyclone as heavy rains on Friday lashed much of the area stricken two weeks ago, further hampering relief efforts.
A carnival ride spinning with people collapsed at a county fair Friday night, injuring at least 17, including three seriously, an emergency official said.
Don Gibble posted his Craigslist ad – "gay/lesbian wedding planner" – Friday morning and then the e-mails started arriving.
CHICAGO – Danielle Brown stands outside a South Side market at midnight, braving the spring chill for her first chance to buy groceries since her food stamps ran out nearly two weeks ago.
WASHINGTON – Construction of new homes increased by the biggest percentage in more than two years in April, a rare spot of good news amid the worst downturn in housing in more than two decades.
NEW YORK – Jamie P. Menges sees many of his clients getting squeezed in this economy, and some are considering hard choices – like cutting back on their 401(k) contributions.
BELLINGHAM – New wineries are popping up over much of Washington, mostly in the Walla Walla and Woodinville areas. But the trend is spreading to pockets of the Puget Sound region.
A Liberty Lake tech startup has landed a $148,000 federal grant to work with Gonzaga University faculty on wireless equipment innovation.
1939-1943: People buy orange stamps equal to their normal food expenses; for every dollar of orange stamps purchased, they receive an extra 50 cents in blue stamps to purchase surplus food.
NEW YORK – Wall Street pulled off its lows to finish narrowly mixed Friday as investors squared concerns about rising oil prices with a surprise jump in home construction. The major indexes ended the week with big gains.
NEW YORK – It took only about 120 seconds for a Monet to exchange hands for a small fortune recently.
By relaxing down-payment requirements for borrowers in markets where home prices are falling, Fannie Mae aims to both resuscitate the flagging housing market and respond to pressure from industry groups, consumer advocates and lawmakers.
CATALDO, Idaho – After spotting Jet Skiers cresting waves on the Coeur d'Alene River, emergency management officials are warning people to stay out of the water.
Odessa High School's band director is competing against spring sports as he prepares for the biggest event of the year.
In an unprecedented move during a heated race for state schools chief, members of Washington's powerful teachers union Friday lodged a vote of no confidence against the 12-year incumbent.
For Saturday, May 17, 2008.
A Bonners Ferry man was killed and a woman was injured Friday morning when another car hit a deer and it came through their windshield.
With gas prices nearing $4 a gallon, the Spokane Transit Authority has set a monthly ridership record, carrying nearly 1 million passengers in April.
For Saturday, May 17, 2008.
For Saturday, May 17, 2008.
A man camping near Cataldo suffered a gunshot wound to the hand early Thursday after his friend tried to use a rifle to scare off wild animals but shot him instead.
BOISE – Jack Buell, longtime Democratic county commissioner in Benewah County, has signed on as a county co-chairman of conservative Republican Congressman Bill Sali's re-election campaign.
Spokane County moved closer to owning the former Spokane Raceway Park racing complex Friday when a receiver filed a motion in Superior Court recommending sale of the divided property to five high bidders.
PORTLAND – A $489 million Bush administration final recovery plan for the northern spotted owl says that logging, wildfires and an owl cousin remain threats but the bird's population can be restored within 30 years.
SEATTLE – The University of Washington regents are talking about raising tuition 7 percent next fall, the maximum amount allowed in one year.
SAGLE, Idaho – The Idaho Department of Lands is considering a request to allow expansion of dock space and moorage on North Idaho's Pend Oreille River for a restaurant and hotel.
It's no secret that the land of supersized meals has produced supersized people. Two-thirds of American adults are overweight; one-third are obese. That's double the obesity rate from 30 years ago. Among children ages 6 to 11, 19 percent are overweight. It was 4 percent in the 1970s.
Well, at least they didn't kiss.I was bracing myself for the lip-lock Wednesday when John Edwards endorsed Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination.
A few years ago the National Abortion Rights Action League, as it was then called, or NARAL for short, changed its name to NARAL Pro-Choice America. The idea, as I understood it, was to put the emphasis on "choice" rather than "abortion." This week, the organization announced its own choice in the Democratic primary contest, and as best as I can tell, it had absolutely nothing to do with preserving abortion rights and everything to do with their own sense of self-importance. Many women I know who have given generously to the organization are furious, and I don't blame them.
What happens to men when they shop for gasoline? How can the same people who ignore grocery store coupons become so maniacal about saving less when filling up the tank? Why is it that they can spend so much time on the Internet mapping out the spots with the lowest prices but can't be bothered with comparison shopping when buying corn chips?
Master plan doesn't push new jail
What's next for Spokane County Commissioners Mielke and Richard? Like greedy children crossing out items on a birthday wish-list, these enforcers first wanted a jail and then bought a racetrack.
Federal recovery plans for salmon in the lower Snake River have been repeatedly tossed out by a judge because they lacked sound evidence of efficacy. But as residents watch the water rise behind the Lower Granite Dam, they're beginning to wonder if the four lower Snake dams are worth keeping. Read Lewiston resident Dustin Aherin's guest opinion on Sunday's Roundtable page.
History revealed by the annual drawdown of Lake Roosevelt will go back into hiding now that spring runoff is refilling the sprawling reservoir.
PULLMAN – It is a mess at least four years in the making. It won't get cleaned up soon. But the bad news delivered to the Washington State University football program last week by the NCAA may by an aberration, a one-year blip. At least coach Paul Wulff thinks so. "As we move forward, past this year, we're going under the assumption we are going to sign 25 players, our maximum this next February, and we are going to have the ability to be at 85 scholarships," the first-year coach said Wednesday following the Cougars' recent loss of eight scholarships next season because of a deficient Academic Progress Rate score.
KITCHENER, Ontario – There are no second chances to make a first impression, and here at the Memorial Cup, first impressions are everything.
If winning a state golf championship was a simple case of strength in numbers, Lewis and Clark High School might consider just mailing in both the boys and girls 4A teams titles.
Track and field
Montgomery sentenced
Olympic gold medalist Tim Montgomery was sentenced to 46 months in prison Friday for his part in a multimillion- dollar fake-check scheme.
The 2008 U.S. Open will be held on the Torrey Pines South Course near San Diego in mid-June. We're looking for area golfers who have recently played the South Course and would be willing to talk about their experience.
Hometown, school: Tacoma, Clover Park HighYear recruited: 2003
Hometown, school: Spring Valley, Calif., Grossmont College Year recruited: 2006
Hometown, school: Keller, Texas, Keller High Year recruited: 2005
Hometown, school: Fresno, Calif., Edison HighYear recruited: 2005
Hometown, school: Woodland Hills, Calif., Moorpark JC Year recruited: 2005
Hometown, school: Redlands, Calif., Chaffey College Year recruited: 2005
Hometown, school: Los Angeles, Dorsey High Year recruited: 2005
Kobe Bryant scored 34 points and the Los Angeles Lakers held off a furious rally by Utah in a 108-105 win on Friday night at Salt Lake City, putting the Lakers in the Western Conference finals for the first time in four years.
BALTIMORE – For more than 10 years, horseplayers had known that Edgar Prado was headed for the Hall of Fame. Then he rode Barbaro, and America embraced him. Millions exulted with the Peruvian after the 2006 Kentucky Derby and suffered with him after the colt broke down in the Preakness.
SEATTLE – Four years ago, after bringing the WNBA championship trophy to Seattle, Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson appeared on the cusp of a lengthy run atop the league.
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick lashed out at the team's former video assistant Friday, saying in a televised interview that Matt Walsh was a low-level staffer who was fired for "poor job performance"
In a perfect arenafootball2 world, Spokane Shock coach Adam Shackleford would prefer not seeing Tri-Cities every month or so.
KITCHENER, Ontario – If the opening game of the Memorial Cup tournament offers a sign of what's to come, it's going to be a wild ride.
SEATTLE – Major League Baseball's contrived "natural rivalry" of the Seattle Mariners and the San Diego Padres actually makes some sense this year.
Phillies 10, Blue Jays 3: At Philadelphia, Jayson Werth homered in his first three at-bats and tied a Phillies record with eight RBIs in a win over Toronto. Werth had a chance to tie the major league record of four homers in a game but fouled out to first base to end the seventh inning.
For a couple of track careers that got off to inauspicious starts, West Valley seniors Ashley Kenney and Melissa Mauro are finishing with a flourish.
BOISE – It was the kind of offensive outburst Lake City High baseball coach Cory Bridges has been waiting for all season.
Timberlake coach Mike Menti's prediction of winning games at 10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Friday at the 3A state softball tournament was going pretty well for a while.
Soccer
Washington State 2A: Mitch Weller scored two goals and Alex Adams also scored as Cheney (19-2) defeated Grandview 3-1 Friday in a quarterfinal at Grandview. Cheney will play either Quincy or Port Townsend in the semifinals Friday at Sumner, Wash.
Track and field
Melinda Owen won a sixth Western Athletic Conference pole vault title and helped Idaho's women to a 50-point lead Friday at the league's track and field championships in Boise.
Auto racing
State Line Stadium/Speedway: Northwest Modifieds, Northwest Legends, Hobby Cars, 6 p.m.
Steve Prugh
COURSE: Manito Country Club
4A boys
Avalon Golf Course, Burlington, Tuesday and WednesdayLocal qualifiers
Memoirs can, at times, seem both self-serving and self-absorbed.In the text-speak, those kinds of writing are referred to as TMI – too much information.
Regular readers of this column know that I am a firm believer in the individual's right to decide for himself/herself just what constitutes nice weather.
The thing most on Sandy Ross's mind, the thing this mother cannot forget, is the one thing people around her tried their hardest not to discuss with her. It was as if by not talking about her suffering, it would somehow just go away.
Esmeralda Santiago, author of the memoir "When I Was Puerto Rican," will give two lectures, 1 and 7 p.m., and will attend a 3 p.m. showing of the documentary film "Writing a Life," on Thursday at Eastern Washington University. All events are free and open to the public.
Dear Annie: I am a widow. I met a good man back in 2003 and we hit it off really well. I moved in with him at the end of the year. I am 54 and "Lou" is 50.
Ellen DeGeneres is wasting no time taking advantage of a California court ruling allowing same-sex marriages.
Dear Readers: It's time to print important information about pets and the summer heat.
Aries (March 21-April 19) ••••• Working with others always takes talent, no matter how good you are at it. You might want to mobilize another's support. You discover that you cannot do a project or event alone. Welcome changes.
The Rev. Calvin McKinney is the first to admit his preaching can cause discomfort."It may sometimes be against the grain of your expectation," he said during a recent weeknight prayer meeting at Calvary Baptist Church, a predominantly black congregation in Garfield, N.J.
"I hoped for more."That's how a pastoral colleague and good friend began his response to last month's column about faith and politics at the intersection.
Even at age 13, Sean Altman saw humor in his bar mitzvah, the Jewish ritual marking his passage into adulthood.
Plant sale and swap
Riverfront Farms and Holy Trinity Church will present a plant sale and swap, along with a raised garden bed work party, today from 9 a.m. to noon in Evelyn's Garden at the Brandon Wagner Youth Memorial House, 2605 W. Boone Ave.
We are revisiting yesterday's deal, rotated 180 degrees, to consider four hearts, a contract with four apparent top losers.
Tonight's must-see
"Saturday Night Live" finale, 11:29 p.m., NBC.
The 70th annual Musicfest concluded Friday. The following are additional results for Monday's and Tuesday's competition. CM denotes certificate of merit.
Sacred Heart
TYLER CHRISTOPHER NIELSEN - To Sarah and Brandon Nielsen of Spokane. He weighed 8 lb. 4 oz. and was 21 inches long (May 13).
When "America's Most Wanted" launched in April 1988, there were plenty of skeptics, host John Walsh says.
Dear Dr. Gott: I have not seen anything in your column about fatigue.
In Spokane
10,000 B.C. - Garland: 9:25.
NEW YORK – Moazzam Ahmed tried for years to square his investment goals with the tenets of Islam.
NEW YORK – After nine months of turmoil that started with the collapse of the subprime mortgage market, Wall Street appears to be at a turning point of sorts.
There's a hierarchy in elementary school, with fifth-graders at the top.So for Skyway Elementary fourth-grader Natalie Carroll one perk of being PE teacher for the day was getting to tell the older kids what to do.
Four sessions into her duties as Second District Idaho State Senator, Joyce Broadsword is facing not one, but two challengers in the Republican primary.
Idaho Legislative District 3's two contested races will be decided in the Republican primary because no Democrats are running for office.
DALTON GARDENS – In the corner, opposing creature and humanoid armies prepared to fight on a miniaturized war-torn battlefield. Meanwhile, several feet away in an adjacent area illuminated only by computer screens, lounging players skirmished in digitized modern combat against online rivals, while a handful of front-room patrons clustered around tables ahead of a supernatural-based card tournament.
Tracking superdelegates is an iffy proposition, as they can change their mind at any time.The Democratic National Committee says it doesn't keep count. Many delegates remain uncommitted. But according to the Web site Politico.com, Idaho is one of just three states or territories where the Democratic superdelegates all have committed, now that state Democratic Party Chairman Keith Roark has endorsed Barack Obama for president over Hillary Clinton.
And the answer for all of you fretting local parents is (drum roll, please) – they will come home again. At least, Jennifer Riggs did. The daughter of ex-Idaho Lt. Gov. Jack Riggs is making a name for herself as a budding artist. I was introduced to her work officially last Saturday as part of the downtown Coeur d'Alene Art Walk series. Her paintings and drawings graced the walls of the Java On Sherman coffee shop. You probably have seen her work, too. She was the youngest artist involved in CdA's "No Moose Left Behind" public art project four years ago, designing the "First Man on the Moose" entry. But more than Jennifer's art caught my eye. In a brochure displaying some of her work, she pointed out that she lived in several places throughout the world before realizing that "Coeur d'Alene is a black hole that one can never really escape, especially if one's family still resides there." Tired of "ceaselessly fighting the emotional gravitational pull," Jennifer continues, s
We are finally getting our first really good taste of warm weather across the Inland Northwest. Fortunately for us, the warmth has been accompanied by sunny skies or otherwise benign weather conditions. Across much of the nation east of the Rockies, however, springtime warmth has also been accompanied by deadly severe weather.
Rathdrum article not appreciated
(Editor's note: This letter was inadvertently omitted from the May 3 edition of the Handle Extra)
Hayden
William Betts, 10664 Government Way, commercial remodel, Rocky Mountain Archery, valued at $74,618.
"These dogs have snap!" That's the positive summation a caller made of the hot dogs at Chicago Joe's, a glorified former espresso stand at 611 W. Appleway, just west of the Carpet Warehouse. She said previously Coeur d'Alene didn't have a good hot dog, but these include optional (with no additional cost) mustard, relish, onions, a pickle spear, tomato wedges, sport peppers (really hot) and celery salt on a poppy seed bun.
The Priest Lake Huckleberry Festival, which for many years was sponsored by the Senior Center, has changed sponsors and become the primary annual fundraising event for Priest Lake Search and Rescue.
North Idaho College is holding a public forum on the proposed Education Corridor at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Today •10 a.m.: Blue Star Salute Bazaar and Craft Fair, Athol American Legion Post 149.
For the most part, my spring head cold had faded away but my ears remained stubbornly plugged, rendering everything in my range of hearing muffled and distant.
Saturday
4 TIMES OVER (ROCK) – 9 p.m., One Eye's, 7985 W. Main St., Rathdrum, 687-1926.
The last time a plant facilities levy was passed in Lake Pend Oreille School District, Ronald Reagan was president, a gallon of gas cost 95 cents and the cost of a first-class stamp was 21 cents. That was 1987.
A private education consultant and a man nicknamed "Super Fan" are trying to unseat two Coeur d'Alene School District trustees on Tuesday.
CUMC Men's Fellowship Breakfast – Today, 7:30 a.m. at Coeur d'Alene IHOP, 2301 N. Fourth St. Men of all ages in the community are welcome for fellowship and a program on gardening. Sponsored by Community United Methodist Church. Call 765-8800.
For an hour at Centennial Middle School last week, shrieking and running around the classroom was OK. So was making funny noises with your mouth and lying on the floor pretending to pant like a dog.
Opening for its second season on Wednesday, the Millwood Farmers' Market promotes eating fresh while supporting the local community.
According to an old cliché, it's never good to be the first to arrive at the party and the last to leave. That is, unless you own an event center.
Spokane Valley city officials are taking applications for $130,000 the city will award next year to economic-development and social-service agencies.
At one time or another we all get depressed or melancholy over the state of our lives, the state of the world or even the state of our city streets.
Monday
Valley Fire – 6:30 p.m. at Otis Orchards Elementary School, 22000 E. Wellesley.
Today
"Jungle Book" - A Theater Arts for Children production; 7 p.m., Spokane Valley Partners, 10814 E. Broadway. $5. 891-8325.
Fire District 8 – Commissioners signed an ambulance agreement with other local fire districts. Bids for a new pumper truck came in much higher than planned, and all were rejected. A public hearing was held on whether to use money leftover from a bond passed in 2000 to redesign and rebuild the roof that collapsed on Station 82. Commissioners voted to use the money. Bids were opened for new defibrillators and will be reviewed by staff. (Source: Administrative assistant Carol Trescott)
We want to expand our coverage of Valley neighborhoods and we need your help. Let us know when something interesting is happening in your neighborhood.
A children's classic tale will fill the stage of the Central Valley High School Theatre next week with the production of L.M. Montgomery's "Anne of Green Gables."
Voters in the East Valley and Freeman School Districts have until Tuesday to mail their ballots for the bond elections.
It's graduation and prom season. Summer is just around the corner. We'd like to see your family photographs for Picture Perfect, our weekly community scrapbook of photos from Spokane Valley readers. We want the type of pictures that celebrate the spring milestones and warm summers in Spokane Valley.
Karen Nelson was devastated early last year when her husband of 37 years died.Not only was she faced with a huge emotional loss, she was worried about having to sell the home they had lived in since 1973 because she could no longer maintain it.
Lance Jasper is a storm of creativity. Perhaps he could be described as a male version of Martha Stewart, more rebellious but just as prolific, creating work out of his own forte which is wild, loud and full of life.
Apple maggots are a fairly new but serious pest of apples in the Northwest. They were first detected in Portland in 1979 and have since spread to all the counties in Western Washington and to Spokane, Kittitas, Klickitat and Yakima counties on the East Side. Their presence in commercial orchards can have serious impact on an important element of the state's economy. Because of this, homegrown fruit technically can't be moved out of the area.
Upcoming
Pedicare Health Clinic – 15-minute appointments will be available from 9 a.m.-noon, Tuesday at the Sinto Senior Activity Center, 1124 W. Sinto Ave. The cost is $14. Appointments are required. To register, call 327-2861.
Potluck lunch
Zion Lutheran Church will host a potluck lunch Sunday following the 10:45 a.m. contemporary worship service. The event is in honor of the church's new members. Those planning to attend are asked to bring a main dish, salad or dessert to share. The church is at 8304 E. Buckeye Ave.
The goal of Somebody Needs You is to match donors with the specific requests of needy Spokane residents.
The following students have been named to the second trimester honor roll at Mountain View Middle School.
"way' sl'axt." Hello, friend.Little by little, small groups of students are learning this simple phrase – and many more – in Salish, the language of American Indian tribes such as the Kalispel, Spokane, Colville and Coeur d'Alene.
There is always a home team in the game of baseball. To the Freeman Scotties, however, that's merely a technicality.
That University is playing today in its second straight State 4A baseball tournament is no surprise to coach Scott Sutherland.
Spokane Valley Partners – Volunteers who can give two or more hours per week are needed to sort clothes and operate client-tracking software for the Spokane Valley Partners clothing bank. Contact Connie at 927-1153, ext. 18.
For the first time in decades, Spokane Public Schools is hiring a new bus company.Laidlaw, which was purchased by First Student last year, will make way for Durham School Services for the 2008-2009 school year.
Spokane Valley firefighters responded to a two-for-one vehicle fire and 227 other calls in the seven days that ended Wednesday.
Spokane and Spokane Valley, Wash., Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and the Inland Northwest
©Copyright 2008, The Spokesman-Review
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