Newsbriefs

Chief reviewing bids

Grand Coulee Fire Chief Rick Paris told the city council last week that he had received three bids from firms on the city’s small works roster to pour the floor for the new steel building that houses the city’s ambulance. He said the bids range from $5,700 to $9,000, and that he was uncomfortable in the range of bids. Paris said he wanted to review the bids before making a decision on what firm to select.

Market reopening OK’d

Grand Coulee’s council OK’d a request by the chamber of commerce to repeat last year’s Saturday open market alongside Brandy’s Antiques. The market may begin June 16, and last from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday through September.

Woman dies of hantavirus

Grant County Health District advised that a 30-year-old county woman died March 28, of hantavirus, a disease associated with a virus found in the urine, droppings and saliva of infected rodents. Hantavirus is rare, but one in three people who have it die, according to health district officials.

Twisp man pleads to wildlife charges

William D. White, 62, of Twisp, entered guilty pleas to three criminal counts for illegal conduct relating to endangered wolves and other wildlife, U.S. Attorney Michael C. Ormsby said last week.

William D. White entered a plea agreement with the United States and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to take endangered species, conspiracy to export endangered species and unlawful importation of wildlife.

White was caught with a wolf hide in 2008 after a report of a suspicious package that had been left with a private shipping company in Omak. The package was addressed to a resident of Alberta, Canada.

An Omak police officer reported the package, labeled as a rug, appeared to be draining blood. The package was ultimately opened and observed to contain a fresh wolf hide.

Counts 1 and 2 each carry a maximum penalty of up to 1 year in prison and Count 3 carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison. A sentencing hearing has been set for July 11.