News Briefs

Alert deputy intervenes to stop suicide attempt

A Spokane County Sheriff’s Office deputy is being credited with thwarting a suicide attempt in a West Plains parking lot.

Deputy Brad Humphrey noticed a suspicious vehicle in the Airway Heights Walmart parking lot at approximately 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14. As he approached, he saw a dryer hose running from the vehicle’s exhaust pipe to its open trunk.

Humphrey also observed an adult male covered with a blanket, reclined back in the driver’s seat. All the windows of the vehicle were rolled up and the rear passenger seat was folded down, exposing the trunk, allowing the exhaust fumes of the running vehicle to enter the passenger compartment.         

Humphrey contacted dispatchers and requested assistance, and then began attempting to get the individual’s attention by yelling, tapping on the window and shining his flashlight into the vehicle. Two Airway Heights police officers responded and assisted Humphrey in unlocking the vehicle to allow the exhaust fumes to dissipate and extract the male, who was disoriented.

The man was given medical attention and taken into protective custody.

Photography and video workshops share skills to amplify your creativity

Spokane County Library District has announced that workshops and programs about digital photography and video creation for teens and adults will be held at The Lab at North Spokane Library and The Studio at Spokane Valley Library. All programs are free.

At The Lab at North Spokane Library, a series of digital photography workshops run from Jan. 27 through March 13 with topics ranging from iPhone camera tips and tricks to the Adobe Creative Cloud tools Photoshop and Lightroom.

The video workshop series, March 21 through April 28, at The Lab at North Spokane, Library includes programs on using green screens and royalty free music and images.

Each workshop series at The Lab includes weekly drop-in hours on Wednesdays, 6 – 8 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The Studio at Spokane Valley Library offers drop-in hours on Tuesdays, 6 – 8 p.m. and Saturdays, 2 – 5 p.m. each week. Workshops at The Studio start on Jan. 20 and run through April 19 and include several video and audio editing programs and fun video camera crew program for kids in grades 4–12.

For more information about workshops and classes, including days and times, please visit http://www.scld.org/express-your-creativity or pick up the latest copy of “Engage,” the programs and events guide, available at all district libraries and online at http://www.scld.org/engage.

Coulee Hite Road scene of truck/train collision  

According to a news release, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a vehicle that hit a train on Coulee Hite Road at approximately 5:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 19, north of Sprague Avenue in west Spokane County.

Initial information received indicates the passenger truck, pulling a boat and trailer, was traveling south on Coulee Hite Road and with the fog and slick road conditions could not stop in time to avoid hitting the train which was stopped across the road while connecting additional railroad cars. 

The adult male driver and passenger received what appear to be serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Both were transported by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment. 

This incident is being investigated, but deputies at the scene believe speed is a factor due to the slick roadway conditions and dense fog. Impairment does not appear to be a factor in this crash.