Avalanches kill snowmobiler, skier in Idaho

PRIEST LAKE, Idaho — A snowmobiler and a backcountry skier have been killed in separate avalanches north of Sandpoint, Idaho.

Tim Parnow of Sandpoint was buried while backcountry skiing about 11:30 a.m. Saturday with friends near Keokee Lake. Ninety minutes later and 10 miles to the north, Patrick Kopczynski of Spokane was struck by an avalanche while riding a snowmobile in Echo Bowl near Priest Lake.

Parnow and five friends were skiing when Parnow was caught by an avalanche. His friends, equipped with avalanche beacons and shovels, used cellphones to call for help. Parnow was taken by helicopter to a hospital, where he died.

In the Echo Bowl avalanche, Kopczynski was one of hundreds of snowmobilers doing what is called "high marking," racing up the steep banks of the snow wall to see who can go the highest before turning to descend, authorities said.

Kopczynski and four others were caught when snowmobiles above them apparently triggered an avalanche. Kopczynski was dead when he was uncovered. Rescuers managed to pull the rest of the snowmobilers safely out of the snow.

200 soldiers from Fort Lewis sent to Pentagon, Mideast

FORT LEWIS — About 200 Fort Lewis soldiers have been deployed to the Middle East and the Washington, D.C., area as the United States simultaneously prepares for possible war with Iraq while boosting security at home.

About 80 soldiers from the 600-member 62nd Medical Brigade, which provides health, psychiatric and evacuation support for soldiers, left early yesterday to support U.S. Central Command operations overseas.

They could either be sent to Afghanistan or be part of the buildup for a possible attack on Iraq.

Meanwhile, 120 soldiers from the Military Police Company were deployed Saturday to help guard the Pentagon. The deployment is scheduled for six months but could last longer.

Gunman fatally shoots man in vehicle in South Seattle

SEATTLE — A man was fatally shot at 11:06 Saturday night in the 3900 block of South Willow Street.

The man was in the driver's seat of a car when another man walked up and fired the gun. The gunman and the victim were involved in either an ongoing conflict or an altercation earlier in the day, according to police spokeswoman Deanna Nollette.

Police were questioning a witness who was in the passenger seat, who is believed to have known both the gunman and the victim. No suspect was in custody.

Girl in satisfactory condition after family dog attacks her

ENUMCLAW — A 7-year-old Enumclaw girl attacked by her family dog Saturday night was in satisfactory condition after being flown to Harborview Medical Center.

She suffered facial wounds and underwent surgery.

Investigators said they didn't know what set off the attack by the black Labrador retriever, which was impounded by King County Animal Control and taken to the Kent Animal Control Shelter.

2 African cats now at zoo as permanent home sought

SEATTLE — Two African cats found last week roaming North Seattle were delivered to Woodland Park Zoo on Saturday while officials there use their extensive network to find a permanent home for them, most likely at another zoo.

The cats had been at the Seattle Animal Shelter.

The long-legged cats, called servals, are more than 3 feet long and weigh 30 pounds apiece. The zoo can't keep them permanently because it does not have the space, spokeswoman Gigi Allianic said.

The owner of the cats — one male, one female — has not come forward. It is illegal to own an exotic animal in Seattle.

The cats are now resting comfortably and each has space to roam, Allianic said. "We're trying to leave them alone and give them some privacy."

Man killed on I-5 in Seattle when car hits state truck

SEATTLE — A man died Saturday night when the car he was riding in collided with a state Department of Transportation truck providing traffic control just south of Roanoke Street on Interstate 5.

Lamin Barrow, 28, was killed in the 11:45 p.m. accident. The driver, Kebba Bojang, 27, of Mountlake Terrace, was in satisfactory condition at Harborview Medical Center.

Ferry crew members rescue kayakers near Vashon Island

VASHON ISLAND — Two kayakers were rescued just before 10 a.m. yesterday by crew members from the ferry Issaquah near Vashon Island.

After one kayaker's boat capsized, he climbed into the other kayak, according to Coast Guard officials. The Issaquah, which was in the area, launched a small rescue boat and picked up the kayakers.

Man being sought in probe of robberies, Portland killing

SEATTLE — Police are searching for a man wanted in the killing of a cab driver in Portland and two robberies in Seattle last week.

The man is Stephen Warren Barr, described as white, 62, 5 feet 8 inches, 160 pounds, bald and clean shaven, with blue eyes. He is believed to be traveling between Portland and Seattle, driving a stolen, burgundy Suzuki Esteem with Oregon license plate XMP-155.

A former convict who served time from 1990 to 1998 for first-degree armed robbery, Barr is considered "armed and extremely dangerous," said Seattle police spokeswoman Deanna Nollette.

In Portland, cab driver Grigory Rogozhnikov, 33, was shot in the head during a robbery. His body was found Feb. 16. Rogozhnikov was a Ukrainian refugee who moved to Portland last March with his wife and 5-year-old son.

Barr also is wanted for two tavern robberies, in Ballard and West Seattle, police said.

Seattle Times staff and news services.