Fuel pumps found to be inaccurate

Olympia

Six percent of fuel pumps in Washington state were giving inaccurate readings in the first three months of 2008, according to a recent study by the state Department of Agriculture.

That means drivers might have been getting either more or less gas than they were paying for, said a Monday report by the state Weights and Measures Program, which conducts studies like this one every 28 months.

State officials inspected roughly 1,800 gas and diesel pumps statewide and found that 115 were inaccurate.

Pumps that dispensed less gas than the display indicated were labeled "Out of Service" until the gas stations fixed the problem. Pumps that dispensed more gas than the display indicated were left in service, but the gas station was notified, according to a department statement.

Seattle

J.P., Gertrude statue to be shown Aug. 17

After more than two years of fundraising, the campaign to make a bronze statue of longtime Seattle TV clown J.P. Patches has reached its $160,000 goal, and a public unveiling in the Fremont neighborhood has been set for Aug. 17.

The life-size statue, by Sultan artist Kevin Pettelle, entitled "Late for the Interurban," depicts J.P. and his girlfriend, Gertrude, rushing in opposite directions, arms interlocked.

It will be placed along North 34th Street in Fremont, about 75 yards east of Richard Beyer's "Waiting for the Interurban" sculpture.

The work commemorates the local children's show, which ran on KIRO-TV from 1958 to 1981.

One feature of the sculpture will be a bronze can to collect donations for Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center in Seattle.

Until 5 p.m. Monday the campaign will still accept $100 donations, which will go to the hospital, in exchange for engraved "Patches Pavers" to be placed near the artwork.

For more details, look online: www.jppatches.com.

Moses Lake

Injured motorcyclist rescued after 2 days

An injured motorcycle rider spent two days next to I-90 near Moses Lake hoping to be rescued.

The Grant County Sheriff's Office says the 44-year-old Moses Lake man was able to throw his red sweater into the tree limbs above him. And that's what was noticed Tuesday by a state trooper.

Sheriff's Sgt. Ron Renken says it appears the man, Bradley Beckstrom, ran off a road near the interstate on Sunday afternoon. He was stuck on a steep embankment, not visible to passing drivers.

Renken says Beckstrom tried to catch the attention of passing motorists first by throwing his wallet near the roadway and then his sweater into the tree.

He has been flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment.

Seattle

Man charged in fatal shooting

A man has been charged with a shooting death in December in White Center.

The first-degree murder charge was filed Wednesday in King County Superior Court against 22-year-old Durell L. Campbell.

He was arrested last Thursday and remains in jail with bail set at $2 million pending a hearing May 22 in Superior Court.

Campbell is charged with fatally shooting 22-year-old Robert Crawford on Dec. 17 after a gang-related conversation outside the Magic Lanes Bowling Alley-Casino.

According to an affidavit filed in court, Crawford made a "sarcastic, disparaging remark" to Campbell.

Moments later, investigators wrote, Campbell apparently returned and fired about seven shots from a .45-caliber pistol.

If convicted, he faces a standard sentencing range of 25 to 31 years in prison.

Seattle Times staff and news services