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• JUNE 2021

The Current

RIVER CROSSING

Engaged Educator –

Scott helps students navigate Holocaust By Craig Howard

Current Contributing Editor

In an age when young people are taught that heroes spring from fields like sports, entertainment and social media, Julie Scott sheds light on real heroes from one of the saddest chapters in world history. Twenty-six years ago, Scott introduced a Holocaust unit at East Valley Middle School where she had been a teacher for almost a decade. The class began as an elective just a year after the Holocaust Museum opened in Washington, D.C., chronicling the oppression under Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945 that cost six million Jewish men, women and children their lives.

“She was someone who knew it was wrong and tried to make a difference,” Scott said. “I want to instill in my students that they can make a difference in their own communities and think about how they can do that.”

Themes like empathy, tolerance and compassion permeate Scott’s teaching of the Holocaust. She also speaks out against bullying among students – both the interpersonal and digital kind. “Bullying is wrong, no matter what form it takes,” she said. “You can be mean with an avatar.” As a student at East Valley High School, Scott saw the impact of a dedicated educator in Karen Johnson who taught English. It was around that time that Scott began thinking about a career as a teacher. “She made English so much fun,” Scott recalls. “It was a class you looked forward to. Kids respected

her and liked her. I learned from her not to talk down to students. It’s important to create an atmosphere where they feel empowered and respected.” At EV, Scott was a standout athlete who became the first female to turn out for cross country. She also played basketball and ran track. After graduating fifth in her class in 1978, she attended Park College (now Park University) in Missouri on dual athletic/academic scholarship. Scott thrived in the classroom and as a runner. She was named captain of the cross country team as a freshman and was part of a team that qualified for nationals her junior year. She majored in education and minored in social science. While at Park, she met her future husband, Jim. After graduating from Park in 1982, Scott returned to Spokane Valley where she found work as a

Scott took a group of students to the nation’s capital in 1994 and felt inspired to create a dedicated curriculum on the genocide in Europe upon her return. “I realized I’d never learned this as a student,” Scott said. “It was upsetting. I thought, ‘We need to learn this.’”

“I tell my students I’ve been teaching since time began,” Scott said. Q: You grew up in the East Valley School District and came back after college. Many in the same position don’t return -- or at least not right away. Why did you decide to replant your roots here so quickly? A: I moved back to the Spokane Valley because I really love the Pacific Northwest. My husband and I both enjoy outdoor activities and all that this area has to offer along with scenic beauty. My family lives here as well and I wanted to be close to them if possible. An added bonus was being hired by the school district I grew up in. This has afforded me the opportunity to develop connections with my students as a former East Valley graduate. Q: How does it feel to have the distinction of being the first female to participate in cross country at East Valley High?

In over a quarter century teaching the Holocaust, Scott has become recognized as respected and well-informed voice on the topic. She is a Teacher Fellow with the U.S. Holocaust Museum, an Alfred Learner Fellow with the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous and a Master Teacher with the Seattle Holocaust Center for Humanity. More than any title however, Scott relishes the opportunity to help students understand the selfless sacrifice of people like Irena Sendler, a Polish humanitarian worker and nurse who was part of her country’s underground resistance and saved approximately 2,500 Jewish children in Nazioccupied Warsaw during World War II.

substitute in the East Valley School District. Her first full-time teaching job was at Mt. View Junior High before transitioning to EVMS. In addition to teaching English and Language Arts, Scott has coached a variety of sports including volleyball, basketball, cross country and track.

Photo by Craig Howard Julie Scott has been teaching at East Valley Middle School since 1986, just two years after she began her career in education. An East Valley High alum, Scott is best known for establishing a Holocaust unit that includes welcoming survivors of the genocide to speak before students. Scott is a Teacher Fellow with the U.S. Holocaust Museum and a Master Teacher with the Seattle Holocaust Center for Humanity.

A: At the time, I didn’t really think too much about it. I was honored that coach Howard Dolphin asked me to turn out after seeing me run as a sophomore in track. I really enjoyed it but the first season I trained entirely with the boys’ team. Before my senior season, I recruited a couple more girls to turn out and run. Looking back, I am humbled to think that in some small way I was able to assist my high school start and develop a successful women’s cross-country program. Finally, because Coach Dolphin believed in me, I was able to develop as a runner and then go to college on a cross country and track scholarship. See SCOTT, Page 5

JUNE 2021 • 3

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• JUNE 2021

All seats challenged for upcoming City Council election By Nina Culver Current contributor

It’s about to be a busy election season in Spokane Valley after multiple people filed to run for almost every Spokane Valley City Council seat on the ballot. Position 1 incumbent Rod Higgins, however, drew only one challenger, James “JJ” Johnson. Higgins was appointed to the council in February 2013 and then won the election for his seat in November 2013. He previously served as Mayor from 2016-2017 and 2018-2019. Prior to his time on the council, Higgins served on the planning commission for a year. Johnson, who currently does curriculum acquisition and utilization for Spokane Public Schools, said he got involved in city government years ago shortly after a notice went up about a zone change in his neighborhood. “I decided I needed to pay attention to what was going on in our city,” he said. Higgins, who was then mayor, appointed Johnson to the planning commission five years ago. He’s spent the last two years as the chairman of the commission. In October 2018, Higgins appointed Johnson to the Spokane County Human Rights Task Force, where he still serves. “I have a strong opinion about the need for human rights,” he said.

Johnson said his involvement taught him a few things. “During that time I realized not everyone on the council was representing all their constituents,” he said. Johnson said one of the reasons he chose to run against Higgins was the controversy in 2018 after Higgins attended a Northwest Grassroots meeting that hosted white nationalist James Allsup. “People expressed their concern,” Johnson said. “The result was that Mr. Higgins and his friends limited the time people could speak at the meeting.” Johnson said he considers himself an independent politically. “I believe in fiscal conservatism,” he said. “I’m in favor of gun rights, as long as we have background checks. I believe in small government.” Higgins said he’s not surprised that Johnson chose to run for a city council seat. “I knew he was going to run eventually,” he said. “I guess I’m a little disappointed that he chose to run against me.” Higgins said he and fellow councilmember Arne Woodard spent time trying to recruit likeminded people to run for council. One of the people they talked to was Laura Padden, wife of Senator Mike Padden. Padden did file to run for position 7 against incumbent Linda Thompson, but Higgins said he didn’t know she planned to do that. “That was a pleasant surprise when she got into the race,” he said. Padden and Thompson, who has served on the council since 2017, will face off against Adam Smith and Renault Patrick Evans. Smith, who owns Spokane Valley Brazilian JiuJitsu, previously ran unsuccessfully against Arne Woodard for his seat in 2019.

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Padden said Higgins and Woodard didn’t convince her to run. “I’d been thinking about it,” she said. “I’d been asked before.” City government plays a key role in everything from the condition of city streets to public safety, Padden said. “I think people tend to minimize the tremendous impact city government has on their lives,” she said. “I think I can make an impact and make it better.” Padden said she has disagreed with several of the council’s recent decisions, which are often on a 4-3 vote. “It takes four votes, right?” she said. “The ones who make up the four generally vote against what I would want.” Padden, who works as a web developer and integrator for Community Colleges of Spokane, said she didn’t choose to run against Thompson specifically. “I’m not running against a person,” she said. “I’m running for what I believe in.” The race for position 4, currently held by Mayor Ben Wick, is equally crowded. His challengers include Brandon Fenton, who co-owns the Black Diamond Restaurant. The restaurant was nearly shut down by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Control Board after Fenton opened the restaurant in defiance of Governor Jay Inslee’s orders that restaurants close. The two other challengers for Wick’s seat are Realtor Mark McManus and Christopher Ingraham. “It’s great to see so many people getting involved and running for office in our community,” said Wick. Position 5 incumbent Pamela Haley also will be facing three challengers in the primary election. Her opponents are Mary K. Butler-

Stonewall; Wayne Fenton, who is also affiliated with the Black Diamond Restaurant; and Pat Stretch, a retired housing and community development specialist who ran unsuccessfully for a vacant city council seat in 2019. In Millwood, incumbent Shawna Beese is running unopposed. Position 2 incumbent Dan Sander has been challenged by hair salon owner Becky Dean. Her husband, Matt Dean, is challenging Mayor Kevin Freeman for his seat. Matt Dean works as a furnace operator for Spokane Industries. Other candidates: Central Valley School Board District 2: Teresa Landa (no incumbent). Central Valley School Board District 5: Pam Orebaugh, Jared VanTobel and Rob Linebarger (no incumbent) East Valley School Board District 1: Theresa Noack (incumbent) East Valley School Board District 3: Carolyn Peterson, Justin Voelker (incumbent), Emelie Braxton. East Valley School Board District 4: Jonathan Horsley (no incumbent) East Valley School Board District 5: Mike Bly (incumbent) West Valley School Board District 1: Jeannette Soliai, Dan Hansen (incumbent) West Valley School Board District 2: Robert Dompier (incumbent) West Valley School Board District 5: Pam McLeod (incumbent) Spokane Valley Fire Department Commissioner Position 3: Brian Asmus Spokane Valley Fire Department Commissioner Position 4: John Guarisco (incumbent)

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SCOTT

NEWS

Continued from page 2 Q: What do you think you learned from running that has continued to impact your life positively after your competitive days were over? A: First, and foremost, it instilled within me a strong work ethic and discipline. After my competitive running days had ended, I have continued to run and exercise throughout my adult life. I have always tried to live a healthy lifestyle and be a role model for the athletes I coach. Q: What have you enjoyed most about coaching? A: I have enjoyed coaching middle school athletes, as it has provided me the opportunity to cultivate and develop bonds with my students outside the classroom. I really enjoy teaching students who might not have ever participated in a sport. It is really rewarding being able to work with them, teaching skills and then watching their eyes light up when they improve, break a personal record or master a skill. Over my coaching career I have been fortunate to be able to watch former student-athletes compete in high school and some even on the collegiate level. Q: When you introduced the Holocaust unit many years ago did you think it would have the impact on students -- and you -that it has? A: Looking back, that was certainly my goal but with it being a new program, questions lingered early on whether it would be embraced by students, parents and other teachers. Now, looking back, I am so proud of the impact this unit has had on literally thousands of my students. It has had a much more profound impact on me professionally than I anticipated. I had no idea at the time that I would end up traveling internationally to study the Holocaust or end up with so many professional opportunities to educate other teachers on how to teach this topic. One of the most impactful elements of this curriculum has been being able to bring Holocaust survivors into the classroom to tell their stories. Q: What lessons do these Holocaust survivors teach from

this tragic history that can make us all better people? A: One of the lessons that stands out to my students when listening to the stories that survivors tell, is that despite all of the horrific things they and their families endured, they share a message of tolerance and acceptance of others. Even though my students are eighthgraders, they can make a difference at a young age. There is a quote that I vividly remember hearing many times from Eva Lassman, a survivor, who lived in Spokane, and spoke at East Valley Middle School for many years. She always told students, “You don’t have to be in love with everyone, just don’t hate.” Q: It’s clear you really care about your students and make it a point to provide care and reinforcement on many levels. What can we do as a society to support kids dealing with mental health issues, especially after this last year-plus of dealing with the ripple effects of a worldwide pandemic? A: As a society we need to be more aware of the increase in mental health issues with our middle and high school students. I believe that school districts should provide basic mental health training for both teachers and students. Some of the biggest issues are anxiety and depression and I think the isolation that many students have experienced due to COVID has increased the number of students who feel alone, anxious, depressed and even suicidal. As teachers, we need to provide safe spaces and regular check-ins for these students. Teachers need to be aware of what community resources are out there to help these students with counseling and whatever help they need. Their best source is to reach out to their school counselor who can then help the student and their parents get the necessary services to help that student reach wellness. Over the years I have been teaching I have seen the need for these services increase significantly. Our teens today are dealing with lots of issues, some cope better than others, some have more support at home than others. This is where teachers and other school personnel can really make a difference for students by reaching out and helping.

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• JUNE 2021

The Current

Introducing the

Safety Awareness Channel 2021 April Malicious Mischief Hotspots

Published Date: 5/11/2021 Prepared by Spokane County Sheriff's RIG 9 Unit

Spokane Valley Districts

Incident counts summarizes the events within 1/4 of a mile of each other. The heat map shows the density of events within the area.

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Not long ago, most homeowners likely believed that installing a security camera system on their home would be too costly, too complex, and difficult to operate. Now, however, advances in the technology of these systems have made them affordable. And, if someone like myself can set up and operate one of these systems, anybody can! CCTV, or “closed-circuit television” systems, are a fantastic way to protect your home. Let’s discuss some of the many benefits of having a CCTV system installed as a form of home security: 1. Visible video cameras are an excellent deterrent! Bad guys, particularly burglars who are looking for a home to enter, just might think twice about breaking into your house if they believe they will be recorded doing so. In this way, the presence of cameras may help prevent you from becoming the victim of a crime. Which leads me into the next benefit… 2. Recording creates evidence! If a burglary, theft, or some other type of crime should occur, law enforcement can often use the video recording from the system to identify, and even prosecute, the perpetrator. The CCTV system that I have on my home helped me do exactly that, on more than one occasion! 3. The ability to check up on the kids or elderly family members in real time. It’s always nice to have another set of eyes on your children as well as your aging relatives when they are home alone. Adding remote video will allow you to log in and check up on them from your office computer, tablet, or smart phone. Indoor cameras can also be used to keep an eye on

JUNE 2021 • 7

The Current

2021 April Burglary Hotspots

Published Date: 5/11/2021 Prepared by Spokane County Sheriff's RIG 9 Unit

Spokane Valley Districts

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younger kids and their babysitters. 4. Checking up on your pets. Ever wonder what mischief your furry friends are getting into when you’re away? Worried about an older pet that might need special attention? With a home security camera, you can ensure that your four-legged loved ones are safe and sound. And, not gnawing through the leather on your new sofa! 5. Saving money on homeowners insurance. Most major insurers will offer lower premiums if you choose to protect your property with a CCTV system. If you piggyback an existing security system with CCTV, such an advanced system could net up to a 15% discount on rates. This, of course, depends on many other factors, but I have been informed that such discounts do exist. So, what to do now? It’s time to do your homework, and begin shopping! It’s important to first ascertain what your specific needs are, and what your budget will allow. Most modern systems are digital, so there are no pesky cassette tapes to replace- the data that is recorded by the cameras is stored to a hard drive (or the cloud), just like your home computer. Some questions to ask yourself should include: 1. How many cameras do I need? 2. Do I need/want cameras indoors, outdoors, or both? 3. Do I want cameras that are activated by motion, or always on? 4. Do I want the ability to check the cameras remotely, as discussed above? 5. Should I use wired, or wireless cameras? 6. Is IR, or infrared technology important (this allows recording in dark conditions)? 7. Do I want audio monitoring as well, so I can hear what happened/ is happening? There are other less expensive ways to achieve a little bit of video security, such as “doorbell” cameras, and even systems that have only one or two channels. Just remember, like anything else, you get what you pay for. I installed my system a few years ago, at a cost of roughly $2000. There are systems for $500, and there are systems for $20,000. Doorbell cameras can be had for around $150. So, if you’ve been considering a CCTV system, now is a great time to do some research and see what’s available to help protect your home. Be safe, everyone!

Incidents Within 1/4 Mile =1 ! ( 2-5

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• JUNE 2021

NEWS

Park land purchases dominate council’s agenda By Bill Gothmann Current Contributor

Bike Patrols to Start Again The Spokane Valley Police Department presented their future Bicycle Patrol Team Deployment to Council. In 2008, four officers were assigned to this team. However, manpower issues have prevented deploying since, although periodic bicycle patrols have been conducted by SCOPE. The purpose of resurrecting this service would be to increase visibility in hard to patrol locations such as the Appleway Trail, the Centennial Trail, Balfour Park, and Sullivan Park. They would also work with Spokane Valley’s Homeless Coordinator in connecting the homeless with housing resources. In addition, they would work at special events such as Valleyfest. Two officers would alternate between Tuesday through Friday or Wednesday through Saturday providing coverage from 10AM to 8PM. Officers presently assigned as School Officers would be used as Bike Patrol Officers during the Summer. The schedule calls for purchase, acquisition of bicycles and training during May. Patrols would begin inmid-June and finish their stint in September. Code Enforcement Investigates All Complaints Code Enforcement investigated 647 new complaints during 2020 and 200 new complaints during the first quarter of this year. Their staff consists of two full-time Code Enforcement Officers and one fulltime attorney. They can only enforce when a clear violation of the City Code has occurred. For example, numerous vehicles parked in the front yard of a residence may not be a violation

The Current

unless the vehicles meet the strict legal definition of “junk vehicle.” Similarly, determining whether a person is living in a recreational vehicle or simply using the recreational vehicle as a home office may not be possible using acceptable investigation methods. Other agencies are responsible for such things as barking dogs, vehicles in the right-of-way, illegal burning, and civil disputes. They note that all complaints are investigated, taking an average of 74 minutes for each complaint. The investigation includes a physical inspection, often triggering neighbor to call and contact Code Enforcement. Many of the investigtions determine that there is no violation of City Code. In such cases, the owner is not issued a notice. In October of 2017 when a second vacancy for a Code Enforcement Officer was filled, there were 463 open complaints, some as far back as 2010. All outstanding cases were reinvestigated, brought to compliance, and closed. New Park in Ponderosa Area Council unanimously approved purchase of six parcels of land from Central Valley School District, totaling 17.7 acres, at 44th and Bates in the Ponderosa area. Appraised at $1.575 million, the property would be used for a city park except for approximately 3-4 acres that might be resold in the future to the District 8 Fire District to replace their fire station across the street. Council member Linda Thompson commented, “This is a great fit for the master plan.” Council member Arne Woodard noted, “This was nine years in the making.” Montgomery/Flora

Future

Trailhead Property Acquired Council unanimously approved purchase of a 19,690 sq. ft. (approximately ½ acre) parcel of land at Flora and Montgomery from the County for a possible trailhead for the Centennial Trail and a possible connection to the City’s Spokane River Loop Trail. The County had approached the City to see if the City was interested and had appraised it at $286,000. The City agreed with the appraisal and, as a result of Council’s approval, will purchase the property. Council Member Thompson thanked City Engineer Bill Helbig for his establishing a relationship with the County, thereby alerting the City to the availability of the parcel. High-

Six Year Transportation Plan Presented

The City applied for and received $100,000 to develop a housing action plan (HAP). They then hired Maul, Foster and Alongi to work with ECO Northwest and City Staff to develop the plan. After conducting a housing needs assessment, a housing policy review, receiving input from the through public hearings, and discussion by the Planning Commission, they presented their conclusions to the Council. The HAP states that the City’s housing inventory lacks diversity, for 2/3 of the stock were single-family detached units. There is a “missing middle” in the inventory such as duplexes, cottages, and townhouses which should be corrected by modifying zoning codes to permit more of them, especially in multi-family zones. One way to encourage them is through multi-family tax exemptions. At the same time the City should preserve affordable housing and mitigate displacement of affordable housing while increasing supply of the “missing middle.” The HAP will come to Council for further action in June.

The City is required by the State to maintain a transportation improvement plan (TIP) that contains a list of future projects, the costs, possible financial resources and when (what year) the project is expected to be done. It must be referenced in the Comprehensive Plan, is required for expenditures from the City’s Real Estate Excise Taxes, and is required by most agencies as a prerequisite for eligibility for grants. To meet this need, the City annually updates its rolling plan. This year’s plan includes five bridge and grade separation projects: Barker/BNSF, Pines/BNSF, Sullivan/ Trent Interchange, Argonne/I-90 Bridge Widening, and Mission Ave. Bridge Deck Resurfacing. There are 15 intersection improvement projects, 27 Reconstruction/preservation projects, four city-wide projects, and four sidewalk/trail projects (Sprague Ave. stormwater improvements, Wilbur Rd. sidewalk, River Loop Trail, and the Farr to Dishman/Mica portion of the Appleway Trail). The TIP will come back to Council for a public hearing on June 8 and final approval.

Study Proposes Density Growth

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Road/BNSF Grade Separation, Pines Road Underpass, Sullivan Water Line, and Barker Corridor improvements; and committed projects such as Sullivan and Trent Interchange, Balfour Park development, park land acquisition, and future surprises/ challenges. When subtracted from Capital Reserve Fund Resources, that leaves about $10 million. Staff wanted to know what projects could be considered for funding from this $10 million. Council suggested possible beacons for schools, amenities for the Appleway Trail, acquisition of new police cars, and land parcels for access to trails. Staff will come back to Council with a list of projects for their consideration.

Pending City Projects

Staff presented a list of pending projects to be funded by the Capital Reserve Fund. About $39 million in General Fund Transfers have contributed to this fund since 2013 as a result of the City transferring moneys at the end of the year that exceed 50% of the year’s general fund expenditure budget. An additional $1.5 million comes from other sources. Since these transfers in are one-time events, they go to one-time projects: $18 million completed in prior years; earmarks for in-progress projects such as Barker

Evergreen Road Contract Awarded

Preservation

Council awarded a $1,607,864 contract to Selland Construction for preservation work on Evergreen from Sprague to Broadway. Besides a grind and asphalt overlay, the contractor will upgrade ADA ramps, provide channelization, lay Intelligent Transportation System conduit, and upgrade the signal lights at the Broadway intersection. The engineer’s estimate was $1,542,704. Argonne/Montgomery Intersection Improvements Council awarded a $2,588,588

The Current

contract to Corrridor Contractors for reconstruction of the Argonne/ Montgomery intersection with concrete. The bid was about $200,000 lower than the engineer’s estimate. The job includes installation of ADA curb ramps, revised channelization, signal improvements, and stormwater upgrades. The $3.1 million project was funded by State grants of about $2.2 million. City to Appy for Pines/BNSF Project Funds Council approved applying for a $16.2 million federal grant for the $28.8 million Pines Road/BNSF Grade Separation Project. The project already has or is expected to have an additional $7.8 million from the City and other sources and has already incurred $4.8 million in project costs. 2021 Budget Amendment Staff presented a 2021 budget amendment. There was a transfer of $11,126,343 from the General Fund to the Capital Reserve Fund reflecting the general fund in excess of 50% of the recurring expenditures. No such transfer occurred last year due to uncertainties surrounding COVID and its effects. General Fund income was $3,286,800 above budgeted due to increased sales taxes. Other major transfers out of the General Fund include $693,000 to cover the street fund’s deficit due to poor phone tax and gas tax receipts; $391,754 to cover Law Enforcement’s new body cameras and the new Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS); and $364,440 to the Weather Reserve Fund to cover excessive costs in 2020’s snow removal. The Parks Department budgeted expenditures were increased by $204,926 for Browns Park work and $152,858 for the Sullivan Park water line. These were covered by grants and transfers in from the General Fund and the Capital Reserve Fund. These changes will come back to Council for final approval. Building Code Updated The 2018 editions of the International Building Codes are now effective throughout Washington State as of Feb. 1, 2021. Because of this, there are a number of housekeeping provisions that needed to be changed. There is also an amendment intended to align the City’s building and land disturbance language for permit consistency. Council approved the changes. Council Approves Department of Emergency Management (DEMS) Contract

JUNE 2021 • 9

NEWS

The City has always contracted with Spokane County for Emergency Management Services. These services are offered within the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office with the Sheriff acting as the Director. This department implements the concepts of the National Incident Management System to accomplish its mission which is to coordinate the whole community during major emergencies and disasters. They help facilitate preparedness, response, and recovery efforts during such times while coordinating with State and Federal agencies during an emergency. Council approved a $86,659, three-year contract with DEMS that includes one three-year renewal. How to Annex More Industrial Property With the City having developed much of the Northeast Industrial Area, they are looking at how they could annex additional industrial area from the County. To do this at the present time, the City must meet the triggered requirement that 50% of the industrial land must be occupied. However, this is a significant hurdle. A second hurdle is the agreement between the County and the State several years ago that the County would not change the urban growth area for eleven years. Meanwhile, the City can make plans for adding to the industrial area in periodic update of 2023 and can seek legislation to make it easier for such annexations. The City has already made a number of changes to increase the occupation of the Northeast Industrial Area. It has simplified and reduced the number of zoning designations, one of which was to eliminate the Light Industrial zone in favor of regulations that specify setbacks and height limitations to industrial zones adjacent to other zone types. It has developed a Planned Action Ordinance (PAO) that eliminates the occupier from having a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review since the PAO effectively accomplishes the same purpose. Council Briefs • Council authorized staff to apply for $51,000 grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission for flashing school zone beacons for Horizon Middle School, Continuous Curriculum School, and City School. The City would provide $9,000 in matching funds. The State funds come from traffic tickets issued for school zone violations. •

Council

approved

amendment to the Sheriff’s Law Enforcement contract that, in addition to housekeeping changes, provides for an as-needed, shared Tactical Unit at a cost of $119,000 for 2021. This unit would be called upon for any civil disturbance and for crowd control.

approved a new agreement with Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC) that would provide two, rather than the present one, voting representatives from Spokane Valley on the Board and would provide tribal voting representation.

• Council approved an additional $162,000 to Avista’s $749,000 contract for actual added costs to relocate their facilities to accommodate the Barker/BNSF Grade Separation.

• Council approved an addendum to the Splashdown contract eliminating their $15,000 annual lease payment this year because the effects of COVID regulations make reopening unclear and, due to the death of the primary contact, Bill Bleasner, the future of the facility is uncertain. Because there is no activity on the site, the City can pick the property up on their own insurance.

• Council approved purchase of two parcels of land, approximately 12,000 sq. ft., declared excess by the County, for $42,000 plus closing costs near the south west corner of Appleway and Dishman Road. The property provides for expansion of the Appleway Trail and for stormwater improvements. • Council gave the go-ahead to staff to renegotiate removal of a fulltime County Geographic Information System (GIS) employee from their interlocal with the County and provide the City’s own, in-house GIS employee. A financial analysis shows that this will result in a reduction of costs and an increase in service. •

Council

unanimously

• City Parks and Recreation presented a plan to re-open the three pools for swimming lessons on a rotating basis, two weeks at a time this summer. One of their largest challenges is that, thus far, they have only about 30% of their usual seasonal staff. The sessions would be for eleven weeks starting June 19, with limited capacity and required registration. We want to thank Mr. Gothmann for the last four years of service writing this article and covering Spokane Valley news for The Current. Happy retirement!

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• JUNE 2021

COVER STORY

The Current

Congratulations Graduating Class of 2021

Shane Abel • Ava Abramson • Sarah Adams • Emily Agnew • Kanela Aldan-Aguon • Zainab Ali Al Abdullah • Carson Allred • Natalie Alva • Julius Alvarez • Andrew Amusavi • Michael Anderson • Adam Anderson • Dane Anderson • Raquel Anderton • Julia Andrews • Riley Anglesey • Johana Arias • Cooper Arnold • Garrett Atkinson • Jackson Atwood • Avery Auth • Gage Avery • Ellie Baddeley • James Badger • Eli Bailey • Ryen Bake • Caleb Ballif • Lauren Bambock • Elise Bang • Isabella Bankey • Brooke Barnes • Valeria Baron • MazieAnne Bays • Christina Bays • Ethan Bays • Malachi Beach • Mason Beck • Tailor Benson • Noah Betts • Bowen Beykirch • Jennifer Bgatov • Kylie Bianche • Grace Bigner • Kathryn Blackhart • Brian Bolanos • Amy Bosch • Olivia Bossard • Cole Bossard • Elijah Bowdon • James Bowers • Tamera Bradford • Christopher Branom • Mohkam Brar • Kaleb Bray • Emily Breeding • Jason Briones • Hayden Britain • Matthew Britton • Eli Brook • Amity Brookshire • Ellie Brown • Samantha Brown • Grace Brown • Samuel Brown • Brandon Bruegeman • Madilynn Bruno • Lilli Brunt • Ty Bryant • Chloe Bryntesen • Princess Buchanan • William Buckholdt • Riley Buell • Madison Cagle • Quanique Campbell • Jayde Cannon • Krystal Carlson • Ashlee Carlton • David Casillas • Taylor Castleman • Ashlynn Caudill • Zane Chalich • Danielle Chalpin • James Chamberlain • Kayla Chen • Ryley Ciokewicz • Emily Clark • Jared Clark • Ryan Clay • Thomas Clemson • Daniela Colocho • Kylie Constance • Alexandra Contreras • Jared Counts • Luke Cox • Chloe Cramer • Shealyn Crowley • Isaac Crownhart • Jayden Currey • Elise Daines • Noah Davaz • Sylvia Davidow • Brooklyn Davis • Ashley De La Mora • Alexa De La O • Hannah Dederick • Aaron Degenstein • November DeJulia • Jonathan DeLao • Rhiannon Delvechio • Nathan DeRuwe • Isali Diaz • Joelle Dickeson • Kaleb Dion • Tina Do • Jerry Dolph • Braeden Doyle • Lauren Duer • Thomas Dunne • Mya Dziwenka • Victoria Elliott • Madyson Ellison • Annon Elvidge • Alyssa Emory • Jenna Engel • Natalia Escobar • Maddison Evans • Thalia Felice • Benjamin Ferguson • Jaye Fernandez • Tyler Ferrell • Andromeda Fierro • Steven Filer • Gabriella Fischetti • Ally Fisher • Payten Fitzner • Zackary Fletcher • Angelena Flores • Derek Florianovich • Haley Folsom • Bryce Folsom • Brandon Fontaine • Tristin Fowler • Annie Fox • Kenton Frederick • Abby Fried • Mikayla Fristad • Brianna Fudge • Margaret Galeener • Juan Gallegos-Martinez • Tiara Garcia • Katherine Gardner • Parker Gast • Riley Gavin • Grace Geldien • Evan George • Kelsie German • Andrew Gibbons • Ethan Gilles • Gavin Gilstrap • Michelle Giroux • Collin Gleason • Lyudmila Gnatenko • Kaylee Golly-Dirk • Amy Gomez • Caleb Goodin • Caden Goranson • Vladislav Gordeyev • Kaycee Gores • Kelsie Gores • Shenoa Gosney • Mark Gotishan • Olivia Grabowski • Hannah Graham • Kaylie Greenan

Central Valley High School • Travis Griffiths • Keira Grob-Ellison • Joseph Gutierrez • Aiden Haddock • Ben Hadley • Mathew Haigh • Mellony Haney • Casandria Haney • Emma Hanford • Zachary Harris • Morgan Hart • Kaitlyn Hartshorn • Zachary Harwood • Meadow Hatch • Trinity Hawks • Elijah Hays • Emily Henning • Amaryce Hernandez • Saul Hernandez • Joseph Herner • Nicholas Higginson • Ari Hintz • Jessica Hoagburg • Teagen Hoard • Jared Hoerauf • Janessa Hoffman • Charlise Hogsed • Zachariah Holland • Shea Holmdahl • Lyndie Holmes • Allison Hood • Aiden Hoosier • Parker Hormel • Emma Horton • Lauren Hoskins • Brennan Hossack • Evander Hottell • Colin Howard • Katie Howard • Ryan Howard • Zachary Hoy • Sarah Humble • Emma Hymas • Caleb Jackson • Michael James • Kate Jensen • Cambry Jeppson • JoAnita Johns • Benjamin Johnson • Katrianna Johnson • Abbigail Johnson • Emma Johnston • Kelsey Jones • Joey Jones • Parker Jongeward • Warner Jude • Willy Kalpakchi • Logan Kane • Sergey Kanyushkin • David Karasyov • Caleb Kartchner • Clair Kaufman • Livia Kent • Taratel Khalid • Alena Kholostov • Genevieve Kienbaum • Sarah Kinsolving • Johnathan Kinzer • Kolby Kiser • Liana Kopets • Rouvim Kopets • Mary Kosednar • Ella Kottkey • Nathaniel Krafft • Alexia Krogh • Alina Kushnir • Erica La Fontaine • Edward La Rosa • Ian LaBrosse • Jordan Lake • Jaylee Lake • Benjamin Lamoreaux • Kameron Lance • Caitlyn Langsett • Emily Larin • Allie Lawhead • Joshua Lawson • Taylor Leach • Johnathan Leavell • Jonathan Lee • Russell Legg • Angeline Leppelman • Ian Lester • Grace Levins • Abigale Lewis • Isella Lindo • Aspen Lockwood • Sadie Logue • Noelle Looper • Michael Lorhan • Zoe Lucas • Elijah Lukes • Kailee Lux • Caleb Lybbert • Cameron Lybbert • Zechariah Mallah • Emily Malloy • Briley

Markquart • McKaila Markquart • Trinity Marks • Dabria Marquez • Zachary Martin • Kaylee Martin • Mady Martin • Alyssa Marvin • Robert Matthews • Shelby McAndrews • Sophia McCauley • Jonathan McClanathan • Naleah McClellan • Ashtyn McComas • Jenna McCombs • Gianna McCoy • Maya McDonald • Duncan McDonald • Kiley McElroy • Malachy McGreevy • William McLean • Buddy Joseph McMahan • Kaitlin Melby • Jack Melville • Shelby Menga • Hanna Michaelis • Brayden Miles • Alyssa Miller • Jaedyn-Rialy Miller • Taylor Milliken • Kailey Minderman • Alyssa Mitchell • Andrew Monson • Cassidy Moon • Shawn Moore • Maiya Moore • Avery Mortensen • Harrison Mulloy • McKenna Murphy • Hunter Myers • Trent Nauta • Keegan Navrat • Michael Nelson • Cohl Nelson • Tessa Neumann • Kessi Newman • Darren Nguyen • Madison Nichols • Luke Noakes • Aaron Nolting • Emiliana O’Brien • Megan O’Brien • Kelly O’Dea • Lauren O’Neill • Sophia Ocker • Jaden Olmstead • Moira Olsen • Isaac Ortega • Elsa Owens • Madeline Owens • Garrett Packebush • Dakari Pakootas • Sydney Parkman • Kyle Parkman • Elizabeth Pauley • Sarah Pecha • Victoria Pena • David Perekopsky • Chelsea Perry • Jadon Persicke • Marie Peterson • Amanda Peterson • Xander Plumley • Sariana Poshusta • Shea Potack • Savannah Pratt • Belal Rabia Al Ayouf • Mariam Rabia Al Ayouf • Trent Rabideaux • Logan Radmaker • Samuel Rahm • Olyvia Ramos • Abigail Ramos • Yasmin Ramos-Climaco • Payton Rasmussen • Paulson Ray Thompson • Joel Redo • William Reese • Spencer Reid • Claira Reiman • Lena Reimer • Ashley Reis • Noelle Renecker • Anthony Reola • Vincent Reola • Brandon Reyes • Micah Richards • Jack Richardson • Kayla Richardson • Perris Richey • Adrianna Rick • Krsna Riddle • Brieanna Riddle • Chayse Roberson • Carlos Rodriguez • Jane Romney • Arihana Roos • Miriam Rosenbaum • Tyler Rosenblit • Rebekah Ross • Amelia Rottrup • Elijah Rowe • Cameryn Rudd • Jesslyn Ruddach • Anna Sabins • Megan Sachtjen • Isabelle Sampson • Julio Sanchez • Sophia Sanders • Lilli Sanders • Isabella Santiago • Carrie Sargent • Jaden Sather • Alek Savacool • Stephanie Sawchuk • Kyle Scarcello • Hannah Schaefer • Payton Schneckloth • Kailee Schneider • Carter Schnell • Hunter Schock • Dominick Schoener • Carson Schoonover • Ethan Schreiber • Kamryn Schumacher • Michael Schwarz • Ethan Sears • Nathan Shaber • Riley Shanks • Prateek Sharma • Nathan Sharp • Anna Shaurette • Katelynn Shelton • Luke Sherrill • Brooklyn Shumway • Brayden Shypitka • Arionna Sicilia • Ramanpreet Singh • Gavin Sjothun • Jacob Smith • Sydney Smith • Cameron Smith • Jaidyn Smith • Gabrielle Smith • Giuliana Souto • Kailyn Speziale • Ryan Stacy • Chassity Stanisich • Damon Stewart • Miles Stewart • Parker Stewart • Hailey Stuhlmiller • Svetlana Susina • Erika Sutter • Alexis Sutton

The Current

• Grace Sutton • Jorgen Swensen • Timofiy Symonenko • Nathan Szabrowicz • Masaya Takasaki • Dominic Talcott • Andrew Tamayo • Jacob Taylor • Breanna Thomas • Jeffery Thompson • Jewlia Thompson • Gracie Thorpe • Taylor Tiffany • Brycen Tobius • Anatoliy Topov • Nikita Totka • Kolbe Troxel • Dominic Truesdale • Duc Truong • Erica Tucker • Peter Tupikov • Meera Turpin • Kami Twining • Scott Twining • Daniel Ulyanchuk • Hunter Van Etten • Sara Van Liew • Aidan van Marle • Colton Van Note • Tyler VanVlymen • Koleton Vaughn • Gabriella Vensland • Ezra Verlinde • Naia Vince Cruz • Sarah Vinson • Zane Voelker • Ryan Volmar • Tiffany Von Tobel • Angus WaitE • Adora Wallgren • Luke Warrick • Lanis Webb • Samantha Weirich • Logan Weldon • Emily Welp • Katelyn Westegaard • Madison Whitney • Nelson Whybrew • Kaylee Wilding • Rylan Wilkerson • Branden Williams • Alyse Williams • Chloe Williams • Grace Williams • Lindy Williams • Dielle Willis-Valentine • Alexa Wilson • Elijiah Wilson • Kaylee Wilson • Alexander Wirthlin • Nelia Wood • Nataley Wood • Rabekah Wood • Christian Woodland • Alissa Woods • Carson Woodward • Emma Worthington • David Worthington • Chase Woudenberg • Alexander Wright • Carly Wulffert • Corin Yanke • Jasmine Yaw • Maci Young • Cooper Young • Jacob Young • Chloe Zadra • Jessica Zarecor • Guozheng Zhang • Logan Zimmerman

East Valley Parent Partnership Andrea Baumgartner • Shana Bedwell • Rose-Marie Chojnowski • Daniel Croskrey • Ariel Dillon • Dylan Drysdale • Damaris French • Jerry Koontz • Veronika Kozhevnikova • Stephanie Lentz • Nicholas Ragle • Conrad Willems

Dishman Hills High School

COVER STORY

JUNE 2021 • 11

Hagood • Emily Botter-Hanson • Emma Harlan • Hope Harrington • Salecia Harris • Taylor Harris • Jaecynn Hart • Julien Hart • Devren Hautala • Ethan Hawes • Alexander Hawley • Kacie Hayden • Makayla Hayward • Greta Helfenstein • Nathanael Hicks • Edward Hivrenko • Zachary Hjort • Blayke Hutchison • Nicholas Inhofer • Carter Jamison • Joseph Jensen • Justin Jensen • Jacob Jepsen • Jessica Joklur • Caden Katsel • Coen Kayler • Elizabeth Keith • Dezirae Kiki • Andrew Korchemniy • Hanna Lamberson • Jayden Lanphere • Trevin Larsen • Joelle Larson • Brennen Lilya • Casandra Lindley • Patrick Lipinski • Cayden Lopez • Faith Lynch • Isabella Magana • Austin Martin • Bryce Martin • Marissa Martinez • Willow Mauch • Layne McCandless • Jazmine McGee • Braelyn Mcmanus • Logan Mejia • Braydon Mertins • Addison Meyer • Emilie Miller • Hannah Mohammed • Michael Moll • Elijiah Montgomery • Darbee (Logan) Moore • Conner Aldrich • Mackenzie Allen • Lakiya Sofia Morales • Breonna Morando • Oakley Anker • Lane Applegate • Jose Arredondo • Morehouse • Isabella Muchmore • Landon Samantha Bailor • Emilyna Beason • Rhiannon Mundell • Corie Nelson • Hayden Ohl • Xavier Bennett • Sarah Biggs • Miciah Bledsoe • Perez • Alex Petersen • Corey Phout • Kayleen Jaydan Bohrer • Erica Boik • Emma Borgman Poe • Olivia Quintana • Sarah Rabe • Kaden • Carissa Brown • Jayden Brown • Madison Rausch • Tyren Redthunder • Alexander Reich Brown • Kasen Buck • Tyler Burghard • • Gianna Robinson • Kylee Rogers • Natalie Josephine Burns • Kylee Burress-Wolcott • Romine • Jaime Ross • Brooklynn Rowland Robert Champagne • Carlos Chavez • Jade • Aiden Ruchert • Tiffnay Runkle • Jose Chernecke • Kieran Chojnowski • Marissa (alex) Sahagun (shaw) • Victoria Sarioglo • Cloud • Issac Colarusso • Caleb Combest • Selena Scott • Livia Sevciuc • Quinlan Shaw Clare Conine • Aiden-Mathew Constantino • • Andrew Sheely • Zakaria Simmons • Eric Mariana Coronel • Denise Cousins • Josephine Simon • Gwendolyn Skeen • Seth Skoien Cunningham • Corinne Daniel • Isac Davis • Tyler Smyly • Destiny Stanek-Bolles • • Noah Davis • Caden Denmark • Jacob Timothy Stark • Henry Stevens • Elizabeth Destito • Teodoro Diaz-Gopar • Joshua Doll • Stowell • Cassandra Swearingen • Destiny Brianna Dybvig • David Ealy • Dylan Embree Swope • Skyanna Taylor • Zachary Thornton • Tyler Etten • Layla Ferguson • Levi Fix • Hailey Timmons • Emma Todhunter • Grace • Alla Florianovich • Trevor Floyd • Jaxon Todhunter • Sanella Tsuber • Nicholas Utrera Forsman • Davin Franklin • Hayden Garrett • Isidro Vargas • Taylor Voelker • Julianne • Kassandra Gartman • Dairein Garvin • Kai Walker • Kenton Wang • Riley Weger • Juliana Gerber • Keyonna Geter • Danika Gifford • Wiecks • Chase Wiedmer • Abigail Willey Emma Glore • Kristina Gotishan • Sequoyah • Makias Williams-Curtis • Liberty Wilson • Mason Windhorst • Jasmine Wolf • Trent Gray • Cooper Green • Mataya Green • Tate Yeager • Stephen Young • Bailey Zwick Gregerson • Rebecca Grytdal • Alexander

East Valley High School

Thomas Allen • Sophia Bassuer • Taylor Baty • Samantha Beeman • Myah Bell • Alrick Belton • Leron Bosse • Nathaniel Boysen • Zari Broten • Shelby Brown • Nicholas Cowee • Kianna Davis • Zandra DeGenstein • Khloe DeTillion • Kalen Dixon • Elizabeth Dornack • Jaden Ellison • Talon Epefanio • Ava Ferguson • Jack Foster • Breylan Gentry • Jamari Gosenberg • Kyra Grace • Emilee Graybeal • Noah Gregg • Derrick Gupton • Lauren Harshberger • Grace Harvey • Orian Hayes • Kira Hewitt • Megan Holbrook • Courtney Hopper • Emma Huettl • Sarah Kilmer • Allison Kysar • Lyric Langley • Ethan Lebret • Nikita Leksunkin • Madali Leppert • Brayden Lindor • Matthew Litwin • Jala Lome • Mateo Mariani • Victoria

Mattson • Gavin McArthur • Gavin McLeod • Maya Melton • Dalton Merrill • Jaden Michlig • Savanah Mikoski • Kaylee Miller • Caitlin Moore • Nadia Morales • Briannah Nelms • Owen Nichols • Jacob O’Blenness • Patience Olson • London Ota • Dakari Pakootas • Jayce Pakootas • Deion Paz • Eliott Peters • Ashton Powell • Trinity Powell • Abigayle Rhoades • Clifford Rogers • Nicolas Rubiano • Lily Russert • Noah Saldivar-Hayes • Abigale Sather • Piper Sayler • Tucker Scarlett • Cheyanne Slack • Madison Sonsalla • Garrett Stamper • Nature Stratton • Madison Streeter • Aylissa Swan • Kaleb Terpko • Cody Weber

• JUNE 2021

Freeman High School

West Valley High School Kaylon Acord • Diana Alba • Dominic Allen • Anthony Alvarado • Rafael Alvarado • Alexa Aman • Julianna Amante • Colin Anderson • Eli Anderson • Allie Andrews • Gabrielle Andres • Maggie Andrews • Jared Anselmo • Axel Arana • Carly Bale • Vivian Beamis • Mason Beauchamp • Briella Bell • Keldan Bell • Kyle Bouvier • Emma Bowman • Payton BrowningPeterson • Katelyn Buffkin • Alexandra Burger • Evan Burghart • Trinity Burke • Carter Campbell • Kennedy Cargile • Kayleigh Carson • Lauren Carson • Bryce Cassell • Tanner Cassell • Andres Chavez • Joseph Clark • Tristan Clark • Melanie Clure • Isiah Cockrell • Krystal Collins • Aaliyah Coward • Samantha Cox • Isaiah Crane • Megan Crewdson • Avery Crouse • Cheyenne Dallman • Steven Danielson • Dominic Davison • Gracelyn Davis • Treden Davis-Reed • Alex Davydenko • Taylinn Dawson • Sergio De La O • Meghan Denny • Nevaeh Denson • Zoe Dice • Mason Dobney • Jackson Donaghy • Jaelyn Dorgan • Sarah Duncan • Rylan Dunlap • Lilly Elam • Malachi Emery-Clark • Jack Estey • Levi Evey • Taylor Fancy • Spike Geschke • Hargurleen Gill • Bailey Glenn • Dallas Gohl • Sabian Gray • Joel Harding • Isaac Hatcher • Hannah Hawk • Joslyn Henderson • Jade Hendricks • Alexzander Hergert • Tristian James Herndon • Trentin Hobbs • Tristan Holdren • Makayla Honey • Ethan Hoskinson • Ty Hudgens • Zekiah Hunt • Alicia Hutchins • Virginia Hyatt

The Current

Shay Albrecht • Gracee Aldendorf • Sorrel Aldendorf • Paige Allen • Sydney Arnzen • Tyler Balkenbush • Isabella Bessire • Keely Boyd • Peyton Brewer • Amelie Broussard • Branden Bykerk • Andrew Campbell • Colton Cayce • Benjamin Chadduck • Anna Chisholm • Darian Cofone • Mckenna Cottrell • Triston Crist • Ellis Crowley • Tyson Delcour • Natalie Dryden • Levi Dutt • Arielle Ebert • Annalicia Emmingham • Willow Ennis • Ethan Flaig • Hannah Flaig • Amanda Flory • Tyler Fuchs • Zachary Garlick • Jordyn Goldsmith • Sara Groat • Logan Haase • Caiden Hansen • Landry Hawley • Isabella Hopson • Gracie Jensen • Joshua Jensen • Andrew Knight • Delaney Lamotte • Michael Legkobit • Josiah Lynn • Emma Mackleit • Jack Mackleit • Mattea Mackley • Fayth-Ann Mason-Whitehead • Liam Hyde • Kiandra Johnson • Rylee Johnson • Caleb Jones • Cory Jones • Gavin Jones • Kanyon Kaiser • Mary Kaschmitter • Sophea Keener • Ana’Kayla Kessler • Esther Killinger • Kennedie Krieger • Karma Kruger • Nolan Langford • David Larsen • Adam Leeberg • Aaliyah Lents • Peyton Lewis • Taryn Littleworth • Chloee Lochten • Teague Lowe • Ian Maidhoff • Cameron Majka • Mahkhi Massengale • Damon Maurer • Sage McAllister • Finn McCabe • Lea McGlothlen • Bryce McGowan • Rylan McInelly • Raven McLaughlin • Alex McOmber • Macy McPhee • Michael Melkonyan • Julissa Mendez • Korri Miknavich • Ashley Miller • Holly Mitchell • Alexander Mittelstadt • Madison Moloney • Cyrus Morrow • Jackson Munns • Christina Nguyen • Samantha Nguyen • Thy Nguyen • Tien Nguyen • Angelia Norby • Austin Nuxoll • Aliza Palmer • Ronald Palumbo • Aiden Parker • Brooklyn Patton • Colton Pelfrey • Heather Penniman • Micah Petersen • Karli Petruso • Emma Price • Piotr Proniewski • Faith Quentin • Jayson Race • Alejandra Ramirez • Ishmael Ramos • Danyelle Randall • Alyssa Reynolds • Almir Ridic • Johnathan Rieger • Alexis Rigsby • Morgan Riojas • Hannah Rodrigues • Athena Rudd • Benton Russell • Ashley Ryan • Alexander Salazar • Erin Sanchez • Olivia Schell • Morgan Schott • Hannah Schultz • Jacob Schultz • Shelby Scott • Zoe Simpson • Kira Smith • Aliyah Somes • Jaden South • Gabriella Sowl • Chase Steubing • Palmer Stocking • Mark Stone • Ryan Stone • Bryce Swim • Donaven Talley • Diego Tercero • Ryan Theisen • Callaghan Thompson • Nathan Thurber • Nicholas Toole • Camille Tremblay • Mikaela Turk • Aubree Vandine • Michael Vargas • Blaine Vasicek • Daisy Williams • Alyssia Wilson • Sophia Witt • Madeline Wittren • Riley Young • Riley Zielfelder

Valley Christian Online School Hannah Adams • Kenna Clark • Destiny Hoffman • Spencer Jackson • Joshua McLees • Jack Robinson • Benjamin Roth • Aidan Tinnon

• Nathan Mccormick • Hunter Mercier • Alyssa Morrison • Ian Moser • Jennifer Munn • Mary Neale • Emma Nees • Christian Norman • Landon Norris • Paul Okert • Elijah Pedersen • Paysen Phelps • Tucker Phelps • Melinda Phipps • Mareana Ponomarenko • Hunter Poston • Staci Pratt • Abigail Pylant • Elizabeth Roibal • Tristan Ruchert • Henry Schafer • Drew Schmick • Nate Schmidlkofer • Brooklynn Showalter • Sarah Simmerman • Guye Stevens • Kyli Stokoe • Hadlee Storro • Hope Storro • Maria Stuart • Gabriel Tesch • Katelyn Tippett • Bailey Turner • Nicole Vernon • Lillian Vetter • Elisa Vigil • Tate Waite • Joshua Werner

Mica Peak High School Ethan Arnold • Nath Kaitlin Allen • Alonzo Avelar-Miron • Jeremiah Belt • Jaden (JD) Brooks • Sean Caffrey • Maleah Carr • Malia Criddle • Laine Dagon • Jaiden Dishion • Serena Dormaier • Deja Draper • Hannah Ellenberg • Raymond Fuller • Audrina Gainey • Benjamin Gallon • Hunter (Max) Genne’ • Samuel Givens • Amber Gomez • Renn Hall • Michelle Hammons • Christian Hance • Izaya Hardt • Jaxon Henry • Catherine Hernandez • Maggie Ingram • Dallas Johnson • Taylor King • Jessica Krug • Ashlynn Layton • Natalie McIntire • McKenna Meyer • Craig Niccolls • Isaiah Ostman • Ryan Parriman • Amelia PaulsonPauley • Cadince Pew • Siena Ragozzine • Grace Ruthruff • Riley Savage • Jordyn Schnebly • Daniil Shelyukh • Dominic Sigars • Zoe (Pixel) Stephens • Chase Stretch • Parker Thomas

Valley Christian School Grace Bruno • Miina Efta • Taylor Gropp • Caleb Malen • Jonathan Moore • Emma Pappas • John Snook • Aaron Tabish • Angel Zhang

JUNE 2021 • 13

The Current

Emily Acosta • Laura Rowe Adams • Jake Adolph • Zachary Adsitt • Brennen Ailie • Matthew Alexander • Austin Alteneder • Alia Alvarez • Faith Anderson • Jesse Anderson • Taylor Anderson • Kyler Anstrom • Cade Arlt • Bruce Arruda • Ariana Avdicevic • Jesse Ayers • Dustin Ayton • Conner Bailey • Kasey Bailey • Miles Barajas • Morgan Barnett • Victoria Barr • Eleanor Beadle • Isabel Bedolla • Reggie Beetham • Dylan Behrens • Brandon Bell • Benjamin Benane • Claire Berg • Samuel Bergam • Bailey Berquist • Abigail Boden • Michael Bodholt • Jakob Boehm • James Boehm • Fredric Bohm • Nathan Boldizsar • Reganne Bond • Maya Boyle • Brooklynn Brannon • Hailey Brereton • Peyton Brewer • Joshua Bridges • Haley Britton • Sydney Britton • Amy Brown • Joshua Brown • Hudson Bruszer • Sophia Burk • Madison Burnett • Zane Busch • Brian Caldera • Kylie Calvary • Megan Campbell • Marinly Chamberlain • Trevion Chandler • Eve Chapman • Lauren Church • Nycholaus Ciferri • Claire Claeson • Jackson Clark • Jessica Clark • Taylor Clark • Connor Cole • Lindsey Coleman • Jonathan Conklin • Riley Conrad • Jared Cool • Taylor Cooper • Hailey Cox • Cyrus Cross • Leena Cruz • Cassidy Culvyhouse • Isaiah Dalton • Gabriella Daniel • Brennan David • Riley Davis • Nicholas Dawley • Duncan Day • Connor Dehn • Harley Deitrick • Gabrielle Demars • Liam Deonier • Riley Devenish • Sara Dillon • Maruel Dolandolan • Nicklaus Donahue • Kyle Douglas • Matthew Draper • Curtis Drews • Shawn Durfee • Hunter Ebel • Rylee Elliott • Aiden Ellwein • Hailey Epley • Krysta Espinoza • Taylor Espinoza • Julianne Espiritu • Carson Estes • Hannah Farrell • Moses Femino • Kailyn Ferguson • Makenzie Ferrell • Scout Fey • Hailey Fiala • Elena Ficklin • Corinne Fierst • Devin Figart • Dominic Figuracion • Ariana Fletcher • Caitlyn Fletcher • Eve Flowers • Jo-Weh Flumo • Abby Fountain • Sean Freeman • Jessica Froehle • Hayden Frostad • Andrew Frye • Joseph Gabel • Andrew Gadd • Christa Gallant • Brodie Garrett • Cadence Garrett • Paige Gharst • Sierra Gillam • Mercedes Gillingham • Hunter Glatzmaier • Kiralei Godfrey • Boris Godun • Juliana Gonzalez • Edward Gorkovchenko • Robert Grandstaff • Tyler Greenup • Mason Gregerson • Tanner Gregerson • George Gregory • Ryan Griep • Faith Gropp • Alice Gubler • Dominique Guzman • Hailie Hackett • Emma Harmon • Elizabeth Harned • Veronica Harper • Jack Harstad • Jaymario Haulcy • Sarah Hawkins • Aimee Hawley • Nathan Helmer • Aubriana Henderson • Calum Hill • David Hinton III • Ruby Holschen • Matthew Hoopes • Ashley Howe • Emma Howell • Samantha Hubbard • Brandon Humphrey • Alexandra Hunt • Allison Hunt • Shelby Irmer • Tauzena Irving • Katie Ivory • Olivia Jackson • Thomas Jackson • Kobe Jayroe • Christian Jensen • Logan Jess • Carlee Joppa • Jacob Judkins • Caden Kaiserman • Matthew Kannapien • Kyran Kekahuna • Ashton Kidwell • Nevaeh King • Jadyn Kinghorn • Michaella Klontz • Ava Knighton • Kyler Knutson • Dylan Koch • Timothy Korneychuk • Hannah Kosmicki • Josie Krum • Veronica Kuropatko • Colten Langley • Maizy Lannigan • Matthew Lanum • Connor Larsen • Hannah Larson • Jayden Lenhartzen • Thomas Leonard • Matt Lindsey • Emily Lloyd • Nathanael Lombardi • Isaiah Lopez • Taryn Love • Victoria Love • Julian Lowe • Madeline Loy • Maddyson Lund • Garret Lundmark • Dawson MacKay •

The Oaks Classical Christian Academy

University High School Katie Madera • Triston Madison • Colton Madsen • Rachel Malcolm • Jacob Mallonee • Molly Manza • Cannon Marshall • Lindsay Marshall • Austin Martin • Ava Matos Ramirez • Cole Matthews • Teegan Maye • Tavin McAllister • Eric McDonald • Kassidy McLuskie • Savannah Medjo • Preston Meents • Harry Mejia • Kiara Meland • Sayla Merritt • Curtis Messersmith • Grace Meyer • Caden Miller • Alison Mills • Megan Milnes • Alexys Mohr • Zackary James Mohr • Alice Mojilong • Christian Morales • Wesley Mortensen • Hannah Morton • Vincent Mugica • Ethan Murdock • Colten Murphy • Gabriel Myers • Emily Sue Neff • Kasey Nelson • Sara Nelson • Alinah Nepean • Alexus Ness • Anna Norris • Teran Oens • Ashlyn O’Kert • Elija Orman • Clara Orndorff • Allison Osborn • Skylar Osso • Alec Owens • Ryan Owens • Bryan Painter • Kiah Paladichuk • Amari Palmer • Austin Parmenter • Sofie Pearson • Chloe Peck • Josie Perrin • Carson Phillips • Matthew Phillips • Corbin Pickel • Audrey Plett • Heidi Pranter • Micah Presta • Colby Quince • Teo Quinn • Mei-Li Rahman • Cassandra Ramirez • Griffin Rees • Nathan Reighley • Hannah Reinhart • Cassandra Reynolds • Kyleigh Richard • Ayden Riegel • Makenna Roberts • Jacob Robins • Jack Robinson • Gabriel Rodriguez • Raymond Rodriguez • Ilias Roland • Angel Romero • Angelina Rowland • Jose Rubio • Alania Russell • Joseph Ryan • Megan Sadowsky • Brooke Saling • Kyle Sater • Kolbi Schell • Bella Schneider • Kevin Schroeder • Grace Schwander • Konen Scofield • Ethan Sellers • Alexis Sennott • Ashtyn Senter • Ashley Sessions • Katerina Shafer • Evelyn Shevchuk • Christopher Simon • Austin Lee Simpson • Mia Slack • Adrion Smeby • Austin Smith • Brayden Smith • Carson Smith • Jasmine Smith • William Sperry • Lance Springstead • Jaidan Stemm • Turner Stephens • Brenden Stewart • Zachary Stewart • Nolan Stone • Anne Sweeney • Samantha Sweeten-Rowe • Lauren Taylor • Bryce Tellinghusen • Ethan Thomas-Davis • Leonard Thomas • Kiah Thorson • Ashlyn Tidwell • Braden Tobin • Caitlin Todd • Olivia Tolley • Lynnesse Turner • Sierra Ullman • Thomas Van Buskirk • Austin Viall • Aaron Jr Victor • Arianna Vielguth • Olivia Walker • Mikaila Walker • Megan Wallace • Samuel Ward • Austin Warner • Genesis Warner • Caden Washburn • Lauren Webb • Taydynn Elizabeth Wentz • Mikayla Weygint • Isabella Wherity • Sierra Raquel Whitesel • Jack Wilbur • Satinka Williams • Hanna Wiltse • Bret Womble • Isaac Woolley • Hunter Wright • Parker Yates • Evan ZapalacAvary Zachary

Ruth Dierdorff • Evelyn Dykstra • Abigail Farley • Isaiah Guillen • Ellyssa Harken • Zachary Kapelac • Suhyeon Kwon • Sujin Kwon • Cecily Lambert • David Love • Samuel McEachran • Noah Palpant • Anna Sattler • Esther Schumann • Camille Sorensen • Dulcinea Stutzman • William Tyndale Stutzman • Daniel True • Mia Welch

Spokane Valley Tech Micah Byers • Chandler Carey • Jason Castillo • Ryan Chilson • Mattie Craner • Nicholas Dawson • Trevor Donelan • Alexander French • Nathan Gauger • Adam George • Jacob Graham • Greer Greenup • Katt Hilfiker • Ely Hogberg • David House • Kiara Jenkins • Joshua Johnson • Hailey Kinerson • Alyssa Kudrna • Tyler Lambert • Connor McGaugh • Chloe Moore • Cameron Phillips • Reid Plowman • Connor PorterAikins • Samuel Profit • Cali Ramos • Calvin Ruffner • Andrew Schafer • Samantha Seaboldt • Alex Sindledecker • Eli Stachofsky • Taige Tews • Landon Thompson • Alex Tracy • Ava von Ranson • Rein Wehrman • Sydney Westberry • Cooper Wharton • Kyle Wills • Ian Wyatt

Spokane Valley High School Jin Albright • Ian Alvarado • Ashley Anderson • Journey Baer • Alliyah Baker • Levi Blevins • Layla Buckholz • Andrey Cherkashin • Devin Christopherson • Dustyn Clark • Trinity Cobbs • Trinity Contos • Kenneth Cooper • Chloe Crenshaw • Michael Daniels • Stela Dragomir • Nevaeh Felker • Kyle Gipson • Ayla Graham • Zachery Gunning • Hailey Hixson • Alex Hollingsworth • Alyia Johansen • Dayjia Krebs • Renata Kuneva • Jadyn Laughlin • Aleena Lovins • Maksym Makrasnov • Alexis Mason • Aaron May • Takotah Mayberry • Devin McAhren • Shelby McNinch • Matthew Moshan • Matthew Nelson • Deanna Netro • Keira Nolan • Breeana Norris • Ashley Olinger • Alexsandr Parker • Kyree Peralez • Cole Reiner • Owen Roberts • Janette Rudnitskiy • Roman Semeniuk • Jordan Sheets • Ka’sean Smalley • Salem Solomon • Lindsey Standingeagle • Gaven Sterling • Devin Szep Woods • Ian Tobler • Violetta Tsiribko • Gideon Valdez • Jasmine Webster • Deshira White • Skyler Wright

• JUNE 2021

The Current

brought to you by

Student of the Month

Athlete of the Month

Citizen of the Month

This year’s high school baseball season may have been short but Triston Madison still made quite a splash. The senior at University High hit .486 (17 for 35) and finished third among batters in the Greater Spokane League. He had three hits, including two doubles, against Cheney. Madison was named to the All GSL First Team as a catcher. He is a four-year starter at U-Hi. In the classroom, Madison maintains a 3.43 grade point average and is a Running Start student at Spokane Community College where he has a 3.35 GPA. He will graduate with his associate’s degree from SCC this spring. “It’s helped me with selfdiscipline,” Madison said of Running Start. “I feel like I’ll be more prepared for college.” Madison earned a baseball scholarship to Community Colleges of Spokane. He would like to pursue studies in oceanography.

Ryan Griep wound up an outstanding soccer career at University High this spring as the team’s leading scorer and a second team All Greater Spokane League midfielder. The four-year letter-winner was the only freshman on a U-Hi squad that advanced to the state 3A quarterfinals in 2018. She was named to the honorable mention All GSL team as sophomore. As team captain this year, Griep said she “tried to make everyone feel included on and off the field.” In 2019, Griep was part of the Eastern Washington Surf select team that won nationals. She also played fastpitch softball at U-Hi for two years. This season, she was among the top five on the team in batting. In the classroom, Griep maintains a 3.6 grade point average. She will continue her soccer career on scholarship at Community Colleges of Spokane.

Teresa Skinner founded ParaSport Spokane in 2013 after developing an adaptive sports program at St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute. She has coached seven local athletes who have competed for Team USA in the Paralympics and served as an assistant coach for the American squad at the Paralympic Games in 2008, 2012 and 2016. Based in Spokane Valley, ParaSport Spokane includes athletes from schools like Central Valley, East Valley and Valley Christian. A California native who grew up in Alaska, Skinner has a degree in occupational therapy from Eastern Kentucky University. She came to Spokane in 1994 and launched a wheelchair rugby program at St. Luke’s shortly after. She later started an adult wheelchair basketball team and youth program that featured power soccer, swimming, basketball and track and field. “It changes everything when you realize there’s nothing you can’t do,” she said.

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JUNE 2021 • 15

The Current

Celebra ng our Students!

This month, with the help of our sponsors, Partners Advancing Character Educa on honored 52 students, one from each of the PACE schools in Spokane Valley, Freeman and Tekoa, for demonstra ng outstanding character throughout the school year. While we could not gather together this year as a group to celebrate these outstanding students, we are deeply grateful to our sponsors that helped make individual PACE Porch and School Presenta ons possible. Watch for PACE “A Student of Character Lives Here” yard signs in your neighborhood! Launched in 2010, PACE promotes good character through partnerships with schools, businesses, public agencies, faith-based organiza ons and community service groups. PACE has nearly 200 partners and 52 schools working together with families to promote good character across the greater Spokane Valley.

2021 PACE Awards Thank You to Our Sponsors! Gold Sponsors R

2021

Silver Sponsors

PACE AW ARDS Bringing Character to Light

Spokane Valley Rotary Club – Sunrise

Award Sponsor

Giveaway-Bag Sponsor

In-Kind Media Sponsor

Bronze Sponsors

Liberty Lake

JOIN US! PACE schools and partners promote monthly character traits through mul -faceted communica on, mo va on and educa onal programs. Becoming a PACE partner is free and easy! We'll supply posters and a monthly e-newsle er full of ideas to recognize and celebrate good character in your own organiza on!

www.pacecommunity.org | 558-5530

Presentation Sponsors

PACE Advocates

Architects West Horizon Credit Union Quality Hardwood Floors of Spokane, Inc Simply Northwest Spokane Valley Kiwanis West Valley School District

GeoEngineers Scott Ralph, DDS

facebook.com/PartnersAdvancingCharacterEduca on RESPECT RESPONSIBILITY CITIZENSHIP CARING FAIRNESS HONESTY DILIGENCE TRUSTWORTHINESS COURAGE INTEGRITY GENEROSITY GRATITUDE

Be sure to check out our Facebook page for videos and photos of our PACE Porch Presentations

Liberty Lake Lions Club

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JUNE 2021 • 17

The Current

Reading COLORS Your World! Epic mythological tales, magical feats and stories, and mind-blowing adventures await you. Check out these online summer library programs and more at www.scld.org/events. Registration is required for most online programs. Some will fill up fast!

FOR KIDS & FAMILIES

FOR TWEENS & TEENS

Traveling Lantern Theatre

30-Day Teen Poetry Challenge

For kids grades K–5+ ONLINE & ON DEMAND Sherlock Holmes Takes the Case: Jun 13–20 Legends & Myths from Mount Olympus: Jul 11–18

Astounding Feats & Lessons from The Zaniac For kids grades K–5+ ONLINE Monday, Jun 21, 2–3pm & Tuesday, Jun 22, 7–8pm

West Valley Outdoor Learning: Animal Camouflage For kids grades K–5+ ONLINE Monday, Jun 28, 2–3pm & Tuesday, Jun 29, 7–8pm

Extreme Science with Radical Rick For kids grades K–5+ ONLINE & ON DEMAND Let’s Make Cartesian Divers: Jul 5–18 Let’s Make Robobugs: Jul 19–Aug 1 Tumble Toys: Aug 2–15 Wobblebots, New & Improved: Aug 16–29

Summer Camp Read-a-Rama

For kids entering grades 2–5 ONLINE Monday–Thursday, Jul 12–15, Jul 19–22, Jul 26–29 & Aug 2–5, 10–11:30am

¡Ciencia para niños en español! / Science for Kids in Spanish Para niños de K–3 grados y sus familias / For kids in grades K–3 & their families PROGRAMA EN LÍNEA / ONLINE Taller de viento: Martes 20 de julio de 2 a 3 P.M. Wind workshop: Tuesday, Jul 20, 2–3pm Taller de luz: Miércoles 18 de agosto de 7 a 8 P.M. Light workshop: Wednesday, Aug 18, 7–8pm

Magician Jeff Evans

For kids grades K–5+ ONLINE Amazing Virtual Magic Show: Monday, Jul 26, 2–3pm How to Do Paper Magic Tricks: Aug 1–30 (on demand)

Trivia: The Rick Riordan Mythology Universe For all ages ONLINE Friday, Jul 16, 6:30–7:30pm

Nailed it! Cupcake Edition

For teens entering grades 9–12 ONLINE Starting Friday, Jun 18

Tween Art Camp

For tweens entering grades 5–8 ONLINE Monday–Thursday, Jun 28–Jul 1, 10–11:30am

Tween Harry Potter Camp

For tweens entering grades 5–8 ONLINE Tuesday–Friday, Jul 6–9, 10–11:30am Monday–Thursday, Aug 9–12, 10–11:30am

Trivia: Avatar: The Last Airbender & The Legend of Korra

For ages 10+ ONLINE Friday, Aug 20, 2–3pm

FOR ADULTS Outdoor Goat Yoga

For adults & families IN PERSON Saturday, Jun 12, 10–11am

Trivia: Medieval Movie Hijinks For adults ONLINE Friday, Jun 25, 6:30–7:30pm

Online Summer Reading with Beanstack For all ages

Track your reading minutes, earn badges, complete challenges. Let your imagination run wild with Page Turner Adventures: virtual field trips, comedy shows, craft projects, recipes, and more. Get started at scld.beanstack.org

For all ages & families ONLINE Wednesday, Aug 11, 6:30–7:30pm

Illustrations by Oliver Jeffers for iRead www.scld.org

• JUNE 2021

The Current

SVFD Report – May 2021 Current news sources

Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) crews responded to a total of 1839 emergency calls from April 15 – May 15, 2021.

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Emergency Medical Services 1509 Fires 96 Motor Vehicle Collisions 82 Dispatched and cancelled en route 54 Building Alarms 49 Service Calls 18 Hazardous Materials 16 Vehicle Fires 11 Technical Rescue 8 Auto vs Pedestrian 2 Rescue Task Force 1 May is Wildfire Awareness Month According to FEMA and the US Fire Association, “more than 46 million residences in 70,000 communities in the United States are at risk for WUI fires. And the WUI area continues to grow by approximately 2 million acres per year.” In our area, we may have brush fires, grass fires, forest fires or even outdoor fires. These fires can have the same impact as a large wildfire when they occur close to our homes, neighborhoods, and communities. What is WUI? WUI, or Wildland Urban Interface, is the area or zone where our natural environment meets up to our developed areas. As you look around our area here in the Spokane Valley Fire Department’s district, we have several WUI areas. In fact, the Washington State Enhanced Hazard Mitigation Plan (WA SEHMP) has rated our state at a high-risk index, with Spokane County receiving a medium-high rating. They also rated the top 25 places in Washington most likely to be exposed to wildland fire; and the Spokane area ranks within the top five places, receiving the rank of fourth most likely area to be exposed to wildland fires! The Spokane Valley Fire Department would like to remind residents as we head into Wildfire Season to protect homes as much as possible. Wildfires can easily spread from blowing embers and flames. Maintaining your home and utilizing landscaping techniques, homeowners can reduce the chance of embers and flames finding a place to easily ignite. Make sure to use proper fire safe lighting & heating units for your chicken coop to keep the coop and your nearby home free from fire risk. Contact Spokane Valley Fire Department for more information at

509.928.1700 or go to spokanevalleyfire. com. Incidents: Working Fire, April 16, at approximately 7:35 am - Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) units were dispatched to a reported fire in an apartment complex in the 13300 block of East Mission. Responding units could see a smoke column from as far away as Harvard. The fire was updated to a working fire. Initial crews observed fire on the exterior of a second story apartment. They pulled pre-charged hose lines and quickly knocked down the fire before making access into an apartment unit. The fire had extended into the attic space, so ladder crews accessed the roof and made several openings in the roof to help improve the visibility inside the structure. Multiple crews were assigned to extinguish the fire, while others searched adjoining units to ensure all residents had been located and evacuated. The aggressive fire attack prevented the fire from extending into additional apartments. Four units were damaged by fire, smoke, or water. The residents were contacted, and arrangements were being made with the Red Cross for temporary shelter. The cause of the fire is under investigation. No injuries to crews or residents were reported. Fire and Explosion Reported, April 18, 10:35 a.m -The Spokane Valley Fire Department responded to a reported garage fire in the north 100 block of Marguerite. Dispatch received several callers reporting the fire and stated that they had heard explosions. Responding crews saw a column of smoke and quickly upgraded the fire. The first arriving crews found a fully involved detached garage. A preconnected hose line was used to control the fire, while additional lines were pulled to protect the adjoining structures. The homeowner’s residence was being damaged by the fire as well as the neighboring residence to the east. An outbuilding and automobile were also burning. Crews quickly knocked down the fires on the exposures, limiting the damage to the exterior of the structures. The reported explosions were most likely propane tanks that were ruptured in the fire. Another crew searched the primary fire residence, ensuring that no one was home. The residents were not home, but their small dog, Maru, was located and placed in the Battalion Chief’s

JUNE 2021 • 19

The Current

vehicle. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation. Moving Violation, April 28, 12:10 p.m., – Spokane Valley Fire responded to report that a golf cart had run into the playground hitting individuals. Crews treated multiple patients. At the time of the 911 call, it was reported that there were 2 bleeding patients. The Sheriff’s Office was on scene to investigate. Spokane Valley Fire crews did patient care with 1 being transported to the hospital by parents. Service Call, May 5, 7:43 a.m. – Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) responded to a call at the request of the Sheriff's Department, to perform a blood draw. The deputy had a search warrant and requested assistance. Residential Fire, May 5 at 2:40 p.m. - The Spokane Valley Fire Department responded to a reported in the north 12900 block of E Saltese. The residents informed the dispatchers that they smelled an electrical odor and upon investigating they noticed heat at the ceiling in a bathroom. Dispatch asked the residents to evacuate, and the family waited outside for SVFD to respond. The first arriving crews found smoke coming from the eaves of the roof and upgraded the fire, bringing additional units to the scene. Crews entered the residence and removed the ceiling in the bathroom, enabling them to quickly extinguish the fire. Damage was limited to the bathroom. The bathroom ceiling fan was determined to be the cause of the fire. No injuries were reported. Structure Fire, May 5, at 9:25 p.m. - Spokane Valley Fire Department responded to the 1200 block of N Flora for a reported fully involved structure fire. Callers to 911 from the neighboring apartment complex reported one, possibly two buildings on fire. The first arriving unit confirmed a working structure fire in a detached RV style shop, approximately 60x40 feet in size. The house was also showing heat damage from radiation, and crews deployed hose lines to the rear of the property for extinguishment of the shop, and cooling of exposures. A second arriving engine contained a small grass fire that was spreading towards neighboring properties. The property appeared vacant, and a quick search of the house confirmed no life hazards in the main building. The shop was not searched due to extensive damage and structural collapse. The

cause of the fire is under investigation. There were no injuries reported, by civilians or firefighters. The Spokane Valley Fire Department would like to remind residents as we head into Wildfire Season to protect homes as much as possible. Wildfires can easily spread from blowing embers and flames. By maintaining your home and utilizing landscaping techniques that include 30 feet of defensible space, homeowners can reduce the chance of embers and flames finding a place to easily ignite. Muli-Vehicle Accident, May 7, at 10:15 a.m. - The Spokane Valley Fire Department responded to 16th and Dishman Mica. A small sedan collided with a box truck, causing the truck to roll onto its side. The sedan then struck a power pole and crashed through a residential fence. Both the driver and passenger in the sedan suffered serious injuries and were transported to a trauma hospital. The passenger had to be extricated. The driver of the box van was reported to have minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. The Spokane County Sheriff is investigating the accident. Overturned Kayaks, May 7, 11:55 a.m. - Eyewitness reports stated that two people were seen on the kayaks, and then fell off near the Denny Ashlock Bridge. The kayaks were seen floating upside down without any passengers nearby. SVFD with assistance from the Spokane Fire Department, performed a thorough search for the kayakers. Crews found were the kayakers appeared to have left the river, along with their life jackets left on the shore. One boat was found and transported to SVFD’s fire station in Millwood. The other boat appeared to have been retrieved by the kayakers. HazMat, Natural Gas, May 10, 2:26 p.m. – Spokane Valley Fire responded to the call for a verified gas leak. Crews isolated the location and laid a dry line for protection. The leak was a very small leak caused by a shovel. The homeowner's family currently has chickenpox, and it was determined that they would shelter in place rather than expose a neighbor. SVFD used the 4-gas monitor to check the outside and inside of the structure and stood by while Avista isolated the line and shut it down. Connect with SVFD at: spokanevalleyfire.com. For department news, safety information, and timely updates, find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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509-924-0381

919 N Pines Rd. Spokane Valley, WA 99206

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919 N Pines Rd. Spokane Valley, WA 99206

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509-924-0381

919 N Pines Rd. Spokane Valley, WA 99206

• JUNE 2021

The Crest

Malden Receives the “Gold Emergency Management and will Star” Gift be coming in for phase 2 of the cleanBy Tie Lemerond Current contributor

While most families spend the final summer holiday weekend by soaking up the sun near the water, enjoying a family BBQ, or watching fireworks, the small farming community of Malden was forced to evacuate their homes when a fast-moving wildfire overtook their town last Labor Day. With dry ground conditions and excessive winds fueling the fire that began on Babbs road, nearly 85% of the homes and all of the municipal buildings in the town were in ruins, leaving the majority of the nearly 250 residents houseless. Virtually every fire district in the county came to the aide of this small community, including the Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD). “SVFD was mobilized from Spokane to the Evans Canyon Fire and then demobilized and sent directly to Malden. We arrived around midnight on the day the fire started and went to work the following day,” said Captain Paul Kimball from Station 10. Kimball continued, “Because we are all part of the Washington State Mobilization Agreement, we responded from about 180 miles away.”

up. In addition to this, they have been awarded a $3.7 million grant which will allow them to install approximately 8000 ft of waterline with fire hydrants on it. They will also be able to drill another well for redundancy that will match what their existing well can provide.

SVFD’s Mechanic Lead, Wayne Tuttle, was approached by the Fire Chief from District 11, Gary Hill, and asked if SVFD had an available Engine they could donate to the Town of Malden. Tuttle knew they retired an engine that had been used previously as a first response emergency vehicle for allhazards within their district, and he approached the now retired SVFD’s Deputy Chief, Tom O’Brien on whether it could be donated or not. Deputy Chief O’Brien then approached SVFD Fire Chief, Bryan Collins, and the SVFD Fire Board of Commissioners who all said “Yes!” SVFD

Community

Affairs

Manager, Julie Happy, said, “It was the right thing to do. We saw a State of Washington town in need, and we were in a perfect position to take care of our neighbors. One of the great things about the SVFD and the Firefighters here, are they all do a ton of volunteer work on their days off. They love to give back to the Spokane Valley Fire District community.” Happy stated that every firefighter that was at the Malden fire was touched to the core by the loss endure by the Malden community. On Wednesday, May 5, 2021, the Spokane Valley Fire Department held a media conference to announce the donation of their 1999 Pierce Dash Fire Engine Type 1 Pumper truck to the volunteer Malden Fire Department. “This is a well-known brand of Fire Apparatus, is top of the line, and is highly respected in the fire industry,” advises Happy. “This fire engine gives the town a piece of equipment to protect their homes,” states Malden Mayor, Dan Harwood. He adds, “The day that we received it and it was signed

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over to us, now that is the definition of an amazing day! That is the Gold Star! It is an honor beyond anything! Their generosity and compassion for our town is hard to explain.” During Harwood’s interview he brought up the fact that we often hear of good things happening after bad events and this is definitely one of those good things. Mayor Harwood recently received photos of the fire engine with the Malden emblem on it, “That really brought it home that it is ours. What a sweet truck,” commented Harwood. It is currently having radios installed and will then make its way to its new home to stay. In an earlier media release, SVFD Fire Chief Bryan Collins said the following, “We are very excited to be able to help out the town of Malden. As we go into warmer temperatures and wildfire season, the fire engine will be a valuable asset for this town.” Mayor Harwood commented, “We thank them all from the bottom of our heart and the top!”

This fire was unique in other ways as the firefighters were interacting with the community members daily as they returned home and saw the devastation left behind. Only approximately 40% of the residences were insured, so many families lost everything. The firefighters submersed themselves within the community and helped as many families as they could. “We helped an elderly couple retrieve a safe full of memorabilia from the basement of their home. We made sure it was safe and we helped open the safe,” states Kimball. It has been several months since the fire, and the community of Malden is working hard on coming up with housing solutions to help the citizens of their community. They have a contractor who is working with Washington State

Contributed photo Spokane Valley Fire Department donated their retired 1999 Pierce Engine, pictured above, to the Malden Fire Department after 80% of their city was devastated by fire.

JUNE 2021 • 21

The Current

PUZZLES

Walk ‘N Win

“Orchard Crest Retirement Residents are Walking Out” … Outside, that is! Orchard Crest, along with Sonny Therapy Group, have joined together to sponsor this monthly event that will kick off Friday, May 28th. We are all determined to kick this pandemic isolation to the curb. In efforts to get stronger, improve balance and enjoy the spring weather, we will begin our WALK ‘N WIN event. Residents will be given water bottles - to stay hydrated and pedometers - to track their steps. The number of steps will be recorded weekly on a huge white board in the Exercise Room, so the walkers can see their progress. At the end of each month, their steps will be converted into miles. Those that have the biggest gains will win prizes – like fanny packs, walking sticks and even an Amazon Echo. We will have a big celebration for their achievements in September. If you have any questions or would like to sign-up to participate, come to the WALK N’ WIN In-Service, Friday, May 28th @ 10:00am on the 3rd Floor Exercise Room. For more information, contact Kristin at (509) 928-2222.

www.orchardcrestretirement.com • 222 S Evergreen Rd, Spokane Valley, WA 99216

• JUNE 2021

The Current