Spokane Chronicle from Spokane, Washington • 3

I M-7r'1-11K) REGIONAL Spokant afonitte APRIL 20.1990 Al i 1 I Parents say death was no accident PM. FRIDAY SPOKANE eu Today and Saturday he at are free dump days Spokane County residents can as dump their household waste for free at the Northside and Mica landfills today and Saturday. s- The free dump days are being sponsored by the city and county h- in honor of the 20th anniversary of Earth Day. Id Officials say ordinary house- ng hold waste such as lawn clipp- of ings and kitchen trash will be acye cepted at the landfills. But vehicles bearing commercial loe- gos, more than a ton of trash, us.

commercial garbage or waste oil will be charged the usual $50 fee. 1 For more information, call 456-7403. PA FRIDA SPOKANE eu Today an at are free Spokane Col as dump their he free at the No landfills today s- The free dui sponsored by h- in honor of tho of Earth Day. Id Officials sa rg hold waste su of ings and kitcho ve cepted at ti vehicles beani gos, more thr us. commercial oil will be cha fee.

For more 456-7403. John Evans says those socks probably were bloody and would prove his son was in a fight when he lost his shoes. "I don't know what happened to them," Detective Nick Stanley said; when asked about the socks. He, said he believes they may have I been thrown away in the hospital's emergency room. emergency room.

I their son was walking downhill toward home and struck from behind his shoes were found 86 feet downhill from him. The autopsy revealed the blow, which broke the youth's spine and caused fatal kidney bleeding, hit him 46 inches off the ground, more than twice the height of the average car bumper. Police say the vehicle may have been a pickup with oversize tires. The Evanses say their son, who was 6-foot-3 and weighed 180, may have been clubbed. nerhans from a moving vehicle.

They also say finger-size bruises on his biceps seem to suggest he was restrained at some point. The victim's socks were lost. the scene or chalk-marking the spot in the roadway where the victim was found. a Blood spots on the pavement, which may have belonged to someone other than the victim, were washed away, and police didn't take samples. Passerby Sandy Ferris, who was first on the accident scene, said Russell spoke to her, but officers at the scene made no attempt to ask the boy what happened.

Although police say the youth was struck by a truck in the downhill, north-bound lanes of Ray, the physical evidence doesn't seem to square with the direction he was walking. His parents are puzzled why if was fatally assaulted just hours after a confrontation involving several youths near the Lincoln Heights shopping center. Believing the investigation has been mishandled, they hired Dr. William Eckert, one of the nation's leading death investigators. The Kansas pathologist recently concluded that marks on Russell Evans' body were consistent with a hit-and-run accident, but said other injuries strongly suggest the Libby Middle School student was assaulted.

His findings fueled the parents' criticism of the police investigation. They cite these specifics: Officers didn't follow the common procedure of photographing By Bill Morlin Staff writec Last year's death of Spokane teenager Russell Evans may remain a mystery forever to everyone except his parents, who think they have the answer. 4 They are convinced their 13- year-old son, who yearned to be a college basketball star, died as the result of youth vi- olence on the city's South Hill. John and Sue Russell Evans Evans say they believe their son NI Police didn't interview Seyd Matteson, the last known person to I see Russell Evans before he was in- jured. 1 Jurea.

1 Matteson, however, when interviewed by a reporter, had little new to add to the circumstances surrounding his friend's death. Please see DEATH: A4 Indian education Rogers princess is queen BAKER CITY, Ore. Snake River closed to wind surfboards The U.S. Forest Service has banned the use of non-traditional watercraft, including jet skis, wind surfboards and water skis, on the Snake River in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Supervisor Bob Richmond said the ban also includes powerboats with motors not equipped with water-cooled exhaust systems.

It is effective on a 67.5-mile stretch of the Snake River that has been federally designated as wild and scenic, reaching from Hells Canyon Dam to an area four miles south of the Oregon-Washington border. "Safety is the major reason for imposing the restriction," Richmond said in a news release received Thursday. "There have been some near collisions between these smaller watercraft and larger powerboats. "Therefore, I have imposed the restriction until powerboats, floaters, other canyon users and the Forest Service assess all types of use on the wild and scenic Snake River." A task force comprising river and canyon users, assisted by the University of Idaho, is conducting a review of river management for the Forest Service. "The restriction on non-traditional watercraft may be lifted, modified or remain in effect as a result of findings of the task force," Richmond said.

BA KER Snake to wind si The U.S. banned the use watercraft, it wind surf boar on the Snake Canyon Nati Area. Wallowa-WI Purest Super mond said the powerboats equipped with haust systems. It is effecti stretch of the has been fedei wild and seen Hells Canyon four miles sot Washington be "Safety is for imposing Richmond sat( received Thur been some ni tween these and larger pov "Therefore, the restriction floaters, other the Forest types of use cm nic Snake Rivc A task forco and canyon us University of ing a review ment for the "The restri( tional waterer modified or re result of fin( force," Richm If I' I .2,4.4, :0 1,: 1 ottrw s. ,,.1 gl''' et2.7..."...2 .1 1, 4 4t; i i it i 4 414 '4 NSk e.

1:., 41''' t4t '4 'A i '0' $: I 7, ii 'N i 4 i l', '4' ii 1 t.Ck -I i'''' SI; i (,,, St i 1- I 1 'T i. 4 i '--'41. 7 -fr By Beverly Vorpahl Staff writer Heather Curtis of Rogers High School used all the poise of a sophisticated young woman to convince the judges that she will make the ideal Lilac Festival queen. At Shad le Park High School, Curtis was crowned Thursday night amid the cheers of students honoring a winning team. The Spokane native said she has watched years of Armed Forces Lilac Festival Parades and remembers looking longingly at former Lilac queens.

Being queen "is something I've always wanted, but I never thought I would actually do it," Curtis said. "It's like running in the Olympics. You always think about it." When her name was called, the II princesses showered her with li-' lac-colored confetti and with hugs: The daughter of John and Barbara Curtis kept her composure no tears, no shrieks, just a big smile as she was crowned by Andrea Vickerman, the 1989 Lilac Queen from Ferris High School. "This is great," Curtis said as she cut the cake baked in the queen's honor. "I'm so happy not only to get the opportunity to represent this city, but my high school, too." Curtis was selected from among 12 princesses, each a high school senior from a Spokane-area high school.

The Lilac princesses and their schools are: Colleen Altig, Mead; Kari Atwood, West Valley; Brooke Cooper, Shad le; Cori Jochim, Central Valley; Robyn Kindred, East Valley; Heather Luper, Northwest Christian; Tahia Raol, Lewis and Clark; Vickie Pace, Gonzaga Michelle Seim, University; Jennifer Yake, Ferris; and Tammi Yedinak, North Central. The stage was decorated with lac-colored flowers, including actu-- al lilacs flown in by Allied Florists from Australia and New Zealand. Each of the girls presented a five-minute slide show on their lives. They also answered inci promptu questions by Ron Hardini the master of ceremonies. The judges, all officials from MO vn ic.

rt id Ls t. oto vn lc. a- rt id ts 1 1 1 le i (' i i i i 1 Tribal leaders want schools brought up to national standards By Jess Walter Staff writer Alfred Nomee has heard all about the new spirit of cooperation between the federal government and Indian educators, but as of Thursday, his students were still going to school in mobile homes. Nomee, chairman of the Coeur d'Alene Tribal School Board, joined about 600 Indian leaders in Spokane this week for the annual meeting of the National Indian School Board Association. on Thursday, they heard from officials with the Department of the Interior, who presented a "mini-summit" designed to bring Indian education up to national public school standards.

Interior Undersecretary Frank Bracken and Assistant Secretary Eddie F. Brown spoke of better cooperation and asked for input on how to spend the $300 million budget set aside for Indian education in 1991. "We're developing a new partnership," said Brown. "I think what has changed is there's a whole new attitude of openness in helping tribes take the course they want to take with education." But some tribal leaders said Thursday they haven't noticed any change. The Coeur d'Alenes, for instance, have been trying since 1974 to get the government to replace their five portable classrooms with a real school building.

"We were told in 1974 that these mobile homes had a life expectancy of 10 years," said Nomee. "We jumped through all the hoops We still have them." Each year, the Coeur d'Alenes applied to have a school built on their reservation 60 miles southeast of Spokane. Each year, they were put on a priority list and just missed being one of the tribes to get a school. Finally, last year, the Coeur d'Alene Tribal School and its 110 students, pre-school through eighth grade, climbed to No. 2 on the priority list.

The government funded new schools for Nos. 1 and 3 on the list, but dropped the Coeur d'Alene School from the 1991 budget. "We called the Bureau of Indian Affairs and they said that decision was made by the Office of Construction and Management," Nomee said. "We called OCM and they said it was OMB (the Office of Management and Business)." Eventually, tribal leaders were told the priority list wasn't the final determination in which tribes get new buildings and that other areas needed schools more than they did. "We just want some specific, concrete answers," Nomee said.

"They say they support education; why can't we get a school? What do we have to do? We want to know what the list is for if they can just keep changing the rules." Leaders of more than 50 tribes, from as far away as Florida and North Carolina, brought similar concerns. They complained about a lack of funding and an unwillingness by federal officials to let tribes determine the course their education programs will take. Brown said that both have been a problem in the past. But, he said, the Bureau of Indian Affairs is eager to work with tribes to improve education for the 44,000 students who go to 182 schools operated or funded by the BIA. The dropout rate among Indians is twice the rate of non-Indians, Brown said.

And Indian test scores have been much lower than their counterparts in state schools, he said. "I would be at fault if I said the '91 budget meets the need," said Brown. But he added that money alone won't solve the problems. "We've been getting money and sending it out, but education hasn't improved that much." Indian leaders in Spokane broke into workshops Thursday to talk about what they can do to improve education and to consider BIA recommendations that focus on things like early childhood development and better school evaluation. Dave Brown Eagle, principal of the Colville Tribe's Paschal Sherman Indian School, said his school has increased attendance and decreased dropout rates in the last three vrrs.

Staff photo by Colin Mulvan Heather Curtis of Rogers High School, left, receives her Lilac crown from 1989 Queen Andrea Vickerman. Please see ROGERS: A5 Police believe fires are part of Gypsy feud OLYMPIA Suspect in rape pleads insanity A man accused in last month's rape of a 3-year-old girl has changed his plea of innocent to innocent by reason of insanity. Randy Russell Smith appeared in Thurston County Superior Court on Wednesday to change the plea. Smith, 30, of Ye 1m was charged with first-degree rape of a child. He remains in the Thurston County Jail in lieu of $200,000 bail.

toddler was raped late March 16 or early March 17 in her bedroom during a party at her parents' home in rural Thurston County, police said. After discovering injuries to the girl, her parents waited nearly six hours before they called police and took the girl to the hospital, police said. The little girl was treated for vaginal injuries and surgery may be performed in coming weeks, authorities said. The girl and her two younger sisters are in temporary care of state Child Protective Services. Police have said they expect the Thurston County prosecutor's office to consider filing child-neglect charges against the parents, who are both in their 20s.

Smith's attorney has requested a Seattle psychiatrist examine Smith. The prosecution has asked that Judge Richard Strophy appoint a sanity commission to examine Smith at Western State Hospital. Sanity commissions are named by judges to determine if defendants were sane at the time of a criminal act. However, a finding of insanity by the commission would not be binding on a jury, Deputy Prosecutor Gary Tabor said. A hearing on the two requests has been scheduled next Wednesday.

NORTH SAANICIL B.C. Downstairs neighbors noisy, smell like fish Liz and Len Zedel are sleeping in the living room these days becaOse the neighbors downstairs are noisy and smell like fish. 'The recently married couple have rented a cottage in this Victoria suburb two blocks from the ocean and near a small creek. About two weeks ago, they found they were not alone a family of river otters had moved in under the bedroom floor. "We thought it was coons or something," says Zedel, an oceanographer at the nearby Institute of Ocean Studies.

He later realized the puppylike whimpering came from a litter of otters being suckled underneath the bedroom. "I was brushing my teeth, looked out the window and was nose-to-nose with an otter," he said, OLYM PIA Suspect pleads in A man acctu rape of a 3- changed his innocent by re Randy appeared in TI perior Court change the pie Smith, 30, charged with of a child. Thurston Cour $200,000 bail. toddle March 16 or I her bedroom her parents' Thurston Cour After disco the girl, her nearly six called police the hospital, The little gi vaginal injui may be perf weeks, author: The girl an sisters are in state Child Police have sr Thurston Co office to con neglect charg ents, who are Smith's atto ed a Seattle 1 me Smith. Ti asked that phy appoint a to examine State Hospital Sanity named by jud defendants time of a crin a finding of ir mission woulo a jury, Deput Tabor said.

A hearing has been sche day. NORTH SAV Downstail noisy, sm Liz and Len in the living canse the ne are noisy and The recent have rented Victoria subu the ocean a creek. About they found tt family moved in tu floor. "We thougl something," oceanograph( stitute of Oce He later like whimpe litter of otter derneath the I "I was bi looked out HI nose-to-nose said. Authorities say the car bombing and a similar fire last November are tied to a dispute between the Marks clan and Robert Danny Smith, who heads another local Gypsy family.

obtained after a suspect vehicle, identified by a witness, was seen leaving the scene," McBride said. The suspect vehicle, located by police a short distance from the April 4 fire, was registered to Smith, according to court documents. Smith has not been charged. In the latest fire, gasoline was poured over the vinyl roof of a 1979 Cadillac parked outside the home of Grover Marks in East Spokane, the arson investigator said. The gasoline tank cap was removed in an apparent attempt to ignite the fuel tank, but there was no explosion in the 2:05 a.m.

fire. Grover Marks, who was asleep, said Thursday he used a garden hose to battle the fire until firefighters arrived. Damage to the car's roof and paint caused an estimated $1,500,7 damage, Marks said. In November, a 1983 Cadillac. parked at the rear of the Marks home was extensively damaged in a similar nighttime firebombing, 2, McBride said.

Suspects have not, been identified in that arson. Court documents indicate that in. the early morning hours of April a Spokane man who stopped at a nearby convenience store spotted car. "He saw something thrown from the suspects' vehicle and that Marks' Cadillac immediately burst into flames," the documents state. The witness followed the car to an alley near Fourth and Altamont, where its two occupants jumped out and fled.

By Bill Morlin Staff writer Two men are being sought on arson charges stemming from the recent firebombing of a car belonging to Grover Marks of Spokane, who's considered "king of the Gypsies" in the Northwest. Authorities say the car bombing on April 4 and a similar arson fire last November are tied to a longstanding dispute between the Marks Gypsy clan and Robert Danny Smith, who heads another local Gypsy family. Anthony G. Dimico, 18, and Jeffrey L. Harvey, 22, both of Spokane, are accused of second-degree arson in arrest warrants, said Capt.

Bob McBride, Fire Department arson investigator. Dimico and Harvey were clues tioned during the investigation of the April 4 firebombing, court documents show, but both currently are fugitives. The two suspects are not Gypsies. "Warrants for their arrests were Junior Bloomsday officials hoping for a relaxed race O. 3 1 'St ti ..0 1 1 1:2 1 4 it i (1, i i A PS 'kW.

a 't 4'1 tv 1 1 4, 1 I 4 N) '''SA, 4 ts. 44 I 10. I Ill Apartment building damaged by blaze A north Spokane apartment building was damaged Thursday in a two-alarm blaze reportedly caused by a plumber's torch. About a dozen firefighters were called to the Autumn Ridge Apartments, N7002 Colton, just before noon. A second alarm went out at 12:17 p.m.

and a total of 26 firefighters battled the flames. A dispatcher said the building was still under construction, although a few tenants lived in finished apartment units. The fire apparently was caused by heat from a torch used to work on the building's plumbing. Flames were confined to an inside wall, the attic and a small portion of the roof, the dispatcher said. But the building was damaged further by water when an inside pipe broke.

were reported. By Anne Windishar Stati writer Be patient, mom and dad. Mike Erwert and Dan Bonogofski are convinced that if the parents of 8,000 kids take things slowly and calmly Saturday at the fifth annual Junior Bloomsday run, the five-hour 4 event will come off without a hitch. '1 'N'tot "There are a lot of cars and a lot of if excited kids in those cars," said Erwert, founder of the kids run. By BLOOMSDAY sheer numbers we just can't get peo- pie through quickly." I 9 Race director Bonogofski agreed: 90 "I say just take it easy and enjoy the day.

elo(NriNto Junior Bloomsday '90 begins at 9 trian a.m. Saturday in Joe Albi Stadium. 4 Parents are urged to carpool to cut down on the vehicles surrounding the stadium but, be-Please see RACE: A6 BLOOKSDAY "90 1 I fan), Staff photo by Anne 'hams Two-year-old Bryan Reamer watches as his brothers Bobby, 6, and Michael, 4, register for the Junior Bloomsday run. From or, and wire reports l'rt tot.160,01 hPo.AokArR,A1,,h!,.;fri.4,10o.iqtm.g91.7,:;mo.....,In.,40r. 00411 zi '41 1.