In brief: Tribes to hold vigils for return of salmon

Environmental groups and Native American tribes in the U.S. and Canada are holding multifaith vigils along the Columbia River this month to pray for the return of salmon as the two countries prepare to renegotiate a treaty concerning the river.

A vigil will take place at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Two Rivers campground, 6828 Highway 25 South, Davenport, Washington.

A ceremonial offering of salmon will be provided. People attending are invited to bring a picnic lunch or food to share.

The treaty, signed in 1964, governs operations of dams and reservoirs. Tribes are pushing for revisions to restore salmon above Grand Coulee Dam.

In recommendations for potential negotiations, the Bonneville Power Administration and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers say the two countries should study the possibility of restoring fish passage over Grand Coulee. But British Columbia says restoring fish migration and habitat is not a treaty issue.

Seventeen vigils will be held along the length of the river.

Baby girl drowns in bucket of water

KALISPELL – A northwestern Montana baby drowned after tipping headfirst into a 5-gallon mop bucket.

Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said there’s nothing to indicate the death of Marielle Dalimata, of Creston, was anything but an accident. The girl died Saturday night, 10 days before her first birthday.

Curry said the girl’s body was taken to the state crime lab in Missoula for an autopsy.

Brook Schwab, the girl’s aunt, told the Daily Inter Lake that the family is devastated. She said the baby’s parents, Mark and Kayla Dalimata, wanted to remind all parents of young children how quickly a drowning can happen and to not leave children alone around water, even momentarily.

The parents and first responders tried to resuscitate Marielle. She was pronounced dead at the hospital in Kalispell.

Coast Guard warns of beach dangers

WARRENTON, Ore. – Alarmed by the number of people swept into the ocean during the past two months along the Oregon and Washington coasts, the Coast Guard is warning beachgoers to be aware of possible dangers.

Since July 3, four of those cases have ended in fatalities.

Cmdr. Bill Gibbons is chief of response for Coast Guard Sector Columbia River. He notes that those caught in Northwest ocean currents are often visitors to the area who don’t realize the dangers. Gibbons said in one case, a victim was only in water up to his knees when he was knocked down by a wave and pulled out into the ocean.

The Coast Guard warns that water depths can change rapidly along the coast and rip currents can be strong and unpredictable.

Gibbons said at a minimum, people should never enter the water alone, children should never be allowed near the water unattended and people near the edge of the surf line should be alert for so-called “sneaker waves.” Those are large and powerful waves that can appear without warning.

Geese foul lake at popular state park

DECEPTION PASS STATE PARK, Wash. – Blame Canada geese for closing a freshwater swimming lake at one of the most popular campgrounds in Washington.

Deception Pass State Park has closed Cranberry Lake to recreation because of fecal waste left by the flock of geese.

Ranger Jack Hartt told the Skagit Valley Herald campers are still welcome at the 240 sites at the Cranberry Campground, but vacationers will be frustrated they can’t go in the lake.

Instead of migrating, the geese have been staying at Cranberry Lake year-round, and the waterfowl have fouled the water.

Bellingham police will wear cameras

BELLINGHAM – Bellingham police will start wearing cameras to record certain arrests and interactions with the public.

Police tested the cameras during the first three months of the year. Police Chief Cliff Cook told a City Council committee meeting Monday that people were less argumentative when they were told they were being recorded.

The Bellingham Herald reported police plan to sign a three-year, $130,000 contract for the cameras and video storage. The contract is with Taser International, the same company that makes stun guns.