Ten arrested at gorge concert; police worry about riot
GEORGE, Wash. Grant County law enforcement officers were angry about conditions at a weekend Steve Miller concert that resulted in 10 arrests.
Some patrons became angry and began fighting at The Gorge amphitheater after as many as 2,000 fans became unruly because they couldn't find seats or hear the music, Sheriff Bill Wiester said.
''This can lead to a riot,'' Wiester said Monday. ''It can lead to serious injuries. It can lead to death.
''It better not happen again.''
But the director of marketing for MCA Concerts Northwest said the concert was not oversold. Creighton Burke said the 19,100-seat capacity of the site was actually undersold by about 500 seats.
He said the audience was an ''energetic capacity crowd that was having a good time.''
Law enforcement officers and concert officials have had an uneasy alliance for years over events at the unique theater, located on a spectacular cliff above the Columbia River gorge, about 150 miles east of Seattle.
Despite the remote location, thousands of people attend shows nearly every weekend of the summer, straining road, lodging and law enforcement capacity.
Wiester said many fans could not see what was happening and decided to leave and seek a refund.
Weaver, Harris supporters plan memorial picnic this weekend
BONNERS FERRY, Idaho Friends and supporters of white separatists Randy Weaver and Kevin Harris plan a memorial and picnic this weekend in support of the two men who were defendants in a celebrated criminal trial.
After an eight-week trial at Boise, Weaver was convicted of relatively minor charges and awaits sentencing. Both Weaver and Harris were acquitted on murder and conspiracy charges.
Supporters plan to gather Saturday at the Deep Creek Resort. ''It is kind of a reminder to folks that we don't want this forgotten,'' said family friend Jackie Brown. ''I don't want Vicki and Sam forgotten. Degan shouldn't have died there,'' she said.
She was referring to Randy Weaver's wife, Vicki, and son, Samuel, both killed during a confrontation and shootout a year ago at the Weaver's cabin near Naples. William Degan, deputy U.S. marshal, was killed in an exchange of bullets.
Brown said Harris may speak along with retired Phoenix police officer Jack McLamb and United Citizens for Justice co-chairman Chris Temple.
Areas of Olympic Forest reopened after bear threats
PORT ANGELES, Wash. The Flapjack Lakes and Big Log Camping areas of the Olympic National Forest, closed to visitors for nearly three weeks due to black bear sightings and encounters, have been reopened.
For the past 21/2 weeks, park personnel have patroled the area extensively ''without any bear conflicts arising,'' the National Park Service said in a Tuesday news release.
Roger Rudolph, the assistant park superintendent who lifted the closure Monday, said several new bear wires also have been installed near campsites. The wires are designed to keep food out of reach of wild animals.
Rudolph stressed the importance of maintaining clean campsites and hanging food and garbage, and cautioned vistiors not to attempt to attract aninmals into camping areas.
He said rangers would be patrolling to assist backpackers along the North Fork of the Skokomish River and ''assure that basic wilderness practices are followed as to not encourage wild animals to come into their camping areas.''
Boeing gets $355,344 check to buy energy-saving fixtures
SEATTLE Seattle City Light delivered a check for $355,344 to The Boeing Co. on Tuesday as an incentive to purchase thousands of electricity-saving light fixtures and other items meant to conserve energy.
''With the new equipment, Boeing will save $47,669 a year in energy costs, achieving payback on its investment in less than two years,'' City Light said in a news release.
The check was intended as an incentive for Boeing to install 10 premium efficiency motors, two massive high-efficiency chillers and 3,002 energy-efficient light fixtures.
As a result of the installation, City Light will free up about 1.3 million kilowatt-hours of ''otherwise wasted electricity per year, which defers the utility's need for new power plants.''
Commercial, residential and industrial participants in the utility's conservation programs have saved almost $91 million on electric bills since City Light began offering the incentives in 1977, according to the news release.