Around the Valley

Attempted car thief gets four years

YAKIMA -- A man who tried to steal a woman's car from outside theGreyhound bus station in downtown Yakima has been sentenced to fouryears in prison.

A jury last month convicted Shawn C. Germeaux, 31, of first-degree robbery and attempted first-degree theft in connection withthe incident. On Monday, Yakima County Superior Court Judge JamesLust sentenced Germeaux to the middle of the range.

Germeaux, also known as Dorian McNutt, was convicted of trying todrive off in a Lexus sedan May 16 as it idled outside the busstation.

A melee erupted when the owner of the car, Lynell Monroe, and hergranddaughter confronted Germeaux through the open driver's sidewindow. Germeaux tried to drive off but couldn't get the car in gear.

He gave up and ran off, leaving the keys behind after a strugglewith Monroe, a retiree from Selah. Police arrested him on foot a fewblocks away.

During the trial, Germeaux's lawyer proposed a self-defensedefense to the robbery charge. Germeaux wouldn't testify, however,and the defense claim was denied.

As part of his sentence, Germeaux was ordered to pay over $10,700in restitution for Monroe's medical bills. She ruptured a tendon inher foot while chasing Germeaux.

Sunnyside will look at district elections

SUNNYSIDE -- The City Council will examine the prospect ofdistrict-by-district elections at its meeting Monday.

The issue has received attention since December when a WhitmanCollege report suggested Sunnyside's at-large voting system keepsHispanic candidates from winning council positions.

Media coverage of that report spurred inquiry into the matter bythe U.S. Department of Justice.

Sunnyside officials have taken issue with the report's conclusionthat the city's current elections system is illegal under the VotingRights Act.

The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Sunnyside Lawand Justice Center, 401 Homer Street.

Burn ban lifted after four weeks

Local and federal burn bans in Yakima County were lifted Fridayafter four weeks of restrictions, one of the longest such periods inrecent memory.

Officials with the Yakima Regional Clean Air Authority and theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency said a rainstorm Thursday nighthelped clear the air of excessive particle matter that was trapped bya recent weather inversion over the Yakima Valley.

The stagnant conditions are not expected to return soon, accordingto a bulletin from the air authority.

The ban was lifted on the Yakama reservation, according to an EPAnews release, but the local air authority left in place itsprohibition on outside residental burning for the rest of the county.

That won't change until March 15, when a permit will be required,officials said.

Agricultural burning is allowed with a permit and permission fromthe authority. Wood stoves and fireplaces can be used for residentialheating.

More information is available by calling 834-2050 or going towww.co.yakima.wa.us/cleanair/.

Inspectors will check child car seats

YAKIMA -- City police and a local child safety group are hosting afree event Thursday to make sure that child car seats are properlyinstalled.

Trained inspectors will check the seats and recommend changes from3 to 5 p.m. Thursday at the police station, 200 S. Third St.

The Yakima Police Department and Safe Kids Yakima County arehosting the event in recognition of Child Passenger Safety Week,which runs Monday through Friday.

Officers also planned extra observation checkpoints at undisclosedlocations in the city this week and next week.

If drivers are spotted with unrestrained children in the vehicleduring the checkpoint or other times, they may be given a trafficticket.

Under state law, those tickets can be voided within seven days ofthe violation if the driver proves that he or she has has acquired anapproved seat and has not had a prior violation dismissed.

Eligible tickets may be voided during the inspection Thursday ifthe driver brings a purchase receipt for a new seat and allows asafety inspection with the child present, according to a police newsrelease.

Car seats will not be available for distribution during the event.The requirements for car seat use vary by the age and weight of thechild.

More information can be obtained by going to the inspection eventor checking out the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission'sInternet site at www.wtsc.wa.gov.

Hospital will offer discussion of stroke

Stroke, the third-leading killer in the United States behind heartdisease and cancer, will be the topic of a talk Thursday at YakimaValley Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Carl Olden, medical director at the hospital, will discusswarning signs and risks in the hospital auditorium beginning at noon.Lunch is provided and there is no cost. The talk is part of theWomen's HeartAdvantage Program.

To register, call 575-8484.

Valley Mall is the new Marvin Gardens

YAKIMA -- For a $30 donation, local residents can pass Go on theirway to helping the Yakima Fire Department.

Members of the department's reserve association are selling copiesof Yakimopoly, a board game crafted in the style of Monopoly thatdepicts local businesses and people on real estate spots and playmoney.

Reserves, who serve as a volunteeer support staff at emergenciesand help with public education programs, are selling copies of theprofessionally manufactured game for $30 apiece at the Valley Mall inUnion Gap.

Their booth is at the base of the escalator leading to the malll'sfood court. They'll be there from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and from 11a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Information about buying the game outside of those hours can beobtained by calling reserve representatives at 985-6126 or 985-6974.

Proceeds from the fundraiser will help the reserve association buyequipment to use at fire calls.

-- Yakima Herald-Republic