2025 January Splash

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DOCKSIDE

Sports enthusiast, family man, and student focused leader - Quinn LeSage

Growing up in Helena Montana, the youngest of three brothers, Quinn LeSage grew up loving the outdoors and everything it brings. From hunting to fly fishing LeSage would be outdoors if he can.

Along with his connection to outdoors it didn’t take long for another all American interest to set in as well. His passion for sports, or more specifically baseball, began at the age of 9 years old. He had an opportunity to join the Helena Brewers baseball team, the minor league affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, as a Bat Boy.

“Sports became my whole life, my two older brothers were already active in baseball so it was an easy fit” said LeSage.

After graduating from Capital High School in Helena, LeSage continued his education at the Columbia Basin Community College, where he met is wife Mary. He was playing on the college baseball team, she was on the college volleyball team. It was a match made in heaven.

From Columbia Basin Community College the pair moved to North Carolina to attend Cambell University where LeSage played on their baseball team before graduating and moving back to Bellingham, WA with his wife who got a job teaching and coaching at Mt. Baker High School.

“I was in the bleachers of my wife’s volleyball coaching game, when the same person that hired my wife talked to me about joining the school as a Career and Technology teacher” said LeSage. In those days the career class covered topics including manufacturing, digital media, and web design.

It was through the mentorship

of that administrator that LeSage began attending the Grand Canion University program to get his Masters in Educational Administration and became the Assistant Principle and Athletic Director at Mt. Baker High School.

During this time LeSage his first two sons, Sawyer and Finn, which made him want to move closer to

family.

“My wife grew up in West Valley School District and Liberty Lake” said LeSage.

In the spring of 2018, he interviewed in hopes of becoming the assistant principal at University High School, which allowed them to move back home.

Then in the fall of 2021, as Selkirk Middle School was finishing its construction and the district was staffing up the new school, an opportunity was open for the Principle of Greenacres Middle

School.

“What drew me to Greenacres is our community,” said LeSage. “I feel very fortunate to have the responsibility and opportunity to help the kids of my neighborhood.”

LeSage embodies the mission at Greenacres of being a ‘Student First’ philosophy. “We want to expand the opportunities for students to feel belonging not just in education but in enrichment as well,” added LeSage. “The multitude of clubs helps build connections for the students.”

This same philosophy LeSage brings to his home life as well. His sons Saywer (11) and Finn (9) are at Liberty Lake Elementary School; and daughter Jessie (6) and started kindergarten at Liberty Creek Elementary School. They are already active in sports playing basketball, football, baseball, as well as learning how to play the piano. “We try to get them involved in as many things as possible.”

Q: You grew up participating in sports, especially baseball. While your competitive playing days may be over, are there lessons derived from your experience as an athlete that have carried over into your adult life?

A: To me the most important thing that anyone can gain from being part of a team, whether it be in an orchestra, robotics team, chess team, or athletics are the life lessons that you inevitably learn by participating. Discipline, resilience, communication, toughness, problem solving, time management, work ethic, and selflessness are just some of the lessons that I was able to take from my experiences. Everyday provides us an opportunity to practice these skills whether it be as a husband, father, principal, or friend knowing that we can always improve ourselves. I have no regrets about those experiences as they really have the ability to become the fabric of one’s character.

Q: It seems like mentors have

Contributed photo Greenacres Middle School Principle Quinn LeSage (upper left) poses with his family, wife Mary (upper middle), son Sawyer (upper right), son Flynn (lower left), and daughter Jessie (lower right) after a recent youth baseball tournament.

LESAGE

Continued from page 2

played a role in your professional journey, how important is mentorship to the next generation?

A: Mentorship is everything! I was lucky enough to have incredible mentors in my life starting with my parents and brothers. There were also many teachers, coaches, and administrators that saw something in me and invested time in me in

ways that I am forever thankful for. One program that we are very proud of at Greenacres Middle School is our peer mentor program in our Comprehensive Instruction classes, where our general education students guide, mentor, and work with our students with disabilities. Our teachers, Katelyn Godfrey and Lisa Pollman, had a vision and do an incredible job putting it into practice everyday. I believe it significantly benefits our students, both disabled and non-disable, in life well beyond

the walls of our building.

Q: Being close to family was an important consideration in your decision on where to locate after attending college, what led you to locating in Liberty Lake?

A: My wife’s side of the family have deep roots in Liberty Lake dating back to her great grandparents Homer and Della Neyland, who owned and operated Sandy Beach Resort. I myself am an implant. In addition to family,

I think what drew us most to this community is not only its natural beauty, but most importantly the great community of people that are passionate, supportive, friendly, and care deeply about preserving and improving the area for generations to come. I also wanted to serve the community that I live in as a principal. Liberty Lake provides a “Sandlot” type childhood for our kids and we are fortunate enough to have incredible friends here to share that with. Liberty Lake is a

We that new branch smell.

special place and places like this are hard to find.

Q: What do you enjoy the most about being a father and husband?

A: What I enjoy most about being a father and husband is the deep sense of connection and responsibility I feel towards my family. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about watching our children grow, learn new things, and discover the world with fresh eyes. I love sharing the small moments with them because the small moments are the big moments. The bond we have as a family is a constant source of strength and joy in my life. My family is my “why”. What I enjoy most about being a husband is the day-to-day teamwork, strategy, and mutual love that we share for each other attempting to take full advantage of the days that we have. My wife flat out makes me a better human. She is loving, caring, funny, tough, hard working, an absurdly good mom, and is constantly striving to be better herself and our family. By no means are we perfect!

Q: You took the helm at Greenacres Middle School right as the school split with the opening of Selkirk Middle School. What interested you in stepping into the role as principal during that time?

A: What interested me most about Greenacres Middle School was a combination of several things including an incredibly talented staff, supportive community with exceptional kids, rich history and tradition within the area, and the idea of serving the community in which I lived. A school’s identity will change any time a new school opens. My goal has always been to preserve all of the amazing traditions and systems that made GMS successful, but also infuse new life into areas that potentially needed it. We may not be the newest/shiniest building, but it’s not about the physical structure, it’s about the people in it.

Q: What have you enjoyed the most about your time at Greenacres?

A: I got into education because I had a passion for working with and hopefully inspiring people to maximize their potential. It is no different at GMS. I love our staff, I love our students, I love

the supportive and passionate community members that make GMS great. I believe that education is the world’s most important work, and there is no better thing on earth than to see a teacher light the fire of a student. We strive to inspire daily and that’s what I love most about GMS.

Q: Speaking of the importance of community. You are also active in the Liberty Lake Community, what got you interested in helping with Liberty Lake Better Together and the Bites to Go Program?

A: Marla Larsen, a former educator and long-time Liberty Lake community member reached out and asked if I would be a part of a brainstorming meeting to hopefully marry these two organizations together for the betterment of our community. That got me fired up and I take no credit for the heavy lifting of this project. What interested me most about this was the thought of helping students in need. There are many students in our community that do not have all of their basic needs met, and if we can capitalize on the generosity of this community to help get food and goods into the right hands that’s awesome! It’s easy to say yes when it directly helps those in need.

Golf Cart Service Special

Q: You are a man on the go, with demands in your professional and personal life. How do you find a healthy work-life balance?

A: This is honestly my achilles heel. I am a person that when I choose to be invested in something I go all in and sometimes it’s to the detriment of other aspects in my life. My profession is extremely demanding as is making sure that I am a quality husband and father. I’m learning that balance is an ebb and flow and it requires a lot of give and take.

Q: Finally, as we look to the new year. What are you looking forward to in 2025?

A: I’m looking forward to new opportunities to learn, collaborate, and make a positive impact both in my personal and professional life. I can’t wait to spend more quality time with my family, creating memories and maybe even ski a little and get on a river to fly fish. Also, I can’t wait to coach the Liberty Lake Yard Goats baseball team this spring.

Safety Awareness Channel

Parking Violations 22

Suspicious Vehicles 36

Significant Cases

Total incidents generated by Officers and emergency calls for service last month 821

Traffic Collisions/Hit & Runs / Injury Collisions 14

Citations (Traffic/Criminal/ Non-Criminal) 45

DUI (Driving Under Influence) 3

Thefts / Vehicle Prowls / Vehicle Theft / Burglaries 20

Malicious Mischief 6

Argument / Assault DV / Simple Assault / Assault w/a Weapon 13

2024-88008943, Warrant Arrest, 11/03/2024:

Officers observed an individual who appeared to be drinking from an open alcoholic beverage around 22500 E Mission Avenue. Officers contacted and identified the subject, who the officers subsequently learned had several warrants. Officers took the subject into custody, and they were transported to the Spokane County Jail.

2024-88009162, Trespassing, 11/09/2024:

Officers responded to the 1300

block of N Liberty Lake Road for the report of a subject trespassing at the location. Officers contacted the subject and advised they were trespassing. Officers wrote the subject a criminal citation and released them from the scene after advising they could no longer stay at that location.

messages to the minor. Detectives are working to identify and charge the suspect involved.

2024-88009602, Communicate with Minor for Immoral Purposes, 11/26/2024:

Officers responded to the 24900 block of E Spotted Owl Lane for the report of a juvenile who had been communicating with a subject online inappropriately. Officers determined that the online subject had been sending sexually explicit

There were multiple reports of people attempting to steal packages off the residential porches. Officers are continuing to make proactive contacts with any suspicious vehicles seen throughout the community that may be looking for easy targets. The Liberty Lake Police Department would like to remind everyone attempt to secure your packages as soon as possible during this holiday season. Try to have deliveries made to an occupied home or provide instructions to keep them out of the public view. Stay safe and take care of each other.

The Lookout

Survey cards coming to your mailbox!

If you live in Liberty Lake, there’s a New Year’s resolution you can make that will be incredibly easy to do. Plus, it’s one you could already check off as “accomplished” by the end of February!

Your opportunity: Resolve to share your thoughts with city leaders by taking a few minutes to respond to your upcoming invitation to the 2025 Community Satisfaction Survey.

The City of Liberty Lake will be

Meet Liberty Lake’s city engineer, Luke Michels

With 2025, Luke Michels is headed into his second year – and second major project – as Liberty Lake’s city engineer.

Michels – whose last name is pronounced the same as the nationally known chain of arts and crafts stores – started his job with the city’s staff back on June 3. His role involves managing the design of the city’s transportation and stormwater projects, as well as reviewing plans to ensure that public and private development projects comply with city standards.

Michels joined the city’s staff in time to help out with the bulk of the Appleway Avenue overlay and Country Vista turn lane project that was constructed from September through November. By the numbers, that $1.444 million project involved 3,900 tons of asphalt, 1,100 square yards of sidewalk, 1,350 feet of new curb and gutter, and 280 feet of drainage pipe.

Next up for him is the East Mission Avenue overlay project, which is currently under design and will begin construction late this spring. This work will rehabilitate the section of roadway and curbing on East Mission from East Country Vista Drive to North Molter Road,

sending out invitations for the 2025 edition of the Community Satisfaction Survey to mailboxes throughout the city during Jan. 20-25. This survey is one of the best ways Liberty Lake residents have to influence decisionmaking at City Hall. Residents can make their voices heard by contributing their responses and viewpoints on questions addressing local quality of life, public safety, economic opportunity, city service, government transparency, and

more.

Responses from the survey will be used to help guide the process of Liberty Lake’s current 2024-2028 Strategic Plan. You can check the results from the 2024 survey right now on the city’s website at: www. libertylakewa.gov/793/StrategicPlan.

Don’t let this particular ball drop. Watch for the postcard with your invitation, resolve to let city leaders know what you think, and celebrate your part in making a local impact during 2025.

with most of its $1.415 million cost being funded through a federal grant. Another major item on the city engineer’s to-do list will be improvements to Sprague Avenue, which could start as soon as 2027.

Michels came to Liberty Lake after 5 ½ years as a geotechnical engineer with the Hayden office of the Strata engineering and construction company. He grew up in Billings, Montana, and attended South Dakota’s Black Hills State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree studying outdoor education and history, with a minor in earth science. A job he began in 2006 doing materials testing and in materials testing and geotechnical field explorations in Missoula, Montana, put him on his current career path.

“That’s when I got really interested in geotechnical engineering and decided to go back to school,” said

Michels, who now has a master’s of engineering degree in geotechnics through the Missouri University of Science and Technology. “I also got interested in construction with that job.”

The city engineer lives in Coeur d’Alene with his wife and two daughters. Having grown up playing ice hockey and collegiate football and basketball, Michels still enjoys some recreational hoops time as well as deer hunting.

Reflecting on his new activities for Liberty Lake since the summer, Michels said: “What attracted me to this job is that it involves a small city with a small staff and working more hands-on. It has been interesting to learn how the city works and operates – learning other aspects of engineering that I haven’t been involved with in the past. I’m much more looking at the whole picture.”

Reserve your 2025 community garden spot!

Reservations for city community garden spots will open on Thursday, Jan. 2, starting at 8 a.m. Liberty Lake offers community garden sits at Rocky Hill Park and at the Nature’s Place at Meadowwood Arboretum pathway just east of City Hall.

Community garden spots are only open to residents from within the city limits of Liberty Lake, and are available on a firstcome basis. The fee is $25 per season.

Community garden reservations may be made directly at the reception desk of Liberty Lake City Hall, or over the phone at 509-755-6700.

Trailhead’s next indoor winter golf league starts on Jan. 5

Signups are open for the next indoor golf league session at Trailhead Golf Course. The upcoming 7-week session will run from Jan. 5 to March 1.

Trailhead’s two Full Swing simulators currently offer virtual recreations of 57 PGA golf courses. The three newest courses were added this fall: Colonial Country Club (Fort Worth, Texas), Olympic Club (San Francisco, California), and Great Waters at Reynolds Lake (Eatonton, Georgia).

The indoor league’s $240 fee covers the entry fee as well as simulator times for twosomes. Interested participants can call 509-928-3484 for more information or to sign up.

The simulators can also be reserved for non-league play. Hourly play is $45 from 10 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. from Monday through Friday, and $55 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on weekends.

City Council adopts 2025 budget, sixyear capital facilities plan

After a series of sometimes combative yet civil meetings, the city of Liberty Lake finally has an updated six-year capital facilities plan and a budget for the coming year.

City Council members unanimously adopted both documents at their Dec. 17 meeting, but not before some last minute fireworks surrounding one of the more contentious issues facing the council — the library. A new, expanded facility has been planned for several years, with the city purchasing the soon-to-be former Legacy Church building on East Mission Avenue in 2022

for $2.175 million.

Council has been setting aside funding to pay for the expansion, with the amount and methods being points of dispute at times.

The final $35.10 million budget includes just over $3.99 million in the Library Capital Fund, down $1.722 million from the originally proposed $5.715 million.

Part of that reduction comes from the removal of two revenue resources not received yet — a $937,000 Department of Commerce grant and a $500,000 planned donation. At a Dec. 10 special budget meeting, the council reducing a $1.5 million transfer from the Real Estate Excise Tax fund to the Library Capital Fund by $500,000, but augmented that reduction by transferring $100,000 from the Community Messaging Fund and $100,000 from the Building Contingency Fund to the Library Capital Fund.

The $500,000 REET funds taken from the library were applied to a $400,000 transfer from REET for payment on the $6 million in limited tax general obligations bonds voters approved in 2022 for the Trailhead Golf Course improvement project. The change brings that transfer to $900,000 to go with another councilapproved amendment to transfer $500,000 from the General Fund to Trailhead. City Finance Director Kyle Dixon told the council at the Dec. 10 meeting that the increased payment would save the city a net of $120,000 in interest.

Supporters of the library expansion on the council and in the community have accused

other council members of trying to kill the project by slowly defunding it — a sort of “death by a thousand paper cuts” approach. Council members in favor of the reductions argued this was not the case, pointing to the transfer of funding from the Community Messaging and Building Contingency funds as evidence and noting the Commerce grant and donation can be reapplied once they are received, bringing the Library Capital Fund balance back over $5.4 million.

“It’s the responsible way forward,” Councilman Chris Cargill said at the Dec. 10 meeting, noting there was still a “good chunk” of funding for the library while also saving the taxpayers some money on Trailhead.

At the Dec. 17 meeting, Cargill expressed support for the 2025 budget, saying it’s the first one he has supported in several years. He listed lack of a property tax increase, bigger payment on the Trailhead bonds, “good (financial) position on the library,” including increasing the library operating budget by 5% and increases to public safety as reasons behind his support.

Council approved a $354,398 increase earlier in December to the Police Department’s thenproposed $5.645 million budget, bringing the total amount to over $6 million and enabling Police Chief Damon Simmons to hire at

Contributed Image Snapshot of the Dec 17th

least one more officer.

In his support for the budget, Councilman Jed Spencer echoed Cargill’s comments on public safety. He added, however, that he didn’t feel the payment on Trailhead was enough and that the city lacked a plan to repay the bond.

He also noted a $2 million transfer from the General Fund to the Library Capital Fund hurt the city’s operating contingencies and the $1 million transfer from REET to the library hurt the city’s ability to maintain its roads. REET funds are typically used by jurisdictions to fund road work, although the council also approved a transfer to the Trailhead account from REET along with a General Fund transfer previously noted above.

“The library is not coming through loud and clear as a No. 1 priority of citizens,” Spencer said. “More people use the roads than the library.”

The city’s Capital Facilities Plan covers projects from 2024 –2029, and includes a list of $9.55 million capital investments to be undertaken in 2025. Those include library funding and almost $1.3 million for a surface overlay of Mission Avenue from Country Vista to Molter and $973,000 for an overlay of Mission from the storage facility to Harvard Road, the city’s two largest road projects in 2025.

City staff noted the entire list of projects on the six-year plan total well over $26 million, with $18 million of this work still unfunded. City Administrator Mark McAvoy said identifying strategies to address this funding imbalance needs to be the topic of upcoming council workshops in the new year, beginning in January.

Council contentions around the library also spilled over into other matters. After limited discussion at its Dec. 3 meeting, council voted 4-3 to reject the reappointment of Kim Girard to Position 2 on the Library Board of Trustees, with council members Cargill, Spencer, Mike Kennedy and Wendy Van Orman voting no and members Annie Kurtz, Dan Dunne and Linda Ball voting yes. Some council members and

citizens claim the move was in retaliation for Girard’s public opposition to a 2023 ordinance giving the City Council final say over library policy that could include removing or banning books. After the vote, Kennedy explained his stance by noting board and commission members need to be supportive of council decisions while Cargill expressed a desire to have “new blood” in some positions.

Both Cargill and Spencer disputed the book-banning accusations at the Dec. 17 meeting, with Cargill noting no books had been banned since the decision in 2023. The meeting also included the appointment of two more members to open positions on the library board — a move Spencer attempted to postpone with a motion to table the appointments to a future meeting pending council holding of a workshop to discuss the appointment process.

Appointments to boards and commissions are generally at the sole discretion of a mayor, with councils able to vote yay or nay on those individuals.

Spencer explained his move with his belief there was a lack of trust between the council and Mayor Kris Kaminskas regarding appointments and between the council and the library board. Kurtz said there was “no momentum” for a workshop on appointments, and reiterated members can always vote no.

Spencer’s motion failed 6-1. Council later in the meeting appointed Michael Bota and Anna Voloshin as new members to the Library Board of Trustees.

Falcons volleyball championship built on ‘we,’ not ‘me’

There are a lot of ingredients that go into a championship season.

Talent, yes. Experience, certainly. You can also add team chemistry

and off-season work — all of which the Ridgeline High School volleyball team possessed in their run to the 2024 3A state title, the first for the four-year-old school.

But perhaps one of the things that stands out about the 2024 Falcons team is that there weren’t any standouts on the roster.

All talented, skilled and experienced players for sure. But the Falcons didn’t have that one “go-to” player several of their opponents did; a player who would be called upon to deliver in tight situations.

Instead, that go-to moment was spread round, outside hitter/

defensive specialist Reagan Rothley said. For the Falcons, not having a standout was a standout.

“We have a spread offense, versatile,” Rothley said. “Everybody is good, so it’s easy to have competition (in practice) and us all get better at the same time. It wasn’t one person on our team with super high stats, it was every single person on our team.”

“We have a super deep bench,” senior right side /middle hitter Brooklyn Hillman added. “You could make subs, and the game wouldn’t change dramatically.”

Ridgeline called upon this

strength throughout the 2024 season, running up a 20-1 overall record to go with a first-ever Greater Spokane League title, a District 6 title and the state championship earned in the wee hours of the morning, Sunday, Nov. 24, at the SunDome in Yakima. While the record is impressive, the Falcons were pushed often, going to fifth sets in seven of their 21 matches — including the GSL title game against Mt. Spokane, the state semifinals against Seattle Prep and the title game with North Thurston.

Their record in fifth sets — an impressive 7-0.

“We were like, the odds are in our

Photo by Whitney Abell / Ridgeline High School
Ridgeline High School administrators pose with Falcons’ volleyball players and coaches after the team won the school’s

COVER STORY

favor if we go to a fifth set,” Hillman said. “I think our team was just physically and mentally prepared.”

That grittiness was evident right from the season’s start. The Falcons took an 8-0 Couer d’Alene High School team to a fifth set in Ridgeline’s season opener, winning 15-13 and spoiling the Viking’s unbeaten season.

“That really lit the spark for this team,” head coach Whitney Abell said. “It was like ‘whoa, we can do this.’”

Two days later, Ridgeline found itself again with its back against the wall in a fifth set with 4A Mead — and again, had the mentality, Abell said, to buckle down and get things done.

Abell and her three captains, Hillman, Rothley and senior setter Araleigh Arnold, attribute this ability to better physical and mental preparedness work in the off-season and during the season. Arnold said the previous year, the Falcons often faded late in matches partly due to the burnout of competition and not taking care of themselves.

Seeing how loose other teams were, some dancing to the betweenset music while others were doing cartwheels, also helped, Hillman said. Soon, the Falcons were right in tune again with having fun while competing, even after dropping their first set in the semifinal match up with Seattle Prep.

“We wanted to play intense, but not tense,” Arnold said.

For Abell, the moment she knew her squad was going to win a state title came near the end of the fourth set with North Thurston, won by Ridgeline 25-13 — a match that didn’t start until 11 p.m. The secondseeded Rams were struggling, and their coach subbed in a player who didn’t quite know where she was on the court or what rotation they were in.

Abell said the coach signaled in a play to be run to another better player. The player looked at the coach and said “I’m not running that.”

“And I was like, we got ‘em. We got ‘em because our girls don’t talk to each other like that,” Abell said. “They’ll tell each other if they’re not doing something, but it’s in the

betterment of the whole team.”

“This group of girls truly, deeply cares for each other and I think that’s what set them apart from a lot of other teams that we played,” she added.”

For Arnold, Hillman and Rothley, the impact of what they accomplished this season has set in somewhat as the shock and thrill of the state title becomes a bit more distant. The team was honored recently at an assembly and parade around the school, and Rothley said she still gets a kick out of seeing the trophies earned in the trophy case in the hallway outside the gym, adding with a smile she thinks the team should have their own, well-lit case.

But as part of the first group that played all four years at Ridgeline, the three realize they are in a position to be instrumental in establishing a culture and tradition unique to the school. Passing that on to the next teams was one of the reasons Abell said they changed their motto at the beginning of the post season to “Keep It Lit.”

“This definitely won’t be the last,” Hillman said.

“We took care of our bodies better this season than we have in the past seasons,” Arnold said.

The players took part in the first off-season strength conditioning program for Ridgeline female athletes, Abell said. They ran longer practices, two-and-a-half hours but with breaks that encouraged team building.

They also took part in teambuilding events prior to the season, including a team sleepover. Abell said it was the players who came up with the season motto “WEB4ME.”

“That team aspect and the WEB4ME, they truly bought into that to their core and I really think that is what pushed us to go the distance,” she said.

That sense of togetherness as a team helped Ridgeline play loose at times, including at the state tournament where a firstever appearance led to some early jitters. In the opener against Bishop Blanchet, the Falcons needed extra grit to eek out a 31-29 first set win, eventually taking the match 3-0.

Photo by Whitney Abell / Ridgeline High School Falcon players Araleigh Arnold (10), Jane Holley (5), Brooklyn Hillman (3), Kate Mulligan (1), Madison Hickman (9) and Brynlee Allred (15) rush the court as Lizzy O’Connell (11) and others celebrate winning the final point against North Thurston in the 3A title game.
Photo by Whitney Abell / Ridgeline High School
A copy of the WIAA’s newspaper celebrating Ridgeline’s state title is held by a Falcons’ fan outside the SunDome in Yakima. Pictured are Lizzy O’Connell (11), Jade Livingston (2) and Reagan Rothley (7).

Boys basketball

New year for Falcons’ winter sports teams

First-year head coach Nick Seaman uses the word “fast” when describing his 2024-2025 Ridgeline team. That’s partly because four of the Falcons returning letterwinners are in the backcourt — making Ridgeline a bit “guard heavy.”

“Our offense is fast paced with lots of three-point shooting, and our defense is fast and aggressive,” Seaman said in an email.

Seaman moves up from assistant coach to take over from former head coach Freddie Rehkow, who is now coaching the Falcons girls team. The Ridgeline boys went 4-5 in the Greater Spokane League last season, sixth overall but made the playoffs for the first time in the three-year history of the program, seeded fourth.

After a first-round loss, Ridgeline won its next three games to advance to the 3A state tournament play-in field, losing in the first round to end their season at 16-9 overall.

Key to Ridgeline success this season are guards Caden Andreas (junior) and Brayden Allen (senior), both of whom are the only two returning starters. Andreas led the team in scoring last year, averaging 17.3 points per game while Allen was tied for second at 11 ppg.

Andreas was an All-GSL secondteam selection while Allen was an All-GSL honorable mention.

“Caden Andreas (point guard) and Brayden Allen (2-shooting guard) will be the mains scorers and the motors to this program,” Seaman said. “We have a lot of seniors (7) that will come in to fill the tough roles of rebounding, full court defense and executing the offense.”

Girls basketball

Among those will be 6-foot-4inch forward Chris Roe and wings Preston Baker (6-1), Russell Neal (63), Trevor Dunham (6-0) and Jackson Baker (5-11).

The Falcons were 1-2 as of press time Dec. 16, opening with a 78-48 win over Eastmont High School of East Wenatchee before losing to Mt. Spokane, 69-39, and Post Falls, Idaho, 69-29.

Ridgeline made its first appearance in the 3A state tournament last season, knocking off Peninsula in the play-in round to advance to the field of 16 where they lost to fellow District 8 foe Kennewick, finishing with a 15-11 overall record.

The Falcons were 6-3 in the GSL, fourth overall but earned a No. 3 seed to the 3A District 8 playoffs. Those three losses came against Mead, Gonzaga Prep and Central Valley — with the Panthers and Bullpups playing in their classification state championship games, the Bullpups losing to Camas in the 4A game and the Panthers to Garfield, 62-59, in the 3A title game.

Returners for the Falcons begin with Grace Sheridan, sophomore point guard, and Madilyn Crowley, 6-foot junior post. Sheridan was the Falcons leading scorer last year at 16.8 ppg, with Crowley next at 13.1 ppg.

Crowley led the team in rebounding with 7.8 boards per game, followed by returning senior post Cayce Paske at five rebounds ppg. Sheridan and returning senior Emma Myers led the team in assists with 3.8 and 2.3 respectively.

Sheridan was selected to the AllGSL first team, with Crowley and Myers named All-GSL honorable mentions.

Ridgeline was 3-2 at press time, opening with a 60-50 win over Eastmont. The Falcons dropped their next two, 35-28 to Snohomish and 57-49 to West Linn (Oregon) before knocking off Mt. Spokane, 47-37, and Post Falls, 59-46.

Gymnastics

www.hubsportscenter.org

The Falcons have five returning letterwinners, four seniors and one junior. Two of those, seniors Julianne Stevenson and Trynity Van Gelder, were among the four competing at the 2024 3A state meet where Ridgeline finished 11th out of 44 teams.

Stevenson competed on the floor, beam and bars while Van Gelder competed on the bars. Both missed the finals but Stevenson finished in a three-way tie for 19th on the beam.

Stevenson was also named to the All-GSL first team on the vault.

Also on the varsity are seniors Elliott Edminster and Eva Harris, junior Isabella Stuck, sophomore Claire Jennings and four freshmen head coach Leah Grisafi said are “talented” and eager to learn: Kalie Hirshfield, Amy Rose, Theo Long and Finnley Wade.

“The keys to success for our team is cohesion. We work together, no matter how long or how little we've been in the sport,” Grisafi said. “Our older gymnasts have been so loving and supportive to our younger ones, and all without asking.”

Grisafi sees a chance for the Falcons to improve their standing in the GSL’s 3A classification, especially since last year’s league, district and state-runner up Mead moved to 4A. Central Valley has four returners among 16 turning out while Cheney has three letterwinners back.

“Anything is possible, but we all have our eyes on making it to state,” Grisafi said. “With Mead going to 4A, we have a chance to take our team, but it is all in the numbers.”

Boys swimming

Seven Ridgeline boys are participating in 3A swimming competition this winter as part of a co-operative team with Cheney High School. The agreement is allowed under a Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) program where two or more smaller schools or programs may form a coop team in which multiple schools participate together as a “team,” yet

the individuals compete for their respective schools.

Competing for the Falcons are senior Lucas Bulkley, junior Ethan Gingras, sophomore Daniel Reyes and freshmen Liam Gingras, Joshua Kautzman, Aristides Teske and Kevin Wang.

Boys wrestling

Ridgeline ended its 2023-2024 GSL season in seventh place at 3-6, earning wins over Gonzaga Prep, Lewis and Clark and North Central.

Key returners for the Falcons are Preston Wentling (215), Kaiden Montgomery-Jones (126), Owen Van Rossum (144), Nicholas Felice (175), Torren Northcutt (138) and David Colby (165). All advanced to regionals last year, Wentling in second and Felice, MontgomeryJones, Van Rossum, Northcutt and Colby with sixth-place finishes. Wentling and 2024 graduate Tyson Ramsey advanced to Mat Classic XXXV. Wentling opened with a 2-0 decision over Shorecrest’s Carter Nichols but lost in the second round to Praire’s Seth Blick, 6-1. He advanced in the consolation bracket with a pair of wins before ending the run in a tight, 9-8 decision loss to River Ridge’s Gabriel Johnson, who eventually placed seventh.

The Falcons are off to a good start in the 2024-2025 season, knocking off Shadle Park 57-18 on Dec. 11. Felice, Wentling, Montgomery-Jones, Van Rossum, Joey Teagle, Zach Joyner, Wyatt Schmauss, Carson Atwood, Ben Alicea-Copeland and Judah Eck all notched wins.

Wentling also placed second at 215 in the Deer Park Invitational, Dec. 7.

Girls wrestling

The Falcons have seven girls competing this winter, four juniors and three freshmen. Maelia Amen and Emmalee Merker are the two returning letterwinners from last season, joined by juniors Hailee Argaw and Josephine Snyder. New this year are freshmen Kaydence Jolley, Mia Moorman and Perla Owen.

Student of the Month

Ridgeline High School Senior Daden Lewis excels on and off the field. Daden has achieved academic accolades by completing 10 Advanced Placement classes while at Ridgeline and maintaining a 4.0 GPA and elected by his peers to serve on this years Student Council. In addition to high academic performance, he has also excelled in playing the trombone for the Ridgeline Wind Ensemble Band and lead trombone / soloist in the jazz band. Awarded best trombone section at the University of Montana Jazz Festival in both 2023 and 2024. If that wasn’t enough, Daden is no stranger in the athletic competitions as well. He has been a part of the Ridgeline Track and Field team (shotput and discus) and a starter for the Ridgeline Football team playing left tackle. Daden qualified as an all-league player last season in both sports. Daden’s dream college is Stanford University and hopes to pursue engineering while continuing to throw and participate in the college pep band.

Volleyball Champion and Ridgeline Senior, Rahni Greene has been a part of the Ridgeline Volleyball team for the last 4 years. This year she helped take the team all the way to claim the 3A All-State Tournament champions as well as the 1st Team All-League (for the Greater Spokane League). She led her team in Kills Per Set with an impressive 2.2 K/S and a total of 230 kills [points] for the season. “I thank my team for my success and wouldn’t have been able to achieve this without their constant hard work, support, and love.” Greene also plays for the Renovators Volleyball Club and has committed to playing volleyball for Cal Poly Humboldt University in California next year. Outside of volleyball Greene maintains a 4.0 GPA and volunteers with the National Honor Society. Her tentative academic plan is to study biology.

Citizen of the Month

Sherman Belfy, family man, financial advisor, and community volunteer. Sherman the youngest of five siblings. Originally working in tire and automotive industry where he had the opportunity to serve as the youngest store manager in the companies history. Always understanding the importance of finance, Sherman changed his path and has joined the Edward Jones company with an office located in Liberty Lake. “My fascination with finance sparked in the 4th grade during a stock trading activity, where I discovered my passion for the stock market.” Sherman married his high school sweetheart Hailey and has been blessed with four children. He is an active member of the Liberty Lake Kiwanis Club, the Liberty Creek Elementary PTO, and currently coaches a kids soccer team. While not immersed in finance or community service, Sherman enjoys snowboarding, gardening, and cooking.

Athlete of the Month

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OPINION

Dear Editor

I love where I live , Liberty Lake, Wa

As a concerned citizen last nights City Council Meeting left me feeling disturbed and disappointed.

4 members of the council voted to NOT approve Kim Gerard to continue as a member of the Library Board of Trustees. Council members Van Orman ( a moderator on this page ), Spencer,Kennedy and Mayor Pro Tem Cargill. ( also a moderator on this page)

There was no indication,reasons or discussion provided for why they would not approve her prior to the vote.

Kim has served the community faithfully on the board since 2021. This a volunteer position for which she is well qualified. Other members of the board of trustees expressed disbelief over the vote as well as the Library Director. They sited her commitment, expertise and dedication. There has NEVER been a complaint or suggestion that she has failed in her responsibilities .

This should have been a routine approval.

The Council claims to want transparency in our government yet did not and would not provide their reasons.

Kim was outspoken during the book ban and subsequent ordinance rewrite to change control of the library to council. She spoke in support of the 1st amendment, intellectual freedom and the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read. In the absence of any comments from these council members it has the appearances of retaliation for her standing up for the Library and the Citizens.

d’Alene.

Council Member Kurtz expressed outrage and asked the council members why they had voted this way. Only Councilman Kennedy responded when pressed by saying that Kim had threatened to sue the city. Kim spoke later that she has never made such a threat.

If the Council truly wants transparency then I ask that the members of council speak to this issue at the next council meeting and that Council Member Kennedy provide specific documented proof of his claim.

Note this is my opinion of the actions I witnessed last night. I encourage you to watch the meeting on You Tube or the City Website. Forward toward the end of meeting for the relevant portions.

Kathryn Atkins

EDITOR/PUBLISHER Ben Wick ben@libertylakesplash.com

CO OWNER Danica Wick danica@libertylakesplash.com

CONTRIBUTORS

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ENRICHED LIVING. LASTING VALUE.

ON THAT NOTE 2025 Community Engagement Challenge

Each year as we take time to be with family and friends we realize we have so much to be thankful for and we can’t help but think about those who might not have as much as we do. In that spirit we wanted to dedicate this edition to highlighting a few of our local non-profit organization that are doing some amazing things to help our community. As you look to 2025 and think about what your goals are and what you want to accomplish, we at the Spokane Valley Current challenge everyone to make some time to volunteer with or consider a donation to help support these or one of them many other organizations that support our community.

Partners Inland Northwest (formerly Spokane Valley Partners)

For nearly 35 years Partners Inland Northwest has served families in our community, from food to clothing and most recently diapers. Partners helps serve our neighbors at their point of crisis. Unfortunately, that need has grown dramatically in recent years with a 400% increase since 2019 to now serving over 180,000 people each year. That’s 200 households needing service daily with an average of 20 new households reaching out every day.

Spokane Valley partners provides over 1,300 tons of food per year, 52 tons of clothing per year, and is operated primarily by volunteers with 17,533 hours of volunteers service helping keep the service going.

“We would love to report that the worst is over, and the tide is shifting, but unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be our present reality.” Dr Cal Coblentz, Chief Executive Officer for Partners Inland Northwest.

As you consider how to spend quality time with your friends, family, or coworkers. Consider

hosting a drive, volunteering for a few hours together, or assisting through financial contributions.

A $500 contribution will provide three meals a day for a family of four for a year; $96 will diaper a baby for a year.

Thanks to a private donor, every dollar given will be matched up to $10,000.

HUB Sport Center – ‘Fields for our Future’

A project that started nearly four years ago when a donor came up to HUB Executive Director Phil Champlin and said ‘We love what you are doing indoors, have you thought about outdoors?’

Doing a little research Champlin quickly found what sparked his heart and solidified the plan. ‘Kids are being turned away’ especially from places to play football, lacrosse, and soccer in our area. Champlin sprang into action.

The Fields of our Future is an exciting expansion project for the HUB Sports Center. Currently in phase 2 of construction and fundraising (with phase 1 being the securing of the land) the HUB has raised over $5.1 million of the $7.93 million goal to build two synthetic turfed fields, an expanded parking lot, and a building for restrooms, team meeting space, and an area to support the field maintenance equipment.

The two synthetic fields were able to open this last fall along with the additional 160 parking spaces with support for electric vehicle charging stations. However additional contributions are needed to bring the building with permanent restrooms and maintenance facilities to fruition. The long term plan for the expansion includes an additional three fields, pickleball and tennis courts, inclusive playground, path connection to Selkirk Middle school and more.

The only other facility in our region able to provide access to the synthetic fields for kids to be able to play on year-round is the Dwight Merkel facility at the former Joe Albi Stadium area in Spokane which offers two synthetic fields. All other synthetic field facilities are privately owned and not open for public use.

Since opening the two fields in

October, the HUB Sports Center has already seen enough demand to have them booked 5 days a week through March of 2025.

If you are wanting to make a lasting impact on our community, consider a donation to help keep this momentum going.

Family Promise

Contrary to common knowledge, family homelessness is the fastest growing segment of the homeless population in the United State today and the Spokane Valley is no exception.

Family Promise specializes in connecting homeless families with those in their own neighborhood, increasing support networks and re-enforcing the skills needed to maintain housing.

This year in Spokane County over 3,100 students will experience homelessness, over 746 of those are from the Spokane Valley School Districts.

City of Spokane Valley contributed one time dollars to Family promise to pilot their

FLASH program (Fast Leasing and Supportive Housing). The program was anticipated to help 80 people from 25 families for the one year pilot however the they were able to help over 200 people from over 50 families and prevented the trauma on the children by getting them into housing more rapidly. “Not only are we getting people housed faster but its far less expensive than the traditional mass shelter model” according to Family Promise Executive Director Joe Ader.

However the cities pilot funding is running out and the typical grant funding from the state and federal government cannot be used for prevention so the FLASH program is in danger of ending.

Family Promise does have a support center in Spokane Valley supporting the community and donations to support Family Promise and possibly help extend their homeless prevention program can be made online at familypromiseofspokane.org or by mail to Family Promise of Spokane, 2002 E Mission Ave, Spokane, WA 99202

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