Ice water hits library bear

The Whitman County Library’s Book Bear gets doused with ice water Monday in response to an “Ice Bucket Challenge” from the Asotin Library staff. The practice sweeping the country is a benefit for ALS research, in which people agree to donate to the cause or get doused with ice water. Many do both.

Whitman County Library Executive Director Kristie Kirkpatrick said that the event was a tribute to the late Marie Doak, who was a longtime library staff member who suffered from ALS. She retired from the library at age 86 and died a year later.

The library staff challenged Mayor Todd Vanek, the county commissioners and the Cat in the Hat.