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History Page 10
BOLT FOR EDUCATION PAGE 2
LL ARTS COMMISSION STATUE PLANS PAGE 12
BOYS ACADEMY WORKING TO OPEN PAGE 23
2 • APRIL 2021
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DOCKSIDE Part Excellence – Bolt recognized as ambassador for education
By Craig Howard
president.
Splash Contributing Editor
One of the main duties that Bolt and her fellow state board delegates address – along with the state legislature – is establishing high school graduation requirements. Bolt said the group is focused on “helping students achieve to their maximum potential and to be good citizens.”
The beginning of the state golf tournament in MJ Bolt’s final year at Mead High School was not what she had envisioned. As one of the top golfers in the Greater Spokane League, Bolt was among the contenders for the 4A crown but a score of 45 on the front nine left the senior well behind the leaders. Then, in a charge that would have made Annika Sorenstam proud, Bolt registered a 32 on the back nine to take home the individual trophy.
As a mother of two sons, Bolt set those priorities early, first at Ponderosa Elementary and later at Horizon Middle School. Along with supporting and advocating for her children, Bolt latched on with the
PTA and helped start the HEART in Hand program that raises funds and awareness to assist CVSD students experiencing homelessness and poverty. The foundation has been a steady source of reinforcement for the district’s HEART (Homeless Education and Resource Team) over the years. “This program has helped families get into stable housing, helped with extra costs with school programs, helped with transportation costs, utilities, college application costs and many, many more things,” Bolt said. In the fall of 2012, Bolt stepped up again in a catalyst’s role, this time as co-founder and chair of the Greater Valley Support Network (GVSN), a coalition featuring
Looking back, Bolt said the key to the championship was simply finding her calm on the fairway. “It’s the story of my life, really,” Bolt said. “I have success when I’m not pushing so hard. The secret is just letting go and being in the present.” Bolt would go on to earn a golf scholarship to the University of Iowa where she was named Big 10 Freshman of the Year in 1989, the same year the Hawkeyes captured the league title. She would play two years at Iowa before transferring to Eastern Washington University to be closer to family and friends. After college, she taught golf for 15 years at courses like Painted Hills in Spokane Valley and Meadowwood in Liberty Lake. Just as she routinely scaled the leader board in her favorite sport, Bolt has moved up the ladder in the field of educational leadership. Her latest stop is as vice chair of the Washington State Board of Education, serving as one of two representatives east of the Cascades. She is the likely heir to the chair position next year. Prior to defeating two challengers for the state board in the fall of 2015, including former CVSD Superintendent Mike Pearson, Bolt served for four years on the CVSD Board of Directors. During the 201415 school year, she led the group as
representatives from local schools, community organizations, churches, governments and nonprofits – all committed to a mission of “promoting community well-being and empowering those in need by facilitating partnership and fostering solutions to address unmet needs.” Bolt’s family features a rich history of leadership, including her uncle who served as mayor of Weiser, Idaho, a town where Bolt lived before moving to Spokane when she was 15 with her mom. Bolt’s mom and aunt were forerunners for women’s golf in Idaho while her mother worked for a company that converted laws and ordinances of cities and towns across the nation into municipal code books. Bolt also worked part-time for the business. Bolt traveled frequently throughout Washington in her state board role prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The shift to virtual meetings, she said, has meant “more public input.” She and her fellow board members have remained busy, working on projects like the establishment of emergency graduation waivers and recently passing a resolution on ethnic studies as a new graduation requirement. “We want to elevate student voice,” Bolt said. Q: How did your time as a kid on a farm in a small Idaho town affect who you are today?
Photo by Craig Howard MJ Bolt, former president of the Central Valley School District Board of Directors, has served as one of two Eastern Washington representatives on the Washington State Board of Education since January 2016. Before getting married and starting a family, the Idaho native played Division-1 college golf at the University of Iowa and Eastern Washington University and later taught golf at local courses like Links Golf Club in Post Falls and Meadowwood in Liberty Lake.
A: I guess I learned the value of hard work. Seeing my dad work hard all day and often into the late night to tend to the needs of the farm and also those of our neighbors taught me that we are all one big community and we are all interconnected. I saw this in my dad and in my mom, who ran her own business in town. When there was a grass fire, everyone set out to help. Hard work was valued no matter what type of house you lived in, big or small. I also got to experience a lot of different things from setting siphon tubes, to driving a doubleclutch old truck, to learning about alfalfa leaf, cutting bees – and learning how to not get bit by them See BOLT, Page 4
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BOLT
Continued from page 2 – the farm was its own amazing learning ground. Experiential learning at its finest I would say. Q: Golf has been a part of your life since your early childhood. Did you ever have aspirations to be a professional golfer and, if so, what altered your course? A: I did. I grew up thinking about that a lot honestly. Watching and hearing about Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson in their prime as well as my mom being a top woman golfer in the state was very inspirational to me. I spent my summers touring the state junior golf circuit and some national tournaments. Golf was a huge part of my life. I was off golfing while my friends were having other fun experiences. Then when I went off to college some 2,000 miles away from home, golf was even more part of it. Even though the University of Iowa was an amazing school and I had rich academic learning opportunities, it was hard not to think golf was the only reason I was there. We traveled a ton, which was awesome, but also took a toll on my academics and other experiences. The golf team set priority over just about everything else, but my academics. Even snow skiing and rollerblading, some of my hobbies back then, got frowned upon as it could negatively affect the golf team if I got injured. As I learned more about myself and my varying interests in volunteering, I realized there was much more to life than golfing and touring. The end of my sophomore year, when I decided to return to Spokane and attend EWU, that’s when I made up my mind to not pursue being a touring golf professional. I few of my colleagues did and it was fun to follow their careers but I’ve never
regretted it. Q: The HEART in Hand program you helped establish has done a lot to help underprivileged students over the years. Do you think the average person realizes the level of homelessness and financial hurdles faced by so many kids and families within a district like Central Valley? A: That’s a good question. I wouldn’t think so, but maybe it has changed a lot since we started the program. I know back then, which was before I got on the CVSD School Board, I was stunned to find out how many students just in our school district were identified as homeless or in transitionary/unstable housing (i.e. couch surfing, etc.) Just because we don’t have a bunch of homeless citizens on our streets doesn’t mean these needs are non-existent with our own students in our classrooms. The trauma that these students and families are going through and the effects on these students and their learning is massive. We have learned a ton about the effects of trauma on students and their learning and housing instability is definitely a factor. It is hopeful in seeing our city dedicating more resources to these needs of our citizens – so that tells me there is a building awareness. Q: Whether it’s HEART in Hand or the Greater Valley Support Network, you have really made it a point to look out for the underdog. Why is that such a priority for you? A: This actually brings tears to my eyes. I guess I have always felt like an outsider myself, even though most people that saw me grow up would have never guessed that. I’m sure my life looked pretty peachy to most that knew me, but there was a lot under the surface that most didn’t realize. I know what a struggle life can be, all too well. I also know I
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have much to be grateful for and a lot of experiences that have helped me see from others’ perspectives. Having a son with different abilities really has helped me to broaden my perspective. Working with the HEART in Hand program and Greater Valley Support Network has also helped me to see how much need there is in our community, and how many people are struggling. I guess I have had my own struggles in my life and I identify with that. Somehow I have been able to give voice to those needs and to those perspectives and people have responded. It does drive my advocacy for certain. Every student, every person is full of beauty and love and trauma and difficulties. If we are ever going to make this a better world, I feel we have to truly understand life from these different perspectives and really listen. Q: How does the state board advocate for students in a way that prioritizes their potential? A: We all desire to see our students maximize their potential. It is what drives us. The State Board of Education realizes that we must truly honor and value student voice at every systems level to do that. Otherwise, how do we know how we are serving them if we don’t ask them? They will certainly tell us, and they are the best ones to do that. So, advocating for increasing student voice is definitely a priority of the board. We also are continuing to look at data and how students are doing after high school to see how our policies are working. Are students completing a credential after high school? Are they earning a living-wage job? These are all things we keep close tabs on and advocate with our legislators and with other educational agencies and organizations, as well as with local districts on. Another personal
passion of mine is increasing experiential opportunities for all students. So many students struggle with finding their “why” without these types of experiences. I’m hoping we can encourage funding policies that incentivize internships, work-based learning and youth apprenticeships as well as other similar types of experiences while in school, through funding and credit incentives. That is my hope. Q: How has being the mother of a child with autism influenced the way you look at access to education for students of all abilities? A: It has influenced me a ton. I look for my student in the data – and others, as I mentioned earlier – who maybe our system in the past hasn’t served as well. I look for what opportunities these students have. So yes, love that students who get good grades and are in leadership roles in our schools have lots of opportunities for engagement in our schools and in our community. Do kids like my son and others have similar opportunities? Does every student have the same opportunity for engagement? So, I look for that. Do they have the opportunity to explore their passions and interests? One of the coolest things that I got to see my son experience in high school was the Unified Sports, which is where students that are in Special Olympics play alongside other athletes. That experience was such a game-changer not only for my son but for other athletes that participated, who wouldn’t have otherwise “tried out for” a traditional sport. I hope to see more and more experiences like that for all students. Inclusion is a very powerful thing and not being included is just as powerful, just in a more negative sense. I think every student deserves to be included.
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SVFD Report – March 2021
Spokane Valley Fire Department crews responded to a total of 111 emergency calls in the greater Liberty Lake area* from February 15 – March 15, 2021 Emergency Medical Services 87 Fires 6 Dispatched and cancelled en route 6 Building Alarms 4 Motor Vehicle Accidents 4 Service Calls 1 Vehicle Fires 1 Hazardous Materials 1 Technical Rescue 1 The *Service area for SVFD Station #3 in Liberty Lake • Calls saw an decrease from 119 last month to 111 this month. • Emergency Medical Services saw an decrease from 94 calls last month to 87 calls this month. • Building Alarm saw a decrease from 8 last month to 4 this month • Motor Vehicle Accidents saw a slight increase from 2 last month to 4 this month. • Fires saw a slight increase from 5 last month to 6 this month. Media Release Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) has been awarded a State Farm Good Neighbor Grant in the amount of $15,000. The Spokane County area, including areas within SVFD’s jurisdiction are considered vulnerable to wildfire risk. “We live in a WUI zone; an area that lies between wildland and human development,” said Spokane Valley Fire Department Fire Marshal, Greg Rogers. “WUI fires include brush, grass, forest fires and other outdoor fires, and our department is dispatched to these types of calls every month of the year. As the threat of wildfire is increasing, it is becoming more important that each resident take steps to protect their homes and their community.” The funds will be used to support a Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Awareness and Preparedness Education project that the department is developing this year. The project will help
SVFD residents learn more about their specific WUI fire risks and ways to mitigate those risks and better prepare their homes and property against a wildfire. SVFD applied in October 2020 for one of the Safety Grants to be used towards a Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Awareness and Preparedness Education Project. State Farm focuses their Safety Grant funding on several key areas of neighborhood safety: •
Auto and roadway safety.
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Teen driver education.
• Home prevention.
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•
Disaster preparedness.
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Disaster recovery.
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State Farm makes it part of their business to be “like a good neighbor”, helping to build safer, stronger, and better educated communities throughout the US. They do that by supporting the communities where they live and work and focus on giving back to communities by establishing their “Good Neighbor Citizenships Company Grants”. The grants focus on three areas: safety, community development, and education. The State Farm Safety Grant was a good fit for our WUI project not only because of their annual Good Neighbor grants, but also due to State Farm’s partnership with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Each year, on the first Saturday of May, State Farm and the NFPA partner together to sponsor a campaign promoting Wildfire Community Preparedness. It was this strong commitment to home fire safety and fire prevention and WUI that convinced us to apply for the grant with State Farm. According to the NFPA, more than 46 million residences in 70,000 communities in the US are at risk for WUI fires. It is through preparatory actions taken by homeowners that we can all reduce the risk not only to individual homes, but to our entire community. Simple steps such as creating a defensible space around your home can reduce the WUI fire risk. Through wildfire preparedness activities we can help make our community a safer place to live.
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6 • APRIL 2021
SVFD REPORT Continued from page 5 Incidents:
Alarm System , February 16 – Spokane Valley Fire crews respoded to a call at an apartment building in the 24900 block of East Spotted Owl Lane for a reported alarm sounding. Crews arrived to find a frozen and broken sprinkler head in one of the buildings. They were able to locate the sprinkler riser and shut down the system. The apartment building was put on a fire watch, the system was reset, and crews returned in service. Vehicle Fire, February 18 Spokane Valley Fire was dispatched to a call for a vehicle fire off exit 296 for Liberty Lake/Otis Orchards westbound. Crews could see white smoke coming out of the back of the 53 foot trailer. The truck had pulled over and had handled the incident. Valley Engine 4 was cancelled and crews returned to service. Two Fires, February 18 - Spokane Valley Fire Department crews were called on two structure fires 10 minutes apart in the early morning. Fire One Fire crews were called to the first fire (an abandoned house near the 12600 block of E. Main) around 12:32 a.m. The fire was called in by a neighbor who had seen smoke coming from the roof. The fire appeared to have started under a front porch and fire crews went to work quickly extinguishing the blaze. The Incident Commander had crews initiate an offensive attack with a quick hit to the exterior portion of the fire transitioning to an interior attack. With primary search and vertical ventilation completed, fire operations were changed to a defensive strategy due to the fire extending into void spaces in the attic and electrical concerns being discovered while fighting the fire. Even though this structure had been long abandoned, the house still had its electrical service partially intact. Therefore, nothing is taken for granted on a fire scene (Safety First!). Modern Electric was called for the electrical disconnect. A board up company was called to close opening caused by the fire and suppression operations. The department fire investigator has made the determination that
The Splash the fire was most likely caused by a transient’s fire under the front porch that spread to the interior of the abandoned property. Fire Two The second fire occurred around 12:42 a.m. Crews were called to the 9500 block on E. 4th Ave where a small travel trailer was on fire in a driveway. Residents had evacuated from the trailer with the help of an alert neighbor. The neighbor’s quick response in getting the residents out of the trailer most likely saved their lives. While this was truly a travel trailer, it was being lived in as a temporary residence and as such should have had a working smoke alarm and CO detector. It did not. The investigator determined the fire source was a propane fueled heating device that had been placed too close to combustibles or flammable items. The fire was quickly extinguished with tank water and with extension of the fire to other structures. One patient was transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Spokane Valley Fire Department is reminding residents during the month of February that winter is a time of year where more fires occur. Please make sure you have working smoke alarms and test them regularly. Also, if you are using portable heaters, make sure to turn them off at night and only to plug them straight into the outlet. Never plug them into an extension cord. Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) crews were called to the area of Alki and Fancher, February 22, where a worker had slipped while in the grain elevator. He was getting
ready to receive a delivery. The fall was approximately 19 feet. Smoke Investigation, March 7 Spokane Valley Fire responded to a call for a smoke investigation. Crews could see a large dump trailer with commercial markings and a small 4 foot slash pile on fire with smoke billowing and hanging low in the air for about 4 blocks. There were several other piles being prepped for possible burning as well. Clean up of a ½ acre yard lot was occurring. The smoke could be seen in the area of the 700 block of south Garry Street. It was very dense and surrounded the three houses in the immediate area. Fire crews made contact with the property owner and the hired crew to go over legal burning materials and size for burning. The fire was extinguished and crews returned to service. The worker received injury to his leg and arm. Both injuries were nonlife threatening. Spokane Valley Fire Technical Rescue Crews received assistance from the City of Spokane Fire Department (SFD) and their Technical Rescue Team. The rescue took approximately 25 – 30 minutes. An air monitor was put down in the underground elevator shaft to assure quality air was available for the patient and everyone working to rescue the patient. As a precaution, all running, or capable of running machinery near the rescue location is disabled and locked out for the duration of the extrication. Once the patient was extricated, he was quickly transported by AMR to an area hospital. SVFD trains regularly on technical rescue. It is a skill that is brought
into use regularly in the Spokane Valley Fire Department Fire District. Our Tech Rescue Team is dedicated to rescuing victims of falls, both high and low angle, or any other situation where someone is unable to rescue themselves safely. Spokane Valley Fire Department is reminding residents during the month of February that winter is a time of year where falls can occur due to slippery, wet, and icy conditions. Take caution and go a little slower. It is also a time when more fires occur. Please make sure you have working smoke alarms and test them regularly. Also, if you are using portable heaters, make sure to turn them off at night and only to plug them straight into the outlet. Never plug them into an extension cord. MVA, Extrication, March 11 - Spokane Valley Fire crews were dispatched to a one vehicle roll over accident where extrication crews were needed near the Barker Exit off I 90. The vehicle had struck a reader board trailer and had come to rest on its roof. The patient was partially in the back seat and pinned by the drivers seat. Crews pulled a charged line for fire protection and then evaluated the medical condition and extent of injuries to the patient inside of the vehicle. Crews then determined the best way to extricate the patient. Crews worked on a sideout maneuver for extrication. Once out, the patient was transferred to Valley Hospital Emergency. Connect with SVFD at: spokanevalleyfire.com. For department news, safety information, and timely updates, find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Nextdoor, and YouTube.
APRIL 2021 • 7
The Splash
The Lookout The Community Corner
By Annie Kurtz
Liberty Lake City Council COVID-19 changed the world this past year and for me it has made it hard to figure out how to connect and get input from residents. As a new council member, I had all of these ideas about having town halls, office hours, attending meetings and being at events to meet people, talk, learn and connect in meaningful ways. I see the light at the end of the COVID tunnel, and I want to get back on track with one of the
things I was really excited about – community engagement. At the City Council meeting on March 16, one of our residents put out a call to action to engage citizens in their local government. Her words resonated with me. I heard her. So, here’s my plan: 1. Beginning April 15, I will have a weekly Zoom coffee hour from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. I hope that by the summer, these will be in person – stay tuned. 2. I will propose a new Commission on Community Engagement for the
city of Liberty Lake at an upcoming City Council meeting. I have a lot of seed ideas and I know that there are amazing people in this city who will take those ideas, add to them and develop something phenomenal. If you have read this far, I have a challenge for you: Commit to giving input to the City Council at least twice this year. You don’t always have to give input and you don’t have to attend every meeting. Send an email. Join the virtual coffee time. Give what you can. There are a lot of big decisions
City welcomes new library director, council member
Jandy Humble has been named the new director of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library. Humble’s first day was March 29. After moving to Liberty Lake in August 2015, Humble was hired by the library the following month as Youth Services librarian, a role she held since taking over for previous director Jocelyn Redel last month. Humble becomes the third director in the library’s history. Humble has her undergraduate degree in English Literature from Utah Valley University and a master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Alabama. Her duties as director include overseeing staff, community outreach, budget and daily operations. The City Council also welcomed a new addition recently. Holly Woodruff, known to many as president of Friends of the Library, was appointed to council Pos. 7, replacing Cris Kaminskas who was appointed as mayor in January. Woodruff is a clinical social worker who has her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work from Indiana University. She has taught online courses in social work at her alma mater and volunteered with Meals on Wheels. She also served on the city of Liberty Lake’s salary commission. The city bid RJ Stevenson a fond farewell last month as he stepped
April 2021 to be made for Liberty Lake in the near future. The City Council is a made up of a seven regular every day humans trying to make conscientious decisions about the resources we all share. Your questions and concerns matter and so do your ideas. Your voice matters – and I would like to hear from you. I can be reached at 509-964-1162 or akurtz@ libertylakewa.gov. I hope to meet new people at coffee time and I truly hope that if you have an interest, you will join the Commission on Community Engagement.
for events to return once again.
down to pursue other opportunities. Stevenson had served as finance director since 2011.
Library now Open with special hours
The Liberty Lake Library is now open Monday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. Please limit your visit to the library to 30 minutes or less. Masks are required. Curbside pickup will continue during these open days and hours. The library has also introduced a dedicated time for residents at a higher risk to the COVID-19 virus on Wednesdays from 11 to noon. Library Board Trustee Tim Olsen said library staff has “been fully trained in COVID protocol.” For more information, call the library at 509-232-2510.
Events in Liberty Lake for 2021- so far
“Liberty Lake Together” has emerged as a proud civic theme over the last year. Historically, community events have defined that togetherness. From the Farmers Market to the annual WinterGlow, Liberty Lake residents love taking time to gather together and show appreciation for their city, neighbors and local businesses. While the past year has certainly proved a test for all of us with a lack of events due to COVID-19 and an unfortunate restriction on in-person gatherings, Liberty Lake residents remained committed to working together. With 2021 being a new year, residents are hopeful
City staff has been hard at work to coordinate with the Spokane Regional Health District and other agencies to bring events back safely this year and with the recent move to Phase 3, things are already looking more hopeful. The annual Liberty Lake Yard Sale and Library Book Sale are scheduled to take place this year, as well as the Fourth of July fireworks show. Some events, like the Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast, are not cancelled, but will continue a little differently this year as staff works to follow guidelines and maintain safety while still honoring those who served. The Liberty Lake Farmers Market is scheduled to premiere on May 15 and run through Oct. 9, observing Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols. Other community favorites, such as the Spring Cleanup Event, are also scheduled to take place with social distancing and masks. It is with these guidelines that the city will hopefully be able to put on more events this year and with the cooperation of residents, those events will go off without issue. While the city works to bring a sense of normal back to the community, we cannot thank the residents enough for working so hard to keep each other safe, keep businesses going and keep Liberty Lake Together.
https://www.facebook.com/libertylakewa • www.libertylakewa.gov
8 • APRIL 2021
News and Notes – April 2021 By Craig Howard
Splash Contributing Editor
• During her report at the March 2, City Council meeting, Mayor Cris Kaminskas shared news of a local community service project benefiting the town of Springtown, Texas, one of many jurisdictions in that state impacted by power outages and water infrastructure challenges in February. Kaminskas reached out to Springtown’s city administrator to find out what needs the city had. Liberty Lake residents Mark and Karen Saba led the effort from there, gathering gift cards from Yoke’s and Safeway. Other residents contributed personal care items and other donations. “We were actually able to pack 42 care packages, one for each of the city’s staff members to show our appreciation for all the work they’re doing for their town.” The packages arrived March 4. “I just love this community so much and how everybody stepped up to pitch in,” Kaminskas said. • Holly Woodruff is the newest member of the Liberty Lake City Council. Woodruff was selected as the newest City Council member on Feb. 23. The council vote was split evenly between Woodruff and Jamie Baird before Kaminskas broke the tie. Woodruff takes over in the Pos. 7 chair occupied by Kaminskas before she was appointed mayor. Woodruff will be in office until the end of this year and be required to run in the general election to remain in office beyond 2021.Woodruff has lived in Liberty Lake since July 2017 and previously served as president of Friends of the Library. • Jandy Humble, longtime Youth Services librarian, has been named new director of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library. Humble had been serving as interim director after Jocelyn Redel transitioned to another job in February. • The city currently has two Planning Commission openings. The city is also recruiting for a project manager position. • City Administrator Katy Allen gave an update on a proposed
NEWS
utility tax related to the Spokane County Sewer Treatment Facility located in the city of Spokane. Recent case law allows the city to place a tax on gross revenue from that facility. The service area encompasses most of Spokane Valley, all of Millwood, some of unincorporated Spokane County and a portion of Liberty Lake in the River District that includes 1,130 homes. A 20-percent tax has been discussed with an estimated cost of between $200 and $400 per household each year. Allen said Liberty Lake crafted a letter to the city of Spokane that outlines the city’s position after hearing about the tax proposal second-hand from the city of Spokane Valley. “It asks that they please keep us directly involved in any activities that impact our resident moving forward,” Allen said. The letter also expresses Liberty Lake’s opposition to the tax. Liberty Lake City Attorney Sean Boutz said there has also been talk of collecting tax revenue retroactively for a number of years. “Where we are at this point is the four jurisdictions are working together to discuss this issue with the city of Spokane. There are still more facts to be gathered,” Boutz said. • Allen told council that the “city is at the table on what would be possible” for community events during the warm-weather season. Operations and Maintenance Director Jennifer Camp is representing Liberty Lake on a committee with delegates from area jurisdictions tasked with discussing safe approaches to community gatherings. “It’s about how we take events in our community and address the COVID requirements,” Allen said. • The bulky waste/clean green cleanup will be taking place on April 24 as a collaborative effort between the city and Waste Management. WM customers will be receiving a couponflyer with more information. • The city’s herd of outdoor maintenance goats returned last month, clearing brush at Trailhead. Camp said the animals will be rotating among sites throughout the city. • New netting at the Trailhead golf course driving range was installed last month. • Closing on the 23-acre parcel previously owned by the city in the Legacy Ridge area is set to be completed by April 2. • The city’s lease with Palenque Mexican Restaurant at Trailhead
came to an end on March 31. Finance Director RJ Stevenson told council the business is preparing to move to a new location and there has been talk of the city extending the lease on a month-to-month basis until that transition takes place. • Resident Nancy Hill, former executive director of Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service (SCRAPS), spoke in support of an off-leash dog park in Liberty Lake at the March 16 council meeting. Hill is a member of the city’s Parks and Arts Commission which will be discussing the dog park and preparing a recommendation for the council. Hill brought up Town Square Park as one possible site for the park. “It could really be a wonderful addition when people are looking for a place to live,” Hill said. • Bids for pedestrian crossings with flashing beacons went out last month. The three intersections are Winrock/ Autumn, Country Vista/Eagle and Country Vista/Eagle Bend. • Installation of the new irrigation system at Pavillion Park is expected to resume this month. • Liberty Lake will receive $2.385 million as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Kaminskas told council on March 16 that it is still not confirmed how the funds will be spent. “There is no guidance at this point as to what we can and cannot use that money for or the time frame in which it can be used,” the mayor said. She added that it would be likely be mid-April before guidelines for the funds will be disclosed. • A new story has been installed at the Story Walk in Rocky Hill Park. • Each Wednesday, the library is hosting a Zoom storytime. For more information, call the library at 509-232-2510. • Finance Director RJ Stevenson will be leaving the city this month for another opportunity. He has occupied the role since 2011. “He has done a fantastic job,” Kaminskas said. “He was extremely reliable in the information he gave us. It made for a lot less work for all of us. We’re going to miss him.” • Skyhawks youth sports program will resume April 12 at parks throughout Liberty Lake.
The Splash
Council to navigate capital facilities, Valley issues By Craig Howard
Splash Contributing Editor
On March 2, the City Council convened for a first in the history of Liberty Lake – a workshop on workshops. With a full slate of topics on the council’s agenda for the remainder of 2021, the goal of the conversation was to prioritize. “I think it’s important we all get on the same page,” said City Administrator Katy Allen who worked on the schedule with City Clerk Ann Swenson. “I just want to make sure we’re tracking along with the council.” First up will be a special meeting on March 30 at 6 p.m. to go over the city’s myriad of looming capital facility projects. Follow-up will take place April 6 and 20. “We wanted to get this on earlier than later,” said Mayor Cris Kaminskas. “I see us looking through our priorities, the funding amounts and the source then we can start rearranging the blocks. I don’t see us going through the entire list, maybe the top four or five or whatever we have time for.” Another special meeting is being discussed for April 13 or 27 with representatives of the city of Spokane Valley. “This is one not so much on policy, they are interested in getting us up to date on their projects and where they stand and I think it’s a good time for us to do the same,” Kaminskas said. Council Member Hugh Severs expressed hope that the meeting could be a vehicle “to develop some rapport” between the two cities as well as “to talk about specific projects we should be working on.” “Our intent should be healthy dialogue and mutual understanding,” Severs said. “I
The Splash
APRIL 2021 • 9
NEWS
would like to use this time to talk about some of the problems that have come up between us.”
Kamiskas said the meeting would be about discussing “projects that could potentially affect each other’s jurisdiction or anything we may want to collaborate on.” Council Member Phil Folyer was less-than-enthused about a dedicated meeting. “I’m not super excited about carving out a special day for a workshop with their council,” he said. “I’d be more in favor of working it into one of our regularly scheduled meeting times because I can’t imagine it’s going to be a lengthy discussion especially if we get their list of what they want to talk about it and we give them our list and we make it a more to-thepoint discussion.” Council Member Dan Dunne added that “the problems of that city are potentially our problems and also the opportunities of that city are potentially our opportunities.” “We share a border with Spokane Valley,” said Council Member Holly Woodruff who pointed to a recent state grant secured by Liberty Lake’s neighbor to the west that will go toward a new library. “I think collaborating with them on things like that and learning how they applied for that grant would be a really good thing,” Woodruff said. Allen said several capital improvements on Spokane Valley’s radar are in close proximity to Liberty Lake such as projects on Barker Road south of Trent, on Flora and Sullivan. “For me, the goal in getting together is to have some substantive dialogue of how we can work together,” said Council Member Annie Kurtz. “I don’t want to particularly want to hear just a list of things they want our support with. I want to understand why and how we can work together.” By summer, council will already be looking ahead to the 2022 municipal budget. A workshop on financial investment and policy is tentatively planned for Aug 3. Council discusses term limits
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Council held its third workshop on a proposal for term limits before the regularly scheduled meeting March 16.
Since incorporating in 2001, the city of Liberty Lake has not adhered to term limits for elected officials. The mayor and members of the City Council are currently Easter Vigil Mass Saturday, April 3rd at 8:00pm. elected to serve a four-year term and have the option of running for Easter Sunday Masses, April 4th at 8:00am and 10:30am. The 10:30 AM Mass will Easter Vigil Mass Saturday, April 3rd at 8:00pm. subsequent terms. EASTER Vigil Mass Saturday, April 3rdoraton8:00pm. Easter Vigil Masslivestreamed Saturday, April 3rd at 8:00pm. at https://KJNApps.com our parish website at www.stjoeparish. Easter Sunday Masses, April 4th at 8:00am and 10:30am. The 10:30 AM Mass will be Easter Sunday Masses, April 4th at 8:00am and 10:30am. The 10:30 AM10:30am. Mass will be EASTER Sunday Masses, April 4th at 8:00am and The “I don’t think that two terms is livestreamed at https://KJNApps.com or on our parish website at www.stjoeparish.org livestreamed at https://KJNApps.com or on our parish website at www.stjoeparish.org The Church Season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February long enough, I think it should be 10:30 AM Mass will be livestreamed at https://KJNApps.com17 orand continues Easter Sunday. Weekend Masses throughout Lent will be Saturday 5:30 pm. & Sun three,” said Severs. “I know it took on our parish website at begins www.stjoeparish.org The Church Season of Lent on Ash Wednesday, February 17 and continues until The Church Season of and Lent10:30 begins onThe Ash10:30 Wednesday, February 17 and continues until 8:00 am. Masses will be livestreamed. me a couple of years to figure out Easter Sunday. Weekend Masses throughout Lent will be Saturday 5:30 pm. & Sundays what I was doing.” Easter Sunday. Weekend Masses throughout Lent will be Saturday 5:30 pm. & Sundays 8:00 and 10:30the am.year The 10:30 Masses will be livestreamed. Throughout weekend Masses aretoSaturday, 5:30pm and The 10:30 Masses will be livestreamed. visit our website at stjoeparish.org view Sunday Mass online and for muc Council has the option 8:00 of and 10:30 am.Please Sundays, 8:00am and 10:30am. Mass will be livestreamed until office at information. If you have any questions please email or call the church installing term limits by ordinance Please visit our website at stjoeparish.org to view Sunday Mass online and for much mor notice. our website at stjoeparish.org to view Sunday Mass online and for much more info@stjoeparish.org or 509-926-7133. or putting the issue on a ballot. Please visitfurther information. If you have any questions please email or call the church office at information. If you have any questions please email or call the church office at Mayor Pro Tem Mike Kennedy info@stjoeparish.org or 509-926-7133. info@stjoeparish.org or 509-926-7133. Please visit our website at stjoeparish.org to view Sunday Mass said the decision should go before
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voters and should apply to council members and the mayor.
“If the council makes the decision on term limits, another council can change it,” Kennedy said. “I think it should go to the citizens. I don’t feel there’s enough teeth for the council to make a decision on this.” Folyer said he has only heard from one citizen since the topic was brought up last year. “Based on that and based on some different thoughts I have about local government and why we’re all here, I don’t think we need term limits at all,” Folyer said.
online and for much more information. If you have any questions please email or call the church office at info@stjoeparish.org or 509-926-7133.
“ IT’S
THE LAW ”
Kurtz, who originally raised the idea in 2020, said she supports term limits because “it encourages people to apply and get involved in our local government.” Cost to the city to run a special election on term limits would be $4,500 or $500 if the issue is added to the general election ballot. If passed by council or approved by voters, term limits would not retroactively apply to elected officials currently in office. Council voted unanimously in its regular meeting to have staff bring back ballot language on term limits. No decision was finalized on when the issue may appear before voters. The ballot language is expected to be considered and confirmed by council at an upcoming meeting.
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10 • APRIL 2021
Liberty Lake Historians By Nina Culver
Splash contributor
Liberty Lake is one of the newest cities in Washington State, incorporating in 2001, but it has a lengthy history dating back to the Native American tribes who lived in the area. Originally called Lake Grier, it was renamed Liberty Lake in honor of a Frenchman from Canada named Stephen Liberty. Liberty enjoyed a good relationship with the local Native Americans, including Chief Andrew Seltice of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. But Liberty Lake is perhaps best known for a history that some don’t know – it’s life as the regions “Inland Seashore.” Multiple trains a day carried passengers from Spokane to Liberty Lake for swimming, boating and fishing. It was a popular picnic destination, with some larger Spokane companies holding their company picnics there. Several resorts dotted the shoreline. A large pier jutted out into the lake and a pavilion hosted many dances. A carrousel offered rides.
COVER STORY passionate about it,” he said. “She would tell us stories. She was a great storyteller.” His wife’s family traces its lineage in the area back several generations, something that was driven home when the couple had a daughter. “I just wanted to collect a little bit of knowledge, maybe a few keepsakes, for her,” he said. He and his wife’s grandfather, Sig Knudsen, started going around and talking with older residents and recording their stories. Schneidmiller recalls how people were not only willing to talk with him, they would light up when relating stories from their youth. “I was hooked,” he said. “It became something I was really passionate about.” He started collecting postcards, photographs and other items and began presenting historical slide shows. He would often run into residents at those slide shows who had new information to pass along. “I kept learning,” he said. “It’s been a fun journey.” His goal has been to get information about Liberty Lake’s history out into the public. He had a display in the Post Office for years before it shut down. Some of
his collection is on display inside Barlow’s Restaurant. “My goal is to get it into public spaces,” he said. He’s done a display at Liberty Lake Elementary School, which he changes regularly, for years. When Liberty Creek Elementary opened, he began doing a historical display there as well. “It’s been fun to do,” he said. “My wife is great about making it look like a museum window.” Schneidmiller said his favorite thing to do is to research and find links to Liberty Lake where you wouldn’t expect. “What surprised me was how you could connect our little community of Liberty Lake to the worldwide community,” he said. These days Liberty Lake is a relatively quiet town with a lot of trails and tree-lined streets. But back in the day, it wasn’t unusual for 10,000 people to visit over the course of a summer weekend, Schneidmiller said. “Liberty Lake was one of the places to be for a number of years,” he said. “I have found that people that moved into Liberty Lake really embrace the history. People really relate to that. They have happy memories of
The Splash going to a lake with their family. It’s all about family, families gathering and doing things together.” The more common historical artifacts are the many postcards from the early 1900s. But some people have additional items like tickets to the dance pavilion or even a metal bench from the original Liberty Lake Park. “There are a lot of people who have a few little things.” Tracie Swanson, the executive director of Our Place Community Outreach in Spokane, doesn’t live in Liberty Lake anymore. But when she did live in the city for 10 years previously, she started a collection of historical artifacts. Her interest was sparked when she found a turn of the century post card in a thrift shop. “After that it was on,” she said. “There’s so much that’s not there anymore. The trains that used to go out there, the beaches, the dances, the lodging.” Her mother-in-law, who grew up in Spokane, has memories of taking the train out to Liberty Lake for a picnic and a day on the beach. Swanson grew up in Post Falls, but would visit regularly to play golf or swim in the lake. “It’s an amazing place,” she said.
With no history museum in existence, it falls to amateur historians to preserve the stories and the artifacts from a time that would otherwise be forgotten. Ross Schneidmiller is perhaps the best-known unofficial Liberty Lake historian. He’s made history presentations in front of just about every community group he can find and he writes a regular history column for the Liberty Lake Splash. Schneidmiller was born in Liberty Lake in 1957 in a home near what is now the boat launch south of Sprague Avenue. He left only to attend college in Pullman and graduate school in Denver, then promptly return to begin his accounting career in Liberty Lake. “I love it here,” he said. “I’ve noticed over the years, if people can make their way back, they do.” Simply being born here wasn’t enough to spark his love of Liberty Lake history. That took the stories told by his Sunday School teacher, Mildred Neyland. “She was
Photo by Nina Culver Ross Schneidmiller changes out the displays at the two Liberty Lake elementary schools to share his love of Liberty Lake’s history with the community.
The Splash What surprised her the most as she learned about the history is that Liberty Lake was such a “roaring” place, Swanson said. “It was such a gathering place,” she said. “Some of those postcards depict hundreds of people on the beach, the pier going out, the slide.”
COVER STORY
APRIL 2021 • 11
She often bought old postcards on eBay, sometimes getting into bidding wars with fellow collectors. She would donate any duplicates to the Friends of Pavillion Park to be auctioned off to raise money. Her collection also includes a 1907 plat map of Liberty Lake, a 1951 cookbook and a wool Liberty Lake Golf Course sweater. “It’s a bit of a scavenger hunt, finding the treasures,” she said. “I have this collection of postcards and pictures and books. I’m just a lover of Liberty Lake.” Denise Coyle came by her love of Liberty Lake history naturally. She and her family lived it, going all the way back to her great-great grandfather Daniel Neyland and his wife Louisa, who arrived in 1902 and ran a general store next to the dance pavilion. His son Gage and his wife Floy followed and opened a summer resort called Neyland’s Landing at Sprague and Molter Road, which was later renamed Neyland’s Grove. Coyle’s grandfather, Homer Neyland, came to Liberty Lake from Seattle in 1940 and promptly bought up nearly two miles of beachfront property and opened the Sandy Bay resort. “It started very small,” Coyle said. The family gradually added cabins over the years until there were nine and the tiny store was expanded as funding allowed. Coyle’s mother, Mary Floy, and her sisters Carol Jean and Betty Jane all worked at the resort while growing up. “My mother taught swim lessons,” Coyle said. “Then she would work in the store.” The other sisters drifted away, but Coyle’s mother stayed and ended up buying the resort from her parents in the late 1960s. Sister Betty and her husband, Joe Trembly, came back to help run the resort. Coyle remembers swimming in the lake early in the mornings while her father raked the beach.
She also remembers opening at 5 a.m. to rent boats to fishermen. “We worked here as kids, the most phenomenal place to grow up,” she said. She recalls never having a fishing pole, so she wrapped fishing line around a popsicle stick. “We used to lay on our bellies and fish through the holes in the dock,” she said. That worked fine until she actually caught something – a nice, big fish as she recalls. But she couldn’t reel the fish in through the tiny hole in the dock and her father had to cut the fishing line, letting her prize escape. In the 1970s, the family began adding mobile homes to part of the resort property. By the early 1990s, after 49 years, the resort closed and became a mobile home park for senior citizens. Coyle is still there, running the park. “I’ve always been here,” she said. “I never left.” She remembers being inspired in her love of history by her greataunt, Mildred Brereton, who coauthored a book called “Memories of Liberty Lake.” “I just found it very interesting,” Coyle said. “I just continued it on. My mom really enjoyed the history. That’s something we did together.” While Coyle may arguably have enough pictures, postcards and artifacts to open a museum, her love of history also extends to her garage.
Coyle recalls riding with her grandfather in his Jeep for trips to visit friends at Dreamwood Bay and get candy at the store. She owns and drives that Jeep, which has been refurbished. “Whenever I get in it, I’m filled with memories,” she said. While she has items on general Liberty Lake history, that hasn’t been her focus. “My biggest interest is, of course, the family.” And now Coyle has inspired that passion and love of history in her 16-year-old granddaughter, who appears poised to take over the collection of family and Liberty Lake history. The two work together to organize the collection. “I’m walking in the same place my great-great-grandpa did,” she said. “There’s so many memories. I should probably write a book.”
Contributed photos Top - early photo of Sandy Beach as captured on a historical postcard. Bottom - Historical photo of early Liberty Lake post office and general store.
12 • APRIL 2021
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Liberty Lake Parks and Arts Commission work ahead By Tie Lemerond Splash contributor
“Calling all Artists!” In the wake of the Covid 19 pandemic, Liberty Lake Parks and Arts Commission is making a call to local artists to submit their artwork of a statue representing the artists interpretation of the ‘person’ in the Liberty Lake Together logo. Parks and Arts Commission Chairperson, Laina Schutz, stated, “Public art can bring a community together. The Parks and Arts Commission wanted to do something in the wake of the Covid 19 pandemic to represent this time and togetherness in our community.” The call to artist campaign began on January 8, 2021 and ran through
March 31, 2021. The Parks and Arts Commission “intentionally left the criteria broad to allow artist to really showcase their interpretation of the call,” states Laura Frank of Liberty Lake. Artists can submit up to four design ideas for consideration. The Parks and Arts Commission would like the artists to recommend medium and installation requirements, as well as a location recommendation for their artwork. The artists ideas may be abstract but must be identifiable. The commission is looking forward to seeing all submissions and anticipates seeing some very creative designs. When designing their artwork, artists must keep in mind that the statue will be displayed in an area unprotected by the public. It must be structurally sound, able to withstand weather and members of society touching it and leaning on it for photo opportunities. The statue must be life sized. How and where do artists submit their files/artwork? People can submit their proposals
at https://www.dropbox.com/ request/TrqhBgV49rTcNe6n4r4Q The designs must be original and in compliance with all existing copyright laws. How will the winner be chosen? On previous projects, the Parks and Arts Commission put together a selection committee comprised of community members, business owners, commission members, and city staff to evaluate all submissions and make a recommendation to the Parks and Arts Commission. The current plan is for the selection committee to meet in April to review submissions and they will choose and install the statue by late summer. Where will the statue be placed? The commission is considering multiple visible locations such as: The Liberty Lake Library or Orchard Park. The final location will be decided at a later date. What is the vision for the future? The Parks and Arts Commission is intending for the “Call to Artist” to be a multi-year project. “An updated call to artist may be sent out any time the Parks and Arts Commission is considering a new installment,” states Frank. Previous submissions will be retained for possible future installment consideration. The idea is that these submissions will be similar to the Spokane Hearts, the Virginia LoveWorks, or St. Paul’s Peanuts Statues, etc. Community it what it is all about! In looking back, since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the businesses and community members of Liberty Lake have truly gone above and beyond to help one another. Here are just a few examples of the efforts and generosity put forth by the community:
File photo The Liberty Lake Parks and Arts Commission has finished several installations throughout Liberty Lake, including this memory walk.
Girl Scout troop 3633 is currently collecting supplies to make and distribute “socks of love” to homeless through Blessings Under the Bridge. The kids in the Covid Care Club wrote letters to all Yoke’s
employees. During the holidays, many groups and organizations collected and distributed gifts for their neighbors who had been hit hard by the pandemic, ensuring families were not going without presents during the Christmas holiday season. The month of February has been a celebration of restaurants with Liberty Lake Dine Around. This has been a chance for community members to support local restaurants who are offering take out meal options. Their generosity of community members does not stop in Liberty Lake. Not only does the community pull together for each other, but they also pull together for other communities. Currently, the community is collecting items for care packages to send to Springtown, Texas, a town very similar in their motto and structure to that of Liberty Lake. The water system in Springtown froze up when the city lost power and their Police department and Public Works department has been working 24/7. These care packages will be going to those employees to say thank you and to let them know they are appreciated. Definition of community Merriam-Webster defines community as “a group of people with a common characteristic or interest, living together within a larger society.” The community of Liberty Lake is just that, a community. They have pulled together and stepped up to help those in need, and as a community, they were stronger together. The “Call to Artists” is not only meant to celebrate the person in the “Liberty Lake Together” logo, but it is meant to be a recognition of artists, and a celebration and appreciation of the community and their efforts to work together during these unprecedented times. For more information on the “Call to Artists,” go to https://www. libertylakewa.gov/CivicAlerts. aspx?AID=503
APRIL 2021 • 13
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Amy Bosch has made it a priority to excel in her four years at Central Valley High School. The senior maintains a 4.0 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society. She has been part of CV’s Future Health Professionals chapter since her freshman year and currently serves as the club’s co-president. Bosch has also participated in Key Club, contributing to community service projects like the annual blanket drive benefiting nonprofits like Blessings Under the Bridge and Sally’s House Foster Care. As a member of Link Crew, Bosch provided support and mentoring to freshman students. Bosch was recently named a Spokane Scholar in math. She has taken 10 AP classes at CV and has been part of the school’s Green Team focused on environmental awareness. Bosch plans to major in biology and pursue oncology or dermatology.
When Runner WA published its list of the state’s top 50 high school cross country runners this year, Caleb Kartchner was among the elite. The Central Valley senior placed 24th at the 4A state meet as a sophomore with a personal best of 15:50 on the 5K (3.1-mile) course, part of a fourth-place team finish for the Bears. Kartchner also qualified for the Bloomsday Foot Locker team. This season, he has been among CV’s top runners, placing second in a dual meet against Gonzaga Prep. “I really like the team aspect of running,” Kartchner said. In track, the senior competes in the 1,600 meters as well as the 110-meter high hurdles and 300-meter hurdles. He maintains a 3.95 grade point average and has participated in varsity Knowledge Bowl, Spanish Club and Science Olympiad. Kartchner plans to attend Utah State University.
Behind-the-scenes impact is a trademark of Betty Kennedy. Since moving to Liberty Lake with her husband Mike in 2002, Kennedy has been a reliable volunteer with Liberty Lake Kiwanis and Friends of the Library. Her Kiwanis contributions have included serving on the scholarship committee and volunteering at the club’s concession stand in Pavillion Park. With Friends of the Library, she has been a treasurer for two terms and active in events like the book sale, Mother’s Day Tea and Summer Soiree. Kennedy has also been an advocate for Second Harvest Food Bank and Mary Glenn Home and School. She raised her daughter Michelle who was born with special needs and was the catalyst in helping her learn to walk, something doctors said would never happen. “She’s my hero,” said Mike. “When she hears of a need, she’s there to help.”
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16 • APRIL 2021
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Local teams shine as prep sports return with flourish By Craig Howard
Splash Contributing Editor
Fall sports adapted to an unfamiliar schedule last month as high school teams across Spokane Valley returned to the pitch, field, court and trail. In an effort to include all three sports seasons in what remains of the academic year, traditional fall sports began on Feb. 8 with volleyball, followed by football on Feb. 15. Cross country and girls’ soccer kicked off on Feb. 22. The slowpitch softball season, traditionally a fall sport, was added to a winter sports slate that will begin in May. The lineup of spring sports – tennis, fastpitch softball, track, boys’ soccer and golf – will start April 5 and run to May 15. “The GSL (Greater Spokane League) and WIAA (Washington Interscholastic Activities Association) were committed to having each of the sports seasons,” GSL Director Ken Van Sickle said. “We didn’t want anyone to miss out like they did a year ago.” Outstanding efforts have been abundant in the condensed season, beginning with Janis Oliver leading East Valley to its first soccer victory
in 2021 with five goals in a 6-0 drubbing of Othello on March 9. Later in the month, Kayleigh Oyler of Freeman netted seven goals as the Scotties shut out Newport 11-0.
6-1 with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Ferris on March 22. Zoe Crockett was the difference-maker for the Bears, scoring the game’s sole goal in the 75th minute.
Even lopsided games were welcomed with enthusiasm in light of prep sports being shelved since last March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the introduction of Phase 3 on March 22, sporting venues could operate at 25-percent capacity. Van Sickle said the GSL is adhering to an attendance formula that prioritizes fan demographics, such as the parents of senior athletes.
“Everyone is just thrilled that we’re playing,” said Van Sickle. “We’re thankful the kids have this opportunity.” Athletes like Malachi Clark are making the most of their chances this spring. The West Valley senior running back paced the Eagles to a 3-0 record, piling up 617 yards on 83 carries for an average of just over seven yards per run. Longtime rivalries have also been renewed such as Central Valley taking on University in volleyball. The Bears won the crosstown battle against the Titans on March 9 in five sets with Makayla Beckett leading CV with 40 assists and Corinne Westby adding 21 kills. On the gridiron, the Bears have been stellar, compiling a 3-1 record with the only loss coming to Mt. Spokane, 19-15, in the game’s closing minutes on March 19. Junior quarterback Luke Abshire has been a catalyst through the air and on the ground. In a 23-0 win over Mead on March 5, Abshire completed 20 of 34 passes for 261 yards while adding two rushing touchdowns. On the pitch, CV improved to
“People are going to have to adjust to the capacity of each stadium,” Van Sickle added. Winter sports – basketball, wrestling, slowpitch softball and competitive cheer/dance/drill team will run from May 10 to June 20. There are no plans for district, regional or state tournaments – although Van Sickle said there will be a “culminating event” in certain sports, pitting seeded teams against each other in a crossover tournament. Athletic directors from the GSL have been meeting weekly to discuss the safest approaches to the sports schedule. The group include representatives from the Spokane Regional Health District. While some matchups – like U-Hi/Mt. Spokane and West Valley/Shadle Park in the fifth week of football – were cancelled because of COVID protocol, Van Sickle says the first season of 2021 has “been a tribute to not only the coaches and athletes but the principals, athletic directors, superintendents and WIAA.”
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There have also been some creative alternatives in light of the restrictions in place. The CV girls and boys cross country team competed in a “virtual” state meet at the end of last month. The format featured runners completing a 5K (3.1-mile course) on its home track. Times will be compared to those from runners throughout Washington participating in similar conditions. Individual and team champions will be announced by April 10. “It really is a different cross country season altogether,” said Doug Pecha, CV girls cross country coach, who said the Bears would have likely competed for a top four trophy at state this year. The Bears have only lost one meet all season – by one point to defending 3A champion North Central. The squad has been led by Nicole Bissell, Kylee Shakespeare, Sarah Pecha, Alivia Bruno, Savannah Pratt and Chloe Bryntesen. On the boys’ side, Alex Wright, Caleb Kartchner and Ethan Sheneman have paced the Bear harriers. Andres Monrroy, CV boys’ soccer coach, said he is looking forward to practices starting April 5 but admits it will be a challenge to begin a season the same week as spring break. The Bears have not played a match since March 10, 2020. “I do have some concerns that players will not be fit and won’t be ready,” Monrroy said. “But I’m looking at this as a positive. I’m excited to be coaching again and to have the kids playing again.” A new turf field is now home to CV soccer, a development that Monrroy said should level the playing field with teams who have traditionally practiced and played on an artificial surface. “It’s nice,” he said. “The ball goes faster.”
APRIL 2021 • 17
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HISTORY
APRIL 2021 • 19
OPINION
20 • APRIL 2021
Dear Fellow Library Patrons:
pages.
Born and raised Catholic, I attended Catholic school, at a time when nuns sported black head-to-toe habits and wielded large rulers for disciplinary purposes. This may explain my propensity for being an adament rule follower. I always come to a full stop at a stop sign. I recycle religiously. And I take very good care of Library books.
Everyone agrees that it is not okay to desecrate shared public property. Obviously the act of damaging Public Library books is not equivalent to throwing paint on the Lincoln Statue. But it’s still not okay to deface them. This includes dog-earing pages to keep one's place.
Libraries are one of the most important and most utilized resources in our community. Ever since Benjamin Franklin established the first Lending Library in 1790, the American public has benefitted from the privilege of borrowing books — for FREE! We are so lucky. Library books are shared public property, and as such they should be cared for, kept safe, and returned in good condition so that others may enjoy them. For the most part, the books ARE handled with care — but some (too many) have dog-eared
There are so many “BOOKMARKS” available for readers to use. Anything can be a potential bookmark: a grocery store receipt; a postcard from your cousin;your to-do list; a piece of ribbon or yarn; the appointment reminder card from your cat’s vet; a boarding pass; a travel brochure for post-pandemic times; an autumn leaf; a playing card (joker’s best); a post-it; the menu from that new pizza place; a kleenex tissue. Heck, a square of TP works in a pinch— very à propos these days... We are so lucky to have easy access to books. Maybe I’m alone
in my objection to dog-earing library books? But I think we would all like to avoid damage to them. While not the worst “crime” in the world, it’s a funny pet peeve of mine. Perhaps this only bugs me? But I would like to offer up a suggestion. In order to protect and preserve this valuable and much loved ressource for everyone, let’s avoid all forms of unnecessary wear and tear on Our Books. Books borrowed from a Library, any Library, should be treasured, handled with care and returned in good condition. Every time. No one thinks of drawing on or tearing out pages, or damaging the covers of Library books. Let’s use bookmarks instead of dog-earing pages. We’re all on the same team here. We are so lucky. Let’s strive to keep our Library books in tip-top shape. Thank you. Leslie Anne Smith
The Splash
Dear Editor, I am writing to express my excitement for and approval of the proposed Liberty Boys Academy that will be located at 22907 E 8th Avenue in Liberty Lake, Wa (Spokane County). The developer has proposed a private boys school at the existing 33,000 sq. ft. mansion at this address. I write because I have become aware of a well-coordinated effort to block this project before it’s comes to fruition. I support this project as both a local resident who lives less than a ¼ mile from the proposed school, a father of two elementary school age boys and as a local first responder who works with wayward youth fulltime. I learned of this project through word of mouth around our community. I have since met with the owner and learned more about his vision for improving education for boys. In light of the documented failures of boys in the public education system, evidenced by higher rates of suspensions, lower science and math test scores, higher rates of ADHD medication and higher rates of suicide when
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The Splash compared to girls, this undertaking is very necessary. Boys learn differently, preferring education through more practical, visual, and tactile methods. Project based learning will be taught to assist with actual application of the material. As these young men develop their foundations, collaborative projects and a team environment will assist them in preparation for the trades, to run small businesses and to be philanthropic in their communities. The academy will not only improve the lives of the individual youth in our county and the surrounding area, but it will also improve Spokane County itself. The school will be one that operates with a service-based mindset, where the boys will be mentored to be the leads on volunteer projects locally, improving the sustainability of our community and serving the less privileged. Those that oppose this school will cite traffic concerns, impacts on wildlife, light and noise pollution. They have also attacked the intents of those involved in the project, spreading misinformation about the owner himself, project goals and insinuating that land use regulations and safety codes are already being disregarded. With any development, there will be growing pains that need to be addressed by
To the Editor, I am in TOTAL agreement with the Cat in the Hat cartoon that appeared in the Spokesman a little while ago. I wrote a letter to Mr. Ramirez, letting him know how much I appreciate his cartoon. It makes me very sad — having grown up with the Dr. Seuss books, and then having read them to my brothers as a kid, and then to my own sons when they were little — that this whole debacle with the Seuss books is going on, indeed another vicim of "cancel culture.” Ted Geisel, as Dr. Seuss, wrote some delightful books —full of whimsy, wonderful rhymes, and fun drawings. And the fact is: Chinese workers DID wear “coolie” hats, and African people DID wear grass skirts and big earrings. (Some also put discs in their mouths to distort them
OPINION
County leaders. But as of now, the plans for middle school (grades 6-8), moving its way down to 4th grade, are within the regulations of the Rural Traditional zoning. Any additional development on the property would need to meet conditional use permitting rules and will be addressed through all proper channels if the school is successful in its infancy. There are many more people who feel the way that I do about this project. You unfortunately will likely not hear from them as much as you will from the local residents who don’t want to see growth in their immediate vicinity. Please don’t take their voices as representative of the majority of people in City of Liberty Lake or the County of Spokane. As evidenced by social media comments, community members are excited about the honorable endeavor that is in the works and its future impact on our area. We need men of character in our community. The foundation that these boys will receive during their education at the Liberty Boys Academy will pay off immensely here in Spokane County. Thank you for your continued service and support of our communities. Best regards, Graig Butler
out of shape; part of the culture.) Dr. Seuss was NOT mocking this garb.Would it be offensive to portray French people in berets holding baguettes, or Germans in Lederhosen holding a beer stein, or a Japanese person wearing a kimono wielding a Samurai sword? No. These are all cultural attributes, albeit somewhat cliché, but not offensive. While I am very conscious of people’s feelings and cultural sensitivity (having lived and worked in several different countries), pulling books off the shelves because of our current tendency to be overly sensitive, and our propensity to immediately cry “Racist” — without really considering the meaning of what is being said or portrayed — is just wrong. I’m pretty sure that Dr. Seuss did NOT think of these depictions as “racist” or
Dear Editor, We are writing to express our misgivings about a large installation that is in the planning stage for an assemblage comprising 5 lots along the north side of Liberty Lake Rd and 8th Ave. in Spokane County, adjacent to the city of Liberty Lake. The 55 acre property's parcel numbers are 55221.9057 & 9058 and 55222.9048, 9049 and 9050. The owner(s) of these parcels has announced the construction of a Liberty Boys Academy, a Liberty Rugby Academy (and League) and a 3000 seat sports stadium/ training facility. His recent promotional materials offer various descriptions of the boys' academy: grades 4-6, K-8 or K-12. His master plan contains various renderings of a stadium facility and attached parking facility along the frontage of the acreage and up the slope, approaching the foot of the Saltese Uplands Conservation Area. This development would take place on land that is zoned Rural Traditional and that lies well outside the County Urban Growth Area. Its size and uses would create significant traffic problems along Liberty Lake Rd on a daily basis and at times of frequent planned events at the facility. The parcels are south of the turn-offs from Liberty Lake Rd at Inlet Dr & Sprague Ave which offer ways out of our neighborhood in case Liberty Lake Rd is blocked at or above Shoreline Dr. Everyone along the west side of the lake would be cut off in the event of
demeaning. As a junior in high school I read Fahrenheit 451 which opened my eyes to the dangers of censorship. But apparently we Americans are so darn “sensitive” to anything that MIGHT in the least offend ANYONE, that things can be misconstrued and blown out of proportion — not to mention taken out of the context and era in which they were written. It has become a ridiculous practice, and can often lead to wrongful censorship. Mr. Ramirez is so right-on when he says “today, it’s a book, so watch what you do. One day in the future they may cancel you.” Leslie Anne Smith
APRIL 2021 • 21
a wildfire. We've had two fires in our immediate neighborhood in the last five years and lakeside conflagrations in the past, so this is a sobering thought. A sizeable sports facility with attached parking would lead to significant local erosion and pollution problems. The lake would be affected, because these parcels lie directly upslope of it and right on top of the aquifer. We all (county and city residents and the Water & Sewer District) have worked so hard over the last twenty-odd years to ensure and improve the lake's water quality... It would be heartbreaking to see our environmental commitment discarded in the rush to develop a commercial facility at the north end of Liberty Lake. We are sure the thousand or so people who would be the immediate neighbors of this scheme can speak for themselves, but we all need to speak to defending the existence and ecology of the our decidedly rural Saltese Uplands ecosystem. The light-pollution, noise and disruptive effects on both the viewshed and the wildlife corridor would be decisive. This facility would definitely be considered “Non-ConformingUse” in an area that has been designated not appropriate for "future high-density or commercial development." Please post ongoing developments concerning this crucial community issue in your paper. Richard Swierzy
Strehlau
and
Joanne
About the Opinion Page The Splash opinion page is intended to be a community forum for discussing local issues. Please interact with us by sending a letter to the editor or Liberty Lake Voices guest column for consideration. Letters to the editor of no more than 350 words or guest columns of about 700 words should be e-mailed to editor@libertylakesplash.com or mailed to P.O. Box 363, Liberty Lake, WA 99019. A full name and telephone number must be included for purposes of verification. A photo of the author must be taken or provided for all guest columns. The Splash reserves the right to edit or reject any submission. Business complaints or endorsements will not be accepted, and political endorsement letters will only be accepted if they interact with issues of a campaign. Views expressed in signed columns or letters do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper or its staff. Editorials, which appear under the heading "Splash Editorial," represent the voice of The Splash and are written by Publisher Ben Wick.
22 • APRIL 2021
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ON THAT NOTE
APRIL 2021 • 23
Liberty Lake Boys Academy planning under way By Nina Culver
Splash contributor
A website and Facebook ads featuring the Liberty Boys Academy, a private school for boys in Liberty Lake, caught some in the community off guard. The school, which has not yet opened, is the dream of the former owner of Autosource Dealerships and co-founder of the Utah Warriors Lucas Kjar. Kjar, who lives in Liberty Lake, bought the former Wallingford property at 22815 E. Eighth Avenue in late 2019. He said he hopes to open a middle school for grades 6-8 in the basement of the large home on the property in the fall of 2021. “We’re planning,” he said. Kjar said he thinks education is lacking for boys in traditional schools and wants to provide hands-on learning. “I noticed in the world what was going wrong with boys and what’s happening in their education,” he said. His school would be a rugby academy with the end goal of training world class rugby players, Kjar said. Spokane County Assessor’s Office records show that the property was purchased by Kriger Estate Holding LLC for $2 million in November 2019. The records also show that property taxes on the land were not paid in 2020. Liberty Lake resident Bob Martin is part of a group of residents called the Liberty Lake Community Information Group. He said he’s seen information on Kjar’s website that calls for a K-12 school with a 3,000-seat sports stadium, which concerns his group. “We hadn’t heard anything about it,” he said. “We kind of dug into it. All the information we found was contradictory.” Some information calls it a boarding school, which other information does not. Either way, Martin said he’s not sure how a school and a sports stadium would work on land zoned rural
Contributed Liberty Lake Boys Academy is dreaming big for the future. These plans show what the organization is hopes to grow to someday in order to help education local boys. traditional. He and his group have concerns about the environment, the watershed and traffic. “This is outside the urban growth area,” he said. “We know there’s going to be development. We just want it to be conforming.” Information about a sports stadium is particularly concerning, Martin said. “This is not a local community ballfield,” he said. “This is a high school that wants to be a regional sports center.” Kjar said the plans for a full K-12 school and sports stadium on his website, complete with conceptual drawings, are simply his dream for the future. “It’s kind of an idea, the vision,” he said. “That was a master plan I’m years away from.” There are currently no plans to make it a boarding school, Kjar said. “I’m not doing boarding, especially right off the bat,” he said. “We need to get this thing going.” A K-8 school is a permitted use in a rural traditional zone, but a high school is not. Kjar said that’s why he wants to start with a middle school inside the current house. “Our goal is to remodel the basement and put in 60 students,” he said. Kjar said he is, first and foremost, a businessman and wants to see if
his idea will pencil out. Only then would he move forward with future expansion. “We’ve got to see the demand,” he said. “We have to see if it works.” No work has yet been done on the property, but the school website at www.libertyboysacademy. com reads as though it has. It also references plans for a boarding school. “Much thoughtful consideration, careful planning and design transformed our ‘Big House’ to create an optimally functional campus for our academics, sports, and life skill education for boys,” it reads. “We look forward to continued growth of our campus in which a state-of-the-art school will be built, transitioning our current residence into a boarding home for students both local and abroad.” Kjar had a pre-application meeting with the Spokane County Development Services Department in September 2019 before he bought the property to explore the feasibility of the idea. Records from the meeting indicate it was for a change of use of a residence to a K-8 private school. Documents also indicate that the land is in a Critical Aquifer Recharge Area and that any development
of the property would probably require the full-width paving of Eighth Avenue, which is a gravel road at that location. No further applications permits have been filed.
or
Martin said it was disconcerting to see a K-12 school in a 100,000 square foot facility and a sports stadium presented and promoted as if it was already decided. “This one just hit everyone out of the blue,” he said. “Our concern is he’s getting a bit ahead of himself.” Kjar said he understands that people may have been caught off guard by the master plan presented on his web site. “I understand the angst,” he said. “I know that change is difficult.” He wants his academy to be a source of good work in the community, he said. “This isn’t for troubled youth,” he said. “This is for my boys. This is for the type of boys who just aren’t learning in school anymore.” Martin said he and his group just want assurances that proper procedures will be followed, including zoning rules. “We’ don’t want to be against anything,” he said. “We just want to make sure things are done right.”
24 • APRIL 2021
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