Newsbriefs

New mayor

sworn in

Gail Morin was sworn in as Elmer City’s new mayor last Monday, Dec. 30. She took office Jan. 1. She was sworn in at the town hall by Town Clerk Renee Tillman before about 20 guests. She replaces Mary Jo Carey whom she defeated in November’s election.

Weather

elsewhere halts local events

The weather elsewhere disrupted events in the coulee Tuesday night.

A special meeting of the local hospital district commission was postponed until probably Thursday, Commissioner Geary Oliver said.

An attorney central to the agenda couldn’t make it from Spokane, where cars were piling up due to snow conditions.

And last night’s Raider basketball games with White Swan were cancelled due to inclement weather in Yakima. They will be rescheduled, said Athletic Director Rich Black.

Oliver said about 5 p.m. last night that the board would simply convene the 7 p.m. meeting, then immediately adjourn until Thursday night.

Tanker

rollover

closes

highway

A semi tanker trailer rolled on icy SR 17 south of Moses Lake Tuesday morning, closing the road for 12 hours.

The tanker trailer contained ethanol, of which about 1,000 gallons leaked. The Environmental Protection Agency responded for cleanup.

A Washington State Patrol report said the driver of the semi was going too fast for conditions when his northbound Kenworth crossed into the southbound lane eight miles south of Moses Lake, hit the guard rail and came to rest across both lanes, while the trailer rolled over the guard rail.