Fair attendance good, food sales better

About the same number of people attended this year’s Spokane County Interstate Fair as in 2007. But they ate more food.

According to fair director Rich Hartzell, 242,159 people attended last week’s festivities, up 3 percent from last year’s attendance of 235,010.

But food vendors were up 11.6 percent in sales this year.

“We feel really good about the fact that we were able to increase our numbers given the economy, price of gas, et cetera,” Hartzell said.

“Free Admission Day” on Sept. 8 brought 46,305 people to the fairgrounds, marking the highest attendance day in 22 years, up from the 12,941 people that visited the fair on Day 4 in 2007.

While the carnival was up in pre-sales this year, on-site sales went down.

“It was virtually a wash,” Hartzell said.

Carley Dryden

County buys bluff land above Latah Creek

An eight-acre piece of land along a bluff overlooking Latah Creek will be saved for public use.

Spokane County commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday to pay $560,000 for eight acres on a bluff overlooking Latah Creek in southwest Spokane.

The money will come from the county’s Conservation Futures program, which is funded by a voter-approved property tax aimed at maintaining land in its natural state. The property will be overseen by the city of Spokane Parks Department.

A few years ago, the land was proposed to become Ashland Estates, a 20-home development. But residents fought the plan, and developers said they became convinced that the land was better left as open space.

The parcel, a popular hiking spot, is west of Maple Boulevard and Cedar Street between 17th and 21st avenues.

Earlier this year, commissioners agreed to spend $244,100 of Conservation Futures money for a nearby two-acre parcel owned by Pete Elliott.

Jonathan Brunt

Spokane

Condition improving for boy hit by truck

The boy struck by a city dump truck remains hospitalized but has been upgraded to satisfactory condition.

Zach Donovan, 9, was riding his nonmotorized scooter Aug. 27 when a city dump truck struck him, causing massive internal injuries and broken bones.

He had surgery on his severely damaged right leg last week and is out of Sacred Heart Medical Center’s intensive care unit, said Heath Irvine, a Spokane lawyer representing the family.

“They’re treating him as we go, and we don’t know what the long term effects will be,” Irvine said. “He’s in some pretty significant pain still. It’s very evident on his face.”

The city of Spokane opened a claim for the family immediately after the incident, Irvine said – a standard first step before litigation is considered.

Spokane Public Schools is working to get Zach a tutor at the hospital, Irvine said. His classmates at Hutton Elementary have boosted his spirits with cards and big posters.

“It really helps him and his family to know so many people are thinking about him,” Irvine said.

Meghann M. Cuniff

Mexican citizens can visit ‘mobile’ consulate

A representative of the Mexican Consulate in Seattle will be in Spokane on Saturday to issue passports and consular identification cards to Mexican citizens.

The visit by the “mobile consulate” is a way for the Mexican government “to get closer to the community,” said vice consul Marcela Leos Montellano de Turpin.

She estimated as many as 20,000 to 22,000 Mexican citizens currently live in Spokane.

The consulate can make as many as 350 appointments between 8 a.m. and noon at the Community Building, 35 W. Main St. Only those able to meet documentary requirements may schedule an appointment by calling (509)329-9518.

Kevin Graman