ROAD REMINDERS
DOCKSIDE
Passionate Teacher and School Volunteer Spalinger sets out to make an impact
By Nina Culver Splash contributor
Kenzie Spalinger knew when she was a child that she wanted to be a teacher and for the last several years has been making that dream come true as a lead teacher at the Liberty Lake Children’s Academy, which has been providing preschool and prekindergarten classes for 20 years.
Spalinger grew up in Great Falls, Montana. She remembers several of her teachers fondly, including her third grade teacher, Mrs. McManus. “I just loved her,” she said. “I would always beg to stay in at recess and help her grade and clean off her projector.”
It was her positive experiences with her third-grade teacher and several others that cemented her desire to teach. “There was never anything else that I could ever think of,” she said.
Yet when Spalinger attended Montana State University in Bozeman, she majored in psychology and minored in human development. Spalinger said she was always fascinated by the human mind and learning about how it works helped inform her understanding of children and how they think.
At the time, Spalinger didn’t study education because she was interested in having fun and traveling and that included a student exchange program where she studied in the U.S. Virgin Islands. While there, she met several people from Kentucky and after she graduated from MSU, she decided to go live in Kentucky to escape the Montana winters.
“I’ve always been a traveler at heart,” she said. “I absolutely loved it. It was wonderful.”
While there she earned a master’s degree in elementary education from
the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky. Getting that teaching degree was always part of her plan, Spalinger said. Though she enjoyed living in Kentucky, she missed her family in Montana and decided to come home after about five years.
She and her husband, Cory, met at MSU and had lost touch while she was in Kentucky. The two reconnected after she returned home to Montana and married almost 10 years ago. She taught kindergarten and fifth grade in Belt, Montana, before she and her husband moved their family to Liberty Lake seven years ago. Her husband had a job opportunity here and Spalinger said she likes being close to her family but free of the sometimes extreme Montana winters. “The weather is just slightly more mild,” she said.
Moving to Liberty Lake also led
her to the Liberty Lake Children’s Academy, which was highly recommended by other parents. She began teaching there five years ago and was a lead pre-kindergarten teacher until this school year, when she switched to being a lead preschool teacher. She said she enjoys teaching young children and being their first experience in the education system.
Spalinger’s son is in third grade at Liberty Creek Elementary, where her middle daughter is in second grade. She’s been heavily involved in the school and has served as the PTO president for the last two years.
She said she enjoys the school and how many opportunities her children have here that they might not have had in Montana. “We absolutely adore it here,” she said.
Q: What made you decide you wanted to become a teacher?
A: I have known that I wanted to
be a teacher since I was a little girl! Growing up I had some very impactful teachers myself that I really looked up to. I always dreamed of being just like them (and I hope I have inspired some of my little students the same). I have always loved being a leader and doing things that would impact my community and make a difference in our world. I truly enjoy working with children and I see being a teacher as the one of the most influential professions out there. Being able to mold and teach children is such a strong passion of mine along with creating a magical world children can explore in.
Q: What brought you to Liberty Lake Children’s Academy?
A: When my family and I first moved to Spokane I had heard about Liberty Lake Children’s Academy because of the positive reputation it had. It is well known in this area that it is the most amazing preschool ever. Many people I met had their children attend there and raved about how amazing it was. When I became pregnant with my third child, I called right away to have her on the waiting list. I knew right then and there I wanted to be a part of this AMAZING school. The positive atmosphere and amazing staff were undeniable. I absolutely love the play-based learning environment and the process over product learning style.
Q: What do you enjoy about teaching preschool?
A: My favorite thing about teaching preschool is the children. They are so loving. It is an honest joy to go to school each day and get to see how excited and eager they are to be there. I love being able to dive deep into their sweet imaginations and make their world at school magical. For many children, preschool is their first time ever being away from their moms and families. Above all, I want to help make this transition smooth, rewarding and pleasant. I want to be the one that shows them school and learning is fun! This is their first impression, and I want it to be love at first sight! I work hard to make sure the space they are in is warm, inviting and thrilling for them! I also love the bond I share with the parents, they truly become more like family,
Contributed Photo
Kenzie Spalinger moved to Liberty Lake in seven years ago and is the lead preschool teacher at the Liberty Lake Children's Academy as well as PTO President at Liberty Creek Elementary where her kids go to school.
Liberty Lake council reviews ways to close project funding gap
By John McCallum Splash contributor
Identifying funding sources and strategies as well as how best to prioritize and deliver city capital projects was the subject of an over two-hour Liberty Lake City Council meeting on March 25.
The workshop was held to explore options on producing a “more deliberate capital investment strategy to plan, fund and deliver capital improvements” between 2026-2040. City staff also presented for council review some improvements staff has made and are utilizing to enhance project identification, prioritization, scheduling, and oversight, designed to “promote efficiency, stewardship, resiliency and transparency.”
City Manager Mark McAvoy said they weren’t expecting any action to come out of the meeting, other than a council consensus for staff to produce and bring back for review an ordinance creating a Capital Investment Advisory Board. The proposed board would consist of five members, one each from planning, parks and arts, community engagement commissions and the library board and an “at-large” member from the community.
In the financial portion of the presentation, Finance Director Kyle Dixon outlined the current state of the city’s revenues and expenses along with potential funding sources that could be pursued to make up what he and McAvoy referred to as a “gap” of just over $13.42 million between forecasted city revenues over the next six years and just over $32 million in identified projects needing to be addressed.
Currently, city staff estimate about $20.44 million of transportation and pedestrian
projects, just over $9.73 million of parks and public facilities projects — an amount that does not include the recently council-proposed buildout of the Town Square concept — and $1.56 million in master planning activities (design, administration, etc.) needing to be done. Dixon juxtapositioned those areas with a six-year capital revenue forecast of $18.56 million.
“We have many tools in the toolbox to address this deficit, and we’re already taking advantage of some,” he said.
The biggest and most useful tool the city has are grants from local, state and federal agencies. Dixon said the area the city has been most successful with obtaining grants is at the state level, particularly through the Transportation Improvement Board where Liberty Lake has generally been able to put together “good funding packages” and receive awards. The city has several grants currently, including a $1,061,550 federal pass-through grant from the Spokane Regional Transportation Council for the upcoming $1.41 million East Mission Avenue Overlay and a $937,000 grant from the Department of Commerce for use in the library renovation and expansion project to the former Legacy Church building.
Dixon said other sources of grants the city could pursue come from the state departments of transportation, commerce and ecology.
“When you’re looking at capital project delivery, grants are king,” Dixon said. “It’s not free money, but it’s free money in the sense we have excelled in getting these competitive grants over other jurisdictions that would otherwise use them.”
Other revenue sources include increasing the new Transportation Benefit District (TBD) sales tax as well as the city’s banked levy capacity regarding property taxes. The city is allowed by state law to increase the TBD tax to a maximum of .3%, with any increase above .1% requiring voter approval.
Dixon said each increment of .1% would mean an additional $850,000 in revenue.
The city’s banked levy capacity
SPALINGER
Continued from page 2 and it is such an honor and pleasure watching these sweet babies turn into successful children that thrive!
Q: How has having a special needs daughter impacted your teaching style?
A: My sweet daughter, who is nonverbal autistic has been one of my biggest blessings in my whole life. She teaches me daily and has had a HUGE impact on my teaching style. She has taught me to be humble, to be patient, to shower people with an unwavering amount of love, to be curious, to differentiate learning, to be understanding and most importantly, how imperative inclusion is. I love introducing my students to autism and what autism looks like and I believe it correlates to many other differences individuals may have. I teach them its ok to be different no matter WHAT that looks like. I teach them disabilities are ok and they will be around friends with disabilities their whole lives. I teach them, being different isn’t scary, it can be fascinating! It is so beautiful because they are so accepting, so curious and so loving at this age and I believe if they are taught at an early age they will grow to be inclusive of anyone who is different no matter how big or small. Another thing my daughter, Ellee, has taught me is how to enjoy the little things in life. I celebrate small milestones with Ellee and I continue that in my classroom as well. Every child deserves to be praised and celebrated for the little things! I believe celebrating the small milestones encourages them to reach for the stars.
Q: What advice do you have for parents as to how to prepare their children for preschool?
A: My advice for parents would
be to get out there and be active with their kids! Get them involved in social activities and teach them that it's ok to explore and get messy. Go andexperience our beautiful world. Academics will come naturally when they are ready and all children develop at different paces, that is totally normal and okay! Their biggest job is to play, play, play and be snuggled and loved lots. The rest will come with time.
Q: How important is preschool to a child’s education and development?
A: Preschool has a HUGE importance in a child’s education and development, and I would highly recommend it for all children. It is a need in today’s society to prepare students for kindergarten academically, but more importantly, socially! Children need to feel independent and successful away from their families and be with friends their age. Children learn so much through school-based play and the earlier you introduce them to this world, the more successful I find them to be later on in life. Preschool helps children build the stamina that is needed for a full day of kindergarten, and also teaches them that school can be so much fun! They are able to start building strong friendships and it makes the transitions to a bigger school become flawless. Preschool is their first taste of school so finding a preschool as amazing as LLCA is imperative.
Q: When you have free time, how do you like to relax?
A: Relax? What’s that? In my free time I love to be with my three children, Declan (9), Ellee (8) and Rubee (5) along with my sweet husband Cory! I love crafting, cooking and traveling to sunny places. I love cheering my son on in sports and doing all things girly with my girls. My family is my everything and there is nothing I would rather be doing then spending time with them!
Sprinkler Spruce Up Sprinkler Spruce Up
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Liberty Lake’s City Academy returns on April 24 - Registration open now
The Liberty Lake City Academy is about to go on the road again for its 2025 edition! This 8-part weekly series is an opportunity for area residents to learn about their city services and to visit the site of operations where many of those services occur.
The interactive presentations from topic experts will be held on Thursday nights from 6 p.m. to approximately 7:30 p.m. starting on April 24 and continuing through June 12. Topics are expected to include: Form of Government, Land Use and Zoning, Solid Waste, Budget & Strategic Plan, Streets and Parks, Library, Fire and Emergency Management
Skyhawks sports camps for kids start in April
The arrival of spring means that sports offerings for kids are returning for the next several months at Liberty Lake’s city parks. The City of Liberty Lake is again providing this spring’s youth recreation programs through a partnership with Skyhawks Sports.
First up: Children can sign up now for the multi-week Skyhawks Sports Academy offerings that run from mid-April to May. Registration is $79 per series. The sessions that will start in April are:
• Tennis at Rocky Hill Park
– Mondays, April 14-May 12, for children 7-10 years old (4:305:20 p.m.) and children 11-14 years old (5:30-6:20 p.m.).
• Lacrosse at Pavillion Park – Tuesdays, April 15-May 6, for children 6-8 years old (4:30-5:20 p.m.) and children 9-12 years old
Services, Utilities, and Law Enforcement.
Exact dates of each presentation will be announced later. Watch for updates on the city’s homepage at www. libertylakewa.gov and at the City of Liberty Lake’s Facebook site.
(5:30-6:20 p.m.).
• Soccer at Orchard Park –Thursdays, April 17-May 15, for children 6-8 years old (4:30-5:20 p.m.) and children 9-12 years old (5:30-6:20 p.m.).
• Basketball at Orchard Park – Thursdays, April 17-May 8, for children 6-8 years old (4:30-5:20 p.m.) and children 9-12 years old (5:30-6:20 p.m.).
• Flag football at Orchard Park – Fridays, April 18-May 16, for children 6-8 years old (4:30-5:20 p.m.) and children 9-12 years old (5:30-6:20 p.m.)
Skyhawks Sports will also be offering its SoccerTots programs on Tuesdays from April 15 to May 27, all at Pavillion Park. Super Tots sessions are geared for children from as young as 18 months through age 5 ½, and offer soccer concepts, drills, and playing time. Registration for these is $126 per series, with a 20% discount available for multiple registrations during the same transaction. This
spring’s SoccerTots offerings at the parks include:
• Cubs/Bears (for ages 3 to 4) from 4:30 to 5:10 p.m.
• Soccer Touch (for ages 4 to 5 ½) from 4:30 to 5:10 p.m.
• Cubs (for ages 2-3) from 5:20 to 6 p.m.
• Teddies (for ages 1 ½ to 2 ½) from 5:20 to 6 p.m.
• Bears (for ages 3 ½ to 4 ½) from 6:10 to 6:50 p.m.
• Cubs (for ages 2 to 3 ½) from 6:10 to 6:50 p.m.
Enrollment for this session will be capped at 15 people, and participation is free. Attendees are encouraged to take part in each installment of the entire 8-part series. However, people are also invited to attend any specific session topic of their interest.
The City Academy not only helps residents gain insights onto how their city operations work, but it also offers useful foundational information for any city resident who may have interest in applying for one of Liberty Lake’s commission, board, or elected positions.
Further details, including online registration through EventBrite, can be found on the city’s homepage at www. libertylake.gov. Updates about the City Academy will also be posted on the City of Liberty Lake’s Facebook site.
Spring Cleanup Day is April 26
It’s time to start scheduling some spring cleaning so you be ready for the annual Clean Green and Bulky Waste Cleanup event coming to Town Square Park on Saturday, April 26.
Staff from WM will be stationed at 1420 N. Meadowwood Lane that day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to accept materials from City of Liberty Lake residents who subscribe to WM collection services. Accepted items include furniture, appliances, clean green yard waste, and garbage too large to fit into curbside carts. Staff from Goodwill will also be accepting donations of used items in good condition.
Residents will need to arrive at Town Square Park with WM’s Clean Green and Bulky Waste Cleanup flyer that they will be receiving in their mail during April.
Playing golf 30 seconds at a time
Ridgeline varsity girls look to improve their seventh-place 2024 state result
By John McCallum Splash contributor
When it comes to golf, the six returning members of the Ridgeline High School girls golf team have a lot in common, and one of the most important may be love for the game instilled through family bonds.
For some it was a game the family played recreationally, to have some fun. For others it was competition, adult instruction followed by participation in various leagues.
“When I started walking, she shoved a club in my hand,” senior Kate Mulligan said of her mother, who played competitively at South Dakota State University.
Either way, under the tutelage of head coach Danny White, the three seniors, junior and two sophomores making up the Falcons varsity have grown and developed into a team capable of vying for a top-three spot at 3A state this season in the program’s fourth year of existence.
Senior leadership and experience
Mulligan, Carolyn Rose and Reagan Rothley make up the Falcons senior core.
Rose said she began playing competitively around age 11 with her father and grandfather — the latter living along the Trailhead Golf Course. She began playing in junior golf association leagues in Washington and Idaho, competing in 1-2 tournaments a week in the summer months.
“I fell in love with it and continued it and it became my sport,” Rose said. “I realized around (age) 15 or 16 that I could do something with it.”
Rose has made state each of her high school seasons, placing 54th in 2022, 35th in 2023 and 13th in 2024. She was a first-team All-Greater Spokane League selection last year and has signed to play competitively at Whitworth University.
As she said above, Mulligan hit the links at a very early age, beginning her competitive career about six years ago. A two-sport athlete — she played on the Falcon’s 3A state championship volleyball team last fall — Mulligan missed the second-day cut at state in 2023 but placed 47th last year.
She was second-team All-GSL selection for girls golf last year, helping the Falcons to a District 6 team title.
Rothley began playing golf recreationally at an early age with her parents, coming to the competitive side of the game when she was a Ridgeline freshman. Like Mulligan, she was a member of the volleyball team, tying for 53rd at state golf in 2023 and for 63rd in 2024.
“It was fun that the whole team met the second day cut,” Rothley said of last year’s state experience. “Years before, only half of us would.”
Ridgeline placed seventh as a team last year and was the only school east of the Cascade Mountains to play as a team on the second day.
Competitive relaxation
Junior Sawyer Anderson picked up the game competitively around age 10. Both parents play and a sister played for Central Valley’s team, graduating in 2023.
Anderson said she plays a lot in the summer months, hitting the links every other weekend and often on weekdays. Like her teammates, she enjoys the game because it’s outdoors and combines individual play with a team aspect.
“It’s relaxing, I just think it’s fun to play,” Anderson said.
Anderson missed the second-day cut individually last year, attributing some of that to the cold, wet weather at Eagles Pride Golf Course in Dupont, Wash. and her development as a player. She said she took more lessons in the offseason and has learned a few things about concentration and shot approach.
The coming future
Sophomores Chloe Hamilton and Morgan Quesnell both began playing golf around first grade.
Hamilton said her father and grandfather taught her the game, with her dad just wanting someone to “go hit balls with.” She played in recreational summer leagues for fun, and competitively last year as a freshman, making varsity and state her first year on the team.
“That was really cool for me because I wasn’t sure I was going to
make it,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton tied for 39th at Dupont, the highlight being back-to-back birdies on the second day to give her an 88 to go with her 90 from day one. She was also a second-team All-GSL selection.
Quesnell said she got her first set of real clubs — replacing her previous plastic variety — from her dad when she was in first grade. She began playing in recreational leagues and competitively last season, placing 68th at state.
“I like that it’s an individual sport where you can set your own goals,” she said. She added she likes team sports as well, but prefers relying on the individual approach.
“And I can do it (play golf) the rest of my life,” she said.
Club selection
It wouldn’t be a golf story if one question wasn’t asked: What’s your favorite club?
For Rose, Rothley and Quesnell, it’s the long game featuring the driver. Rose uses a Taylor Made QI10 she won at a long-drive competition last year at Shadle Park.
“I love hitting it really far,” she said.
“I like hitting the crap out of the ball,” Rothley added. While distance is fun, she said she also likes the pitching wedge, noting it helps her consistency and the fact she has a stance “some say is weird.”
“It works for me,” she added.
Quesnell said she is also working on her short game; favoring a 5-hybrid when she’s on the fairway.
“It’s my ‘get to my approach shot’ club,’” she said. “That’s where you get those strokes back.”
Mulligan, Hamilton and Anderson all said the short game is where they feel they excel.
“Me and my driver aren’t on speaking terms,” Mulligan said, adding she prefers the putter.
“Hit for show and putt for dough,” she added.
Hamilton said because she’s not very big in stature, the pitching wedge and putter are what she relies on most, although she’s improving with the driver.
“It’s the one (pitching wedge) I’m most accurate with,” she added.
Anderson finds her strength with the irons in the fairways, particularly the 9, as well as the “gap wedge,” a
club capable of hitting a higher and shorter approach shot than a pitching wedge.
“I also like the sand wedge,” she added.
Focus and future
All six Falcons give head coach White credit for their success last season and going forward — particularly the emphasis on focus, what he refers to as playing golf “30 seconds at a time.”
White, who has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with an emphasis on sports psychology from California State University-Fullerton, said in an email that the short version of the 30 second philosophy is this: “Golf is unique in that there is typically several minutes between each shot. We need to be present, in the moment, only 30 seconds at a time. Then we can let our mind wander.
“In fact, it is important that we let our mind wander so that we can be focused for those 30 seconds,” he continued. “We use a trigger of some sort, hands in grip position or pulling the golf club from your bag that we use to ‘lock in’ and we have set of steps that help eliminate results thinking and stay with (the) process thinking.”
Numerically, he added, for someone who shoots a 90 in a fivehour round, 30 seconds per shot means one is actually focused on golfing for 45 minutes.
“More than the physical aspects of the swing, last season's success has helped the mental growth of the team,” White said. “My main goal last year, and always, was/is to help them understand that releasing their mind from a score and playing golf 30 seconds at a time can help them smash their score expectations.”
White’s approach has definitely rubbed off on the varsity six. All of them believe strongly they can better their performances from 2024, individually and as a team.
“We didn’t lose anybody and we’ve kept growing in the game,” Mulligan said.
That goal might also be helped by the fact that the 3A/4A state tournament will be held at Indian Canyon Golf Course in West Spokane this year. It’s a course the Falcons are familiar with.
“I think we have a chance to place in the top-10,” Rose said, adding her goal is top-five. “I think it’s a very reachable goal, considering how good we are.”
LL COUNCIL
Continued from page 4
of $340,000 would require a voterapproved lifting of the property tax levy. Liberty Lake has chosen not to take the state-allowed 1% property tax increase for several years, banking that for the future.
A simple majority of voters would be required to pass a levy lid lift, with the new rate prohibited from exceeding the maximum statutory rate. The lift would expire after nine years and revert to the previous rate, and could be used as debt service on bonds.
Dixon said the current levy rate is 88 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value (APV), providing about $3.2 million in property taxes annually. Liberty Lake’s maximum lift would be $2.10 per $1,000 APV, which would provide up to $7.5 million in property taxes.
Also, in the city’s capital projects funding tool box are bonds and loans. The former has been used in the past, recently to fund improvements to the Trailhead Golf Course and which the city has begun repaying.
Bonds carry lower interest rates but higher upfront costs, work better with larger amounts of money over longer periods of time and allow for interest-only and various repayment structures. Loans work well for interim, variable rate financing, with fixed-rate financing available on short-term loans and are available through state and federal sources, although Dixon said it would be wise to steer clear of federal loans for the time being.
During council questions, Councilman Jed Spencer asked Dixon to clarify if the proposed
project numbers included the $5.7 million that has been appropriated for the Library/Legacy Building project, which Dixon said they did. The city is also looking at approving the hiring of a commercial real estate vendor to appraise the value of the Legacy building should the council decide to sell it and take a different direction with the library and potentially other city properties.
“So, if I’m looking at this correctly, you take that 13.482 (million dollar) deficit, if we don’t build the library, then that 5.7 comes off the top, correct,” Spencer asked, to which Dixon agreed.
“And if we were to sell that building, whatever amount we get in proceeds from that building, let’s say 3 (million dollars), that would bring this deficit all the way down to under 5 (million dollars),” Spencer continued, with Dixon again agreeing.
“Potentially, and that’s a good example,” Dixon added. “There are almost an infinite amount of different scenarios that can play out between now and when a lot of these projects are going to come forward to the city that will increase or decrease that deficit.”
Liberty Lake’s City Council made no decision on issues of project funding at the March 25 meeting, but agreed to continue the conversation at future public workshops and meetings.
Correction -
In the March edition of the Liberty Lake Splash it was stated that Library Director Jandy Humble identified that at full population build out the city would "require a library of 43,500 square feet just for its collection alone." after reviewing the recording the comment was supposed to be that at full build out the library would need to support a collection of 42,000 materials not square footage.
Also, Councilmember Mike Kennedy has since reached out to clarify that he is not in favor of an enclosed farmers market. Citing that budget considerations are the top priority for him when considering building facilities.
Spring time Safety Reminders
By Ben Wick Splash Publisher
While the weather is still going back and forth in true spring fashion, Spring is getting closer every day and we wanted to take a minute to check in with our local Liberty Lake Police Department to share some reminders as we come out of our houses to enjoy the warmer weather and community activities.
Golf Carts
The primary rules to remember for golf carts in Liberty Lake are:
1) You must possess a valid drivers license, be at least 16 years old, and maintain proof of insurances for the golf cart in order to operate the golf cart. Similar to operating a motor vehicle, you cannot operate a golf cart without your drivers license or if you have a revoked or suspended license.
2) Golf Carts cannot be operated on streets with a posted speed limit of more than 25 miles per hour. You may cross them but cannot operate along them.
In Liberty Lake this includes Mission, Country Vista Dr, Molter, Appleway, and Liberty Lake Road.
3) You must wear seat belts and all passengers must be seated while operating a golf cart. You cannot transport more passengers than the manufacturer’s designed seating capacity.
4) Golf carts cannot be operated at a speed greater than what is reasonable and prudent for the existing conditions but no greater than twenty (20) miles per hour. They also must be operated to the extreme right of the roadway or along the sidewalks and must yield to all vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic.
5) Golf carts must be equipped with reflectors, seat belts, rearview mirrors, and be registered with the City of Liberty Lake Police Department, visibly display the registration decals on both the front drivers side quarter panel or fender as well as on the drivers side, rear of the cart. Note that there is no cost for golf cart registrations and they are valid for as long as the golf cart is owned by the applicant.
6) Golf carts shall not be operated from one half hour after sunset until one half hour before
sunrise unless the cart meets all of the lighting and reflector requirements (i.e. headlights on the front and a red rear reflector and/or a lamp emitting a rid light on the back)
7) Golf carts are prohibited from pulling trailers, boats, jet skis, or other objects or people on the streets.
8) Golf carts shall not be operated in a negligent manner and must be operated in accordance with all applicable state and local laws and ordinances, including all laws, regulations and ordinances pertaining to the possession and use of drugs and alcoholic beverages.
Violations of the golf cart ordinances in Liberty Lake is considered a civil infraction and comes with a fine up to $250.
“Adults are pretty good at following the rules for golf carts but kids tend to be a little more reckless” added Deputy Chief Darin Morgan.
Vehicle Prowling
Vehicle prowls are the theft of property from a motor vehicle. Most are crimes of opportunity through unlocked doors and open windows but also commonly include instances where victims encounter expensive vehicle damage i.e. broken windows, doors and locks. Large parking locations like shopping center’s housing communities, parks, trailheads, and even schools are prime targets for a prowler since multiple vehicles can be hit in a short time span. Prowlers know the odds are good that someone will leave a door unlocked, a window down or keys in the ignition.
While vehicle prowls are very common, luckily they are preventable. Here are some easy and inexpensive tips to reduce your risk of becoming a victim of vehicle prowl:
1) Use a garage or secure location whenever possible.
2) Remove your personal property as much as possible, especially don’t leave your keys, purses or wallets, laptops or tablets, credit cards / gift cards / checkbooks, cell phones, jewelry or cash, mail / receipts /
statements, packages or store bags
3) Roll up your windows, lock all doors, secure the trunk, hatches, tool-boxes, and canopies.
4) Avoid isolated areas, park near locations frequently used by pedestrians or in well-lit areas where your car can be seen.
5) Activate your alarm if you have one and consider installing an anti-theft device such as a locking gas cap, steering wheel lock (easy to install and inexpensive), or a car alarm especially if they disable the vehicles starter when activated.
If you have unfortunately fallen victim to vehicle prowling, report it. If the crime is in progress call law enforcement immediately by dialing 911, if you find the crime after it was committed still report it but utilizing crime check 509456-2233.
School Bus Safety
According to the Liberty Lake Police Department, there have been an increase in incidents where drivers are failing to stop for school buses. Here are the rules around when you have to stop for school buses in Washington state (RCW 46.61.370):
1) The driver of a vehicle upon overtaking or meeting from either direction any school bus which has stopped on the roadway for the purpose of receiving or discharging any school children shall stop the vehicle before reaching such school bus when there is a visual signal in operation. Said driver shall not proceed until such school bus resumes motion or the visual signals are no longer activated.
2) The driver of a vehicle upon a highway divided into separate roadways need not stop upon meeting a school bus which is proceeding in the opposite direction and is stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging school children
3) The driver of a vehicle upon a highway with three or more marked traffic lanes need not stop upon meeting a school bus which is proceeding in the opposite direction and is stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging school children.
It is also a reminder that the reason school buses stop is in
order to let children on or off the bus. Children are going to be present and often times will be crossing or running across the road to either get to the bus or to get home from the bus so drivers should pay extra attention not only to the bus but for potential pedestrians around the bus that weren’t there moments before.
Pedestrian Safety
Being a pedestrian can be a risky business. According to the National Traffic Safety Administration, a pedestrian is injured in a traffic related collision on average every seven minutes. Here are a few simple guidelines that help promote an increased awareness for pedestrians.
For Pedestrians:
1) Remember the law, pedestrians should only cross the street at marked crosswalks and obey ALL traffic control devices. Violators are subject to a $56 fine.
2) Wear bright clothing. Remember that drivers might have difficulty seeing you, especially in the dark.
3) Be particularly caution when stepping out from behind obstructions such as parked cars, poles, and buildings that my hide you from a drivers sight.
4) Always stop and look both ways before crossing the street. Never run into the street.
5) Use sidewalks and walk facing traffic. Cross the street if you need to but walking so that you can also see the drivers coming allows you to react to protect yourself incase the driver doesn’t.
For Drivers:
1) Remember to yield! Pedestrians have the legal right of way in all intersections, whether marked or not.
2) Remain alert. With all of the distractions inside your car, remember to pay close attention to the pedestrians around you.
3) When turning right, look for oncoming traffic as well as potentially any pedestrians that may be crossing before you make a right turn.
4) Always Look! Use caution when approaching unmarked intersections.
COVER STORY
5) Don’t forget school zone traffic laws, slow down when traveling through school zones.
Burglary
Burglary victims often feel vulnerable and violated as their personal space has been invaded. Residential burglaries statistically occur during the day while families are at work or school. The most common entry technique is a hard kick to the door, forcing the wooden jamb to give way. Alternatively household tools like hammers, screwdrivers, pry bars, and pliers may be used to gain entry into your home.
Unfortunately, it is hard to catch burglars in the act and harder to catch them after the fact. While residential burglaries seem random in nature, there is a simple selection process. Unoccupied homes with easy or concealed access and quick escape routes are targeted. Once inside burglars look for small expensive
your home.
7) Verify workers by ID cards and calling their employer to verify. Also remember that in Liberty Lake anyone going doorto-door soliciting must get a permit from the city and will have a city badge if authorized.
8) Bring your vehicles and packages in as soon as possible. If you know your not going to be home but are expecting a delivery see if one of your neighbors would be willing to help bring it in for you.
“A lot of thefts are happening at construction sites. If you see something especially at night, let us know.” Explained Liberty Lake Police Department Lieutenant JT Isaac.
“While we have made a recent arrest that will help, the warmer weather will increase prowler activity” continued Liberty Lake Deputy Chief Darin Morgan. “Stay safe, take extra time. The warmer weather will mean more kids and bikes will be out. Take some more time at intersections as kids may be crossing.”
items that are easily traded for cash. Favoritie items include cash, jewelry, laptops, game consoles, watches, firearms, and small electronic devices.
Help protect yourself and make your home a less likely target with the following ideas:
1) Install lights by all exterior doors preferably in locations where bulbs are hard to reach and use them at night.
2) Trim shrubs back from doors and windows. Don’t give burglars places to hide.
3) Remember to close your garage door and cover windows so no one can see inside.
4) Hide the garage door opener from open view within your car.
5) Always lock your doors and windows, change the locks when moving into a new residence, and don’t hide a key outside, give it to a neighbor instead.
6) Never let strangers enter
Review of 2024 finances show Liberty Lake in good shape
By John McCallum Splash contributor
When it comes to Liberty Lake’s financial picture, the city is relatively healthy.
Such was the general verdict from a 2024 year-end review given by city Finance Director Kyle Dixon at the March 4 City Council meeting. Overall, city revenues met or exceeded expenses in most areas of the General Fund.
“Our major General Fund revenues all were at or above budgeted revenues,” Dixon said.
That begins with the largest slices of the General Fund pie — property tax, sales/use taxes and permitting fees. In 2024, the city budgeted property tax collections at $2.6 million, but received $2.53 million, about 98% of budget.
Dixon said the difference stemmed from amounts collected from new construction in the River District that went towards TIF (Tax Increment Financing) and LIFT (Local Infrastructure Financing Tool) expenses that were more than the city anticipated. TIF and LIFT are economic development tools using increased property taxes from new development to fund public improvements and incentivize private development.
“Any development by private contractors must meet city standards and eventually deeded to the city to be eligible for reimbursement through this program,” Dixon said in a March 25 email. “The River District lies wholly within the increment area, so a large portion of that infrastructure (city streets, Orchard Park, etc..) with constructed by Greenstone and deeded to the city.”
Dixon also noted at the March 4 meeting that City Council has elected to not take the state-allowed annual 1% property tax increase for the past several years, leaving the city with $340,000 in banked levy capacity which the council could consider using if needed.
Sales/use tax collections were budgeted at $5.96 million but came in at $6.6 million while permitting and planning fees, budgeted at $1.68
NEWS
million, came in at $1.83 million. Dixon said the latter was an example of actual work performed by staff and third-parties such as engineers and consultants, while the sales/use tax increase was the difference between a conservative budgeting approach and actual sales numbers.
“We did see a little bit more of a leveling out in 2024 versus previous years in sales and use tax,” he said, adding the 2025 budget for sales/use tax was set at $6.6 million.
Other General Fund revenue sources included $558,000 from the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Tax, $256,000 from the Marijuana and Liquor Excise Tax and $47,000 from the county for affordable and supportive housing. Dixon said a use for the latter hasn’t been determined yet, something council will have to decide.
Also featured in other General Fund revenue sources is the $3.3 million the city received via the TIF and LIFT programs for its portion of the Kramer Parkway/Overpass construction, a public partnership between the city and the state Department of Transportation. The city applied for the reimbursement in July, 2023 but received it on Jan. 3, 2024.
The city earned $386,000 in investment income in 2024, a huge jump from previous years. In 2023, the city received about $275,000, in 2022
about half that, Dixon said, and in 2021, about $30,000.
Currently the city is averaging a 30day return on its investment accounts of 4.4%, compared to 2021’s 0.1%.
“This is realized as unrestricted revenue, so we can use it as council sees fit,” Dixon said.
Departmental spending was coming in mostly below budgeted spending, ranging from Planning’s 70% to Library’s 94%, with Public Safety’s $5.231 million expenses just over its $5.092 million budget. Dixon said typically Public Safety’s annual expenses are around 94%, noting the difference in 2024 was due to the department transferring a reserve officer to full-time status in October, a move not included in the budget.
Dixon noted that Planning’s actual figure was due to some work on updating the city’s Comprehensive Plan budgeted to take place in 2024 being carried over to 2025.
The bottom line for Dixon is the General Fund’s year-end balance of almost $8.55 million, a significant jump over 2023’s almost $5.38 million.
“It is a good position to be in, not to have to get creative with other funding sources because they’re just not there,” Dixon said. “We’re in a great position ending 2024 in the General Fund.”
Dixon added they do expect that
balance to get drawn down as council has expressed a desire to use some of that funding towards such things as the library capital fund and/or beginning early repayment of the bonds for the Trailhead Golf Course project.
With regards to the Trailhead, Dixon said operations are expanding as the city hoped. Expenses exceeded revenues by $100,000 — $1.37 million and $1.36 million respectively — with expenses including some capital improvements to the facility.
Green fees and driving range fees revenue has increased significantly from usage since 2021, 63% ($623,000) and 26% (193,00) respectively, with overall revenue increase coming in at 22% above 2023 figures. Some of the expenses included $200,000 towards debt repayment, $165,000 for a new golf cart fleet and $103,000 for other improvements.
Finally, Public Works Department revenues and expenses were “exactly what we want to see” given the combining of street work into the department and a shift to getting revenues from a voter-approved Transportation Benefit District (TBD) tax instead of a now-terminated utility tax. Street operations expenses were at just over $1.21 million, budgeted at $1.612 million, while Public Works projects totaled $2.078 million but were budgeted at $2.973 million.
Dixon said some of the difference was due to some projects expected to be done in 2024 carried over into 2025. The city began collecting the TBD tax in April and had its first receipt of funds in June, collecting a total of $420,000 in 2024 — a figure Dixon said extrapolates to around $822,000 over 12 months.
Revenues in the two Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) accounts ran 118% over budgeted numbers, leaving a year-end balance total of both funds at just over $3.67 million. Retiring of the utility tax also created a surplus, and the city plans a $500,000 transfer to the Streets Capital Fund in 2025.
Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Chris Cargill said the Public Works numbers showed the wisdom of moving from a utility tax to the TBD, noting the change helps low-income families and individuals as well as senior citizens.
“Because we are spreading out the (tax) burden, obviously,” Cargill said. “It seems to me they are balancing out.”
“It’s always great to see we have more money coming in than going out,” Councilman Mike Kennedy said of the year-end report in general.
By John McCallum Splash contributor
Baseball
Falcons looking forward to spring sports seasons
The Falcons return three AllGreater Spokane League selections from last year’s team that won three of its final four games to capture the program’s first ever GSL regular season title. After getting upset in the first round by Cheney, Ridgeline responded with an elimination-round win over Mead before ending their season with a loss to third-seeded Mt. Spokane, finishing with a 14-4 league mark, 15-9 overall.
Returning are All-GSL first team selections juniors Caden Andreas (shortstop) and Ben Wartinger (second base/pitcher) and secondteam pick Michael Macall (third base/pitcher). Additionally, head coach Jeramie Maupin was named the GSL’s Coach of the Year.
The Falcons are 0-3 overall through March 25 games, a seasonopening doubleheader loss at Hanford and a home-opener loss to Coeur d’Alene.
Fastpitch softball
The Falcons return a good group of players from last year’s team that went 10-8 in the GSL, 1011 overall and earned a No. 5 seed to the district playoffs. Key among that group are seven seniors that are the first group of fastpitch athletes to play all four years in the four-year-old Ridgeline program.
“They have been with us since the very beginning and helped us to create the program that we
have today,” head coach Alyssa Rasmusen said.
Seniors Lilly Triplett and Elli Thompson should play a key role in the Falcons success in 2025, Triplett in centerfield and at the plate and Thompson in left field and in the pitcher’s circle. Other seniors bringing experience and depth to their roles are Izabella Hernandez, Lily Lander, Dani Philips, Tayla Travis and Natalie Willmon.
Newcomers Kadence Barcus (freshman) and Persais Triplett (sophomore) should also play key roles this year in the infield/ outfield and pitching. Other newcomers include freshmen Gianna Haiar, Sydney Stenglein, Kate Northcutt and Reese Runyan.
Ridgeline is off to a 2-2 start in 2025, 2-1 in league play, sandwiching wins over Gonzaga Prep and Shadle Park between losses to Freeman and current GSL-leader and unbeaten Mt. Spokane.
“We are super excited for the best season yet!” Rasmussen said.
Golf – Girls
The Falcons return all six varsity letter winners from last year’s team that finished seventh at 3A state, and was the only 3A girls’ team east of the Cascades to play as a team on the final day.
Back are seniors Carolyn Rose, Kate Mulligan and Reagan Rothley, junior Sawyer Anderson and sophomores Chloe Hamilton and Morgan Quesnell. Head coach Danny White said they also have 15-20 players on the junior varsity squad, a positive sign for the program’s future.
Rose tied for 13th overall at state in 2024. She was a 1st Team All-GSL selection and has signed to play college golf at Whitworth University.
Mulligan tied for 47th at state.
www.hubsportscenter.org
She was a 2nd Team All-GSL pick last year and a member of the Falcons’ 3A state champion volleyball team this fall — as was Rothley.
Rothley tied for 63rd at state with three other players. She has signed to play volleyball at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colo.
Hamilton finished in a four-way tie for 39th at state as a freshman. She was a 2nd Team All-GSL selection.
Quesnell placed 68th at state while Anderson missed the second-day state individual cut, but played with the other five as a team. All six have set goals to win the GSL 3A/4A team title and finish in the top three at state.
“The spring season is almost here and the taste of success last season has given the team a boost of confidence to climb the state ladder,” White said. “They have put in the work since May (2024) and continue to improve on their swings.”
Soccer
Four starters and nine letter winners are back from last year’s team that won the program’s firstever GSL title, earned the district’s No. 3 seed to state before losing in the opening round to Arlington. The Falcons finished at 8-1 in the GSL in 2024, 14-5 overall.
Key returners in 2025 are senior forward/striker Andre Chaker, an NCAA Division II commit to Northwest Nazarene College, junior defender Thatcher Hemphill and sophomore midfielder Col Kreider. Head coach Ernie Merino said senior forward Abdul Umar Nasir is a key newcomer who will be “playing several roles this year (and) will be key to bringing energy to the attack.”
“We are facing challenges replacing so many starters from
last year as well as bringing a group of boys together who have never played together,” Merino said. “The preseason has taught us a lot and we are optimistic about the upcoming GSL season.”
Ridgeline had yet to open league play as of March 25, and was 2-4 overall with wins over Gonzaga Prep and Cheney but a couple close losses to Ridgeline (20) and West Valley (3-0).
Track and Field
Head coach Brian Spraggins said Ridgeline has 19 boys and 21 girls returning “who also won letters in previous years.”
Returning athletes to watch Daden Lewis (throws), Mica Pesina and Tony Rodriguez (sprints), Habiba Adam (triple jump), Kayla Jensen (hurdles) Paige Huntsinger (distance), Taylor Teslow and Claire Lamoreaux (sprints), Chris Roe (throws — back from injury and should have a good year), Eli Yim (middle distance) and Keean Huntsinger (distance).
Lewis is the only boys’ returner to reach state in 2024, placing 13th in the shot put. Spraggins named freshman distance runner Preston Nelson as a potential contributor to team success.
Ridgeline is in a building phase, “a fairly young team,” Spraggins said with a lot of freshmen and sophomores turning out. They’re “eager to learn and grown,” Spraggins added.
“From a macro level perspective, we have a lot of young talent, but there are a few who are beginning to emerge as potentially solid contributors to more formal team success,” he said. “Time will tell, but I expect good things from this group over the next several years.”
Additional information from coaches about baseball, boys golf and tennis teams was not received at press time, March 26.
Student of the Month
Vice President of Marketing for the Ridgeline DECA club, senior Sylvie Carver brings her artistic talents to the school store as she leads the social media efforts using her own hand drawn drawings. On top of her participation in Advanced Business and Marketing, Carver who maintains a 3.92 GPA is currently taking a series of advanced placement classes including AP Studio Art, AP Environmental Science, and AP Government. While not studying, Carver is a part of the National Honor Society, Link Crew Leader and participates in the inaugural Unified Track Team (a special Track sports team where students participate with students who have special needs). Outside of school Carver has volunteered with the Liberty Lake Kiwanis Father Daughter Dance, helped serve meals and staff a kids craft table at her church, Community of Christ, and helped tie blankets for the homeless. After high school Sylvie plans on attending Boise State to major in Art Education and possibly Language Arts with the desire to become a High School Teacher.
Ridgeline Senior Andre Chaker, is a soccer player through an through. Having played soccer for 10 years Chaker is now the Team Captain at Ridgeline and plays for the WA East Serve team as a striker. While he had a bit of a rough start last season, he has been inspired by the use of exercises to help his healing and wants to become a physical therapist. The high school senior has a 3.2 GPA and enjoys serving in the school leadership class where he gets to help promote school events. Chaker also spends time helping coach little kids through the local soccer club. Andre looks forward to playing soccer in college where he plans to attend Northwest Nazarene University in Boise, ID to study Physical Therapy and Human Performance.
Citizen of the Month
Camille Nielsen, a science teacher at Ridgeline High School focusing on Biomed Career Technical Education (CTE) and advisor for the Ridgeline Key Club. Mrs. Nielsen is also a former Principle for STEM Academy and director of Spokane Valley Tech Skill Center and Leadership Spokane Graduate. Recently Mrs. Nielsen volunteered to help take students from Ridgeline to the District Key Club Convention in Seattle and while successfully navigating the trip for Ridgeline volunteered to help surrounding districts with their Key Clubs to give other the opportunity to attend the leadership conference. All in total helping 32 students from the region with travel to Seattle. She also helped with community projects such as the Liberty Lake Father Daughter Dance.
Liberty Lake continues legacy of Good Roads
By Ross Schneidmiller Liberty Lake Historical Society
The “Good Roads” movement in America originated with bicyclists. In the late 1800s, prior to automobiles dominating the roadways, “wheelman,” as they were called, pursued the cause.
In Spokane, a popular ride was to Liberty Lake for the day. First by horse or buggy and then bicycle. The MacKenzie family who operated a ranch on the lake’s west side accommodated these riders – renting a rowboat or two and providing meals for charge. As cycling became popular, demand grew to where they added more rowboats and built a restaurant onto their home. Charging 35 cents for a chicken dinner, their eatery profited enough to warrant building a hotel.
In the Inland Empire, the Spokane Wheel Club was very active in
improving riding conditions. Working with local government, club members raised money and helped construct bicycle paths made of cinders. By 1903, plans were made to construct a path from Spokane to Coeur d’Alene. Enthusiasts from the Lake City raised funds to help with the Idaho portion and farmers along the way were willing to donate labor and equipment.
Four years earlier (in 1899) the Washington State Good Roads Association was formed. Its origins were unlike nearly two decades before when wheelmen around the nation led the charge. This state’s catalyst for good roads was not a group or club – it was one man and his name was Samuel Hill.
Harvard educated, Sam Hill was an employee of JJ Hill, chief executive of the Great Northern Railway. Though they shared a last name, they were not related until Sam married JJ’s eldest daughter, Mary.
Sam Hill was once described as a “Colossus of Roads.” He experimented with, promoted and built roads. Residing in Seattle in 1899, Hill invited a group of
like-minded individuals to join him in Spokane to form a state organization promoting the building of good roads.
The Washington State Good Roads Association adopted Hill’s message that an organized system of quality roads was necessary for farmers and the overall economy. Because some prominent farmers and businessmen were suspicious of the organization’s intent, progress was slow. Eventually their lobbying efforts began to pay off when the state legislature created a highway department in 1905. By 1907, the association had succeeded in getting the state to pay for a dozen state highways and half of the approved county roads in Washington.
Good Road advocates in Spokane County formed an association as well. Under their direction, 32 miles of state highway running through the county and city of Spokane, comprised of Sunset Boulevard from the west and Appleway from the east, were completed by November of 1912. Known as “The Great Appleway,” its name came from the thousands of apple trees
through which it ran through the Spokane River Valley.
Appleway was 60 feet wide lined with apple trees placed 40 feet apart on both sides of the roadway and alternated with English elm trees for shade. The trees were planted by orchardists living along the line of the road who also agreed to care for the trees. Every mile of the road had fountains for human, dog and horse. The fountains were made of a concrete and granite filings mixture, making a beautiful finished stone effect equal to granite. The road was a joint effort between Good Road advocates in both Spokane County and Kootenai County in Idaho. When all 34 miles were completed, a highway connected Spokane to Coeur d’Alene.
Our nation, Washington state and Spokane County have all benefitted from trail and road advocates. Today at Liberty Lake we have beautiful roadways and trails. Many are responsible for this but a special thank you should be afforded Greenstone’s Jim Frank and Trails Committee founder Tom Specht.
Horseless carriages in front of the MacKenzie Hotel Bathhouse on Liberty Lake’s west side, circa 1908. Overlay images of bicyclists, 1904. Photo courtesy of Liberty Lake Historical Society
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Duane Alton Remembrance
By Nina Culver Splash contributor
Family, friends and former employees gathered recently to remember Elvin “Duane” Alton, founder and co-owner of Alton’s Tire and Automotive Center, for his steadfast encouragement of others and strong religious faith.
Alton, 88, suffered a stroke in December and died of pneumonia on Feb. 17.
Several people spoke at a memorial service at the Oaks Classical Christian Academy, talking about his knack for encouraging words and his love of scripture. The Rev. Don Cambra leads the Worley Community Church in Worley, Idaho, where Alton and his wife, Andree, have attended services the last few years.
Worley called Alton a second Barnabas, a Biblical figure who was known as the son of encouragement. Many Sundays Alton would talk with Cambra on the front steps of the church after the service and encourage him in his preaching, Cambra said. “Encouragement just came out of Duane naturally,” he said.
Cambra said that Alton loved to take notes during his sermons and discuss his message after the service. “He always wanted to talk about the Lord, he always wanted to talk about scripture,” Cambra said. “We had many discussions on the front steps of the church.”
What Alton didn’t do was boast about his success or discuss any of the donations he gave to Christian schools, local ministries and other causes, Cambra said. He was quiet and humble and only sought to encourage others, he said.
“He was a man with a deep love for the word of God and a desire to learn more,” he said. “When he came into my life, I recognized this was a man of God.”
Cambra said Alton likely would have been upset about so many people talking about him rather than the Lord at his recent memorial service. “He probably wouldn’t have appreciated that we’re talking about his life,” he said.
A letter was read from John Craig, a former store manager for Alton in the 70s and 80s. He wrote about how
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Alton gave him a raise so he could qualify for a home loan and taught him everything he knew about business and sales. Craig wrote that for decades he and Alton would talk on the phone on November 2 every year. “It was his birthday, a day worth celebrating,” Craig wrote.
Alton’s oldest granddaughter, Kristina Alton, said she remembers her grandfather taking her ballroom dancing every Christmas when she was in her early teens. “I always wore a fancy dress and had my hair all done up,” she said.
Her grandfather had infinite patience and an ability to explain everything from finance to theology in detail, she said. “As an adult, when I had questions on candidates, I would call him,” she said. “He was my trusted advisor on that.”
His son and business co-owner, Matt Alton, spoke of the many memories he had with his father, personally and professionally. “I have a lifetime of good memories with my father,” he said. “I was fortunate to be his son and his business partner.”
In a separate interview, Matt Alton talked about his father’s life, including an incident when he was around 10 or 11 and decided to sell
Tom Foley in 1976 and again in 1978, both times unsuccessfully. For many decades he donated thousands of dollars to groups advocating against local bond and levy ballot measures from local school districts.
Matt Alton said his father thought the education system wasn’t working well and districts were spending too much money per student while getting low test scores. “I think he was ahead of his time there,” his son said. “He was a big proponent of private education instead of public education.”
He also donated money to the campaigns of many conservative candidates over the years, including former 5th District Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers and current 5th District Representative Michael Baumgartner, both of whom attended Alton’s memorial service.
But Matt Alton remembers his father more for the fishing trips and family vacations they took when he was a child, particularly a road trip to Alaska in a Ford pickup. He remembers his father’s strong faith, which was sparked before he was born when Alton accepted a ride
from a Baptist minister. “He led my dad to the Lord,” Matt Alton said. Alton loved to share his faith with others, his son said. “He would preach at small country churches when the pastors went on vacation,” he said.
Former Liberty Lake Mayor Steve Peterson said he became friends with Alton when he moved in across the street from Peterson in 2002. “If there’s any person if his word was his bond, that would describe Duane Alton,” he said. “He was a very honest, forthright friend. His employees loved him, his customers loved him and I think his community loved him.”
Peterson said Alton loved to host neighborhood gatherings, including a Super Bowl party every year and a neighborhood brunch every spring. “At Christmas time, he gave everyone in the neighborhood a poinsettia,” Peterson said.
Peterson and Alton would work together to clear their private street with snow blowers whenever it snowed. “He said it was his exercise,” Peterson said. “You just couldn’t ask for a better friend.”
firecrackers to other kids in Atkinson, Nebraska, where he grew up. Alton started selling them underneath a nearby bridge until a police officer told him to stop, his son said.
“He just had them come to his (bedroom) window,” he said. “He was an entrepreneur. Instead of a lemonade stand he found another way to make money.”
That streak of entrepreneurism was always present. Alton joined the U.S. Air Force in 1955 and while stationed at Geiger Field in Spokane, he took a side job with Economy Gas Station. He left the Air Force after four years, then eventually purchased his own gas station. He opened his first Alton’s Tire location at Indiana Avenue and Hamilton in 1964. He, and later his son, would own 13 locations in Spokane and North Idaho before selling the chain to Tire-Rama in 2008, when Alton retired.
In 1958, he married his first wife, Blanche, who was the mother of Pamela, Greg and Douglas. They later had two sons, Matthew and Troy. The couple divorced in 1989 and he married Andree Rabe in 1993.
Alton was also a longtime supporter of conservative political causes and candidates. He ran for the U.S. House in the 5th District against
