In brief:
The woman convicted of killing a Spokane man in December has been sentenced to 18 ½ years in prison.
Melinda R. Barrera, 32, was convicted last month of killing Robert A. Nelson following a bizarre altercation where Barrera was struck in the face with a cellphone and her boyfriend struck Nelson with a baseball bat.
The same jury acquitted 22-year-old David C. McLaughlin of killing or assaulting Nelson, but found that Barrera was guilty of second-degree murder after she admitted firing the shot that killed Nelson.
Superior Court Judge Tari Eitzen sentenced Barrera this week to 224 months in prison with credit for 239 days already served in the Spokane County Jail.
Officials kill wolf that killed livestock
A wolf was killed Tuesday after repeatedly preying on livestock in Stevens County, state officials said.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife decided to take lethal action after determining that removing the nonbreeding female wolf would not harm wolf recovery efforts, Director Phil Anderson said in a news release from the agency. They’re also targeting another wolf in the same area.
Since mid-July, wolf attacks on cattle of the Diamond M herd near the Canadian border have left one calf dead, five animals injured and at least two missing, the release said.
Suspicious fire at STCU construction site
Fire investigators say an early morning fire at a Spokane Teachers Credit Union branch under construction on Moran Prairie is being called suspicious.
STCU said in a news release that the investigation isn’t complete, but that Spokane County Fire District 8 Chief Bill Walkup said “there is strong reason to believe” the fire was set intentionally.
The fire burned portions of the branch at 5711 S. Hailee Lane. The branch is scheduled to open in November. STCU said the opening likely would not be delayed by the fire.
Citizens spotted the fire at about 4:30 a.m. and called 911.
Campground water tainted with E. coli
E. coli and fecal coliform bacteria were discovered Saturday in the drinking water at Pioneer Park Campground near Newport in Pend Oreille County, Colville National Forest officials announced Tuesday.
Newport Ranger District staff said they had notified guests who recently stayed at the campground if contact information was available.
No reports of illness had been received, they said.
While the campground remains open, the drinking water system has been shut down while the Forest Service investigates the source of contamination.
For information, contact the Newport Ranger District (509) 447-7300.