January 2014 Current

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Tectonic shift in animal protection sees regional approach operated from new Valley headquarters

Q&A WITH 2014 ‘CITIZEN OF THE YEAR’ PAGE 2

MEET GUIDES FOR NEW SV HISTORY SERIES PAGE 10

VALLEY MAKING ROOM FOR MORE WINGS PAGE 21

NEWS Citizen on all cylinders

The Current

2 • JANUARY 2014

Spalding to be honored by Chamber this month

By Craig Howard

CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR

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Just like his beloved 1954 Chevy, Max Spalding is known for classic traits that stand the test of time.

The Spokane native will be the first to tell you that Spokane Valley has changed a bit since his father moved the family auto parts company from East Sprague to a site off University Road in 1939. While the terrain may now be covered with asphalt instead of bean crops and roaming cattle, old-fashioned principles like integrity and a steady work ethic still define Spalding Auto Parts and the man who has called the business home for the past 55 years.

Now 77 and semi-retired, Spalding remains an important presence with the company his dad started in 1934, serving as treasurer/secretary and teaching classes in customer service. If a crane needs to be fixed or a hoist replaced, Max is there to provide a helping of expertise. He turned over ownership of the company to his son, Russ, three years ago.

After spending most of his life in the business of recycling cars, Spalding re-

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In addition to running one of the most successful and well-known enterprises in the Valley, Max has also made it a point to invest time and money in a variety of community causes over the years. Along with his support of organizations like Union Gospel Mission and the HUB Sports Center, Spalding was responsible for launching the Spokane chapter of Cars for Charity in 1996.

The Greater Spokane Valley Chamber

See SPALDING, page 4

The Current

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The Current

4 • JANUARY 2014

NEWS

SPALDING Continued from page 2

of Commerce thought enough of Spalding’s civic-minded efforts to name him the most recent recipient of the Harry E. Nelson Citizen of the Year Award, joining the likes of friends like Chuck Stocker and Dick Denenny. He will officially receive the honor at The Gem of the Valley Gala on Jan. 25 at the Mirabeau Park Hotel.

The Current caught up with Spalding recently at his office on the 55-acre complex that parallels Interstate 90 and sits only two miles from his alma mater of West Valley High School.

Q. A.

When did you first hear that you’d been named Citizen of the Year by the Valley Chamber?

I heard from Chuck Stocker.

It was a HUB board meeting when he told me. I was wondering why he was talking about it. I was very surprised. I know most of the previous winners. I look up to them and think they’re pretty special people. I’m wondering why I’m now a part of that. It’s quite an honor. It’s pretty nice to be included in this group.

Q. Why has it been important for you to be involved in community causes?

A. My folks always thought we should be the best neighbors we could be. I think what your parents teach you stays with you. It’s about doing what you know is right. The people here in this community have been good to us. It’s a way to give back. I also think a lot of those charities do a heck of a good job. I really believe that charities are more efficient and economical than the government. There’s more heart in it.

Q. Spalding Auto Parts will celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2014. What has changed since the company started as East Sprague Wrecking way back in 1934?

A. My mom and dad had to work very hard because they had nothing when they first started. My dad spent a lot of time here and consequently I spent a lot of time here. I grew up in this place. My folks didn’t have a lot of money. We’d buy cars from different places. Our main niche is still used parts. We try to fill in with new when we can’t supply used.

Things have changed over the years. We used to sell a lot of new parts at first, axles and things like that and then we kind of went away from that. Now we’re back to selling a lot of new parts, fenders, bumpers, taillights.

Q. Speaking of change, how different are cars from the time you were first involved in this business to today?

A. They were pretty simple. They’re

CURRENT PHOTO BY CRAIG HOWARD

Max Spalding’s namesake family business was started by his father in 1934. pretty complex now. With the computers and stuff, it’s just way more difficult unless you can diagnose it on the spot.

There are more parts. We didn’t have electric windows, electric seats or air conditioning. All those are parts, there’s just more to it. I miss the simplicity when I’m working on a newer car, but when I’m going down the road, I kind of like what I’ve got.

Q. What do you think distinguishes Spalding from your competitors?

A. We’re pretty strong. There’s no one who puts out the amount of product we do. I don’t think there’s any one yard that puts out that amount unless they’re a conglomerate. I might be talking about parts or the whole vehicle. Our delivery area spans a territory that goes to Western Montana and down into Portland. We try not to have our trucks running empty in either direction. We’ll send a truck to Seattle at least once a week. There could be mechanical shops that need a certain engine you can’t find over there. They like our product and our people.

Q. What have you liked most about being part of this industry for most of your life?

A. I’ve met a lot of nice people, a lot of nice customers. We work with other recyclers at other places. At one time I was president of our international association and got to meet people from England and all over the world. It’s a community.

Q. What is rewarding about taking

IF YOU GO ...

Max Spalding will be honored as Citizen of the Year at the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce’s annual Gem of the Valley Gala the evening of Jan. 25 at the Mirabeau Park Hotel. For more, visit www.spokanevalleychamber.org.

what some people see as a heap of junk and salvaging something worthwhile out of it?

A. My son, Dan, can look at a building, and he sees potential. I can’t do that, but I can look at a car and see the potential there. I think that’s pretty neat to make something out of nothing, to take someone else’s discard and make something good of it.

Q. Speaking of a restoration project, you’ve been on the board of directors for the HUB Sports Center for a while now. What have been some of the keys to turning around a building that was once closed and making it now one of the region’s more recognized venues?

A. They did a study once here about the HUB, that type of facility. They found out that we could stand four of them in this area without being at capacity. One in the Valley, one on the South Hill, one downtown and one on the north side. Ian Robertson got me involved with it. He told

me they needed more space for Upward Basketball. We knew there were a bunch of kids who needed a place to play. (Executive Director) Phil Champlin has been absolutely great over there. Tim Welsh of Garco (Construction) had been very good to us over the years. We’ve also made it a point to stick to our standards. We’ve had events that have wanted to serve alcohol, but we’ve said no. It’s just turned into a great place for the community.

Q. You’ve been in the Valley for most of your life. What do you like most about living here?

A. I just like the Valley. I like the people here. You go other places, things are just different. I wouldn’t necessarily move, but if I did, I’d go to western Montana.

My family is here. I went to Opportunity Grade School at the corner of Opportunity and Sprague. I remember apple orchards.

Those orchards are all gone now. You might see an apple tree in a yard now but that wasn’t how it was then. I saw an old picture the other day of Pines and Sprague and everything’s changed. Still, life’s pretty good in the Valley. It really is. You’ve got Mirabeau Park over here, that’s a really nice park. You’ve just got some really nice things out here.

Q. What do you hope the legacy of Spalding Auto Parts will be?

A. I hope people see us as good neighbors, as good people. We want to be seen not just as a business in the community but as a real part of the community.

The Current

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The Current

In case you missed it And then there were three Spokane County Commissioners were expected to make the final decision near the beginning of January of who will replace retiring state Rep. Larry Crouse, RSpokane Valley.

When they do, they will choose from three finalists put forward by GOP precinct committee officers: Robert McCaslin Jr., Leonard Christian and Diana Wilhite.

McCaslin is the son of the late Sen. Bob McCaslin and a public school teacher.

Christian is a Realtor and Wilhite is a former Spokane Valley mayor.

The commissioners choice will fill the second year in Crouse’s two-year term before facing election in November to continue serving.

The three candidates who didn’t make the cut — will we see them again in the next election cycle? — included outgoing Spokane Valley Mayor Tom Towey, current Liberty Lake Mayor Steve Peterson and Spokane County Jail Medical Director Cris Kennedy.

There’s an app for ... the Valley Learn more about the city of Spokane Valley on the go, including ideas for where to eat, shop and stay, through a new app available through Google Play or iTunes.

The city developed the new app, which is free to use and free for Spokane Valley businesses to upload their information into. For more, contact Public Information Officer, Carolbelle Branch, at 509-7205411 orcbranch@spokanevalley.org.

Enroll in free IT Academy Through a partnership with Microsoft, Washington state libraries now offer Microsoft IT Academy to the public at no cost.

Both the Spokane County Library District and Liberty Lake Muncipal Library are offering the program, aimed at providing free training and resources to make applicants more attractive in the increasingly IT oriented workforce.

For more, visit www.scld.org or www. libertylakewa.gov/library.

Ladies, SV bicycling is for you With women accounting for 67.5 percent of its bicycle commuters, the city of Spokane Valley is ranked first of eight communities identified as “Top Cities for Women Bicyclists” by The League of American Bicyclists (TLAB). The ranking is also based on Spokane Valley’s higher than average bicycle commuter rate of 1.1 percent, which is almost twice the national average of .6 percent.

Spokane Valley boasts about 76 miles of bike lanes and recommended bike friendly routes as well as 9 miles of pedestrian/bicyclist shared use pathways. The city is also close to releasing a bicycle tourism map.

JANUARY 2014 • 7

NEWS

Coalition sees future beyond barista battle

By Eli Francovich

CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR

Spokane Valley’s Coalition for Community Values won a big victory this fall. But the group isn’t done.

In November, the Spokane Valley City Council voted to restrict bikini barista stands. Prior to the change, Washington state law left wiggle room for promotional events like topless Tuesdays. When a coffee stand close to City Hall caused controversy, the City Council responded — with a healthy dose of spurring on from the Coalition for Community Values.

The new city ordinance prohibits a person from intentionally exposing a body part in public without some sort of full or opaque covering — body paint, stick-on tattoos and body dye don’t count.

Hundreds of citizens rallied behind the Coalition, signing petitions and filling City Hall to testify. For the Coalition, it was a victory; however, it hopes to make changes beyond a coffee shop on Sprague.

“It’s really not about a single business, although that was the catalyst for it,” said Shelly Clark, one of the key organizers behind the coalition. “Our laws are having to step up and address things that we previously took for granted.”

For Clark, it’s not about regulating how people live their lives. Instead, it’s about protecting the public space.

“I don’t really find anyone that disagrees with what our goals are in terms of common decency,” she said. “We weren’t going out of our way to look for people. We aren’t on a witch hunt.”

That’s one way that their mission has been misunderstood, she said. The problem with the bikini barista stands wasn’t that they were scantily clad; instead it was an issue of visibility.

In fact, Clark thinks bikini barista stands are actively subverting the law in order to profit. Instead of being forced to comply with adult entertainment standards, these places are allowed to use near nudity as a promotional trick. Clark, who is the co-owner of Pet Vet Hospital and Wellness Center with her husband, Keith Clark, who is a Central Valley School Board member, thinks this is unfair to other local businesses.

“In the Valley, we had some of these [non-bikini] espresso stands putting their life savings into these stands and having to compete,” she said. “It’s really a way to skirt the laws. We had business owners actually testify who worked across the street who said, ‘Hey, we’re losing our customers.’”

This was made possible by vague lan-

COALITION FOR COMMUNITY VALUES “Our group was initially formed in response to the public display of nudity promoted by an espresso stand on Sprague Avenue in the Valley. We are currently working with elected officials and leaders of the city of Spokane Valley to clarify ordinances which govern the display of nudity in a business.

Hopefully these clarifications will solve the problem of school children and other young people being inadvertently — or purposefully — exposed to nudity at this establishment. If a business promotes ‘adult entertainment,’ then they should be regulated as such.”

— From www.coalitionforcommunityvalues.com

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That’s why the coalition pushed for the law to deal with visibility instead. While the change has been made in Spokane Valley, Clark said the Coalition is advocating for change in Spokane County and the city of Spokane as well.

“If you take your map out and look at all the unincorporated areas, this could be going next to soccer fields, this could be going next to all sorts of places you don’t want it to be,” she said.

The coalition was first formed in October when two or three local women noticed the stands and became alarmed.

Clark said momentum quickly grew.

Within 10 days, a committee of nearly 300 had formed and 2,000 signatures had been gathered for a petition.

Since the law changed, she said momentum has ebbed; however, she doesn’t believe it’s done. The core of the Coalition remains passionate about the work.

“This is about people from all kinds of different backgrounds and persuasions.

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R E A L E S TAT E

S 8 • JANUARY 2014

2014:

YEAR OF THE DOG AND CAT

COVER STORY

helter hift

By Craig Howard

CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR

It is mid-morning at the headquarters of the Spokane Regional Animal Protection Service, and Nancy Hill is juggling architectural designs, training schedules and the color schemes for tile floors.

The longtime executive director of SCRAPS is accustomed to cramped and chaotic conditions at the office situated in an obscure corner on Flora Road, but with the impending transition to a regional agency, the scenario has reached new proportions.

“My office will become a training room this month,” Hill says on the chilly December day. “Right now, we’re just figuring out how to go regional without the new location.”

That “new location” is at the center of a tectonic shift in Spokane County’s animal protection terrain, a transition that will move the enforcement and shelter components in the city of Spokane –previously overseen by SpokAnimal — to SCRAPS. The building at 6815 E. Trent Avenue once housed a Harley Davidson dealership and is currently undergoing a major renovation. SCRAPS officials are targeting May 2 for the official opening of their new home. The staff will go from 25 to 50 on Jan. 1.

“I think it’s absolutely going to be a flagship facility for animal control throughout the nation,” said Spokane County Commissioner Todd Mielke, a champion of the regional approach since discussions began more than six years ago. “What’s nice is that it’s not tucked away behind some gravel quarry.”

Mielke maintains that the residents and animals of Spokane County deserve a facility like the one that saw framework emerge in mid-December. He refers to a statistic showing the average household in Spokane County is home to two animals.

“People here care about animals,” Mielke said. “Anytime people hear about endan-

SCRAPS doubling staff, moving locations in transition to Valley-based regional agency gered animals or animal abuse, our phones ring off the hook. The public does pay attention.”

At the beginning of 2013, the cities of Spokane Valley and Spokane each approved respective 20-year contracts with SCRAPS. The vote cleared the way for a regional agency that will administer uniform enforcement of laws and public policy while operating at a central location that advocates say will improve dog and cat adoption rates and simplify reporting of lost and found pets as well as injured or mistreated animals.

“The regional approach is better all around,” said Hill, who started at SCRAPS in 1986 and has served as executive director since 1995. “It’s going to be good for the animals, good for the entire community.”

SCRAPS will go from an aging 12,000-square-foot building with poor ventilation and inefficient heating and cooling to a centrally located structure featuring nearly 30,000 square feet of space. There will be 100 dog runs at the facility, while cat capacity will go from 70 to 120. A community room will hold 50 people and serve as a hub for training and volunteer education.

Spokane County paid $1.7 million for the new site located on just over 3 acres along a major thoroughfare in the western section of Spokane Valley. Mielke said the current shelter — now over 40 years old — is acknowledged as an outdated and obtuse venue that has not furthered SCRAPS’ mission.

“We have a building that we have bandaided as many different ways as possible,” he said. “It is the absolute worst location. It’s on a dead end road, wrong side of the railroad tracks, no fire hydrants, customers can’t find you, volunteers can’t get to you, people who don’t drive can’t get to you because there’s no public transportation.”

Mielke and Hill have been rallying local

See SCRAPS, page 9

The Current

SUBMITTED RENDERING

This rendering from ALSC Architects envisions what the new SCRAPS headquarters will look like when doors officially open to the new site at 6815 E. Trent Ave. The target date for opening is May 2. Inset is a photograph of how the building currently looks. It is in the process of being renovated from its former use as a Harley Davidson dealership.

CURRENT PHOTO BY CRAIG HOWARD

SCRAPS Executive Director Nancy Hill greets a cat in early December from the organization’s Flora Road headquarters.

SUBMITTED RENDERING

This glimpse at what the reception area of the new SCRAPS headquarters will look like was put together by ALSC Architects. In 2014, SCRAPS is doubling its staff as it greatly increases its service area to be a true regional provider of animal protection. The new 30,000-square-foot facility is a marked improvement over the organization’s current 12,000-square-foot headquarters off Flora Road.

The Current

A ‘tail’ of two cities Liberty Lake, Millwood balance benefits of regional approach

By Craig Howard

CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR

As jurisdictions throughout Spokane County invest in the merger of animal protection, Liberty Lake and Millwood may not hold the most stock — but, as the New Year dawns, the two cities will be closely monitoring the numbers.

While Spokane Valley represents around 48 percent of the workload for the Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service, Liberty Lake checks

SCRAPS Continued from page 8

leaders around the idea of regional animal protection and a new facility since 2007. A regional animal task force was formed in 2008 to address the logistics of a potential transition.

“From the perspective of government, we should always be trying to reduce costs for the citizens or improve service,” Mielke said. “I think with regard to some of the regional projects we’ve looked at like animal control, there was the potential to do both.”

The campaign headed to the ballot in November of 2011 with an ambitious funding initiative that would have provided up to $15 million for the establishment of a new regional shelter. County officials were talking with representatives from the city of Spokane about purchasing and retrofitting property at Havana and Broadway near the Spokane County Interstate Fairgrounds.

While Hill, Mielke and their allies were hopeful going into the general election, voters resoundingly rejected the increase in property tax by a 56 to 44 percent margin.

“I felt like the project wasn’t defined enough,” said Hill. “There was also a lot of voter apathy going into that election. We just had to go back and figure things out.”

Mielke said one of the challenges of developing support for the regional model had to do with delivering the message to a shifting collection of elected officials. The goal, Mielke said, was “to create a certain amount of synergy for the project.”

“It was a matter of keeping everyone to

JANUARY 2014 • 9

COVER STORY in at just under 2 percent. Millwood is closer to 1 percent. The cost of a SCRAPS contract to a jurisdiction is based on the average level of service in that particular town or city.

At the end of 2012, the Liberty Lake City Council seriously considered shifting its contract to SpokAnimal but ended up re-signing with SCRAPS for $11,620. The renewal came with the understanding that the agency would work to improve rates of dog and cat licensing to create an increased revenue stream and offset costs incurred by the city.

A year later, Liberty Lake City Administrator Katy Allen said the numbers are not reflecting the anticipated improvement despite efforts by SCRAPS Executive Director Nancy Hill to work with the Liberty Lake Police Department on raising awareness.

“Our city is growing, but we’re still not seeing an increase in licenses,” Allen said.

Liberty Lake coordinated its own animal protection services from 2004 to 2007 but returned to SCRAPS in 2008. the same level of understanding as you get a new slate of City Council members from one jurisdiction to another,” he said. “It’s not like Spokane County could go forward on its own, and then people could join later. Often, by the time we had put together a proposal, we had an entirely new set of leaders. We did a lot of backtracking in this process.”

Despite the defeat, Mielke remained optimistic that residents would support the regional concept.

“There was this bigger message of rethinking our approach and going back to what we heard when we were out at the community meetings,” Mielke said. “I didn’t hear a single person during that campaign tell us the regional approach was not a good idea. They also recognized we needed to address the current building. The positive thing that came from what happened on the ballot was that buildings we were not aware of before came to our attention at a much reduced cost than we thought we’d have to pay.”

As the regional campaign hit the road again, Spokane Valley City Council Member Chuck Hafner said Hill and Mielke “did an effective job of answering questions and addressing concerns.”

“I thought it was a very positive dialogue,” Hafner said. “Nancy is a very good administrator and knows what she’s talking about.

If we needed clarification on an issue, she was able to provide it. I’d say, overall, we’re very happy with the interlocal agreement.”

The transition to a regional concept did not require a drastic shift in Spokane Valley’s budget. The price tag in the regional

The city has approved a contract in the amount of $9,700 for 2014. Allen says she is hopeful the new regional approach will translate to long-term success for the agency and the jurisdictions it serves.

“As a region, our goal is to be efficient in the services we provide to the community,” she said. “I think SCRAPS does a good job managing a lot of animal protection issues, but I also think it will be important to assess their efficiencies and responsiveness as the years go by.”

In Millwood, the shift to a regional format will mean citizens paying more for dog and cat licenses. To this point, the city purchased the tags and issued the licenses, keeping half the fee and distributing the other half to SCRAPS along with additional funds for its animal control contract. According to Millwood Finance Director Tom Richardson, the city was able to keep license fees more affordable by underwriting part of the cost through the general budget.

“Our City Council consciously made the decision to keep the fees low in order to encourage pet owners to get licenses,” context will consist of $242,000 in operational costs and $45,000 in debt service for the new facility. The city budgeted $285,000 for animal protection in 2013.

“That was always the condition for us — that it would not increase the costs,” said Morgan Koudelka, senior administrative analyst for Spokane Valley.

Koudelka noted that while debt service on the new shelter will be a reality for the next 20 years, the site itself is projected as a 50-year building. SCRAPS has also agreed to a cap on operational costs. Following in the footsteps of the task force, Spokane Valley will be among the jurisdictions represented on a new animal control advisory board that will bring ideas and recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners.

In addition to Spokane Valley and Spokane, the new regional network includes Liberty Lake, Millwood (see sidebar), Cheney, Deer Park, Fairfield and unincorporated areas of Spokane County. Hill is also waiting to hear word from Waverly, Latah, Rockford, Spangle and Medical Lake.

“Truly regional is going to be countywide with as many of the jurisdictions participating as possible,” Mielke said. “We’re talking 14 jurisdictions. We wanted the majority of the jurisdictions involved, otherwise we weren’t going to achieve our objective which was to have one-stop shopping for the citizens of the region.”

As for the overall cost of the new regional refuge for animals, Mielke said “the numbers are still moving.” The county has issued bonds for the building and renovation and will draw revenue from debt service in-

Richardson said. “Now that SCRAPS is more of a regional service, it is no longer possible for us to underwrite the cost of the licenses.”

License rates will go from $5 for a spayed/neutered cat to $15 under SCRAPS while a spayed neutered dog license will now run $25 instead of $5.

Non-spayed or non-neutered license fees for cats will remain at $25 while dogs will go from $25 to $50. Discounts will apply to residents 65 and older.

“There will be a transition,” said Kevin Freeman, a longtime City Council member who replaces Dan Mork as mayor of Millwood in January. “Overall, though, I think having a regional agency is a good idea. In the long run, we believe it will cost the city less.”

Residents who once purchased licenses at Millwood City Hall will be less than two miles away from the new regional shelter just to the west on Trent Avenue.

“It will mean a more centralized location overall and an increased level of service,” Freeman said. “It’s not City Hall, but it’s still close.” corporated in each animal control contract.

The regional budget also includes some economy of scale that allowed SCRAPS to take some extra funds and apply them to the debt service. Mielke did say the county is aiming to stay below the $7 million targeted as the ceiling for financing outside a ballot.

“We’re also able to gain economy of scale through partnerships with organizations like the Spokane Humane Society and Pet Savers,” Mielke added.

While SpokAnimal may seem like the odd agency out in the regional scenario, Hill stressed that the organization will still play a role in local animal protection. She met with SpokAnimal representatives on Dec. 13 to go over details of a move that will have SCRAPS transitioning dogs and cats in legal holding periods from SpokAnimal to Flora Road on Dec. 31.

“We’re really looking forward to working with them,” Hill said. “They will be taking some animals from the new regional facility for their adoption facility.”

As SCRAPS gears up for the move to Trent Avenue in the spring, veteran employees like Cindy Taskila say the new home for dogs, cats, staff and volunteers will be a welcome change.

“I think it will be great to get our name out there with the public, the volunteers, people adopting, and rescues,” said Taskila, a senior shelter technician who will celebrate 25 years at SCRAPS in May. “It will increase the amount of people coming in.

Something like modern air exchanges will be better for the health of the animals. I’m looking forward to it.”

HISTORY Stegner and Woodard set to lead readers on tour

The Current

10 • JANUARY 2014

New history series told through the eyes of early Valley settlers

By Jayne Singleton and Bill Zimmer SPOKANE VALLEY HERITAGE MUSEUM

Howard Stegner May I introduce myself. I am Howard Stegner. I was born in Castle Rock, Minn., in 1888 and arrived in Washington with my parents in 1889. We came west on the Northern Pacific Railroad, traveling deluxe on comfortable beds made of straw.

In those days, sleeping cars were equipped with a range to cook meals. Imagine sleeping in a mobile kitchen!

We arrived in this area just after the “great fire,” when Spokane was a tent city. We first lived in a tent, too, but soon moved in with friends, the Monroe Denman family, north of Hillyard. A short time later, we settled in Latah and opened a “racket store,” later called a “dime store.”

My mother ran the store while my father worked as a Singer Sewing Machine salesman, traveling between Spokane Falls and Coeur d’Alene.

In the spring of 1890, we moved to Trent (Irvin) and started the only store between Spokane Falls and Spokane Bridge. About a year later, we took over the area post office from G.P. Dart; this was quite an asset to our store. This post office serviced most of the Valley, Pleasant Prairie, Newman Lake and Saltese Lake. People came in for their mail and bought other things.

We sold groceries, feed, plows, barbwire, patent medicine and later machinery. Our home and store were located about one block west of the Trent School.

Our family eventually held significant land holdings, much of which was acquired after the death of my father, who left mother with a $2,000 insurance policy.

In 1907, we closed the store to take care of our property.

We didn’t experience the hardships that many of our neighbors did, but life could be a bit of a challenge as you can see from the following experience: We attended church in a schoolhouse. It was 22 miles for us to drive, and we would often take our family organ along in our grocery wagon. My mother was the organist.

That’s enough of my story for now, so please allow me introduce you to my friend, Seth Woodard. He’ll give you a glimpse of what his life was like.

Seth Woodard Though my father, J.S. Woodard, was wounded during one of his 40 engagements in the Civil War, he continued to serve until November of 1864. He resettled

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE SPOKANE VALLEY HERITAGE MUSEUM

Above: Shown here in 1938, Seth Woodard and Howard Stegner take a break from digging for the original ferry post used by Antoine Plante. The remains of the post were unearthed and replaced with a cement one. The location can still be visited at the modernday Plante’s Ferry Park.

At right: Still on the trail of history in their later years, Howard Stegner and Seth Woodard visited the starting marker for the Mullan Trail, located southeast of Spokane at Glenrose Prairie.

in Kansas and tried his hand at farming.

After several crop failures, he decided to move west.

I was one of four children from his marriage to my mother, Sarah Dyer, and was 10 years old when we migrated by covered wagon from Kansas to Washington territory in 1882. We bought 170 acres from the Northern Pacific Railroad for $5 an acre in the area of what is now Millwood.

After I married in 1897, my brother and I bought 320 acres of land adjacent to our father’s land. I soon realized that with our rapidly growing population, we needed a school. With several other interested parties, we organized and opened the Orchard Park School in 1900. I served as clerk of the school board for 18 years. In 1905, our school was sold to the Spokane Grange, and we built a brick building, Seth Woodard School, to replace it.

I was always involved in my community.

For many years, I worked as a road supervisor and later became a house mover.

In 1903, when an electric car line was built through the valley to Coeur d’Alene, I gave the railroad a 60-foot right-of-way through my property. That’s why Wood-

ard Station was established. Seven years later, Woodard Station was changed to Millwood. “Mill” was for the now existing paper mill, and “Wood” was for Woodard.

The enrollment at Seth Woodard School continued to grow, and we enlarged and updated the building several times. I hope that my interest and involvement in education has helped further education in the Spokane Valley.

Join Howard Stegner and Seth Woodard throughout this 2014 as they take readers on a tour of ‘Footprints in the Valley,’ as written by Jayne Singleton (executive director of the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum) and Bill Zimmer (retired educator and longtime West Valley School District board member).

For more about this article or other aspects of the history of the Spokane Valley region, visit the museum at 12114 E. Sprague Ave. or call 922-4570.

FOOTPRINTS IN THE VALLEY In this 2014 history series from the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum, “History Heroes” Seth Woodard and Howard Stegner will take readers on a tour of “Footprints in the Valley,” month by month, through photos, documents, articles and treasure hunts.

This month: Meet our tour guides, Seth Woodard and Howard Stegner

The Current

JANUARY 2014 • 11

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The Current

12 • JANUARY 2014

COMMUNITY

CHURCH DIRECTORY Sunday School 9:30 a.m.

WorShip Service 10:45 a.m.

Calendar of Events COMMUNITY EVENTS

Jan. 20 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Jan. 1 | New Year’s Day

Jan. 30 | Otis Orchards Book Club 4:30

Jan. 2-3 | Winter Camp 9:30 a.m. to

2:30 p.m., Outdoor Learning Center, 8706 E. Upriver Dr. The center is offering two days of learning about animals, making crafts and snowshoeing. Cost is $25 a day or $40 for both days. To RSVP or for more: jami.ostby-marsh@ wvsd.com

Jan. 9 | Kids Explore and Discover Club

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4 to 5 p.m., Argonne Library, 4322 N. Argonne Road. Work up a sweat with SoccerTots as they talk about the importance of exercise.

Also offered Jan. 14 at the Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave., and Jan. 21 at the Otis Orchards Library, 22324 E. Wellesley. For more: www.scld.org

Jan. 11-12 | Digital Downloads Without the Drama Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E.

THE INTERSECTION CHURCH www.theintersection.info 905 N. McDonald Rd. • Spokane Valley Sunday Services: 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

924-3705

Main Ave. Bring your eReader to the library on these days to find out how you can enjoy eBooks and downloadable audiobooks on a variety of devices. For times and more: www. scld.org

Jan. 15 | Spokane Valley Book Club 2 to

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as $7 a month, area churches can share service times, special programs or upcoming events in The Current. Call or email to learn more: 242-7752 or advertise@valleycurrent.com.

3 p.m., Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Join fellow book lovers to discuss “Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever” by Bill O’Reilly. For more: www.scld.org

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to 6 p.m., Otis Orchards Library, 22324 E. Wellesley. Join fellow book lovers to discuss “Little Bee” by Chris Cleave. For more: www. scld.org

Feb. 22 | White Night of Hope 6 p.m.,

Spokane Convention Center. This white carpet event is a fundraiser for GraceSon Housing Foundation and will feature live art and local musicians, The Rub. To register or for more: www. gracesonhousingfoundation.org

March 1 | Father Daughter Dance 2014

Liberty Lake Kiwanis will present this 9th annual event 7 p.m. at CenterPlace at Mirabeau Point.

Tickets are $45 per couple ($20 each additional daughter) until Feb. 24. To purchase tickets or for more: www.libertylakekiwanis.org, 979-6652 or 951-3573

Recurring/Upcoming Spokane County Library District Valley

branch locations include Argonne, Fairfield, Otis Orchards and Spokane Valley. Special events and weekly activities for all ages including book clubs, children’s story times, classes, teen anime club and writing clubs. For more: www.scld.org

Liberty Lake Library 23123 E. Mission Ave., Liberty Lake. Various clubs and weekly

meetings including book clubs, children’s story times, LEGO club, computer drop-in class, knitting club and more. Save the date for the annual Friends of the Library tea on April 26!

Tickets are $25 and will be available in March.

For more: www.libertylakewa.gov/library

Rockford Crochet Class Saturdays, 10 a.m. to noon, 229 S. First, Rockford. Join others at the weekly Crochet class held in the Rockford Community Center. Other types of craft, sewing, needle work are also enjoyed. Stop in and stitch and visit with others. For more: 8924412 or 291-3722 Spokane Valley Eagles 16801 E. Sprague.

Breakfast served Sundays 9 to 11:30 a.m. For more: foe3433.com Spokane Valley Writer’s Group 6 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of every month, Liberty Lake Municipal Library, 23123 E. Mission Ave. This supportive critique group welcomes adult writers. For more: 570-4440

MUSIC & THE ARTS Dec. 31 | New Year’s Eve Mirabeau Ballroom Bash Max at Mirabeau Restaurant and Lounge, 1100 N. Sullivan Road. This event will feature the Martini Brothers. For more: www.maxatmirabeau.com

See CALENDAR, page 13

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The Current

JANUARY 2014 • 13

COMMUNITY

CALENDAR Continued from page 12 Jan. 4 & 5 | Auditions for “The Big Five-Oh” Liberty Lake Community Theatre,

heartwarming comedy. Admission is $14 for adults, $13 for seniors and students or $15 at the door. For more: www.ignitetheatre.org

(3-4, 31), Salty Doggs (10-11), Usual Suspects (17-18) and Jesse Westin (24-25). For more: www.maxatmirabeau.com

Jan. 14 | “I Am: One Nation” concert

Spirit of Spokane Chorus Tuesdays, 6:45 p.m., Opportunity Presbyterian Church, 202 N. Pines. Make new friends by joining this women’s chorus, specializing in four-part, a capella harmony in the barbershop style. For more: 218-4799

22910 E. Appleway Ave. Those ages 16 and older are encouraged to audition for this comedy that will be presented Feb. 28 through March 8.

For more: www.libertylaketheatre.com

7:30 p.m., Central Valley High School Theatre, 821 S. Sullivan Road. This concert by the CV Wind Ensemble will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. Tickets are $5. For more: www. cvsd.org/centralvalley

Jan. 10-12, 17-19 | “The Rainmaker”

Recurring

7:30 p.m. (Fri. and Sat.) and 2 p.m. (Sun.), Ignite! Community Theatre, 10814 E. Broadway Ave. When a man promises rain to a droughtstricken town, one family finds more on the way than just much-needed rain in this

CIVIC & BUSINESS

Mirabeau Blues 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Max at Mirabeau Restaurant and Lounge, 1100 N. Sullivan Road. Fall into the House of Blues during the month of January with Laffin Bones

Jan. 4-5 | Spokane Gun Show & Flea Market Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana

St. For more: 208-746-5555

Breakfast: Biz Buzz (speed networking)

6:30 to 8:30 a.m., Mirabeau Park Hotel & Convention Center, 1100 N. Sullivan.

Cost is $25 for members and guests; $45 for non-members. For more: www. spokanevalleychamber.org

Jan. 23-26 | Inland Northwest RV Show Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana

St. Special show prices, huge trade-in values and fantastic deals on RVs and accessories will be on hand. Admission, which is good for all weekend, is $8 (12 and under free). For more: www.spokanervshow.com

Jan. 25 | Gem of the Valley Awards

See CALENDAR, page 30

Jan. 17 | Business Connections

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The Current

14 • JANUARY 2014

COMMUNITY

Next chapter being written at Inland Northwest Baby STUFF THE BUS Inland Northwest Baby’s annual Stuff the Bus event, with 75 diaper drives in 75 days, kicks off Jan. 1 and goes until the first weekend of April.

This year’s goal is 150,000 diapers, which is 50,000 more than what was collected last year.

INWB is looking for local businesses, area groups or any professional organization to volunteer to host a diaper drive between January and April.

Organizations can either commit to 1,000 diapers, $250 or a combination of the two.

Donations can be dropped at the INWB office or taken to the Stuff the Bus event.

For more, visit www.inlandnwbaby.org or call 499-0670.

CURRENT PHOTO BY VALERIE PUTNAM

Julie Sheldon, who has seen Inland Northwest Baby from its founding through today along with her son, Jesse, is helping the organization transition into new leadership.

By Valerie Putnam

CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR

Inland Northwest Baby is growing up.

INWB, the first and only diaper bank in the area, is in the process of a leadership transition as both the founder and executive director are shifting their responsibilities with the organization.

“We’re not shutting down,” Founder Jesse Sheldon said. “People assume we’re closing, but the organization is going to continue. It just needs the community’s help.”

Sheldon, who graduated from Central Valley High School in June, attends the University of Washington in Seattle. He plans to remain involved in the organization as president of the board. His mom, Julie Sheldon, who as the executive director handled the day-to-day operation, has moved to Las Vegas.

Jesse Sheldon said they are looking for leaders in the community to serve as advisory board committee members. Ron Shine has agreed to take on a program manager role in the interim.

Shine is founder of the West Central Baseball League, a no-cost baseball league for West Central youth, and Shine West Sports.

“We’re looking for a small group to help lead this organization,” Jesse Sheldon said.

“They need to be driven, passionate and connected.”

The successful Valley-based nonprofit that provides diapers, clothing and hy-

giene items to low-income families has grown steadily during the past three years.

To date, it has distributed more than 175,000 diapers and filled 8,000 requests for assistance.

Instead of giving the diapers directly to families, INWB distributes to local social service agencies based on requests. Its regional distribution network provides items to 35 different agencies in Spokane, Stevens, Grant and Kootenai Counties.

Sheldon said organizations that could only provide 12 diapers a month to a family now provide 40 with the help of INWB. But even with INWB’s success, the unmet need in the area is staggering.

“Let’s say you could give us a million diapers today,” Sheldon said. “They would all be gone next week. The need in the greater Spokane area is huge.”

As an eighth grade student, Sheldon held his first diaper drive at his church in 2009. The idea for the drive came after reading a Time Magazine article written about Joanne Samuel Goldblum, a diaper bank director in Connecticut. The article described how Goldblum observed a mom in a restroom who emptied the solids from a soiled diaper and placed it back on her baby.

“Diapers were something I never heard as a need before, so reading that made me think about it,” Sheldon said. “There is no federal, state or local support for diapers.

It is totally out of pocket cost for families.”

Sheldon’s efforts resulted in the collec-

tion of 3,500 diapers, which he donated to St. Anne Family & Children Center, in downtown Spokane.

KSPS-TV sent a professional film crew with Sheldon as he dropped off the diapers. The video was placed on YouTube.

Using the video as his launching pad, Sheldon emailed the link to Goldblum.

“I just wanted to let her know how she impacted a 14-year old kid across the country,” Sheldon said. “I wanted her to know what she was doing is awesome.”

After conversing back and forth via email for several months, Goldblum invited Sheldon, then 15, to meet her and tour Seattle’s West Side Baby diaper bank in February 2010.

During the tour, he learned mothers struggling to provide diapers for babies is a national challenge.

“Driving back from Seattle, Jesse turns to me and says, ‘Mom I think I’m supposed to start a diaper bank,’” Julie Sheldon remembered. “Alright, I’m behind you. I will support this.”

Using inheritance from Julie’s mother’s estate, the business was incorporated in April 2010 as Spokane Diaper Bank. The name was later changed to Inland NW Baby. Sheldon held his first “Stuff the Bus” drive at Central Valley High School that spring, collecting 15,000 diapers.

“Mom and dad were willing to give up everything and anything to help support me and what I wanted to do,” Sheldon said.

See INWB page 15

Here’s how your family can help another in need

By Valerie Putnam

CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR

Inland Northwest Baby provides diapers, clothing from newborn to size 6 and hygiene items to families in need. According to founder Jesse Sheldon, they are aware of a misperception about the families being helped.

“What we always try and stress is these aren’t neglectful parents,” he said. “One or both parents are working, but they just can’t make ends meet.”

INWB is located 15303 E. Sprague, behind Paul Mitchell the School. Office hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

The organization needs volunteers to fill orders and assist with basic operations.

INWB accepts volunteers as young as 5 years old and can be scheduled at times outside of regular office hours.

Currently it has a waiting list of organizations that want to receive items that the organization can’t fill as it doesn’t have the manpower.

INWB is also looking for a volunteer interested in performing simple clerical duties during the week. Hours are flexible.

For more about volunteering, visit www. inlandnwbaby.org or call 499-0670.

The Current

JANUARY 2014 • 15

COMMUNITY

Marykaye Lost 60 lbs. & You Can Too!

INWB Continued from page 14

“This is why the organization is so successful.”

“It literally was the focus of our family,” Julie Sheldon said. “But it gave him opportunities to develop marketing and public speaking skills. … Things that may not have happened for him happened because of this organization.”

Operations began in Julie’s mother’s 500-square-foot house in Liberty Lake that was left to them after her passing in 2008.

“We spent a lot of time just figuring what we were doing,” Julie Sheldon said about getting started. “Neither of us knew what to expect, but he had this totally fearless, ‘I’m going to do this and make this happen’ attitude.”

They tirelessly worked getting the organization off the ground, spending seven days a week, 12 hours a day, picking up donations, filling orders and washing or mending donated clothing. Julie Sheldon washed more than 2,000 loads of donated clothing at her home.

“We would get the leftovers,” she said of the clothing. “Things were stained or tore and just needed work to go back out the door.”

As the organization began to make an impact in the community, more corporate and local sponsors started to get involved.

“I was just a kid with an idea,” Sheldon said, who at the beginning had a hard time convincing adults to take him and his idea seriously. “Now we have become an integral part of the social service system.”

INWB currently operates in a 2,000-square-foot space located behind Paul Mitchell the School and Eastpoint Church at the intersection of Sprague Avenue and Sullivan Road.

“Really, what has made the organization successful is the community’s response,” Sheldon said. “The community has always been there when we are really in need of them to be there.”

Sheldon’s five-year plans includes creating diaper pantries at participating agencies, developing a delivery system and opening a second location.

With Sheldon attending college, his mom believes it’s time for her to leave and give the organization an opportunity to become a more community-operated nonprofit. Julie Sheldon plans to remain involved in planning the fall fundraiser, the Chocoholic Frolic. The inaugural 2013 event drew more than 500 participants.

“If we’re ever going to have an organization owned by the community and not be seen as Jesse’s and his mom in the background organization, it’s time.” Julie Sheldon said.

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By Tammy Kimberley

CURRENT STAFF WRITER

A stray mitten is a common site on the playground, along the road or anywhere kids play in the snow. Most families have extra pairs to take the place when gloves go missing, but did you know some of the area’s population doesn’t have a single pair to keep their hands warm?

Duncan McDonald, 11, became aware of this reality while volunteering with Blessings Under the Bridge (BUTB), an organization that serves the area’s homeless population. He first heard about the ministry from his church’s coffee shop and decided to do his community service with BUTB as part of his Zenith project at Summit School.

During his third week volunteering at the Wednesday night feed, the group ran out of gloves in a matter of minutes. So he gave the very gloves he was wearing — his favorite ski gloves — to a person who had none.

His desire to help didn’t stop there.

Soon he was knocking on neighbor’s doors, asking friends and using his mom’s Facebook page to request hats and gloves for BUTB. In a few weeks, he had collected donations to provide 110 pairs of gloves and 58 hats to those in need.

“I only had a little bit of knowledge about BUTB and soon I was handing out hundreds of gloves,” Duncan said.

Amber McDonald, Duncan’s mom, admitted that she was at first tempted to not let him go serve. But she’s not regretted it and appreciates his commitment to solving the problems he sees.

“He told me, ‘Mom this is church,’ and it inspired me,” Amber said.

Now Duncan and his mom go to downtown Spokane most weeks and even bring along friends.

Their entire family served at the recent winter event by handing out candy canes and bracelets with cards that Duncan and his friends made.

He plans to continue spreading holiday cheer throughout the entire year.

“If everyone just helped one person, wow—that would change the world,” Duncan said.

Jessica Kovac, founder of Blessings Under the Bridge, said that when she met Duncan and heard how he encouraged his mom to get involved because he felt it would change their family, it energized her soul.

“What I have noticed is that it’s the kids who are leading the parents and being the light, the encourager, the example,” Jessica said. “It’s the children who are teaching their parents the act of truly serving.”

Jessica, whose own daughters began serving at ages 16 was 9 when their parents started BUTB, said that she loves having children volunteer with and bring awareness to BUTB. In fact, two local kids started the path for kids to get involved with the ministry on a regular basis.

Maggie and Shawn Martinson first started volunteering with their mom about a year ago by handing out food and snacks. Jessica said they are always smiling and serving on the front lines.

“Shawn makes friends with the homeless men, while Maggie lights up just being able to serve bags and treats with her mom,” Jessica said. “They make gifts when they can and special things for the volunteers.”

Shawn, 8, said he has been praying for the homeless since he was five and felt a bit shy when he went down to serve the first time. But he said the other volunteers treated them like family and he left feeling like he could give more. Besides being a regular Wednesday night volunteer, Shawn and Maggie stuff their “give banks” with money to help BUTB. “It doesn’t really matter what age you are,” he said. “You just have to look for something or someone who needs help.”

Maggie, 10, reiterated that you don’t have to do anything more than have a giving heart.

“Even just a smile can make their day,” she said.

TO LEARN MORE… Blessings Under the Bridge organizes a Wednesday night weekly feed as well as special events in downtown Spokane off 4th and Browne. There are simple jobs for kids and families to do together such as filling baskets with treats and handing out snacks.

To learn more, go to www.butb. org or search for their page on Facebook.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Kids like Duncan McDonald (above and left) and siblings Shawn and Maggie Martinson (below) volunteer their time serving the less fortunate in Spokane.

Answers to Soup Scramble: 1) garnet, 2) Alaska, 3) resolutions, 4) carnation, 5) popcorn, 6) October

The Current

Soup’s up!

Compiled by Tammy Kimberley CURRENT STAFF WRITER

Did you know that January is national soup month? Nothing tastes better on a cold winter’s night than a warm bowl full of delicious soup with some crackers or bread.

In the past, soup was often referred to as pottage, from the Latin word “potare” which means to drink. The word soup may have come from the slurping sounds people made when they drank the hot broth from a spoon.

This form of food is made up primarily of liquid. By adding ingredients such as meat, vegetables or other liquids, it creates a flavorful broth. There are clear soups and thick soups, vegetable soups and pasta soups.

Soup is one thing that kids can easily help their parents with in the kitchen. You can offer to rinse or cut veggies to prepare. You might want to help your parents set out a soup bar where you can add your own specialties to the broth. Or you can create a competition over the course of the year to try making different soups and then ask family members to rate them.

The good news is that soup nights often leave lots of leftovers. That means less time for mom or dad in the kitchen, and more time for them to spend time with you!

JANUARY 2014 • 17

COMMUNITY Just like the variety of letters in alphabet soup, January is a month full of unique celebrations and holidays. Using the clues below, unscramble the letters in the bowls to form a single word. If you get stuck, check your answers at the bottom of page 16.

January birthstone

This state became the 49th state on Jan. 3, 1959

Made at the beginning of a year

January birth flower

This popular snack is celebrated with a national day on Jan. 19

January begins on the same day of the week as this month (except for leap years)

Souper Reads Warm up a pot of soup, snuggle up with a family member and read one of these soup-themed books that are available via the borrowing systems at Liberty Lake Municipal Library and the Spokane County Library District.

“Cactus Soup” by Eric Kimmel “Chicken Soup with Rice: A Book of Months” by Maurice Sendak “Duck Soup” by Jackie Urbanovic “Mouse Soup” by Arnold Lobel “Pumpkin Soup” by Helen Cooper “Soup Day” by Melissa Iwai “Stone Soup” by Marcia Brown

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The Current

18 • JANUARY 2014 Brought to you by

About and for Valley seniors

No stopping for WV SCOPE volunteer June King

By Valerie Putnam

CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR

June King, who refers to her age as “pushing 84,” said she has no plans to slow down in the near future. With a laugh, she said she intends to stay active “as long as my old body holds up.”

Known for her service to the community, King’s busy lifestyle includes over 18 years as a volunteer with West Valley SCOPE (Sherriff Community Oriented Policing Effort). Eight of those years have been as its president, with 2014 marking her 9th year in this role.

“It’s invaluable,” SCOPE Director Rick Scott said of King’s dedication. “She’s a great leader and really concerned about her community.”

According to Scott, King is one of the longest serving volunteers in the entire SCOPE organization.

Clocking in 14,579 total volunteer hours, King has spent a great deal of time being the eyes and ears of her community.

King’s involvement in SCOPE began when the call came for volunteers to open a new West Valley office. She and her late husband, Tom, decided to join after several crimes hit their neighborhood.

Prior to SCOPE, King had been involved in Block Watch for several years.

She and Tom went through 16 hours of basic training the January before the office opened at 9411E. Trent on March 17, 1995.

When it opened, there were only five volunteers and no money.

“We used our own money to buy paper to make fliers,” King said.

The organization’s first fundraiser came when she and Tom planned the first SCOPE parade and carnival.

“We put it together in only six weeks,” King said.

When a new Sheriff ’s precinct was built, the West Valley SCOPE office didn’t have a home. That was when King approached the Mayor at the time, Jeannie Batson, about

CURRENT PHOTO BY VALERIE PUTNAM

June King, pictured here in the West Valley SCOPE office with fellow volunteer Ron Burns, has served nearly two decades for the community policing program. a vacant room in Millwood City Hall. After an extensive remodel, King helped open the new West Valley SCOPE office in 2003.

Over the years, King has filled several roles as a SCOPE volunteer. These include handicap parking enforcement, OFID (Amber Alert Program), traffic control for parades, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) team leader, graffiti tracking, latent fingerprinting, Neighborhood Watch captain, grand marshal for the West Valley SCOPE parade and C.O.P. Patrol Neighborhood.

The authority to issue tickets is reserved only for commissioned volunteers. King was commissioned in 1999 and, according to Scott, is one of 20 commissioned throughout SCOPE ‘s entire 500 volunteers.

King recalls how her ticketing once led to a low-speed chase.

TO VOLUNTEER The West Valley SCOPE station is looking for volunteers. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. If interested, call 477-0629.

It began when King and a fellow volunteer were at the Spokane Valley Mall issuing tickets for illegal parking in a handicapped zone. After they were done, King and her partner were followed by an unhappy ticket recipient.

“He followed us to the precinct,” said King, who called 911 while driving back to the station. “We didn’t want to use the key card to get into the station so we just drove around the parking lot and he followed us until a cop came.”

Two patrol cars entered the

parking lot and stopped the vehicle.

“Most of the time, we don’t confront anybody,” King added. “You just do your thing.”

Over the years, King has earned several recognitions including the Lifetime Achievement Award, honorable mention at the Sheriff ’s Office and the West Valley SCOPE Volunteer of the Year.

“There is no task too tough for her; she will get things done,” former Millwood Mayor Dan Mork said. “Plus she really loves her community and the people here.

She wants what’s best for them.”

Growing up on the Oregon coast in North Bend, King was born third of six kids. Her father was a longshoreman and her mother stayed home to raise the kids.

After her father passed away when she was 14, King remembers her mother taking in washing and

ironing to make ends meet.

“We didn’t have food banks or other free stuff they get now,” King said. “I know what hunger is and to have nothing in Santa’s stocking. But we got off our duff and tried to help ourselves.”

King moved to Portland when she was 16. There she met her husband and on May 28, 1955, the couple married in Portland’s St. Andrews Catholic Church.

The couple had three children-Michael, Michelle and Mark.

They moved to Millwood in 1968 when Union Pacific transferred Tom to the area. After moving to Millwood, King spent time visiting a 10-year-girl recovering from tuberculosis at the former Edgecliff Hospital.

“I don’t remember how I got involved,” said King, who visited her for over a year. “But her family lived in Oregon, so I would go up and play games with her.”

Having no desire to work a desk job, King has tended bar, worked her way up to supervisor at Frito Lay in Portland, worked for the Brownie Baking Company making Girl Scout cookies and separated eggs at Swift & Company in Portland.

While living in Millwood, she operated a home-based daycare facility for 14 years.

“I still have close relations with my families,” King said of her clients. “I had one family for thirteen years.”

In the early 2000s King suffered two tragedies. She lost her oldest son Michael on St. Patrick’s Day in 2000, and Tom passed away on Sept. 11, 2001.

“Life goes on, I guess,” King said.

In her free time King enjoys gardening, canning, crafts and embroidery. As far as SCOPE, King plans to continue volunteering with the hopes of making a difference in the community.

“Pay’s not that good, that’s for sure,” she said with a laugh. “They keep telling me the check’s in the mail.”

The Current

JANUARY 2014 • 19

TRIVIA TEST 1. GEOGRAPHY: In what U.S. state is Salt Lake City located?

COMMUNITY is a film about which historical couple?

6. GAMES: What early version of a video game mesmerized TV viewers in the mid1970s?

2. HISTORY: Where did abolitionist John Brown’s famous raid take place in 1859?

7. RELIGION: What are the first four books of the Bible’s New Testament, in order?

3. ENTERTAINERS: Which stand-up comedian, who starred in the movie “Back to School,” was born with the name Jacob Cohen?

8. COMICS: What is Catbert’s title in the “Dilbert” comic strip?

9. BUSINESS: What popular business did Judy Sheppard Missett create?

4. ANATOMY: What is the most common type of blood?

10. TELEVISION: What was Ray’s last name in the series “Everybody Loves Raymond”?

5. MOVIES: “Anne of the Thousand Days”

© 2013 King Features Syndicate Inc.

Valuing old baseball cards

ed between 1863 and 1980 including even minor-league players. There are descriptions introducing the various sets, full, updated checklists and values for three condition grades. Best of all, it is easy to use, and the prices seem to reflect the current marketplace. It is $29.99 and well worth it.

Q: I have a Lone Ranger comic book, Vol. 1, No. 139, issued in May 1961 by Dell. Is there any value to it? — Ted, Casper, Wyo. A: According to the “Comic Book Checklist & Price Guide” by Maggie Thompson, Brent Frankenhoff and Peter Bickford (Krause Books), your comic book could be worth as much $45. I say “could” because condition is extremely important when determining the value of comics. If your comic shows any wear, it would be worth a fraction of that amount.

Q: I have a piece of campaign sheet music, “A March to Eisenhower,” a souvenir of the 1953 inauguration. Do you have any idea of how much it is worth? — Laura, Pasco, Wash.

A: I contacted several sheet-music collectors, who seem to agree that your “A March to Eisenhower” is worth in the $20-$30 range, depending, of course, on condition.

‘Collecting’ column by Larry Cox KING FEATURES SYNDICATE

Q: My son has purchased older baseball cards for more than 30 years and has quite a collection. We need a reliable price guide so that we have a better idea of current values.

Can you help us? — Mark, Santa Fe, N.M. A: There are several excellent price guides available, but my personal pick is the “Standard Catalog of Vintage Baseball Cards” edited by Tom Bartsch, and published by Krause Books. This guide covers sets print-

Write to Larry Cox in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to questionsforcox@aol.com. Due to the large volume of mail he receives, Mr. Cox is unable to personally answer all reader questions.

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The Current

20 • JANUARY 2014

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BUSINESS B-Dubs joins trio in crowded Valley wings scene The Current

JANUARY 2014 • 21

By Craig Swanson

Some bonus thoughts from Craig Swanson on four Valley wing joints: The wings from Buffalo Wild Wings (top left) are served as shown in the picture. Elaine did not like eating out of paper boats, though she did like the wings.

The Ref’s wings (bottom right) are dang good. A friend of mine from New York who has been eating wings since they were invented in Buffalo thinks these are about the best in the Valley.

While The Ref’s taste may compare with Boston’s wings (top right), the Wednesday night price of 65 cents a wing does not stack up next to Boston’s 35 cents. Elaine and I can gnaw our way through about 20 of these. That’s $7.

Flamin’ Joe’s (bottom left) has a lot of good grub. I like the waffle fries they serve with their wings.

SPOKANE VALLEY SCOOP

I have to wonder how long the herd will continue to stampede the Buffalo Wild Wings that opened this fall at the Spokane Valley Mall. Since this is the chain’s 455th place since 1983, I am assuming this is not a flash in the pan, but I would think only a Times Square location could sustain what I have been seeing at our new B-Dubs.

If this were a movie opening, it would be like James Cameron’s “Titanic,” riding high at the top of everyone’s list of mustsee dining. I have been Buffalo-watching since they opened and have been astounded by the numbers that have flocked the place.

During the first few weeks, the wait at times was two hours long. I went in by myself once on a Sunday around noon and told the hostess I just wanted to sit at the bar, expecting her to let me pass and seat myself. Instead, she started taking down my name like she expected me to wait for the first available bar stool. I told her I am not a waiter when it comes to sitting alone at a bar and off I went down the road a bit.

The next Sunday I went back earlier, and I was able to get a spot at the bar. It was a first for me when the hostess escorted me to what turned out to be the last opening.

I found it a bit embarrassing, like I needed any help finding a bar stool. Though I knew that I was there to research this blog, to the rest of the packed bar, which all seemed to turn and watch me following my young guide, it had to look a lot like I was drinking alone fairly early on a Sunday morning. That is something I prefer to be more stealth about.

While I might have been sinning solo on a Sunday morning, there were a lot of others there skipping Sunday School to watch football, as well. If you consider how popular this chain is and that the scene I was witnessing was being repeated 455 times across the nation, B-Dubs is responsible for a lot backsliding across America. It is a great place to relapse and relax with large-screen, high-def plasmas lining the walls broadcasting every NFL game being played. Back-to-back jumbo screens in the center of the building separate the bar from the family dining area, which is only slightly bigger and only slightly less boisterous.

Part of the appeal is the noise level. For a place to eat, B-Dubs is like being at the stadium live. If you are going there to have a nice quiet meal, go somewhere else.

Likewise, if you are going there for really good food, go somewhere else. It is not that the food is bad, it is just that I find it very chain-esque, meaning it holds its own with Red Robin and IHOP and all their nationwide rivals competing in the Hun-

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

ger Game.

Though they have a fine and full menu, it is a success story that came in on a wing, if not prayer. I find it interesting that Spokane Valley took so long to get our first B-Dub while distant outposts like Billings and Missoula have been enjoying their Buffaloes for a while now.

Could it be that B-Dubs was buffaloed by, or perhaps just plain chicken of the established local wing slingers? Though I am not sure how healthy a chicken wing is, there does seem to be some healthy competition selling it.

I believe Flamin’ Joe’s was the Valley’s first wing joint, and from the start it has been a testament to the fact that the Valley loves its wing just as much as the next town. I have never been a fan of the vinegar-based buffalo flavor nor the heat when it comes to hot wings, but if a person feels different about these things, Flamin’ Joe’s has always had their wing. Apparently, more than some like it hot since Joe’s features eight increasingly hotter original buffalo sauces that peak at a sauce they call Code Red. I am a sweet and gooey kind of a guy, and Joe’s has me amply covered with 18 different sauces. Elaine, on the other hand, likes the dry rub variety of wing, and Flamin’ Joe’s easily takes care of her kind of bird with seven different versions.

The Ref opened not long ago and proved that the Valley had a big enough appetite

to fly two wing joints at the same time, though apparently our wing cravings had increased since a few years before when we let Wingers down at the mall. Unlike Wingers, but like Flamin’ Joe’s, The Ref is locally owned. Fred Lopez has been on a tear opening not just The Ref, but the Roadhouse country night club, the Black Wolf gaming center and is now remodeling the old Moose Lodge off Francis into a country night club and concert hall.

The night to try one of The Ref ’s 31 flavors is Wednesday, when they sell them for 65 cents apiece.

They are great wings, and I am sure they sell a lot of them, but I can’t be sure because on that night I am at Boston’s, where they sell wings in the bar for only 35 cents.

They have been doing it for years, and it is not a very well-kept secret. It is elbow to elbow, as the ravenous, heaving crowd pile up gleaned and cleaned wing bones, going through yards of napkins, attempting to keep the sauce from oozing past their own elbows and onto the elbows of their neighbors.

Though you could never tell it by the Wednesday night crowd at Boston’s, I would guess that the Buffalo has sucked a lot of wing lovers from The Ref and Joe’s and Boston’s, with which it shares the parking lot. Like all types of food enthusiasts, Buffalo wing enthusiasts tend to roam when something bigger and better

and more boisterous comes to town.

I root for B-Dubs and the army of young servers and cooks they have put to work, but at the same time I am partial to the wing status quo. Hopefully, the Valley is up to the task of eating our way to the success of yet another wing eatery. Judging by our overall slowly but steadily increasing average weight, it is likely that we are up to the task.

Craig Swanson and his wife, Elaine, operate a blog and newsletter called the Spokane Valley Scoop, where a version of this article originally appeared. A graduate of University High School, Craig is a lifetime resident of Spokane Valley. The Spokane Valley Scoop can be read online at spokanevalleyscoop.wordpress.com.

The Current

22 • JANUARY 2014

BUSINESS

Sunshine’s growth fuels expansion

By Valerie Putnam

CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR

Sunshine Health Facilities, a health services campus located at the intersection of 9th and Raymond in Spokane Valley, is expanding. The development broke ground in October for what it bills as the first commercial “Passive House” building constructed in the region.

The approximately 25,000-square-foot, three-story facility will add 58 beds to the existing 70-bed Sunshine Terrace, an adult resident care facility built in 1998. On the northeast side of the seven-acre campus, it will connect via a skywalk to the existing Sunshine Terrace.

Sunshine Health Facilities CEO Nathan Dikes began to plan for the project in the fall of 2012 after discussing options for the outdated three-story 1914 Sunshine House, another adult resident care facility on the campus.

“Our 1914 building is getting tired,” Dikes said.

While studying options for expansion, Dikes learned the cost to renovate the building’s electrical, plumbing, HVAC system and foundation was cost prohibitive.

Instead, he chose to go with the Passive House option for the addition.

Designed for energy efficiency, a Passive House building does not rely on standard mechanical systems for heating and cooling. Instead, using a heat recovery ventilation system, the design takes advantage of the sun and existing heat in the building.

By retaining and recycling the building’s own internal energy rather than using conventional furnaces and air conditioning equipment, the end result is significantly reduced energy costs.

“The key is the ventilation,” said Certified Passive House Consultant Sam Rodell, the architect designing the project.

“Constantly filtering the air manages the interior environment and produces higher interior air quality and higher comfort at less cost.”

According to Rodell, the building should use one-tenth of the energy compared to a traditional design. At the current energy rates, it is estimated to take six years to reap the full benefit of the cost savings.

“It’s 80 to 90 percent efficient,” Rodell said. “You’re saving money from day one.”

The Sunshine Terrace building will be “air tight” with thicker wall construction and higher quality windows and doors.

“It’s interesting, it’s like a building within a building,” Dikes said. “It’s very efficiently done.”

The Passive House design is the standard building code in Belgium, Germany and Austria. Rodell is working to get it noticed more in the United States.

CURRENT PHOTO BY VALERIE PUTNAM

Sunshine Health Facilities CEO Nathan Dikes stands in front of work on a 58-bed expansion of Sunshine Terrace, a rendering of which is shown at left as provided by Sam Rodell, the architect on the project.

Once the new building is finished, Dikes said Sunshine House’s 30 residents will be moved into the new facility. Sunshine House will be converted into storage.

The entire renovation is estimated to cost more than $3 million dollars and is scheduled to be completed by the end of September. Tamarack Ridge Construction is doing the year-long project.

By expanding Sunshine Terrace, Dikes is able to provide the community additional mental health services not currently being offered in the existing facility.

After learning about the expansion, two government agencies approached Dikes about contracting for those additional services.

“They are exceedingly interested in what we’re doing here,” Dikes said. “They are seeing it to have great potential to provide additional services to clients that are difficult to place in the community currently.”

Dikes couldn’t divulge the agencies, as neither agreement has been finalized. He anticipates the agreements will be in place prior to the opening of the new facility.

With its specialty in mental health care, Sunshine Terrace is one of only four adult residential care facilities of its kind in the state. There is a facility in Yakima and two others on the west side of the state.

As a way to manage the residential care on campus, Ron Simpson, the facilities administrator, approached Dikes with a proposal to form their own mental health agency in 2004.

“We are very mindful of the clients that we have, how we are operating and being a good member of the community,” Dikes said. “We have great policies and procedures and a very effective training regiment to ensure safety of our residents as well as our community.”

In 2004, Sunshine Behavioral Health, a mental health agency was established on the Sunshine Health Facilities campus.

“We are able to case manage all mental health issues within the confines of our campus,” Dikes said, who added that most facilities don’t have the infrastructure Sunshine Health Facilities does to take care of patients dealing with mental health issues.

Another change implemented on Dec. 1 is Sunshine Health Facilities finalized an agreement with IPC, the Hospitalist Company, to provide medical care on campus more frequently than in the past. A nurse practitioner will be on campus four to five times a week, and a physician will be one to two times.

“We’re really becoming a campus environment,” Dikes said. “It makes it easier on residents not to have to go out.”

The next project Dikes hopes to undertake is demolishing the 1914 building and constructing a facility to house centralized services such as Sunshine Home Health Care, a larger kitchen and office space.

Dikes hope to complete the project within five years.

“The campus is pretty much reaching capacity,” Dikes said, and then laughing. “I have to count my nickels and pace myself.”

ABOUT SUNSHINE HEALTH Sunshine Health Facilities currently is home to more than 200 residents and 275 staff members. The seven-acre campus houses multiple facilities, including Sunshine Gardens (nursing home and short-term rehab), Sunshine Physical Therapy and Fitness Center (geriatric therapy, orthopedic, cardiac and sports injury rehabilitation), Sunshine Terrace (residential care), Sunshine House (independent boarding home) and Sunshine Adult Family Home (licensed adult family home).

CEO Nathan Dikes is the third of five generations involved in the familyoperated business. Current ownership also includes Dikes’ brother, David Dikes, sister, Carol Dikes, and cousin, Kelly Rhoads.

Ellen Vancil started the company in 1949 when she purchased a 14-bed nursing home in the West Central area and named it Sunshine Nursing Home.

In 1965, Dikes’ parents, Joseph and Margaret Dikes, purchased the sevenacre community nursing home at its present Spokane Valley location. The three-story structure, built in 1914, was originally part of Spokane University.

The name changed to Sunshine Health Facilities in the 1980s after the original West Central home was sold. The family retained the name and changed the Valley location name to Sunshine Health Facilities.

Over the years, Sunshine Health has expanded numerous times. The first was in 1990, when an 84-bed skilled nursing facility was constructed next door to the existing building. It eventually became known as Sunshine House.

In 1998, Sunshine Terrace, a 40-bed adult residential treatment facility and 30-bed boarding home, and Sunshine Fitness Center, a 2,600-square-foot fitness center, were constructed. In 2004, Sunshine Behavioral Health, a mental health agency, was established.

The Dikes purchased single family homes and duplexes in the neighborhood to establish independent living homes in 2004. Two new duplexes were constructed in 2010 across the street from the main campus.

Sunshine Home Health was established in 2010. It is a Medicare-certified, Medicaid eligible home health agency providing services with skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy off campus.

The Current

JANUARY 2014 • 23

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Biz Notes Hancock opens new boutique style store Hancock Fabric Store opened its new 6,400-square-foot retail pad location in the Walmart parking lot at 15735 E. Broadway On Nov. 23. The former location, 15530 E. Sprague Ave., closed its doors Nov. 16.

The Valley location is one of several stores nationwide taking part in the pilot program of becoming a boutique style store.

“We’re strictly selling fabric,” said Lisa Huff, the store’s acting manager. “We’re no longer selling furniture, pillows, lamps and jewelry-making supplies.”

Huff said the other area locations are not taking part in the program. She added the new store is stocking craft kits other stores are not carrying.

The new store employs 14 and is open Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Spokane Baptist Church moves Spokane Baptist Church purchased the former Cornerstone Pentecostal Church location at 12817 E. Broadway and held its first service at the new location Dec. 1.

Prior to this location, the church met at 1118 E. 1st for two years.

According to Senior Pastor Tom Asbury, Spokane Baptist moved to the Broadway location to provide additional space for its growing congregation.

Renovation on the new facility is currently under way and is estimated to be completed by the end of January.

Cornerstone Pentecostal sold the building when it moved to its new location in Liberty Lake.

Rocky Mountain relocates; owners expand into ice cream Owners of the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory stores in the area, Rachelle and Aaron Blackmer, have expanded into ice cream with the grand opening of Pete & Belle’s Ice Cream Shop this fall at 1330 N. Argonne Road. This opening coincided with the relocation of the Valley Rocky Mountain to share space next door. It was formerly located on Sullivan Road. The Blackmers also own the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory located in River Park Square.

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STCU CFO Before adds title STCU Chief Financial Officer Bill Before will have Chief Lending Officer added to his existing title. In his new role, Before will oversee all consumer, commercial and real estate lending for the credit union. He will continue with his CFO responsibilities of overseeing the accounting, finance and compliance functions.

Before has worked for Liberty Lakebased STCU since 1989. He replaces Scott Adkins, who left to become president and CEO of a Seattle credit union.

December Honoree Spokane Valley Pastor Darrell Cole

Rockwood names CEO Effective Feb. 3, Michael Patmas will assume the position of chief executive officer of Rockwood Clinic, replacing retiring CEO Craig Whiting.

Patmas is coming to Rockwood from Woodland Healthcare in Woodland, Calif., where he has PATMAS been the chief medical officer since 2010.

Send business news and promotions for consideration for Biz Notes to editor@valleycurrent.com.

On behalf of the ciƟzens of Spokane Valley, Mayor Tom Towey and the Spokane Valley City Council would like to congratulate all the Ten Year Anniversary Community RecogniƟon program honorees. We are grateful for their dedicaƟon and commitment that help make Spokane Valley a great place to work, play, shop and stay.

Pastor Darrell Cole was honored for organizing members of the local clergy who make the invocaƟons at the beginning of each City Council meeƟng. He has been making those arrangements since the city incorporated in 2003.

24 • JANUARY 2014

SPORTS

The Current

CV grad earns first team All-American honors “For right now, I’m just trying to get better. I think I do have the capability to get there one day — I just need to keep working.”

Rehkow shines in freshman campaign as Vandals punter

— AUSTIN REHKOW, ON THE PROSPECTS OF A PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CAREER

By Craig Howard

CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR

In October 2012, Austin Rehkow earned national acclaim by kicking a 67yard field goal as a senior at Central Valley High School.

In the fall of 2013, Rehkow spanned a few more yards, leaving his home in Spokane Valley to join the football program at the University of Idaho on a full scholarship. The freshman was the REHKOW starting punter and field goal kicker for the Vandals in all 12 games of the 2013 campaign, leading the team in points with 56.

While Rehkow earned a number of honors in 2013, including being named the Ray Guy National Punter of the Week for a game in which he averaged more than 51 yards a kick, it was a distinction last month that put his first college football season in a different category.

Rehkow was one of 26 players acknowledged as a first team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation on Dec. 12, joining the likes of A.J. McCarron of Alabama, Ka’Deem Carey of Arizona and Stanford’s Trent Murphy. The 2013 list of honorees is the latest in the award’s 123year history.

“I’m incredibly honored to be named to the first team,” Rehkow said. “I was surprised when I heard about it.”

Rehkow’s average of 47.8 yards per punt led college football in 2013. The number also broke Idaho’s single season mark of 47.4 yards. He had no punts blocked during the year, while his longest attempt soared 65 yards.

After the All-American team was announced, Rehkow said there were plenty of congratulatory texts, calls and emails, many of them from back home in Spokane Valley. Rehkow was also named to the Sporting News All-Freshman team last month, and he made the third team on the well-circulated AP All-American list.

“I’ve heard from a lot of friends and family,” Rehkow said.

As part of the honor, Rehkow will be

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT

Austin Rehkow, a 2013 graduate of Central Valley High School, was named to the Walter Camp All-American first team last month for his efforts as a freshman punter on the University of Idaho football team. invited to attend three days of festivities in New Haven, Conn., Jan. 9-11. The AllAmerican squad is scheduled to visit the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, the Veterans Administration Hospital and other medical facilities, where players will sign autographs and chat with patients. The weekend — which includes several receptions and a football clinic — will conclude with the National Awards Dinner at Yale University.

Despite being named to three straight All-Greater Spokane League teams while at Central Valley, Rehkow was not recruited like a future All-American coming out of high school. Idaho and Eastern Washington University were the only two schools to offer him a full scholar-

ship. Oregon, BYU and Washington State called but never put themselves in the running. Consequently, Rehkow said he started the season in Moscow with a slight chip on his shoulder.

“That was my mentality — I just wanted to prove that I could compete at any level,” he said.

While the demands of academics and football were strenuous, Rehkow was able to make the 85-mile trip back to Spokane Valley a few times during the season.

“It’s been an adjustment living away from home for the first time, doing my own laundry and stuff like that,” he said.

“I definitely miss home-cooked meals,

but overall it’s going pretty well.”

As for the carryover from his record setting 67-yard kick last year, Rehkow said he still hears from people who saw the highlight. The field goal at Joe Albi Stadium sent the game against Shadle Park into overtime. Central Valley eventually won, 62-55.

“I do run into people who heard about it, which is pretty cool, but I also don’t want to live in the past,” Rehkow said.

The All-American also doesn’t plan to let any accolades stall his efforts to become a better player. He hopes to improve upon a field goal percentage that saw him convert 10 of 17 attempts while hitting 26 of 27 point after touchdown kicks. His longest field goal this year was 41 yards.

“I want to stay humble about everything and keep improving,” he said.

Rehkow is also looking forward to being part of a rebuilding process at Idaho.

The Vandals competed as an independent this season, going 1-11 over the course of a rigorous schedule that included bowl bound teams like the University of Mississippi, Fresno State, Northern Illinois and Washington State. Next year, they will begin play in the Sun Belt Conference.

“Right now, it’s just a matter of turning the program around,” Rehkow said. “We want to win games and get ourselves to a bowl.”

While the Vandals’ next regular season game may be nearly a year away, Rehkow is not sitting idle. He joined Idaho’s varsity basketball squad in early December as a walk-on. While at Central Valley, Rehkow was a two-time All-GSL guard and part of a state runner-up team as a junior.

Despite a kicking pedigree that could see him in the professional ranks one day, Rehkow is being careful to not look too far ahead. He has already received advice from fellow Central Valley and Idaho graduate Mike Hollis, who kicked for eight seasons in the NFL. “For right now, I’m just trying to get better,” Rehkow said. “I think I do have the capability to get there one day — I just need to keep working.”

The Current

JANUARY 2014 • 25

Highlights from your Chamber Max Spalding to be honored as Citizen of the Year at 11th Annual Awards Gala The Harry E. Nelson Citizen of the Year Award will be presented this month at the Gem of the Valley Awards Gala, an annual event to honor an individual in the community who has contributed greatly to business and the quality of life in our community.

Ron’s Drive-Inn has served the people of Spokane and the Valley proudly for 55 years — here’s to another 55!

10 Billion Burgers!

12502 E. Sprague Ave. Spokane Valley (509) 924-4660

Harry E. Nelson was instrumental in founding our Chamber of Commerce. In 1921, Nelson joined with others to form the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce where he became very involved with programs for children and young educators. Harry Nelson worked tirelessly at the Chamber until his death in 1959. The Citizen of the Year Award has been named after Harry Nelson, because of his passion for the Spokane Valley and his commitment to the business community.

A committee, which is made up of past award recipients, follows a comprehensive list of criteria to research and select the winner. Among this elite group are the following leaders: 2012 William Gothmann “Mr. Reliable” 2011 Chuck Stocker “Community Educator” 2010 Dick Denenny “Community Visionary” 2009 Peggy Doering “Community Organizer” 2008 Ian Robertson “Community Involvement” 2007 Diana Wilhite “Business Advocate” 2006 Julie Prafke “Entrepreneur” 2005 Joe Custer “Lifetime Achievement” 2004 Mike DeVleming “First Mayor of Spokane Valley” 2003 Norma Ventris “Community Leader” Awards will also be given in the following categories: Business of the Year – Tier 1 & 2,

Chamber events in January

Jan. 1 and 20, Valley Chamber Office closed due to holidays.

Jan. 3, Ambassador meeting, details to be announced.

November Honoree Spokane Valley Dr. James Harken

On behalf of the ciƟzens of Spokane Valley, Mayor Tom Towey and the Spokane Valley City Council would like to congratulate all the Ten Year Anniversary Community RecogniƟon program honorees. We are grateful for their dedicaƟon and commitment that help make Spokane Valley a great place to work, play, shop and stay.

Dr. James Harken was honored for his work as an advocate and champion of visual arts. As a member of the Spokane Valley Arts Council, his leadership helped the City to obtain two monumental bronze sculptures for the enjoyment of ciƟzens and visitors.

Jan. 7, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Government Action committee meeting, Valley Hospital Education Center, 12606 E. Mission. Cost: $20 (includes lunch). Register at spokanevalleychamber.org.

Jan. 9, 7:30 a.m., Business Education committee meeting, details to be announced.

Jan. 15, 10:30 a.m., Cafe Rio Grand Opening/ Ribbon Cutting, 13920 E. Indiana Avenue.

Jan. 15, 4 p.m., Inland Empire Tax Service Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting, 606 N. Pines, Ste. 200.

Jan. 17, 6:30 to 8:30 a.m., Business Connections Breakfast: Biz Buzz (speed networking), Mirabeau Park Hotel, 1100 N. Sullivan. Coffee and conversation begin at 6:30 a.m.; program at 7 a.m. Cost: $25 members and guests; $45 nonmembers. Register at spokanevalleychamber.org.

Jan. 23, Noon, Transportation committee meeting, Longhorn Barbecue, 2315 N. Argonne.

Entrepreneur of the Year, Community Caring Award, Charity/Cultural Services Award, Ambassador of the Year and Educator of the Year.

This elegant celebration will be held Jan. 25 at the Mirabeau Park Hotel and Convention Center, 1100 N. Sullivan Rd. in Spokane Valley. A cocktail hour will open the event at 5:30 p.m.

Rather than a silent auction this year, there will be a raffle for fantastic prize packages. Tickets for the event are $65 and include a gourmet dinner. See additional details and register on our website at spokanevalleychamber.org.

Jan. 25, 5:30 p.m., Gem of the Valley Awards Gala, Mirabeau Park Hotel and Convention Center, 1100 N. Sullivan Rd. Cocktail hour with no-host bar, gourmet dinner and awards ceremony. Cost: $65 per person or $600 per table with reserved VIP seating.

Be sure to check our website at spokanevalleychamber.org for more details and updates.

New members

Please join us in welcoming the following members who have recently joined the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce:

Century Archives Northwest Charming LuLu Crystalfontz America Community Cremation & Funeral Fairmount Memorial Park GemText Recycling Greenwood Memorial Terrace Heritage Funeral Home & Crematory Pines Cemetery South Pines Cemetery Riverside Memorial Park Spokane Cheney Memorial Gardens Woodlawn Cemetery Vince Slawter Agency American Family Insurance

1421 N. Meadowwood Lane • Liberty Lake, WA 99019 • Phone: 509 924-4994 www.spokanevalleychamber.org

The Current

26 • JANUARY 2014

SPORTS

Freeman celebrates unprecedented state title Genteman’s contributions stood out on and off field

By Mike Vlahovich

CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR

It’s not often a football player is named both the most valuable on offensive and defensive all-league teams. But Freeman’s Kian Genteman had no ordinary year.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder was the leading pass receiver, leading tackler and a leader off the field for the Scotties, who ran roughshod over their opposition and had the perfect ending to a perfect season by winning the school’s first State 1A grid championship.

On the way to a 14-0 record, they outscored regular season opposition by roughly an average score of 42-6. In the playoffs, the margin was 36-16, beating Cascade (Leavenworth) 35-14 in the crossover game that sent them on their state title way.

Their only tests came 14-7 in the season opener against Class 2A Colville and in the state semifinals when, after trailing Cashmere 20-0 in the first quarter of the semifinals, dominated in rallying for a 2820 triumph.

“The guys didn’t allow themselves not to win,” coach Jim Wood said.

After that semifinal scare, the champi-

onship in Tacoma was practically anticlimactic, given the 31-13 victory margin over Mount Baker.

“We had no clue it was going to be like that,” Genteman said of the season. “We knew we’d be good, that we had 16 or 17 returning starters. But to have only two teams come within a touchdown of us was huge. I think we didn’t expect that.”

All told, Freeman scored 556 points and allowed just 136. Individual stats tell a tale.

Five players alone piled up nearly 4,500 yards of total offense.

Genteman caught 45 passes for 749 yards with some nine touchdowns.

The backfield tandem of junior Markus Goldbach and senior Max Laib rushed for 1,480 and 1,449 yards respectively and teamed up for more than 50 TDs. First-year varsity quarterback Preston Hoppman threw for 1,449 yards and 15 scores and ran in three touchdowns.

They operated behind a wall of line behemoths, seven of whom averaged 251 pounds per man. Teigan Glidewell, a twoway All-NEA performer at 245 pounds, was complemented by 314-pound Jordan Rose.

“I don’t care what team you coach,” Wood said that having good linemen is essential. “Those kids don’t get a lot of recognition, don’t get a lot of credit. But I think what is key to a team is those kids up front.

The backs realize without them they’re going to be an average team.”

While the play on the field speaks volumes about Genteman’s value to Freeman’s unbeaten season, it was off the field where he and his fellow seniors sowed the seeds of a state title.

“His leadership skills were above and beyond his athletic ability and got us to where we’re at,” Wood said. “He kept them focused the whole time.”

Genteman protested, saying that it wasn’t about just him. Both he and Wood were in accord that the sum of Freeman’s state football championship were its various 40 parts, from starters to practice team players.

Last year Freeman had the talent to go farther than they did, Wood said of a 7-3 team that lost to Quincy 17-6 in the state play-in game. After coming so close the year before, leaders like Genteman kept the Scotties’ feet to the fire during summer conditioning and weight lifting sessions.

The effort paid off.

Wood said he knew the team had talent, but the indicator it could be a special year was its 40-14 romp in Pullman, a team that had reached the Class 2A playoffs the previous year.

“That kind of solidified what our expectations were,” Wood said. “Everything in our game was pretty solid. We knew we

had the talent.”

Wood added that he felt the Scotties played at nearly perfect level all year and yet there were things that could have been improved upon.

So what can Freeman do for an encore?

The coach said that each year you work on the things that need improving from the year before. You tailor your team to the players’ strengths. Having tradition and having played an additional half a season in the playoffs won’t hurt.

“You always want to get back to state,” he said of a program that in a school of 300 draws nearly 70 out for football. “We just take the groups we have and try to put them in the positions they can be successful at.”

Freeman fans have experienced something special. It was a team that played with confidence, composure and determination and reaped the ultimate reward.

“It was everything you could think of and more,” the articulate Genteman said.

“It’s a good example that if you work at something it can be yours. It was a huge accomplishment; a dream that you have that actually comes true.

“It means a ton to the team, but it seems more important to the community, because it’s the first time it’s happened.”

Perhaps we should all advance to the postseason ... tournament. We all played equally on our softball and recreational teams, and the “training table” afterwards at the local pub was as important as the game.

By Mike Vlahovich THE FINAL POINT

The thing I liked about longtime Spokane County Recreation Director John Tuft was his philosophy pertaining to the adult basketball and softball programs he oversaw.

League games didn’t matter. You could be 0-8 and still win a championship. Indeed, a team I played on went 2-6 and actually did win a rec basketball title.

You’d have thought we were an NCAA football team. How else do you explain the fixation on Washington State becoming “bowl eligible” this season?

Ours was a recreation program. If you paid your fee, Tuft figured you should be playing, at least until the end-of-season

The postseason tournament was another matter. Then, the best players saw the most time, and we won a bunch of titles in softball and basketball.

The upshot to that regular season philosophy was that the so-called subs found a way to make key contributions in the tournaments. It was a philosophy I carried over when coaching youth sports. Everyone got to play regularly, and someone you didn’t figure on would surprise in the playoffs.

The idea probably wouldn’t fly at a school like Alabama, but with the proliferation of bowl games, college football is akin to Tuft’s philosophy. How else could a team with a 6-6 record merit bowl invite consideration?

(Mind you, this Cougar grad is ecstatic that WSU played in the New Mexico Bowl.

My senior year, we went 7-3 and there was

nary a bowl in sight. This year, all but three Pac-12 teams went bowling.)

What makes this all bewildering was that the bleating was constant about the Cougs becoming “bowl eligible” even when they had a losing record at the time.

We media people do tend to put the cart before the horse.

Back when losing more than a game during football season at Central Valley was akin to abject failure, I was doing my preseason preview and predicted to coach Charlie Dean he would be favored to win the league as usual.

In his folksy Oklahoma drawl, the late great coach drolly suggested, in effect, “Then we don’t have to play the games, do we? You’ve already determined the winner.”

Lesson learned.

I’ve never had much truck with making preseason predictions or voting in media polls. I find it humorous that Sports Illustrated with its “panel of experts” (the publication’s words) makes preseason pre-

dictions during professional and college sports seasons that seldom resemble the end-of-season results. Now they have the temerity for a midseason do-over.

Experts we ain’t.

Shouldn’t the emphasis at WSU first have been on the games rather than putting the cart before the horse? The story to me wasn’t about bowls but the measurable improvement by a team having its best season in years.

The Cougars were entertaining. The defense made an unfathomable leap from pathos to respectability. Offensively, despite a continuing plethora of interceptions — perhaps understandable considering the number of passes attempted — they entertained.

The Cougars, supposedly playing one of the toughest schedules in the country, went 6-6 and could have been better. Remember week one? They were a notch from beating Auburn, which beat Alabama and ranked second in the na-

See FINAL POINT, page 28

The Current

JANUARY 2014 • 27

SPORTS

U-Hi wrestling reloads to continue tradition

By Mike Vlahovich

CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR

Don Owen became the most successful wrestling coach in Greater Spokane League history last year when he became the first to reach three state team titles with the Titans’ 3A championship.

His program seldom has ups and downs, and even this year with so many newcomers the Titans opened the league season routing Gonzaga Prep and Rogers, and finished third with 201 points at Central Valley’s Inland Empire Tournament.

And the Titans defeated previously unbeaten Mt. Spokane in a thriller that left them 4-0 heading into the holiday break.

In casual conversation earlier this year, Owen admitted U-Hi had its work cut out given the number of seniors he graduated from the lineup, four of them state placers.

But the Titans also return two state finalists, Cam Sorensen and Austin Stannard, plus third-place Tate Orndorff and state veteran John Fairbanks.

Orndorff won the 285-pound championship during the Inland Empire tourney, pinning all four of his opponents. Two came in less than a minute, one in just 26 seconds and the other in 57 seconds of the title match. Fairbanks finished second at 160 pounds. Sorensen, 126, and Stannard, 170, were third.

Gotta Love it West Valley’s Jake Love, featured in last month’s Current, has had a phenomenal

New Freeman girls coach aware of big shoes to fill

By Mike Vlahovich

CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR

Chad Kimberley wears several hats. The former youth minister is a teacher, a coach — even a columnist.

After coaching Valley Christian School to the State 1B boys basketball finals two years ago, Kimberley took a year off to finish a master’s degree. With that checked off his list, he got the Basketball Jones again this summer and took on the unenviable task of replacing wildly successful Ashlee Taylor-Nimri at Freeman High School.

Taylor-Nimri went from a star player on the team to coach — both roles seeing

start to his senior basketball Wealth of riches season.

CV NOTEBOOK The University Titan girls Here are the unbeaten ONLINE basketball team is deep.

Eagles’ scoring machine’s Despite a 3-3 record, the Looking for stats through five games: 28 Titans have had seven difan update points against North Cenferent players score in douon Central tral; 29 against Moscow; 29 ble figures.

Valley High School fall against Mountain View; 23 Cassie Shillam, returned sports? Contributor against Lakeland; 30 against from knee surgery, leads Sandpoint, and 26 against Mike Vlahovich wrote the team in double figures Lakeside. an all-Bears report for games with five, averaging The Current’s sister The 4-2 WV girls gained 16 points per game. Emma postseason experience last publication, The Splash.

Kennedy and Shelby year and so far have spread View it online at www.

Rotchford have scored in the scoring wealth from libertylakesplash.com or doubles twice. a number of players. Vetcheck out the full issue The 3-2 boys have been erans Natalie Noble and at issuu.com/thesplash. paced

by Michael Isotalo’s Erin Higbie have led the nearly 15 points per game. way, Higbie with 26 in their Robert Little had a gameloss to Lakeside and Noble with 20 earlier against Mountain View. Maddie Wilhelm high 23 against Lewis and Clark, with five twice was in doubles. After a 4-0 start, the 3-pointers.

Eagles lost to Post Falls and Lakeside by a Perfect start for EV total of three points.

The Knights girls got off to a quick start winning their first five games.

Knights in mat stunner Elle Burland, a 5-foot-3 freshman guard East Valley shocked Frontier wrestling with a 36-35 win over a league favorite has scored in double figures three times to complement lone senior Alex Rankin, juColville in the season’s first match. nior Taylor Morscheck and soph Skylar Colville had finished second in the Deer Bastin offensively.

Park Invite and was fourth at the Inland Wins included 50-42 over Freeman, Empire tournament, a point behind U-Hi whose Katie Vold scored 17 points. and just three points out of second place.

EV boys started 2-2, J.T. Phelan with The teams divided 14 weight classes evenly, and five of East Valley’s seven end- games of 14,17 and 19 points, while Mason Tidd had 11 points in victory over ed in pins.

North Central.

Among the pinners were Trey Meyer, who took third at the Inland Empire tour- All-Leaguers all ney at 145 pounds, Tanner Bauman, fourth A wealth of greater Valley area talent at 160, and Kenny Martinez, fifth at 195.

earned spots on their respective all-league sports teams this fall. Several were Most Valuable Player choices.

After arriving in the Inland Northwest, he applied for an assistant coaching job at Valley Christian and wound up head coach, taking on a program that had fallen on hard times since reaching four state B tournaments between 1999 and 2003, reaching the state finals and placing in three others.

In four years, beginning in 2008-09 he took a core of freshmen who by the time they were seniors narrowly missed the 2012 state title, losing to Northeast 1B nemesis Almira-Coulee/Hartline by four points in the championship game at the Spokane Arena.

“Valley Christian was a thrill beyond belief,” said Kimberley, who kept busy with work on his master’s degree during that state tournament run.

“It about killed me to do both,” he said.

“The seniors on the team I’d had all four years. It was a logical time to step out.”

Kimberley, who teaches at Valley Christian, coached the Panthers boys soccer team through a solid season this year. Af-

ter classes wrap up each day in Spokane Valley, he heads south to Freeman for his new role as Taylor-Nimri’s successor.

“It’s challenging, especially for the seniors,” he said. “It’s tough when you have a whole new system introduced to you. At the end of the day (be it boys or girls) it’s still basketball.”

Now, about that writing career. Kimberley, who years ago penned a weekly sports column for his college newspaper, has written columns for both The Current and The Splash, the latter Liberty Lake’s community newspaper. His brother-inlaw, Josh Johnson, is the owner-publisher of both publications. His monthly column is currently running in The Splash.

“When we came out, I told Josh I’d love to write a column,” he said. “I love talking sports, so it was a natural fit.”

One can just imagine opening a future Splash or Current and finding columnist Kimberley critiquing his coaching alter ego.

Freeman’s girls basketball program reach dizzying heights. In her combined playing and coaching career, she won a pair of state titles in four finals appearances and placed two other times.

When prompted about filling such big shoes, Kimberley readily admits he’s “a glutton for punishment — that’s a perfect way to describe it.”

The biggest chalKIMBERLEY lenge is not coaching a different gender.

Before moving to Liberty Lake in 2008, Kimberley coached boys and girls teams at a Christian school in Beloit, Wisc. One of his girls teams won a private school state championship during that time.

The challenge is more about carrying on tradition at an established program accustomed to success vs. building a program from scratch as he did at Valley Christian.

Freeman’s Kian Genteman was both offensive and defensive MVP of Northeast A League football. East Valley’s J.T. Phelan was defensive MVP in the Great Northern League and first team at receiver for the league champs.

In volleyball, University’s Sydney Schlect earned Greater Spokane League MVP for the state 3A qualifiers, and Kaela Straw was MVP for Freeman’s third place state finisher.

East Valley’s Alex Rankin on offense and Davien Engeberg from West Valley on defense were GNL soccer MVPs. Other first-team All-League choices: Football — East Valley’s Hunter Mahan on both offensive and defensive lines, defensive back Gage Burland and quarterback Connor Ramm. Isaiah Watkins was All-GSL linebacker for University.

West Valley had tight end-linebacker Marcus Jackson, receiver Tevin Duke, DB Alex Hall, both sophomores, and junior defensive lineman Jace Malek.

Besides, Genteman, Freeman juniors Teigan Glidewell, a two-way lineman, Markus Goldbach and senior Max Laib at running back, and Connor Rubright in the defensive line were all first-team NEA. Soccer — U-Hi’s Morgan Cosby at midfield, West Valley’s Jenna Sullens, Halie Groninthal and EV’s Chelsea Love and Taylor Morscheck.

OPINION

28 • JANUARY 2014

The Current

Remembering a lesson in fairness Sons’ boxing club offered reminder about not being too quick to judge

Now that my husband and I are empty nesters, we tend to reflect a lot about the kids growing up. One conversation after another makes those memories flood in like a video playing in my head. My friend was relating to me about buying a new set of hair clippers. That brought forth memories of my husband giving our boys a haircut.

As my husband was getting ready to fit the haircuts into the bit of time between school, homework and boxing practice, he wasn’t quite paying attention to putting the right clipper guards on the shaver. He also started on the front of our son’s head instead of the back. Zip! In one fatal swoop, a line of hair came cascading down to the floor — along with my jaw. My son had just received a rather short haircut. Well for now, it was only one hair clippers width, which looked like an inverted Mohawk. The only thing to do was correct it by doing the rest of the head with the same clipper guard. Our son is very blond and, in the end, looked as bald as a cucumber.

Our other son saw what had happened and immediately chose to get the same haircut, having a bit of empathy for his brother. Time was short, and off to boxing practice they went.

The next day for our boys was a difficult one. Although it was close to school getting out for the summer, the teasing from classmates regarding the rather close haircut did not go unnoticed. At

About the Opinion Page The Current wants to hear what’s on your mind. Interact with the opinion page with a le er to the editor (350 words or fewer), guest column (700 words or fewer; please send a mug) or via Facebook or Twi er: editor@valleycurrent.com facebook.com/valleycurrent @valleycurrent As with all content, opinion page submissions may be edited for space, style or clarity. This is a community newspaper, so be relevant to the Valley for the best chance at publica on.

“In all debates, let truth be thy aim, not victory or an unjust interest. And endeavor to gain, rather than to expose, thy antagonist.”

— William Penn

By Wendy Van Orman CURRENT GUEST COLUMN

the next night of boxing, the boxing team all showed up having freshly-shaved heads to show a bit of comradeship for their teammates. I was a bit surprised to receive a phone call from our chief of police a few days later. Apparently, we had been turned in due to thinking we were training a group from Idaho!

It’s funny how we are quick to judge, not knowing the circumstances. My husband (the coach) always had the boxing team do a bit of running for warm ups before the workout. Up and down in the neighborhoods they ran for the next three days that week before I received that phone call. It was a good laugh, but a great lesson as well. The sportsmanship those boys showed for their teammates was heartfelt; they wanted to level the playing field. Sometimes we become judgmental before we truly have the answers. Maybe you have one of those stories as well, one where we didn’t have fairness in treating people without prejudice. Or, maybe you have a story about one of those Mohawk haircuts as well …

The memories are always coming back for the kids. Oh, and just a few days later, most of the classmates were sporting their new summer cuts as well. Yep, you guessed it — a nice new crew cut.

Today as grandparents, we have the opportunity to see new experiences from our grandbabies: The first snowflake, the first smile, crawling, walking and talking.

The PACE (Partners Advancing Character Education) trait for the month of January focuses in on “fairness” — the quality of making judgments that are free from discrimination.

Wendy Van Orman is the chief financial officer of Quality Hardwood Floors in Spokane. She is also a former mayor and council member for the city of Liberty Lake. Van Orman is a wife of 31 years, a mother of three and grandmother of two. She currently serves on the PACE Leadership Board. She wrote this column as part of a monthly series highlighting the PACE character trait of the month.

Letter to the Editor Attend concert, support a worthwhile cause The Central Valley High School Band is well known for outstanding marching, music programs and students. The band is very good at fundraising, not only for its own programs, but also for other charities.

Every year since 2010, the CV Wind Ensemble has put on a concert to benefit some foundation. In 2010 and 2011, the “I Am: Africa” benefit concert raised money for the Field Band Foundation in South Africa.

This year, the “I Am: One Nation” benefit concert is raising money for the Wounded Warrior Project. All the proceeds go directly to the WWP because this is a fundraiser for us to give back.

Eric Parker, the Director of Bands, decided to put on this new concert because, “[He] just wanted the band experience to include a deep and meaningful opportunity to make someone’s life better, and success means nothing without the humility

FINAL POINT Continued from page 26

tion. They beat a USC team that scarcely lost again. The Washington Huskies game could have gone either way.

Worrying whether or not WSU could become bowl eligible when at the time it had a losing record, however, seemed inconceivable.

In defense of the pundits, now that there’s a bowl for seemingly every team, going 6-6 is all you need. Last year, University’s football team had a losing record be-

to serve and give back.”

To put on this concert, the CV Band and Color Guard Boosters donate about $1,000. The band rents an enormous American flag, which it presents in a very dramatic way, and there are also other costs that include things such as theatrical lighting effects that are coordinated to a specific piece of music.

The students who perform in this concert treat it differently than others. They take it seriously because the concert isn’t for entertainment, it’s for giving back, for showing our community, and those that serve our country, that this band, this school, cares and supports our troops.

At 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at CVHS, please join the band as it once again puts on this amazing benefit concert for an amazing cause, The Wounded Warrior Project.

Tickets will be $5 at the door or presold through the CV business office.

Kristen S. Kliamovich Senior, CVHS

fore reaching the State 3A semifinals. Six wins might get a high school team into the playoffs, albeit while playing three fewer games.

Maybe John Tuft’s Spokane County recreation philosophy has national merit.

Don’t count the regular season, put everyone into a postseason playoff, and let the chips fall where they may.

Mike Vlahovich is a longtime Spokane Valley sportswriter and member of the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame Scroll of Honor.

The Current

JANUARY 2014 • 29

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR ADVERTISERS AND READERS WHO SUPPORT AND CONNECT OUR COMMUNITY.

Happy New Year from The Splash and The Current!

20/20 Window Washing A R Painting Absolutely Fabulous Lashes & More Abstract Painting Adagio Strings Affordable Arborist Tree Care Inc Affordable Cleaning Affordable Optics Aging & Long Term Care of E WA Amaculate Housekeeping Andrean Accounting Angelic Cleaning Service Annie Krejci Anytime Fitness Artworks Spokane Auto Licensing Plus LLC AutoCraft Avista Utilities Ballard Golf Cars & Power Sports Banner Furnace & Fuel Barlows Restaurant Bestway Lawn & Tree Care Black Jack Limousine Bombshell Boutique Boy Scout Troop 401 Brett’s Barbershop BrickHouse Massage & Coffee Bar Broadway Court Estates Bruttles Candies BST Surfacing Cabela’s Call Realty Inc Campaign to Elect Ron Schmidt Cantrell Landscaping LLC Careful Cleaners Carver Farms Casey Family Dental Casey’s Place Celestial Lawns Central Valley Theatre Chalpin Fitness/KidFIT Spokane Chevron Liberty Lake Choice Realty, Rick Monaghan City of Liberty Lake City of Spokane Valley Clark’s Tire & Automotive Columbia Medical Associates Committee to Elect Ed Pace Committee to Retain Rod Higgins Community Colleges of Spokane Complete Home Solutions Copper Basin Construction Cornerstone Pentecostal Church Crown Elegance Crown Media & Printing Cruise One Cullings Family Dentistry Divine’s Conoco Liberty Lake Donna’s School of Dance Dorsey Auto Sales Dr Carpet Care East Valley ECEAP Edward Jones - Scott Draper ETA Company Evergreen Fountains Explorers Daycare Fairmount Memorial Association

Fairway Lawn Care Family Medicine Liberty Lake/Healthy Living Liberty Lake Frank Knott Friends of Pavillion Park Friends of the LL Municipal Library Garden Plaza of Post Falls George Gee Automotive George Gee Kia - Curtis Heirston Giorgio’s Fitness Glass Guru Golf Coach Don Rasmussen Good Samaritan Society Spokane Valley GrassMasters Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce Greenacres Christian Church Greenacres Liquor Store Greenstone Homes & Neighborhoods Gretchen’s Hair Studio/Treasure Trove Guardian Angel Homes Gus Johnson Ford Haul Starz Heartland Mall Heinz Painting & Handyman Higher Ground Animal Sanctuary Highlands Golf Course Holistic Festival Home Maid Household Services Hong Kong Buffet HUB Sports Center Imelda’s House Cleaning Service Inland Empire Utility Coordinating Council Inland Imaging J M Garden Restorations Jacobs Upholstery Jenice Baker Photography Joel’s Lawnmower Repair John L Scott - Marilyn Dhaenens John L Scott - Pam Fredrick John L Scott Real Estate Liberty Lake Jule’s Home Decor Julia Ruiz Justin Voelker for EVSD Director District #3 K9 Country Club Karen Does My Hair Kathrine Olson DDS KIDDS Dental Kiwanis of Liberty Lake Knight EZ Dock Lakeshore Insurance Lakeside Church Lakeside Vision PLLC Law Offices of Wolff & Hislop Legacy Animal Medical Center Liberty Cross Ministries Liberty Lake Athletic Club

Liberty Lake Auto Glass Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary Club Liberty Lake Children’s Academy Liberty Lake Church Liberty Lake Community Theatre Liberty Lake EyeCare Center Liberty Lake Family Dentistry Liberty Lake Farmers Market Liberty Lake Fireworks Fund Liberty Lake Golf Course Liberty Lake Kiwanis Foundation Liberty Lake Lions Club Liberty Lake Liquor & Wine Liberty Lake Montessori Liberty Lake Orthodontics Liberty Lake Pet Sitters & Pooper Scoopers Liberty Lake Portal Liberty Lake Sewer & Water District Liberty Lake Veterinary Center Liberty Lube Lilac Bloomsday Association Live Real Estate - Sandra Bartel Lori Olander Maggie Breens Meadowwood Children’s Center MeadowWood Golf Course MeadowWood HOA Meals On Wheels MetLife, Lisa Schaff Mirabeau Park Hotel Music To Go Nhance Wood Renewal NIC Foundation North Idaho Dermatology North Pacific Property Mgmt Northern Quest Resort & Casino Northwest Insurance Brokers Northwest Painting Numerica Credit Union NW Quality Cuts NW Truck Show OMC Lawn Care CenturyLink Otis Orchards Community Church Oxi Fresh of the Inland Northwest PACE Pacific Lawn Maintenance Palenque Mexican Restaurant Papa Murphy’s Paradise Pet Resort Paventy Orthodontics PEMCO Insurance - Bryan Jarrett Pilgrim’s Market Pioneer School Ponti Veterinary Hospital

Pop’s Dream Creations Post Falls Family Dental Post Falls Local Market Pristine Window Washing Quizno’s Relay For Life of Liberty Lake Relics River City Solid Surface Riverstone Street Fair Riverview Little League Robert C Hahn III Attorney Rockwood Health System Ron’s Drive-Inn Salon Capello Salon reTro San Francisco Sourdough Eatery Sayre and Sayre SCRAPS SGM Computer Service & Repair Sharon Elliott, tutor Shrine Circus Spokane Side by Side Counseling Services Simonds Dental Group Simply Northwest Sole Solutions Solmeda Solutions Spokane Chiefs Spokane County Library District Spokane Golf Show Spokane Home & Garden Show Spokane Indians Spokane Spine & Disc Spokane Symphony Associates Spokane Transit Authority Spokane Valley Arts Council Spokane Valley Fire Dept Spokane Valley Heritage Museum Spokane Valley Partners SportClips Haircuts St John Vianney Church & School St Joseph’s Catholic Church STCU Stepping Stone Christian School & Childcare Sterling Bank Summerfield Salon Summit Northwest Ministries Sunflower Yoga Sunshine Gardens Sven Aaseby Swagat Indian Cuisine Sweep ‘n’ Shine Housecleaning Sybil Vaughn

These advertisers supported The Splash or The Current in 2013.

SYSA Terry L Snow PLLC The Art Chalet The Clean Up Bros The Floor Works The Garage Floor Guy The Habitat Store The Intersection The Tin Roof Therapeutic Associates Toby K. Hallowitz, ND, MSOM, LAc Tom’s Taxi Total Sports Tracy Jewelers True Legends Grill Twilight Bedding/The Mattress Factory Twisp Cafe & Coffee House Uniforms N More Union Gospel Mission Thrift Store Valley Christian School Valley Fourth Church Valley Hospital Valley LawnBoys Valley Massage Clinic Valley Real Life Valley Youth Soccer Valleyfest Vote Debbi Haskins Vote Hugh Severs Vote Mike Tedesco Weishaar, Sue Weishaar D.D.S. West Valley Farm Wind Walker Mobile Pet Groomer Windermere Marathon Windermere RE - Bill White Windermere RE - Tom McLaughlin Windermere Real Estate Liberty Lake Woodlake Village Apartments Wounded Warriors Project Fundraiser Xtreme Bio-Clean You’ve Got It Maid Zephyr Lodge & Conference Grounds

The Current

30 • JANUARY 2014

Volume 3, Issue 1 EDITOR/PUBLISHER

Josh Johnson

GENERAL MANAGER

Tammy Kimberley

josh@valleycurrent.com tammy@valleycurrent.com BUSINESS MANAGER Kim Johnson

kim@valleycurrent.com

GRAPHICS EDITOR

Sarah Burk

sarah@valleycurrent.com

Sandy Johnson Mike Wiykovics

CIRCULATION

circulation@valleycurrent.com CONTRIBUTORS

Eli Francovich, Craig Howard, Valerie Putnam, Jayne Singleton, Craig Swanson, Mike Vlahovich,

Bill Zimmer

On the cover: Current illustration by Sarah Burk

About

The Current 23403 E. Mission Avenue, Suite 102 Liberty Lake, WA 99019 P: 242-7752; F: 927-2190 www.valleycurrent.com

The Current is published monthly. It is distributed by or before the first of each month to drop-off locations in Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Millwood, Rockford, Otis Orchards, Newman Lake — just about anywhere that has historically been referred to as part of Spokane’s Valley.

CALENDAR Continued from page 13 Gala 5:30 p.m., Mirabeau Park Hotel & Convention Center, 1100 N. Sullivan. Cocktail hour with no-host bar, gourmet dinner and awards ceremony. Cost is $65 per person or $600 per table. For more: www. spokanevalleychamber.org Jan. 31-Feb. 9 | National Boat Show

Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for ages 12 to 17 and free to children under 12. For more: www. spokaneboatshow.com

Feb. 7 | CVSD Strategic Plan Renewal Summit 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., CenterPlace

Regional Event Center. Parents, students, staff, community members and business leaders invited to participate in developing strategies in renewed strategic plan. Light dinner provided.

RSVP by Jan. 15 required. For more: 228-5404 or cmcroberts@cvsd.org

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Support our partners.

The Current is committed to “informing, connecting and inspiring” the Greater Spokane Valley area through excellent community journalism. We can’t do it at all without you, our readers, and we can’t do it for long without support from our advertisers. Please thank our business partners and look to them when offering your patronage.

Our sincere appreciation to the following businesses for their foundational partnerships with The Current and its partner publications:

Liberty Lake

PORTAL at Mission & Molter

HEALTH & RECREATION Jan. 5 | Frost Fest Volleyball 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave., Liberty Lake. For more: www. hubsportscenter.org Jan. 17-19 | Flip Fest Gymnastics

7 a.m. to 9 p.m., HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave., Liberty Lake. Hosted by Dynamic Gymnastics, this meet is for experienced competitors as well as those new to the sport.

Admission price for spectators is $10 for adults and $5 for children 5 and older. For more: www.hubsportscenter.org

Jan. 20-24 | USA Boxing National Championships 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., HUB Announcements, obituaries, letters to the editor and story ideas are encouraged. Submit them in writing to editor@valleycurrent.com or mail them to The Current office. Submissions should be received by the 15th of the month for best chance of publication in the following month’s Current.

Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave., Liberty Lake. Admission price for the preliminary rounds at the HUB is $10 for adults and $5 for youth and seniors. Championship rounds take place at Northern Quest Resort & Casino on Jan. 25-26. For more: www.hubsportscenter. org

Subscriptions

Jan. 26 | Futsal Fest Adult Tournament

Submitted materials

Subscriptions for U.S. postal addresses cost $12 for 12 issues. Send a check and subscription address to P.O. Box 363, Liberty Lake, WA 99019 or call 242-7752 for more information. Subscriptions must be received by the 15th of the month in order for the subscription to begin with the issue printed the end of that month.

Correction policy The Current strives for accuracy in all content.

Errors should be reported immediately to 2427752 or by email to editor@valleycurrent.com.

Confirmed factual errors will be corrected on this page in the issue following their discovery.

Advertising information Display ad copy and camera-ready ads are due by 5 p.m. on the 15th of the month for the following month’s issue. Call 242-7752 for more information.

Advertising Integrity Inaccurate or deceptive advertising is never knowingly accepted. Complaints about advertisers should be made in writing to the Better Business Bureau and to advertise@valleycurrent.com.

The Current is not responsible for the content of or claims made in ads.

Copyright © 2014 All rights reserved. All contents of The Current may not be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.

8 a.m. to 7 p.m., HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave., Liberty Lake. This 4-on-4 tournament has men, women and co-ed divisions for high school, under 30 and over 30. Registration is $175 by Jan. 7 or $200 if received by Jan. 17. For more: www. hubsportscenter.org

Sports opportunities HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave., Liberty Lake.

Badminton, basketball open gym, pickleball, Zumba and other recreational options available. For more: www.hubsportcenter.org All calendar listings were provided to or gathered by Current staff. If you would like your event considered for the community calendar, please submit information by the 15th of the month to calendar@valleycurrent.com.

Liberty Lake EyeCare Center Liberty Lake Orthodontics STCU Sunshine Gardens

Index of advertisers Following are the local advertisers in this issue of The Current.

Recurring Feet to Friends 9:30 to 11 a.m. weekly on Monday and Thursdays, HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave. Beginning Jan. 6, this indoor walking group is for those who desire to meet others in the community who desire to be active for their health. Cost is $1 per session.

For more: 294-8500

KiDDS Dental Liberty Lake

Barlows Family Restaurant City of Liberty Lake Clark’s Tire and Automotive Family Medicine Liberty Lake George Gee John L. Scott Real Estate

Amaculate Housekeeping 12 Barlows Restaurant 11 Casey Family Dental 6 Casey’s Place 5 Central Valley School District 12 Chalpin Fitness 3 City of Spokane Valley 23, 25 Clark’s Tire & Automotive 3 23 Cornerstone Pentecostal Church Evergreen Fountains 19 Giorgio’s Fitness 11 Greater Spokane Valley Chamber 25

Gus Johnson Ford J M Garden Restorations K9 Country Club Kathrine Olson DDS KIDDS Dental Liberty Lake EyeCare Center Liberty Lake Orthodontics Liberty Lake Portal Liberty Lake Splash Maggie Breens MAX at Mirabeau Park Hotel North Idaho Dermatology

32 5 13 11 17 2 5 20 29 7 6 6

Northern Quest Resort & Casino 3 Northwest Insurance Brokers 23 Ron’s Drive-Inn 25 Side by Side Counseling Services 12 Simonds Dental Group 2 Spokane Spine & Disc - Dan Chamberlain 15 Sunshine Home Health 5 Windermere RE - Tom McLaughlin 7 Zephyr Lodge & Conference Grounds 7

Church Directory 12 Service Directory 23

Of note: This thank you message was produced by The Current’s advertising team, which works its tail off on behalf of partner businesses, helping them share their messages through advertisements. This is an independent function from The Current’s editorial team, which has its own evaluation process to determine the community news stories and features it pursues. For more information about a win-win partnership that expertly markets your business to thousands of readers (while making this home-grown community newspaper possible), email advertise@valleycurrent.com. With story ideas, contact editor@valleycurrent.com.

PARTING SHOTS

The Current

JANUARY 2014 • 31

Photographers capture life in the Valley Winning shots to be featured in 2014 One Valley Directory FROM STAFF REPORTS

Water and wildlife was a common theme among photos submitted for the 2014 One Valley Business & Community Directory photo contest, but something found in the sky rose to the top place.

Judges selected Cathy Cardon’s photo of a Valleyfest balloon at night as the winning photo. The photo will be featured on the cover of the 2014 directory, which is published by the staff of The Current in association with the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Daniel Worrell’s photo of the Spokane River from the Centennial Trail was awarded second place in the contest. A photo of Liberty Lake sentinels taken by Rich Semler received

third place.

For the contest, the public was asked to submit photos representing the Valley area to be considered for use on the cover and within the directory.

The top three finishers will receive gift cards to a directory advertiser of their choice. Selected photos from runners up are featured in the community and connections sections of the directory.

The contest was sponsored

by Peridot Publishing, the company that publishes The Current as well as a 15-yearold Liberty Lake newspaper, The Splash.

Six thousand copies of the One Valley Directory will be distributed beginning in midJanuary at Current distribution points throughout the greater Spokane Valley and at Valley Chamber functions. The publication will also be made available to view online at www. spokanevalleychamber.org.

For more, call 242-7752.

Cathy Cardon’s photo of a Valleyfest hot air balloon (left) was selected as the winning image of the inaugural One Valley Business & Community Directory photo contest.

Daniel Worrell claimed second prize with his photo of the Spokane River from the Centennial Trail. A Liberty Lake winter scene by Rich Semler was awarded third place.

SUBMITTED PHOTO BY CATHY CARDON

West Valley students take on Disneyland, computers and hunger

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

SUBMITTED PHOTO

The West Valley High School band has been chosen to play in the Disneyland Parade in April. The group is currently holding a variety of fundraisers to earn money for the trip.

Local Lens

Share your snapshots for The Current’s photo page. Email photos@valleycurrent.com with scenes from around town, community events and group photos.

Above, the West Valley High School DECA class recently won $1,000 in a competition among area high schools to raise money for the Tackle Hunger campaign. At right, students at Ness Elementary created their own computer games recently as part of the National Computer Science Week and the Hour of Code initiative. The initiative is a series of self-guided activities for students of all ages to learn computer programs.

SUBMITTED PHOTO BY DANIEL WORRELL

SUBMITTED PHOTO BY RICH SEMLER

32 • JANUARY 2014

The Current