May 2020 Splash

MAY

2020

THE

PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Permit #010 ZIP CODE 99019

LIBERTY LAKE

FREE

COMMUNITY NEWSMAGAZINE

A COMMUNITY

CONFINED

connects to help each other, page 10

CHAPLAIN BRINGS 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TO LL PAGE 2

COVID -19 CAUSES CITY AGENDA SHIFT PAGE 9

ON THAT NOTE: A COFFEE SHOP NOT SO FAR AWAY PAGE 22

2 • MAY 2020

The Splash

DOCKSIDE Spiritual Backup – Bauer earns trust as LLPD chaplain

By Craig Howard

Splash Contributing Editor

From their earliest roles in the military, chaplains have been called upon to serve as calming forces in storm-filled scenarios.

The call of chaplain has been answered in a variety of arenas since then, from hospices to hospitals, fire departments to law enforcement.

They serve those who have been traumatized, providing solace and reassurance when little if any seems within reach.

In Liberty Lake, Ron Bauer holds the title of police chaplain.

less fortunate man coming into the store one day with his family, asking if he could do any work for a few groceries.

“My dad told him to fill up a cart,” Bauer said. “He did and then told my dad he didn’t have any money. My dad said it was alright. I saw that kind of love and generosity growing up. I also saw the value of a good work ethic.”

It was Bauer’s grandmother who made it a point that he and his four siblings attend church every Sunday. He kept going but it wasn’t until he was 16 and spent a week at

a Christian summer camp that he truly found his spiritual moorings.

“Some friends from church invited me,” said Bauer. “I was at chapel services at camp and became born again, receiving the Lord. I felt radically changed. I realized that contact with God changes your perspective on life. Even as a teenager I began to live with new purpose and direction.”

Bauer was a good student in high school, excelling in math and science. He also participated in wrestling and band, playing the trumpet. He graduated in 1963, part of a senior class of 200.

Intrigued by the emerging field of electronics and showing a knack for it, Bauer was accepted into the Missouri Institute of Technology in

So far, Bauer has been equal to the task.

“I felt a real calling in my life of a spiritual nature,” he said.

The search would take him to Southern California and Life Pacific College in the fall of 1965 where he studied to become a pastor. To put himself through the four-year Bible school, Bauer applied his electronics savvy at North American Aviation, later Rockwell.

Bauer somehow managed to work in a 25-year tenure with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) as a volunteer with the Critical Incident Response Team and a chaplain. Bauer was one of 42 chaplains at LLPD, an agency of over 10,000 sworn officers. He also served as a hospital chaplain for five years.

Bauer represented a serendipitous hire for LLPD. He brought 25 years with the Los Angeles Police Department as well as years as a lead pastor. Bauer’s foray into retired life would have to wait.

Bauer grew up in Sterling, Colorado, a county seat of around 15,000 residents. His dad ran a grocery store and was known for his kindness, particularly toward those down on their luck. Bauer recalls a

In his last semester of college, Bauer felt a call to serve. Reading a book by a pastor named David Wilkerson – “The Cross and the Switchblade” – about Wilkerson’s ministry among gangs in New York City became a turning point in Bauer’s journey.

The blend of high-level electronics and pastoral service would characterize Bauer’s life for the next several decades. He worked in the aerospace industry and spent time on the Apollo program, even going back to school to earn a degree in management and later his MBA. Bauer also followed Wilkerson’s example, serving in youth ministry and later becoming the lead pastor at New Horizon Church in the San Fernando Valley where he spent the last 20 years.

Bauer moved to the Inland Northwest with his wife Darlene last May from Southern California intending to be closer to family and enjoy retirement. It turns out that the Liberty Lake Police Department had a void at chaplain after John Thompson passed away in October 2018. Fondly remembered as a selfless public servant by officers and residents alike, Thompson served as LLPD chaplain for nine years and represented some big shoes to fill.

“Ron brings a tremendous amount of experience as a chaplain that not only serves the members of the Liberty Lake police family but the entire Liberty Lake community,” said Police Chief Brian Asmus. “He has a very calming demeanor and a heart for service. We are very blessed to have him as part of our amazing team.”

Kansas City – “the other MIT,” as he calls it – and graduated with a degree in electronics technology.

Dealing with traumatic situations of all kinds and offering a kind shoulder to lean on is something Bauer humbly accepts as another calling, a chance to serve.

Contributed photo Ron Bauer was brought on last July as chaplain of the Liberty Lake Police Department, replacing John Thompson who served nine years in the role before passing away in October 2018. Bauer brings experience as a lead pastor and a chaplain with the Los Angeles Police Department where he served for 25 years.

“You just try to be there for someone and help them,” he said.

“You’re giving them something they can grab a hold of during a really difficult time. It’s about being there for people.”

Q:

Your latest move was See BAUER, Page 5

MAY 2020 • 3

The Splash

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NEWS

4 • MAY 2020

Liberty Lake SVFD Report – April 2020 Splash news sources

Spokane Valley Fire Department crews responded to a total of 109 emergency calls in the greater Liberty Lake area* from March 15 – April 15, 2020: • Emergency Medical Services 86 • Fires

9

• Building Alarms

7

• Motor Vehicle Accidents 2 • Dispatched and cancelled en route 2 • Technical Rescues

1

• Service Calls

1

• Vehicle Fires

1

Calls for services remain steady with 104 last month to 109 this month in the Liberty Lake Area.

Financial to purchase UV Cleaners for the SVFD Fire Stations. UV Cleaners are used to clean and disinfect reusable EMS supplies.

Instead of having to use harsh chemicals, crews can now use the UV light technology. With a touch of a button equipment is sanitized and ready to use again in 5 minutes, a dramatic improvement to cleaning and sanitizing with harsh chemicals.

“The UV Light technology is able to kill 99% of the bacteria,” said SVFD Division Chief, Mike Charter. “This UV light is used in hospitals and the health industry as well to kill bacteria, pathogens, and fungi present on items and does it in a significantly shorter amount of time.”

SVFD is very grateful for this generous donation from Country Financial.

“Here at Country Financial we are very proud of our First Responders in each of our respective communities. You guys are on the front lines of the battle with this virus. In an effort to show our

thankfulness, Country Financial came up with our Helping Heroes plan!” said Country Financial Local Agent, Tim Kilroy. “We I are very glad to be of assistance during this time. Thank you SVFD! Keep up the good work!”

• Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) is experiencing an increase in calls regarding possible illegal burning. Warmer spring weather and social distancing has residents outdoors doing yard work and spring cleaning. We want to remind area residents that burning of garbage, including construction material, and the use of burn barrels are prohibited in the region. Burning outdoors, including yard debris, is not allowed in most areas of Spokane County. Recreational fires are allowed at this time.

Outdoor burning regulations and requirements can be viewed at SpokaneCleanAir.org/burning.

The Splash •

Put out the fire completely!

During the COVID-19 crisis, local fire departments and first responders are working diligently to protect our health so that we can protect our community. Please help us by considering voluntarily limiting wood burning (indoors and outdoors). Many people in our communities are also extremely concerned about their respiratory health. Before starting an indoor or outdoor burn of any type, please consider the potential impacts on your neighbors and on local emergency responders.

For more information on current burn conditions, visit https:// www.spokanecleanair.org/ current-burning-conditions or call the Burn Status hotline at (509) 4774710.

• Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) has seen an increase in 9-1-1 calls for chirping/ alarming CO Alarms due to the alarms’ end-of-useful-life. As a result, we hope to educate the public on the sounds a CO Alarm makes for a better understanding of when to call 911.

“With the increase of smoke in the air, those with existing lung • Spokane Valley Fire and heart complications are put Department (SVFD) received a at further risk, especially those generous donation from Country suffering from symptoms of the virus.” Said Spokane Valley Fire The sensors in CO alarms have Department Fire Marshal, Greg 0 7 0 They do expire. ,9 hurt a limited life.

Rogers.

“Not only does 9it 4,90 $29 $17 people with underlying conditions, SVFD wants to remind everyone to but also first responders. It is critical replace your CO alarm according to that we not elevate the risk for the manufacturer’s instructions or anyone who may be experiencing when the end-of-life signal sounds.

On the back of the alarm is the guide symptoms of COVID-19, and HOME SPEND THE SUMMER AT THE BEACH CHARMING IN TURTLE CREEK for the different sounds your CO local air quality is imperative 208 S NEYLAND AVE #58 2BD/2BA 1456SF 18403 E 9TH AVE 4BD/3BA 1953SF given the nature of what we are alarm will make. SVFD asks that citizens read the guide and know experiencing.”

0 CHARMING VALLEY HOME ROCKY HILL 0 9,97 7 the different sounds of your CO 4 9 4 , 15805 E 23RD 5BD/3BA 2526 SF 2201 N WILMINGTON ST 2BD/2BA 1488 SF $ 4 Recreational fires that $49get out- alarm. It is important to know your of-control are a common cause of own alarm as each manufacturer wildfires caused by people. You can have different settings for their can be held financially responsible beeps. Typically, beeps with a short for the cost of fire department pause indicate an EMERGENCY 13.90 ACRES WITH UNIQUE DESIGN DISTRICT BACKYARD OASIS response and any propertyRIVER damage (a call to 9-1-1). Beeps with a 23706 E TRENT AVE 3BD/2BA 1956SF 19730 E DECHUTES AVE 5BD/3BA 3927SF it caused. pause of approximately a minute 1.61 ACRES SWIMMING POOL If you are following regulations, (intermittent beeping) indicate 6019 N ELLA ST 5BD/4BA 4820 SF 1819 E SOUTH RIDGE DR 6BD/4BA 4966 SF 0 0 0Fire please remember to “Be either a low battery or an end9,97 49,0 $51 7 $ Smart”: of-life signal. Again, we ask that • Use clean, dry firewood or citizens please check their owner’s manual or the back of the alarm manufactured logs, to read the codes for the various • Burn 25’ away from any sounds. This will help determine if ENTERTAINERS DELIGHT STUNNING COURSE SETTING structure, like a house, garage, or GOLF an alarm needs to be replaced, the LEGACY RIDGE LIBERTY LAKE VIEWS 16517 E 24TH LNfence, 4BD/4BA 5583SF 915 N DUNBARTON OAKS LN 5BD/4BA 5918SF 474 N STIMSON LN 4BD/3BA 4812SF 314 S LAKESIDE RD 5BD/6BA 8618SF battery needs to be changed or to Call to Buy or Sell Today call 911.

• Have an extinguisher or C Call all tto oB Buy uy o orr S Sell ell T Today oday charged water hose nearby, The alarm may also display ERR Pam Fredrick, Broker Pam Fredrick, Broker (509) 370-5944 or END. CO alarms last between • Stay near the fire, (509) 370-5944 pamfredrick@johnlscott.com five to ten years, depending upon pamfredrick@johnlscott.com • Keep any fire small; no the manufacturer.

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The Splash

BAUER

NEWS

Continued from page 2 north instead of west. How have you enjoyed living in the Inland Northwest - and specifically Liberty Lake - since coming here almost a year ago?

A: Our move to the Liberty Lake area has been satisfying in so many ways. For starters, our daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons live in Liberty Lake. We have been blessed with a wonderful home. We’ve been well-received and accepted by the community. We actively serve in a vibrant church. We are thoroughly enjoying less congestion, less traffic, less a lot of stuff. We just came out a quite mild winter into a gorgeous spring. We love the outdoors and there is much of it here to love. In short, yes we are enjoying living in the Inland Northwest.

Q: In the course of your experiences as a chaplain and a pastor, you’ve provided support to people at some of the most painful and disruptive times of their lives.

How do you know what to say when someone is in the midst of that kind of suffering?

A: So often it isn’t necessarily what you say, but it is just being there. Some have called it the ministry of presence. When a family has suddenly and unexpectedly received news of the death of a loved one, much of what is said does not make sense nor do they really even hear what is being said. Often after vital questions have been answered, holding a hand, giving a hug, allowing tears to flow and simply sitting with a family in their grief is what is most needed. I should note that there are certainly things that should be said and certain things that should never be said. Learning what those things are comes through years of experience and professional training.

Q: Faith seems like an abstract concept to some, while it’s more tangible for others. How would you describe what faith means to you?

A: The word faith holds so many different meanings. Understanding faith begins with whether a person is considering the word faith as a noun a verb. For me faith is both.

It is something I do and something I have. And, because faith carries with it so many ideas and concepts, I find it less confusing to use the word “trust.” I choose to trust in a

personal God who is trustworthy.

Faith or trust is only as good and helpful as the thing or person it is placed in. Personally, faith rests too much on me, something I have to continually work for. Whereas trust is something that rests upon God, who He is and what He can do.

Q: There’s some obvious differences between LLPD and LAPD in terms of capacity and scope of coverage, but what are some of the similarities you’ve observed between the two agencies?

A: Both agencies are made up of individual men and women who care about the communities in which they serve. Of course, anyone who has just received a speeding ticket may not see it that way. I’ve noticed that both agencies desire to make a difference not only in their cities, but in individuals. I have found that both the LAPD and the LLPD are very community-minded. Both hold the value that their job is more than enforcing the law; it is working toward improving community life.

One other similarity I’ve observed is regardless of the size of the city, law enforcement is a stressful and far too often thankless occupation. I’m very thankful for the officers and administrative staff serving Liberty Lake; they are highly trained, very caring and daily doing an exemplary job.

Q: Everyone has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in some way. Feelings like stress, anxiety and fear in the face of the crisis have been common. Any advice for how to effectively cope with something that has impacted so many aspects of our lives?

A: It’s difficult to add to all the professional, as well as in-thetrenches advice and counsel we have all received over the past several weeks. It seems to me that one of the things that have helped a large part of the population is that of reevaluating relationships. Navigating through difficult times is always less stressful and less fearful when relationships are strengthened.

COVID-19 certainly has caused us all to look at what is important and at the top of the list are people, relationships. We were not designed to do life alone. We need each other.

And, hopefully it has been a time for people to reconsider their thoughts and personal beliefs about faith and God. None of us like interruptions in life but they’re good for us. They can cause people to pause and ask, “What is life really all about?”

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6 • MAY 2020

The Splash

Introducing the

Safety Awareness Channel March 1, 2020 through March 31, 2020 Map

Police Report - March 2020 Splash news sources

Total incidents generated by Officers and emergency calls for service last month 534 Traffic Collisions/Hit & Runs / Injury Collisions 3 Citations (Traffic/Criminal/NonCriminal) 45 DUI (Driving Under Influence) 2 Thefts / Vehicle Prowls / Vehicle Theft / Burglaries 23 Malicious Mischief 4 Argument / Assault DV / Simple Assault / Assault w/a Weapon 4 Parking Violations 1 Suspicious Vehicles 21 Vehicle theft/recovery, March 2.

Officers received the report of a stolen vehicle located at 21605 E Country Vista Dr. The business at this location was reporting one of their delivery trucks as stolen. Officers took the report and submitted the vehicle details to be entered into NCIC. On 03/03/2020, the vehicle was recovered in Spokane Valley. No suspects at this time.

Malicious mischief, March 21.

Officers received the report of house being egged in the vicinity of the 23000 block of E Sinto Ave. This incident led to a series of incidents at this location. After the house was egged, the home owner discovered their vehicle tires had been slashed. While this incident was under investigation, the homeowner replaced the tires.

After the tires had been replaced, the homeowner discovered their tires had been slashed again; to include a second vehicle parked in their driveway.

Needless to say, the monetary amount of the damage was very significant.

Officers gathered leads and evidence reference this case which led to the suspects. Case is being forwarded to the Prosecutors Office.

Theft/drugs/search warrant, March 21. Officers received the report of a Theft located at 1304 N Liberty Lake Rd. Officers located the suspect and vehicle involved. Through their investigation and observations on-scene, Officers developed probable cause to seize the involved vehicle and apply for a search warrant. The suspect was arrested for Theft 3rd and (PCS) Possession of Controlled Substance Heroin, while on-scene.

The subsequent search

warrant to follow was applied for and granted. Officer recovered the stolen property and additionally located Methamphetamine and a significant amount of Drug Paraphernalia.

Additional charges were filed based on the findings of the search warrant.

Accident hit and run, March 31.

Officers responded to the report of a Hit and Run Collision located in the area of 22000 block of E Country Vista Dr. Arriving Officers were able to locate the involved running vehicle to complete their investigation. The suspect driver was cited for Hit and Run, Driving While License Suspended 3rd, and issued an infraction for Operating a Vehicle without Insurance.

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Stay updated on the status of local events

For more information please call: 509-922-5443

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Please use our city website and Facebook for further updates on these and other Liberty Lake events: www. libertylakewa.gov.

MAY 2020 • 7

The Splash

The Lookout The Community Corner

By Shane Brickner

Mayor of Liberty Lake I first want to take a minute to say, “Thank You.” Thank you to all our first responders, hospital staff, Spokane County Regional Response staff, grocery store workers, restaurants, business owners, city staff and the citizens of Liberty Lake as we are facing something like none of us have ever seen.

We are monitoring things closely on the city side, making the best decisions possible with the information we are

gathering. Below is a list of items we have been working on during this time.

$651,734.50 in the 2020 budget in response to how local businesses are impacted so far. We will provide more details as they become available.

1. We have posted a lot of COVID-19related information on Facebook, as well as links on our city website.

4. We have been assessing city events that have been or need to be cancelled or postponed.

2. We have discussed during City Council meetings what the city has been doing, which have aired live on Zoom and Facebook with meeting recordings on our city website.

5. We have been monitoring crime rates through the police department.

3. We have been talking with local businesses, monitoring the impact on them and how that affects our city.

We estimate we will need to cut back

6. We have taken steps to reinforce social distancing.

7. We hold weekly staff meetings with our entire city staff.

8. We attend daily meetings with the Spokane Regional Response Team.

Lawn and Order – The basics of smart irrigation

So, to emphasize that community alliance we have started the initiative LIBERTY LAKE TOGETHER. We will share details through Facebook and our city website on how we can all show the region, state and nation how we respond, which is together and supporting one another.

Thank you all and take care of each other.

By Emily Osborne Rotary Club President

LLSWD General Manager Your drinking water source is the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, a sole-source aquifer that stretches from Lake Pend Oreille in North Idaho, to west of the city of Spokane. This resource is limited and must be protected from contamination and overuse.

One way to improve efficiency is to improve how uniformly the irrigation system applies water to the landscape. Many irrigation systems are only 40-to-50 percent efficient. That means you will have to apply twice as much water to keep the lawn looking green and healthy. Common

I don’t have to tell any of you that this has changed all of our lives in a way none of us could ever have predicted.

What COVID-19 didn’t have in mind is the human spirit/heart and our ability to rally and support one another during this time here in Liberty Lake.

Rotary breakfast changes flight plan, not mission

By BiJay Adams

Lawn irrigation is the largest use of potable water. The Liberty Lake Sewer and Water district’s water conservation strategy emphasizes the benefits of irrigation system efficiency, helping our customers conserve water and save money.

Summer irrigation accounts for nearly 60 percent of the District’s annual water use. Evaporation, wind or runoff due to inefficient irrigation methods results in up to 50 percent water waste, needlessly increasing water bills.

May 2020

tendency is to water to the dry spots.

percent, while improving efficiency and uniformity.

Simple, inexpensive adjustments can improve irrigation efficiencies.

Retrofit sprinkler heads with lower water use/ larger droplet size sprinkler heads. Several manufacturers offer low-water use sprinkler heads that are replacement compatible. Often, the savings from reduced water use pays for the retrofit. For example, a traditional spray sprinkler head will flow about 2.0 gallons per minute while a rotator sprinkler head will flow about 0.5 gallons per minute.

If you irrigate for 20 minutes, the traditional spray head would flow 40 gallons of water while the rotator would flow only 10 gallons.

By retrofitting this single sprinkler head you reduce water use by 75

Pressure can be an issue as well. Too much pressure can cause misting which leads to increased evaporation and wind drift. Rotator style heads are less susceptible to wind drift and evaporation.

You can save water and money by adjusting your watering schedule according to weather conditions; when it rains, turn your irrigation controller to “off” or “rain delay.”

To reduce water loss, water before 9 a.m. or after 7 p.m. and adjust your sprinklers to avoid watering sidewalks, driveways and streets.

Please help conserve our valuable resource, save money and improve the appearance of your landscape by irrigating responsibly.

Each Memorial Day, our Liberty Lake Rotary Club and the city of Liberty Lake have gathered in Pavillion Park to remember and honor our Fallen Heroes. Last year, over 500 community members attended. All proceeds are donated each year to Inland Northwest Honor Flight so that our local World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans can travel to Washington, D.C. to tour the memorials.

This is so much more than a community fundraising breakfast, as supporting Honor Flight allows us to support combat veterans in gaining some closure by visiting the national monuments and honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. We have also heard many stories of healing as a result of these trips.

While we have had to make the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Memorial Day breakfast due to coronavirus and continued health concerns, our support to our local Honor Flight and our veterans this year will continue. The Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary club will be providing an online platform for community donations and matching all donations, up to $5,000.

It’s heartwarming to see the outpouring of love and generosity from our community each year and to see parents bring their children so they can see what Memorial Day is truly all about.

https://www.facebook.com/libertylakewa • www.libertylakewa.gov

8 • MAY 2020

The Splash

SVFD

Continued from page 4 of your alarm to see the date of manufacture stamp.

If renting your residence, check your lease to determine who is responsible for replacing the batteries and expired CO alarms.

• Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) has signed up to use a tool to help track COVID-19 in the SVFD Fire District.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs, along with technology partners First Due and Esri, have created a National Self-Reporting System, allowing the public to self-report critical COVID-19 related information directly to their respective First Responder Agencies. Data shared via Community Connect’s HIPPA compliant platform will not be used for any other purpose and is 100% secure with bank-level encryption and security protocols.

Community members who want to self-report can create an account at: https://www. communityconnect.io/covid-19 Incidents: Alarm Call – March 29, 12:20 a.m.

– Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) units responded to a call of a CO detector alarming at an apartment complex. We found the CO alarm to be at the end of its life. We spoke with the resident to contact the apartment manager in the morning. We have been at these apartment for several CO calls this month for end of life CO alarms.

Possible Illegal Burn – March 28, 1:52 p.m. – Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) units responded to a call from a nearby home of a homeowner burning

leaf piles in garden beds using a propane torch. Crews informed the homeowner that this was not allowed. The homeowner complies and put out the fires with a garden hose.

Possible Illegal Burn – April 8, 6:55 p.m. - Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) crews responded to a reported 911 hang up call of a fire in the backyard near E Country Vista Drive and E Desmet Court. Upon arrival, personnel made contact with the homeowner, who led us to the fire.

Her 4 year old son had accidentally lit a shrub near a fence on fire causing some minor damage to the vinyl fence before they could extinguish it with a garden hose.

Firefighters confirmed that the fire was fully extinguished.

About Spokane Department

Valley

Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) serves a population of 125,000, including the cities of Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake and Millwood, as well as surrounding unincorporated areas within the 75-square miles of Spokane County Fire District 1. In 2019, SVFD firefighter crews, including its paramedics and EMTs, responded to more than 18,326 emergency calls.

Established eighty years ago in 1940, SVFD is committed to pursuing excellence and is distinguished as an Accredited Agency by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and by the fire district’s ISO Class 2 rating from the Washington Survey and Rating Bureau.

Connect with SVFD at: spokanevalleyfire.com. For department news, safety information, and timely updates, find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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City shifts financial gears in wake of pandemic

An unnamed RV dealer relayed a drop of 90 percent.

Splash Contributing Editor

“We want to move in a positive direction for everyone’s sake,” the mayor said at the virtual City Council meeting April 21. “I’m thinking about how every single person is being affected by this. Our priority is the health and well-being of our citizens. We also want to be cognizant of all who are impacted, from the businesses to the families receiving unemployment checks.”

By Craig Howard

Cheaper fertilizer, fewer flowers, cutbacks on travel and non-essential training.

Welcome to the pandemicimpacted world of a municipal budget.

It’s been a decade since the Liberty Lake City Council had these kinds of real-life discussions, addressing a substantial deficit and debating how to address a significant dip in sales tax revenue.

That was 2010 when the nationwide recession had Liberty Lake staring at a projected $700,000 shortfall the following year.

Back then, council voted to approve a 6-percent utility tax on cable, phone, electric and garbage disposal to make up the difference.

This time around, Mayor Shane Brickner has led the cost-cutting charge, implementing changes that are expected to shave $705,519 from the general budget.

“This is a projection based on the economy starting to return to normal by July 1,” Brickner said.

In Liberty Lake, that “normal” hinges heavily on car and RV sales, a sector that has historically represented around one-third of the city’s sales tax revenue. Brickner said a representative of Gee Automotive told him sales were down 50 percent since statewide limitations on certain businesses went into effect.

Brickner said he will be visiting businesses throughout the city over the next few weeks, collecting feedback on what it would take to restore some semblance of commerce while maintaining safe social distancing.

The city had a three-tiered strategy in place to address issues brought about by COVID-19 and its ripple effect on the economy. Tier 3 is now in effect, meaning a freeze on new hires, reducing supplies, eliminating discretionary spending and taking other measures. No layoffs have been announced by the city to this point.

“We’re not there yet,” said Brickner who has been meeting weekly with staff along with City Administrator Katy Allen to inform employees of the latest developments and keep staff updated on benefits available through the state and federal government.

The city is shelving traditional approaches like lawn edging that have always been part of the warmweather maintenance agenda.

Operations and Maintenance Director Jennifer Camp said the freeze on maintenance hires is tied largely to the cancellation of many traditional summer events.

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The Splash “Events are a huge usage of our seasonal time,” she said.

The police department is reducing costs by cutting back on travel while saving money through historically low fuel prices. The department will hold off on hiring an additional officer while non-essential training is also being postponed to save costs.

Each weekday morning, Brickner, Allen and Police Chief Brian Asmus participate in a meeting of a regional task force discussing the latest news related to the pandemic. Law enforcement, fire departments, healthcare professionals and other cities are represented at the virtual meetings. Strategic plans have been set up to address 30, 60 and 90-day scenarios.

Finance Director RJ Stevenson gave his financial dashboard report at the council meeting April 7. As far as the impact of the pandemic on retail businesses and restaurants, Stevenson it wouldn’t show up until later when revenue reports come in.

Asmus told council that his officers are responding to reported violations of the state’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” mandate. While there have been some issues, Brickner said he has been impressed with the way residents and businesses have rallied during the crisis.

“I really want to say how proud I am of our community,” the mayor said. “We’ve had people step up in any way humanly possible. I ask that you continue to watch out for our vulnerable residents and also support our local businesses.”

On April 21, the mayor unveiled the “Liberty Lake Together” campaign, designed to emphasize togetherness in the face of pandemicrelated challenges.

“It means all of us helping each other, being patient with one another and knowing we’re all under stress,” he said. “We need to support each other. I ask that you join in this effort to show that we’re all in this together.”

Council debates capital project The discussion over a proposed capital improvement project took up a good portion of time at both council meetings in April.

At issue are proposed upgrades to the public safety/library building on Mission Avenue that have been recommended by Ameresco, a

Photo by Craig Howard The Liberty Lake City Council is considering a capital improvement project that would add an HVAC rooftop unit, backup generator and exterior lighting to the public safety/library building on Mission Avenue. Solar panels (shown above) were installed on the roof of the building in 2010 but are no longer functional. consultant brought on last year to evaluate the condition of public facilities and prioritize capital improvements.

The plan would mean adding an HVAC rooftop unit at cost of $161,000, a backup generator ($81,000) and new exterior lighting ($6,700) with money coming from the city’s REET (Real Estate Excise Tax) fund.

“This is really more of a reliability project,” said Allen. “Our police department is considered an essential building so to have a backup generator there to supply power during an emergency is important.”

The city’s servers were moved to the police/library building from City Hall in 2012 after a crash occurred.

Ameresco has been evaluating capital projects with asset software, determining which facility needs are most pressing. The approach has not won support of Council Member

Odin Langford who has voiced concern over moving ahead with the latest project, particularly with the city facing a budget crunch tied to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I don’t think it equates to a good financial decision right now,” Langford said. “We don’t see a lot of cities moving ahead with capital projects. I do think this is a worthy project but can we at least wait until we have our feet underneath us?”

Council Member Hugh Severs countered, saying the city should be proactive, especially when it comes to the backup generator.

“This is a critical project,” he said.

“I think we need to move it forward and at least go to a discussion and vote.”

Camp said the city “doesn’t want to wait until things are failing to react.”

“My recommendation address it now,” she said.

is

to

Asmus told council on April 21 that he had contacted several police

and fire agencies in the area, all of whom have some kind of backup generator, ranging in power from 45 to 100 kilowatts.

Energy savings with the proposed project is expected to be around $2,000 a year.

“I was pretty disappointing at the amount of energy savings we are going to get out of this,” said Council Member Cris Kaminskas on April 7.

The facility that houses the municipal library and police department was built in 1992 and purchased by the city in July 2008 for $1.9 million with another $675,000 going into renovations. By May 2009, the library and LLPD had relocated into the refurbished site.

In 2010, solar panels were added for $123,000. Battery and inverter issues have since made the panels inoperable.

Eventually, council passed a motion 4-3 to add a discussion and vote on the project to May 5 agenda.

10 • MAY 2020

Liberty Lake Together Splash news sources

Through amazing teamwork and collaboration, we want to bring a unifying message to our community called “Liberty Lake Together”. It is motivational to see our Liberty Lake residents, businesses and volunteers come together in a spirit of support and understanding, to volunteer to help each other, both realistically and figuratively.

I live in a cul-de-sac with neighbors (a family, if you will) who have watched our kids grow from 6 years old to adults to having families of their own.

It's great to share these memories and it’s amazing to see neighbors willing to help each other in any way necessary with no questions asked, from simple snow removal to watching out for each other’s houses on vacation, to lending an ear during those challenging times we call life. I thought about

COVER STORY this as I had a conversation with my neighbors, and it reminded me what an amazing community we live in. Throughout our city, we have citizens volunteer as snow angels, selflessly helping others with fall leaf pick up, and over 100 volunteers to help set up and tear down for a successful Winterglow event. It's clear that while we may not always agree, we will come together to support each other.

As we deal with COVID-19, it can be easy to get caught up in the frustrations, fears, and challenges we all face personally, and as a city, region and nation. When our region’s Mayors think about how to get us back to “normal”, we think about the people at high risk of infection, we think about the families and single moms or dads trying desperately to make ends meet and simply provide food for their family and pay bills. We think about all of those who put themselves on the front line working hard to help others, from health professionals, to first responders, to restaurant owners, to other local businesses. We

think about those very children we have raised and those grandchildren that put a smile on our face who rely on us to help make the best decisions possible.

We think about everyone in our community, from all levels working hard to make the best decisions possible with the information we have available.

So, we as the city staff ask you to join us and the Central Valley School District in sharing the message, “Liberty Lake Together” as a reminder of why we all call Liberty Lake home.

Participate by placing this image in your cars, home windows and places of business to help spread the message that the one thing COVID didn’t have in mind was the power of the human heart, the people of Liberty Lake, and the strength and perseverance of our community. The image below is also available to print from the city website (www. libertylakewa.gov) and the city Facebook page (City of Liberty Lake).

The Splash

Online group showcases community goodwill

By Pia Hallenberg Splash Contributor

If you are familiar with neighborhood groups and pages on Facebook, then you also know that it doesn’t take much for things to go off topic.

Groups are most often started with the best intentions of unifying neighborhoods and organizing volunteers, but positive and constructive conversations are sometimes easily derailed by one or two people.

Especially if they get into that nasty P-word: politics.

Yet the Liberty Lake Community group on Facebook is remarkably upbeat and focused on helping Liberty Lake residents - it even has a mentorship program.

“It really started with a group called the Snow Angels who would come out and clear snow and leaves for people who couldn’t do so themselves,” said Liberty Lake Mayor Shane Brickner.

Brickner moved to Liberty Lake 15 years ago and he says he feels like some of his neighbors are family.

“I’m just really proud of people’s willingness to help one another and all the acts of generosity we see every day,” Brickner said. “We want to lift the spirits of people and keep them going so we can get through this together.”

The COVID-19 crisis sent many people home from work but some were deemed essential and had to keep coming in every morning.

Take Jean Simpson, a teller at Yoke’s Fresh Market in Liberty Lake.

Once it became clear that she’d keep working through the virus attack, Simpson decided to do her best to lighten the mood.

“I am trying to put light in the darkness by wearing fun masks,” Simpson wrote in an email. When Yoke’s put up temporary plexiglass walls to protect tellers from costumers, Simpson decorated hers with dark green curtains and gold

The Splash tassles.

COVER STORY

MAY 2020 • 11

A costumer made her a golden cape that reads “Super Y Essential.”

Simpson also got out paint and decorated some river rocks.

“I’m not an artist but it was kind of relaxing to paint the rocks,” Simpson wrote. She gave the rocks to a young girl who sat them free in the community.

Simpson has been with Yoke’s for 20 years.

“We at Yoke’s are doing our best to keep people smiling,” Simpson wrote.

Painted river rock is definitely a thing in the Liberty Lake Community group where members post pictures of the treasures they find.

She isn’t the only one that has taken to painting rocks. Andrea Wallgren, owner of Adorkable Flowers and Gifts, has made sure to leave some at her door to cheer delivery drivers and at various parks around the Liberty Lake.

“I think the rocks are fun. I loved serving my country, but this is a way that I can serve me community. You never know how much you need something until you stumble upon it, like a painted rock,” said Wallgren.

For those whose artistic skills need a little brush up, Sindhu Surapaneni is organizing free virtual art classes through the organization Imaginations-2-Creations.

“Art is something fun, cool and relaxing and I wanted to support the community but sharing my art with everyone,” Surapaneni wrote in an email. “I created a Facebook page last month and I do live art lessons there.” Surapaneni wrote that there are 500 people on the page already

Photos by Pia Hallenberg Neighbors and local businesses have been painting rocks to leave throughout the community for all to enjoy during their time outdoors. Children and adults have been picking them to take home and save as treasures and reminders of the good will and camaraderie shared in Liberty Lake. and that anyone can be part of it just find Imaginations-2-Creations on Facebook.

asking for business recommendations or for new businesses to introduce themselves.

and Ramona” and “Amelia Bedelia.”

Janea Thompson Christensen asked the group if anyone is “going stir crazy with your littles?” and then offered free virtual music classes for children 2-4 and their caregivers at www.letsplaymusicsite.com/soundbegninnings

And its a place where people can give away stuff.

John Bujosa organized a food drive and family car cruise on April 25.

The Liberty Lake Community page is also a forum for residents

Ritu Pabby posted that she had “tons of books to donate … and wanted to offer them to any of you first. May help to keep the kids busy during these times.” Her post quickly drew lots of likes and specific requests for “Clementine,” “Beezus

Several food and donation drives have been launched on the page, too.

“The car community is very tight and powerful in this area and once I announced the cruise and the food drive, I got started getting a lot of See COMMUNITY, Page 12 Photos by Pia Hallenberg Jean Simpson, a teller at Yoke's in Liberty Lake painted rock and gave them to a little girl to place out in the community. She makes her own fun masks to wear to brighten shoppers day.

A costumer at Yoke's made the cape for her.

12 • MAY 2020

The Splash

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Continued from page 11 calls in support of the event,” Bujosa wrote in an email. He was hoping to collect 800 pounds of food for Second Harvest Food Bank.

“We will follow all the CDC guidelines and appropriate protocols such as a safe and social distance,” Bujosa wrote.

Pioneer School, which has a lot of students from Liberty Lake, is planning a May Day parking lot parade for students and their parents.

Betty Wolf wrote that students will bring cards and flowers for their teachers and start driving through at 9:30 a.m. on Friday May 1.

Some smaller businesses switched their focus to help with COVID-19.

Northwest Tailoring quickly switched to facial mask production and sells the masks as quickly as they can make them.

“We make masks for the community and surrounding areas,” wrote Luna Khadzhi whose mother-in-law Irina runs NW Tailoring. Orders can be placed via

their Facebook page or by calling 509.217.2525 At the HUB Sports Center things have moved online, too. Executive director Phil Champlin said fun things like “The HUB trick shot challenge” - suing a wadded up piece of paper and garbage can - has moved online.

The HUB has also organized online scavenger hunts for families.

Champlin said the best way to find all the events online is to go to the HUB Facebook page.

“Taekwondo and adult fitness instructors have started teaching classes via Zoom,” Champlin said.

Mayor Brickner said he understands and doesn’t blame people who are frustrated and want things to return to normal “It’s great to see everyone figuring out what they can do with their unique talents during these trying times,” Brickner said. “We are all worried about the unknowns. That’s what the Liberty Lake Together campaign is all about: to keep those spirits lifted up so we can get through this together.”

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14 • MAY 2020

The Splash

brought to you by

Student of the Month

Athlete of the Month

Citizen of the Month

Whether it’s in the classroom or on the football field, Landon Rehkow goes the distance. The Central Valley senior maintains a 3.9 grade point average and participates in the Running Start program at Spokane Community College where he is on track to earn his Associate of Arts degree. An All Greater Spokane League kicker and punter, Rehkow was part of CV’s state semi-final squad as a sophomore. He converted the game-winning field goal against Lewis and Clark last fall. He has also played basketball and tennis.

Rehkow earned his Eagle Scout award in January. He has contributed to a variety of service projects through his church youth group, including the installation of a mini-food pantry.

Rehkow will continue his football career at the University of Idaho after serving a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Suheyla Tanak established herself as one of the best slowpitch and fastpitch softball players in the Greater Spokane League over the past four years. The Central Valley senior was a catalyst on the Bears’ slowpitch state title team last fall, hitting .547. She batted .543 in fastpitch as a junior, earning All GSL first team honors. As a sophomore, Tanak was second team All GSL on a fastpitch squad that placed third at state. A middle infielder, she has also played outfield and third base.

Tanak was part of the Spokane Mudhens summer roster the past four years. The Liberty Lake resident maintains a 3.63 grade point average and participated in Key Club for two years, contributing to service projects like a food drive and making blankets for local nonprofits. Tanak will continue her softball career at Wenatchee Valley College.

Bryan Collins made sure the Spokane Valley Fire Department was prepared to deal with COVID-19 when it came to having personnel safe and ready to do their jobs. By early February, SVFD had ordered plenty of face masks, gloves, gowns and extra medication. “We got ahead of it,” Collins said. Hired as SVFD fire chief in 2013, Collins arrived from the Bay Area where he was born and raised. He introduced the Spokane area to the PulsePoint program in 2014, a smart phone app that notifies CPRtrained citizen volunteers when there is a cardiac arrest incident. Collins has called Liberty Lake home from 2013 until recently. He has a bachelor’s degree in vocational education and occupational studies and a master’s in emergency services administration, both from Cal State-Long Beach. Collins and his wife Nancy are proud parents of two children.

THE

LIBERTY LAKE

COMMUNITY NEWSMAGAZINE

&

Thanks you for all you do in our community

To all of our patients and community;

The safety of our patients and our team is of the utmost importance.

We are acting in accordance with the WSDA's, Dept. of Health's, and CDC's recommendation to close our doors to routine dental care at this time. We are asking all patients to postpone all elective and non-essential dental procedures to minimize the potential for further transmission of the COVID-19 virus. These are challenging times that require us to respond with compassion for our families and community. We value our patient's and team member's safety and our wider community.

Currently the governor has ordered closure to nonessential treatment until May 18. However; patients experiencing a dental emergency (pain) can call us at (509) 927-9279 and we will coordinate specific times to deliver care. All other questions pertaining to billing, scheduling, etc can be left on our voicemail and we will get back to you as soon as we can. We will be checking our messages regularly.

Please see our Facebook page or Instagram posts for latest updates as this is an evolving situation. This is impacting everyone and we will continue to work hard to meet your emergency needs in the short term and continue to deliver comprehensive care that you expect in the long term.

22011 E Country Vista Dr Thank you for your understanding and patience.

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MAY 2020 • 15

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MAY 2020 • 17

The Splash

Courage

By Gretchyn A. Carter

The definition of courage is bravery or the ability to do something that frightens one. To me, however, courage is so much more.

To have courage is not always easy.

It means pushing past things that can scare you, harm you, and overall terrify you. To have courage is to stand up and decide you don’t want your fear, whatever it might be, to control you. Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe once said, “Courage is the commitment to begin without any guarantee of success.” I agree with him as we dive headfirst and take a risk without knowing the outcome, holding onto courage tightly. I am inspired by people like Thomas Edison who were not afraid to fail. We have his many inventions that have made our society better because he had the courage to try over and over until he met with success.

Nancy D. Solomon exclaimed, “You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.” I interpret this to mean that without being brave and bold, our fears will keep us from accomplishing our goals. For example, all throughout history we’ve seen courageous people pushing past frightening circumstances to achieve their dreams. Take Harriet Tubman for instance. She led hundreds of slaves to freedom. I’m sure she was afraid at times, but she grasped courage and marched on to a better life not only for herself, but for others also.

In his book, Grenade, Alan Gratz says, “Being brave doesn’t mean not being scared. It means overcoming your fear to do what you have to do.” I find these words very true as it explains that to have courage doesn’t mean not being afraid. It

means choosing to face fear. A great example is during World War II. Think of all the terrified people who chose to fight their fears rather than let the terror of war control them. Maybe it was joining a resistance or army, trying to survive concentration camps, passing out forbidden information, putting their lives at risk to help people who were in danger, or maybe something as simple as hoping for a better future.

Especially today with the COVID-19 virus going around, we need to be brave. It can be scary to have life as we have known it come to a halt. We need to stand bravely amid the fear of losing loved ones, being isolated for an undefined period, and the uncertainty regarding the future. As we move forward, let us remember the wisdom of Winston Churchill, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

Gretchyn is a 6th grade student at Greenacres Middle School. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family. In her free time, she mostly likes to be outside, and she likes cross country, painting and writing.

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18 • MAY 2020

The Splash

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CV baseball history features esteemed alumni

By Craig Howard

Splash Contributing Editor

Filling out the all-time roster for Central Valley baseball is no easy task.

Over the years, the program has produced an impressive roll call of players recruited by top colleges and selected in pro drafts, including Major Leaguers Bump Wills and Liberty Lake’s Kevin Stocker. Quite a feat considering a mere 0.5 percent of high school baseball players are selected in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft each year.

When it comes to a starting pitcher on the Bears’ consummate lineup card, there are plenty of quality options – but who gets the ball?

Harry Amend may have some opinions.

A 1964 CV alum and longtime regional scout for the Philadelphia Phillies, Amend managed his alma mater from 1970 to 1979, compiling a 201-86 record. He coached the Bears to a runner-up finish at state in 1974 and third place the following year – the two best seasons in school history.

The ace of the Central Valley staff back then was Lance Woodruff, a 5-7 lefthander and four-year letterwinner who went on to a solid career at Gonzaga.

“All he could do was get you out,” remembers Amend. “He had a great curveball.”

In the 1974 post-season, Woodruff twirled a three-hitter in a district win over Lewis and Clark. The victory meant CV would face undefeated Kamiakin in the regional bracket at the Spokane County Fairgrounds. Woodruff not only shut out the Braves, he threw a no-hitter, propelling the Bears to the AAA semifinals against Meadowdale and pitcher Randy Jackson who sported a 10-0 record

and 0.39 earned run average.

Once again, Woodruff turned in a brilliant effort, pitching the Bears to a 5-1 victory and a chance at the state trophy. CV ran into a stout Lakes’ squad in the final at Sick’s Stadium in Seattle. Without Woodruff on the mound, the Bears put up a good fight but fell 3-0 to finish second. No Bears’ team before or since has placed higher.

“Those two games that Woodruff pitched against Kamiakin and Meadowdale were something special,” Amend said.

Shift ahead nearly a quarter century and another CV lefthander south of 6 feet was generating similar superlatives.

Liberty Lake native Rusty Shellhorn earned Gatorade State Player of the Year as a Central Valley senior in 2008 for a team that won 15 games and took defending state champion Richland into extra innings before bowing out of the post-season. Shellhorn threw two no-hitters during the season but it was a one-hitter against North Central that captured the headlines.

The 5-10 southpaw collected 21 strikeouts in the seven-inning game to set a state record that has yet to be broken.

Shellhorn registered 14 strikeouts in his final high school game against powerhouse Richland in the first-round state playoff contest at Gonzaga Prep. He was drafted that spring by the Chicago White Sox in the 39th round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft but opted instead to join the roster at Washington State University.

Photo courtesy of Texas Tech Athletics Liberty Lake native Rusty Shellhorn was named Gatorade Washington State Player of the Year after his senior season at Central Valley in 2008. He would go on to pitch for Washington State University and Texas Tech University before being drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2012.

Shellhorn transferred to Texas Tech after two productive years at WSU. As a junior with the Red Raiders, he went 5-3 with a 2.23 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 47 innings. Shellhorn’s favorite team, the Seattle Mariners, picked him in the 31st round of the 2012 MLB draft and he began his professional career that summer.

Shellhorn logged a 2.75 ERA

MAY 2020 • 19

The Splash in his first year of minor league baseball with the highlight coming at Avista Stadium against the Spokane Indians, a team he rooted for growing up. On Aug. 12, 2012, the lefty threw six innings of shutout baseball, allowing only five hits while striking out seven and allowing no walks.

These days, Shellhorn is focused on a different profession that requires similar focus and determination. The 30-year-old recently graduated at the top of his class at the University of Alabama Law School.

The 2008 CV squad had another dynamic arm on the roster in addition to Shellhorn. Trevor Shull, a 6-4 righthander showed enough potential to be drafted in the 19th round of the MLB draft in 2008 by the Tampa Bay Rays. He would go on to a five-year professional career, battling elbow injuries and eventually undergoing surgery.

Scott Simon was a sophomore at CV when Shull and Shellhorn were seniors. Like Shull, the 6-8 Simon was a tall and lanky hurler. The two pitchers also shared the distinction of being drafted by Tampa Bay as

Final Point

By Mike Vlahovich Splash Contributor

There’s an adage in coaching that goes “You don’t want to be the man who follows the man. You want to be the man who follows the man that followed the man.”

The inference is that the newcomer is filling big shoes and expectations to duplicate the success of his or her predecessor is pressure packed. So leave that for the other guy to fail before taking your turn.

Central Valley basketball coaches Felice Orrell and Mike Laws defied the odds when they brought home state finalist trophies, Orrell winning the girls WIAA 4A state title as a fillin rookie and Laws finishing second with the 4A Boys in the tourney in his second year at the helm.

Laws followed Rick Sloan who had been a post-season regular with one state finals effort. Orrell, who had been asked to help Ryan Bragdon after uber-successful Freddie Rehkow retired. The

seniors. Simon was taken in the 33rd round but, like Shellhorn, picked the college route, also landing at Washington State.

After redshirting his first year in Pullman, Simon set the WSU freshman record for appearances while compiling the third highest number of saves. As a sophomore, he was named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week after a five-hit, complete game shutout at Utah. It marked the first conference road complete game win for a WSU starter since 1995 when Aaron Sele – who would go on to a 15-year Major League career with teams like Boston, Seattle and Texas – did the same.

Amend said Shellhorn, Shull and Simon having the kind of skills and success to be drafted into pro baseball “is a good statement about youth baseball in Spokane.”

While there have been plenty of CV players selected in the draft, Wills and Stocker remain the two most well-known alums, rising to the top echelon of baseball after paying their dues in the minor leagues.

“Only about one out of every 20 players drafted will get to the big Bears had a legion of state titles on Rhekow’s girls resume and Orrell wasn’t even an in-building teacher when she got the call.

She was a homemaker living, “literally” she says, across the street from CV. Rehkow won three state titles in four years and a national championship to boot during his tenure. Bragdon had a fourth-place finish when Rehkow retired before he was summarily fired just before the start of the season. Too late to hire a coach, Orrell was thrust into the fire.

What a debut! The Beas lost their first two games to open the season and lost only once the rest of the year.

“First year, state title,” she told me. “Like no pressure, huh?”

As long as they were growing and getting better every day, she said, the execution would follow.

As a former Bear, Felice Moore, played as a 6-foot-2 post on two state title teams for Dale Poffenroth in 2001 and 2002 following a sixthplace her sophomore season (“It was a magical time,” she says), and

leagues,” Amend said. “So many things can happen.”

Wills – a three-sport star in high school – joined the roster at Arizona State after graduating as a Bear in 1970.

“As a senior, Bumpie was part of team where all nine starters went on to play college or pro ball,” said Amend. “I had a chance to see him play in the 1972 College World Series, just a great player.”

Wills was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 12th round of the 1974 MLB draft but returned to Tempe for his senior season. The following year, the Texas Rangers used a first-round pick to select Wills.

The infielder made his Major League debut in April 1977 with the Rangers and went on to a sixyear career with Texas and the Chicago Cubs, finishing with a .266 lifetime batting average and a .979 fielding percentage. As a rookie, he made big league history along with teammate Toby Harrah when the two hit back-to-back inside the park home runs at Yankee Stadium on consecutive pitches.

is still among the top 30 scorers in CV history.

She ultimately played four years at Eastern Washington University, went on to teach elementary school and coach basketball at Eastmont in Wenatchee so she was no novice.

Then, she and her husband, a law enforcement officer, moved back to be closer to family with two children, a boy, 5, and girl, 1, in tow. be.

It was almost like it was meant to What can she do for an encore?

“I’m still considered and interim,” she said. “Hopefully they’ll have me back,” she deadpanned.

“I think I’m a shoo-in.”

No, duh.

“This is my niche and my family is always going, ‘this is your calling in life.’ It’s a fun sport and a fun game.”

Players MJ Brunio was a firstteam All-GSL. Peyton Howard was second team and Anika Chalich honorable mention on the state champs.

Both Wills and Stocker put away their cleats at the age of 30, the same age that Shellhorn and Shull are now. Stocker made a splash as a rookie shortstop with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1993, hitting .324 over 70 games and starting for the National League pennant winners in the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

He would play seven more years in the majors between Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Anaheim before transitioning into a successful broadcasting career.

Amend was involved in the signing of Stocker as a second round pick out of the University of Washington in 1991. He said the former Bear proved his mettle stepping in mid-season on a veteran team headed to the playoffs.

“To do that in the bright lights of a sports town like Philadelphia is impressive,” said Amend. “Kevin had quick feet, a strong accurate arm and his hands were always steady.

Plus, he was just off the charts as a character guy. That goes back to the kitchen table, learning those values and lessons growing up.”

Like Orrell, Mike Laws is a CV graduate. The Bears lifer, played basketball and returned to teach and assist in basketball. In his second year as head coach at his alma mater he almost won it all.

When I talked with Laws after he took the job, he said being a head coach was what he aspired to after being a long-time assistant. His teams would be more up-tempo and offensive minded, looking for the basket quicker than his predecessor.

Plus, the Bears had more size and were underclassmen that debut year. Gavin Gilstrap, a 6-foot-10 load was growing into his body and became a force this year. He joined Jayce Simmons as first-team AllGSL. Noah Sanders, a CV legacy in his own right, was a second-team selection. The Bears finished 24-3 and won the league title.

“It’s going to change some things,” he prophesized last year.

This year bore him out.

Two finalists, one a titlist and other runner-up, and a combined 47-6 record. It can’t get much better than that.

20 • MAY 2020

The Splash

City finds a home for street department

parcel that was owned by the Central Valley School District, and very close to the location of the new high school. Located at 375 North Kramer Parkway, the triangular shaped parcel was appraised at $300,000.

By Linda Ball

Splash Contributor

Since Liberty Lake was incorporated in 2001 the city has contracted out all street repair in the city whether it be repairing potholes or plowing snow. City Administrator Katy Allen said managing the various vendor contracts was difficult, so in order to increase efficiency the city formed its own street department three years ago.

About two years ago the street department realized the need for a location to store equipment the city had either leased or purchased as well as space to store gravel and other materials that was stored here and there - even right behind city hall. The search for the perfect property led them to a three-acre

The city and the school district agreed on a price of $98,615 with additional consideration. The city and CVSD have entered into a field use agreement with a 20-year term, for the school district to have priority use of the Liberty Lake fields for Selkirk and Greenacres Middle Schools use for baseball and softball games. Additionally a 20year agreement was entered into whereby the district will have use of the tennis facilities at Orchard Park for district sponsored tennis matches and tennis instruction for Selkirk Middle School students.

The additional consideration also included the city conveying to the district the property located immediately to the north of Liberty Creek Elementary School, including the existing driveway.

The public works yard, as it’s called, is a work in progress. Right

now it’s fenced and contains a very large tank that contains magnesium chloride for de-icing the roads, stockpiles of dirt and asphalt regrinds. Snow plows and a front-end loader are kept at the yard, with smaller mowers and golf course equipment still kept near city hall.

The yard gives them a place to stockpile tree limbs as a result of pruning on city property until the limbs can be ground. There is a construction trailer on the site now and electrical and other utilities are in. The design concept includes a permanent shop with office, break room and parts room. It doesn’t look like much now, but street section Stephen Williams said it was nothing more than an overgrown weed field two years ago.

had been put on the “pause” list after Washington voters passed Initiative 976, commonly known as the $30 tab initiative, it is has been unpaused by the adoption of the tate transportation budget and now with an unkown future amongst the COVID world. The new public works yard is in the perfect location for snow plows and other road equipment to get access to the River District via the new overpass.

Allen said funds for the development of the site will come from the city’s general fund over a five-year period.

The city is already feeling relief.

Parking has become a commodity at city hall, so relocating the street department to the new property has freed up parking for other city employees. Williams said the department employees six to seven full-time seasonal employees at the yard.

While the Henry Road overpass

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ON THAT NOTE

The Splash

‘Pura Vida’ – and other lessons from Costa Rica - Three things a Valley trio learned opening a coffee shop far from home

By Josh Johnson Splash Contributor

Before they wanted to quit 5,000 times, a trio of Spokane Valley residents set out to open a coffee shop in Costa Rica. Since that moment three years ago, a combination of perseverance and “pura vida” resulted in the popular San Ramon destination, Elements Coffee House.

It’s a decision that has impacted thousands of lives for good: The team of eight local employees they treat like family; the community of Ticos (Costa Ricans) who pack the venue for their most important celebrations; the Gringos (expats) who have found “a perfect combination of the comforts of home with the taste of Costa Rica,” as one five-star reviewer put it.

The coffee house and adjoining TEN Degrees Coffee Roasters have enjoyed acclaim for excellent customer service and sourcing local ingredients and products. Even so, Spokane Valley’s Kent and Dina Johnson and partner Malcolm Wicks will tell you there are far less time-consuming — and far more lucrative — ways to achieve ROI than Costa Rican cafes.

“We thought about closing it 5,000 times, 20 times a day,” Kent said.

For Kent, perhaps it was the fact he worked remotely for his full-time “real job” at Liberty Lake-based Itron while simultaneously building a coffee shop from scratch in a foreign country.

(The Johnsons lived in Costa Rica from February 2012 to June 2019.)

For Malcolm, maybe it was the three-week window he chiseled to be away from his Spokane Valley coffee businesses to travel to Costa Rica, set up the shop and train employees — only to have all the equipment he needed stuck in customs until the day after he returned home. (Until a recent sale, Malcolm owned Grinders Coffee and its next door roaster, Bumper Crop Coffee, at 14505 E. Trent Ave.) For Dina, it might have been the hundreds of hours waiting in line at third-world government offices to meet always-shifting requirements and obtain ever-elusive approvals.

On one such occasion, a contextual misunderstanding of the Spanish word “timbre” had her thinking she needed to complete an application by providing the clerk with a doorbell. The woman was actually asking Dina for a 10-cent stamp, and eventually cleared up matters by providing it for her.

Costa Rica as an extra suitcase.

Has it all been worth it? If life is to be measured on a spreadsheet, the jury is out. But like explaining that perfect cup of coffee, there are layers of this experience that run deeper: notes of deep fulfillment and accomplishment, fresh textures of the human experience, and — best of all — a richness in relationship.

So here are three of Kent, Dina and Malcolm’s favorite takeaways from their experience — in case, you know, you don’t get around to opening a coffee shop in Costa Rica yourself.

1. Embrace perspective

the

‘Pura

Vida’

Ask an American teenager, and Pura Vida is a bracelet company. But in Costa Rica, it’s everything. Translated with expressions like “pure life,” “positive vibes” and “no worries,” it serves as an aloha-like greeting, but it’s also used as an attitude-checking response to the ups and downs of living.

“I’m so thankful she had one, because I probably would have gone down to the hardware store and actually brought back a doorbell to give to her, because it seriously would not have surprised me,” Dina said.

“We used it a lot when we came up against those different obstacles, like, ‘Pura Vida, what are you going to do about it? This is life, and you have to just accept it and walk through it,’” Dina explained.

Not that this marathon of hurdles has seen its finish line. In the week of our interview, the Spokane Valley owners were troubleshooting a wonky ice machine from 3,200 miles away and finalizing details for a vacationing friend-of-a-friend to deliver a commercial grade kitchen mixer to

But it’s more than a Costa Rican spin on the “no worries” catchphrase — it’s regularly lived out in the culture.

When Malcolm was in Costa Rica for three weeks, unable to do any of the most pressing tasks on his itinerary, he was staying with the 25-year-old manager of Elements Coffee House, Jeanka, a longtime family friend of the Johnsons.

In Malcolm’s own words, Jeanka got to see the “chop-chop-chop” American culture coming out of him: “I was raving about something, not happy with how things were going, and he was like, ‘Look, man, there’s only one thing in life you can’t fix.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, what’s that?’ And he said, ‘Death.’ That was his response to me getting wound up. … It made me sit back and put things in perspective. Nobody’s dying, so yeah, I do need to chill out a little bit.”

Submitted photos Since their first trip in 2011, Kent and Dina Johnson’s Costa Rica experience has been a family affair, shared with two adult children (27 and 24), and their two youngest sons, ages 14 and 10.

Elements Coffee House in San Ramon, Costa Rica, is owned by Spokane Valley partners Kent and Dina Johnson and Malcolm Wicks.

much energy on it?”

“Pura Vida”: Perhaps another translation is “lower blood pressure.”

2. Ask yourself if you need it About 90 percent of Costa Rican coffee is exported. The 10 percent that remains for local consumption is affectionately referred to by Ticos as “the garbage,” Kent explained. Not to be fooled, the coffee that doesn’t pass muster for export is still very good, and it’s widely consumed as part of a true “coffee culture.”

“The toddlers drink coffee; (people) drink it all day and all night,” Kent said.

They enjoy this “garbage” with milk and sugar, if available, or drink it black.

Skimping on unnecessary ingredients is part of a cultural value of getting by simply.

When Malcolm moved in with Jeanka for his first three-week stint in country, the young man lacked a refrigerator. Malcolm wondered how he would store the groceries during his stay, so he bought Jeanka a fridge. Two or three days later, Malcolm approached Jeanka about the rag they used to wipe down the glass door on the apartment shower.

“I said, ‘Jeanka, we need to go get you a squeegee and wipe this down with a squeegee,’” Malcolm said.

“What’s a squeegee — three bucks? … And he was like, ‘Look man, if you don’t have it, you don’t need it.’ That was his response. And it’s just the way they live.”

Not that Jeanka lacks zeal for his work.

The response made a deep impression, causing Malcolm to wish this minimalist perspective would not only rub off on him, but on the America he would soon be re-entering.

“He is passionate about things, but I’ve also heard him say a number of times, ‘Well, what can I do about that?’”

Kent recalled. “And literally if there is nothing you can do about it, then why do you freak out about it and spend that

For Malcolm, the lesson was more than a conviction about personal consumption. He also noticed this perspective caused people to treat one another with greater humanity. While there isn’t a middle class to speak of in

MAY 2020 • 23

The Splash

In the Beginning

The makings of an unlikely Costa Rican coffee partnership Malcolm Wicks spent the better part of four hours scaring his friends away from the coffee business.

Malcolm Wicks and Kent Johnson, at left, tour a Costa Rican coffee farm with its owner (standing) and Jeanka, the now 25-year-old manager of Elements Coffee House.

Costa Rica, the rich and poor seem to coexist without stigma, not measuring their human success in terms of wealth.

“There’s a different way than what we typically see done, and it’s OK,” Malcolm said. “It’s like, ‘If you need it and I have it, then it’s yours.’”

3. Place relationships

proper

priority

on

In Costa Rican coffee culture, you don’t grab and go; you sit and talk, Dina explained.

“Every day, they drink at 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock; it’s coffee hour for them,” she said. “It’s relational. This is what they do. They invite you over for coffee.”

The busiest day of the year for Elements Coffee House? Mother’s Day. Indeed, the culture seems intent on making a statement that people are not part of a checklist, but simply the priority that will always trump the checklist. In this way, the coffee and relational aspects of Costa Rican culture are linked.

Living with Costa Rican neighbors for seven years, the Johnsons’ decision to move back to Spokane Valley in June caused no shortage of mourning for the relationships that had been formed.

Perhaps the hardest goodbye was to their longtime neighbors, Jeanka’s family.

“The dad was just sitting by the curb and crying,” Kent recalled. “He just said thanks for all you have done for Jeanka.”

While Malcolm was never a longtime resident of the country, Jeanka’s family left a similar impression on him. On his first day in Costa Rica, Jeanka asked him what he wanted to be sure to do or see on his visit. His only request: An authentic meal. Jeanka said he would have his mom cook him something, and then Malcolm thought he must have forgotten about it, because he didn’t

The founder and former owner of Grinders Coffee and its next-door roaster, Bumper Crop Coffee, at 14505 E. Trent Ave., Malcolm knows firsthand how complicated and financially uncertain the industry is in Spokane Valley, let alone Costa Rica.

Kent Johnson showed up for that February 2017 conversation in the Bumper Crop loft with “four or five questions” connected to his dream of opening a coffee shop in San Ramon, Costa Rica, with his wife, Dina.

“I left with the biggest pit in my stomach I’ve ever had in my life,” he recalled.

Dina could see the reality check written all over his face.

“He came home to me, and he said, ‘We don’t know what we’re doing.

There’s no way we can do this. We do not know enough,’” Dina remembered.

“And he said, ‘I think we just need to hold off on this.’”

Kent’s recollection was even more blunt: “I was done.”

He prayed about it that evening, effectively handing the dream off to the Lord with the acknowledgement that resuscitation would require a miracle.

At approximately 9:30 the next morning, he received a text message. The dream was back on. *** Malcolm and Kent first connected on Newman Lake in the 1990s over a shared love of wakeboarding. As their families grew, so did their friendship. Highlights include the year Malcolm’s wife, Dani, had the Johnsons’ daughter in her fourth grade class. The families spent years barbecuing and snowboarding together before Kent and Dina vacationed to Costa Rica in June 2011 — and fell in love with the country. By the following February, Kent had gained permission to work his Itron HR job remotely, and the Johnson family became full-time residents in the hills northwest of San Jose.

The fateful meeting with Malcolm came five years into their Costa Rican adventure, with the Johnsons well along in the process of investing in a local business. They had looked into vacation homes and private car rentals, but nothing appealed to them quite like

the idea of starting a coffee shop. On a vacation to visit family and friends back in Spokane Valley, Kent looked to his friend Malcolm to help sharpen the idea.

“I left the meeting going, ‘Those guys are going to fail. They can’t do this,’” Malcolm said. “My whole mission was to talk them out of doing it.”

But then a strange thing happened.

He found himself thinking about how some of the best coffee in the world is farmed 30 minutes up the hill from the Johnsons’ proposed venture, how he owned a backup roaster that was just taking up space in the Bumper Crop shop, how many of the pitfalls awaiting his business-savvy friends were tied to their lack of coffee experience — experience he had in spades.

“The next morning I woke up, and I said, ‘Dani, I think we should try to partner with these guys and do this down there,’” Malcolm said. “I was thinking she would be like, ‘What? Why would we do that? We don’t want to get involved in that.’ But she was just like, no hesitation, black and white, ‘Yeah, I think you should do that. That’s a great idea.’ So I took that as like, ‘OK, I should at least propose this.’”

And he sent a text.

hear another thing about it the entire three weeks.

SPOKANE’S

While eating dinner on his final night before returning to the States, Jeanka suddenly showed up and interrupted the meal.

PREMIER FOOD & DRINK CELEBRATION

JULY 16-19, 2020

“We got to go to my mom’s right now,” he announced. “My brother is coming to pick us up.”

Malcolm asked if they could just say goodbye to her in the morning before heading to the airport.

“No, you don’t understand,” Jeanka shook his head. “She cooked; we got to go.”

An hour later, Malcolm walked into the humble Costa Rican home.

“It dawned on me at that point what had transpired over the course of the last three weeks. It literally took her three weeks to source the ingredients she wanted to prepare this one meal for me,” Malcolm said, explaining how she had likely had to save money to purchase some of the ingredients and bartered for others. “In that moment, it was the best food I’d ever eaten, and I sat there and bawled for probably 15 minutes in front of this lady I’d met once. But she understood it; Jeanka understood. And the bond with that family for my family will never be broken.”

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24 • MAY 2020

The Splash

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