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Driver dies from injuries after single car crash

The driver of a car that crashed into a tree near the intersection of Felts and Mission Monday morning has succumbed to his injuries.

The man was extricated and transported to the hospital where he was initially listed in critical condition. The Spokane County Sheriff's Office sent out a press release later in the morning saying the individual succumbed to their injuries.

The sheriff's office reported that alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.

The medical examiner identified the driver as Dustin Andrew Christensen, 37. The cause of death was listed as dislocation of C1 - C2 spinal column due to probable neck hyperextension.

I came. I saw. I danced. I lost.

Since I so shamelessly begged for your votes, I figured the least I could do was share the outcome of last weekend's CYT Dancing With Celebrities (and, the video proof of what took place.)

I suppose I gave the conclusion of this story away in the headline. But, what I left out is that I had a total blast doing this event and I'm so glad I did it, despite not winning in the end. I was fortunate to meet and work with an AMAZING dancer, Brenden Hebert. That man can move, folks - and, he didn't even yell at me when I couldn't figure out the most basic steps in the choreography. Did he laugh at me sometimes? Sure. Especially during one of our first rehearsals when my heels caught on each other and I fell flat on the ground like a falling tree. But, he was always patient and constructive and I was lucky to share the stage with him, even if just for a few minutes.

Kyle Petty kicks off fundraiser in Coeur d'Alene Saturday

The 19th annual Kyle Petty Ride Across America kicks off in Coeur d'Alene Saturday to help raise funds for chronically sick children.

The event started 19 years ago to raise money for Victory Junction a camp and medical facility started by the Petty family after Kyle's son passed away in 2000 in a racing accident.

Today it takes about $2,500 to send one kid to camp and one look at a long line of fans out to meet Petty and you'll find that might be something Spokane is ready to help out with.

On Friday morning Kyle Petty was up bright and early at Krispy Kreme; the doughnut chain has done a lot to help support his cause.

"We've had a ton of kids from this area come to camp because of Krispy Kreme," Petty explained. "They've raised millions of dollars for us, so we asked people to go out and buy a doughnut and get a cup of coffee in the morning. Nothing is better than a hot Krispy Kreme."

Victory Junction isn't just a camp; it's a place sick kids can go for fun and treatment.

"We have a full time doctor, full time nurses there, the camp goes year round, it's totally free to all the kids that come," Petty said.

National Drug Take Back Day

National Drug Take Back Day

On Saturday, April 27th, police departments across the region will be hosting drug collections as part of the Drug Enforcement Administration's fifth National Drug Take Back Day.

 

The DEA has collected over 1,000 tons of unused and expired prescription drugs over the last three years. The take back day was started to get the public more involved in the prevention of prescription drug abuse.

 

Unused prescription drugs in homes are considered a public health and safety concern by the DEA. According to the DEA this is because the drugs are “highly susceptible to accidental ingestion, diversion, misuse and abuse”.

 

A survey done by the DEA found that the majority of abuses get their prescription drugs through friends and family. Often times it's as simple as raiding the medicine cabinet. Americans currently abuse more prescription drugs than those using cocaine, hallucinogens and heroin combined.

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Fire leaves Spokane Valley house uninhabitable

A garage fire temporarily displaced several foster children from a Spokane Valley home.

The fire started just after1 a.m. Thursday in a garage on the 1100 block of South St. Charles Road.

Firefighters said the garage is destroyed and the house has smoke damage.

Spokane Valley Assistant Fire Marshal Bill Clifford said the house is for "troubled children" and five people were home at the time of the fire. Four of them are foster kids, ranging from 9 to 18 years old.

The Child Development Director who was at the home said he thought he heard something outside and went to take a look. When he looked in the back of the house, he saw smoke coming from the garage. He went back inside, woke up the children and got everyone out of the house.

Clifford said the people living there will be allowed to return home sometime next week. The kids will be taken to other homes in the area until they can return.

The cause of the fire is being investigated.

Business frustrates deputies in search for robbery suspect

Spokane County Sheriff deputies are searching for a man they say robbed a gas station Saturday night while the sheriff himself is mad about the lack of support one company gave his deputies to help find the suspect.

Joshua Wippert, 31, allegedly stabbed a gas station attendant with a pen and took off with some cash from the gas station he robbed.

Deputies followed the path the clerk told them Wippert was last riding and found an abandoned bike behind American Behavioral Health Systems. The victim identified the bike as Wippert's.

Deputies also had a K-9 track Wippert's smell from the abandoned bike, the victim identified as the suspect's, to the front door of American Behavioral Health Systems.

So deputies contacted the facility to ask if Wippert was a resident there and here's the point where Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich gets frustrated.

The employees of American Behavioral Health Systems could neither confirm nor deny whether Wippert was a resident there. After the facility's supervisor was called they said they couldn't confirm or deny he was in the building.

New program hopes to provide running shoes for local kids

New program hopes to provide running shoes for local kids

Would you go for a run in flip-flops and jeans? The answer is more than likely no. Unfortunately, that is the reality for many area children participating in school running programs. A new local group is looking to fix that and needs your donations.

 

Michelle Neill noticed a need for running shoes while she was volunteering last fall with the cross country program at Lincoln Heights Elementary. Neill put out a request for gently used gear over Facebook. Shortly after shoes and shorts started showing up on her front door.

 

Soles4Youth was born and Neill, along with her friend Lesli Cleveland, wants to provide proper shoes and clothes for kids who love to run. They've partnered with Active4Youth who fund the fall and spring school running programs.