June 2017 Current

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Community Ties

How the Greater Spokane Valley Support Network takes on homelessness and other concerns through a dynamic, benevolent local effort, page 10

CONGRATS CLASS OF 2017 PAGE 28

SPOKANE INDIANS SET FOR SEASON PAGE 19

REMEMBERING MARTI HOLLENBACK PAGE 47

2 • JUNE 2017

NEWS

The Current

academics?

A: I decided to leave the world of business for education because although I liked the work and was successful at it, I didn't feel like it was very meaningful. A classroom setting provides the opportunity to provide value to the lives of others that goes beyond the content of instruction. The second reason that I chose to leave business for education was to be able to raise a family and nurture a strong relationship with my wife, Sheri. I had such a good example provided by my own parents that selecting the education career pathway felt comfortable and would allow me to be a strong and involved husband for my wife and father for my children.

The Park Bench

New Knight in Charge – Stevens takes over as EVHS principal

By Craig Howard Current Editor When Matt Stevens was a student at Chelan High School, he participated in track, football, basketball and tennis. When not in sports, he was in a school play. In his spare time, he marched with the band and sang with the choir. For fun, he served as ASB president.

“When you have only 60 kids in your graduating class, you kind of turn out for everything,” Stevens said. “I’d like to say I was a great athlete but that wasn’t really the case.”

While living in the small rural community of Lake Chelan, situated on the edge of the North Cascades National Park and the Wenatchee National Forest, Stevens proudly wore Chelan’s school colors of green and red. Now, as the newly named principal of East Valley High School, he will be sporting green and white and cheering for the Knights. Stevens will officially start on July 1.

“I anticipate that wearing green and white will be an easy transition for me,” Stevens said.

Stevens has lived and worked in Othello, Washington for the past 20 years, most recently serving as director of Human Resources in the Othello School District. Before transitioning to the administrative office, Stevens worked in the district as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and principal among other duties.

Along with the opportunity to be closer to his roots in the classroom, Stevens said the move will mean being nearer to family. His mother and brother both live in the Spokane area.

Stevens has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Brigham Young University, as well as a bachelor’s in Business

Q: How do you think your professional experience to this point has prepared you to be principal of East Valley High School?

Matt Stevens will take over as principal of East Valley High School on July 1. He arrives after 20 years in Othello, Washington, most recently serving as executive director of Human Resources with the Othello School District.

Contributed photo Education. He has also earned his master’s degree in Educational Administration from Central Washington University. Stevens takes over for the retiring Jim McAdam, East Valley’s principal for the last four years and an employee of the district since 1979.

A native of Richland, Stevens grew up around education. His dad was a school district superintendent and his mom was an elementary school teacher. Still, Stevens pursued degrees in business and worked in retail management before changing career paths. Matt and his wife, Sheri, are parents to six children, ranging in age from 7 to 19.

Q: Growing up with parents in the field of education, did you think this was a career path you wanted to pursue?

A: My dad was a superintendent of schools for 12 years in the Lake Chelan School District and for six more years in the Wahluke School District. I didn't really know what the day-to-day professional life of a superintendent involved. He never talked about decisions he had to make or what would happen. I only

knew that his profession allowed him to be home most evening and weekends, take his children camping, fishing and hunting as well as providing us with a pretty comfortable lifestyle. After all of my siblings left the house, my mother returned to teaching elementary school when I was in high school.

We helped to grade homework for her students and got to hear stories from her classroom. When I was a senior in high school, my AP English teacher asked us what career we wanted to pursue. I responded that I was interested in accounting or education/teaching and then administration. The teacher then made a statement that I had to follow the footsteps of my dad and couldn't make up my own mind, so I decided at that point to study business. After some maturing, I learned that I can be my own man and still be in the same career field as my father. More than what they did as educators, how they raised me as their child at home has been biggest influence my parents have had in my life.

Q: Why did you ultimately decide to leave the world of business for the world of

A: I have been in building administration at Othello High School for 11 years and at the district level for five years more.

This experience has helped me to refine my leadership style and skills. First and foremost, education is about people. Building trusting relationships is critical to having a safe and supportive school and this will be a focus for me. I enjoy working with teachers, students, parents and community members around the growth of young people. I have a strong network of colleagues that I can draw on for counsel and advice in a general sense. My experience of building teams and working collaboratively will be one of the keys to being successful for we who work at East Valley High School. I have also worked primarily in Othello High School while sharing supervisory responsibilities for an off-site program. This experience is similar to the responsibility I will have to work with the InTech program in the East Valley School District.

Q: What were some of your impressions of EVHS and the community when you came to visit in April?

A: The East Valley community is pretty diverse from apartment living on the Western boundary, industrial section along the southern boundary and the wide open spaces to the north and east.

There seemed to be a genuine optimism for positive things happening in the school district and a strong belief in the capabilities and opportunities for youth in the

See STEVENS, Page 5

The Current

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Millwood Council hears law enforcement update

NEWS

Current Correspondent

The sheriff explained Millwood’s contract with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office is on a per-call basis. The area is patrolled as part of the seventh and eighth district.

The contract ensures that the full force of the sheriff’s office is at the disposal of Millwood. SWAT, helicopter, etc. is available but billed only if needed. He reassured residents that if there were a major event in Millwood, patrol cars

be appointed to the open seat. An appointment is expected before the next council meeting in June.

The bid for the Grace Avenue Sidewalk Project was awarded to William Winkler Construction.

The project will benefit the school district and, by agreement, the district will help with funding.

By Mary Anne Ruddis

Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich presented an informational report at the May 9 Millwood City Council Meeting.

Approximately twice a year, the sheriff checks in to update the council. He reported that overall crime was down in Millwood with the exception of vehicle thefts that saw five more than last year. There was a spike in burglaries but a burglary task force was reestablished and they are seeing those numbers come back down.

The Current

would be pulled from other districts to respond appropriately.

The Spokane Regional Health District presented the Walk, Bike, Bus Project. The program was previously introduced in the Perry and Garland neighborhoods of Spokane. Millwood will be the first city to have the program. This public education campaign will offer individuals support to replace short car trips with walking, biking or taking public transit.

The free program will encompass approximately 1,020 households in a defined area of the city.

Program objectives include: encouraging participants with a goal of 10-percent participation;

addressing misperceptions; providing information through distribution of program materials through mailings/door-to-door and events/workshops; partnering with local businesses and capacity building. Bike parking and an informational kiosk are part of the plan. New bus routes from Millwood are also being introduced.

Millwood is closer to filling its vacant council seat. In April, the mayor received two statements of interest and the applicants were present at the May 9 council meeting. The council unanimously voted to send Shawna Beese’s name to the Spokane County Commissioners to request that she

The Millwood website (www. millwoodwa.us) has added an informational section for the South Riverway property.

Residents can view the history, comments and leave their own comment.

The planning commission held a discussion of the community's needs and concerns at its April 26 meeting. The document containing the public feedback can also be found on the website.

During the public comments portion of the meeting, Greg Mott announced that the Millwood Farmers Market was set to being on May 17 and run every Wednesday through Labor Day. The hours are 3 to 7 p.m.

West Valley SCOPE announced their annual parade and carnival will take place on June 3. The parade begins at 11 a.m. and ends with a carnival at Millwood Park.

The Current

STEVENS

NEWS

Continued from page 2

East Valley community. I heard a clear message of pride in some of the traditions at East Valley High School and enthusiasm for growth and innovation. I was encouraged by the positive tone of the question and experience with each of the groups I met with. I am excited to bring my family to be part of the East Valley School District and the community.

Q: Why do you think EVHS will be a good fit for you right now?

A: I think my strengths align well with the needs of the school. We will honor the traditions that have been established. We will work to be support for each other as we take on the hard work of learning, discovering and growing. We will be supportive of our community and represent our neighbors with pride and dignity. All of us will improve because each of us will work to be just a little bit better every day and on those days when we aren't better, we will allow each other a little kindness and support to make needed corrections. I want to be a good fit at East Valley High School not only for now but also for several years to come.

Q: What should East Valley students, staff, parents and residents expect from you as principal?

A: The first thing that East Valley students, staff, parents and community can expect from me is to be available. I am ready to listen, reflect and share my position on issues. These stakeholders can expect me to act with integrity and to bring positive attention to the school and the students. Each person can expect to be treated with dignity and courtesy. These groups should also expect that we are going to provide quality experiences for all students in the area of academics, fine arts, career and technical education, athletics, music, drama and other activities.

I would like to work with the school community to increase attendance

and support for extra-curricular activities such as concerts, plays and athletic events because I expect to be at many of these events.

Q: What are some similarities you see between Othello and the Spokane Valley areas? What about some of the differences?

A: Many similarities exist between Othello and East Valley. The two school districts and high schools are nearly identical in size. The communities both have significantly rural areas and a strong base of people who enjoy outdoor activities.

Both communities and districts want the best for their students and are wrestling with some of the same educational issues such as student discipline, new graduation requirements, implementation of technology and providing a wellbalanced student-directed learning experience. Differences between the communities and schools include demographics, access to services and issues of growth in student population.

Q: Finally, what are you looking forward to most about this transition?

A: I am most excited to be back in a school building around students and teachers. The real magic of learning happens in that classroom setting and I look forward to influencing those processes more directly. I am looking forward to supporting teachers who are doing good things for the young men and women they instruct. I have a better appreciation for the support that central office administration provide after working in that position for the last five years and have confidence in the people serving in those positions in the East Valley School District but I am ready to be in the building. I am also pretty excited to have some new adventures with my own family, finding new places to go fishing and hiking as well as establishing new friendships. It is pretty exciting transition for me and family professionally and in our personal lives.

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2017 CV Bears Boosters INAUGURAL Golf Outing and Fundraiser

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Enjoy the start of summer with some fun golf and great prizes, a fantastic dinner and auction to raise funds for athletics and activities at CV. There will be hole contests, a silent & live auction and plenty of fun! All for a great cause... the students at Central Valley. Golf includes free driving range, lunch, goodie bag & water. Dinner includes steak, potato, salad and one beverage.

Contact by phone or email to sign up, spots are first come first serve: Email: cvbbc@outlook.com Phone: 509-710-4011

NEWS

Ledeboer retiring as SCLD executive director

By Staci Lehman Current Correspondent The Spokane County Library District (SCLD) is gearing up for a change of leadership. Nancy Ledeboer is retiring as executive director.

“It’s been an exciting five years,” Ledeboer said of her tenure with SCLD. Ledeboer started working for the Library District in 2012, but spent many years in various library systems across the country prior that that. Before taking the Spokane County position, she worked in Tucson, Arizona for the Pima County Public Library, as well as in Las Vegas and King County, Washington libraries.

In the 1990s, Ledeboer worked for the Spokane city library system and still has family here. That made coming back to Spokane for the SCLD position an ideal role.

“I have four grandchildren here in Spokane and I was spending all my vacation time here,” she said.

“Then the opportunity came to come back here and bring what I learned in those other communities back to Spokane.”

John Craig, vice chair of the Spokane County Library Board of Trustees, says she did that and more. He gives Ledeboer much of the credit for improvements systemwide over the past five years, including increasing the hours of the Airway Heights and Medical Lake libraries by 20 hours a week, opening the BookEnd boutique library at the Spokane Valley Mall in April and increasing the number of participants in district programs by 60 percent since 2011. Today, programs range from business seminars to live music concerts, children’s story times to author presentations.

Craig says Ledeboer has increased partnerships with other community organizations and improved volunteer connections as well.

“Nancy also was instrumental in forming an umbrella organization, ‘Friends of the Spokane County Library District,’ to help the existing Friends volunteer groups that serve each of our ten libraries,” said Craig.

“The umbrella organization allows the individual Friends groups to receive tax-deductible contributions and gives them a vehicle to work together on big projects.”

Volunteers work on smaller everyday projects as well, but ones with big impacts.

The Current

“The volunteers do all sorts of things, but I am particularly impressed by the time they spend helping school children improve their reading,” said Craig, who added that volunteers have also helped at least one adult learn to read.

Ledeboer says it is the volunteers and staff that deserve the praise.

“I’ve seen staff in the last few years blossom,” she said. “They’ve engaged with people in the community, inviting them to come talk about things. Deer Park does a poetry slam, Cheney is active with the ‘Mayfest.’ I’m really proud of how we’ve turned outward.”

Ledeboer is also excited to be able to take advantage of all the new library activities as a “civilian.”

“I’m just going to be on the other side of the counter now,” she said.

“I’ll be coming in and borrowing books and going to programs.”

Ledeboer will be here for a few more months, until September, finishing up projects and getting a new director trained. Her first plan after retirement in is to walk the Camino De Santiago in Spain, a pilgrimage route that ends at the shrine of the apostle St. James the Great. The popular route for hikers, bicyclists and those looking for spiritual enlightenment takes about 30 to 35 days to walk.

“I figured I should retire while I’m still young enough (to walk it),” she said.

In the meantime, SCLD officials are working to fill Ledeboer’s position. The district’s Board of Trustees established a search team and started advertising the position in April. Candidates are required to have a master’s degree in Library Science and have, or been able to get, their state certification of librarianship. They also need to have eight years of progressively responsible experience in library management.

Craig says the Board of Trustees has a few other things they would like in a candidate.

“Someone who will continue in the direction Nancy has started,” he said. “Someone who is innovative.

Honestly we would clone her if we could.”

The first review of nearly a dozen applicants took place on May 15.

From there, applications were narrowed down to a handful of candidates. Those candidates will be interviewed on June 9. The day before, they will take part in two forums – one for library district staff and one for members of the public.

The June 8 public forum is from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Fireside Lounge at CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place, in Spokane Valley and everyone is welcome.

The Current

JUNE 2017 • 7

NEWS

New fair booths being added to Rockford terrain

By Benjamin Shedlock Current Correspondent A construction project in the heart of Rockford is changing the face of the town as much as any in recent memory. New fair booths, funded by the Washington State Department of Agriculture and significant community support, are under construction this spring and summer.

Last year, the Southeast Spokane County Fair Board secured a $90,000 grant from the Department of Agriculture to build new fair booths. According to Rockford Town Council Member Micki Harnois, the grant pays for the structure, which was completed in May, but not the fixtures, electrical or plumbing. The new booths sit behind the previous site and the Rockford shopping district on land that was purchased from the town.

To fund the non-structural aspects of the construction, the board is holding a “Burgers with a Benefit” feed, which will help raise the $60,000 in matching funds that the grant requires. The feed is in keeping with the fair’s emphasis on food and follows a successful pasta feed that was held last June. A hot dog and hamburger dinner will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. on June 17.

The event will go until 9 p.m. and will feature a DJ, concessions and entertainment.

The new structure forms an “L” shape that approximately doubles the amount of space in the booths.

Community groups, including Freeman High School Drama, the Lions Club, and Rockford’s churches, sell food to raise funds during the fair. There will be a kitchen at the corner of the building for the groups to share.

The structure was completed this spring to meet the requirements of the Department of Agriculture grant. The old booths, which were demolished last fall, were 70 years old and no longer met health code standards because they lacked floors and running water. Additional information about the project is available online at sespokanecountyfair.com and on Facebook.

Other small improvements to the town also focus on the fairgrounds.

In late May, Avista Utilities removed trees at the edge of Rockford Park that were interfering with power lines. Avista had explored the possibility of pruning, but determined that a harvest would be more effective. According to Harnois, Rockford’s designation as a Tree City USA makes it eligible for new trees from the Soil Conservation District.

An arborist will plant the trees this fall.

On the same side of the park, along First Street, street lights will also be installed. Last fall, Rockford secured $150,000 from the state Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) to complete the project.

However, because the actual project costs will come in around $30,000, no contractors bid on it, said Harnois. The town reached out to the contractor that completed the lighting for the new lagoon project, and he will install the lighting.

In late May, the Town Council led a second tour of the new lagoon. The tour was given to demonstrate to the public the operation of the lagoon and show how the construction money was spent.

“We keep hearing that people are waiting for sewer rates to go down with the completion of the lagoon,” said Harnois. “We still have to maintain and operate the lagoon and these costs still haven’t gone down.”

The Town Council is not ready to make any decisions about rate decreases. The council is continuing to look to the future and make plans such as exploring projects to increase the town’s livability and attractiveness to businesses, starting with an update to the comprehensive plan.

“We’re trying to attract business and make it easier for homeowners,” said Harnois, who pointed out that Rockford is in a strong position, especially relative to other towns of its size. She cited an informal car tally recently completed by a council member, who found that 4,000 vehicles come through the town each day.

Harnois is leading the comprehensive plan update. One major change will be the addition of mixed use zoning, which allows buildings to include businesses on the ground floor and private renters on the second floor. Rockford does not allow for this zoning in its current plan and sees its addition as a way to promote its downtown business district and make more housing available.

Rockford has recently made other business-friendly improvements, including adding sidewalks along First Street. The sidewalks are required for commercial enterprises, so Rockford has already taken care of this expense for potential entrepreneurs.

The council is also trying to help homeowners in the new plan by aligning platting with lot sizes.

According to Harnois, most lots in Rockford are platted at 5,000 square feet, while the average property in Rockford occupies 8,700 square feet.

She has heard homeowners say that they don’t think they can build or modify their homes because of the current platting.

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The Current

NEWS

Spokane Valley City Council report – June 2017

the future include providing professional marketing efforts, developing a Facebook page, increasing signing bonuses for lateral moves, creating a recruiting team and streamlining the hiring process. Recruiting is a community issue and it is not going away. It takes one year before a recruit can be alone in a car and SCSO cannot and will not lower their standards.

By Bill Gothmann

Current Correspondent

Crime Statistics Vary Widely

Appleway Trail from Sullivan to Corbin ready for bidding Plans are ready to go out to bid on the Appleway Trail from Sullivan to Corbin.

A trailhead will be constructed at Tshirley and Sprague that includes parking and rest rooms. Funding for this section of the trail comes from grants of $813,000 from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, $970,000 from Washington State Department of Commerce and $347,000 from city funds. Bids are expected to be opened in the JuneJuly time frame with construction being done in the July-September time frame. Council Member Caleb Collier dissented from continuing with this project because of safety concerns crossing the intersecting streets.

The schedule for completion of the Appleway Trail is: Balfour to University, 2019; University to Pines, completed in 2015; Pines to Evergreen, under construction now, 2017; Evergreen to Sullivan, 2020 and Sullivan to Corbin, 2017.

Council Members meet with CVSD concerning unvaccinated students Council Members Ed Pace, Sam Wood, and Mike Munch met with Ben Small, superintendent of Central Valley School District (CVSD), concerning students who have been excluded from public school because they are unvaccinated.

According to Pace, “We met on behalf of parents who want to exercise their parental right to not have their kids vaccinated, how to make it so they are still eligible for athletics and that they can keep up with school so it doesn’t affect their GPA. We are going to have round table discussions about this with all the stakeholders.” According to Munch, both Superintendent Small and the Spokane Regional Health District are receptive to this. “We will be putting that together in early June when we get our new health officer,” he said.

Parent Jaclyn Gallion, whose son was excluded due to nonvaccination, testified, “We have been very poorly served by the district during this exclusion. The

Bids will be going out soon for the next phase of the Appleway Trail from Sullivan to Corbin. The project will include installation of a trailhead at Tschirley and Sprague that will have parking and restrooms.

Contributed image best any teacher did was to provide homework packets and some failed even in that. We have been told that the teacher contract has no provision for the extra time required to prepare material, to coach, to tutor, or monitor the progress of an excluded student.”

CVSD Director of Communications Marla Nunberg Genther, when contacted by the Current replied, “At Central Valley School District, every student’s education is our top priority, a task that we do not take lightly. We will continue to work with our schools and families through this unprecedented outbreak of mumps in Spokane County to ensure all of our students continue to have access to high quality learning and teaching opportunities.”

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Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) engineers Brian Walsh, Glenn Wagemann and Larry Frostad noted that Washington had 284 roundabouts in 2014, all built since 1997. Washington State ranks second nationwide in number of roundabouts. They observed that users want intersections with minimum delays, comfort about the rules and safety in both vehicle and non-motorized movements. Studies show that, when properly applied, roundabouts satisfy these criteria.

The WSDOT website quotes national studies showing that, compared with signalized intersections, roundabouts reduce collisions by 37 percent, injury collisions by 75 percent, fatal collisions by 90 percent, pedestrian collisions by 40 percent, traffic delays by 20 to 89 percent, yearly maintenance costs and overall land area. The WSDOT engineers also noted that signals have to be replaced every 20 years whereas roundabouts last much longer. Roundabouts can handle up to 68,000 trips per day with

enhancements. Pedestrian safety is better because of lower speeds and a separation between the yield sign and the crosswalk.

Police recruitment a unique opportunity in Spokane Valley Lt. Scott Szoke, Sgt. Brett Gores and Deputy Craig Chamberlin of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) informed council that police agencies throughout the nation are having difficulty recruiting new officers. Deputy Chamberlin noted that, when he started his career, 600-700 applicants would vie for a single position. “Now we get 30 applicants and we are pretty excited,” he said. “There is a generational difference, things that drew us to law enforcement a few years ago are not going to draw this generation.” One of the concerns of millennial is job safety.

Thus, many of them want to be analysts, rather than foot soldiers.

Social medial has hurt recruiting.

If there is one incident of an officer making a mistake across the country, it is reported and, as a result, the reputations of all officers suffer. Furthermore, many millennials are disqualified because of substance abuse issues. SCSO requires one year of no marijuana use and seven years of abstention from other drugs.

SCSO applicants can choose the less busy unincorporated areas or they can choose thc City, where officers thrive on being busy. SCSO has both types and this is unique for a police agency. Furthermore, the reputation of SCSO throughout the state is a strong selling point.

SCSO’s team attends recruiting fairs at Washington and Idaho universities, the Convention Center, high schools and local events. They compete with police departments in Seattle, Bellevue, King County, Pierce County and others..

Recruiting

enhancements

in

Departments of the city provide periodic written reports of their activities. In the May 9 report from Police Chief Mark Werner, Spokane Valley Police reported 11 drug crimes for the first three months of 2016 and 83 for the same period in 2017. Why the increase?

According to Deputy Mark Gregory, Public Information Officer for the Sheriff’s Office, the primary reason was a change in crime reporting criteria since last August. Under the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) system used prior to August, only the most serious crime was reported for each incident. Thus, if there were an assault and drugs were found, only the assault would be reported.

Under the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) now being utilized, both the assault and the drug crimes would be reported.

To create this report, statisticians converted 2016’s drug crimes into the new system and, since fewer drug crimes were reported in 2016, the numbers were lower compared with 2017. All jurisdictions are converting to NIBRS. 2017 budget amendment reflects financial decisions Several events necessitated an amendment to the 2017 budget.

The state minimum wage increase resulted in additional expenditures of $67,800. Between 2016 and 2017, the city spent $55,555 related to closure of the well at Brown’s Park. A total of $258,000 in excess of the city’s “normal” budget was spent to replenish the Winter Weather Reserve Fund, mostly for snow plowing and deicing. Since the city received $200,000 less in phone tax receipts than budgeted, they cut the Traffic Signal Replacement program for 2017. The city bought land for transportation improvements at Eighth and Carnahan for $193,000 and spent $483,000 for right-of-way for a future Pines Road underpass.

Snow plow accessories cost the city $138,400. The reorganization plan cost the city zero dollars. It did, however, affect the Employee

See SV COUNCIL, Page 9

The Current

NEWS

SV COUNCIL

adopted the TIP.

Position Classification Salary Schedule. Finally, $3,003,929 was transferred from the General Fund to the Capital Reserve Fund. This represents the 2015 year-end fund balance in excess of 50 percent of recurring expenses. The council usually budgets the use of this “extra” money for one-time projects during their June retreat. The city has adequate funds for all these amendments. Council conducted a public hearing and, afterwards, adopted he first reading of this budget.

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development department (HUD) provides grants to government entities for the improvement of low income neighborhoods. Every three years, Spokane Valley must select whether to be part of the county’s program or be our own entitled city. Being part of the county’s plan results in lower costs and greater grants. Council’s consensus was to stay with the county. This will be brought back later for formal action.

Continued from page 8

Waste Management Contract Approved The city’s contract for waste collection expires on March 31, 2018. On April 4 of this year, council selected Waste Management (WM) for exclusive, solid waste, recycling and compostable collection services for residential and commercial services, effective April 1, 2018.

Staff and WM then developed the actual contract. The new contract provides for lower rates, requires all subscribers to use haulerprovided carts and provides one annual, on-call, bulky item pickup per subscriber. On May 23, council formally approved this contract.

City Makes Transportation Plans for 2018-2023 The city is required to have a transportation planning document in order to be eligible for grants and use the Real Estate Excise Taxes it collects.

This Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) can be amended at any time. Staff is integrating many layers into the plan, such as its capital improvement plan, pavement management plan, stormwater improvements, economic development areas, special purpose district plans, bike and pedestrian improvements and utilities. Staff detailed 25 different projects, ranging from Sprague and Barker improvements in 20182020 to Pines and I-90 in 20212022.

Last year, the city budgeted $2.4 million for pavement preservation for 2017, while acknowledging in a Dec. 6, 2016 PowerPoint presentation,“The $2.4 million is a good start but falls short of the $6.8 million we estimate we need to maintain the roads in their current state of condition.” This year’s TIP reduces this amount per year by $200,000, budgeting $2.2 million each for the years 2018-2022. A public hearing was held and, afterwards, the council

JUNE 2017 • 9

City to stay with county’s administration of HUD grants

Council Briefs • Council approved the fourth extension the contract with Poe Asphalt from its original $70,000 to $214,896.46 to cover this winter’s plowing.

Deputy City Manager John Hohman quipped, ““It just kept snowin’ and we kept plowin’.”

• Council awarded a $455,868 contract to Inland Asphalt for resurfacing Indiana from Evergreen to Mirabeau Parkway.

• Council awarded a $2,293,403.15 contract to MDM Construction for paving Flora and Euclid and sewering Euclid in the industrial area.

The county is paying for the sewering work.

Jody Sander, director of operations of the Sterling Hospitality/Quality Inn Valley Suites and Holiday Inn Express, to the county’s Tourism Promotion Area Commission for a three-year term.

• Mayor Higgins traveled to Washington, D.C. where he spoke to federal officials about the city’s need for bridges over railroads, noting that our Industrial Park is the largest between Seattle and Minneapolis and will increase by 50 percent with the installation of sewers.

• City Manager Mark Calhoun announced that Octoberfest will be held on October 27-29 at CenterPlace this year instead of its usual site. The city now has three major events: “Crave” in June, Valleyfest in September, and Octoberfest in October.

• A city permit performance survey resulted in scores of 96 percent as excellent, 4 percent fair, and 0 percent poor.

• City Attorney Cary Driskell has been elected as board president of the Washington Municipal Attorneys Association.

• Council Member Wood was adamant that council consider term

See Drone Fly-By of the New City Hall

City Manager Mark Calhoun announced that there is now a May 10th drone fly-by video of the New City Hall on the City’s web site. Go to http:// www.spokanevalley.org/content/6836/6914/8293/10089. aspx

limits within the next month. Mayor Higgins indicated an administrative report is being prepared.

• Council Member Wood wants the administration to look at water banking in the Little Spokane Watershed Area and have council take a position on this issue.

• Councilmember Munch is putting together a shelter in place information sheet to be added to the city’s website.

• Council Member Munch wants the city’s public information officer to look into grants for radio and TV. • Council Member Munch wants the city attorney and the police chief to look into how prepared the city is for a mass protest.

• Council awarded a $170,658 contract to Bacon Concrete for construction of a sidewalk on the south side of Ninth Avenue from University to Raymond.

• Council awarded an $871,551 contract to W.M. Winkler for Saltese/Blake road preservation from Houk to 24th.

• Council awarded a $1,401,035.50 contract to Cameron Reilly to reconstruct the SullivanEuclid intersection with concrete pavement, improve storm drainage facilities, and update pedestrian ramps.

Congratulations Class of 2017

• Council awarded a $473,000 contract to Inland Asphalt for a preservation project on Mission, Pines to McDonald.

• Council approved a change order of $23,526.16 for placement of sculptures around the new City Hall.

• Council approved vacating Wilbur between I-90 and Nora Ave. They decided not to charge the recipient for the land. He must gain permits, however.

2017 Spokane Valley Kiwanis Scholarship Recipients

• Council approved vacating McMillan and an unnamed right of way in the industrial park area northeast of Euclid and Barker.

Recipients pictured from left to right: Bailiegh Thompson (CVHS), Shannon Frucci (EVHS), Allison Gadd (U-High), and Jasper Knutson (U-High).

Not pictured is Rachel Arnzen (Freeman) and Kelli England (CVHS)

•

Mayor

Higgins

appointed

10 • JUNE 2017

COVER STORY

The Current

Nourishing Network – Valley coalition rallies resources to address community needs

By Staci Lehman Current Correspondent The calls for help did not go unanswered at a recent gathering of the Greater Valley Support Network (GVSN). From a lack of furniture to recommendations for summer activities to transportation needs, questions abounded. One by one, the ideas sprang back.

“Catholic Charities has a furniture bank with beds, microwaves, couches, whatever is needed to set up a home,” said one woman.

“Frontier Behavioral Health will be holding summer groups for youth of all ages in Spokane Valley,” offered another.

“Thrivent Financial offers $250 of seed money,” reported one man.

While these remarks may have seemed unconnected, each of the people who made them, in their own way, is working to fight homelessness in Spokane Valley and the issues that can come with it such as hunger, mental illness and lack of medical care.

You might not know it because you don’t see people panhandling near the freeway or sleeping on the streets as often as in downtown Spokane, but Spokane Valley has issues with homelessness and poverty just like other communities.

“The homelessness in the Valley is so different from homelessness in Spokane because people here are so doubled up that you just don’t see it

GVSN catalyst reflects on roots of network

connections to the faith community and through social media efforts, we began to see we could, in fact, help those most in need.

By MJ Bolt

Greater Valley Support Network (GVSN) started in late 2012 as the “Valley Homeless Network” with a few people knowing something different needed to be done in the Spokane Valley to help the needs of our homeless youth and those in transitional housing.

We had, it seemed, zero resources, zero shelters, pretty much zero feeding programs and not much citizen recognition that, in fact, there were over 500 students identified in our greater Spokane Valley school districts as homeless, couch surfing or in some sort of other transitional, very unstable housing. In other words – very at-risk youth.

School district leaders including Dr. Terrie Vanderwegen, Dr. Mary Jo Buckingham, Leslie Camden-Goold and Kerri Ames, along with other passionate community leaders like Steve Brown, involved at the time with Spokane Valley Partners and myself decided to spearhead this effort, believing that we could help bring the needs of our youth that were so apparent to school leaders and connect those with the amazing and caring community and resources that exist in Spokane Valley. With

See NETWORK, Page 11

We began simply by meeting on a regular basis and intentionally bringing together people from all the different parts of the community, including schools, churches, government agencies, early learning and nonprofit organizations to learn from each other the needs that existed and the services that different organizations provided. We were intentional that we, ourselves as an organization, were not trying to provide services and did not want to duplicate efforts and programs, but instead were working to connect the needs with best existing practices and programs and facilitate bringing those efforts to the Spokane Valley.

We found working together collaboratively and being transparent about the obstacles to meeting needs helped us to better serve those most in need.

Passionate and helpful citizens who were connected directly with those who served these students and their families and who truly knew the real needs and the obstacles in getting them met, along with flexible dollars showed a promising practice. Just by having a regular meeting, it seemed to be such a catalyst for a ton of other work to happen.

GVSN was happy to be a facilitator to that work, not needing to worry about “branding” our logo to certain

The Greater Spokane Valley Support Network began meeting in the fall of 2012 as an advocacy group addressing issues like homelessness, hunger and medical care. Above, MJ Bolt (far right) one of the founders of GVSN, talks with members Janet Crossen and Tom Green at a meeting in January 2014.

Photo by Craig Howard outcomes. We were happy to be the connectors, helping to create the space to facilitate that important work and helping differing parts of our community work outside of those unintended silos we often find ourselves in.

The number of homeless youth and those in transitional housing quickly went over the 800 mark for the three Spokane Valley school districts (East Valley, West Valley and Central Valley) even after the economy seemed to be rebounding from the recession and the need grew to be greater than ever. At one point, research was done that Spokane Valley had a little over one-third of its households making $35,000 annually or less. That was just a few years ago. I think there are still a lot more families struggling and on the brink of homelessness or already homeless in Spokane Valley that our citizens don’t really know about. The need continues to be great.

It was a great honor and privilege to work with such wonderfully caring and amazing people. Our school staff have the biggest hearts and truly are the ones on the front lines and see the needs of their students every day, yet they have so little resources at their fingertips, including the time to really help address all the needs that exist. For me, the opportunity to work with these great citizens, who truly are in the most noble and yet underappreciated profession, was an incredible blessing, as well as with our amazing community

members.

The work of GVSN continues under the guidance of some amazing and passionate citizens like Aileen Luppert, managing librarian at Spokane Valley Library, Dave and Diann Ross, Patty Marsh and Pat Dockery, as well as leaders from our Spokane Valley school districts and other leaders in our community. So many people from all different walks of life and all types of organizations have come to these meetings to see how they could help contribute, an awesome testament to the huge hearts that exist in our community.

I think it is a great thing that we also have our City Council leaders who frequent these meetings, as well as other community leaders who want to learn from each other and continue to help connect resources with those in the most need. It reminds me of Margaret Mead’s words: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Seems pretty fitting, doesn’t it?

MJ Bolt was one of the catalysts in establishing the Greater Valley Support Network five years ago.

She has served as a member of the Central Valley School District Board of Directors and is currently one of two elected representatives from Eastern Washington on the Washington State Board of Education.

The Current

NETWORK

Continued from page 10 as much,” said Aileen Luppert, chair of the Leadership Team of GVSN and a librarian with the Spokane County Library District.

By “doubled up,” Luppert means the Valley’s homeless find a home on a friend’s couch, stay with relatives for as long as they are welcome or live in shelters, abandoned buildings, motel rooms when they can afford it, campgrounds and cars.

GVSN, a grassroots collaboration of agencies, organizations and individuals working to fight homelessness originated in 2012 through the leadership of community members like MJ Bolt, then a representative of the Central Valley School Board.

The group includes representation from a wide variety of entities such as the Salvation Army, Spokane Valley Baptist Church, HOPE (Homeless Outreach Providing Empowerment), Family Promise of Spokane, Washington State Coalition for the Homeless, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Spokane County Homeless Prevention Program, Spokane Valley Partners, Volunteers of America, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Crosswalk Spokane Teen Shelter, Off Broadway Family Outreach, St. Margaret’s Shelter, Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, the city of Spokane Valley and many others. School counselors and social workers also play crucial roles in the network, identifying homeless families and connecting them with resources.

Network members meet monthly to learn about resources in the community they can refer those in need to, addressing all angles of the homeless epidemic. At the April meeting, the emphasis was on finding safe homes for children.

Karen Thompson of FosteringWA and Erik Larson from the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) spoke, presenting on how area foster and adoption programs work and what they need to be successful.

Thompson has turned her own experience caring for foster children into a job recruiting other foster families. She and her husband have five children of their own, three adopted, and have supported around 35 foster children over the years.

“We were naïve,” she said. “We thought we’d have some foster kids and our family would be complete.”

Instead, they learned about all the social issues that lead to putting a child into foster care or up for adoption and the overlap with homelessness.

“We learned how hard it is to get

COVER STORY

an apartment if you have bad credit or not very much money,” Thompson said.

They also learned just how badly foster homes are needed.

He said that March of 2017 had the highest amount of “placements” of children in foster homes in area history with 614. While it’s not clear what led to the record number of children being separated from their families, meeting attendees talked about the mental health crisis and how it contributes to homelessness for people of all ages.

The National Coalition for the Homeless says that 20 to 25 percent of the homeless population in the U.S. suffers from some form of severe mental illness, which can make it difficult to hold a job and manage finances to pay rent or a mortgage.

There are many other causes of homelessness though, everything from loss of jobs to the death of a spouse or even a lack of access to resources. Luppert says through her work at the Spokane Valley Library she doesn’t have people come directly to her asking for help to find a home, but she sees other issues regularly that can lead to homelessness.

“I had a woman trying to sign up for Social Security, I think, but she was having a hard time with the process for various reasons,” said Luppert. “I knew of this group that helps people with paperwork in these cases.”

It is networking that familiarizes

all the players with each other that Luppert says is the key to the GVSN’s success.

Spokane County Sheriff Deputy Chris Johnston, a member of the GVSN Leadership Team alongside Luppert, agrees.

“The goal for me is crime prevention,” he said. “The number one way to do that is the networking, information sharing and bringing back to my agency and sharing what I know. We’re taking trends we see here and getting that information out to the public.”

That information sharing has made a difference through a number of platforms. GVSN uses a web app called Wiggio for a website that is similar to an online conference call or an old-fashioned phone tree.

When someone in the group posts a question or query – everything form needing housing for a family, legal guidance, the name of a contact at a different agency or a working refrigerator – network members get a notification that makes them aware of the issue so they can offer resources.

Social media has also been helpful.

Occasional posts show up on the GVSN’s Facebook page asking for help finding a bike for a homeless student, a humidifier or other items.

While GVSN doesn’t currently do any fundraising or offer any services as a group, they have some big plans in the works.

“We don’t do anything with money,” Luppert said. “But we’re hoping to

JUNE 2017 • 11

change that. The Homeless Coalition puts on ‘Spokane Homeless Connect’ and we are hoping to do something like that.”

Homeless Connect is a day where people with housing or other issues can come to a single location to access a multitude of services, such as free meals, veteran services, medical and dental screenings, clothing and food banks, housing services, veterinary care for pets and more.

While GVSN may be emulating an event that has been successful in the city of Spokane, its structure is being emulated by others. A group of concerned agency representatives and individuals from the West Plains area recently contacted GVSN representatives for help putting together a similar group there.

Just another instance of how knowing people and what they do is getting things done, according to Luppert.

“I think the networking is phenomenal,” she said. “What we are really trying hard to do is provide a space for networking.”

Want to help?

The Greater Valley Support Network is always looking for new members, new resources and new contacts. If you can help, as a member of an agency that deals with homelessness, hunger or other social issues, or as a concerned citizen, contact Aileen Luppert at aluppert@scld.org to get on the email distribution list for upcoming GVSN meetings.

Since originating in 2012, the Greater Valley Support Network has focused on a variety of social service issues, including homelessness. While not as apparent as in the city of Spokane, homelessness remains a serious problem in greater Spokane Valley. GVSN is looking at the possibility of organizing an event similar to the "Homeless Connect" hosted by the Spokane Homeless Coalition where attendees could access resources related to housing, veteran services, health care and dental care, food and clothing banks and more.

File Photo

The Current

12 • JUNE 2017

Greater Valley candidates in place for election season

ennial Trail! t n e C d Spokane River an

Open House Save the Date Thursday September 21st, 2017 3:00pm - 6:00pm

Celebrate our new brand and meet local business resources and lenders See details at :

https://www.snapwa.org/services-we-provide/i-want-to-start-or-expand-a-business/womens-business-center

“Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.” In conjunction with funding from the City of Spokane CDBG and JP Morgan Chase

By Staci Lehman Splash Correspondent With summer just getting underway, it may seem early for election season – but the ballots are right around the corner. The deadline for candidates to file for 148 open elected positions in Spokane County closed on May 19.

Candidates will be narrowed down to two for each office during the Aug. 1 primary election. The two candidates receiving the most votes in the primary will move on to the general election on Nov. 7.

Following is a list of candidates who filed to run for office in greater Spokane Vaalley jurisdictions and to fill the Spokane County Commissioner seat to be vacated

by Commissioner Shelly O’Quinn: SPOKANE COUNTY Commissioner District 2 Commissioner O’Quinn will step down to accept a position with the Inland Northwest Community Foundation in June.

At press time, Spokane Valley City Council Member Arne Woodard, Spokane County Treasurer Rob Chase, John Guarisco, an account manager at a marketing company in Spokane Valley, Longtime Honeywell employee and local business owner Devin Samuelson, a precinct committee officer with the Spokane County Republican Party and Mary Kuney, deputy auditor with Spokane County, had all expressed interest in filling O’Quinn’s Commission seat. District 2 covers the southeastern third of Spokane County, which includes Liberty Lake and Spokane Valley.

Republican Party precinct committee officers will vote to narrow the field to three candidates once O’Quinn officially leaves the position. Al French and Josh Kerns, the two remaining county commissioners, will then choose a replacement from those candidates.

LIBERTY LAKE Council Position No. 2 Hugh D. Severs (incumbent) Council Position No. 4 Odin Langford (incumbent) Jeanette Nall Council Position No. 6 Mike T. Kennedy Dylan McGuire CITY OF MILLWOOD Mayor Jay Molitor

Kevin M. Freeman (incumbent) Council Position No. 1 Shawna Beese Council Position No. 2 Daniel (Dan) Sander (incumbent) TOWN OF ROCKFORD Mayor Carrie Roecks (incumbent) Council Position No. 1 Timothy Fricke (incumbent) Council Position No. 2 Brian Laude CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY Council Position No. 1 Rod Higgins (incumbent) Chris Jackson Al (Albert) Merkel Council Position No. 2 J. Caleb Collier (appointed to fill a vacancy in 2016) Brandi Peetz Council Position No. 4 Ed Pace (incumbent) Ben Wick Council Position No. 5 Pamela Haley (appointed to fill a vacancy in 2016) Robert (Rocky) Samson Ingemar (Lloyd) Woods Angie Beem Council Position No. 7 Mike Munch (appointed to fill a vacancy in 2016) Linda (Hatcher) Thompson CENTRAL VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT School Board Director Dist. 2 Tom Dingus (incumbent) School Board Director Dist. 5 Camilla Kane Mysti Reneau FREEMAN SCHOOL DISTRICT School Board Director Dist. 2 Ed Cashmere (incumbent) School Board Director Dist. 4 Neil J. Fuchs Jr. (incumbent) EAST VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT School Board Director Dist. 3 Justin Voelker (incumbent) Nathaniel Rooney School Board Director Dist. 4 Fred A. Helms (incumbent) Emily Provencio LIBERTY SCHOOL DISTRICT School Board Director Dist. 2 Chad Denny (incumbent) School Board Director Dist. 3 Chad Cornmesser (Incumbent) School Board Director Dist. 4 Scott Simmons (incumbent) WEST VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT School Board Director Dist. 1 Dan Hansen (incumbent) Gerald Rosenbaum School Board Director Dist. 2 Robert Dompier (incumbent) Keith A. Acord

The Current

Student of the Month University High senior Micki Thies began the 2017 tennis season shoveling snow off the courts with her teammates.

She ended the year being named first team All Greater Spokane League in doubles.

Thies lettered all four years at U-Hi and earned second team All GSL honors last year. She and teammate Sophie Orndorff went undefeated in league competition this season, won districts and advanced to the 3A regional tournament.

Thies is also a standout in the classroom, maintaining a 3.9 grade point average. She is a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Club and served as secretary of the senior class. Thies also manages to work part-time and volunteer for nonprofit causes like the Ronald McDonald House.

Citizen of the Month

Thanks you for all you do in our community

JUNE 2017 • 13 How many high school students have the opportunity to create a public service announcement for the Better Business Bureau?

At least one. University High senior Cameron Blegen, who specializes in filming, editing and production, won accolades for the BBB project which ran on local TV. Blegen maintains a 4.0 grade point average and serves as president of U-Hi’s chapter of the National Honor Society as well as treasurer of the senior class.

He is a member of Washington Drug Free Youth, was named a Spokane Scholar in English and was part of a group award from the Chase Youth Commission for cultural awareness. Blegen is also an Eagle Scout. He will attend Montana State University in the fall as recipient of the Presidential Scholarship. He plans to major in computer engineering.

The Community Box is brought to you by

Making a Notable Difference Spokane Symphony Associates Presents the 9th Annual “Upscale Sale.”

Location: 2512 E. 29th Ave. Hastings Bldg.

Southeast Blvd. & 29th Preview Sale ($5.00 Admission): Thursday, June 1st. 5pm-7pm Sale (Free Admission): Friday, June 2nd & Saturday, June 3rd 8am-5pm Sunday, June, 4th 10am-5pm Fine furniture, art, china, books, cut glass, brass items, stemware, vintage cookbooks & books, women’s & men’s quality clothing, sports equipment, dinning-room sets, buffets, china hutches, easy chairs, fine & costume jewelry, antiques, sterling, linens, garden items, patio sets.

Come visit your Spokane Valley Neighborhood Financial Center located at 615 N Sullivan Road

800-233-2328

14,000 square feet of beautiful items. This sale happens only once a year and is by far the largest in Spokane. All items are donated to support the Spokane Symphony Orchestra. Some photos may be found on: www.spokanesymphonyassoc.org

Facebook.com/ SpokaneSymphonyAssociates Upscale sale

The Market Is Open Athlete of the Month Doug Kaplicky, principal at East Valley Middle School, has been selected as the Middle Level Principal of the Year by the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP) and its middle level affiliate. Kaplicky, who began at EVMS in July 2014, will serve for the next year on the AWSP Middle Level Board and be called upon to speak at various conferences and meetings as well as testify before the state Legislature on educational issues.

He is also eligible for the National Secondary Principal of the Year award. Among other efforts, Kaplicky was recognized for his commitment to students and staff as well as being a catalyst for improvements at EVMS. “Mr. Kaplicky is a wonderful advocate for kids and staff,” said EVSD Superintendent Kelly Shea. “His determination to create a positive school climate is making a difference and lasting impression at East Valley Middle School.”

FARMERS MARKET L i b e r t y

L a k e

Every Saturday 9am -1pm

SHOP • EAT • CONNECT Visit us at libertylakefarmersmarket.com or find us on

ES

COMMUNITY

14 • JUNE 2017

The Current

Calendar of Events

U-PICK STRAWBERRIES Delicious flavor • No sprays

www.michaelsberryfarm.com

509.951.1750

6004 N McKinzie Road, Otis Orchards facebook.com/Michaels-Berry-Farm-597325543621919

For Income-Eligible Children 3 or 4 Years Old by August 31

Call us to enroll today!

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ENROLL YOUR CHILD: Central Valley School District .............. 228-5810 East Valley School District .............. 924-1830

Learn more! www.del.wa.gov/care/find-hs-eceap/

www.amaculate.com

COMMUNITY EVENTS May 29 | Annual Memorial Day Breakfast sponsored by the Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary, 8 to 10 a.m. – Pavillion Park. A breakfast of pancakes, sausage and eggs will be served with a Color Guard and program at 9 a.m.

Breakfast by donation. All proceeds benefit the Inland Northwest Honor Guard. Veterans eat free.

June 3 | West Valley SCOPE presents the 24th annual Carnival and Parade, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Millwood City Park, 9103 E. Frederic. Community parade will be followed by games, raffles, prizes, food and music in the park.

Wednesdays through Sept. 13 | Millwood Farmers Market, 3 to 7 p.m. Located in front of Millwood Presbyterian Church, 8910 E., Dalton off Argonne. Featuring food and farm vendors, artisan crafts, music and more. Market accepts token System, WIC, senior vouchers, EBT and Fresh Bucks programs. For more information, visit millwoodfarmermar.wix.com/ market.

June 3 | Stache Dash benefiting Elevations: A Children’s Therapy Resource Foundation, 9 a.m. This 5K run/walk fundraiser begins and ends at Pavillion Park. Funding from the Stache Dash will directly benefit children with special needs and families in Spokane County.

Registration is $15 with an optional entry fee of $10 for a t-shirt.

Downloadable registration forms, as well as an online registration link, can be found at Elevations website – www.elevationsspokane. org. Registration is also available at the event. For more information, please contact Julie Hannan, event organizer, at 370-1356 or julieh@ elevationsspokane.org.

June 17 | Inaugural CV Bears Booster Golf Outing and Fundraiser, Meadowwood Golf Course, Liberty Lake. Golf starts at 1 p.m., dinner begins at 7 p.m. Enjoy the start of summer with some fun golf, great prizes, a fantastic dinner and auction to raise funds for the students at Central Valley. Golf fee for individual: $150; team of four: $500; team of four with dinner: $600; individual dinner: $50. To register, email cvbbc@outlook.com or call 710-4011.

June 17 | 10th annual Soap Box Derby hosted by Spokane East Rotary, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Pavillion Park,, Liberty Lake. All

proceeds from the event benefit programs for kids with special needs such as the Spokane Guilds School, Bambino Buddy Ball and Hope School. This event is free to the public. Funds are raised through event sponsors. For information and entry forms, contact Heather Schelling of the Spokane East Rotary at heatherschelling@gmail. com.

June 23-24 | Liberty Lake Community Yard Sale, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, June 23 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 24.

Along with close to 300 sale sites, this year’s twoday schedule will include half-adozen food trucks and 20 local artisans at Pavillion Park displaying crafts, paintings and other original creations. An interactive map of the Yard Sale homes will be included on the Kiwanis website at www. libertylakekiwanis.org.

RECURRING ACT 2 senior classes | Affordable classes offered by Community Colleges of Spokane to those who are retired or planning to retire. A wide range of courses from geology and history to exercise and art are offered at CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place, as well as other locations throughout the area.

More at www.sccel.spokane.edu/ ACT2.

Baha’i Fireside Conversation | 5 to 6 p.m., third Friday of the month.

Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Discussion of Baha’i teachings, history, and perspectives on resolving the challenges facing humanity. All are welcome. More at 599-2411 or www.bahai.us.

Inland Empire Blues Society monthly meeting | Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m., Bolo's 116 S. Best Road.

Café Card Club | 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesdays. On Sacred Grounds, 12212 E. Palouse Hwy., Valleyford.

Play pinochle, cribbage, or hearts.

More at www.onsacredgrounds. com.

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

DivorceCare Recovery Support Group | Tuesdays 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Eastpoint Church, 15303 E. Sprague Ave. Learn how to heal from the deep hurt of divorce and discover hope for your future. DivorceCare for Kids (ages 5-12) meets at the same time and location. Cost is $25 for workbook. More at 892-5255 or

eastpointchurch.com.

Military Sobriety Support Group | 10 to 11: 30 a.m., Spokane Vet Center, 13109 E. Mirabeau Parkway, Spokane Valley. Call Steve at 8934746 for more information.

Grange Meeting and Dessert | 6:30 p.m., first Wednesday of the month, Tri-Community Grange, 25025 Heather St., Newman Lake. The public is welcome for this community-based service organization. For more information call 226-2202 or see us on Facebook.

Men’s Weekly Bible Study | 7 a.m.

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

Rockford Crochet Class | 10 a.m. to noon, Saturdays. The Harvest Moon, 20 S. First St., Rockford.

Activities include hairpin lace, knit, embroidery, needlepoint, and arm knitting of infinity. More at 8924412 or 291-3722.

Rockford Historical Society | 11:30 a.m. second Friday of the month (Feb. to Nov.). Harvest Moon restaurant, 20 S. First St., Rockford. More at 291-3193.

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

More at www.scld.org Spokane Valley Eagles | 16801 E. Sprague Ave. Breakfast served Sundays 9 to 11:30 a.m. Lunch served Thursdays 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by bingo from 1 to 3:30 p.m. More at www.foe3433. com.

Spokane Valley Partners Food Bank | Weekly distribution takes place Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10814 E. Broadway by appointment.

Appointments are available during the following days/times: Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Thursday (reserved for advanced-age seniors — age 60 and over — and/or physicallyhandicapped people with limited mobility): 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Address verification is required.

To make an appointment, call 927.1153 ext. 10, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The Current

JUNE 2017 • 15

COMMUNITY

MUSIC & THE ARTS June 23 | Benefit concert featuring Tuxedo Junction, 7 p.m. at Valley Assembly, 15618 E. Broadway, Spokane Valley. Free admission; offering will be received for Union Gospel Mission.

RECURRING Drop-in Square Dance Lessons | 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (through May 18). Western Dance Center, 1901 N. Sullivan Road. Square dance lessons for $3 per person; no partner needed. More at 270-9264.

Pages of Harmony | 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Wednesdays. Thornhill Valley Chapel, 1400 S. Pines Road.

If you enjoy singing, you will love the four-part, a cappella harmony of this men’s barbershop chorus.

More at www.pagesofharmony.org.

Spirit of Spokane Chorus | 6:45 p.m., Tuesdays. Opportunity Presbyterian Church, 202 N. Pines Road. Make new friends by joining this women’s chorus, specializing in four-part, a cappella harmony in the barbershop style. More at 2184799.

Spokane Novelists Group | Noon to 4 p.m., second and fourth Saturday of the month.

Otis Orchards Community Church, 23304 E. Wellesley Ave., Otis Orchards. A support/critique group for writers. Open to anyone with an interest in writing fiction (no memoirs, nonfiction, poetry, etc., please). Participants should bring 5-10 pages to read aloud and 6-8 copies for others to read along and critique. More at 590-7316.

Spokane Valley Camera Club | 7:15 p.m., third and fourth Monday of the month (September through April). Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District building, 22510 E. Mission Ave., Liberty Lake. All levels of ability—students through experienced photographers—are invited to learn. Social events include field trips and workshops.

More at 951-1446 or www.sv-cc. org Spokane Valley Writers’ Group | 6:15 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month. Lakeside Church, 23129 E. Mission Ave. This supportive critique group welcomes adult writers. More at 570-4440.

HEALTH & RECREATION June 7-28 | Each Wednesday in June, A "Singing for Wellness and Joy” opportunity designed for young adults with special needs.

Come have fun with peers, enjoying singing songs of choice, movement and music, instrument playing; $35 per person. Facilitated by board-certified music therapists at Willow Song Music Therapy Center, E. 21101 Wellesley, #102, Otis Orchards. For more information, call 592-7875 or visit www. willowsongmusictherapy.com.

June 12 | Learn natural methods of bug sprays and deterrents using Doterra Essential Oils at a Make and Take Class -6:30 to 8 p.m., $9 per person; Willow Song Music Therapy – E. 21101 Wellesley, #102, Otis Orchards. For more information, call 592-7875 or visit www.willowsongmusictherapy. com.

June 30-Aug. 4 | Pediatric Special Needs Group Music Therapy class for ages 5-15 to work on areas of appropriate social behaviors, increase attention span, areas of physical function through music and movement, areas of emotional regulation. Register by emailing Carla.carnegie@gmail. com. More info by calling 5927875. Provided by board-certified music therapists, Carla Carnegie, Kim McMillin. Classes at Willow Song Music Therapy – E. 21101 Wellesley, #102, Otis Orchards. For more information, call 592-7875 or visit www.willowsongmusictherapy. com.

Each Wednesday in June | Mindful Music and Movement, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This class is designed for those living with health conditions such as Parkinson's disease, in stroke recovery or coping with chronic illness. Addressing areas of function, supporting the body, mind and soul. Caregivers welcomed. Cost: $10 per person. Classes at Willow Song Music Therapy – E. 21101 Wellesley, #102, Otis Orchards. For more information, call 592-7875 or visit www.willowsongmusictherapy. com.

RECURRING HUB Sports Center 19619 E. Cataldo Ave. Various activities and events occur throughout the week including: • Badminton open gym: 7 to 9 p.m. Tues., $5/person • Basketball open gym: Noon to 1 p.m. Tues. and Thurs., $4/person • Pickleball drop-in: 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Mon. through Thurs.; 10 a.m. to noon Tues. and Thurs.; and 7 to 9 p.m. Wed. and Sun. $2/seniors ($4/non-seniors) • Classes including Kenpo Karate, Modern Farang-Mu Sul, and Zumba Aerobics. See website for cost and times.

See CALENDAR, Page 16

Eric M. Tyler, MD “I owe the man that I am to all of the wonderful women in my life and consider it a privilege to take care of mothers, daughters, and grandmothers.”

GET TO KNOW OUR NEW PROVIDERS AT SPOKANE OBGYN www.spokaneobgyn.com

To schedule an appointment call: Downtown 509.838.4211 Valley 509.928.2866

Shelley L. Northern, ARNP

“I am passionate about women’s health and enjoy guiding patients through the various phases and challenges life can bring, both physically and emotionally.”

2017 SUMMER SPORTS CAMPS NBC Basketball Skills Camps – 8-12 year olds: 5 days – June 19-23 or August 14-18 – 9am-3pm - $275 3 days – June 26-28, July 10-12, July 17-19 – 9am-3pm - $170

Skyhawks Sports Academy – 4-12 year olds Basketball Camp – August 7-11 – 9am-3pm - $149 Volleyball Camp – June 20-23 or July 31-Aug 4 – 9am-12pm - $129 Mini-Hawk Camp – July 31-August 4 – 9am-12pm - $129 Cheerleading Camp – August 7-August 11 – 9am-12pm - $129 Pickleball Camp – August 14-August 18 – 9am-12pm - $129 Multi-Sport Camp – August 21-August 25 – 9am-3pm - $149

Gametime Basketball Camp – 6-18 year olds July 20-22 – 9am-3pm - $175

Breakthrough Basketball Camps – 7th-12th grades Skill Development Camp – July 25-27 – 9am-3pm - $245 Post Player Camp – July 29-30 – 9am-3pm - $195

Advantage Basketball Camp – 6-18 year olds July 31-August 4 – 9am-5pm - $295

Pat Powers Volleyball Camp – 12 years to adult August 12-13 – 9am-3pm - $130

NOW REGISTERING FOR ALL SESSIONS! For more details and registration information:

visit: www.hubsportscenter.org/summer-camps Call: (509) 927-0602 We provide events that have a positive impact on youth and the community!

The Current

16 • JUNE 2017

Come have fun on the 10, 25, and 50 mile bike ride NAME: _______________________________________________________________ AGE:______ Spokane Valley at its Best

Draw yourself enjoying this wonderful bike ride.

•

Ages 2-4, 5-7, 8-10

•

Prizes include registration in the Cycle Celebration ride with T shirt, bike tune up, and more submit by June 30th.

•

Return to: Valleyfest PO Box 368 Spokane Valley, WA 99206

cyclecelebration.com

Sunday July 30

The Current

Homebuyers gain insight and potential savings from seminar

By Erin Dodge

Current Guest Contributor When you hear the acronym “SNAP,” you may think about getting help paying a utility bill. What you may not know is that SNAP, which stands for Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners, does more than keep the heat on.

I got the chance to meet Loretta Cael, Housing Counseling program manager at SNAP and learn more about the agecy’s housing programs and how they benefit the many neighborhoods in Eastern Washington. The first thing Loretta said was, “We provide a handup as much as a hand-out.” The Homebuyer Education Seminar is an example of a hand-up.

This June through August, the

Cool learning for kids at SCLD this summer

By Gwendolyn Haley

Spokane County Library District I don’t know about you, but my kids are so ready for school to be over for the summer. Their countdown started in May (or possibly earlier).

Magic, animals, music and puppets

chemistry,

As school winds down, your local library kicks into high gear. We’ve planned six weeks of spectacular family programs, starting with magician Jeff Evans who shares the “Secrets of Wizards.” The following week, we’ll learn from West Valley Outdoor Learning Center about animals and their Habitats. Mobius Science brings their popular science show “Exploring Chemistry” to the library in July, followed by Cool Tunes with “Eric Herman and His Invisible Band.” We round out the summer with KC Puppetree’s puppet show, “Re-Build-It Town,” featuring a whole cast of puppets created with recycled materials.

LIBRARY Spokane County Library District is hosting Homebuyer Education Seminars. Each seminar is led by a HUD-certified and trained SNAP housing counselor and features home buying information from a Realtor, a mortgage lender and a home inspector, as well as home maintenance information.

Loretta is passionate about providing people with what she calls “financial buying power” and knowledge about “borrower’s rights” when talking to a home lender. Seminar attendees receive a two-year certificate that allows them to participate in many of the downpayment assistance programs, such as a 0-percent interest downpayment assistance loan of $10,000. Loretta shared that people mistakenly think that home purchase assistance programs are only for low-income families; however, some have much higher income limits than people realize or they may be focused on neighborhood revitalization.

The seminar helps you know where to start if you want to buy a home and what questions to ask. In Loretta’s experience, many people You can see all of these shows at the Spokane Valley Library on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. A sign language interpreter will be at the 2 p.m. show for increased accessibility. If you can’t make one of the Valley Library shows, you can catch them at Otis Orchards Library on Tuesdays at 11 a.m., at Argonne Library on Thursdays at 11 a.m. and at other district locations throughout each week.

The most important thing this summer During summer break, the most important thing for kids is to keep reading, so they can start strong at school in the fall. This summer, the library has a new online program where kids and families earn virtual reading badges to help keep your kids motivated. Everyone who reads 10 hours over the summer will also receive a certificate. Along with reading badges, the online reading program has challenges for

are uncertain about what it actually costs to own a home. Learning to calculate your homebuying budget, monthly payments and costs for maintenance are important for successful home ownership. Even previous home owners can learn quite a bit, especially because of the changes brought about by the Dodd-Frank Act. The seminar is open to everyone at no charge with no income restrictions. SNAP isn’t selling anything, so the seminar is purely educational. Even the Realtor, mortgage lender and home inspector are different for each seminar.

Upcoming Homebuyer Education Seminars are at Spokane Valley Library on Saturday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; at Moran Prairie Library for a two-night session on Tuesday and Thursday, July 18 and 20, 6 to 8:30 p.m.; and at Argonne Library for a two-night session on Tuesday and Thursday, Aug. 15 and 17, 6 to 8:30 p.m.

JUNE 2017 • 17

From bubbling beakers to magical wizards

You can register for this seminar with Loretta Cael at SNAP Spokane by email at cael@snapwa.org or by calling 456.7627. each of our library locations. Your family can explore the community around your library, completing different activities to finish the challenge and earn a badge. To sign up for the online summer reading challenge, visit http://scld. northwestreads.org.

Kids are more likely to enjoy reading when they choose their own books. Summer is the time to toss out the required reading list and let kids explore their own interests.

We have extensive selections and knowledgeable staff to help your child find the “just right” book, whether it’s the latest “Star Wars” novelization, a new comic book, an old favorite or everything they can learn about new hobbies and interests.

Discover everything the library has to offer this summer by picking up a copy of our “Engage” magazine and check it out online at www.scld.org.

Build a better world with free programs for all ages this summer.

For details, visit www.scld.org/engage

www.scld.org

The Current

18 • JUNE 2017

2017 SUMMER FAMILY FUN! -tickets starting at only-

$

6 Per Seat

Mini Plans & Group Tickets Available Too!

Star Wars Night-June 17th Saturday vs. Boise Hawks Game Time 7:15 pm

Join us for a night full of Star Wars trivia, character appearances, and Star Wars jersey auction. sponsored by:

343-OTTO (6886)

The Current

Spokane Indians set for 2017 season with new skipper

By Craig Howard Current Editor For the past decade, Tim Hulett has been a fixture in the dugout for the Spokane Indians, transitioning from his home in Louisiana each summer to manage the Northwest League’s most storied franchise.

When here, he would commute from his apartment in Liberty Lake to Avista Stadium.

This season, the former Major Leaguer who once played in the same infield as Cal Ripken Jr. will remain in bayou country as Matt Hagen, another former player with connections to the Northwest’s big league team, will take over as Indians’ manager. Hagen was drafted in the 13th round by the Seattle Mariners in 2002 out of Liberty University in Virginia and last played in 2012 with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

“Spokane has a reputation as the premier organization in the Northwest League and I’m truly grateful to be a part of it,” Hagen said in a statement through the team after being announced as manager last December. “It is our goal as a coaching staff that Indians’ fans will be proud of the way their players approach the game every night.”

JUNE 2017 • 19

“We’ve met him a couple times and first introduced him at a Chiefs’ hockey game this winter,” said Klein. “He should be able to relate to the young players that start their careers in Spokane. I think he’ll be great with the media and fans.”

Hagen will make his Indians’ managerial debut on June 15 in the home season opener at Avista Stadium against Boise. Regardless of the final result, the game will be followed by fireworks, one of seven such promotions during the 2017 season. The other fireworks nights are set for July 4, July 15, Aug. 4 and 5 and the home finale on Sept.

3.

Other promotions this year, include “Star Wars Night” on June 17, “Bark in the Park” (bring your dog) on July 5, July 17 and Aug. 5 and complimentary baseball hats being handed out on July 19. Kids will have a chance to play catch on the field following games on June 18, July 9 and Aug. 6.

In 2016, the Indians earned the distinction of having their home diamond, Avista Field, named Northwest League “Field of the Year” for the 12th consecutive season. Coaches and managers vote on the award which recognizes the best playing surface in the league throughout the 76-game season. Avista Field has won the honor 18 of the past 20 times.

“Every year the ballpark gets a new coat of paint, seats are repaired, the grounds are manicured to perfection and everything is cleaned spotlessly,” Klein said of the maintenance approach at the

The Spokane Indians begin their 2017 season on June 15 at Avista Stadium against Boise. Ticket prices will remain affordable again this year, starting at $5. ballpark.

As usual, the team has kept admission affordable. Reserved seat ticket prices start at $5 for seniors, military personnel and kids 12 and under. The same tickets for adults are $6.

“I think the main thing is we know who we are and specifically who we aren’t,” Klein said of the costeffective, fan-friendly ticket policy.

“We understand that we serve the family first. If mom, dad and the kids have the opportunity to have an affordable and safe evening together, then we’ve done our job.

Again, it’s just who we are so it has to be a priority. Yes, costs go up dramatically every year, but we find a way to keep our ticket prices affordable because we understand who we’re serving.”

Hulett, who played primarily second base in the majors from 1983 to 1995 with the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals, compiled a record of 371-366 in 10 years as Indians’ manager. He led the team to a NWL championship in 2008 and was named Manager of Year for his efforts.

Klein said improvements to the field, concessions and parking in the past several years have been well-received by fans. The main and west parking lots have been paved and landscaped and there are now more places to sit in the shade.

Hagen arrives in Spokane after managing the Hickory Crawdads, a North Carolina-based low-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers last season. The Indians are a step up, operating as a short-season-A affiliate of the Rangers.

Spokane Indians’ Senior Vice President Otto Klein said the new skipper will be a good fit in Spokane.

Improvements to Avista Stadium in recent years, including a new gift shop, concession stands and landscaping, have made for a more fan-friendly atmosphere.

Baseball is only part of the agenda during the Indians' 76-game home schedule.

Mascots like "Otto," "Doris" and "Recycle Man" add to the atmosphere each summer.

The 2017 Spokane Indians and their new manager will greet fans at Community Fanfest at Avista Stadium on Saturday, June 10 from 1 to 4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. For tickets to Indians’ home games, call 343OTTO (6886) or visit www.milb. com/index.jsp?sid=t486.

The Current

20 • JUNE 2017

Bryson McMahon Adams Elementary

Ty Felker

Chester Elementary

Johnny Trejbal

Liberty Lake Elementary

Charlee Wich

Ponderosa Elementary

R

2017

Devin Figart

Bowdish Middle School

Grace Geldien

Jaymes Hoskins

Evergreen Middle School

McDonald Elementary

Karina Kopets

Progress Elementary

PACE AWARD HONOREES!

Congratulations!

Juan Morales

Broadway Elementary

Greenacres Elementary

Maycie Hymas

Kody Michael Allen

Bethany Caudill

Garrett Santoro

Juliana Gonzalez

Adalyn Roda

Bryce Tellinghusen

Mica Peak High School

Bella Collier

South Pines Elementary

On May 25, these 50 students received a 2017 PACE Award for consistently demonstra ng excep onal character and bringing character to light for themselves, their classmates, schools and community.

PACE inspires and supports excep onal character through educa on, community partnerships and recogni on.

Central Valley High School Greenacres Middle School

North Pines Middle School

Ella Greene

Spokane Valley Learning Academy

Join us for World Character Day on September 13, 2017 and “Shine On!” Learn more about “Bringing Character to Light” at:

pacecommunity.org Special thanks to Leo's Photography for the 2017 PACE portraits.

Central Valley Kindergarten Center

Horizon Middle School

David Osborn

Opportunity Elementary

Eugene Florez

Spokane Valley Tech

The Current

Taylor Anderson Summit School

JUNE 2017 • 21

Sydney McLean

Sarah Remley

Alyssa Mitchell

Elizabeth Flahavin

East Farms STEAM Magnet School

Gabriella Haigh

Sunrise Elementary

Benjamin Bronson

East Valley High School

Taylor Voelker

University Elementary

East Valley Middle School

MaKinzie Anne Poitevint

Patrick Dillon

University High School

Miriam Rosenbaum

Continuous Curriculum School

East Valley Parent Partnership

Jack Hanson

Otis Orchards School

Trent School

Trentwood School

Logan Allen

Connor Gosselin-Harris Pioneer School

Elizabeth Floch

Valley Christian School

Hannah Hayes

Freeman Elementary

Valley Christian School

Desirea Thosath

Ashton Strobel

Jordyn Goldsmith

Darin Jenneskens

Freeman High School

Freeman Middle School

Tekoa Elementary

Tekoa High School

Kayla Flock

Preston Engeland

Arthur B. Ness Elementary Pasadena Park Elementary

Melanie Clure

Kai Laukkanen

Centennial Middle School

Seth Woodard Elementary

Uriel Perez

Ciara Gunning

Samantha Eaton

Gabrielle Andres

Dishman Hills High School Spokane Valley High School

Millwood Kindergarten Center West Valley City School

Gracie Kate Schade

Orchard Center Elementary

Sydney Jones

West Valley High School

The Current

22 • JUNE 2017

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INSTRUCTIONAL CLAS

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Red roses signify love. Roses are the most popular flower in America. They are easy to grow and you can appreciate them from their first bloom until the first frost. It’s really easy to celebrate this day.

You can buy roses for someone you love, plant a rosebush or go walk through the Rose Garden at Manito. There are so many beautiful colors of roses to enjoy but remember each color has its own meaning.

WEEKLY SUMMER CAMPS Join us at one or all of our weekly summer camps with a different focus each week. In addition to our gymnastics and trampoline camp weeks we’ll have Adventure camps, Ninja Zone camps, Cheer camps and Parkour/ Breakdance camps for children ages 3 and up!

Camp pricing starts at $129 (half days) or $229 (full days) for the week, daily rates also available.

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The Current

JUNE 2017 • 23

Flowers and their Meanings

sunflower

lilacs

gladiolus

orchid

calla lily

carnation

pure

young innocence

strength of character

a belle

beauty

pride

anemone

rose

tulip

daisy

peony

tiger lily

anticipation

love

declaration of love

innocence

bashful

wealth and pride

hydrangea

bird of paradise

aster

heartfelt

joyfulness

patience

Rose Color Meanings

yellow

white

purple

pink

lavender

red

joy and friendship

innocence and purity

love at first sight

gratitude and appreciation

enchantment

love and romance

The Current

24 • JUNE 2017 Brought to you by

About and for Valley seniors Salute to Service – Honor Flight pays tribute to vets with unique gift

By Derek Brown

Current Correspondent Joe Delay was stationed in Belgium, France and Germany toward the end of World War II. “It was one of the worst winters in the history of Europe,” Delay said. “That’s one of the things that always stands out in the mind – the cold and the lack of overshoes, really just adequate clothing. The GI’s didn’t expect such a terrible winter. No one did.”

Delay, like many other Americans, served his country and served it honorably. Many of them never came back. And the ones that did lost many friends in battle.

“I was in the 101st Airborne,” Delay recalls. “I had just started off as a staff sergeant. I was 18 when I went in. I just turned 91 about a month ago.”

Delay visited Washington, D.C. right after returning from the war.

“Our unit visited and marched down Fifth Avenue and visited West Point,” he recalls. “We spent two or three days at that time but I hadn’t seen ‘The Wall’ or any of the newly created statues that are now in existence.”

After all these years, however, he never returned to the nation’s capital to visit the memorials built in remembrance of those who gave their lives for their country and the vets who are still with us.

Over the years, Delay heard about an organization that had set up the ability for vets to visit the memorials in Washington but didn’t consider applying.

“I always felt that I should yield to those people that are less fortunate than me,” Delay said. “So I didn’t apply until last year for that reason. I finally went in April of last year.”

That organization is the Inland Northwest Honor Flight, which provides vets with a memorable trip back east to see the landmarks built in honor of all those who served.

“It’s all free, the vets don’t

Inland Northwest Honor Flight has provided funding for over 1,400 local veterans to visit memorials in Washington, D.C. Above, local vets visit one portion of the World War II Memorial. Photo courtesy of Inland Northwest Honor Flight pay anything at all,” said Tony Lamanna, director of the Inland Northwest Honor Flight. “The funding all comes from donations.

We have an anonymous donor who gives us $75,000 a year. And Southwest Airlines, to this day, still gives free vouchers to the Honor Flight network.”

Honor Flight’s inaugural tour took place in May of 2005 when it took a dozen World War II veterans to visit the memorial in Washington, D.C. Six small planes were flown out of Springfield, Ohio, where the idea originated.

“The whole organization started back when the World War II Memorial was being built and dedicated,” Lamanna said. “A gentleman in Springfield questioned his World War II vet patients if they were going to see it.”

That man was Earl Morse. Many of them told Morse they couldn’t afford to go or didn’t have the physical ability to attend. Morse himself was a retired Air Force captain as well as a private pilot.

He asked five other guys that were part of a flying crew if they’d be interested in taking vets to Washington, D.C., at their own expense. And they agreed.

“I think after the first trip he didn’t intend for it to become what it did,” Lamanna continued. “But they took 12 vets total to the memorial. And

when they got back word spread.”

Since those humble beginnings, the entire Honor Flight network has brought over 180,000 veterans — from World War II to the Vietnam War — to Washington to see the collection of memorials. The Inland Northwest Honor Flight chapter alone has brought over 1,400 veterans from our area.

“When we were first starting out, I think we got 215 free tickets (from Southwest Airlines) for vets, and that gave us a real good start,” Lamanna said. “And then KREM really stepped up right at the beginning to give us coverage and promote us.”

According to Lamanna, funding for Honor Flight comes down to a lot of civic and community groups that have fundraisers for the organization. One group last year raised $75,000 alone at an auction.

And there are literally hundreds of sponsors and private donors that truly believe in the organization’s mission.

“Bottom line is it really comes from these civic groups that step up and raise money for us, and of course private individuals that send money in,” Lamanna said.

The Liberty Lake Rotary Club puts on a breakfast fundraiser every Memorial Day to benefit Inland Northwest Honor Flight.

“Our president at that time had the idea to do a pancake breakfast to benefit the Honor Flight,” Jeff Duncan, treasurer of Liberty Lake Rotary, said. “It’s been an annual thing since.”

From 8 to 10 a.m. every Memorial day Rotary serves breakfast at Pavillion Park. For vets, it’s free.

The club itself buys the food and asks for donations, all of which go directly to Honor Flight.

“At 9 o’clock, we have our little program where we do the anthem and have a keynote speaker and usually someone from Honor Flight will speak, too,” Duncan said.

Last year, Liberty Lake Rotary raised enough money for four vets to make the trip.

“We’re giving them a chance to go back and honor their buddies that they lost while they were there,” Duncan said.

For the veterans, everything is included – hotel, airfare, meals, buses, transportation to-and-from the memorials. And if a vet has special needs, such as oxygen or a wheelchair, that is also provided.

All veterans are eligible for the Honor Flight, however, World War II vets are given priority due to their age. To get on the waiting list any veteran will need to fill out an application on their website: http://

See HONOR FLIGHT, Page 25

The Current

JUNE 2017 • 25

Crossword Puzzle

The Memorial Day breakfast in Pavillion Park is hosted each year by the Liberty Lake Rotary as a fundraiser for Inland Northwest Honor Flight. Last year, the club raised enough money to cover the trip for four local vets.

Photo by Craig Howard

HONOR FLIGHT

describes as “the ugliness many of them experienced when they returned home (initially).”

www.inwhonorflight.org.

“What really affects these vets, and I hear this time and again, is the reception they receive from the public, from their fellow Americans,” Lamanna said. “It’s been a very cathartic experience.”

Continued from page 24 “Our website has dates of service that qualify for a veteran to go on an honor flight,” Lamanna said. “They don’t have to have actually served in combat or overseas. As long as they were in service between the dates listed and get an application to us they will eventually go on a flight. World War II vets, if they apply today, will go on our Oct. 23 trip.”

Upon arriving home, the vets are greeted by crowds of cheering people. A band is present as is the National Guard, all there to welcome them back home. They get “mail call” consisting of letters written by local students, thanking them for their service. Lamanna believes the reception helps with the healing process of men and women who served, particularly in contrast to what Lamanna

When Delay arrived back in Spokane, he donated some money to the group because he felt that there were more needy persons than him that could benefit from the life-changing experience.

“We boarded a bus and the bus had a patrolman in front and back,” Delay recalls. “We went straight through lights and took precedent over all other traffic. They really treated us like supermen,” he said with a chuckle. Delay, who, to this day, still practices law in his office downtown, reminisces about the monuments they saw, the things they did, and the unforgettable time he had surrounded by vets like himself.

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The Current

26 • JUNE 2017

WV’s Nicholson strides to long-distance success

By Mike Vlahovich

Current Sports Editor On the one hand, Jacob Nicholson contemplated playing soccer when he entered West Valley High School as a freshman; on the other he weighed running cross country and track.

Distance running won out and Nicholson wound down his career last week among the better class 2A track runners in the state, specializing in the 1,600 and 3,200 meter races.

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Current Sports Editor Overcoming adversity, Mother Nature and two losses to begin the season, it was uncertain how the Freeman baseball team would respond.

“Going into high school it was between running and soccer and I ran cross country,” Nicholson recalled.

The family had gathered together and felt it was a better fit for the future.

“I remember Bob Barbero (a WV graduate and successful cross country coach at University who guided the Titans to a couple state titles) coming to all the races and he would talk to me,” Nicholson said. Turns out the mentorship from U-Hi’s state championship coach was a motivator.

Perseverance won out for the Eagle’s late blooming distance runner. Over the last two years, Nicholson has finished sixth at 4:21.78 in the 1,600 and fourth at 9:28.9 in the 3,200 at 2016 state track. He was 11th and seventh in state cross country as a junior and senior.

When he had those state track times last year, Nicholson was stunned by his 3,200 time. “It was a 24- second PR,” he said.

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But he also played “tons of soccer” during an eight-year stretch.

“It was awesome,” he said of that first trip to the podium in 2015. “I had never been there before.”

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Distance running entered the back of his mind in elementary school while striding around the field as part of training for Bloomsday. He says he ran a couple of the races with his dad, Mark, who himself had been a runner in high school at East Valley.

During state qualifying this spring he won the 3,200 and was third in the 1,600. At the state 2A meet in Tacoma (after presstime, May 2527) he was seeking to wrap up his senior season with a flourish.

West Valley senior Jacob Nicholson is one of the top 2A long-distance runners in the state. He qualified for the state meet in Tacoma in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters and placed seventh at state cross country last fall in Pasco.

Contributed photo But he then teamed up with standout junior Skyler Ovnicek who pulled him along that fall and Nicholson nearly qualified for state in cross country.

“I think I psyched myself at regionals,” he said. “I was nervous and didn’t make it. Another letdown, but I had a great track season.”

He gave credit for his coach, Ty Brown, who has coached him four years and gone through highs and lows together.

“I can’t thank him enough for what he’s done for the team and me,” Nicholson said.

Nicholson’s track and field career got off to a rocky start. He turned out for freshman basketball at West Valley and was going up for a lay-in when he was run into by a teammate, hit the deck and broke his arm.

It would be fitting if he went with a championship, or two, at his last high school track meet. “It’s now or never for me,” he says.

“I didn’t run for the first half of the season but was wearing a cast and riding a bike,” Nicholson said.

When he got onto the track, “I barely broke five minutes. I was just running and having fun.”

“I contacted the coach and he followed me during the cross country season,” Nicholson said.

“It’s been my dream and goal to run for WSU. It’s amazing and it’s going to come true, too.”

Not necessarily. Nicholson said he plans to walk on at Washington State, his dad’s alma mater.

Like a mailman, nothing would prevent the Scotties from making their appointed rounds. A team that had compiled an enviable 8117 during their careers headed to the state 1A baseball semifinals for the third straight time in Yakima (after presstime). The Scotties have placed third and fourth at state, respectively, the last two seasons.

A championship would be icing on the cake for eight graduating seniors who contributed to Freeman’s exceptional four-year record.

Not with the season beginning the way coach Chad Ripke would have liked.

“It started out with our starting second baseman (Keegan Cottrell) suffering a compression fracture and we weren’t sure if he’d be back,” Ripke said. “Our number three pitcher (Simon Rooney) had a bruise in his rotator cuff and was unable to throw the first one-third to half of the season.”

Adding insult to injury, considering you needed an ark to get there, Freeman didn’t play on its baseball field until April 24.

“The first game was borderline,” Ripke recalls.

The Scotties had played 15 times on the road, practiced in the gym and indoor batting facility. They could have made excuses. Yet after two early-season losses to Overlake, the team rattled off 21 straight victories. A lot of guys got battle-tested. Eventually Keegan and Simon and got back into the lineup and Desmond Parisotto provided a boost.

“Through it all this team didn’t blink, didn’t bat an eye,” said their coach. “To be back in the final four

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to finish with a 15-7 record. CV was ousted in the playoffs, East Valley went 4-13 and University 3-17.

says a lot.”

Ryan Maine shared third place after the first day of competition in the state 1A golf state championship He shot 71, three strokes off the lead. Teammates Tyler Haase (82) and Ryan Crosswhite (84) also made the cut. Scotties girl Issabell Miller did so as well, shooting 89.

Other local golfers didn’t fare as well.

Continued from page 26 It was the final high school weekend for Gonzaga Universitybound pitcher McKabe Cottrell.

During his four-year career he had won 32 games and lost 7, by his coach’s estimation. He has command of three pitches and is “just a heady kid.”

He can hit, too, batting .554, with 16 doubles, three triples and seven home runs this year. He struck out once in 74 at-bats.

Parisotto batted .552.

“We’ve academic state champions two years in a row, the only (area) team left standing for three years,” said Ripke. “That’s not a bad little run here.”

West Valley won the Great Northern League championship before losing twice in post-season

Final Point

GSL still playing catch-up with Columbia Basin on diamond

By Mike Vlahovich

Current Sports Editor This could have been the year.

As Central Valley baseball coach Mike Amend told me before the post season, the Greater Spokane League (GSL) had four great pitchers and expressed optimism that this season would bring success against normally dominant Mid-Columbia Conference (MCC) baseball teams.

So much for that theory. Six teams from south central Washington advanced to state in classes 4A and 3A (including semifinalist Southridge). The GSL – zero.

Mike Schock, who manages an STCU branch in Liberty Lake, is the keeper of football stats for the GSL and like Central Valley’s statistician Bill Pierce, his zeal is all things GSL as he is a rabid researcher of its history.

By his count, despite Gonzaga Prep’s 10-0 shutout victory, MCC schools outscored their foes something like 70-27 in the first round of sub-regional playoffs.

Scotties golfers make cut

EV track qualifiers Nationally ranked sprinter Rodrick Fisher heads a horde of track and field athletes who competed at the State 2A track meet at Mt. Tahoma in Tacoma (after presstime).

Among them are four-year state qualifier Taylor Sellers on the girls relay, Rachel Cochrane in the hurdles and long jump, Kelley Hance-Brown, the fifth ranked 2A triple jumper; Lutisha Stewart in the 100 and two relays, joined by

Micaela Fitzgerald and Autumn Stewart. Torrey Dutton is the alternate.

Clhoe Chalfant is the Knights’ javelin record setter and currently ranked first in state. Genesis Wilkinson advanced in the shot put.

Besides Fisher, the boys qualifiers were Nathan Allred in the shot put and relay runners Matt Mason, Andre Mounadir, Isaiah Ervin, Nick Young and Adrian Hargrave.

Renay Monohan made her second state golf tournament joined by Trail Thompson and Charity Yount.

WV state qualifiers Besides Jacob Nicholson, a number of Eagles advanced to the three-day state 2A girls and boys Track meets in Tacoma. LaTrouchka Duke in the 100, Madeline Liberg in the 400 qualified for the girls.

Caleb Simpson ran the 110-and 300-hurdles and was part of the 1,600 relay along with Jake Jordan, Garrett Morton, Tyler Mays, Eduar

This year’s new playoff format included nearly every GSL school.

Gonzaga Prep made a valiant effort, winning twice before losing its final two games.

been to state 14 times with two finals appearances, a third place and two fourths, the last in 2003 and last time a GSL school brought home a trophy.

It was one of few decent pitching efforts – witness the scoring above.

Schock’s alma mater, Rogers, lost 3-2 (and the Pirates won but one game all year).

The league’s 11 teams have had a total of 49 wins in 86 state appearances if my math is right.

All told, league teams were a combined 4-12 against their MCC foes.

But don’t feel too bad boys.

Since the inception of state play in 1973 reaching the state semifinals in baseball has largely been a Chicago Cubs’ exercise in World Series futility for GSL teams (with the exception of the Cubbies’ 2016 season, of course).

Over the past 44 years of state participation, when Central Valley was good the Bears were really good. They finished second and third back-to-back in the mid1970s and have an overall 9-7 record in seven state appearances.

They’re the only team with an overall winning state record, albeit in fewer appearances.

North Central twice made the finals, in 1978 and 2001, in eight trips to state.

Ferris placed second and third, in 1982 and 1987, among 13 state appearances.

The Big Kahuna of GSL baseball is Shadle Park. The Highlanders have

“Here’s something that will kill your GSL alumni spirit,” Schock said. “Baseball (is) the only GSL sport never to win a state championship. Let’s just marinate a bit. It’s amazing we’ve had as many (professional baseball players) out of this town as we’ve had.”

The irony is you’d think that today’s baseball, with all the traveling club opportunities and special coaching, would have caught up after all these years.

Why is baseball still seemingly not as good here as elsewhere.

The consensus of Schock and I – with the caveat that our beliefs don’t necessarily hold water – is that the days of three-sport athletes have dwindled. In our minds, multi-sport athletes have the intangibles that make success easier than if they focus on just one sport. I know the most successful baseball teams I covered over the years were those whose players excelled in other sports. Of course you could argue we don’t specialize enough.

You can blame the weather – TriCities teams usually get outside sooner goes the argument. Then

JUNE 2017 • 27

Bran and Collin Sather.

Josh Quirk in the shot put, Colton Carlson in the pole vault, Cody Skay in the 3,200, Dylan Farnham, javelin, and Jabriel Davis, high jump, round out the WV boys crew.

Clair and Lily Sinner played doubles tennis on Friday and Saturday.

Alyssa Amann and Kellie Fitzpatrick competed at Indian Canyon Golf Club in the state 2A golf tournament where both missed the cut.

Titan softball denied It’s rare when a University softball team doesn’t qualify for state.

Since 1996 the Titan have made 16 appearances. This, however, was one of those odd years after winning the Greater Spokane League. The Titans beat Hanford and Richland behind the offense of Emily Stannard, Sierra Apodaca and Alex Surby, but were defeated

by Walla Walla and Richland in a rematch. why is it GSL teams won five of eight games against the MCC in pre-season?

You can blame specialization. You can argue that the cost to travel on hand-picked teams isn’t being channeled where it should go. But the evidence is that traveling the country on hand-picked club teams hasn’t necessarily made players in Spokane more competitive. A former Major League player and area coach told me a couple years ago that his American Legion school team had beaten select-team foes.

The bottom line is this: The Columbia Basin had six state baseball qualifiers (including 3A semi-finalist Southridge), the GSL none. Meanwhile, foes from that area won 11 of 15 post-season games against the GSL during post-season.

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The Current

28 • JUNE 2017

Congratulations Graduating Class of 2017

Chase Ackerman • Tyana Ackerman • Jenna Adams • Jose Aguilera • Brynn Albright • Patricia Alvaro • Cody Anderson • Shannon Andrews • Alexis Angioi • Trystian Arnold • James Aronow • Matthew Augustine • Lyddie Austin • Hannah Azzinnaro • Logan Babbitt • Olivia Baddeley • Kayla Badger • Lauren Bailey • Tyler Bailey • Jasdeep Bains • Jazmine Bakke • Cameron Ballif • Eli Bambock • Madelyn Bambock • Nathan Bannon • Ashley Beard • Hannah Bedard • Kelly Belangie • Bryce Bennett • Mariah Berrow • Matthew Bischoff • Sean Bleyle • Haley Boggess • Nicholas Bonforti • Matthew Boudy • Anthony Bowmer • Sierra Brady • Katherine Brickner • Avery Brookshire • Destiny Broughton • Jenaye Brown • Samantha Brumwell • Duncan Burns • Natalie Cabiad • Haley Cable • Isabella Cabral-Molinelli • Gabrielle Calderon • Brianna Cameron • Nicholas Campa • Joseph Campanella • Victoria Carff • Courtney Carolan • Brittany Caroon • Stone Carter • Brianna Castillo • Bethany Caudill • Aliyah Cazeau • Alyssa Cazeau • Gerardo Ceresero • Tyra Chalich • Taijon Chapman • Connar Chase • Kirby Chermak • Vlad Chernyy • Levi Childress • Hayden Chisum • Alayna Christlieb • Andrew Clark • Avery Clark • Toria Clark • Jack Clary • Brooke Cline • Hannah Clinesmith • Hanna Conner • Brittany Conrow • Peyton Cooley • Aurelio Correia • Nikolas Corsaro • Matthew Counts • Jared Creighton • Daniel Cross • Dominic Crownhart • Alexander Cuff • Samantha Culton • Aliyah Cunningham • Rachel Cunningham • Julian Curran • Reganne Curtis • Laurel Darling • Brede Date • Hannah Davis • Ruvim Davydenko • Camden Dayton • Brandon De La Rosa • Danika Deering • Nathaniel Deering • Conner DeGeest • Dominick DeJulia • Chase Denney • Katlin Depaulo • Jacob Depriest • Jacob Desmarais • Alexis Devore • Rachel DeWitt • Christine Dien • William Divine • Amanda Do • Brady Doheny • Cecilia Dohrmann • Rachael Doty • Megan Dougherty • Arye Dowling • Elizabeth Dudla • Ashton Duggan • Jameson Dumo • Magdalena Dupuy • Kendra Eagleburger • Shelbi Ebert • Noah Eckel • Johnathon Edgar • Shannon Edwards • Kelsey Ehlert • Kennedy Eikum • Isaac Emerson • Kelli England • Lindsey Ewell • Sydni Fawson • Hailee Federman • Jenna Ferreira • Blake Fillis • Austin Finley • Cole Fisk • Erik Fitzgerald • Rhett Foley • Anna Fomin • Michael Fonteyne • Gabrielle Ford • Daniel Foster • Sarah Fotheringham • Alexis Fox • Kyle Fox • Hannah Frater • Jesse Freter • Cassandra Fuhriman • Bobbi Gallagher • Logan Geary • Roshelle Gering • Kaitlyn German • Christian Gesik • Peyton Gibbs • Kobe Gibson • Chase Gilbert • Spencer Gilbert • Joshua Givens • Connor Glover • Mia Glover • Iryna Gnatenko • Fernando Godinez • Madison Goldfeldt • Natalie Gonzalez • Aimee Gores • Gracyn Granados • Delaney Grant • Steffan Gray • Andrew Greer • Erin Gregory • Zachary Griffin • Karissa Griffiths • Danielle Guarisco • Amanda Guinn • Ryan Hagmann • Mikaela Hamlin • Grace Hannahs • Michael Hansen • Kevin Harper • Sophia Harrington • Terrell

Class celebration page 33

Central Valley High School J U N E 1 0 AT 9 : 0 0 A . M .

G.U. MCCAR THEY CENTER 8 0 1 N C I N C I N N AT I S T, 9 9 2 0 2 Harrison • Dylan Hart • Travis Hawkins • Natalie Hayes • Kailyb Headen • Devin Heath • Taylor Heck • Ashley Heinze • Jessica Henry • Jacob Hermes • Nicholas Hernandez • Brady Hiestand • Seth Higel • Anthony Hirt • Ethan Hockett • Anthony Hodgkin • Seth Hogberg • Sidney Hogberg • Nathan Holmdahl • Norah Holmes • Hayden Holmquist • Rikke Holtet • Abigail Horton • Cole Howard • Joshua Howrey • Hannah Humble • Lorissa Hunter • Ryan Hunter • Bao Huynh • Seth Ingraham • Nikita Ioukovlev • John Jacobs • Jill Jacobson • Lora Jacobson • Gabrielle Jaeger • Brittany James • Kaitlyn Jamison • Allison Jarvis • Andria Jeffery-Ruggless • Andrew Jensen • Breann Johnson • Sydney Johnson • Jayla Jones • Madison Jones • Alex Josquin • Andrew Joy • Alicia Judd • Alexandria Judge • Trey Julian • Britany Justo Contreras • Jacob Kahler • Zachary Kaiver • Andrey Kanyushkin • Holland Kartchner • Connor Kemble • Cody Kerkuta • Avel Khadzhi • Khalid Khalid • Grace Kim • Jesse Kinzer • Ryan Kiourkas • Conner Klingler • Aubrianne Knudsen • Jared Korver • Veronica Kostenyuk • Julia Kravtsova • Rieley Kreiger • Cody Krull • Alison LaFrance • Dylan Lamkins • Amanda Lance • Jonas LaPier • Dallas Larsen • Thomas Larson • Justin Laws • Kyle Lawson • Cameron Lawton • Dante Leaf • Jonah Lee • Natalie LeGrand • Jared Lemley • Riley Lemley • Malachi Lensing • Bryce Lesher • Ruvim Leshkevich • Jake Levine • Emma Levins • Ryan Liechty • Nicole Linerud • Jorden Littlejohn • Luke Livingston • Dylan Loew • Mikayla Logue • Chloe Longwill • Tiara Lorentz • Peter Louthian • Dakota Lovins • Annalee Madsen • Brianna Madson • Tate Malek • Jacob Malone • Britney Martin • Jackson Martin • Jacob Martin • Veronica Martin • Noah Mauch • Haley Maughan • Jenessa Maynes

• Jacob McCabe • Alexandria McCafferty • Jase McCammond • Corey McCartney • Gavin McCormick • Blane McCracken • Hailey McGill • Cody McKeen • Gannon McMaster • Eric Melaas • Alexandra Mendez • Greta Merkel • Aarika Merrill • Luke Merrill • Zach Merritt • Drew Miller • Zachary Miller • Kindel Moe • Jamchi Mojilong • Christian Monson • Makayla Moore • Cruz Morales • Jared Morgan • Branson Morris • Devin Motley • Alexis Mower • Ashley Mowry • Eric Mulligan • Hannah Mumm • Vladyslav Nechytaylo • Kearan Nelson • Spencer Nelson • Lily Nguyen • Jalene Nicholas • Jezreel Nicholl • Isaac Nicholls • Lukas Nichols • Ameara Nicholson • Joshua Niles • Isaiah Noble • Dylan Noon • Kenneth Nootenboom • Benjamin Norin • Abigail Nurvic • Payton Ochse • Sierra Ohlsen • Jocelyn Oliver • Connor Olson • Evan Olson • Carson O’Neill • Braedon Orrino • Emily Osmun • Serena Osmuss • Jasen Oviatt • Carrie Owen • Sydney Paladichuk • Briah Palmer • Jared Parker • Jacob Patrick • Elise Peck • Elizabeth Pedersen • Maci Peha • Shaylin Pennestri • Cameron Perez • Itzel Perez • Cassandra Peterson • Isabel Pfeifer • Maliq Phakdymanivong • Jacob Phelps • Joryn Phillips • Michael Plunkitt • Clara Poshusta • Gwyneth Potter • Kayley Powell • Daniel Powers • Zachary Price • Chelsea Pridemore • Joseph Putnam • Madison Rasmussen • Rachel Reach • Andrew Reding • Ryan Rehkow • Meghan Renecker • Georgia Renz • Dulce ReynaRomero • Macie Reynolds • Morgan Riddle • Tyler Rigby • Ashleigh Riordan • Kayla Ritz • Weslee Robinson • Koby Robles • Stefanie Rodriguez • Spencer Rogers • Emma Romney • Isaiah Rose • Scott Rountree • Jayden Sabins • Mickayla Sampilo • Parker Sampson • Christina Sanborn • Taylor Santoro • Kortney Schelin • Julia Scherer • Joel Schierman • Allycia Schmitt • Jordan Schneidmiller • Kailee Schultz • Alyssa Schumacher • Jacey Schweitzer • Courtney Segraves • Sean Self • Emiley Sessions • Derek Sharp • Peyton Shaw • Kanaan Shawlee • Gabriella Sheley • Madeleine Sherwood • Mason Short • Aaron Sidles • Genevieve Simpson • Joshua Sims • Media Sina • Matthew Siva • Nicholas Soltero • Gage Spicer • Ryley St. John • Sara Standow • Krysta Staples • Alivia Stenson • Olivia Stockman • Sean Strampher • Ren Strauss • Alicia Stubner • Emma Stumbough • Cameron Sturm • Donavan Surles • Dina Susina • Jonathan Swanson • Daniela Symonenko • Jordan Talafili • Denis Tecca • Ryan Terriff • David Theis • Baileigh Thompson • Dominic Tresner • Raymond Tripp • Jace Troyer • Jenna Truong • Hailey Tucker • Tre’Von Tuggles Jr. • Raymond Urbaniak • Noah Van Etten • Joshua Van Sloten • Phuc Vo • Jenna Wagner • Jacob Walter • Madison Walter • Matthew Wantland • Cody Ward • Justin Warren • Cierra Weber • Victoria Weik • Hunter Wentling • Nicholas White • Theresa White • Noah Whitman • Christian Williams • Jackson Williams • Tate Willms • Courtney Wilson • Casey Winans • Hannah Windhorn • Chance Woudenberg • Willow Yake • Skyler Yaw • Jeremy Yelland • Connor Young • Kadin Zimmerman

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Class celebration page 34

JUNE 2017 • 29

Dishman Hills High School J U N E 8 A T 6 P. M .

S P O K A N E VA L L E Y E V E N T C E N T E R 10514 E SPRAGUE, S P O K A N E V A L L E Y, 9 9 2 0 6

Sabrina Babcock • Felix Barragan Jr. • Sierra Bennet • Britney Bennett • Memorie BerhaneStuber • Samuel Bethmann • Carolyn Bordwell • Andrew Bowen • Lindsey Bowles • Spencer Bracey • Treyshaun Bracey • Michaela Braucht • Mariah Brown • Vinson Bulock • Allie Burrow • Tristin Charbonneau • Torrez Collette • Natasha Cochrane • Makayla Connery-Smith • Roger Coonfield • Justin Cowee Lester • Ariana Cruz • Triston Dale • Zachary Davis • Justin Dubois • Ashley Dunne • Cody Dunne • Andrea Eldred • Alexander Evans • David Fenske • Eugene Florez • Amanda Forsman • Robert Michael Alnassim • Joshua Andersen • Krista Anspach • Brittany Aquino • Haley Baggarley • Summer Bailey • William Bailey • Estefany Barragan • Madison Bastin • Skylar Bastin • Samantha Battin • Rhonda Baxter • Dallis Beckett • Kapone Beitz • Jade Berberick • Jacob-Tyler Bercot • Chase Binder • Michael Binder • Austin Bliesner • Tyler Bliesner • David Bordeaux • Katie Bowman • Wyatt Bowman • Austin Bradford • Nichole Bradford • Derek Braymen • Brycen Bremer • Colton Brown • Dustin Browne • Kendall Brown • Kila Browning • Mikayla Brown • Baylee Buchanan • Audry Burgess • Taylor Burke • Hannah Burland • Tiana Burnham • Rylee Carolus • Jaimee Clark • Dante Clayton • Bradley Colglazier • Maranda Colombo • Kylie Cook • David Cope • Zachary Courchaine • Alexis Cramer • Tiarra Crockrom • Dylan Cross (Baker) • Sonya Curtis • Russell Darcy • Drew Deboodt • Sofia Desimone • Devin Devore • Chad Delzell III • Emily Dillon • Adam Divens • Linh Doan • Chantelle Doucette • Megan Duff • William Duncan • William Dunlap • Nicholas Durand • Aaron Durazo • Rose Faraca • Ashley Farnsworth • Madalynn Fischer • Jamie Fleck • Jacob Forsythe • Julia Fox • Payton Fredericksen • Jonanthan Freese • Tanner Fyre • Gabrielle Gankema • Chevy Gilliam • Alyssa Glore • Jenise Golden • Jonathan Gonzalez • Brenten Goodwater • Ryan Graham • Joseph Grassl • Maddux Greer • Whitney Gulliford • Justice Guyer • Isaiah Hainline • Cory Hall • Jordan Hammond • Zachary Hanson • Hosanna Harrington • Lauren Heinlen • Zachary Helfenstein • Erika Herambourg • Alexia Hess • David Hicks • Madison HigginbothamWilson • Tyler Holt • Kaitlyn Hopkins • Chantel Iakopo • Semir Ibrahimovic • Tanner Jacobs • Trevor Jacobs • Ryan Jakober • Michael Jensen • Micah Jensen-McNeill • Jaycee Jones • Brooklynn Juris • Daniel Kalpakchi • Kasey Kanenwischer • Samantha Kelley • Devin Kempe • Courtland Kessinger • Veoletta Kopets • Peter Korab • Isaac Lamb • Corissa Larsen • Khadijah Lassey • Samantha LawsonNovikoff • Kearrah Lima • Helyna Limberhand

Class celebration page 35

East Valley High School J U N E 1 2 AT 7 P. M .

INB PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 3 3 4 W . S P O K A N E FA L L S B L V D . , SPOKANE • Brian Lind • Gage Lookebill • Chelsea Love • Kayann Luce • Samantha Ludwig • Corey Lyghts • Melynda Maki • Michael Manos • Emilio Marroquin • Jared Martin • Taylor Martin • Janina McBride • Gannon McDermott • Evan McDonald • Andrew McKee • Elizabeth McLean • Trey Meyer • Marissa Millhouse • Kimberly Millmaker • Zachary Mills • Michaiah Mitchell • Annaleesa Montoya • Matthew Montoya • Jordan Moore • Isabel Morales • Noah Morales • Chase Naccarato • Rebekah Nalder • Derek Nelson • Mitchell Nelson • Anne Ngo • Kayla Nixon • Carolina Noriega • Zoe Novakovich • Malik Ore • Caleb Palmen • Dalton Parrish • Justin Patterson • Elena Payne • Katelynne Perry • Natalie Peters • Vanessa Pettersen • Jordan Phelan • Dylan Plunkett • Bryce

Fortuna • Miguel Garcia • Devin Gebeke • Dakota Goin • Abby Gorman • Michael Graham • Tameina Guthrie • Makenzie Hansen • Angel Harvey • Faith Hendon • Jazmine Hewitt • Rylee Hibbs • Sage Howard • Payton Irvin • LaKeisha Jones • Sabrina Kanzler • Autumn Kidd • Katie Kinney • Destiny LaBoube • Vanessa Langeberg • Jonathan Lawr • Marco Llamas-Ruiz • Kaylor Lusk • Audrey McArthur • Phillip McElliott • Jonah McMorran • Macy McVay • Erik Mendez • Brianna Moore-Read • Frank Morgan • Haley Moses • Solan Moses • Karen Nelson • Jaycie Nolen • Janae Nunn • Kual Nyiang • Callie Oropeza • Ana Pablos • Taren Price • Dominique Rail • James Remington • Austin Rettig • Tyler Robbins • Jenna Mae Schultz • Jared Shryack • Austyn Smith • Tyler Smith • Jean Stocker • Jamie Stocker • Ricky Stone • Spencer Storseth • Justin Suenkel • Aaron Taylor • Nicole Taylor • Anna Tinsley • Israel Valdez • Celeste Vanderploeg • Joshua Veliz • Michael Vera • Hunter Whitehouse • Noah Wiese

Pointer • Josiah Poler • Gaelyn Prior • Kelsie Rantzow • Gabrielle Reavis • Taylor Rebman • Katherine Rice • Jordan Richardson • Connor Riedlinger • Alexandrea Robinson • Diana Rodriguez • Talon Rogers • Joshua Sager • Joseph Sailand • Brandon Scalf • Anastasia Schofield • Dalton Schutz • Taeona Seiler • Charlotte Severns • Makayla Shay • Bailey Shea • Mickiela Sherman • Miyana Shively • Austin Sijer • Asallah Simon • Manpreet Singh • Tyler Skogen • Diana Smitherman • Jacob Smith • Stacie Smith • Matthew Spitze • Scott Stark • Mellanie Stephenson • Jordan Steward • Kody Summers • Logan Sundheim • Derek Sumpter • Igor Svirgun • Johnathan Szep • Jordan Szep • Jerehmey Tadlock • James Terry • Hayley Thistle • Kristen Thompson • Dustin Thon • Jaicee Toles • Jacob Townley • Garrett Tredway • Julianna Trepanier • Elvira Tsuber • Tristan Twin • Asa Vallone • Juan Vasquez • Justin Vigesaa • Devin Volquardsen • Caitlynn Wallace • Kyle Walther • Sarah Wartinger • Rebecca Watkins • Anthony Weaver • Patrick Welker • Bryan Westwood • Connor Weyant • Annissa Wimer • Kevin Winder • Richard Woodbury • Steve Wright • Chilaxeng Xiong • Jaia-April Xiong • Nong Zong Xiong • Kevin Yount • Kylie Yount-Kaufman • Paul Yount

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30 • JUNE 2017

Freeman High School J U N E 1 0 A T 1 P. M .

FREEMAN HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM 14626 S. J AC K S O N R OA D, R O C K F O R D Rachel Arnzen • Taylon Arredondo • Mark Bondarenko • Madison Boyd • Heather Bykerk • Brandon Campbell • Jaron Cantrell • Noah Carasco • Chase Christiansen • Hailey Conklin • McKabe Cottrell • Myra Crosby • Cassidy Crosswhite • Hayley Damon • Ribenson Darcy • Filipp Dederer • Makenzie Dutt • Isabelle Ebert • Trevor Falciani • Riley Flack • Maridi Folsom • Kaulin Freudenthal • Kendra Gady • Krystal Gady • Anna Gallagher • Luke

Class celebration page 36

Garst • Tessa Gilbert • Patricia Goldbach • Tyler Haase • Chance Halstead • McCall Henderson • Matthew Henson • Zachary Hyta • Jason Iltz • Stacy Johnson • Koby Kent • Victoria Kestell • Joseph Landoe • Morgan Lang • Riley Langston • Jethro Thomas Michael Bartholomew Lara • Mariah Lindsley • Nathaniel Lynn • Ryan Maine • Alexander McNally • Tierney McPike • Bedo Miller • Justin Neely • Jacob Nickerson • Spencer Paterno • Simon Rooney • Michaela Rosenthal • Madison Rubright • Jenna Russell • Joshua Saeger • Tanner Schultes • Anna Schweiger • Cameron Schwenk • Mariah Smith • Trevor Smith • Bayley Stejer • Morgan Stokoe • Morganne Strahl • Colton Thiede • Desirae Thosath • Megan Underwood • Ethan Viles • Tana Waddell • Victoria Wagner • Mikayla Ward • Bradley Williams • Skylar Yackel • Alyssa Zimmerman

Class celebration page 39

Valley Christian School

The Oaks Classical Christian Academy

J U N E 3 A T 1 P. M .

VA L L E Y R E A L L I F E C H U R C H 1831 S. B A R K E R R OA D, GREENACRES Destini Nicole Aguilar • Micah Jacob Brook • Zachary J. Glidden • Conner Glenn Johnson • Kaleen Marie Pope (Salutatorian) • Hanyu Sun (Valedictorian)

J U N E 9 A T 7 P. M .

VA L L E Y F O U R T H M E M O R I A L CHURCH 2303 S. BOWDISH, S P O K A N E VA L L E Y Forrest Andresick • Larai Brigoli • Phoebe Dierdorff (valedictorian) • Sarah Guglielmo (salutatorian) • Robert Higdon • Matthew Kleyn • Justin Krell • Luke Long • Regan Schneider

Spokane Valley High School J U N E 8 AT 2 : 0 0 P. M .

SPOKANE COMMUNIT Y COLLEGE LAIR 1 8 1 0 N . G R E E N E S T R E E T, S P O K A N E

Class celebration page 38 Roman Chebotarev • Mariya Lemeza • Benjamin Toole • Hunter Wilson • Logan Fox • Jillian Long • Hannah Stockman • Walker Young • Diego Cohen • Dylan Lysiak • Jessica Trotskiy • Nathan Kaiser • Jacquelyn McPeck • Spencer Troudt-McGarvey • Damian DeLong • Courtney Porter • Jadin Wilbur • Alik Kunev • Ethan Steiner • Eryana Weaver • Nelya Kuneva • Ravyn Gilbert • Aryanne Wilcox • Maxwell Denny • Reid O’Bleness • William Wilkinson • Tristan Fish • LaceyRose Smith • Molly Willis

Mica Peak High School J U N E 8 A T 6 : 3 0 P. M .

EASTPOINT CHURCH 15303 E SPRAGUE, S P O K A N E V A L L E Y, 9 9 0 3 7

Class celebration page 37

Coleson P Ahrendt • Brooke Alea • Kody Allen • Megan Anderson • Ava Danielle Arthur • Emily R Barnett • Zachary A Becker • Katelyn A Bedolla • Glenn W Blackmore • Kyra H Bliesner • Tessa Raelynn Brockmier • Justin James Carey • Melina Carlson • Danielle M Chang • Hannah Rose Clark • Greyson Raine Counts • Greta Dauer • John W L Dobbins • Emily Rose • Olivia J Seckel • Nicholette Evans • Samantha Falcone • Sariah N Fields • Christian T Fisher • Hanna Foster • Kyler Garofalo • Isaac Paul Gebeke • Christopher Gomez Jr. • Matthew James Horn Green • Samantha J Gutierrez • Adam J Holloway • Hailey R Howard • Logan D Hoyle • Emily May Hughes • Elizabeth L Ireland • Julie Jennen • Darian Juhnke • Brock Lane • Sydney Lin Lasher • Jayden J Layton • Carter John LeDoux • Lea-Ann Locke • Robert J Logan • Tanner L. Martin • Elijah D L Martinez • Guadalupe Melendez • Lourdes Melendez • Emily Anne Meyers • Dallas Christopher Eldo Miethe • Cole Morse • Aaron O’Connor-McLean • Amy Olson • Karlee Osborn • Drew E Ottersen • Mykeal S Pfeil • Joyce Marie Phillips • Rachel V Pilkinton • Melanie Kristine Price • Samantha K Rickman • Madison Alexandra Ruggles • Julia C Ruthruff • Amy Nicole Schlomer • Wesley A Stuart • Madison Svelmoe • CJaye Swain • Bryson W P Swan • Kylan Towery • Kam’Ren Duane Sykarie Trost • Paige E Van Matre • Kyia Warner • Elise White • Trevor David-Ray Williams • Gavyn Woodbury • Veniamin Yakshin • Eli Yates

The Current

Jessica Abercrombie • Julia Adair • Emily Rose Adams • Eric William Adams • Chase Walker Anderson • Kira-Ann M. Anderson • Kirsten Anstrom • Hunter Atwood • Cecilia Baird • Jayda Nicole Ball • Katherine Laurel Ballard • Toni N. Basile • Hannah Lee Basler • Robert Joseph Bates • Skyla Leigh Cosmo Batson • Keaton Michael Ray Beaman • Brandon David Beck • Devan Becker • Alec Aaron Bedard • Zachary Michael Behrens • Mackenzie Christina Beier • Michael Anthony Beier • Austin David Belarde • Adrian James Belt • Kailyb Zane Bennett • Kobe Allen Bennett • Hayleigh Elaine Benson () • William A. Benson Jr. • Caiden Ty Berendes • Maxwell K. Bergam • Jenna Marie Berry • Deon J. Bertelsen • Tyler James Bewley • Nathan Robert Bidwell • Jordin Rose Black • Donald Paul Blanton • Cameron Robert Blegen () • David F. Bobko () • Garrett J. Bongers • Eric Thomas Bowden Brooke McKenzie Bowerman • Adriana Grace Bowers • Josiah James Miller • Dominic Brady • Bryan Christopher Braley • Jenessa N. Branon • Josh Brantley • Drew Bratcher • Jaydeen Bridges • Boaz Charles Brown () • Lauren Brown • Michael Allen Brown • Brooklyn Burke • Katey Lynn Bush • Paige Peterson Byquist • Meagan Emma Lee Carlson () • Nathan Cate • Nicole Ann Chamberlin • Hailey Chiacchia • Katie Christanson • Kyle Christensen () • Brett Maxwell Clark • Collin Clark • Amanda Marie Clegg • Alex John Clemenson • Matthew Len Clother • Jessia Nicolle Clutter () • Hayden S. Cockrill • Ian M. Cole • Kristopher Rae Collins • Meghan C. Conley • Eisaya Aaron Cook • Nicholas Cooper • Tristan Glenn Cox • Gunnar J. Crabb () • Savannah Shayne Criddle • Justin Jeffrey Danner • Austin Darrah • Thomas Richard Dauer • Justin Taylor Davies • Ryan Andrew Davis • Noelle Marie Deane • Jade DeLay • Amber Jo-Lynn Denton () • Robert Todd Devenish • Kathryn M. Dexter • Justin Michael Deymonaz • Cossette Dilworth • Amanda Adell Dixon • Andrew Clinton Doughty • Michael R. Douglas • Adam Stephen Drassen • Daniel Dublin • Marshall Jackson Dudley • Mackenzie Lee Duncan () • Nathan Gregory Fox Duncan • Taylor Durall • Morgan Dykes • Rhece Martin Ehlert • Sophia E. Emtman • Carley Michelle Epperly () • Zachary Matthew Lane Erickson • Lissette Marie Escalera • Aaron Philip Farley • Haley Felch • Courtney Ferderer • Garrett D. Ferguson • Evan Thomas Figuracion () • Clayton William Fincher • Naiviv Fisk • Trenton Isaac Fleury () • Naomi Marie Foster • Krystal Kaye Fox • Kyllian Freeman • Rylie Jordan Frost • Allison Paige Gadd () • Anthony Robert Gallardo () • Cody A. Gamboa • Christina Garbuz • Shaunay Monique Garcia • Ciara Rose Gardner • Skylar Ray Garvin • Samantha R. Gilbert • Jordan George GogginArrotta • Daniel Gonzalez • Richardo Gonzalez • Andrea Kathleen Goodwin () • Roberto M.F. Grabb • Marcedric Ryan Green • Noelle Rose Gregg • Inga Valentina Guseva • Kyle Gutierrez () • William R. Haberman • Logan Michael Haley () • Garrett Hammell () • Michelle Youngchae Han • Dixie Lynn Hania • Kenzie Sheridon Hanson • Alexander A. Harrison • Landon Kyler Hart • Isaiah Redd Hawkins • Joseph William Hawkins • Nicholas W. Heiner • Tatum Day Heller • Isaiah D. Hennessey • Lauryn Michelle Henry • Preston R. Hermann • Travis Mark Hodges • Michael Jay Holder • Jordan Jeffrey Holten • Brian Thomas Hone ()

JUNE 2017 • 31

University High School J U N E 1 0 A T 1 2 P. M .

MCCARTHEY CENTER AT G O N Z A G A U N I V E R S I T Y 8 0 1 N . C I N C I N N AT I , S P O K A N E , 9 9 2 0 2 • Trenton M. Honshell • Ryiah Annsley Horton • Jordynn Hottman () • Laurie Lynn Hudson • Kylee Carson Hughes • Lucas Aaron Irons • Morgan Ann Jacoby • Brandon Michael James • Brenden Eric Johnson () • Hunter Johnson • James Johnson • Kailee Alisha Johnson • Lily A. Johnson • Shelbi Ashlin Johnson • Zachary David Johnson • Alexandra Rebecca Jones • Ethan Thomas Jones () • Justin Trinidad Jordan • Lexus Sue Jordan • Keshav Kalsi • Ilya Karptsov • Amayah Keating • Ostin Kellogg • Nicholas K. Kenyon • Shelby L. Kerbs • Adam Kern • Zac Keto () • Michael Kiddoo •Kyle Kimling • Jeffrey Edward Kimmet • Morgan Maree Kindsvogel • Hannah King () • Jasper P. Knutson () • Lexi Koenig () • Kylan Krause • Johanna Krentel • Garrett Kuebler • Alexander Kuras • Jordan Breaan Lang • Adam Michael LaPanne () • James Henry Larkin • Trayten M. Larsen • Dakota Loren Larson • Yekaterina N. Lavrova () • Trevor James Lease () • Jennie Victoria Leeflang () • Matthew R. Lenker () • Nick Lerma • Gabriella Olivia Lewis • Mikala Amy Lindgren • Hailey Lissy • Nancy S. Liu () • Benjamin Peter Lobdell () • Jeffrey Robert Long Jr. • Joshua T. Long • Patrick Loosmore • Tyler Bryce Lopez • Stevie R. Macy • Mason Rio Maitrejean • Shania L. Malek • Logan Mankins () • Ashley Nicole Martin • Ashlynn Faye Martin • Jennifer Martinez • Anesia Martusheff • Gretchen Marjorie Maughan () • Teague Nicholas May • Makayla J. McClendon • Blake Austin McCracken • Ira Scot McLeod • Cassandra Ray McNeil • Lucas Meinzinger • Evan Frasher Melnick () • Seth Alan Meyer () • William W. Meyer • Austin S. Mildebrandt • Geena Maree Miles • Anthony M. Miller • Marcus A. Miller • Sean A. Miller • Mathew Millhouse • Blake E. Mills • Galvin Minier • Ryan Ray Mitchell • Dylan Mitchem • Andrea Mongan • Jordan D. Moore • Vivian Morales • Jeremy Evan Morrow • Joshua David Morton • Miranda B. Murock • Maria Duran Navarro () • Cody E. Nelson • Natasha Rachelle Nelson • Brady Nevers • Mariah Newman • Isaiah Hunter Nicholls • Madison

R. Norman • Kellie Jean O’Dea • Tommy Ray O’Donnell • Daniel Ocampo • Demri Oglesbee • Steele Mitchell Olson () • Elias Page • Nisa Jayce Papineau • Nadia Parshakov • Amelya Renea Patrick • Devon Ernest Paul • Brieanna Marie Pearson • Madison K. Pearson () • David Darren Pena • Camille A. Peoples • Justo Perez • Lauren Kate Perry • Jansun Christian Peterson • Victoria Marie Peyron • Ayana Phillips • MaKinzie Anne Poitevint • Thomas James Polk • Alexander W. Poulsen • Clivia Prince • Dakota Laurence Pulver • Ciara Leanne Ragsdale () • Cassidy Colton Rahn • Elijah Bumaro Arturo Ramirez () • Kamryn Rebecca Ramos • Kaitlynn Marie Reynolds • Kaylie Elaine Mae Reynolds • Mackenzie Reynolds () • Tymber Reynolds • Brandi Kay Richter • Craig Finlay Robertson () • Marcus Rodriguez • Nathaniel Ropp Hernandez • Ashley L. Routsis • Christopher Martin Ruiz • Jonathan I. Russell • Ashley Patricia Rust • Mashaela Marie Sandoval • Brittney Jean Scheller () • Collin Patrick Schmidt • Clara Lynn Scott () • Matthew Bryan Scott • Trent Roger Seek • Amy Jewel Seely • Zachary Vincent Sherick • Tanner Dale Sibley • Madison Louise Silva • Taylor James Sinclair • Alyssa Danielle Slack • Robert Xavier Sletner • Jackson Allen Sloan • Alli Jo Smeltzer • Jada Elizabeth Smith • Jordan Daniel Smith • Matthew Aleksandr Smith • Donovin Smith-Anderson • Chelsea Lee Somerlott () • Emma Ashley Somerlott • Kaitlyn RuthAnn Spies () • Richele Ann Stachofsky () • Cassandra Jo Staker () • River Caton Stanley () • Steven Sean Michael Stanton • Jacob Kenneth Gene Stark () • Austin S. Sterner () • Marcus D. Stiffarm • Mellissa Marae Storey • Sierra Rose Storey () • Paul Michael Allen Strayer () • Jamie Marianne Stubbers • Sara Ann Sulya • Alexandra Jane Surby () • Tyelar Nickelis Sutton • Kaleb Isaiah Swenson • Thaddeusz Jared Szelag • Hunter Taylor () • Micki LeeAnn Thies () • Brooklyn McKay Thomas • Rachel Marie Tolley • Stephen Mark Tunick • Ayla Turner • Jayden VacchioCollazo • Elliott Bailey VanSlyke () • Justin M. Vickers () • Ally Marie Victor • Max Vigesaa • Julissa Jazlyn Villanueva • Roman Visco • Jasmain Waddell • Daniel S. Wadhwani • Nicole Ellen Wagoner • Jory Douglas Wakefield • Isaiah R. Walker • Kris J. Waltering • Logan Isaac Ware • Grason Waugaman • Hannah Elizabeth White () • Madeline Jeanette Williams • Kyle James Wilson • Natelie Maria Windsor () • Andrena Marcella Christine Wing • Jacob Winnett () • Conner Reed Womack • Bryan Zabroski () • Ryan M. Zimmerman • Kenny Zink Jr. • Nycholas Anthony Zumwalt () Foreign Exchange Students Paulina Calderon (Mexico) • Elena Lucia Contreras (Mexico) • Oskar Holm (Sweden) • Jo Yang (Phoebe) Tseng (Taiwan) • Ida Ophus (Norway) • Ainara San Jose Ortiz de Zarate (Spain) Symbols:  Valedictorian 

Salutatorian

 Honor Society  4.0 Student  AA Degree  Military Service  AVID

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32 • JUNE 2017

Class celebration page 40

West Valley High School J U N E 1 1 AT 4 P. M .

INB PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 3 3 4 W . S P O K A N E FA L L S B L V D . , S P O K A N E Michael Adamson • Josephina Alejandro • Vittoria Amicarella • Jaden Anderson • Kimberly Anderson • Cameron Andrews • Devon Baldwin • Riley Baldwin • Cruz Bale • Amron Barbee • Emma Beauchamp • Alexander Biviano • Chase Blair • Natalie Blair • Shelby Breen • Jennis Cader • Eduardo Calabuig-Soria • Colton Carlson • Rachel

Carpenter • Jordan Carson • Alexis Clardy • Hallee Cole • Jacob Collins • Jamus Conley • Nathan Cooper • Victoria Crafton • Colton Daly • Daan de Noord • Hunter Deane • Paige DeFord • Savannah Dierks • Jeffrey Dixon • Justyna Dokken • Alisen Dorgan • Robert Downing • McLaine Driskill • Lance Dubois • Zachary Duffie • Zachary Espinoza • Samoana Fa’Asala • Dylan Farnham • Jordan Fast • Aaron Fay • Kyle Fay • Jozie Fennen • Drake Ferguson • Jace Ferguson • Adaleah Ford • Nathan Foss • Jordyn Fouts • Abigail Freeman • Harjasleen Gill • Brenden Gould • Brooklynn Graham • Dylan Green • Matilda Greiner • Christian Grigajtis • Deterrance Hampton Jr • Jaida Rose Hanson • Ryan Hawkins • Mackenzie Hawley • Conor Hehr • Faith Henson • Jessica Higginson • Matthew Hoffer • Aaron Hollingsworth • Christopher Honnold • Zakary Hooper • Caitlyn Hossfeld • Benjamin Husted • Nicole Hutchison-Dearborn • Gabrial Hyndman • Eishiro Ishizaka • Christopher James • Alycea Johnson • Bryn Jones • Lauren Jones • Rhys Jones • Sydney Jones • Angela Jordan • Cassandra Judd • Emily Kaiser • Taylor Kennedy • Connor Koker • Kimberly Koppenstein • Bryan Krogstie • Max Kuney • Jenelle Lang • Brenden Langford • Faith Larsen • Sophia LaRue • Adam Lee • Ryan Leifer • Dylan Levno • Alexis Lewis • Nichakorn Loetphattharawong • Madison Malcolm • Maeghen Markow-Watson • Katelynne Mattingly • Amber Mayer • Garret “McGriff Jr” • Emily McLaughlin • Shania

McMillan • Brenden McNiven • Timothy McPeak • Shasta Meagley • Ambur Meleney • Jordan Merriman • Kyle Miller • Jacob Milliken • Marissa Minton • Zalma Monteon • Bennett Moore • Trent Moore • Mack Morton • Sophia Mosbrucker • Joshua Moua • Jaynee Nelson • Elijah Newton • Jacob Nicholson • Emma Nielsen • Jesse Olmstead • Tatum Ouren • Savanah Parkey • Adan Pereyda • Grace Phan • Shylean Pierce • Evan Pinkerton • Gabriel Pipkin • Mia Pittenger • Abigail Points • Jerene Poppe • Hailey Powell • Shaylin Purser • Derek Ray • Avery Richards • Taylor Roderick • Abigail Rodrigues • Grace Rowe • Logan Rutkowski • Cassidy Rutter • Jaren Ryckman • Joshua Ryder • Derek Sanborn • Cameron Scarcello • Sean Schramm • Israela Sibley • Caleb Simpson • Claire Sinner • Lily Sinner • Aaron Smith • Joshua Snider • Scott South • Sophia Stahl • Quintin Stansbury • Meagan Stavanja • Noah Strehlou • Braxton Swenson • Emma Tate-Spencer • Benjamin Taylor • Jocelynn Taylor • Marie Taylor • Isabella Thompson • Nathan Thompson • Logan Van Vleck • Dustin Varney • Britnee Waters • Michael Whalen • Asia White • Whisper White • Hannah Williams • Ronald Wilson • Mariah Winebrenner • Riley Wirth • Kevin Wright • Ia Xiong • Spencer Young

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The Current

JUNE 2017 • 33

Central Valley High School

Class of 2016 “Believe”

Cameron Schneider, Jamie Machtmes, Cameron Sannes: DECA International Career Development Conference Top 10

Clarissa Tracy, Joshua Jenkins, Elijah Beeman, Cassidy Freeman, Jess McGinnis, Mariah Reneau: Marching Band and Color Guard “Once Upon a Dream”

To say the least, the class of 2016 has accomplished so much this past year, from winning almost all the GSL titles, to having some of the top ranked art students in the country. In the past 12 years, the seniors have been through snow storms, wind storms, blackouts and bomb threats. They survived more standardized tests in their school careers than any other. These events and experiences have brought laughter, excitment and memories for the students that will last a lifetime. They will be leaving a legacy for all CV students: even when you lose, it’s not time to call it quits; it’s time to rethink and come back to win and accomplish. Now they’re stepping out into the world; spreading far and wide to colleges and universities, the military and the work-force. We wish you the best of luck, Class of 2016, may you accomplish all your goals and always remember to Believe!

Mark Ford, Aubrey Williams, David Schappals, Erin Buck, Clarissa Tracy, Jared Cowley, Monica Troxel, Michael Gutierrez: Prom

Mercedes Kissinger-Smith, Hailey Laws, Katelyn Ramberg, Ashley Blew, Erica Casey, Hannah Reiman, Sara Montgomery, Jordyn Bridgens, Abby Rogers: Battle of the Bone

Bodey Hawks, Scott Peck, Josh Donahue, Tanner Gummersall, Tanner Sloan, Ben Craig, Nathan Whycoff, Jayden Russ, Adam Alvarez, Jacob Ness: Greasy Pig

34 • JUNE 2017

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The Current

JUNE 2017 • 35

“You get to decide the legacy that you leave.”

To say we will miss the class of 2017 would be an understatement. This class has truly left their mark.

This year at East Valley our school has become closer than ever. The Knights have become more spirited and involved in their communitiy and our sporting event attendance has increased over the year. This years’ seniors have led all the underclassmen by mentoring their younger peers and guiding them along the way. This group of Knights excel in athletics, academics, and other various clubs and activities. We have 10 4.0 GPA students and a National Merit Award winner, we’ve also had spectacular athletes including a 4 time state placer, teams that have won multiple state places, and our Knowledge Bowl and History Bowl teams are two of the best in Washington state. The seniors have shown the underclassmen what it truly means to be a Knight. As these leaders move on to their next steps in life, we wish them the best. Whatever path they choose; whether it be going to college, enlisting in the military, or joining the workforce, we know these Knights will do great things. Thank you class of 2017 for leaving your legacy on East Valley. You will forever be a Knight.

The Current

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You’ve tackled two state championships - one in wrestling and one in football - along with many state placings including boys basketball (second place twice), baseball (fourth and third place), boys golf (ninth place), four volleyball appearances (third, seventh, seventh, and fourth place), soccer (three state appearances), countless academic state championships, along with many other club appearances throughout the years, not to mention all of your individual achievements. Now it is time to tackle the real world. We are so proud of who you have become and we are all rooting for you. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for you. It has been a great four years to be a Scottie. We will miss you all. GO DAWGS!

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The Current

38 • JUNE 2017

Larry Bush, Principal

SPOKANE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL http://svhs.wvsd.org A Project Based, Award Winning School in West Valley School District _____________________________ _____________________________

Phone: 509-922-5475

Molly wants to know how to defend herself. That’s an honest concern.

The class of 2017 will soon be leaving us. Graduation is June 8th.

The memories, the relationships, and the impact they have made on SVH will stay. We wish them well as they begin their journey into adulthood.

Will I Make It? By: Reid Will I make it? Will I get a good job?

Will I be able to support my family?

Where will I live? What will I do?

Will I have friends? These are just a few of the many concerns I have for my future. I could talk all day about what I am scared about, what I don’t know, what I don’t want to know.

Life is hard, it’s not difficult to figure that out. As a Senior I am supposed to know what I want to do or where I want to go after high school. But, to be completely honest, I have no idea.

Last week I went around my school and talked to some of the other seniors, asking them, “What do you want to know about life before you graduate?” A lot of them didn’t even know how to answer. Either there were too many just to pick one, or they just had never thought about it.

I don’t blame them. I didn’t think about it until I was asked to write this article. It’s a hard question.

After doing some nagging, I finally got some answers out of them. A lot of them have the same concerns I do, and some have ones I didn’t even think of. Jacquelyn wants to know how to do taxes. That thought never crossed my mind. It sure does now!

Later on in the week it occurred to me to ask some of the teachers. They graduated and went into the real world. What did they wish they knew?

What I have learned from this, is you will never know everything you need to know. You won’t be able to decide your future or what goes right or wrong. The only thing you can control is the decisions you make. So, I have decided to not worry so much about my future and to start learning how to make decisions. That right there is a big part of being successful in life.

The Class of 2017

Roman, Logan, Diego, Nathan, Damian, Alik, Max, Nelya, Tristan, Mariya, Jillian, Dylan, Jacquelyn, Courtney, Ethan, LaceyRose, Reid, Ravyn, Ben, Hannah, Jessica, Spencer, Jadin, Eryana, Aryanne, William, Molly, Hunter, Walker

Spokane Valley High School recently received the Washington Achievement Award for Overall Excellence. Schools must meet the 95% participation rate on state tests to be eligible.

24% of the seniors have enrolled in a 4 year college.

42% of the seniors have enrolled in a 2 year college.

11% of the seniors have joined a branch of the military.

14% of the seniors have been accepted into an apprenticeship.

4% of the seniors have completed a course at a vocational college.

4% of the seniors will go into the workforce after graduation.

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JUNE 2017 • 39

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40 • JUNE 2017

West Valley High School Class of 2017

Home of the Eagles!

Homecoming Victory

Homeless Shelter Project

ASB Fundraising Presentation at Golden Throne Game World Class Robotics Team

New York City Veterans Day Parade

State Placing Dance Team

Senior Class Officers

Senior Class Officers: President: Jocelynn Taylor Vice President: Jaden Anderson Secretary: Marie Taylor Treasurer: Jordyn Fouts Activities Coordinator: Emily McLaughlin Public Relations: Shelby Breen

Senior Signing Day

West Valley High School's class of 2017 is full of vibrant individuals with unique talents who combine as a unit to represent their school with pride and excellence. These seniors led the way through a successful year with a variety of contributions and achievements including: A robotics team who qualified for the World Championships for the second year in a row. A dance team which qualified for its 15th straight state appearance and brought home two 2nd place trophies. Multiple league championships in athletics, including several state qualifiers, and numerous all-league athletes. Construction students who were selected to participate in the CTE Showcase of Skills Homeless Shelter Project Competition. Our very own Lilac Princess, Miss Marissa Minton. Yet another Golden Throne spirit victory over East Valley. Our award winning band was selected to take the trip of a lifetime and march in New York City’s Veterans Day parade. A school-wide effort to collect charitable donations for various organizations including: The Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, The Special Olympics, Retrieving Freedom and SCRAPS. All of this combined with the various outstanding academic achievements, including senior National Merit Scholar, Sydney Jones, who will attend Stanford University, contributed to accomplishing West Valley's mission of fulfilling the commitment to our students' readiness for college, career and citizenship.

West Valley High School celebrated our 3nd Annual Senior Signing Day. Nearly 100 seniors declared their plans to continue their education after high school in many different post-secondary programs, including apprenticeship, military, technical school, 2 year college or 4 year university. This is a proud tradition that inspires our underclassmen and demonstrates our seniors' focus on their futures.

Honor Cord Recipients 3.6 GPA and above

Salutatorians 3.9 GPA

Academic Scholars

Valedictorians 4.0 GPA

Sydney Jones will attend Stanford University

Marie Taylor will attend Eastern Washington University

Brooklyn Graham will attend Seattle Pacific University

Justyna Dokken will attend Eastern Washington University

The Current

YMCA greenhouse project benefits at-risk youth

By Steve Christilaw

Current Correspondent At the YMCA they call it a youth investment program.

But you can think of it as a way of growing better teenagers by growing plants.

“It’s been around for a little bit,” YMCA Youth Development Director Jesse Richner said. “It’s designed to work with at-risk and juvenile offenders who are doing courtordered community service.”

The area’s YMCAs work with 200to-250 such teenagers per year as they prep, plant and grow. It’s a chance to get their hands in the soil and see something grow, but it’s also a chance to talk. And have someone listen.

“It’s surprising how exciting it is to plant something and see it germinate,” Richner said. “But in a lot of ways, we’re out there learning as we go along just like the kids.

None of us is a master gardener by any means. It’s about having a mentor and it’s about learning to have work ethic.”

Richner said that tending to the garden setting helps the youth here learn accountability – the plants are counting on them.

Hunger Fun Run brings community together

By J.R. Conrow Current Correspondent On Saturday, April 1, under partly cloudy skies and dry pavement, hundreds of community members – from babies in strollers to seniors – gathered at Plante’s Ferry Park in east Spokane Valley to laugh, talk and enjoy the scenery of the Centennial Trail.

While some walked and some ran, all who showed up on this early spring day were there to support two important community causes. By the end of the event, it was these two local nonprofits –

JUNE 2017 • 41

“The kids get a sense of what it’s like to have a job, to be relied on,” he said. “We operate five days a week and they’re expected to show up. “ It turns out a greenhouse has multiple benefits.

“It’s roomy and it’s set up for both heating a cooling so we can use it all year around,” Richner said. “We can grow things in there all year.”

The programs works with a variety of growing methods, from planting directly from seed, transplanting starts and even propagating house plants from mother stock and selling it to the public.

The program makes use of the Spokane Valley YMCA’s spacious greenhouse. Working with mentors, the teens start flowers and vegetables from seeds, nurture them to a healthy level and sell them to the public.

Sales started in early April and featured flowers vegetable starts and herbs.

Some of the veggies and herbs find their way into the community garden at the North Spokane YMCA, making for a full-season’s growing, from seed to end product.

Along with the growing operation, Richner and the YMCA offer a lawncare service that involves the teens with all aspects of lawn care, from spring to fall.

The Spokane Valley YMCA coordinates a youth investment program that utilizes an on-site greenhouse to teach at-risk kids values like accountability, commitment and a good work ethic.

Photos by Hayley Schmelzer

program.

The real dividends come from helping at-risk teenagers.

All of the proceeds from the program, from plant sales to lawncare service, are put back into the

“We’re dealing with kids who have already gone through the punitive part of the justice system and this is kind of a restorative program to help them move forward,” Richner said. “The cool thing is that a lot of

and those they serve – who came away the real winners.

The Inland Northwest Hunger Run is a joint effort put together by the Union Gospel Mission (UGM) and Second Harvest Food Bank. This is the second event of its kind.

"I did walk and run in the race, both this year and last year," said Barbara Comito, director of marketing and communications for UGM. "My major impression is that it's a fun mix of serious runners and families and walkers of all ages.”

Barbara Woods, a UGM client told her story on the event website of competing in the 2016 Hunger Run. “Last year, I was fresh out of the Union Gospel Mission Center for Women and Children and eager to find positive activities to dive into with the warm weather

approaching,” she said. “I signed up for the Hunger Run simply because I wanted something to keep me active and because of the programs it benefits.”

Woods had never completed a 5K run before, describing the feat as “a really great feeling.”

She went on to run two more 5K races with her son and another smaller race with both her kids.

She signed up for the 10K at this year’s Hunger Run and also registered for Bloomsday.

“Not even a year before I had thought people who run for fun were crazy, and I would never be able to do that,” she said.

Albertson’s and Safeway were joint sponsors of this year's run.

"We believe each and every one of us can take responsibility for the people who are hungry in our neighborhoods," said John Ortiz, district manager for Safeway and

“We teach them to take care of a lawn,” Richner said.

these kids stay on after they’ve gone through the program as volunteers.

We have kids that we’ve hired out of the program to work at the Y, whether it’s a custodial job or a lifeguard or whatever.”

Richner said people interested in the program, the plant sales or the lawn-care service can contact the Spokane Valley YMCA at 777-9622.

Albertson’s in a press release.

"They are our children, they are our neighbors, our friends and our family. There are too many hungry and malnourished people in our community and we refuse to ignore a problem that has existed for so long in a country with so much bounty and excess."

Comito said the goal is to expand the event going forward.

"Last year we started with the 5K race and added the 10K this year," Comito said. "Next year along with these races we may also add a half-marathon race and/or a kid-specific race."

The money raised from the event, which came from the registration fees, was split between both UGM and Second Harvest to help fight hunger. To learn more about how you can support UGM and Second Harvest, visit www.uniongospelmission.org and www.2-harvest.org.

The Current

42 • JUNE 2017

SVFD Report – June 2017 From Current News Sources

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Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) crews responded to a total of 1,441 emergency calls from April 21 through May 22, 2017.

Highlights include: • Residential Fire – April 23 – Just before 11:45 a.m., SVFD crews responded to a reported residential fire in the 1100 block of North Simpson Road. Firefighters arrived to find light smoke coming from a basement window. The homeowner had been using a propane torch along the exterior wall of the house to get rid of weeds when he noticed smoke coming from the basement floor vent. He went inside and found a small fire ball near the ceiling corner in the basement where he had been burning weeds outside.

The homeowner used his fire extinguisher to put out the fire.

Firefighters investigated to make sure the fire was completely out.

• Wall Heater Fire – April 27 – SVFD crews responded to a reported structure fire in the 17500 block of East Sprague Avenue just after 7:30 p.m. Upon arrival, the found a smoldering pile of blankets outside. The resident said some blankets up against a wall heater caught fire and were extinguished by the resident and moved outside.

Firefighters checked for fire in the wall heater and wall, finding nothing except a scorched wall.

• Outside Rubbish Fire – April 28 – Shortly after 2 p.m., SVFD crews responded to a report of a possible backyard garbage fire in the 24200 block of East Sprague Avenue.

Firefighters investigated and found a resident burning rubbish and yard waste.

They educated the occupant about burning garbage and yard waste being illegal at all times and then extinguished the fire.

• Motor Vehicle Accident – May 3 – SVFD crews responded to a reported motor vehicle accident at 6515 E. Sprague Avenue shortly before 3:45 p.m. A motorcycle rider had lost control and sustained a broken ankle when he put his foot down to control the motorcycle. He was transported to the hospital. He was wearing a helmet.

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• Vehicle Extrication – May 10 – SVFD crews responded to a two-car high-speed motor vehicle crash at 13005 E. Trent Ave at 2:40 p.m. Firefighters quickly

began triage of the patients and called for an SVFD extrication response to free one of the drivers who was trapped in the car due to significant intrusion of the driver side door. Once freed, the driver was transported to the hospital.

The other driver was wearing a seat belt and did not sustain injuries.

• Carbon Monoxide Alarm – May 10 – Just after 9:15 p.m., SVFD crews responded to a carbon monoxide (CO) incident in the 4600 block of North Lucille Road.

The family was alerted by their CO monitor. Firefighters arrived and checked the home for CO, finding high readings in several rooms.

Crews could not pinpoint the source of the CO and the family agreed to spend the night elsewhere and call for service in the morning.

• Attic Fire – May 17 – Just before 7:30 pm, SVFD crews responded to a reported structure in the 400 block of South Dishman Road. Firefighters located and quickly extinguished a fire in the attic which was determined to have been caused by build-up of ash and carbon in the exhaust pipe of an oil-fired furnace.

• Unauthorized Burning – May 19 – Shortly after 4 pm, SVFD crews responded to a report of a possible illegal burn in the 9800 block of East Fourth Avenue.

Firefighters investigated and found a burn barrel in the backyard. They made contact with the homeowner, informed him that burn barrels were outlawed in Washington State in 2000 and extinguished the fire.

• Service Call – May 20 –SVFD crews responded to the 1900 block of North Sullivan Road at 4:18 a.m. to a report of a man having problems with his motorized wheelchair. The wheelchair battery was dead and the man had no one to call to come get him. Due to the proximity to the fire station, one firefighter pushed the disabled chair back to the fire station to charge it while the remaining crew members loaded the man into the fire engine and drove him home.

Firefighters later reunited the man with his motorized, fully-charged wheelchair.

By the numbers: June 1-7 is National CPR Awareness Week – Did you know that CPR can double or triple a person’s change of survival, especially if performed in the first few minutes of a cardiac arrest? SVFD invites the community to register for a free “Friends and Family” CPR class taught by SVFD

See SVFD Report, Page 43

The Current

JUNE 2017 • 43

SVFD REPORT

•

Building alarms = 52

Continued from page 42

•

Service calls = 17

firefighters on the second Saturday of every month. In just over two hours you can learn how to save a life! CPR is hands-free and has never been easier. Visit www. spokanevalleyfire.com or call 9281700 to register. Citizens and first responders trained in CPR and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) use can enhance their value as an emergency resource by downloading the PulsePoint App. This free app, introduced to the Spokane region by SVFD in 2014, is designed to crowd-source CPR by notifying citizen responders of a nearby cardiac arrest. More information is available at www. pulsepoint.org.

•

Vehicle Extrication = 3

•

Water Rescue = 2

University Fire Station 1 Open House – June 10 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.—SVFD invites the community to join us for free family fun at University Fire Station #1, 10319 E. Sprague. Watch a live fire fighting demonstration, try on firefighter gear, tour the fire station, take pictures, get an Operation Family ID child safety kit and enjoy treats. Visit www. spokanevalleyfire.com for more information.

•

Fires* = 89

• Emergency service =1,165

medical

• = 96

Motor vehicle accidents

•

Hazardous materials = 16

• =1

Confined Space Rescue

Valley Chamber

HIGHLIGHTS

*Brush, Commercial, Residential, Rubbish, Vehicle Fires and Unauthorized Burning About SVFD - Spokane Valley Fire Department serves the cities of Liberty Lake, Millwood, Spokane Valley and unincorporated areas of Spokane County including the communities of Otis Orchards, Pasadena Park, and the area surrounding Liberty Lake, with a combined population of 125,000 across approximately 75 square miles.

SVFD firefighters and paramedics responded to more than 16,250 emergency calls in 2016. Established in 1940, SVFD is an Accredited Agency by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), one of only a handful in the state of Washington.

SVFD operates 10 stations providing fire suppression, emergency medical services, vehicle extrication, hazardous materials response, special operations rescue, fire investigation, fire prevention, commercial property inspection, CPR and fire safety training. The department also offers free home fire safety inspections and installation of free smoke detectors. For more information call 928-1700 or visit www.spokanevalleyfire.com.

CONNECT. CONNECT.

EMPOWER. EMPOWER.

INNOVATE. INNOVATE.

Inspiration and Aspiration Our June and July Business Connections programs are packed with inspiration and aspiration for businesses.

In June, the 2017 winner of the Fox series, Kicking & Screaming, and local scout master, Terry Fossum, will share his personal experiences on navigating challenges and how attitude influences success, as demonstrated in the show.

In July, Chef Adam Hegsted, owner of Eat Good Group, will speak about keys to starting and operating a successful business. As the owner of several restaurants, a catering company and the mastermind behind the new local culinary festival, Crave NW, Chef Adam will serve a plateful of wisdom gained from his innovative business ventures.

For more information, visit: spokanevalleychamber.org

June 16, 7-9 a.m.

Speaker: Terry Fossum Spokane Valley Event Center July 21, 7-9 a.m.

Speaker: Chef Adam Hegsted CenterPlace New Members: APRIL BDO USA, LLP Country Financial – John Kapelac Embrace Washington Granite & Cabinets LLC Home Décor Store Inland Imaging J. Thayer Co./Momentum Procurement Group Live Real Estate New Heights Roofing Northstar Seafoods, Inc PayTrace Players & Spectators II Roses & More Inc Ryerson Stanley Steemer Vandervert Construction V.I.P. Production Northwest

1421 N. Meadowwood Ln. Liberty Lake, WA 99019 | 509-924-4994 | spokanevalleychamber.org

The Current

44 • JUNE 2017

EDITOR/PUBLISHER

Ben Wick

Danica Wick

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Craig Howard

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at Central Valley Performing Arts Center Always… Patsy Cline

The Secret Garden

Book and lyrics by Marsha

Created and Originally Directed by Ted Swindley

Music by Lucy

– based on a true story”

Norman Simon

Based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Paula Gano

paula@libertylakesplash.com

Hayley Schmelzer

hayley@libertylakesplash.com

CIRCULATION Dean Byrns

circulation@libertylakesplash.com CONTRIBUTORS

Derek Brown, Steve Christilaw, J.R. Conrow, Craig Howard, Julie Humphreys, Staci Lehman, Mary Anne Ruddis, Benjamin Shedlock, Mike Vlahovich The Valley Current P.O. Box 363 Liberty Lake, WA 99019 Phone: 242-7752; Fax: 927-2190 www.valleycurrent.com The Current is published monthly by or before the first of each month. It is distributed free of charge to every business and home in the greater Spokane Valley area.

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The Current

Safety Scroll

Learn CPR and save a life

By Chief Bryan Collins

Spokane Valley Fire Department The first week of June marks the annual occurrence of National CPR and AED Awareness Week. National statistics continue to show that CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival, especially if administered in the first few minutes of a cardiac arrest. Do you know CPR? A recent medical emergency at West Valley High School reinforced that the skills learned in a CPR class may save a life. Security cameras recorded the incident on April 29 as a visiting community resident fell to a hallway floor. Seeing no signs of life, a bystander initiated CPR and was quickly replaced by a school district staff member with training in First Aid and CPR. While 9-1-1 was called, another staff member ran to retrieve the school’s Automated External Defibrillator (AED). By the time the AED arrived, the patient was showing signs of life and it was ultimately determined that the patient had experienced a seizure.

However, these bystanders acted appropriately and, had the event been an actual cardiac arrest, their actions would have greatly increased the victim’s likelihood of survival.

A recent report evaluated cardiac arrest survival rates in the Spokane Valley Fire Department’s (SVFD) service area. Using a nationally standardized system for evaluating cardiac arrest survival known as the “Utstein Bystander” measurement, the report found that victims of specific types of cardiac arrests in the Spokane Valley who received bystander assistance survived in 50 percent of the 2016 cases. This rate is higher than the national survival rate of 38.2 percent and the Washington survival rate of 46.7 percent in 2016.

Our department has long recognized the importance of bystander CPR in both early patient survival and long-term outcomes.

This is why we offer free “Friends and Family” CPR classes on the

JUNE 2017 • 45

second Saturday of each month.

In about two hours, our firefighters teach participants how to perform hands-only CPR and how to use an AED. Learn more about these classes and register online at www. spokanevalleyfire.com or by phone at 928-1700. Today is a great time to sign up to learn CPR. Our firefighters also teach CPR and AED use to students in four high schools in East Valley and West Valley school districts. Each year, we train about 800 students as part of the ninth grade health curriculum.

In addition to providing training to citizens and students, SVFD has also adopted an innovative new approach to cardiac arrest intervention. Since 2012, we train our firefighters and paramedics to deliver what is referred to as “highperformance” or “pit-crew” CPR. THE This is a highly choreographed method of delivering care to a cardiac arrest patient that is based on the latest research into resuscitation. Members of SVFD introduced the pit-crew concept to the Spokane area and the practice has been adopted by our regional response partners. This regional approach to cardiac care delivery is particularly important now that automatic aid agreements are in place ensuring that incidents are handled by the closest appropriate resources, regardless of jurisdiction.

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Healthy Living Liberty Lake 3 Spokane Gymnastics 22 Service Directory You never know when a friend, colleague, loved one or stranger might suffer a cardiac arrest and need assistance. Instead of standing by helplessly, enroll in a CPR class, download the PulsePoint App and be prepared to help. You’ll be glad you did.

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.

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The Current

ON THAT NOTE

Hollenback remembered for unique impact on Valley

By Julie Humphreys Current Correspondent It appears an unlikely career path from nurse to car dealership owner, but Marlene “Marti” Hollenback had the thread that made it not so odd after all. In both careers, she cared deeply for people – and people cared deeply for her.

The community is still reeling over her sudden death in April at the age of 74.

The Hollenback family is well known in the Spokane Valley.

Marti’s father, Mark Hollenback founded what is now Dishman Dodge, eventually turning it over to his oldest daughter who had grown up around the car business but had spent 25 years as a nurse. Marti’s career included management positions of head nurse in pediatrics at Valley Hospital and director of community programs for Empire Health Systems.

Todd Tuflija is the commercial sales manager at Dishman Dodge and worked side-by-side with Marti for more than a decade. He watched her come into the ownerdealer role with a confidence and competence that had served her well in nursing. And, Tuflija says, she brought that “something more” that’s harder to quantify.

“What she brought to the table was compassion,” Tuflija said, adding she always showed the same care and concern for her employees and customers that she did for her patients. Tuflija says on any given day you could count on finding an employee in Marti’s office as she was the accessible boss who truly cared about the people who worked for her.

Still she was a formidable business executive in an auto industry that is still for the most part, a man’s world. Marti served as the Washington State Director to the National Automobile Dealers Association and was a member of the executive committee and board of directors of the Washington State Auto Dealers Association (WSADA).

Ten days before she died, Marti’s children learned that she had been chosen for WSADA’s highest honor, the 2017 Dealer of the Year. Two of them just returned from accepting the award on her behalf.

Chuck Hafner, a former principal at University High School and

Marlene ‘Marti’ Hollenback former general manager of Appleway Chevrolet, is a fellow recipient with Marti (2014) of the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award.

“She was an unbelievable auto person,” Hafner said. “She was wellthought of throughout the state in the auto industry and she had the moxie to do the job. She was highly intelligent and related well with everyone. Marti was someone who really wanted to make the Valley a welcoming place to live and work.”

Marti Hollenback’s mark on the community is perhaps her greatest legacy, second only to her children

and grandchildren according to those who know her well like fellow community supporter Peggy Doering, longtime executive director of Valleyfest.

“Whenever you talked to her, her family was first in conversation,” Doering said. “And right behind was how great Spokane Valley is.”

Marti received awards and recognitions too many to mention for her work toward making Spokane Valley great. She made sure that Dishman remained not only a car dealership, but a community driven dealership. For every vehicle sold, Tuflija says, at least $100 goes back to the community. Marti supported and donated to, both personally and through the dealership, more than 100 local nonprofit groups, specifically those with missions around helping children, education and health care. She served on numerous community boards including Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, Children’s Home Society and Red Cross and was actively involved with Hearth Homes and PACE (Partners Advancing Character Education) when she passed away.

“Marti touched so many organizations” says Tuflija who often attended community events with Marti. “She would light up a room with her kindness and energy. If there is just one word to describe Marti, it’s ‘magical,’ she was magical.”

As the dealership and the community work to adjust to life

JUNE 2017 • 47

without Marti, her family carries on her legacy. Marti’s younger sister Cheri, also a nurse, now works at Dishman as the community liaison.

Tuflija says the dealership had to create such a position because Marti was just so connected in the community. Marti’s two sons also help run the dealership and her two daughters own and manage a local Valley business, Simply Northwest.

Daughter Denielle WaltermireStuhlmiller reflects on what she says was an incredibly close relationship with her mom, one that she feels blessed to have had.

“There are not too many people like my mom in this world,” Denielle said. “She was so many things to me, my siblings, my children, my sibling’s children and she was also so many things to so many other people. I’ve always known she was amazing but since her death I am learning from people I talk just how selfless, giving and loving she was in ways I didn’t even know. She was truly a grand person.”

Katherine Morgan, president and CEO of the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce sums up Marti’s life and impact.

“Marti’s spirit of love and generosity lives on in the hearts of her family, her inspiring children, those she knew as well as the countless souls positively touched through the numerous organizations and non-profits where she invested her heart,” Morgan said. “The greater Spokane Valley is forever changed for the better because of Marti Hollenback.”

Marti Hollenback was named 2014 Citizen of the Year by the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce. The longtime owner of Dishman Dodge in Spokane Valley supported many local nonprofits, including Hearth Homes, the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery and PACE. Contributed Photo

The Current

48 • JUNE 2017

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