2024 July Splash by The Liberty Lake Splash

DOCKSIDE

Magnanimous Marshals –Schneidmiller

By Craig Howard

Splash Contributing Editor

celebrated for civic impact

On a sun-soaked early summer day last month, Bob and Sue Schneidmiller strolled through the well-manicured grounds of Pavilion Park and pondered some of the site’s layered history.

Decades ago, Bob hauled sprinklers across this same property, then covered in acres of bluegrass. His uncle, Elmer Schneidmiller, owned the sprawling space, part of his interests in the Liberty Lake Land Co. that oversaw some 3,000 acres between Liberty Lake and Coeur d’Alene.

“It was a lot flatter then,” Bob recalls of the grounds now known as the community’s prized greenspace.

One day, when Bob was out working the fields, Elmer mentioned that a cousin had found work at a burgeoning company called Boeing on the westside of the state. It wasn’t long before Bob had thrown his suitcases into his car and headed across the mountains. He worked one year for Boeing before enrolling at Seattle Community College where he earned a degree in Information Systems. A long career at Unigard Insurance followed.

“If I hadn’t followed Elmer’s advice, my life would have been a lot different,” Bob says.

It was during his time in the Puget Sound that Bob met his future wife, Sue. She was working as a registered nurse after moving to the Pacific Northwest from the Bay Area. The couple married in 1994 and have two sons in their blended family.

Sue hails from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and a small town called Menominee. Her dad served in the Air Force prompting frequent moves as Sue was growing up, including stops in Germany,

California, Upstate New York and San Antonio. When it came time to go to college, Sue decided to return to her Midwest roots, enrolling at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, where she earned a degree in nursing.

While Sue’s childhood and adolescence were defined by frequent transitions, Bob grew up rooted in the small farming community of St. John, Washington, 60 miles north of Spokane. His dad farmed wheat and barley and Bob

and his two brothers learned the value of hard work as part of the household routine.

When Bob and Sue reached retirement age, the couple initially didn’t consider leaving the Seattle area they had called home for so many years. Visits to the eastside of the state – and Sue’s wishes to settle in a small town – changed that.

“We got tired of the pressure of Seattle,” she said. “I remember when we’d drive over here, I was so happy when we hit Ellensburg.”

When it became clear that retired life on the other side of

the Cascades made sense, the Schneidmillers initially leaned toward an area north of Coeur d’Alene. Then, a friend in real estate brought up Liberty Lake. By 2002, they had settled into their new home.

“For me, the best part was just being able to live in a small town where people know each other,” Sue said. “I like being able to walk into Safeway and see people you know. That was important to me and something I’d really never had before.”

Bob latched on with Liberty Lake Kiwanis before long while Sue helped out with programs like K-Kids, the Kiwanis branch for youngsters, at Liberty Lake Elementary. Bob also joined the effort at Friends of Pavillion Park (FOPP), a group that served as a catalyst for events in the community’s most popular greenspace. He would emerge as a valuable liaison between FOPP and the Spokane Symphony in coordinating the popular Lud Kramer Memorial Concert that became an end-of-summer staple each Labor Day weekend.

“It’s an event that displays how important music has been to the park over the years,” Bob said.

Bob and Sue both put in yeoman’s effort each year as part of organizing team for FOPP’s Holiday Ball, the organization’s key fundraiser. The commitment lasted a decade. Eventually, FOPP gave way to the city’s Parks and Arts Commission of which Bob is a charter member.

With all the Schneidmillers have done to support the Liberty Lake community over two decades-plus, it came as no surprise when the couple was named Grand Marshals for the 2024 Alpine Shores Fourth of July Community Parade, an honor that traditionally recognizes a long trail of civic involvement, altruism and goodwill.

“Bob and Sue were an easy choice for Grand Marshals,”

Photo by Craig Howard Longtime Liberty Lake residents Bob and Sue Schneidmiller will serve as Grand Marshals for the Alpine Shores Fourth of July Community Parade this month. The couple has called Liberty Lake home since 2002 and contributed

Washington State Depar tment of Veterans Affairs Legislator of the Year

Washington State Council of Police and Sheriffs Legislator of the Year

S ecure the border.

Lower the cost of food and fuel. Prioritize Public S afety to keep our families safe.

Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels

Former Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich

Spokane County Commissioner Mary Kuney

State Rep. Suzanne Schmidt

Mayor of Liberty Lake Cris Kaminskas

Liberty Lake City Council Member Dan Dunne

Spokane Valley Council Member Ben Wick

Spokane County Clerk Tim Fitzgerald

WA Council of Police & Sheriffs

Spokane Police Guild

International Association of Fireﬁghters, Spokane Local 29, 2916, & 3711

State Representative Suzanne Schmidt & Spokane County Commissioner Mary Kuney

SCHNEIDMILLERS

Continued from page 2

said Parade Chair Annie Tichy. “They have both been tireless in their community volunteer participation. Their love of this community shines in all that they do. The Fourth of July Community Parade Committee are honored to have them as our 34th annual Grand Marshals.”

The Schneidmillers were in Arizona when they received news of the honor.

“We were both in tears,” Sue said. “Both of us felt so honored and so blessed.”

Q: Sue, you made many visits with Bob to the eastside of Washington before the two of you relocated to Liberty Lake. Why did you decide the Inland Northwest would be a good place to settle down in the retirement phase of your lives?

A: Coming from a military family, I always dreamed of settling in a small town, building a home and never having to leave it after a few years. When Bob and I would visit here, I would always tell him “I could live here.” He agreed and the rest is history. I have loved living in Liberty Lake and being a part of this wonderful community. We spend the winter in Arizona but always look forward to returning in the spring.

Q: Bob, growing up in the rural farming community of St. John, you were accustomed to a closeknit, small-town environment. Do you get some of that same feeling being a resident of Liberty Lake?

A: Yes, there is a strong feeling of community that brings an awareness of what is important and support of those ideals as a whole. However in a small farming community, there are fewer distractions that make life easier to live up to but at the same time there are fewer opportunities to be had. I do not remember thinking that I was missing out on life’s opportunities at the time.

Q: This question is for both of you, When you planted roots in Liberty Lake in 2002, it was just one year after the city incorporated. What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen in this community in the 20-plus

years you’ve called it home?

A: Of course, the growth in population, but with that growth came access to restaurants, shops, health care, athletic clubs, neighborhood parks, growth of the Saturday market and bigger events for all ages. Summer activities at Pavillion, Rocky Hill and Orchard parks offer all sorts of activities and entertainment. And, Winter Glow makes the holiday season a joy.

Q: You both know many of the past parade grand marshals and have been regular patrons of the local Independence Day festivities for years. How does it feel to be honored as grand marshals for this year’s occasion?

A: When we received the call asking if we would be this year’s grand marshals both of us were overjoyed with the honor. We are so looking forward to the parade and even have family from the westside joining us in the parade. We can’t wait to start decorating our golf cart for the big day.

Q: Bob, you’ve been a member of Liberty Lake Kiwanis for over two decades. What have been some of the most rewarding aspects about being part of this service club?

A: The Liberty Lake Kiwanis has always been an important part of my life since moving to the city. Moving from the westside to the eastside has provided me with a better feeling of community and gives me a feeling that I am making a difference. Being a volunteer organization allows the club to pick to be both independent and community-oriented ideals that fit my lifestyle.

Q: Sue, while you’ve not been part of Kiwanis as a member, you’ve contributed behind the scenes for years. What has supporting Kiwanis in this capacity meant to you?

A: Supporting the Kiwanis allowed me to work with the most dedicated group of people. They essentially forego their summers to work every weekend at the park. I particularly enjoyed the time I spent helping with the K-Kids. They are the Kiwanians of the future. Being part of the Kiwanis family has given me the opportunity to give back to the community.

Q: Bob, you were one of the

first people Mayor Steve Peterson reached out to when the city established the inaugural Parks and Arts Commission years ago. Why has being part of this effort been important to you and has the commission had the sort of influence you hoped it would?

A: From its start the Parks and Arts Commission has been a progressive organization with a defined theme, bringing innovative art to our community. I believe the organization with roots in Friends of Pavillion Park has continued its objective. For myself, the sponsorship of the Spokane Symphony has always been important to me and I am so thankful that the City Council has taken on sponsorship of this wonderful event. I believe the Parks and Arts Commission was behind this move. Shakespeare in the Park is another example of how a variety of events can come together to enhance our experiences.

Q: Sue, let’s say you had to describe the Fourth of July in Liberty Lake to someone who had never experienced it before. What would you say?

A: Fourth of July in Liberty Lake is what celebrating the holiday is supposed to be. Beginning with a great parade, family gettogethers and picnics, music and fun at Pavillion Park, then two sets of fireworks! Not many small communities can boast that. We can take our golf cart to the top of the hill where we live and have a great view of them both. What a great ending to a special holiday!

Q: This last question is for both of you. What do you think it will take to foster the next generation of grand marshals in this community? I’m referring to future leaders who are inspired by the innovation and hard work that established civic pillars like the trails system, Pavillion Park, the library, Farmers Market and city incorporation and are motivated to keep Liberty Lake the unique and cherished community it is?

A: That’s a tough question. When we first moved here it was easy to get involved. At our first Spokane Symphony at Pavillion Park, Friends of Pavillion Park had a booth set up asking for volunteers. We decided to join and spent years as members of FOPP. Today our

community is made up of a more transient population. People are transferred here because of their jobs or work here then leave at the end of the day. Families are busier than ever which leaves little time to volunteer. Having The Splash including all the clubs and volunteer activities helps get the word out and hopefully, citizens of Liberty Lake will get involved and make Liberty Lake the pride of the Inland Northwest.

SUMMER VBS

AUGUST 8TH – 11TH

AUGUST 12th - 15th

EVENING EVENT FOR ALL AGES MEAL: TBD

DOORS OPEN: 6:15 PM

EVENT: 6:30-8:15 PM

Ages Entering K thru 5th 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

In a ‘prison’ junk yard run by an evil task-master building his empire of trash, a dog named Bulls-Eye longs to be free...

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LIBERTYLAKECHURCH.COM

Questions? Email

kidsrock@libertylakechurch.com

Mischief 8

Assault DV / Simple Assault / Weapon 7

Police Report - May 2024

Splash news sources

Introducing the Safety Awareness Channel

Violations

Total incidents generated by Officers and emergency calls for service last month 604

Traffic Collisions/Hit & Runs / Injury Collisions 9

Vehicles

Citations (Traffic/Criminal/NonCriminal) 71

DUI (Driving Under Influence) 3

Thefts / Vehicle Prowls / Vehicle Theft / Burglaries 19

Malicious Mischief 8

Argument / Assault DV / Simple Assault / Assault w/a Weapon 7

Parking Violations 25

Suspicious Vehicles 32

Significant Cases

2024-88002441, DUI, 05/01/2024:

An officer contacted a vehicle parked near the dumpsters in the 19500 block of E Broadway Avenue. The officer contacted the driver and noticed the odor of intoxicants coming from the vehicle. The subject completed field sobriety testing and was subsequently arrested for DUI. The driver was booked into Spokane County Jail.

2024-88002523 & 2024-88002525, Taking Motor Vehicle Without Permission, 05/06/2024:

Officers received two separate reports of two vehicles that were stolen from a parking lot in 21900 block of E Country Vista Boulevard. The victims reported parking in visitor’s spaces in the evening and in the morning, both vehicles were gone. Neither victim had given permission for anyone to drive their vehicles, and both had their keys.

The vehicles were located later that same day parked in a completely different area of the parking lot.

2024-88002989, Stolen Vehicle Recovery, 05/30/24:

25

32

Officers responded to a possible stolen vehicle that had been left near the intersection of Indiana Avenue and Snoqualmie Road. Officers verified the vehicle was stolen and contacted the registered owner who had sold the vehicle. A short time later, the new owner arrived and advised they didn’t realize the vehicle was stolen since it was used as a ranch vehicle. The vehicle was released back to the owner and the items that were still missing were reported as stolen. A bicycle that did not belong to the victim was turned in as found property.

Frauds, Multiple Dates:

The Police Department has received many reports throughout the month regarding a subject calling and advising victims they had failed to respond to a jury summons and a warrant had been issued for their arrest. The unknown suspect(s) has been using the names of known Spokane County deputies. As a reminder, officers will never ask for fines to be paid over the phone or using gift cards or money orders.

The Liberty Lake Police Department would like to remind everyone to drive slowly and safely as the kids are getting out of school. The Liberty Lake Police Department has had an increase in speeding violators and are proactively enforcing both speeding and golf cart violators (Driving underage). Stay well and be safe!

Public forum on city’s 2025 budget is now online

A recently launched online forum is allowing Liberty Lake residents the opportunity right now to voice their funding priorities on programs and services that will be provided for the city during 2025.

The forum site – which is linked at the top of the city of Liberty Lake’s homepage (www.libertylakewa. gov) – is a place where residents can write comments about the 2025 budget, discuss ideas with others and ask questions that city staff can answer.

The landing page for the forum site also lets residents see a current timeline of the steps that will occur later this year in the city’s 2025 budget development process.

The public forum is expected to remain open into October.

In addition to the forum, the city will later be offering other online engagement opportunities through which residents will be able to respond to surveys involving specific questions about the city’s budget. One upcoming feature will include a tool that will let residents develop a mock budget using basic expenditure subjects within the city’s anticipated revenue projections.

Touch A Truck is back on July 19

Touch A Truck will be back in full force for the first time since 2022 when the popular attraction returns to Orchard Park on Friday, July 19. This year’s edition of the family-friendly event will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This fun interactive display for children and families will offer opportunities to learn about –and explore the interiors of – all types of trucks and other large machinery, ranging from fire trucks and police vehicles to business trucks and maintenance

Liberty Lake Fest: July

4th Community Celebration

Wednesday, July 3:

4th Annual Liberty Lake Boat Parade – 4 p.m.

Decorated boats line up at Dreamwood Bay at 3:45 p.m. Music from the Jessie Quandt Band from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

2024 Summer Movies in the Parks series begins: “The Goonies” at Pavillion Park at dusk. Free showing.

Thursday, July 4:

34th Annual July 4 Liberty Lake Community Parade 11 a.m. at Alpine Shores. Decorated golf carts and bikes may line up at 10 a.m. at the corner of Shoreline & Liberty Drive. Games afterwards at Alpine Shores Park.

Food and music at Pavillion Park

Concessions open at 5 p.m. Nu Jack City performs 7-10 p.m.

Fireworks shows City ballfields and lakeside community shows start at 10 p.m.

equipment. There will also be some inflatable fun set up of the non-wheeled variety.

Touch A Truck is presented by the Liberty Lake Municipal Library with the city of Liberty Lake. Sponsors supporting this year’s event are Numerica Credit Union and The Children’s Choice Pediatric Dentistry.

Barefoot in the Park returns on Aug. 3

The 2024 lineup of Liberty Lake’s big annual Barefoot in the Park celebration will mix the event’s familiar favorites with several firsttime features. The day-long event on Saturday, Aug. 3, at Pavillion Park will run from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

As always, attendees will be able to enjoy a car show, food trucks, business vendors, games and free inflatable amusement features for kids. Returning from last year will be the water dump tank (this time benefiting the Ridgeline High School dance team), the decorated golf cart parade and the mini version of Touch A Truck.

Joining the lineup for 2024 will be the Second Chance Ranch petting zoo. Plus, the wideranging slate of entertainment and demonstrations at the Pavillion Park stage will include comedian Charles Hall Jr., Bugs n Snakes animal education, MSD Irish Dance Academy, Aloha Hula and martial arts groups.

The two bands performing at the end of this year’s event will be Superimposed and What About Bob.

Watch for the 2024 Barefoot in the Park activities map and event listings later in July at the city’s homepage (www.libertylakewa. gov) and in the August issue of “Splash.”

NEWS

Public Works Yard brings new dimension to city maintenance efforts

By Craig Howard Splash Contributing Editor

Those in the know will tell you that the city of Liberty Lake’s new Public Works Yard is a yard that works for the good of the public.

In fact, when funding scenarios were considered for the building on 3 acres just east of Ridgeline High School, the prospect of utilizing ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds – made available to address the economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic – seemed to make sense. The idea was originally suggested by then-Mayor Pro Tem Phil Folyer.

“We needed to use that money on something that would benefit everyone,” said Mayor Cris Kaminskas. “The Public Works facility serves the entire community whether they know it or not.”

When the funding sources for the project were finalized, ARPA resources comprised around onethird, or $980,000, of the total. The remaining balance of the $2.3 million overall cost was covered by the city’s REET 2 (Real Estate Excise Tax) fund.

As is often the case with capital projects, change orders translated into a nudge in price from the original $2.08 million estimate. After some discussion, City Council gave the go-ahead to the $260,000 increase.

“Change orders are not uncommon with a building of that size,” said Finance Director Kyle Dixon.

Supply chain issues created by the pandemic also fed into cost volatility and availability of materials, a trend seen throughout the construction industry at the time.

Lisa Key, the city’s Planning and Engineering director, said the original plans for project consisted of “a shell building.” Office space and a mezzanine were added later.

“We did what we could with the budget we had,” Key said. “City Council really recognized the value of prioritizing this facility. We’re very, very grateful they saw the

importance of this. It’s a great asset for that department.”

The city had owned the land pegged for the Public Works Yard since December 2019 but the pandemic that hit three months later meant a spending freeze at City Hall.

“We had two years where we really weren’t doing anything with that property,” said Kaminskas.

In the meantime, the city’s Operations and Maintenance department made due with something called a “con box,” a temporary structure often seen on construction sites. A variety of challenges – from no running water to porta-potties to lack of space to park trucks and snow plows –accompanied the setup.

“We had no way to bring trucks inside,” Camp said.

Lack of storage for materials like “cold mix” used to fill potholes also

presented problems as crews made trips to Home Depot to fill supplies based on need.

“Now we have a whole pallet of cold mix ready,” said Derek Kosanke, the city’s new Parks and Open Space supervisor who once served as streets lead. “It means the capability to have more supplies on hand, like we can keep paint inside now.”

The new Public Works building covers around 5,000 square feet while the con box took up just short of 300 square feet.

Kosanke said that the increase in space means being able to work on equipment on-site.

“Just being able to have that maintenance on equipment and getting stuff prepared is huge,” he said.

The list of heavy machinery that now calls the Public Works Yard home reads like a Caterpillar catalog. Two loaders, a grater, miniexcavator, a 2,000-gallon water truck, sweeper and half-a-dozen trailers have settled in here.

Despite the hardships before

the Public Works Yard was fully functional last October, Camp said her team “never complained.”

In addition to what she describes as “an improvement in employee morale and efficiency,” Camp said the new facility means “equipment is not going to weather as much.”

“We’ll be able to take care of what we have,” she said.

There are plans to have Ben Turner, director of the newly formed Public Works department, based here when he starts in August. The transition will mean Public Works absorbing areas like roadside, streets and facilities while Operations and Maintenance will oversee parks and recreation, community events, golf and the ballfields.

“I’ll be able to focus more,” Camp said.

Key has been promoting the idea of a dedicated Public Works director for some time. In addition to overseeing streets, facilities and capital project implementation, Turner and his team will provide support for operations.

“Ben will really take us to the next level,” Key said.

Photo by Craig Howard

The city’s new Public Works Yard sits off Kramer Parkway just east of Ridgeline High School. The building houses snow plows and other heavy-duty equipment and will serve as home to the newly formed Public Works department.

News and Notes

By Craig Howard Splash Contributing Editor

• Three graduates of the City Academy – Grace Strickland, Pixel Stephens and Summer Darrow – were recognized at the June 18 council meeting. The remaining four graduates –Stephanie Sullivan, Mark Sullivan, Jim Grisafi and Chris Fallstead – received their certificates in the mail. The third rendition of the academy included visits to sites like the Liberty Lake Police Department, Public Works Yard and Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District headquarters. “I think it was a much more meaningful experience and we hope to replicate that moving forward,” said City Administrator Mark McAvoy. “This has been a successful program and we hope to continue it.”

• The fifth annual Liberty Lake Boat Parade will take place July 3 at Liberty Lake. Participating boats should gather in the Dreamwood Bay area on the south end of the lake for judging at 3:30 p.m. by representatives of Tobler Marina. The procession will begin at 4 p.m. Music will follow at Dreamwood Bay. Over 75 boats took part in the event last year.

• McAvoy provided council with a summary on the creation of a RFQ (Request for Qualifications) for a project manager that will oversee development of new municipal library at the current site of Legacy Church on East Mission Avenue. Creation of the RFQ began in late February. In the Statements of Qualifications evaluation, all eight members of the city’s selection committee recommended moving ahead with negotiation of a contract with Turner Townsend & Heery. Jonathan Miller, a senior project manager with the firm, provided a summary to council on June 18. TT & H was part of the renovation effort at the Trailhead clubhouse.

The library project is scheduled to kick off next April. Council still needs to approve the project management services agreement with TT&H, the only company to submit a complete proposal.

• The official kick-off for the Liberty Lake Better Together Fund took place last month with an enthusiastic turnout, according to organizer Marla Larson. The program, coordinated through the Innovia Foundation, has established a mission “to support groups, programs and events that foster a vibrant spirit by financially empowering the Liberty Lake community to celebrate, unite and enrich our population.” To learn more or to donate, call 509-624-2606 or email info@ LibertyLakeBetterTogetherFund. org.

• The City Council retreat took place June 26 in the Rotary Room at Trailhead. Themes included Governance and Highly Effective City Councils and Mayors as well as Practical Applications to Governance.

• The 34th annual Alpine Shores Fourth of July Community Parade will take place at 11 a.m. on Independence Day. Parade T-shirts will be on sale at the Liberty Lake Farmers Market on Saturday June 29 for $20 and July 2 at Alpine Shores Island from 5 to 7 p.m.

• The city’s Fourth of July celebration will take place at Pavillion Park with concessions opening at 5 p.m. Live music will be provided by Nu Jack City from 7 to 10 p.m. The city-sponsored fireworks display and the lakeside show will begin at 10 p.m.

• Nancy Hill, chair of the Parks and Arts Commission, reported on the dedication of the murals at the basketball court and skate park at Pavillion Park on June 6. “It was a great time,” Hill said.

• Hill told council the commission is reviewing the parks and ballfields fee structure with city staff. “We are trying

4th Legislative District Senate candidates

By Nina Culver Splash contributor

Longtime Washington State Senator Mike Padden, who was elected in 2011 after previously serving for 14 years in the House of Representatives, announced his retirement from his 4th District seat earlier this year, prompting four Republicans and two Democrats to file to replace him.

Current 4th District Representative Leonard Christian filed for Padden’s seat instead of running for re-election for his own seat in the House of Representatives. He’s joined by Spokane Valley Mayor Pam Haley, Spokane Valley City Councilman Al Merkel, operations manager Paige Scott, small business owner Mike Kelly and paralegal Miguel Valencia.

Kelly, who has been endorsed by Padden, has amassed the most campaign donations, raising $52,800. Christian has collected just over $19,000 and Haley is close behind with donations of $13,616. Valencia has raised $4,226, while Scott and Merkel have chosen the mini-reporting option and pledged not to raise more than $5,000.

Christian, a Republican, was elected to his House seat in 2022 and previously was appointed to serve a partial term in the same seat in 2014. He retired from the Air Force

as a Master Sergeant and currently works as a real estate agent. He’s also a licensed pilot and aircraft mechanic.

Christian said he decided to run for Padden’s seat because he thinks he’s the best candidate for the job.

“These opportunities do not come around very often,” he said. “The easiest thing would have been to stay a state representative. My whole life is about taking opportunities when they come along. I don’t have to do it. I want to do it. I want to serve the community.”

He said he also filed because he wanted to give Republicans a choice from Padden’s chosen successor, Kelly, who has a criminal history. He said he worried that voters wouldn’t approve of Kelly’s background and didn’t want the Republicans to lose the seat.

People have been telling him their concerns about the price of insurance, housing and food, Christian said. Daycare is also hard to find and very expensive.

“Right now, the economy is it,” he said. “Nobody has any money and they’re broke. It’s the number one

thing I hear. I think we might get some traction going this year on some of those issues.”

He points to his successes in the House of Representatives, including getting more than $250,000 for a preschool that needed new playground equipment and $1 million for senior housing. He also focused on stopping what he calls bad legislation, including an effort to give felons still in the jail the right to vote, Christian said.

His relationships in the House and the Senate will allow him to be effective from the start, Christian said. “I think experience matters,” he said.

Haley, also a Republican, has owned a daycare in downtown Spokane for many years. She has served on the city council since 2016 and is in her second term as mayor. She said she decided to run because she has seen how regulations approved in Olympia affect citizens.

“I feel like the perspective of living through that will be helpful in Olympia,” she said.

She said she was also encouraged by others to run for the senate seat. “I had thought about it before,” she said. “Anytime there’s a vacant seat, there’s going to be a crowd.”

Haley said public safety is one of the more pressing issues in the district, including the lack of marijuana tax revenue that was promised to local governments by the state to help pay for additional officers. “That revenue never materialized,” she said. “We didn’t get the money we were promised.”

Maintaining roads and other infrastructure is also important, she said, as is a proper response to the fentanyl problem. Haley said she would like to see laws in that area strengthened, particularly after two young children enrolled in her daycare died from it last year. One accidentally ingested a fentanyl pill that looked like candy and was left easily accessible and the other was deliberately given the drug by a parent who wanted to make the child sleepy, Haley said.

“Neither one of those people ever saw a night in jail,” she said.

Leonard Christian

Mike Kelly

Pam Haley

Haley said her strong business background and experience in city government are assets in the race for the Senate seat. “I can work collaboratively,” she said. “I think I have a history with that. I have a lot of history in the 4th District. I have lived here since I was in high school.”

Haley said that if she were to win the Senate seat, she would keep her position on the Spokane Valley City Council at least until her term ends at the end of 2025. “I could Zoom in,” she said of council meetings. “It’s a lot easier now than it used to be.”

Kelly, a Republican, has lived in Spokane Valley since 2020 and was appointed to serve on the Spokane Valley Planning Commission in March. Kelly was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison on a felony drug related charge in 1989. His campaign website states that he “chose to involve himself in the financing of transactions involving controlled substances.”

While in prison, Kelly researched case law and learned that his original charge was missing a certain element required to make it a felony, Kelly said. He successfully appealed his sentence and served less than six years of his original sentence. He declined to comment further on his criminal history.

Since then Kelly has owned a series of small businesses, invested in real estate and worked as a controller. “I’ve been blessed with a lot of opportunities from a lot of directions,” he said.

Kelly said he’s been involved in political campaigns before and has always been politically aware. “I

COVER STORY

wanted to step up and fill the gap,” he said. “I felt like it was a call of duty, almost.”

He is concerned about over regulation, the lack of affordable housing and schools that he believes do not focus enough on fundamentals. School boards don’t have enough local control and are just relegated to enacting state policies, Kelly said. He also wants to “centralize” homelessness so that it doesn’t spread.

Kelly said he is a conservative candidate, both fiscally and socially.

“I’m the most passionate about the issues and I would be the most vocal for the district and the people who live there,” he said. “I really want to be of service. People feel like their vote doesn’t count anymore.”

Merkel, a Republican, is a small business owner and has served on the Spokane Valley City Council since January. His time on the council has been contentious, with complaints filed against him regarding how he interacts with city staff and how he uses his personal social media accounts. Merkel often seems to be publicly at odds with many of his fellow council members.

Merkel said that since he’s been on the council he’s pushed for the city to hire additional police officers, after a report was completed showing that the city should hire dozens of new officers in order to attain adequate staffing levels.

The council recently voted to hire 10 new officers and Merkel said he would continue to focus on the issue if he wins the senate seat. He said cities were promised a share of the marijuana tax money to use for policing, but it hasn’t materialized.

“This would be a good way to fix that situation,” he said of using marijuana tax money to fund new officers. “Our lack of police leads to a lack of policing in the 4th. This is my primary focus. This is my main mission.”

He said the 4th District is challenged by its position next to the border to Idaho, which has lower sales tax, easier business licensing requirements and a lower minimum wage, making it attractive to shoppers and employers. Merkel said he would advocate for creating an economic trade zone within 20 miles of the Idaho border that would return sales taxes to businesses to help them compete with Idaho businesses. “I think it would lead to reduced prices,” he said. “I think it would lead to competitive wages.”

People are also suffering because of land use restrictions in the Growth Management Act, which should be eliminated, Merkel said. School boards also lack local control and are forced to spend money on state mandates. “I’m gonna go over there and fix it,” he said. “We need local control.”

If Merkel is elected to the Senate he said he intends to keep his seat on the Spokane Valley City Council. “I’m not giving up anything,” he said.

Scott, a Democrat, did not respond to several requests for an interview. Currently working as an operations

manager, she has previously worked for The Kraft Group and Affiliates, Target and Cabela’s. According to a brief statement from her campaign, she grew up in the Spokane area and returned in 2022. She supports a living wage, affordable housing, mental health enhancements, criminal justice reform and comprehensive services for veterans, according to the statement.

“She will work to bring common ground to better our community,” the statement reads.

Valencia, also a Democrat, hails from Othello, Washington, and served in the U.S. Army for nearly four years and has served in the Army National Guard for nearly three years. He works as a paralegal for a local law firm and is attending law school.

Valencia said he believes the state needs new leaders and not the same old politicians. He filed to run for the Senate seat before Padden announced his retirement. “I felt we need to have leaders in Washington State who represent the working class,” he said. “ I thought he was going to run for re-election. I’m still the best person to do that work on behalf of the people in the district.”

He said many are struggling with the price of everything from eggs to gas, living from paycheck to paycheck with little, if anything, in savings. He said he will advocate for free daycare and paid family leave and also wants to expand maternal care.

His wife is pregnant with their third child and Valencia said he has seen the impact on local OBG/ YN offices after many doctors fled Idaho after the state enacted strict abortion restrictions. “I could see immediately the stress that had on our system,” he said. “A lot of them come here for care. We need to have someone in the Senate who will uphold a woman’s right to choose.”

Valencia said he’s not a partisan person and doesn’t hate Republicans. He said he believes voters should look past partisan politics and find the candidate who will represent working class voters.

“I think people shouldn’t accept how things are and they should have someone who is willing to go in and fight to change it,” he said.

Albert Merkel

Paige Scott

Miguel Valencia

4th Legislative District representative candidates

By Nina Culver Splash contributor

A vacant seat was created in Washington State’s 4th Legislative District when incumbent Leonard Christian decided not to run for reelection and to instead run to fill Senator Mike Padden’s seat after Padden announced his retirement early this year.

The vacancy encouraged six candidates to file to run for Christian’s seat, House of Representatives position 2, including four Republicans and two Democrats. The primary election in August will narrow the field to the two who receive the most votes, who will then advance to the November election.

Ted Cummings, Stephen Major and Ed Wood have chosen not to fundraise for the election, instead selecting the mini-reporting option that pledges not to collect more than $5,000 in donations. The candidate with the largest amount of donations is Republican Michael Schmidt, a fourth-generation cattle rancher and real estate agent, who has raised $24,631 as of June 20. Republican Brandi Peetz, formerly on the Spokane Valley City Council, has raised $6,139 and Republican Rob Chase, who previously served the 4th District, has raised $4,300.

Chase has held several offices and has been a frequent political candidate. He previously ran for state Senate in 2000, the U.S. House in 2002 and Spokane County Commission in 2012 and again in 2018. He was elected Spokane County treasurer in 2010 and again in 2014. He was elected as a state representative in District 4 in 2020, but served only one two-year term before he ran for re-election and lost.

Chase said he was successful during his short time in the House of Representatives, introducing 17 bills and co-sponsoring more than 100 others, and he wants to continue that work. “I enjoyed it as much as I could and I got things done,” he said. “I’d like to get back.”

Voter integrity is a key issue for Chase, who has previously said the

2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump and tried to get the Washington Secretary of State to “decertify” the election results. Chase said voters need to be able to be sure that their vote isn’t changed after they cast it. He believes the way to do that is to go back to inperson voting. “I think there needs to be more transparency,” he said.

Chase said his experience in the legislature makes him a good fit for the seat. “I’ve got the experience,” he said. “I think we need to return to the values that work.”

Cummings, a Democrat, owns a small cattle ranch in Chattaroy and has worked at Kaiser Aluminum since 1988, with the exception of a brief stint at Alcoa. He’s a 34-year member of the United Steelworkers Union and until recently was the financial secretary for USW Local 338. He is currently vice president of the Washington State Labor Council.

Cummings said it was his work in the union, including bargaining with management, that led to his interest in politics. He ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2018, the House of Representatives in 2018 and again in 2022 and for Spokane County Commissioner in 2020. Cummings said he targeted races that were lacking in candidates because he wanted to make sure voters had a choice. “I made a pledge that I wouldn’t let a Republican run unopposed,” he said.

He said he believes the current Republican Party has been normalizing hate and bigotry and he wants to fight back. “ The MAGA Republican movement is just unhinged,” he said. “You can see it starts at the top. The Supreme Court has really changed the landscape on state’s rights. I think it’s important that someone is pushing back on women’s reproductive rights.”

Inflation and affordable housing

are also a big issue in the district, Cummings said. “When you can’t afford housing, you can’t afford health care, you can’t afford fixing your car or buying a new one. It’s all intertwined.”

Voters should pay attention to the character of candidates, Cummings said. “I think character is first and foremost,” he said. “I’m proud of the man I am. I’ve taken a real interest in improving people’s lives through my work in the union.”

Major, a Republican, is a longtime real estate investor and also launched Extreme Expeditions LLC in 2017, becoming known for his work to prove the existence of Bigfoot. He’s been involved in Republican campaigns as a volunteer for decades and served as a Republican precinct committee officer since 2005. In 2016 he was a delegate for the state convention and supported Trump for president because he thought the party needed to be shaken up. But he hasn’t liked the direction it has gone in.

“In frustration, I left in 2020,” he said of his PCO position. “I’m at odds with the Spokane County Republican party. They seem to have gone down a path that’s not realistic. They’ve forgotten how to represent the people.”

Major said the focus now seems to be on whether Republicans support Trump, not on what they can do about issues in Washington State. Such hyper-partisanship has become a problem, he said. “We have to represent our constituents in our state,” he said.

His goal would be to work to bring civility back to politics, Major said. “We all have to live here together and we have to figure out how to work together,” he said.

“People can’t even talk to each other any more.”

He would also work to reduce small business regulations and taxes and increase affordable housing. The criminal justice system is broken and needs reform, Major said, including the addition of programs to address drug addiction and recidivism. “It’s not working,” he said. “All we’re doing is locking people up. There’s no reform in that.”

Above all, politicians need to end the petty bickering, Major said. “I will change the status quo,” he said. “I’m not here to make friends. I’m here to make a difference for my family and my community.”

Peetz, who served on the Spokane Valley City Council for six years and served as the deputy mayor for part of that time, also served as chair of the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission. She has accumulated many endorsements, including from the Republicans of Spokane County, the Spokane County Deputy Sheriffs Association and numerous elected officials, including Christian.

Peetz said she anticipated taking a break from politics after deciding not to run for re-election for her city council seat, stepping down at the end of 2023. But she changed her mind after Padden announced his retirement and Christian announced his candidacy for Padden’s seat.

“I’ve always wanted to do this,” she said. “I just didn’t know it would be that soon. Opportunity doesn’t knock twice.”

Her desire to run for a state legislative seat intensified during a trip to Olympia last year when numerous people suggested she consider running, Peetz said. “That kind of laid the groundwork,” she said.

Brandi Peetz

Ted Cummings

Ed Wood

COVER STORY

There are numerous needs in the district, including burdensome regulations on small businesses and the lack of affordable housing for families, Peetz said. “It really depends on what group of people you’re talking to,” she said.

Public safety was a focus for Peetz when she was on the city council and that hasn’t changed, she said. “Without a safe community you can’t pursue any of the other issues,” she said.

It’s important to hit the

ground running in the House of Representatives since legislators only serve two years, Peetz said. She believes her relationships in the House and Senate will allow her to do so. She said she’s willing to talk to all stakeholders and said she researches issues to learn more about them. “I’m willing to talk to all different kinds of people,” she said.

Schmidt said he wanted to run for the seat because he was concerned for the future of his grandchildren. “I decided I had to stand up for my grandkids’ right to work and live

SEASON TICKETS

and ranch in Eastern Washington,” he said. “I’m going to do what’s best for my grandkids and in doing that I’ll be doing what is best for other people’s kids and grandkids. I think we can rally together and make the future brighter for everyone.”

Public safety is a big issue, particularly since it has been hard to recruit new police officers in recent years, Schmidt said. “If we don’t feel secure, it affects everything,” he said.

He’s also a strong proponent of parents rights in education, Schmidt said. He believes government needs to be reined in. “Government is just this beast that keeps consuming more and more,” he said.

Schmidt said the political pendulum has swung too far and there needs to be more unity. He said he wants to work in everyone’s best interests. “I want to unite the party,” he said. “Our country is fractured, our state is fractured. We need more leaders and less politicians. There’s a lot of middle ground we can do some good in.”

Wood, a Democrat, was a 40-year employee of Qwest Corporation (now CenturyLink) before retiring

and is still executive vice president of Communication Workers of America Local 7818.

Wood said his job with the union was to work to get health care and good wages and benefits for workers. He would like to continue that work in the 4th District. “I don’t believe the other side cares about those issues at all,” he said. “I absolutely believe the Republican party does not represent the working people in the 4th Legislative District.”

He said he’s concerned about the spread of extreme right wing efforts to gain control of local school boards. “They want to ban books, they only want their issues taught,” he said.

People need to get back to working together with political opponents in a civil manner, Wood said. “You lead and you agree to things by consensus,” he said. “You have to be able to work with the other side. So much more can be done if you work together.”

Wood said he’s willing to work for his constituents, not his own agenda. “I think I’m the best candidate to represent the district,” he said.

Rob Chase

Stephen Major

COVER STORY

Congressional candidate roll call as primary ballot deadline passes

By Nina Culver Splash contributor

The announcement from longtime 5th District Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers that she would not seek re-election this year triggered a rush of candidates vying to replace her. As the primary election approaches in August, there are 11 people, five Democrats and six Republicans, running to represent the sprawling district that includes much of Eastern Washington. The top two vote getters will advance to the general election in November.

Bernadine Bank (D)

Bank, a longtime OB/GYN who currently works as a physician at the Community Health Association Clinic (CHAS), is one of two candidates endorsed by the Spokane County Democrats. She said she’s concerned that the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade has launched other restrictions, including laws or proposed laws in some states that call for women who receive abortions to be charged with murder. “The Dobbs decision has created catastrophic health care in so many places for women,” she said. “Things just started getting too extreme.”

More recently there have been attempts to ban or restrict access to various types of contraception, even though contraception is also used to treat a variety of medical issues in women. “So much of what women take contraception for isn’t for contraception,” she said. “There’s so much collateral damage.”

Ultimately, she’s concerned about women being able to access needed reproductive health care in some states, but not others. That could, in turn, impact everything from housing to employment. “I don’t think we can move forward as a country as long as we have women as second-class citizens,” she said.

She’s also concerned about the PFAS contamination in the groundwater on the West Plains and said too many areas of Washington are losing access to health care. “We need to make sure we don’t lose any more hospitals,” she said.

The government also needs to address mental health care, veteran’s health care and homelessness, Bank said.

Michael Baumgartner (R)

Baumgartner previously served as a state senator in the 6th Legislative District for eight years and currently is serving as the Spokane County treasurer. He said he’s currently worried about inflation and the abundance of hyper-partisanship

across the nation. “We worry that our kids are losing their shot at the American dream,” he said. “I think a lot of people are struggling with the economy.”

During his time in the senate, Baumgartner said he helped create the Washington State University medical school, helped fund the North-South Freeway and helped fund a needed overpass near Medical Lake. He also fought against tax increases and, as treasurer, advocated for taxpayers, Baumgartner said.

He also points to his year with the U.S. State Department at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and his work as a counter narcotics advisor with a program in Afghanistan as reasons he would do well in Congress. “I believe I have the skills and experience to go to Washington, D.C., and fight for Eastern Washington,” he said. “I’m the only candidate who stepped forward to serve our country overseas.”

Bobbi Bennett-Wolcott (D)

Bennett-Wolcott, a Pullman certified nurse midwife, describes herself as a leftleaning moderate and said she considered filing as an independent. She traces her moderate political views to her childhood at the family’s Okanogan orchard, where her father was a staunch Republican and her mother was a devoted Democrat. They taught her how to have a respectful political discussion. “That made for very interesting discussions at the dinner table,” she said. “I’m a peacemaker. I can listen to different points of view. If we had an honest discussion, we could probably find some common ground.”

Today’s political discourse has become vitriolic and is no longer focused on the actual issues, she said. And the issues in the 5th district are important, she said, including the needs of farmers, access to maternal health care and mental health care for veterans.

“Six of our 11 counties are facing what we call a maternity desert, which is a shortage of maternal care,” she said.

Her husband is an Army veteran and Bennett-Wolcott said she is aware that veterans, particularly homeless veterans, have much higher suicide rates. She would like to see the access to mental health care for veterans increase, particularly in the rural areas of the district.

Jonathan Bingle (R)

Bingle, a former pastor and current member of the Spokane City Council, is running on the vision of “An American Revival.” His focus is on bringing people closer to God and preventing the country from transitioning to a post-Christian society. “I know nobody is going to bring

Bernadine Bank

that message to the people,” he said. “There’s a real battle for the soul of the country right now.”

He believes immigration is one of the top issues and recently took a trip to the southern border. Parental rights and inflation are also important issues, Bingle said. “The radical trans ideology that is coming up is a huge problem,” he said.

Bingle said President Donald Trump’s huge corporate tax cuts were a benefit to the economy and he would like to cut the corporate tax rates even further. His goal would also be to slash the budget of the “alphabet agencies” to create a “more free and prosperous country.”

Carmela Conroy (D)

Conroy, a former Spokane County deputy prosecuting attorney and retired diplomat, announced her run for the Fifth District last year, before McMorris Rodgers announced her plan to retire. She, along with Bank, received an endorsement from the Spokane County Democrats. She’s also been endorsed by several local Democratic politicians, including Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown. “I just became convinced we weren’t being well served by our congressional representative,” she said. “It just seemed like she was out of touch with the people of her district.”

Women’s reproductive rights are an important issue and, now that Washington is filling that need for women in some nearby states, must be protected here, Conroy said. Women deserve the freedom to make those “intensely personal” decisions nationwide, she said. “It’s super important that those reproductive services continue to be available,” she said.

As a third-generation Fifth District resident, Conroy said she knows the issues that are important to residents and she also knows how to work with the various Federal agencies. “I have the experience to hit the ground running,” she said. “For almost 30 years, I was an apolitical public servant. I did everything I could to return value to the taxpayer.”

During her career with the U.S. Department of State, Conroy said she worked with Tom Foley when he was

the U.S. Ambassador to Japan. She often remembers his advice to focus on solving problems. “I think that’s what people want,” she said.

Ann Marie Danimus (D)

Danimus, who owns a marketing and business development firm, said she’s running because she didn’t think McMorris Rodgers was doing a good job. “I felt the needs of the people here were not being met,” she said. “The people in the district will be my priority.”

She has pledged not to accept corporate donations because she doesn’t want to be beholden to what companies want. “I’m the only candidate who won’t take corporate money,” she said. “There are easy fixes for some of the problems. It’s corporate money that gets in the way.”

Danimus said that women’s reproductive health, including access to contraceptives, is important even though those rights are protected in Washington. She said unemployment rates in rural areas are an issue, as is health care. “Our rural areas are really suffering,” she said. “Senior care and health care is attached to that. Healthcare is a national issue.”

Brian Dansel (R)

Dansel, currently serving as a Ferry County Commissioner, previously served as a State Senator in District 7 from 2013-2017 and left that position after he was named a special assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. He was also the director of the state’s USDA Farm Service Agency. He has been endorsed by the Spokane County Republicans.

“I thought my experience in local government and as a state senator and as an appointee of President Trump gave me a good set of skills,” he said. “I’m probably the most in rough with working people here in the Fifth District.”

He said the top issue is securing the border and creating a “sane” economic policy. He said he would also work to protect the Snake River dams and Fairchild Air Force Base. He said the current health care system is a mess and he doesn’t think people should be forced

Anne Marie Danimus

to go broke if they get sick or injured. “I don’t think people should lose everything they worked for,” he said.

He’s also in favor of having a law enforcement officer of some sort at every public school so they can be a “preventative force.”

He believes he has a unique viewpoint that sets him apart from other candidates. “I’m the most well rounded,” he said. “I think I’m your guy.”

Rick Valentine Flynn (R) Flynn, an Air Force veteran, is a farmer and a caregiver with the VA as well as serving on the Spokane County Water Conservation Board. A self-described moderate Republican, he said he thought it was important that he enter the race so that voters have a choice. “I’m seeing the Republican party being pulled so far to the right, they’re hemorrhaging voters,” he said. “Clearly, a more moderate voice is needed and none of the other candidates provide that. I’m a sane option that’s in the middle. We’ve had too much polarization. We need to reunite in the middle.”

Flynn said the success of local farms is an important issue for the district and the increasing number of drought years, such as this one, means that something has to be done to ensure farmers get the water they need. “Without farmers, we don’t have food,” he said.

He’d also like to focus on what the rise of artificial intelligence means to the number of available jobs and veteran health care. “I can honestly say it’s the worst health care system in the country,”

COVER STORY

he said.

As part of that, he believes disabled veterans should be able to opt into Medicare or Medicaid so they can choose their own doctors. “It would give veterans more choice in their health care,” he said.

Rene Holaday (R)

Holaday, who describes herself on her web site as a “MAGA Christian Patriot,” has a weekday radio show called “The Morning Commute with JJS and Lady Liberty” with her husband on the American Christian Network. She is a self-described UN expert and was among the leaders in one of several efforts to make Eastern Washington into a separate state. She also founded a Stevens County property rights group.

“I’ve been politically engaged and active in leading local, state and national movements for the last 18 years,” she said.

She recently wrote a proposed bill that she encouraged her radio listeners to send to their elected representatives in the hopes of getting it sponsored. The bill would have banned electronic voting machines and mail in ballots. She said banning those voting methods means that vote totals could not be manipulated and therefore people who want to stop child trafficking will be elected.

“They steal elections,” she said. “They allow people to win elections who weren’t really elected. Child trafficking would stop and the border would be sealed.”

She said her goal would be to oppose the United Nations, which she said is working to control the population, our

food supply and guns. “The U.N. is synonymous with communism,” she said. “I know how to win all of these fights against the communists. I’m the only one who knows the enemy.”

Jacqueline Maycumber (R)

Maycumber has been a Washington State Representative in the 7th Legislative District in northeast Washington since 2017 who has previously worked as a biomedical research scientist and a law enforcement officer. She currently owns a farm in Republic.

The economy, including inflation, is one of the more pressing issues for people in the district, Maycumber said. “We really have families struggling to pay for everyday things,” she said. “That is, in part, because of politicians.”

Immigration and drugs are key issues in the district, Maycumber said. “We have criminals crossing the border every day and I’m talking about both borders, north and south,” she said.

She points to her work to help pass bills in the Washington House to reduce the price of insulin and create a high school apprenticeship program. “I got a lot done,” she said. “I’m going in there to fight for the average person, for our families.”

Maycumber said her experience in law enforcement would also be an asset.

She’s collected endorsements from nearly every county sheriff in the 5th District, including Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels and former Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich. “I’m the only law enforcement officer in the race, the only one who has worn the uniform,” she said.

Matthew Welde (D)

Welde, an attorney in the Kootenai County Prosecutor’s Office who specializes in domestic violence, said he believes in public service and knows how to work in an adversarial system, which he believes government is. “I want to take that skill set to Washington and get things done for the district as a whole,” he said. He wants to work to preserve women’s reproductive rights and increase funding for prosecuting attorneys, who tend to be underfunded and understaffed. “They’re struggling,” he said. “Victims deserve better.”

Welde said he has devoted his career, including a previous job with the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office, to prosecuting domestic violence abusers. “I prosecute women beaters, primarily,” he said. “That’s what I do. I believe in it. It’s important.”

Welde said he believes that anything is possible if people put their minds to it and work together. “I think America is already great,” he said. “We just need to fix a few problems.”

Michael Baungartner Matthew Welde

Rick Flynn

Rene Holaday

Brian Dansel

Jacquelin Maycumber

Carmela Conroy

Jonathan Bingle

COMMUNITY

EVENTS

July 4| 4th of July Parade – 9 am12 pm. The parade route will start at Peters Colony Elementary School and head West along Nash Dr. Then the parade will turn South on Blair Oaks. It will finish at The Colony High School teachers parking lot.

July 4| Over the Lake Fireworks – 10 pm. The Liberty Lake Over the Water Fireworks Extravaganza Fundraiser is now live! We are 100% community funded and need your continued generous donations to keep Liberty Lake’s longestrunning tradition alive. Donate by check, GoFundme and Venmo see the website for all Info. www. libertylakefireworks.org

July 4| Pavillion Park Fireworks –10 pm. City’s fireworks display will be launched from the baseball fields between Liberty Creek and the Liberty Lake elementary schools. The 2024 fireworks will be preceded by a concert on the Pavillion Park stage by Nu Jack City from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

July 15-16| Vacation Bible School – 10 pm. 1 pm - 4 pm Join us for games, crafting, snacks, a bouncy castle, and most importantly, learning about Jesus! This event is free of charge. Visit our website for more details: https://www. libertylakevbs.com/ CONTACT: Text-509-730-1047 23811 E Sinto Ave, Liberty Lake, WA 99019

July 21 | Yoga and Wine– 11 am - 1 pm. Enjoy a 45 minute ALLLEVELS Yoga class with a local Yoga Uncorked instructor. We will move, breathe, flow and enjoy some much needed yoga + wine to start off our Sunday Fun Day! $20/ person -- Yoga class (Wine sold separately!) 21+ only Tickets are Limited. Liberty Lake Wine Cellars

23110 East Knox Avenue, Liberty Lake, 99019.

Various dates in June | Storytimes for infants to age 5 -- 10:30 a.m., Liberty Lake Library, 23123 E. Mission Ave. Includes “Move & Groove” Mondays, “Book Babies” Tuesdays, “Toddler Tales” Wednesdays, “Preschool Tales” Fridays.

July 6, 13, 27 | Movies in the Park – July 6, 2024 Migration, July 13, 2024 Wonka, July 27, 2024 Barbie. Movies at Pavillion park, start at dusk. Bring a blanket, lawn chair and pick a spot.

RECURRING

ACT 2 Senior Classes | Affordable classes offered by Community Colleges of Spokane to those who are retired or planning to retire, though there is no age limit. A wide range of courses from geology and history to exercise and art are offered at CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place, as well as other locations throughout the area. For more, search for “Act 2” at scc. spokane.edu.

Next Gen REI Club | 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., third Thursday of the month, The Arcadia Building, 12929 E. Sprague Ave. Monthly real estate investing support group. All are welcome. For more, call 509.768.4357.

Baha’i Fireside Conversation | 7 to 8 p.m., third Thursday of the month, Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Discussion of Baha’i teachings, history and perspectives on resolving the challenges facing humanity. All are welcome. For more, call 599-2411.

Catholic Singles Mingle | Meeting times and locations vary. This group, with no dues, is for single adults of all ages. More at www. meetup.com/Catholic-Singles-

Mingle.

Grange Meeting and Dessert | 6:30 p.m., third Wednesday of the month, Tri-Community Grange, 25025 Heather St., Newman Lake. The public is welcome for this community-based service organization. For more, call 2262202.

Liberty Lake Library | 23123 E. Mission Ave., Liberty Lake. Various clubs and weekly meetings including book clubs, children’s story times, LEGO club, computer drop-in class, knitting club, and more. More at www.libertylakewa. gov/library

Men’s Weekly Bible Study | 7 a.m. Tuesdays. Millwood Presbyterian Church, 3223 N. Marguerite Road, Millwood. The men’s weekly Bible Study meets in the Reception Hall with different members sharing in the leading of the study. All men are invited to join. More at www. milwoodpc.org.

Spokane County Library District | Locations include Argonne, Fairfield, Otis Orchards, and Spokane Valley. Special events and weekly activities for all ages including book clubs, children’s story times, classes, Lego club, teen anime club and writing clubs. More at scld.org.

Spokane Valley Quilt Guild | Meetings at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of February, April, June, August, October and December at Valley Assembly of God Church, 15618 E. Broadway Ave., Spokane Valley. Open to all interested in sharing ideas and skills of our quilting craft. Participants can access a comprehensive library, engage experienced teachers and participate in community service projects. More at svqgspokane.com.

MUSIC & THE ARTS

June 21 - July 7 | Spokane Valley Theatre “South Pacific” – Go to https://www.svsummertheatre. com/upcoming for show times and ticket options

July 7 | Batcha at Pavillion Park –7 pm - 9 pm. Join us for a Beginner Bachata class followed by social dancing at sunset! Everyone is welcome! Bring a friend or come solo. We can’t wait to dance with you! Pavillion Park 23262 E Settler Dr, Liberty Lake, WA 99019.

July 26 - August 11 | Spokane Valley Theatre “Buddy” – Go to https://www.svsummertheatre. com/upcoming for show times and ticket options

HEALTH & RECREATION

RECURRING

Book Babies | Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m., Liberty Lake Community Library, 23123 E. Mission Ave. This story time is geared toward children 0-2 years old. Play time follows from 11-11:30 a.m.

Decreasing Anger Group |The Vet Center, 13109 E. Mirabeau Parkway, Spokane Valley. Eligibility: combat veteran from all eras, military sexual trauma survivors. For more, call at 509-444-8387 to make an intake appointment.

HUB Sports Center | 19619 E. Cataldo Ave., Liberty Lake. Various activities and events occur throughout the week including:

• Pickleball drop-in: 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. $5.50/ person online $7/at the door.

COMMUNITY

• Classes including Kenpo Karate, Homeschool PE and Fit for YOUR Life. See hubsportscenter.org for cost and times.

Fly Tying Group| 9 to 11 a.m., Spokane Vet Center, 13109 E. Mirabeau Parkway, Spokane Valley. Veterans, Active Buty, Reserves, and Guard are welcome! For more, call 509-444-8387.

Mindful Music & Movement | 12:30 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. Wednesdays, Willow Song Music Therapy Center, 21101 E. Wellesley #102, Otis Orchards. For adults desiring a distanced social experience that is designed to support emotional well-being, gentle physical movement, cognitive support, and enhanced communication in a fun and relaxed way. $10 per person per class. For more, visit willowsongmusictherapy.com or call 509-592-7875.

Move and Groove | Mondays, 10:30 a.m., Liberty Lake Community Library, 23123 E. Mission Ave. Music and dance time for children ages 0-5.

CIVIC & BUSINESS

Rd, Liberty Lake, WA

Thursdays| Liberty Lake Entrepreneur Club– Food Truck Thursdays, 5 pm - 8 pm. Food Truck: One Nigth Stand BBQ Live Music By: Joel Haugen Rocky Hill Park 24901 e mission ave liberty lake wa Liberty Lake, WA 99019

RECURRING

Central Valley School Board | 6:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, CVSD administration building, 2218 N. Molter Rd, Liberty Lake.

Liberty Lake City Council | 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive

Liberty Lake Kiwanis | 7 a.m. on each Wednesday of each month, Liberty Lake Library.

Friends of Liberty Lake Municipal Library | 1pm Last Thursday of the month, Liberty Lake Municipal Library, 23123 E. Mission Ave.

Liberty Lake Lions Club | 5:30 pm, every second and fourth Thursday of each month at Barlows, 1428 N.

July 13| Mulberry Market

Warehouse Sale 50% Off– 10 am - 6 pm. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to score amazing deals on high-quality items for your home. Whether you’re looking to spruce up your space or treat yourself to something special, our Warehouse Sale has something for everyone! 17325 E Sprague Ave, Spokane Valley, WA, 99016

July 13| Trailbreaker Cider 5 year Anniversary– 3 pm - 9 pm. We have been overwhelmed with all the love and support from our amazing community these last 5 years. To celebrate, we are marking the occasion with a bang at our 5th-anniversary bash on Saturday, July 13th from 3pm to 9pm. Expect live music, yard games, BBQ on the patio, face painting, and of course, loads of cider! Swing by and be part of this family-friendly event – it’s gonna be a blast! 2204 N Madson

Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary Club | Noon to 1 p.m. every Tuesday at Trailhead Holf Course, 22302 E Country Vista Dr, For more, visit LibertyLakeRotary.org.

Liberty Lake Municipal Library Board | 1 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month, 22710E Country Vista Dr.

Liberty Lake Planning Commission | 4 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month, City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive.

Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District Board | 4 p.m. on the second Monday of each month, 22510 E. Mission Ave.

Submit items for The Splash Community Calendar by the 10th of the previous month by emailing editor@ valleycurrent.com. Priority is given to noncommercial local events open to the public.

FOOD & DRINK CELEBRATION

New patient appointments available 30-60 minute appointments within 24 hours Affordable monthly membership with no co-pay Minimal waiting room time As many visits during the month as you need Care from your own doctor Communicate directly with your doctor by text, email or phone call

NEWS AND NOTES

Continued from page 9

to establish more efficient use of our ballfields,” Hill said. The commission will hold a workshop with the city on July 2.

• A call to local artists for a sculpture project at Kramer Parkway and Country Vista Drive has produced no submissions to this point. Hill said the search for artists will be widened.

• Joe Mann, chair of the Planning Commission, said the group has been working on an update to the city’s Comprehensive Plan. Mann said the commission has received a third-party request for zoning changes from Top Golf related to lighting. An unnamed thirdparty has also requested a zoning change connected to a significant increase in gas pumps permitted at a future establishment on the north side of town.

• Council unanimously approved the next six-year Transportation Improvement Plan covering 2025-2030. Projects must be included in the TIP to be eligible for federal and state funding.

• Mayor Cris Kaminskas, McAvoy and Council Members Annie Kurtz and Mike Kennedy attended the annual Association of Washington Cities annual conference in Vancouver, June 1821.

• At the June 4 council meeting, Kennedy said he would like to see a rotation of representatives from groups like the Community Engagement Commission, Library Trustees and other city-related groups join elected officials in the city’s booth at the Farmers Markets. “Keep in mind this is volunteerism,” Kennedy said. “There are plenty of spots available.”

• Council Member Wendy Van Orman, a member of the Liberty Lake Lions, said the club has launched a fundraiser called “The Brick that Keeps on Giving” featuring decorative bricks at the

Nature’s Place at Meadowood Arboretum just east of City Hall. “This is chance for the community to recognize a loved one or first responder,” Van Orman said.

• Kaminskas gave a report on the Rotary Memorial Day Breakfast at Pavillion Park, noting that local veteran Marty DuShea was able to attend. DuShea, 91, fought in the Korean War. “This was a really nice story,” the mayor said. “Marty was well enough to join us. You could see it just made his year to be there, to hear the stories and the presentations. Just to see the gratitude on his face being able to be at that event just made the day.”

• Luke Michaels, the new city engineer, was introduced at the June 4 council meeting. His first day was June 3. “Luke is a PE with a really great background in Geotech and civil work,” said Planning and Engineering Manager Lisa Key. “I’m really happy to be here and get started,” Michaels said.

• McAvoy gave an overview of new state laws that were passed in the latest legislative session and went into effect in June, including a new program to promote mental wellness among first responders. Chief Damon Simmons told council that a new law related to police pursuits will enhance public safety. “As a leadership team over the past couple of months, we’ve talked about it to make sure we’re on the same page and we’re all operating in a parallel manner from a supervisor standpoint,” Simmons said. Pursuits will be based on reasonable suspicion of a suspect.

• Library Director Jandy Humble and Library Trustee Kim Girard presented the library’s 2023 annual report on June 3. The summary included data such as 6.025 library patrons last year, 4,357 of which were residents and 1,668, or one-fourth, were non-residents. The overall visitor count of 62,628 was up nearly 20 percent from the previous year. A total of 2,010 new library cards were distributed in 2023.

We accept EBT, Snap Match, WIC/Senior FMNP, KERNEL, & Cash/Credit

Student of the Month

Paige Van Buren will tell you she has no regrets about transferring from Central Valley to Ridgeline High School at the start of her sophomore year. The Liberty Lake resident, who recently graduated as a Falcon, maintained a 4.0 grade point average and was named valedictorian for the Class of 2024. Van Buren served as ASB vice president and was cocaptain for two of her three years in Marching Band Color Guard. She competed in Civics Bowl and was part of a Knowledge Bowl team that advanced to state. Van Buren was in four theater productions at RHS and played varsity tennis her senior year. Last summer, she was one of eight students to participate in the third class of The SpokesmanReview’s Teen Journalism Institute, contributing nearly 20 published stories. Van Buren will continue her academic pursuits at Brigham Young University.

Nolan Koch began his baseball career at Central Valley High School as a freshman starting catcher. This spring, Koch wound up a stellar four years as one of the Greater Spokane League’s best third basemen. The senior hit .330 and worked his way out of a midseason slump by not overthinking. “I learned a lot about how hard work can get you places,” he said. Koch earned All GSL Honorable Mention as a junior in a season highlighted by a walk-off hit to beat crosstown rival Ridgeline. He has been part of the Spokane Expos club team for the past four years. Koch finished with a 3.88 grade point average and was a member of National Honor Society. He participated in Marching Band for three years. Koch will continue his baseball and academic pursuits at Southwestern Oregon Community College.

Chuck Richardson believes service has a beneficial ripple effect. “My philosophy is if I can help just one person have a better day, my day is going to be better,” he said. The Kentucky native is treasurer for Liberty Lake Kiwanis and also serves with the Southwest Spokane Kiwanis. Richardson has volunteered with Second Harvest since 2015, driving a van to pick up donated food. After four years in the Air Force, Richardson worked 38 years for the U.S. Postal Service. Through Kiwanis, he has helped with all-sport helmet donations for kids, the Summer Movie Series and more. “Chuck has done so much for the community,” said LL Kiwanis President Tim Olsen. “He’s an amazing individual who is an inspiration to me.” Richardson is also a member of Toastmasters, a public speaking club. He has two kids and two grandchildren.

Citizen of the Month

By John McCallum Splash correspondent

Baseball

Coach: Jeramie Maupin

Second Team: Brennan Stevenson, (SR). Fastpitch softball

Boys soccer

Ridgeline athletes, teams receive spring sports accolades

Second Team: Aaliyah Yeldon (FR – Pitcher).

www.hubsportscenter.org

Hutyler earned eight varsity letters: four in cross country, three in track and one in gymnastics. She earned the Ridgeline Coaches Award and the B.I.G. (Belong, Inspire, Grow) award in cross country, and in track received the Girls Distance Award and the Ridgeline Distances Runner of the Year Award.

When it comes to representation on All-Greater Spokane League 3A/4A springs sports teams, Ridgeline High School athletes held their own on the various rosters.

First Team: Easton Amend (SR), Caden Andreas (SO), Nate Fitzpatrick (SR), Ben Wartinger (SO).

Hutyler volunteers at local road races, Liberty Creek Elementary School and Liberty Lake Children’s Academy as well as helping at school bingo nights, book fairs and a preschool classroom. She plans on attending Spokane Falls Community College where she will continue her cross country and track career.

Palm is also a member of the Junior Statesmen of America, Ridgeline’s Wind Ensemble, the Gang Green Pep Band and captain of the varsity Knowledge Bowl team. He earned 10 varsity letters: four in tennis, four in Knowledge Bowl and two in band and was a starter on the 2023 Knowledge Bowl team that brought home Ridgeline’s first ever state championship.

Palm provides free tennis lessons to local students, and volunteers at the community library. He plans on attending the University of Washington where he will study physics in pursuit of an advanced post-graduate degree and career in astrophysics.

First Team: Andra Chaker (JR – Forward), Braylon Helm-Renz (SR – Midfielder), Caden Thompson (SR -- Defender), Thatcher Hemphill (SO – Defender).

Second Team: Cole Kreider (FR – Midfielder), Isaiah Vakaloloma (SR – Defender)

Boys tennis

First Team: Jackson Heib (SO).

Second Team: Zander Palm (SR).

Girls tennis

Second Team: Svetlana Wickham (JR).

Boys golf

Second Team: Tanner Smith (SR).

Boys track and field

First Team: Kale Kardonsky (SR – Shot Put).

Second Team: Daden Lewis (JR – Discus).

Girls track and field

Most Valuable Player – Sprinter: Preslie Young (SR)

First Team: Preslie Young (SR – 200), Alexandra House, Emma Mostek, Preslie Young, Izzie Olson (4x200 Relay).

Second Team: Presley Young (SR – 100), Madelyn Hutyler, Emma Mostek, Preslie Young, Izzie Olson (4x400 Relay).

GSL Spring Scholar Athletes

Maddie Hutyler and Zander Palm were both named GSL Scholar Athletes. According to their bios on the GSL website, both Ridgeline seniors maintained a 4.0 grade point average and are members of the National Honor Society.

Falcons third in state Scholastic Cup

Ridgeline placed third in 3A Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Scholastic Cup standings for 2023 – 2024, behind second-place Lakeside (Seattle) and overall classification champion Mead. According to the WIAA, the Scholastic Cup “recognizes performance in the classroom as well as on the playing surface.”

Schools receive points for finishes at the top of their respective classifications in state athletic competitions along with finishing at the top of team academic performances. Sportsmanship plays a part, with points deducted for ejections from contests.

At the end of the year, the school with the most points in their classification is awarded the Scholastic Cup.

According to the WIAA, Ridgeline received 1,311 points. Top points producers in the activities category were girls golf with 30 points, followed by boys and girls basketball, football, boys golf, girls gymnastics and boys soccer with 20 points each.

In the scholastic category, the Falcons volleyball team, and the forensics debate team both placed first, earning 100 points. They were followed by second-place finishes from the RHS band, winter cheerleading squad, girls fastpitch softball and boys and girls tennis, each earning 80 points.

Other Ridgeline teams and activities scoring points, both in activity and scholastic, were dance/drill—competitive, baseball, choir, boys and girls cross country, orchestra and track and field.

Mead placed first in the 3A classification with 1,549, with Lakeside (Seattle) just four points back in second. Other Eastern Washington schools finishing in the top-25 were Cheney (seventh), University (eighth), Ferris (18th) and Kennewick (25th).

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CONTRIBUTORS

Craig Howard, Nina Culver, Mary Anne Ruddis, Ross Schneidmiller

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ICCU –Liberty Lake grand opening

By Mary Anne Ruddis Splash contributor

The newest Washington branch of Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU) is having a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony on July 18 from 10am – 11am. The public is invited to this community event that will feature fun for the entire family. The branch is located in Liberty Lake at 21398 E Country Vista Drive.

There will be appetizers and kids’ activities with a live visit from Share Bear. Share Bear is the mascot for Share Bear Savings Accounts that are designed to teach kids from an early age the importance of saving. The account is perfect for children between the ages of 0 and 11. You will also be able to enter to win a Magicycle eBike Package.

The branch opened on June 20 and has nine employees. Visible from Interstate 90, the welcoming lobby is open and includes a coin machine that is free for members, safety deposit vaults, and a wide range of banking services.

Branch manager, Peter Welzig, although new to the banking world, is firmly established in the Liberty Lake community. Having come from a thirteen-year career at Starbucks, he is eager to continue contributing to the community that he calls home to further ICCU’s mission of “Helping Members Achieve Financial Success.”

Welzig maintains close ties with the community and is appreciative that his former employer, Starbucks, will be donating coffee for the ribbon cutting event. According to Welzig, it is his appreciation for the tight-knit Liberty Lake community that helps fuel his passion. Not only does he strive to help members achieve financial success, but he also is driven to provide “world class service with a community focus in a culture that is family oriented, positive, and uplifting.”

Along with providing excellent member services, Welzig also looks after his team. Part of that means creating a warm and inclusive

BUSINESS

Contributed photo Idaho Central Credit Unions new Liberty Lake Branch Manager Peter Welzig showing off one of the green electric bikes available for the branch employees to engage with the community as the branch officially opened on June 20th.

environment for his employees.

A state-of-the-art private room for breast-feeding women and a spacious kitchen/break area that even has an espresso machine lend themselves to a welcoming work environment where employees can find a balance to their workday.

ICCU began in Boise, Idaho in 1940 by officers of other credit unions operating in Idaho. Legally, the officers could not belong to the credit unions where they worked. After that first year, the Credit Union had $298.93 in assets and just 22 members. At the end of 2023, the Credit Union has over 610,000 members and over 10 billion dollars in assets. There are branches in Idaho, Oregon, and now Washington.

ICCU entered the Washington market just over two years ago. The

Liberty Lake branch brings the total number of branches to 56, four of which are in eastern Washington. “We opened Riverside Branch in Spokane in May 2022, which debuted Idaho Central Credit Union's arrival in Washington. In addition to Riverside, in eastern Washington we also have a Spokane Valley Branch, a North Spokane Branch and now the Liberty Lake Branch,” said Laura Smith, Vice President of Community Development.

Sponsoring numerous community events including support for the Liberty Lake Kiwanis, ICCU continues to be a presence in the community. The philosophy of the credit union is “to give back to the communities where our members live, work, and play. We look to do that in many ways by engaging with events and organizations that are making our communities wonderful

places to live,” said Smith. Employees coming together to support their community are known as the “Green Team.” They can be seen out in the community in their signature green shirts lending support and a helping hand where they can. Their desire is to make a difference. Their green arch and green machine have been seen at many charity runs with the Green Team in full gear. The Green Team is ready to get involved. ICCU promotes involvement through three channels: Community Involvement, Community Economic Development, and Scholarships. In 2023, $1.4 million was donated by individual teams and ICCU overall. More information can be found at iccu.com/community.

In a world where we hear too many stories of corporate harshness, Welzig presents a workplace that stands in contrast as a supportive place to work. It is place of pride where members and employees are valued and truly understand what it is to be part of a community. Choosing a financial institution that is welcoming, giving, and convenient makes us part of something that goes beyond our individual needs and part of a community that knits us together.

Bring the kids, bring the neighbors, bring the family for the ribbon cutting on July 18 at ICCU 21398 E Country Vista Drive, Liberty Lake from 10am – 11am. It is sure to be a wonderful, welcoming time for the whole family. Be a part of knitting together the Liberty Lake community with its newest Washington ICCU branch. In the spirit of giving back, there will also be a surprise for a local children’s organization at the event.

Find out more about the newest Washington ICCU branch at https://www.iccu.com/locations/ liberty-lake-branch/.