Fallen Heroes Circuit Course recognized as cornerstone of community support for
DOCKSIDE
Neighbor on a Mission – Finck raises awareness with Building Ohana
By Craig Howard
Splash Contributing Editor
The energy in a room changes when Deb Finck walks in.
The longtime Liberty Lake resident sports a genuine smile and talks in tones that radiate optimism and collaboration. It was that way when Finck appeared before the Liberty Lake City Council in 2022, describing the concept for “Ohana Village” – a neighborhood that would, in her words, “bring a broadly affordable, diverse and inclusive community of intentional neighboring to Liberty Lake.”
The project is intended to replace the barriers faced by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with an enriching, supportive environment defined by shared purpose and cooperation, inclusion, diversity and collaboration.
“We want to be a new kind of neighborhood with strong connections to the community,” Finck said.
Finck acknowledges the idea of a neighborhood working together for the common good may seem novel in a modern society often defined by isolation. Yet Finck prefers to bring up themes like solidarity and cohesion than dwell on the differences that drive people apart.
“We’ve become more independent, more separate in our world,” she said.
Finck said the goal is to secure land by the first half of 2025. Conversations with representatives of the city have gone well to this point. Service providers have also shown interest.
“We’re very supportive of the concept and it aligns with our zoning regulations,” said Liberty Lake Planning and Engineering Manager Lisa Key.
Finck established Building
Ohana as a 501c3 nonprofit in 2013 and has been serving as executive director ever since. A Hawaiian word that means “family,” and can also include close friends and associates, Ohana is a term that conveys togetherness, collaboration, loyalty, love and caring. The vision of Ohana Village, Finck says, “is inspired by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities –and designed for all of us.”
“We were a small founding group” Finck said of the origins of Building Ohana. “Parents and professionals directly affected by some of the barriers for people with autism and other developmental disabilities.”
Finck and her husband Charlie have experienced a variety of those hurdles when it comes to their son, Jonathan, now 30. Deb was 44 and Charlie was 50 in 1994 when they adopted Jonathan shortly after he was born.
“It was rather unpredictable but
remarkable and most wonderful,” Finck recalls.
After noticing Jonathan was not hitting certain development milestones by 6 months old, Deb and Charlie sought advice. He was diagnosed with pervasive development delay with seizure disorders at 11 months. It wasn’t until he was 6 years old that Jonathan was diagnosed with autism.
“The diagnosis was a long time coming,” Finck said. “Doctors were reticent back then.”
Finck, who has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English Literature from the University of Washington, taught at University and Central Valley high schools before she became a mom, then transitioned to part-time work in curriculum development for the Central Valley School District when Jonathan was a toddler. When her son started primary school, Finck took a job as Community Connections director at Northwest Autism Center, where she remained for eight years.
The concept for Building Ohana grew from Finck’s hope “to create a community of support, friendship and accountability.”
Finck was close to securing land for Ohana Village in the Mirabeau Point area of Spokane Valley five years ago but it fell through. A year later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Still, the vision remained.
“We want to find ways to create truly accessible housing across a continuum of income levels,” Finck said. “Hopefully, we can be a demonstration model.”
The latest blueprint for the village is set on 6.5 acres with four pocket neighborhoods of eight to 10 homes each. One supportive living home would be attached to each neighborhood, housing up to three residents each. Those homes would include trained staff in shifts providing 24/7 care. A pair of buildings housing six residents apiece, would offer more independent living, similar
Photo by Craig Howard Deb Finck serves as executive director of Building Ohana, a nonprofit focused on eliminating barriers faced by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization, with headquarters at the Liberty Lake Portal, has been working to establish a unique neighborhood called “Ohana Village” in Liberty Lake featuring an environment where residents draw support from each other, Building Ohana and the surrounding community.
Christmas Events at
15618 E Broadway Ave, Spoakne Valley
FINCK
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to an apartment building with a community space inside.
A “common house” would sit in the middle of the neighborhood, providing a welcome setting for gatherings, meetings and celebrations.
Finck said she has found the zoning laws in Liberty Lake “extremely friendly to this kind of project.”
“The city government is friendly and they offer a strategic plan that feels inclusive,” she said.
Building Ohana has hosted two facilitated conversations in Liberty Lake since last October with receptive turnouts for both.
Earlier this year, Building Ohana planted roots in Liberty Lake, moving its headquarters to the Liberty Lake Portal and settling in a community that Finck and Charlie have called home since 1989.
“We moved Building Ohana to Liberty Lake because it became very clear that this community would be great for Ohana Village,” Finck said.
Q: You and your husband have called Liberty Lake home for a long time. What are some of the major changes you’ve seen to the area in the 35 years you’ve lived here?
A: When Charlie and I met in 1984, he’d already lived in Liberty Lake for nearly a decade, drawn to the natural beauty and tranquility of this small bedroom community with just one gas station at its entrance – a place where you could still see a sky full of stars at night. By the time we married in 1989, Pavillion Park and its surrounding developments of single-family homes were underway, complete with walking paths connecting new and established neighborhoods. Liberty Lake seemed to grow before our eyes into a safe, walkable community that fostered connections between homes, outdoor recreation and essential amenities. Even now, we can still see stars in the night sky.
Q: In some ways, you reversed the trend of people leaving the Spokane area to move to other parts of the country. You lived in Southern California and Seattle
before moving to the Inland Northwest in 1983. What has kept you here?
A: Primarily, I’m here because of the people I love and who love me. I enjoyed growing up in sunny California and cherished my time in rainy Seattle but by the time Charlie and I married and adopted our son, Jonathan, we knew this place would be our lifelong home. Additionally, for many families, advocating for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) requires years, sometimes a lifetime, of building trusted relationships with local schools, health services and support providers. Moving would mean the difficult task of starting over in a new system.
Q: Before your son Jonathan arrived in your life 30 years ago, how would you describe your understanding of people with developmental disabilities? How has that perception changed in the three decades since?
A: For most of my life, I had limited understanding and contact with people living with disabilities, aside from a surreal volunteer experience at 17 in a county institution that felt more like a prison than a care facility. A few years before we adopted Jonathan, a friend introduced us to her teenage daughter, a young woman with significant disabilities who couldn’t speak. Through her, I began to understand the profound love and commitment of parents with children who have special needs, but I didn’t fully comprehend the experience of individuals with disabilities themselves. Our son was the first person who showed me that people with I/DD are invaluable members of families, cultures and communities and that they have much to contribute regardless of their challenges. Jonathan and others have expanded my sense of humanity, challenging my once narrow, self-focused view.
Q: What has Jonathan taught you and your husband over the years?
A: Jonathan has taught us nearly everything we know about human interaction. One of his greatest lessons is that all relationships require time and attention – to observe, learn and listen in multiple ways. Although our son is nonverbal, he is always
communicating: his needs, interests, humor, frustrations, his awareness of the world and his capacity for love. We are all much more than what we are “able” to say or do.
Q: When you first formed Building Ohana in 2013 with a board of directors, what were your primary goals and priorities?
A: Most of our founding board members had personal experience with the complex barriers, isolation and loss of community that many young adults with I/DD face after leaving the public school system. We aimed to change those futures by modeling a different path – one that allows for full participation in community life through the power of inclusive, supportive and intentional neighborhood life.
Q: The Building Ohana website mentions challenges such as housing shortages, social divisions, and isolation. How will the successful completion of Ohana Village address these specific hurdles?
A: Ohana envisions home and neighborhood as natural intersections where these challenges can be addressed by ordinary people throughout their lives. Once Ohana is built, residents will find affordable, accessible homes in a neighborhood designed to foster close, daily relationships. Our diversity will be Ohana’s strength, as people of all ages, incomes, backgrounds and abilities live in caring relationships, supporting each other in daily life. Building Ohana and other community partners will provide needed services and support resident-led activities, governance and social initiatives. Residents will also contribute to the broader community, offering new perspectives and enriching the wider neighborhood.
Q: How did the success of two Community Conversations in Liberty Lake influence your decision to move your office here?
A: Our first Liberty Lake Community Conversation took place in October 2023 with Brenda Krause Eheart, longtime Ohana board director and author of “Neighbors: The Power of the People Next Door.” By then, we’d already started our land search in Liberty Lake and had presented our Ohana mission to the CVSD
school board and Liberty Lake City Council. In May, we invited residents and local stakeholders to the first in a series of communityengaged design meetings. By the end of that evening, with so much enthusiasm and valuable input, we were confident Ohana had made the right decision to move here. I paid our first month’s rent at The Portal the next day.
Q: How would you describe the journey of acquiring land for Ohana Village, and where does that process stand now?
A: Long, challenging, educational – worth it. It feels like walking a narrow path along a steep mountain – the views are breathtaking, but the path is rough and risky. Just when we think we’re near the top, the trail shifts and we must find another way forward. Our criteria for Ohana Village land are specific: We need flexible development codes, a site suitable for fully accessible homes and proximity to transportation, services and a thriving community. The property we’re pursuing in Liberty Lake meets every need –and more.
Q: What are you most looking forward to when Jonathan and others can eventually call Ohana Village home?
A: A typical day in the village, where our son and every Ohana resident wakes up to a life of purpose – opportunities for friendship, hospitality, outdoor and community activities, planned and serendipitous connections with neighbors. I look forward to the day when all Ohana residents, especially those with I/DD, feel the life-giving strength of Ohana relationships and know they belong.
Q: Finally, do you have any advice for building Ohana in our daily lives?
A: I believe neighborhoods are a perfect starting place because they offer three essentials for building meaningful relationship: Time, proximity and daily practice. Your neighbors aren’t going anywhere soon and sometimes they’re uncomfortably close, so why not invest in an Ohana relationship with them? They might be quite different from you, but with time, they could become your dear and dependable friends.
/ Vehicle Prowls / Vehicle Theft /
Police Report - Sept. 2024
Parking Violations 5
Suspicious Vehicles 29
Significant Cases
Splash news sources
2024-88007311, DV, 09/14/2024:
Malicious Mischief 1
Total incidents generated by Officers and emergency calls for service last month 1010
Traffic Collisions/Hit & Runs / Injury Collisions 8
Argument / Assault DV / Simple Assault / w/a Weapon
Citations (Traffic/Criminal/NonCriminal) 71
DUI (Driving Under Influence) 7
Parking Violations
Thefts / Vehicle Prowls / Vehicle Theft / Burglaries 15
Malicious Mischief 1
Officers responded to the 1300 block of Samantha Road for a report of a male and female arguing over politics. During the argument, the adult male pushed the adult female to the ground. Officers determined the male and female were brother and sister and placed the adult male in custody for the assault. The male was transported to the Spokane County Jail for Assault IV Domestic Violence charge.
Fraud Cases:
has received several fraud cases over the last month from various victims. Our public information officer has posted information on our Facebook page about how to determine fraud and is currently working on a formal class to help educate our community further on this escalating issue.
Flock Camera system had hit on the vehicle earlier in the day, but officers were unable to locate it at that time.
5
Argument / Assault DV / Simple Assault / Assault w/a Weapon 20
The Liberty Lake Police Department
Suspicious Vehicles 29
2024-88007369, Recovered Stolen Vehicle, 9/16/2024:
Officers discovered a suspicious vehicle around the 20000 Block of East Indiana Avenue. The vehicle was not occupied but was parked across two parking stalls. Officers checked the vehicle through dispatch and determined it had been reported stolen that same day. The vehicle owner was contacted, and it was towed from that location at the owner’s request. The
Officers have responded to numerous complaints of reckless drivers throughout the Liberty Lake Community during the month of September. There were seven separate DUI arrests along with multiple citations issued for various infractions by officers while on proactive patrol. Officers are continuing to make proactive contacts with the violators to keep the community safe. The Liberty Lake Police Department would like to remind everyone to drive safely and report any reckless driving so we can remain focused on any areas of concern. Stay safe and take care of each other.
The Lookout
City Unveils its 2026-2046 Comprehensive Plan
Area residents are now getting their first look at what’s in store for the next two years during the city of Liberty Lake’s development of its roadmap for 2026-2046.
Members of the city’s Planning, Engineering, and Building Services team hosted their first informational session about the city’s upcoming 2026-2046 Comprehensive Plan during a kickoff meeting that drew a little more than 30 people to the Trailhead Golf Course clubhouse on Oct. 21.
City staff members also plan to make subsequent presentations available to local groups and online audiences. Organizations can arrange a presentation from city staff by contacting City Hall’s Planning, Engineering and Building Services Director Lisa Key at 509755-6708.
Liberty Lake adopted its first Comprehensive Plan in 2003. The plan was last updated in 2015 and the new one is targeted to begin in June of 2026. The eventual document that will be created over the next several months will establish the community’s vision for the city’s future and will serve as a foundation for the city’s Development Code.
Winter Glow seeking volunteers to set up for 2024 display
One of the biggest and most visually stunning Christmas displays in the entire region each winter is the one at Liberty Lake in Orchard Park. But … how holidayishly huge and glowingly grand it can get is completely dependent on getting some local volunteers over to the park to help organizers set up the displays for Liberty Lake’s Winter
The city’s upcoming Comprehensive Plan will specifically guide the direction throughout the next two decades for the city’s land use, housing, utilities, transportation, economic development, capital facilities plan, parks and recreation and climate change and resiliency. Among the items that the new comprehensive plan will cover are:
• Plans to accommodate types of housing that will be affordable to all economic segments of the city’s population;
• An update of the city’s land use goals, policies, categories, urban growth area, and land use map;
• An updated inventory, needs assessment and capital facilities plan for the city’s parks, recreation and open spaces;
• And a new state-required climate element addressing goals and policies that incorporate public engagement, mitigation, and resiliency.
As part of the upcoming process, the city’s staff is seeking community members to join a Climate Policy Advisory Team. This group will advise the overall project team to ensure that the new Comprehensive Plan’s recommended policies,
Glow Spectacular.
The opening ceremony for this year’s event is Saturday, Nov. 23. Organizers are still seeking volunteers to assist the small contingent of its board members in putting up the displays and lights. That work will run from Nov. 4 until the morning of this year’s opening ceremony – and assistance is especially needed during the weekends of Nov. 9-10 and Nov. 16-17.
Interested volunteers – from individuals to groups from local organizations – can contact Corinne Hunt at 509-443-3600 to become a part of this year’s setup
goals and actions are aligned with community priorities. Those interested in volunteering may contact Amy Mullerleile at City Hall at 509-755-6732.
Additional resources about the
needs. Organizers will be placing displays and lights at the park from about 9 a.m. until about 3 p.m. each day.
The 2024 opening ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 23 for Winter Glow Spectacular will start at 5 p.m. That night’s festivities will include performances by the Ridgeline High School marching band and dance team as well as opening remarks from Mayor Cris Kaminskas. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will be arriving under the escort of the Liberty Lake Police. Then, the Ridgeline High School cheerleaders are scheduled to join the North Pole’s visitors at the main
2026-2046 Comprehensive Plan are available for residents under the “Planning, Engineering, and Building Services” section of the city’s website at www. libertylakewa.gov.
staging site at the Orchard Park Depot structure and will assist in distributing candy canes to the event’s visitors. Girl Scout Troop 2360 will also be there opening night to sell hot chocolate.
The lights for this year’s opening ceremony will turn on at about 5:20 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus have scheduled to stay at the park until they’ve been able to greet everyone who wants to meet them that evening.
Winter Glow Spectacular’s free walk-though display at Orchard Park will run continuously from Nov. 23 through Jan. 1.
Library project put on hold until completion of facilities study
By Craig Howard Splash Contributing Editor
The discussion topic appeared under “General Business” toward the end of the Oct. 15 City Council agenda:
“Library Design and Construction Project Budget and Funding.”
The potential send-off to one of the most eagerly awaited capital facilities endeavors in the history of Liberty Lake had the feel of a newly minted ship waiting in the harbor before its inaugural voyage.
A description included the recommended action of approving Conceptual Layout Option #2 as the basis for designing the new library that many residents of Liberty Lake have anticipated for years. The project budget, as referred to in the agenda, was not to exceed $5.8 million and would include council approving a recommended funding strategy.
By the end of the conversation, it was determined that the library liner would not be departing as soon as expected.
Instead, council voted to postpone any decision on the library project until a facilities evaluation could be completed on three existing buildings – City Hall, the police precinct and the current library.
“A new library is a want not a need,” said Council Member Jed Spencer before the vote was cast.
Others around the dais disagreed, pointing to research over the past several years that shed light on the cramped space at the existing library and the importance of establishing a new site that would accommodate a growing community.
“By not following through with our library, I feel we’re
not following through with our strategic plan,” said Council Member Annie Kurtz.
The city has already paid $2.175 million for the building at 23129 E. Mission, the site of Legacy Church, that has been earmarked for a new library space. A portion of that amount – $675,000 – came from the city’s general fund with the balance covered by ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds from the federal government as part of $350 billion allotted to communities recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In July, council approved a Library Design and Construction Project Management Services Agreement with the firm of Turner, Townsend and Heery by a vote of 5-2. The vote took place after a workshop on library design and construction.
At the beginning of a discussion about funding the new library on
Oct. 15, Council Member Mike Kennedy proposed putting a hold on the project until evaluations could be completed on other municipal buildings like the police station and City Hall as well as the existing library space.
“What is ripple effect?” Kennedy asked. “How do we do this and do it effectively so it doesn’t hinder us in the other things we have to do?”
City Administrator Mark McAvoy told council the goal was to bring back funding strategies for the new library Master Facility Planning Process by late February or early March of 2025.
Kurtz said she appreciated the notion to put together plans for the other facilities but expressed concerned about the logistics.
“I don’t think we have the bandwidth or the staff to do that,” she said.
Kurtz added that the prospect of a new library has been building
momentum for a while.
“We’ve had this opportunity for two years,” Kurtz said. “We bought a building. This council did create a priority.”
Concern has emerged about the cost to bring the building up to code with a change in use from a church to a library.
Finance Director Kyle Dixon said the work to make the building code compliant “would be something like $3 million but that’s not an iron-clad figure.”
Another $2.7 million would be required to cover renovation costs to, in Dixon’s words, “make it a library.” The remodel would bring the overall cost – including building purchase, revisions to reach code requirements and reconfiguration into a library – to $7.87 million.
“I don’t think anyone would say that’s an economically smart thing to do,” Cargill said. “Right away
Photo by Craig Howard Legacy Church sits just to the east of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library on East Mission Avenue. The city of Liberty Lake purchased the building for $2.175 million with plans to turn the site into a new library. On Oct. 15, the City Council put
we’re going to be underwater with that building. These numbers to me don’t make a lot of sense.”
The city has set a goal of raising $500,000 for the project through private donations. McAvoy said two pledges have already been received, totaling $325,000.
Another funding source that could prove to be a boost is a grant recommended by the state Department of Commerce for $937,193 through the Library Capital Improvement program. Time will tell if the Legislature approves the funding in its next session starting in January.
Library Director Jandy Humble told council that none of the recommended projects have failed to be awarded since the grant became available in 2012.
Spencer proposed to put the library project on hold until the second quarter of 2025. Others, like Council Member Dan Dunne, countered.
“I believe the funding strategies that have been reported to us are sound,” Dunne said. “I see no need to delay this.”
Dixon said a realistic timeline for completing 20-year use plans for City Hall, the police precinct and the existing library would be “April (2025) at the soonest and probably more like May.”
“We’re looking for all-in numbers for these facilities so we can put together a financial package for all that,” Dixon said. “The goal is to build some kind of consensus among council for a long-term plan for these facilities.”
Dixon said it would make financial sense to tackle the code upgrades and remodeling the building at the same time.
“You’ll have everyone on site as well as economies of scale you can really save on,” he said.
Council addresses future of Town Square Park
In a workshop on the same evening as the library discussion, council bandied about another potential – albeit more abstract –capital facilities initiative.
Council Member Linda Ball called the completion of Town Square a “pet project” at a workshop held Oct. 15.
“It’s just a blight in my opinion,” Ball said of the unfinished plot that lies to the east of Town Square Park. “It needs to be developed into a walkable downtown.”
The city has developed 1.5 acres out of the 6.3-acre site, according to Planning and Engineering Manager Lisa Key. Town Square Park serves as home to the Liberty Lake Farmers Market from midMay to mid-October.
Ball pointed to areas in Issaquah and Wenatchee that feature unique business districts that have become popular stops for locals and outof-towners alike.
Kurtz brought up pockets of commerce in Bozeman, Montana, Seattle and San Diego that have become signature features.
“I do think the idea of something like that is interesting from the standpoint of incubating smaller businesses that can’t afford a shop,” Kurtz said.
Kurtz brought up the cost of such a project as well as the importance of gathering public feedback.
Council Member Wendy Van Orman referred to a longtime staple on the community’s wish list – a swimming pool – as a possibility for the site.
“We talk about what the City Council wants but what does the community want?” Van Orman said.
Kennedy reminded those around the dais that previous meetings have been held about rounding out Town Square. He recommended involving business leaders in the discussion.
Van Orman said a new post office would also be a good fit for the unused land.
Cargill said another option would be to lease the land to an independent developer.
The burgeoning walkable section of the River District that some refer to as “NoLL” is an example of diverse and accessible commerce that would make sense on the south side of town, Ball noted.
“We need our own little downtown here, we need our own space,” she said.
& Events
Trail of Honor –Fallen Heroes Circuit Course sheds light on sacrifice
By Craig Howard Splash Contributing Editor
Michelle Castro lives on Spokane’s South Hill but often feels more at home in Liberty Lake’s most recognized greenspace.
When Castro takes her place on a bench in Pavillion Park, she is not far from a monument paying tribute to her late daughter Victoria Ann Pinckney, who died in a plane crash on May, 3, 2013 while serving as a captain in the U.S. Air Force.
“I’m just always honored to be able to go there,” Castro said.
Sometimes, park visitors will ask Castro about her daughter.
“I tell them she was a pilot,” she said. “From the time she was a kid, she wanted to be an astronaut. She knew she had to be a test pilot first.”
Pinckney’s memorial plaque was dedicated on Memorial Day 2014. It was second of five stations to take its place on the Fallen Heroes Circuit Course, a concept that emerged in the spring of 2012 when former Marine Bob Wiese proposed installing exercise stations at city parks in a way that would recognize the ultimate sacrifices made by local men and women who served their country proudly.
“While people are there, we can maybe educate them about some of our military heroes,” Wiese said in July 2012.
A fallen hero from each branch of the military is represented along the 5.54mile course that includes stops at Rocky Hill Park, Pavillion Park, Nature’s Place at Meadowwood Arboretum, a section on the eastern fringe of Liberty Lake Road near Trailhead Golf Course and Town Square Park.
Looking back, Wiese said the project “went from an idea to talking with some neighbors to saying, ‘We should form a committee.’”
John Munro was among those committee members who remembers the early discussions being fairly daunting.
“I thought it sounded huge and impossible,” said Munro. “I clearly had
Photos by Craig Howard
The Fallen Heroes Circuit Course features salutes to five representatives of the military who lost their lives serving their country. All honorees have some connection to Washington state. The sites included a plaque recognizing each hero as well as exercise stations for use by the general public. Above from left to right: The Air Force station in Pavillion Park honoring Victoria Ann Pickney; the Army station near Trailhead Golf Course saluting Kelly Grothe and the Coast Guard station near City Hall honoring Clinton Miniken. The first Fallen Heroes installment was dedicated in September 2013. The fifth site was dedicated in August 2015.
no idea of who Bobby was.”
Wiese, a former drill instructor and facilities engineer whose tenure in the Marines spanned between the two Gulf Wars from 1993 to 2000, saw the project as not only a way to honor the fallen but to raise awareness for enlisted soldiers and veterans dealing with challenges like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.
Early on, Wiese approached Dan Dunne, a member of the Liberty Lake City Council about the concept.
“We knew it was going to be on city property so I met with Dan,” Wiese recalls. “It was another one of those connections.”
Dunne liked the vision and Wiese soon was putting together an outline that included a basic budget and where the stations would be located. A presentation to City Council followed along with pitches to service clubs and businesses.
“Everyone loved the idea,” Wiese recalls.
Circuit Course Committee
convened in 2012 to discuss funding and logistics of installing a
month
most
Kristin Dodson, a stay-at-home mom who joined the committee in 2012, liked the idea but quickly realized it would be a considerable task.
“It was kind of overwhelming to think this would be throughout the whole community and then, financially, how do you get people on board for something like that?” Dodson recalls.
The city of Liberty Lake stepped up with $35,000 in seed money for Fallen Heroes in 2012 asking the committee to generate just over $4,400 with an eye toward the first installment at Rocky Hill Park.
“The community already recognized the military,” said Jason Spinden, a committee member who recently retired as a Command Master Chief after 30 years in the U.S. Navy. “Fallen Heroes continues to emphasize that this community rallies in support of the military.”
After the committee selected Joshua Dumaw – a U.S. Marine who passed away at the age of 23 in Afghanistan protecting his fellow soldiers from an explosive device – to be the first Fallen Hero, Wiese reached out to his mom, Jenifer Dumaw.
“It was what I needed,” Mumaw recalls. “Anything to honor Josh.”
A West Valley High graduate, Josh Mumaw enlisted in the Marines without telling his mom who he knew would worry. He was deployed to Iraq in 2008 before coming home and getting married. He left for Afghanistan in May 2010 and died less a month into his deployment.
“Josh was very jovial, very funny,
Photo by Craig Howard
The Fallen Heroes
first
quintet of stations in Liberty Lake. The group reunited last
with
of the original members in attendance. They are pictured in front of the Coast Guard installment honoring Clinton Miniken. From left to right: Jason Spinden, Tricia Usab, John Munro, Bob Wiese, Kristin Dodson and Kathy Whybrew. Not pictured: Amy O'Connell, Tim Homer, Jason Wills.
COVER STORY
Photos by Craig Howard
The Fallen Heroes station honoring Marine Josh Dumaw at Rocky Hill Park (top left) was the first of five installments to be dedicated. Dumaw, as West Valley High School graduate, was serving in Afghanistan when he lost his life in 2010 trying to protect a group of his fellow Marines. Greg Vercruysse was deployed in Vietnam when he was killed in 1971 while serving as a Navy corpsman. The station in remembrance of Vercruysse sits in Town Square Park and is visited often by family members and friends.
just very laid back,” Jenifer said. “He never had a bad thing to say about anyone. Just a really nice kid.”
Mumaw’s widow Kailyn, his son Bodie and Jenifer were among a crowd of 250 to gather in Rocky Hill Park on Sept. 21, 2013 to dedicate the first Fallen Heroes station and pay homage to Josh.
“It made sense, especially with Josh being a Marine,” Jenifer said. “They’re all about fitness. I think too, as you’re exercising, it’s more of a teachable moment.”
Jenifer said her son “was just a normal guy” who didn’t crave attention. The plaque at Rocky Hill, she said, would have embarrassed him.
“He would still think it was cool,” she added.
Jenifer and her two surviving kids, Kyle and Abby, stop by Rocky Hill from time to time. Marines who served with Josh will occasionally visit Liberty Lake to walk through the park with Jenifer.
Mumaw would have been 37 this year.
“I would love to have seen Josh be a dad,” Jenifer said. “He would been a great dad.”
Wiese has kept in touch with Jenifer and other members of all the Fallen Heroes families over the years. The final station, in remembrance of Clinton Miniken of the U.S. Coast Guard, was dedicated in 2015.
Miniken died on Feb. 12, 1997 at the age of 22 while responding to a distress call involving a sailboat off the Washington coast during a severe storm.
Dixie Miniken, Clinton’s mom, made the trip from the west side of the state to attend the Fallen Heroes station dedication that August.
“The Fallen Heroes project is a wonderful way for the public to be reminded of the sacrifices made by military men and women and their families,” Dixie said prior to the ceremony. “We feel honored that Clinton is being remembered by so many and will continue to inspire all those who use the circuit course.”
Kathy Whybrew, one of the original members of the Fallen Heroes committee, is one of those who exercises regularly at the site just east of City Hall, usually on the elliptical.
“I always salute Clint,” she said.
Just to the south of Miniken’s monument, Dean Vercruysse and his mother Hazel are frequent visitors to another Fallen Heroes landmark – this one honoring their brother and son, Greg Vercruysse, who died on June 7, 1967 while serving as a U.S. Navy corpsman,
The 1965 graduate of Rogers High School in Spokane had been in Vietnam just over a month before he lost his life.
The station in honor of Vercruysse was dedicated on Nov. 11, 2014 on a freezing day at Town Square Park. A decade later, Dean said the site has become a refuge for his family.
“In the last 10 years, my mother and I have visited Greg’s memorial many times,” he said. “I have stopped there also when I am in the area and my
The outdoor exercise element of the Fallen Heroes Circuit Course has been popular among residents and non-residents alike over the years. The 5.54mile loop may receive an addition at some point with talk of a sixth station honoring First Responders that would be installed at Orchard Park.
grandchildren have been there too. I also pay my respects when we go to the Liberty Lake Farmers Market. It is so wonderful for our family to have this memorial and we treasure it.”
Every Memorial Day and Veterans Day, Wiese and a group of runners traverse the entire Fallen Heroes course.
“It’s just a cool thing we do,” he said. “I make sure to give fist bumps to each honoree.”
The plaque recognizing Kelly Grothe parallel to the first fairway at Trailhead Golf Course is among those to get a fist bump. The 2004 graduate of Central Valley High School was serving in Iraq with the U.S. Army on May 3, 2007 when he was killed while responding to a group of fellow soldiers who were injured. He was only 21.
“Kelly was always looking out for someone else his whole life,” said Jan Grothe, Kelly’s mom, prior to her son’s station being dedicated on Memorial Day 2015.
Grothe was a good student at CV who loved skateboarding and water sports. He also competed in track and
football for the Bears.
Jan said the Fallen Heroes course serves “as a reminder to people of the cost of freedom.”
Wiese has stayed in touch with all of the Fallen Heroes families over the years and receives Christmas cards from many of them. The project has also led to other remembrances. When Army veteran Don Walker had the idea to honor local vets with “Hometown Heroes” banners, Steve Peterson, the mayor at the time, directed him to Wiese.
On a recent Saturday morning, Wiese and half-a-dozen members of the inaugural committee paid visits to each of the installments, taking inventory of needed repairs to the plaques and exercise equipment. There has been talk of a sixth station at Orchard Park honoring First Responders.
“After 12 years, Fallen Heroes is part of the community,” Wiese said. “People who live here don’t know Liberty Lake without it. These families, they’re so thankful there’s something to not only honor their loved ones but to keep their memory alive.”
Photo by Craig Howard
COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Nov 2 | Central Valley High School Craft Fair – 9 am - 5 pm. Swing into the Holiday Season with crafters and vendors from all over the Northwest. Concessions and bake sale available, so you can shop to your hearts content! Central Valley High School 821 S Sullivan, Spokane Valley, WA.
Nov 23 | Winter Glow Spectacular Opening – 5 pm. Dragonfire will be travelling several hundred miles on a very important assignment, returning to Liberty Lake on November 23 with a very important package. Stay tuned for “Mother Goose, the package has landed!” Orcvhard Park 20298 Indiana Ave, Liberty Lake, WA.
Nov 8 | Presents with Purpose –5 pm - 7 pm. Come join us for our annual charity event November 8th!! Our charity supports children in our community with their Christmas wishlist and family needs! Our charity has provided warm bedding and clothes for a family of 7 in need to helping parents fulfill their children’s Christmas wishlists!
Trailbreaker in Liberty Lake 2204 N Madson, Liberty Lake, WA
we will have a basket raffle, donation bins, and 20% of what trailbreaker makes from our event!
If you are unable to make it to our event, we will have our baskets posted live so you can buy raffle tickets or make donations to our charity Venmo @presentswithapurpose
Various dates in November | 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.
RECURRING TLC-
support and community with your fellow breastfeeding mommas with Alicia Burgett, Lactation Consultant from Mothering with Heart. She leads a FREE breastfeeding support group from 2-4 PM at Arrowleaf Family Chiropractic in 23403 E Mission Avenue, Suite 228, 99019 every 2nd Friday of the month. Mommas and babies are welcome from third trimester of pregnancy, to one year post-partum. Come and go as needed between 2-4 PM. A scale is available to weigh your baby. RSVP or contact us with questions at 509-645-2721, or send us an email at arrowleaffamilychiropractic@gmail. com.
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.
the Holidays – 9:30 am - 3:30 pm. As the holiday season approaches, it’s easy to get swept away by the whirlwind of expectations, commitments, and demands. But before you dive into the season of giving, take a moment to give something vital to yourself—time for stillness, reflection, and deep self-compassion.
What to Expect:
Self-Care & Compassion Workshop:
Learn to cultivate self-compassion and prioritize your well-being with practical tools and techniques you can carry with you through the holiday season and beyond.
Time in Nature:
Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Liberty Lake with walks and mindful moments in the surrounding woodlands. Feel grounded and connected to the earth as you breathe in the fresh, crisp air. Meditation Sessions:
Experience the calming power of meditation with guided practices designed to help you find stillness and center your mind amidst life’s noise.
Connection & Reflection:
Share meaningful conversations with like-minded women. Reflect on your journey in a supportive and nurturing environment, fostering deep connections that last beyond the retreat.
Refuel Your Energy:
Take time to nourish your body, mind, and soul. Enjoy stillness, mindfulness meditation, gentle movement, and quiet time for personal reflection.
Why Attend?
As women, we often prioritize the needs of others before our own. This retreat is your chance to pause, breathe, and focus on yourself—so you can enter the holiday season
COMMUNITY
feeling recharged, centered, and fully present. By the end of the day, you’ll leave with a renewed sense of peace and a heart full of compassion, ready to embrace the season ahead.
Location: Zephyr Lodge, Liberty Lake, WA
Investment: $197.00
Note: Due to individualized dietary preferences and allergies this will a BYOL (bring your own lunch) event.
Please bring your favorite journal, water bottle and blanket. Light Treats, coffee and tea will be provided.
Register Here: https://www. kristinastrong.com/upcomingevents
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.
• 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.
Drumming for Wellness and JOY! | Class offered at Willow Song Music Therapy Center, 21101 E. Wellesley #102, Otis Orchards on Fridays at 10:45am-11:45am, for adults desiring a social experience that is designed to support well-being--- emotional, physical and cognitive, in a fun
and social setting based in rhythm. $10 or $5 pp if you bring a friend. All instruments provided, and adaptable for all abilities. For more, visit willowsongmusictherapy.com or call/text 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
RECURRING
A holiday guide for the Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Millwood, Otis Orchards, Newman Lake, Airway Heights, Medical Lake, and West Plains areas
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. Liberty Lake Road.
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 Splasah Community Calendar by the 10th of the previous month by emailing editor@libertylakesplash.com. Priority is given to noncommercial local events open to the public.
“Eat, Shop and Be Merry” is a special cover section that will champion what the Valley area has to offer in the way of gifts and food. Advertise in this holiday guide aimed at area consumers and businesses — and as a bonus we’ll include your idea as part of our story featuring can’t-miss local gift ideas. Restaurants are encouraged to advertise and contribute a tantalizing menu item for our article on dining out.
On November 25 and 26, the guides will be distributed throughout the greater Valley and West Plains areas via The Splash, The Current and The Stream. The December issues are strategically scheduled to land before Thanksgiving, just in time to remind residents about supporting local businesses on Small Business Saturday (Nov. 30) and throughout the holiday season.
A total of 50,000 copies of this guide will be included in the December issues of The Current, The Splash and The Stream. That’s right-be part of all three publications for one price!
Display ad with submitted menu item or gift idea:
Display ad (submitted gift idea or menu item will be printed if space is still available):
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PUZZLES
Trivia Test
1. LANGUAGE: What does the Greek prefix “chrono” mean?
2. MOVIES: What kind of encounter is experienced in the movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”?
3. LITERATURE: Who was the author of “The Optimist’s Daughter”?
4. SCIENCE: Who developed the Uncertainty Principle in quantum mechanics?
5. ASTRONOMY: How many days does it take for the planet Mercury to orbit the Sun?
6. AD SLOGANS: What product’s sales slogan was, “Tastes so good cats ask for it by name”?
7. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is the adjective used to describe bees?
8. MAGAZINES: In what year did the magazine National Lampoon launch?
9. GEOGRAPHY: What is the capital of Hungary?
10. ENTERTAINERS: Which silent movie actress was known as “The Vamp”? — 2014 King Features Syndicate Inc.
Answers to Trivia Test 1. Time 2. Contact with an alien or robotic life form 3. Eudora Welty 4. Werner Heisenberg 5. 88 6. Meow Mix 7. Apian 8. 1970 9. Budapest 10. Theda Bara
Student of the Month
Blaine Parker spent part of a recent Saturday outside the Yoke’s in Liberty Lake raising awareness and donations for local food insecurity. All in a day’s work for the Central Valley senior whose most recent goal along with her classmates is to generate $10,000 and 400 boxes of food for CV’s annual food drive. Parker said those who deal with a shortage of nutrition need the support of the community. “It’s important to make sure they know we’re here for them,” she said. Parker serves as ASB vicepresident, maintains a 3.87 grade point average and is part of National Honor Society. She also competes in varsity cross country, basketball and track. The Liberty Lake resident enrolled at CV as a junior after a year abroad in Ireland. Prior to that, she and her family lived in Bogota, Columbia for three years.
Athlete of the Month
Not many cross country runners can say they’ve been part of their high school varsity program for four consecutive years. Nolan Rabe is one of them. The senior at Ridgeline High School began with the Falcons’ inaugural harrier squad in the 2021-22 school year and is among the team’s top runners this season. He serves as team captain and says he tries “to set an example of what my teammates should work for and how they should work.” Rabe set a personal record in the 5K (3.1-miles) of 17:15 at the Battle of the 509 as a junior. Rabe maintains a 4.0 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society. He has also been part of Newspaper Club. Rabe plans to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after high school.
Citizen of the Month
Doug Steinbach served his country proudly for just over eight years, including deployment to the Middle East during Operation Desert Storm as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps where he was part of the initial wave into Iraq. Steinbach’s military tenure took him to places like Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Mogadishu, Somalia. Steinbach’s grandfather served as a Marine in World War II and was part of the pivotal Battle of Iwo Jima. “He was a big inspiration to me,” Steinbach said. After his military service ended in 1997, Steinbach earned a degree in Networking Design from ITT Technical Institute and a Technical Management degree from DeVry University. He currently works as IT manager for Huntwood Custom Cabinets in Liberty Lake. Doug and his wife Joanna have lived in Liberty Lake since 2020. They are proud parents of four kids.
By John McCallum Splash correspondent
Cross country
Falcon volleyball captures GSL title, softball finishes third
Ridgeline High School teams continue to log firsts in their fourth season of competition. Falcons volleyball won their firstever GSL title, earning a No. 2 seed into the District 6 playoffs while the slowpitch softball team placed third, their highest finish so far.
A young Ridgeline boys squad went winless in varsity GSL action this fall. Sophomore Keean Huntsinger emerged as the Falcons No. 1 runner and ranked No. 21 in the GSL top times list at 16 minutes, 54.6 seconds turned in at the fourth meet of the season at University High School.
Early in October, Huntsinger was the only Falcon boy ranked in the GSL top 50. Heading into District 6 competition on Nov. 2, two others had joined him: sophomore Zachary Joyner at 45th and freshman Aristides Teske at 47th.
The Falcon girls finished the GSL with a 3-5 meet record. Head coach Heather Graham thinks her varsity squad was in a good position to compete at the District 6 meet Nov. 2, with a shot at state in Pasco, Nov. 9.
Senior Paige Huntsinger is eighth in the GSL at 19:24.1, a time from the Oct. 22 meet at University moving her up to ninth overall among District 6 runners.
Junior, Gretchen Carter is 10th in the GSL with a 19:34.3, also at the Oct. 22 meet, shaving over 33 seconds off her previous best.
Junior Kayla Jensen is 25th in the GSL, followed by senior Courtney Jepperson (SR) in 28th and Sierra Tate (JR), with Lily Bulkley (SO) and Rachel Christianson (JR) and Myranda Evans (SO) 30 – 34.
“The varsity team is peaking at the right time, with strong personal records from Paige Huntsinger, Gretchyn Carter, and Kayla Jensen at our last GLS meet at UHS (University High School),” Graham said, adding, “Other varsity runners also delivered strong performances.”
The Falcons’ junior varsity squad placed first at the GSL JV/ Frosh Championships at Mead, Oct. 26. Jeppson and Evans placed first and second, followed by Rori
Wade, Addi Johnson and Mylee Omeasoo in 10th, 11th and 17th, respectively.
Football
The 2024 Falcons squad will be hard pressed to equal the results of last year’s campaign which featured a third-place finish in the GSL, a first trip to the postseason and a first postseason win.
Ridgeline was seventh in the GSL as of Oct. 30, 3-5, with one game remaining, Nov. 1 at winless Ferris. A Falcon win would put them at 4-5 and likely move them over Shadle Park (4-4 as of Oct. 30), who were hosting GSL second-place Mead (7-1).
Girls soccer
After winning their first GSL title last year, Ridgeline finished fourth in 2024 with a 6-3 record, 7-6-2 overall. After getting off to a 2-5 start, the Falcons ran off five wins in a row, including one over eventual GSL champion Gonzaga Prep.
The Falcons opened District 6 playoffs Oct. 29 by hosting fifthseeded Southridge. The Suns, seeded second in 2023, eliminated Ridgeline last year with a 1-0 win, but not this time.
Ridgeline got two goals from Giana Moriniti and outshot Southridge 16-3 for a 4-0 win. The Falcons advanced to face top-seeded Walla Walla (8-7) on
See SPORTS SUPPLY, Page 23
Photo by John McCallum
Left to right: Jane Holley, Jade Livingston, Reagan Rothley, Araleigh Arnold, Brooklyn Hillman and Rahni Green celebrate a Falcons point during their GSL-title clinching match win over visiting Mt. Spokane on Oct. 24.
SPORTS SUPPLY
Continued from page 20
the road Nov. 2, with the winner advancing to the state placing game.
Slowpitch softball
The Falcons finished third in the GSL at 11-2, 14-4 overall. It marked another improvement in the program’s fourth year, moving up one position in the standings from 2023 while winning two more games in league play, the only losses coming to teams ahead of them: second-place University and league champion Mt. Spokane.
Seeded fifth in the 2A/3A District 6 tournament, Ridgeline opened with a 10-0 loss to fourthseed U-Hi on Oct.14. Now in the bracket for the third and fourth seeds to state, the Falcons beat eighth-seed Deer Park 17-5 on Oct. 16, but lost 5-4 to sixth-seed Shadle Park in a winner-to-state, loser-out game Oct. 18.
Ridgeline finished the season ranked fourth in the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association 2A/3A RPI standings.
“Though we didn't make it to state, we accomplished something even greater, we formed lifelong friendships, created unforgettable memories traveling to Seattle to play Lake Washington, going to a Mariners game and meeting the UW softball team,” head coach Lori Maupin said. “I am proud as we grew as individuals and teammates.”
Offensively, the Falcons were led by Emma Myers, Quincy Coder and Aaliyah Yeldon. Myers batted .589 — .578 during GSL play — and led the team in RBIs with 50, runs with 41, and home runs with 14.
Coder led the team in average, batting .609 for the season and .719 in league, with 27 RBIs, 20 runs and 3 home runs. Yeldon batted .567 for the season with 22 RBIs and 18 runs.
Natalie Willmon led all pitchers with a 1.78 earned run average over 51 innings of work, striking out 12. Coder had a 5.59 ERA with 11 strikeouts over 46 innings while Gianna Haiar had a 9.97 ERA with 1 strikeout over 14
innings.
Volleyball
After a rollercoaster of midlevel finishes the first three years of the program’s existence, the Falcon volleyball team finally hit the pinnacle — at least locally.
Ridgeline knocked off perennial GSL power Mt. Spokane in five games on Senior Night, Oct. 24, to clinch the 2024 GSL regularseason title and with it a No. 2 seed into the upcoming District 6 playoffs. The Falcons ran the table in the league, going 9-0 and finishing with a 13-1 overall mark in the regular season.
“Not only do they take care of business on the court by earning the title of the 2024 Greater Spokane League Champions, but they have a combined team GPA of 3.846 which means they are taking care of business in the classroom as well,” head coach Whitney Abell.
The seven seniors on the team — Kate Mulligan, Brooklyn Hillman, Jane Holley, Rahni Greene, Reagan Rothley, Araleigh Arnold and Kyla Ross — are the first to attend all four years at Ridgeline, adopting “We B4 ME” as their team motto, Abell said.
Abell said the team has five girls with 105 kills each, five who have over 20 serving aces each and three with more than 30 blocks individually. Setters Arnold and Ross each have over 315 assists while four girls have 115 digs individually, with libero/ defensive specialist junior Jade Livingston at 325 digs.
Ridgeline opens the District 6 playoffs by hosting the No. 5 seed from the GSL, Mead, on Tuesday, Nov 5, at 6 p.m. The winner of the Mid-Columbia Conference will earn the No. 1 seed.
Ridgeline was the top-ranked team in the state 3A classification according to the Washington Interscholastic Association’s Oct. 30 RPIs. The Falcons lost to Ferris in a winner-to-state, loser-out match last season, but hope to improve on that with a trip to the Yakima Sundome, Nov. 22 – 23.
“It is such an honor to coach such a talented group of young ladies that deeply care for each other,” Abell said.
News and Notes –Nov. 2024
By Craig Howard Splash Contributing Editor
• Resident David Clay spoke on the detrimental effects of second-hand cigarette and marijuana smoke during the public comments portion of the Oct. 15 council meeting, noting that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined there is no safe exposure to second-hand smoke. Clay said he has lost four family members to COPD and referred to the impact of second-hand smoke, including respiratory infections, ear infections and asthma. Clay told council he is not able to access his backyard without a risk to his health due to a neighbor smoking marijuana.
• Lynn Atkins appealed to the city to address speeding and erratic driving concerns in the area of Mission and East Country Vista, a block away from Rocky Hill Park. Atkins referred to several accidents in the neighborhood as well as a pedestrian fatality. “Something needs to be done here, please,” Atkins said.
• Mayor Cris Kaminskas presented a preview of the 2025 municipal budget on Oct. 15, leading off with news that the general fund ending balance will be at $8.2 million, the highest amount in the city’s history. Kaminskas said the city is on track to collect $6.4 million in sales tax revenue this year, over 7 percent over projections. Kaminskas is recommending no increase in the city property tax rate. “Community input is very important in this process,” the mayor said. Council members received binders with next year’s preliminary budget on Oct. 16.
• Council Wendy Van Orman gave an update on upgrades to the Nature’s Place at Arboretum including the addition of three picnic tables and pavers that will be installed. “The project is going to be beautiful,” Van Orman said.
• City Administrator Mark McAvoy gave a reminder about ongoing work on the city’s Comprehensive Plan, including a proactive approach to gathering community input. Noting that the plan will map out the city’s development priorities through 2046, McAvoy described the appeal for feedback as “a generational opportunity.”
• Police Chief Damon Smith told council on Oct. 15 that “numerous property crime has occurred in our community over the last couple of weeks.”
Officer Kyle Fritz, who serves as LLPD public information officer, said “having multiple incidents in one day makes things seem like they’re trending upward but realistically they’re not.” Fritz said the agency is trying “to spread that awareness” about avoiding property crime. Tips include: Locking and securing your home and vehicles, closing garage doors, lighting your home, removing all valuables or personal documents from vehicles, using a key chain garage door opener and using security cameras with sensors out to the roadway. Fritz added that LLPD will be offering a Fraud Awareness class to residents in the near future. “Most property crimes are crimes of opportunity,” Chief Smith said. “If we eliminate the opportunity, we should eliminate most of our property crimes.”
• Nancy Hill, chair of the Parks and Arts Commission, said the group will be adding a few more decorated trash barrels in collaboration with Ridgeline High School art students. Hill said the goal is to have the Trailhead art wall up by the end of the year. An artist has been secured for the public art at the Kramer Overpass, a project that Hill said should be completed by the spring. The commission is also compiling the city’s first-ever public art inventory. Hill added that the new Bike Advisory Committee has been meeting to discuss ways to improve conditions throughout the city for cyclists. Hill applauded Operations and Maintenance Director Jennifer Camp and the Parks Department for their “phenomenal work.”
• Friends of the Library gave a presentation on Oct.
15. The volunteer-based group enhances functions and resources of the library that go beyond tax dollars. The group meets the last Thursday of each month at 1 p.m. at the library.
• McAvoy led a workshop on strategies for funding public art on Oct. 15. “We feel this will put the city in a position to deliver some fantastic pieces of art,” he said. McAvoy said dentification of specific projects would be included in the Capital Facilities Plan. The approach would transfer annual budget funds into a public art fund. If money is not utilized within a certain time span, council could opt for an extension on a particular project or the money would return to the fund of origin. Council discussion during the workshop leaned toward a temporary funding mechanism for public art that would possibly come from a portion of sales tax. Support also emerged for a rollover contingency that would allow funds to remain for unfinished or new projects. “I think that’s a solid proposal,” Hill said. “I think the commission would appreciate council saying public art is a priority.” The Parks and Arts Commission compiles a five-year strategic plan that sets the tone for funding of public art. “By putting an emphasis on public art and giving them sufficient funding, and I mean really sufficient funding, it will mean people will drive through Liberty Lake and say, ‘This is a city known for its art,’” said Council Member Mike Kennedy. “To me, it’s encouraging moving forward.” At the end of the
workshop a motion passed to bring back a vote on allocating 2 percent of sales tax toward public art that would begin in 2025 and sunset 2029.
• McAvoy, Finance Director Kyle Dixon and Eric Fabian with ResourceX, a company specializing in government budgeting software solutions, gave council an update on the city’s transition to prioritybased budgeting at the Oct. 1 council meeting. The discussion mentioned a trio of core value propositions that define the approach, including: Budget decisions being driven by city priorities; reframing the budget around results and opportunities for readily available resources.
• Kaminskas said the city is considering the addition of flashing pedestrian signals at several intersections, including Blue Ridge and Country Vista in the Rocky Hill neighborhood. The mayor added that there have also been discussions of “what we can do to better sign our school zones.”
• A story in the October Splash on the recent City Satisfaction Survey included a miscue conveying responses to a question involving the ability of city government to act in the best interest of Liberty Lake residents. The correct responses from the survey are as follows: Extremely confident - 10.14 percent; very confident - 23.19 percent; somewhat confident (does not include the previous two categories) - 46.38 percent. The Splash regrets the error.
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Central Valley School District State of the District
By Nina Culver Splash contributor
Central Valley School District Superintendent John Parker lauded student involvement, rising academic achievement and the district’s greater than state average graduation rate during the district’s third and final community link event Tuesday evening.
Community members gathered at Ridgeline High School to hear about the state of the district and learn about district schools and programs. Parker has been presenting information at each of the district’s three learning communities. Ridgeline High School is in the Eastern learning community along with Greenacres and Selkirk middle schools and Greenacres, Liberty Creek, Liberty Lake and Riverbend elementary schools.
Creating the three learning communities is among several new initiatives the school district recently enacted. The district is 24th largest school district in the state and breaking it into three communities was an attempt to make the district feel smaller and inclusive, Parker said. “The whole idea is we are going to create a community where everyone knows each other,” he said.
Ridgeline High School Principal Jesse Hardt said it’s not unusual to see students who attend Ridgeline’s feeder schools at sporting events. “They’re already little Falcons,” he said. “We have a community high school. It’s a focal point.”
Creating smaller communities in the district is also part of the district’s pursuit of a culture of belonging, Parker said. “Belonging leads to strong academic achievement,” he said. “We believe that.”
Achievement on student assessments is trending up, Parker said. The school district is doing better than the statewide average in every category – English language, math and science, he said. “Some of
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For those that were not able to attend the events, you can watch them here; https://www.cvsd.org/apps/pages/ CommunityLinkEvents.
our schools had incredible jumps,” he said.
The impact created by the adoption of a new K-5 math curriculum can already been seen in increasing scores in grades 3-5, Parker said. The district’s graduation rate is also trending upward. “Even though we’re better than the state, we can do better,” he said.
The district provided community members with a progress report on the district’s five-year strategic plan, which launched in 2023. The report includes detailed information on goals included in the plan and how far along the district is in achieving them.
“You’ll notice some of the things haven’t been started and you’ll notice some of the things are done,” he said. “We’re being accountable to our public.”
One of the goals in the strategic plan is to explore a more balanced school year calendar. That goal has been largely met, Parker said. “We just approved a new school calendar recently,” Parker said. “The board took action.”
Last year a calendar committee including district staff and parents was formed to study the issue over eight meetings. After studying everything from athletics to transportation to community surveys, the committee recommended changing the school year calendar.
Under the new calendar,
students will still attend 180 days of school. However, school would start earlier, in late August. The three-day weekend created by President’s Day would be extended for four additional days to create a mid-winter break. The day before Thanksgiving has been designated a non-school day and there are two snow days on the new schedule that can create three-day weekends if not needed as snow days. For the 20252026 school year, the new schedule has the first day of school on Aug. 27 and the last day on June 17.
The goal of the new calendar is to promote student, teacher and staff well-being, reduce summer learning loss, offer more opportunities for enrichment and give families more flexibility in planning vacations.
The district has also started looking at its cell phone policies. “Nothing competes for attention from our students more than a phone,” Parker said. “That’s a problem.”
There are also plans to look at the amount of school supplies the district asks families to buy and the fee schedule. It has become clear that for years the district has been adding to the school supply list without taking anything off, Parker said. “We think it’s time to look at that,” he said.
Parker said the district has also been making progress on improving its budget. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the district used federal emergency funding to hire teachers. The loss of the temporary funding
forced the district to lay off 58 teachers in the spring of 2023. The district is working toward bringing its fund balance to eight percent of the budget in the next few years and is making progress toward that goal, Parker said.
“It’s been a tough couple of
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years,” Parker said. “I’m happy to report, we’re now on a sustainable path.”
The district’s budget has also been bolstered by a rise in student enrollment. The district has 14,487 students this year, up from last year. “Our enrollment is up more than 400 students,” he said. “Other schools in Spokane County are nowhere near that. That is a great problem to have. This is something I’m very excited about.”
