Northwest Briefly: Highway 529 renamed to honor military

Published 12:01 am Thursday, November 5, 2009

EVERETT — A section of Highway 529 between Everett and Marysville is being designated as a Yellow Ribbon Highway to honor military personnel.

A dedication ceremony is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. today at the Inn at Port Gardner in Everett with military and Transportation Department officia

ls and local leaders.

The Transportation Commission approved a resolution in July to place Yellow Ribbon Highway signs along an 8-mile stretch of the highway. The resolution was proposed by Everett resident Nathan Olson to honor his older brother.

Seattle: Atheists, agnostics to mee

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About 600 atheists and agnostics are gathering in Seattle this weekend for the annual convention of the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

Speakers include Seattle radio host Ron Reagan.

A signature event will be the Nonprayer Breakfast Saturday at the meeting at the downtown Red Lion Hotel.

Co-president Laurie Gaylor told The Seattle Times the speaker tells the gathering, “You’ve all been to gatherings where you’ve been told to bow your heads and have a moment of silence. Well, here’s your chance to fight back.”

Then there will be a moment of bedlam when members hoot, holler and tap on glasses to make as much noise as possible.

The foundation has about 14,000 members nationwide, including 900 in Washington.

Fundraiser for Sen. Murray postponed

Sen. Patty Murray’s office says the campaign fundraiser with Vice President Joe Biden scheduled for Friday in Seattle has been postponed.

Murray spokeswoman Alex Glass says it will be delayed to a later date out of respect for slain Seattle police Officer Timothy Brenton whose funeral is Friday.

Gusty winds, rains predicted today

The National Weather Service says a storm will blow into Western Washington today with gusty winds and rains that will fill rivers in Mason and Whatcom counties.

High winds are forecast for the coast, northwest interior and Cascades.

A flood watch is in effect from this afternoon through Friday afternoon for Skokomish and Nooksack rivers.

Forecasters say unsettled weather will continue into next week as a series of disturbances move through Western Washington.

Yakima: Man hurt in gang shooting

A thick sweat shirt may have offered some protection to the victim of a gang shooting in Yakima.

Police said two small- caliber bullets were recovered from the sweat shirt after the 18-year-old was treated at a Yakima hospital for a minor wound to his right arm.

Police said he was riding with three other people around midnight Tuesday when another car pulled along side and shots were fired. They shattered a side window and hit the victim who was riding in the back seat.

Police said it was a gang shooting, and the victims were wearing gang attire.

Man kills himsel during standoff

An overnight standoff at a north Seattle home ended when police discovered the man inside had killed himself.

Spokesman Mark Jamieson says it began about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday with a domestic violence call. A woman said the man accused her of cheating and punched and strangled her.

The man was gone when officers arrived. The woman and a 1-year-old child were treated at a hospital for scratches and bruises.

Jamieson says the man returned to the home, called police demanding to know where his family had gone and threatening to kill himself.

Police surrounded the home. The man refused to negotiate or come out. A SWAT team entered the home about 3 a.m. Wednesday and found him dead from a self-inflicted shot to the head.

Fort Lewis: Services for soldiers

Fort Lewis is planning memorial services today and Tuesday for the eight soldiers who were killed on Oct. 27 in Afghanistan.

A service will be held today at the North Fort Chapel for 20-year-old Pfc. Brian R. Bates of Gretna, La., who was killed by a roadside bomb.

Spokeswoman Catherine Caruso said a service is tentatively planned for Tuesday at the North Fort Chapel for the seven other soldiers killed the same day by another roadside bomb.

All were members of the 5th Stryker brigade that deployed in July.

Bellingham: Ducks died from fungus

A Washington state Fish and Wildlife veterinarian said more than 250 ducks found dead near Lynden apparently ate moldy grain and died of a fungal disease.

Kristin Mansfield says necropsies done on some of the ducks showed signs of aspergillosis, a fungal infection that can cause pneumonia in birds. She said it’s not contagious.

Kent: Ashes of 28 veterans at rest

After spending years on the shelves at the King County medical examiner’s office, the unclaimed ashes of 28 veterans were laid to rest Wednesday at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Wash.

Until recently, only a family member could claim a veteran’s ashes. Cemetery Director James Trimbo signed an agreement assuming legal responsibility so that the veterans could be laid to rest.

Some had encountered hard times; some were homeless. A number of fellow veterans gathered at the cemetery for the service.

Ore.: Fine for 911 fast-food complaint

A 20-year-old man who called 911 to get his fast-food order straightened out has been told to pay a $300 fine.

Washington County, Ore., sheriff’s deputies said Raibin Raof Osman called the emergency line to complain that a McDonald’s in Aloha had left out a box of orange juice from his drive-through order.

A restaurant employee later called 911 to report that Osman and others who were with him were blocking the lane, knocking on restaurant windows and intimidating employees.

Deputies tried to explain to Osman that refereeing such disputes is not what they do. They said he insisted he had the legal right to call police. He was taken to jail.

The Oregonian says Osman pleaded guilty recently to improper use of 911 and has been ordered to pay the fine.

Alaska: Attempted murder conviction

An Anchorage jury has convicted a woman of attempted murder for pulling a gun on her supervisors during a job evaluation.

The jury returned its verdict Wednesday against Karan Clifton.

Anchorage Deputy District Attorney Sharon Marshall says Clifton was armed with a loaded handgun when she went to the meeting with her bosses. When a supervisor told Clifton she would need an evaluation before returning to work, Marshall says Clifton pulled out the gun and pointed it at the chest of one of her supervisors.

Marshall says Clifton pulled the trigger, but the gun didn’t fire. Clifton was apprehended after a struggle.

Colo.: Man mulls plea deal over threat

A Washington state man accused of threatening relatives of a Colorado doctor who performs late-term abortions is considering a plea deal.

Federal court documents filed in Denver said Donald Hertz of Spokane indicated he was willing to accept the offer with minor modifications. His attorney Russell Van Camp said Wednesday he doesn’t want Hertz to go to jail.

Associated Press