The Spokesman-Review from Spokane, Washington • 15

Spokane, Wash. Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Thursday, March 8, 2001 Page B3 Hist Des Moines police officer killed in shooting He was shot in head after stopping 4 young pedestrians; 3 suspects still at large By Janie McCauley Associated Press DES MOINES, Wash. A Des Moines police officer was shot to death early Wednesday after stopping four pedestrians, at least one of whom may have been in trouble with the law before, authorities said. A 19-year-old man described by police as a person of interest in the crime was arrested in the Whatcom County town of Van Zandt, near the Canadian border, Wednesday afternoon. He was being held on unrelated burglary, robbery and assault warrants from King County and Tacoma, Sheriff Dale Brandland said.

Brandland identified the man as Charles S. Champion, hometown The other individuals, believed to be 15 to 18 years old, were still at large and being sought in a police dragnet, Des Moines Police Sgt. Steve Wieland said. The officer was identified as Steven J. Underwood, 33, a six-year veteran of the force.

He was shot during the stop on state Highway 99 also known as Pacific Highway South about four or five miles south of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Wieland said. Underwood died after being taken to Harbor-view Medical Center in Seattle. Police said he was wounded from at least one shot to the head. He was wearing a bulletproof vest. No weapon was recovered.

Underwoods weapon was in its holster when he was found. Investigators wouldnt discuss specifics of evidence from the crime scene. Wieland said Underwood stopped four people who were walking along the road about 1:20 a.m. and told a dispatcher he recognized one from a previous felony case. A police sergeant arrived shortly afterward as backup and found the wounded officer by the road.

It is Des Moines police policy for a second officer to respond to any nighttime stop on the highway, whether backup is requested or not, Wieland said. Witnesses riding a Metro bus told police they heard four gunshots, Kent police spokesman Paul Petersen said. Kent police, who have a force about three times the size of Des Moines, were handling the investigation. Des Moines force has 45 people. Underwood was married with a son, who will turn 2 this weekend.

Within the last two weeks he had been promoted to master patrol officer, police said, and was also a field training officer. In my 32 years of service, I have never been more hurt, sad or confused, said Des Moines police chief Donald Ober-miller. We all are. And there is no answer to the questions we all keep asking, which is, Why? This a tragedy beyond comprehension. Authorities did not immediately release details on the teens being sought, including the nature of the felony case.

Wieland said he believed the suspects had left the area. Underwood was the first Des Moines officer killed on duty since the city was incorporated in 1959, Wieland said. He was well-liked throughout the department, and an avid golfer, Wieland said. Sometimes we forget that the men and women of the Des Moines Police Department truly put their lives on the line every time they put on their uniforms and patrol the city to keep us sate in our homes and businesses, Des Moines Mayor Scott Thomasson said. This tragedy is a jolting reminder of the risks they take for us each and every day.

Yard work already? The County Lines Rakish fellow: "This looks like of Silda Pollard on Fernan Lake in Jim Stebbins of Post Falls said Wednesday. He was working at the property Fairchild museum faces deadline WASHINGTON Adams County Othello The City Council and planning committee have decided not to sell water and sewer services to developments outside the city limits the climate is right. The city quality-of-life issues such as garbage collection, animal control, sidewalks, streetlights and park fees ishould be part of any development. this to happen, the county have to adopt these regulations. Grant County Moses Lake Officials at the Grant County International Airport want people to know its landing strip and refueling Services are available for emergencies.

After the recent Seattle earthquake, the airport was ready to accept flights diverted from SeaTac. Although most planes Were sent to Spokane, one Sun Country plane from Minneapolis was sent here. Lincoln County Ldwall 1 The annual Christian Heritage Country Auction will be March 10. The event benefits Christian Heritage School and boasts more than 600 items, with 70 special big- ticket items for the live auction. Auction items include housewares, furniture, antiques, collectibles, handmade gift baskets and crafts, electronics, beef and pork, vacations and many services from businesses throughout Spokane and Lincoln counties.

The fun starts at 9 a.m. For information or directions, call (509)236-2224. Food and child care is available. Spokane County Deer Park 1 Deer Park AARP Chapter No. 787 will sponsor a 55 Alive driver education class March 19-20 from p.m.

at the Deer Park Senior Center in the lower level of City Hall. The class, designed for drivers who feel a need for reeducation, is open to anyone 50 and older. The cost is $10. To preregister, call 276-2467 or 276-5529. Stevens County Colville I After much consideration and public comment, the city has signed a solid waste contract with Waste Management.

Beginning May 1, new rhtes for residential pickup will be ii) place. The city agreed to let Waste Management do the billing bid will continue billing on water and sewer. Whitman County Pullman The fifth annual model railroad swap meet for the Palouse Empire Rail Society is slated for March 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Beasley Rerforming Arts Coliseum.

At least tyo model train sets will be running, and local authors will be available to sign their books. IDAHO Benewah County St. Maries In December, the Benewah County Extension office started organizing monthly events for 4-H members, families and local youth. The response is growing with each event, according to Sheryl Lockard, a4-H program assistant. The next efcent will be March 17 at the Kyro ICe Center in Coeur dAlene.

Cost is $3.75 for adults and $2.75 for youth 17 and under. Call (208) 245-2422 to register. Bonner County Priest River Six local Special Olympic Athletes placed in the top three in Nordic events at 2001 State Winter Games recently at Schweitzer Mountain. Leslie Dailey took first in the 50-meter race, Karly Kynn Hansen took second in the 50-meter race and third in the 100-meter race, Elizabeth Hruby took second in the 100-meter race and third in the 500-meter race, Dee Dee Scarberry took first in the 10-meter race and second in the 50-meter race, and Cody Schryver and Shannon Tibbetts both took third places in the 50-meter race and second places in the 100-meter race. Boundary County Bonners Ferry Boundary County Commissioners presented two awards Monday morning.

Merle Dinning received a distinguished public service award from Gov. Dirk Kempthorne for serving 12 years as a county commissioner. Denise Woodbury received a certificate of accommodation and appreciation for 15 years of service in the prosecutors office from Attorney General A1 Lance. Kootenai County Post Falls The Coeur dAlene Charter Academy, 711 W. Kathleen, is having a Thank You Dessert and open house at 6 tonight.

The public is invited, and recent donors who gave money to open four new classrooms and science labs will be honored. Students will showcase their projects, and teachers will be available to answer questions about the school. Latah County Moscow A public forum on agricultural field burning will be held from noon to 5:30 p.m. March 10 at the University of Idaho, Whitewater and Clearwater rooms. The event is sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency.

For more information, call Lori Barnes in Coeur dAlene at (208) 665-9922. Shoshone County Pinehurst Klassic Kuts hair salon is offering $50 gift certificates to the first 20 students in the three Silver Valley high schools who maintain straight-As and come into the shop. The students need to bring their report cards to the shop within two weeks after receiving them. The certificates are good for tanning, haircuts, hair-dying and manicures. MONTANA Lincoln County Libby The Libby Area Development Co.

board took under consideration a $220,000 request from Kootenai Winter Sports for a $92,000 grant and a $128,000 loan guarantee to fund a chairlift and lodge at Turner Mountain. Although the entire package is budgeted at $444,000, Tim Charnon, told the board, We feel that we can raise $220,000 on our own. The LADC board plans to vote on the proposal at its next meeting, scheduled for 10 a.m. April 2, in the Ponderosa Room. Some of the information In County Lines comes from readers tips and from community newspapers.

Send your tips by fax to County Lines at (208) 765-7149; by mail to County Lines, The Idaho Spokesman-Review, 608 Northwest Suite 200, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814; or by e-mail to newsspokesman.com. IF YOU GO Fund-raising lunch The Fairchild Heritage Museum Society Is holding a $100-per-plate fund-raising luncheon Wednesday, March 21, to help save the museum. Reservations and museum information are available by calling 247-2100. late fund-raising luncheon March 1. Held at the Mukogawa Fort Wright Commons, the luncheon will kick off a 90-day fund-raising blitz, Brown said.

Medal of Honor winner Vernon Baker and Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronald Marcotte will be guest speakers. Brown said a new location could boost attendance. Currently, visitors to the museum must pass through the guarded main gate at Fairchild.

Weinman figures that passage intimidates one of every two visitors so badly that they turn away. This isnt just about preserving history, Weinman said. Moving the museum would make it a viable economic engine for the community. Though $3.5 million is a lot of money, it is a doable sum, Brown said. Weve got veterans in this area.

If they each gave $100 wed have $3 million. with free shoes Military may close it unless locals raise money By Tracy Ellig Staff writer Generations of military history at the Fairchild Heritage Museum once again face a threat of being shipped away, sold or even destroyed. The Air Force has set a deadline of July 1 for interested parties to raise $1.75 million to save the collection of 7,000 artifacts from the Civil War through the Gulf War. The collection is housed in the museum on the grounds of Fairchild Air Force Base. The Air Force has considered since 1994 shrinking the museum to a single room with 500 or fewer items for budget reasons.

A nonprofit group of volunteers, called the Fairchild Heritage Museum Society, has fought to keep the collection intact and open to the public in some form for the past five Kathy PlonkaThe Spokesman-Review Immigration law changes explained By Rob McDonald Staff writer A recent change in immigration law is causing confusion and leading some illegal aliens to mistakenly believe they qualify for amnesty, according to a nonprofit legal service center. To clarify the impact of the Legal Immigration Family Equity Act, two attorneys from Columbia Legal Services in Spokane will give a free workshop to explain whos affected by the law, which was signed by President Clinton Dec. 21. The session begins at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Moot Court Room, Gonzaga Law School, 721 N.

Cincinnati. Spanish and Russian interpreters will be present. The law change applies to people in the process of seeking residency who have been sponsored by a relative or a company, and who are already in the United States but dont have legal residence. It applies to people who have been living in the United States since Jan. 14, 1998.

Previously they would have had to return to their home countries to complete their naturalization process. The new law allows a person to naturalize while staying in the United States. The fee for filing under the law, known as Section 245(i), is $1,000, on top of other filing fees. Aticno Adhimbo, a staff ncy for Columbia Legal Services, said she's received several calls from people who heard they could be granted amnesty. Adhimbo and staff attorney Scott Gambill said they are concerned that unqualified immigration advisers could be passing along bad advice.

Once a person makes a misstep with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service by providing incorrect or fraudulent information, it can permanently damage an immigration case, Gambill said. this could be a good spring, handyman Idaho. years. The 92nd Air Refueling Wing, which is based at Fairchild, has shown tremendous support for the project, said Arnold Weinman, society president and a retired Fairchild wing commander.

But the decision to keep the museum open is made at far higher levels, Weinman said. The society came up with a $3.5 million plan to move the museum buildings and its collection of military planes and artifacts to a site on the corner of Rambo Road and U.S. Highway 2. The new museum will include history from all branches of the military. The Air Force will lease 34 acres at no cost for the museum, but it wants the society to raise half of the $3.5 million by July 1 as a demonstration of community interest.

This is a real deadline. The museum is going away if we dont get the money, said Fred Brown, museum director. The society is mailing 4,000 invitations this week to a $100-per- Junior Bloomsday and Bloomsday, said the incentive has increased upper-grade participation in race training eightfold from last year. For a free pair of tennis shoes, I really want my kids to go out there and do it, Antonio said. But the program isnt just about exercise.

Students will read four inspirational stories on athletes, including soccer star Mia Hamm and cyclist Lance Armstrong. Theyll take quizzes on each story and finish by writing an essay on the readings. In the meantime, they must join a 10-week fitness course like the one Antonio coaches or participate in an equal amount of exercise elsewhere. Will Nyholm, fitness and health teacher at Sheridan, likes the program because it teaches children to Junior Bloomsday lures kids By Jonathan Brunt Staff writer Sometimes an incentive can make all the difference. That could be the case this year when it comes to physical fitness at two Spokane elementary schools.

More than 100 fourth- through sixth-graders at Logan and Sheridan schools will each get a free pair of Nike running shoes if they complete a fitness and reading pilot program sponsored by Junior Bloomsday. The training, titled Just Read, Run and Be Your Best, was announced at a news conference Wednesday. There is not a program that is like it in the country right now, said race coordinator Daniel Petek, who hopes it spreads to other schools next year. Marla Antonio, a Logan teacher who also prepares children to run in set goals and make commitments. These are the kind of life skills that will apply for the rest of their time in school, he said.

Hes also happy to attract older kids away from TV and video games. In the fifth and sixth grade, theyre not as active as they were when they were younger, Nyholm said. Besides the shoes, kids who complete the program will get free entry into Junior Bloomsday. Petek said he expects more than 8,000 children to participate in Junior Bloomsday on April 14 at Albi Stadium. The cost is $5 until April 4.

Late entries cost $10. Entry forms arc available at Spokane Public Schools, Albertsons stores, Carls Jr. restaurants and www.juniorbloomsday.org. I.