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This just in … an e-mail just came in from the Western Division of The Home Depot in Orange, California which, in a nutshell, says that the company has decided not to build a new store on the South Hill.

Here’s the statement from Home Depot on their decision:

“We reevaluated this deal and found it no longer works for us. We made this decision based on a number of factors. As you know, deals like this are always changing, our plans change, the business landscape changes; no one factor is to blame.

As announced earlier this year, we have reduced our store openings as we focus on investments in our existing stores and operations. By continuing our investment in our existing stores, we will be in a very strong position once the current business climate recovers. We continue to look for new opportunities to bring our business to different areas of Spokane. Our stores in Spokane, Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake will continue to serve the community.”

For all of you NASCAR and IRL lovers out there cruising through downtown Spokane comes this friendly reminder from the Spokane Police Department:

The City of Spokane is announcing its red-light safety cameras will begin taking photos of red-light runners at several intersections beginning tomorrow morning, October 1st at 8:00am. During the 30-day warning period, the photo enforcement cameras will capture still images and video of red-light running violations. A warning notice will be issued to the vehicle’s owner. There is no fine for this warning notice. At the completion of the warning period, November 1st, citations will be issued.

The photo enforcement cameras are located at the following intersections:

Browne St. southbound at Sprague Ave.

Hamilton St. northbound at Mission Ave.

Division St. north and southbound at Francis Ave.

“The warning period will give our residents an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the public safety goals of our red-light program before the actual citations begin,” said Sgt. Eric Olsen. “This is a public safety program and our goal is to stop red-light runners and prevent collisions resulting from red-light runners.”

Cameras operate 24-hours a day and capture images of every vehicle running a red light at the intersection. Warning signs alerting drivers to the red-light cameras have been installed prior to the warning period. After the warning period is complete, drivers who run red lights at the designated intersections will be issued a violation. American Traffic Solutions, Inc. (ATS) administers the program with each violation reviewed and approved by the Spokane Police Department prior to being issued.

For more information on Spokane’s Red Light Photo Enforcement Program call (509) 625-4181, email at photored@spokanepolice.org, or visit the Spokane Police Department’s website at spokanepolice.org.

President George W. Bush has announced he will address the nation tonight at 6 p.m. KXLY.com will stream his address live.

KXLY4 News @ 6 will be pre-empted by the president’s remarks and will begin after his comments have concluded.

Tim Cronin, the attorney for the family of the teen named as the person who started an unauthorized fire which investigators claim was the triugger of the Valley View Fire, issued the following statement on the family’s behalf Friday:

I respect KXLY’s policy of not releasing the name of the minor and his family, involved in this matter.

The young man and his family understand the confusion and concern expressed by those harmed by the recent Valley fires. They wish to assure the people of Spokane that their son is a responsible young man and he has fully cooperated with authorities in attempting to determine the origin of this devastating fire. We know at this time that three days prior to the fire, the young man, with permission of the adult he thought was the property owner, long known to the young man’s family, started and properly extinguished a small fire in a long used fire pit area. In extinguishing the fire, he twice watered down the ground for approximately five minutes, turned over the ground and ensured no embers were remaining. We understand the consenting property owner passed by the fire pit area several times in the intervening three days and reports no evidence of fire or smoke.

The lawsuit claims the parents are liable for their son’s “willful and malicious” conduct. DNR and fire experts have not yet determined the cause of this tragic fire. It is not reasonable to claim in a lawsuit for money that the fire damages were caused by any improper conduct by the young man or his family, and his conduct was certainly not “willful and malicious.”

Emergency responders are heading to 95 and Chilco where a dump truck and a train have reportedly collided.

No word on any injuries aboard train or in dump truck.

UPDATE: HBO is reporting the dump truck driver is out and arguing with railroad workers.

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department is assisting the Coeur d’Alene Police Department in looking for Daniel B. Varner, 54 of Coeur d’Alene.

Varner, reported missing over the weekend, was last seen in Coeur d’Alene on Saturday, August 16th at about 6:00 a.m. in route to the Fernan area to cut firewood. He has not been seen since.

The Sheriff’s Department is asking if you have seen Varner, or his vehicle, a 1998 Ford F150, Maroon in color with Idaho License K267796, please contact the Sheriff’s Department at (208) 446-1300 or the Coeur d’Alene Police Department at (208) 769-2320.
The Coeur d’Alene Police Report Number is: 08C24795

Shoshone County authorities are investigating the discovery of the bodies of a man and a woman in their 20s which were found Friday morning near Dobson Pass north of Wallace.

Shoshone County Sheriff Chuck Reynalds confirmed the bodies were discovered around 8 a.m. Friday by huckleberry pickers. Authorities are not sure how they died however one victim had visible gunshot wounds.

The sheriff’s department doesn’t know the identity of the victims, they don’t know how long they’ve been there and no missing persons reports have been filed. Additionally they’re not sure how they got to where they were found since no car was found in the area.

Authorities are at the scene where the two victims were found and expect to be there well into the evening.

Details to follow here.

Spokane Police Department Media Release:

Last Saturday, July 26, 2008, just before midnight, a whilte male walked
into the Rite-Aid Pharmacy, 5520 North Division, and demanded oxycontin.
The suspect attempted to alter his appearance with the use of heavy/dark
eye makeup. He implied a weapon, and the victim belived the suspect had
a gun. The suspect received over 500 pills, a street value of over
$1000.00. The suspect ran out of the store, fled south through the
parking lot and then ran east.

Detectives believe this is the same subject who robbed the Rite-Aid on
June 4, 2008 just after midnight. The physcial descriptions are the
same. The suspect’s behavior and demeanor are similar in both robberies
as well.

The suspect is described as a white male, thin build (possibly 160
pounds), about 6′00″ tall. In the latest robbery, the suspect was
wearing a dark stocking cap pulled low on his forehead, a dark navy long
sleeve shirt with dark pants (possible workout clothing). See attached
photo. The second security photo is of the suspect during the June
robbery.

Rite-Aid is offering a $5000.00 reward for information that leads to the
arrest and conviction of this suspect. Citizens are urged to call
242-TIPS with any information!

Spokane Police are searching for two girls, ages 10 and 11, who were reported missing just after 4 p.m. from 1511 East Desmet.

Details to follow.

MEDIA RELEASE

Date: July 15, 2008 Release: Immediate