March 2021 Current

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Ready for Explorers a series of community trails now open for public use, use, page 10

NILLES STAPLE AT WEST VALLEY PAGE 2

ORCHARD CREST ADDS MEMORY CARE UNIT PAGE 16

PRESERVING HISTORY CONTINUES PAGE 23

2

• MARCH 2021

The Current

RIVER CROSSING

Esteemed Eagle – Nilles a respected fixture at WV

By Craig Howard

Current Contributing Editor

Jamie Nilles remembers the crossroads he arrived at in the spring of 2009.

The head coach of boys’ basketball at West Valley High School since 1998, Nilles had led his team to halfa-dozen league titles, averaging 18 wins a season. Trips to state became routine as did competitive clashes with elite westside programs like Rainer Beach and Seattle Prep. In 2005, Nilles and his squad brought home a fourth-place state trophy, part of a 23-4 campaign. He had the program in an ideal place, surpassing his 200th career win in the 2008-09 season.

Now, Nilles was faced with a question that had never come up in all his years of basketball: Was it more important to be a dad or a coach?

court, Nilles said the decision strengthened connections at home.

“It definitely helped relationship,” he said.

our

Shaniqua went on to a stellar basketball career at Gonzaga where she earned West Coast Conference academic honorable mention as a senior. She currently plays professionally in Australia.

“She’s a special kid,” Nilles says.

Nilles spent two more years as a volunteer assistant with the girls’ team before taking over as West Valley athletic director in 2013. He and Renae, who played basketball at Long Beach State and is an educator in the Mead School District, have been married since 1992.

Growing up in north Spokane, Nilles was accustomed to a supportive family. The second youngest of five children, Nilles

gravitated toward football, basketball, baseball and tennis with siblings often part of whatever sport was in season.

“Whatever sport you played as a youngster, you kind of had a team already in place,” Nilles said.

At Shadle Park High School, Nilles turned out for football, basketball and baseball and remembers a less-than-spectacular career as a Highlander.

“In basketball, I was a 20/20 guy,” Nilles says. “If we were up 20 or down 20, I got to play a little.”

Still, there were signs that Nilles had the savvy to move into coaching someday – even though the idea of holding the clipboard was not on his radar at the time.

“I remember one of my teammates saying I always gave him some good things to think about when he went back in the game,” Nilles says.

Nilles grew a few inches and put on some muscle after

Shaniqua Nilles, daughter of Jamie and his wife Renae, was wrapping up her sophomore year at West Valley that May. In her first two years, Shaniqua had established herself as a varsity standout in volleyball and basketball. With two years left to cheer on his daughter, Nilles decided to step down as head coach.

Beyond all the success on the

“They were scrambling to field a team with guys on campus,” Nilles recalls.

Nilles was one of the students recruited to salvage the program by head coach Sam Brasch, a CV and Whitworth grad. He moved into the role of an undersized big forward and excelled. By his second year, Nilles was named to the All Northwest Athletic Conference first team. He would later be inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame.

“I was a decent defender and a good passer,” Nilles says. “I think I led the league in charges.”

Nilles also emerged as a coach on the floor. After graduation, Nilles was invited by Brasch to stay on with the program as an assistant coach.

He was on the bench for four years and, during that time, attended Eastern Washington University to earn his teaching degree. It was Brasch who encouraged Nilles to pursue a career as a coach and teacher.

In 1994, Nilles latched on at West Valley High School as an assistant basketball coach. The job would lead to a full-time teaching position and more coaching opportunities down the road. Along with leading a thriving basketball program, Nilles coached tennis and volleyball and served as activities coordinator.

“I knew I couldn’t replace that time as a dad,” Nilles says.

Nilles pitched in to help with the girls’ basketball team over Shaniqua’s junior and senior years, lending his expertise and supporting his daughter. Shaniqua led the Eagles to league and district titles in basketball as a junior, earning Great Northern League MVP and all-state honors. WV’s 25-1 record concluded with a third-place finish at state. The WV volleyball team also advanced to state. Shaniqua’s senior year was no less spectacular. The family was all together during the season as Renae served as an assistant coach.

graduating from Shadle in 1984.

He was attending Spokane Falls Community College when halfa-dozen players on the basketball roster were dismissed for a violation of team rules.

Venturing beyond his signature sport has brought growing opportunities, Nilles said.

“When you go into a situation you’re not comfortable with, you can challenge yourself,” he said.

Photo by Craig Howard Jamie Nilles has served as West Valley High School athletic director since 2013.

The Spokane native was head coach of the WV boys’ basketball program from 1998 to 2009, compiling a record of 205-70. He has the distinction of being inducted into the Community Colleges of Spokane Sports Hall of Fame for his career in basketball. Nilles has coached with the Eastern Washington Elite AAU basketball program for the past 18 years.

As athletic director, Nilles tackles a wide range of duties, including supporting the coaches and athletes that comprise Eagle Nation, a land he has inhabited for more than quarter of a century.

“I keep them proud to be an See NILLES, Page 4

MARCH 2021 • 3

The Current

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NEWS

• MARCH 2021

NILLES

Continued from page 2 Eagle,” he said.

Q: You were involved in sports from an early age. Growing up, what do you think athletics taught you that transcended the court?

A: When I was going through athletics I didn’t fully realize all the lessons and skills I learned but for me it brought discipline and structure to my life. I was not very focused as a youngster.

Sports taught me about respect, accountability and to be resilient in life. Like many high school boys, sports were the driving force to help me through the education side. I knew I wanted to play sports and, in turn, that helped me understand the importance of education. Learning time management and setting goals on and off the court was huge for me.

Q: We know that coaches can be mentors who have a considerable impact on teams and players. Were there certain coaches whose influence was particularly meaningful to you?

A: Right off the bat the one I think of is my elementary teacher and coach James Juul. He instilled the importance of competing. Going to my high school days at Shadle Park I had tremendous mentors that really influenced my life. My basketball coaches Jim Groves and Dave Robertson instilled the passion I have for basketball to this day.

Other great coaches and teachers at Shadle Park were Ron Brooks, Linda Sheridan, Chuck Bailey and Jim Brown. I always looked up to them on how they ran their classes and sports programs. The mentors that truly shaped my teaching and

coaching career were in my college days at Spokane Falls Community College. I had a great basketball coach in Sam Brasch that was very instrumental in my career. The faculty at that time were some of the best basketball players in town, they taught me how to play the game the right way, how to break it down as an athlete and as a coach. The lessons I’ve learned from those college Hall of Famers like Jerry Skaife, Craig Johnson and Bruce Johnson really shaped my life. Another person from college that I try to emulate to this day is longtime athletic director Maury Ray, who ran the best athletic program in the state for many years. Lastly, the person that I am most thankful for is the person that hired me, former head coach of West Valley Joe Feist. He saw something in me that I didn’t know I had. He was one of the best high school coaches of his time and I learned so much from him on how to run a program.

Q: As a coach yourself, what lessons did you try to teach your players?

A: I wanted my players to believe in themselves and their abilities, to work together for a common goal was always a theme of mine. I taught discipline, hard work, being reliable and to learn from their mistakes. I hope I instilled pride in our program and school and I hope they all know how much they mean to me.

Q: The legacy of West Valley basketball was established for decades by the time you took over as head coach. What sort of responsibility did you feel becoming the public face of such a storied program?

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A: It is quite a legacy for sure.

I believe since 1946 there have only been seven head coaches in the program, so I did feel a sense of responsibility of taking over the program from the success of the coaches in front of me. The West Valley basketball alumni are a very passionate group that is still very interested in the success of the program. My success as a coach was truly due to all of the great players and assistant coaches that I was fortunate to have. The foundation that was laid before me from these prior coaches-Jud Heathcote, Al Snyder, Duane Ranniger and Joe Feist did truly set me up for success because of the tradition and community support. I am very happy that I was a part of this legacy.

Q: You stepped down as head basketball coach in 2009 to help with your daughter’s team at West Valley. Looking back, why was that a worthwhile decision?

A: That was a very tough decision because of the success we are having on the boys’ basketball side but looking back it was the best decision I ever made. I was able to coach my daughter Shaniqua plus the other assistant coach was my wife Renae, which made those years very special. Prior to coaching Shaniqua I was not as invested in her playing days as I should’ve been but when I made the decision it was so rewarding. I was able to see her blossom as an athlete and a young woman. I enjoyed her tremendous success in high school and college.

The enjoyment of her athletic success seeing her goals met fulfilled me in many ways as a dad and a coach.

The strong bond we built during those times in high school was very special to me.

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Q: West Valley returned to the Greater Spokane League this academic year after a long hiatus.

Do you feel this will be a good move for the school and its teams?

A: The move into the GSL this time will be much different than back in 2002. Back then West Valley was one of the smallest schools in the league. We were competing against schools that had twice the enrollment as us. There were only a couple programs from our school that were able to compete and have success against those bigger schools.

Most of our programs struggled to compete and it was a very tough time to keep our coaches and athletes positive and motivated.

This time we’re playing schools in the 2A classification that are similar in size and have comparable athletic programs. We actually have been playing a lot of those schools in non-league games the last few years and have had success for all of our programs. The Greater Spokane League has been a very stable and well-run league over the years and we are very excited to be a part of it this time.

Q: Finally, in your opinion, what does it mean to be a West Valley Eagle?

A: Pride. The longer I’ve been here I’ve really understood about the West Valley Pride and how the community takes care of each other. The phrase the “West Valley Way” is true for our community, I am amazed at how many former students want to move back into this community with their families.

I hope I’ve had an impact on some students and staff over the years and have been blessed to work here for 27 years. Once an Eagle, always an Eagle!

Danielle Palm Attorney Estates & Elders Law 23403 E. Mission Ave #113, Liberty Lake, WA 99019

The Current

NEWS

SVFD Report – Feb. 2021 Current News sources

Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) crews responded to a total of 1532 emergency calls from January 15 – February 15, 2021.

Emergency Medical Services 1249 Fires 85 Building Alarms 59 Motor Vehicle Accidents 54 Dispatched and cancelled en route 45 Hazardous Materials 16 Service Calls 11 Vehicle Fires 6 Auto vs Pedestrian 5 Rescue Task Force 2 Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) units were dispatched just after 6 p.m., January 17 for a report of a fire burning around the wood stove. The homeowners had returned home from the store and saw fire on the roof of the house in the location of the stove pipe that had extended onto the house and was now involving the house. The homeowners called 911 and the fire was dispatched as a working house fire. Firefighting units from both Spokane Valley Fire Department and Spokane City Fire Department were dispatched due to the location of the residence being near the respective fire departments boundaries. First arriving Valley Fire units confirmed the fire surrounding the wood stove and burning portions of the house adjacent to it. Valley Fire crews made rapid attack on the fire and quickly contained the fire to the area of origin around the stove with minimal extension to the main structure. The initial actions by SVFD personnel allowed for the homeowners to continue to occupy the residence with only minor repairs required to the structure. The freestanding wood stove had been professionally installed and the only change stated by the homeowner was that the connection points for the stove pipe around the roof had been damaged during the recent windstorm but otherwise the stove was operating normally.

Spokane Valley Fire Department reminds citizens to always have wood stoves inspected if you have had any potential changes or impacts to the stove or structure surrounding it.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department responded to a RV fire around 04:20, January 25. Valley Ladder 10 and Engine 85 were the first crews to arrive and found a fully involved RV fire.

Crews quickly knocked down the fire.

No other structures were damaged,

MARCH 2021 • 5

and no injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department would like to remind residents to ensure that all RVs have a working fire extinguisher that is readily available.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department responded to a garage fire in the 3700 block of South Vercler around 10:50 January 25. VE7 was the first crew to arrive and was able to quickly knock down the fire by using a pre-connected 1.75” fire hose. Additional crews performed a thorough search of the residence and checked to see if the fire had extended into the living quarters. The fire was confined to the garage.

Ten SVFD units responded to the call as well as two units from Spokane Fire District 8, as part of our automatic mutual aid agreement. There were no reported injuries to residents or firefighters.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department would like to remind residents to ensure that flammable liquids are properly stored in their garage.

Incidents: Structure Fire, Full Response, January 15, 2021 – Spokane Valley Fire responded for report of a chicken coop on fire next to a residence.

During response, V21 confirmed the structure involved was a chicken coop and exposures were 20 feet from the fire. Based on structure involved, the threat to other structures and the road conditions, V21 had first due Engine (VE2) and first due Ladder (VL8) continue code and all other units lower and continue. VE2 was the first unit on the scene and initiated Empire Command. Empire Command reported fire was out and canceled all other responding units.

Motor Vehicle Accident, January 25 an auto versus auto had occurred.

The roads were very slippery, and the call was upgraded to an extrication.

Another 3-vehicle accident occurred nearby in the eastbound lanes. While on scene protecting fire crews and the patients of the vehicles, the SVFD Battalion Chief’s truck was hit from behind. AMR was requested for this new accident that involved his truck being hit. The scene was turned over to WSP after all patients and extrications had been completed.

HazMat Investigation, Jan. 29, – Spokane Valley Fire responded to the

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• MARCH 2021

The Current

2021 January Burglary Hotspots

SVFD REPORT

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call with the objective of investigating the source of bear spray being released and removal of the irritant from the atmosphere in the home with PPV. On arrival the occupant was removing the can of bear spray from their home and placing it in the front yard. Crews met with the occupant in the front yard who said he had an old can of bear spray in the basement and it had started leaking. He stated he had removed it and opened windows on the main floor but that the basement was not clear yet.

Crews informed him they could go down with SCBA and open windows and then use the fan to ventilate the house. He gave crews the okay. The PPV fan was utilized, turned on, and the house ventilated. Once crews believed the irritant was gone they went in and investigated the basement and cleared if after determining there was nothing left in the home.

Smoke Investigation, Jan. 29 – Spokane Valley Fire responded to a call of smoke in the area. Crews arrived and observed light smoke coming from a previously burned metal-sided addition to a structure standing on this vacant lot. Crews parked the apparatus near the building and found that a homeless male inside the structure had started a small campfire on the dirt floor of the structure. Crews had him step out while they opened the sides to put the fire out. The male was extremely concerned about his possessions. Law enforcement was called to help mitigate the situation.

Chimney Fire, Feb. 14 – Spokane Valley Fire responded to a call of fire in a chimney. Crews arrived with the objectives of ensuring the chimney fire was out and checking for extension.

Upon arrival crews found light smoke issuing from the chimney and the occupants were in the driveway. The homeowner met crews in the driveway and stated that they had a chimney fire. Two firefighters were assigned to ladder the roof and inspect the flue.

Another crew went to the basement with the homeowner who said that he had been burning in the wood stove and then he heard the chimney fire and saw flames issuing from the chimney.

He immediately shut the air intake to the fire box. There was no active fire in the firebox and one log that was smoldering.

Firefighters reported a thick buildup of creosote in the flue but no fire. Crews checked the walls around the chimney in the garage, basement, and the main floor with the TIC and by touch and found no excessive heat. FF checked the attic for any fire extension and found nothing.

Published Date: 2/23/2021 Prepared by Spokane County Sheriff's RIG 9 Unit

Spokane Valley Districts

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MARCH 2021 • 7

The Current

Introducing the

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Published Date: 2/23/2021 Prepared by Spokane County Sheriff's RIG 9 Unit

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The maps provided below depict where citizens have reported Vehicle Thefts, Thefts from a Vehicle (also known as vehicle prowling), Burglaries and Thefts. As you view the map each circle will contain a number indicating how many instances of a particular crime were reported at that location.

Thefts from a vehicle is often under reported as people often feel nothing can be done or they only lost a small quantity of loose change. However, the Spokane Valley Police Department and the Spokane County Sheriff’s office analyze this data to determine high crime areas and where to allocate resources. I encourage citizens who have been a victim of crime to call 911, if the crime is in progress, or Crime Check at 456-2233, if not in progress, to report a crime.

Published Date: 2/23/2021 Prepared by Spokane County Sheriff's RIG 9 Unit

11-15 >15 2 Miles

With COVID-19 making its way through our community, we would like to remind you to please “Stay home and stay healthy.” If you do need to go out, please remember to;

1. Practice social distancing. Stay at least 6 feet away from other community members.

2. Only buy what you need. The recent onslaught of over buying of items has caused shortages in the immediate food supply in our community. The only way for those to replenish is to give them time to transport and restock those items. Please only purchase what you need.

3. Wash you hands! Remember to wash your hand after each outing you may embark on.

4. Keep surfaces clean. COVID-19 can survive on surfaces for extended periods of time. Wipe frequently used surfaces daily to contain contamination.

8

• MARCH 2021

Council advances multiple capital projects

By Bill Gothmann Current Contributor

Barker Road/BNSF Railroad Grade Separation Project Contract Awarded Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) awarded the contract for the construction phase of the $24 million Barker Road/BNSF Railroad Grade Separation Project to the lowest of five bidders, Max J. Kuney Company, for $11,637,134. This was $2 million under the engineer’s estimate. The City had agreed some time ago that, because a State road was involved and because of their experience in State projects, WSDOT would bid, award, and execute the construction contract. The agreement provides that the City will be a part of the final inspection and acceptance procedures and would have sole discretion to issue a Letter of Acceptance to WSDOT. The City will also reimburse WSDOT for all their costs and would have approval for change orders over $100,000 and cumulative change orders over $500,000. Construction is expected to start after March 8 of this year and the City is expected to have a ground breaking ceremony.

Library Agreement Approved Council approved a revision of the agreement between the Spokane County Library District (SCLD) and the City, as discussed in last month’s The Current. In its 2012 agreement to purchase 2.82 acres from the City, the SCLD was to build a new facility within five years or sell the land back to the City. The new agreement changes the size of the building from 25,000 sq. ft. to

The Current

NEWS

30,000 sq. ft, increases the number of floors that the building could have, removes the provision for a voter approved bond issue, and agrees to October 31, 2024 as the cut-off date for procuring the necessary funding.

As discussed in last month’s article, SCLD has secured a $12 million loan from Washington State’s LOCAL program, commits $3.2 million from their capital project funds, and will receive $1.3 million from the City as part of the original 2012 agreement for joint site development. In addition, there is a pending $2 million Library Capital Improvement Grant awaiting legislative approval in the current session.

Street Sustainability Committee Advanced Council approved, with some modifications, the plan from staff for selecting members of the Street Sustainability Committee, as was discussed in last month’s The Current. The plan requires the selection, with Mayor and Council approval, of 20 citizens to recommend the following: evaluate citizens’ interest and support for maintaining city streets and suggesting pavement condition goals; identify preference for maintaining city streets, types of treatments used, and long-term levels of service; and investigate current revenues and potential future funding sources for maintaining city streets at the recommended level of service. The 20 members would be composed of two citizens from general businesses, three from large businesses, two from small businesses, two from utility companies, one from schools,

one from hospitals, three from transportation, one from freight, two from social services/non-profits, and three citizen representatives.

At the time we go to press, applications for this committee are closed. Selection will be made in an upcoming Council meeting.

Update on City Hall Building Defect Corrections Staff updated Council on the City’s progress in being reimbursed for construction defects in the City Hall building. Thus far, the City has spent $411,000 on this matter for analysis and correction of the defects, and for attorney fees ($69,000) in trying to settle the matter. Progress has been hampered by the pandemic, work schedules, and discovery of other defects.

Quoting the City, “A final report is currently being drafted, which will include a full scope of repair. This will result in an engineer’s estimate of the cost for full repair. ... The City has maintained from the beginning that it has no fault in this matter, and that part of any resolution will require that the City receive full payment for any consultants and repairs that need to be done to put the City, and its citizens, in the position they contracted for – a municipal building that will last for generations without defect.”

Sullivan Road Grant Application

Improvement

Council approved applying for a National Highway System (NHS) Asset Management grant for a project that would restore Sullivan from Sprague to 8th Ave. The preservation project will provide full depth patching of failed street sections, then will taper-grind the outer travel lanes in order to match curb lines and driveways, followed by a 2” asphalt overlay through-out.

Coincident with that, stormwater

facilities will be improved by installing new catch basins, swales, and piping on the west side of the street and replacing existing storm structures on the east side with silva cells to improve water quality. These cells use large trees to evaporate ground water while increasing the porosity of the soil via the trees’ roots. The project will also install boxes and conduit to support future fiber optics apparatus for use in traffic control (Intelligent Traffic System -- ITS). The total cost of the project will be $3,293,058, with $2,213,058 for preservation (of which $1,029,553 from City funds for grant matching), $650,000 for stormwater improvements (using $300,000 of City funds and $350,000 from a Department of Ecology grant), and $430,000 in City funds for ITS infrastructure. The NHS grant is expected to be awarded this summer.

Council Changes on Solicitation The Spokane Valley City Council updated its solicitation ordinance in accordance with recent court decisions. In 2010, the City adopted an ordinance regulating the solicitation of funds from vehicles at locations and under circumstances that pose a substantial risk to vehicular and pedestrian safety. The ordinance prohibited solicitating funds within a state route, an onramp or off-ramp to Interstate 90, or a principal arterial, or within the first 100 feet of a roadway that intersects with the above roadways.

Recently, the Washington State Supreme Court struck down two provisions of Lakewood’s ordinance that barred solicitation from certain roadways for money or goods as a charity. “Begging” or “panhandling” is protected under the First Amendment as free speech subject to reasonable time, place,

The Current

NEWS VER DR

UPRI

The RRFB’s are installed because of their high visibility. They have rectangular, high-intensity, amber lights to alert motorists of a crosswalk. Pedestrians control them by pressing a button on a pole adjacent to the intersection. They have an interesting history. They received interim approval from the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) which specifies the standards by which traffic signs, road surface markings, and signs are used. This provides standardization throughout the United States. However, after they were installed in the City, RRFBs were removed from the standard because of proprietary problems.

They were put back again in 2018.

The PHB, formerly referred to as a HAWK (High Intensity Activated Crosswalk), provides a legal requirement for motorists to stop when the red lights are on.

Pedestrians or bicyclists can set off

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TRAIL DATA

KAISER

QUANTITY

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24,955 LF *

TRAIL ELEVATED TRAIL

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*APPROXIMATELY 12,109 LF (49%) OF THE PROPOSED TRAIL IS OVER EXISTING NATURAL PATHWAYS

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All but one of the SZFB’s were installed using Washington Traffic Safety Commission grants. These also include regulatory signage for enforcement and several include speed feedback signs. The devices are enabled during school sessions to alert vehicles that pedestrians are crossing the street.

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City Sports Multiple Traffic Beacons Staff reported that there are now 40 School Zone Flashing Beacons (SZFB) in 18 school locations, 32 Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) at 14 crosswalks, and one Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) at Pines Road and the Appleway Trail.

PLANTES FERRY SPORTS STADIUM PARK

MIR

and manner restrictions. Although Spokane Valley’s provisions are not identical to those of Lakewood’s, staff requested changes be made to assure compliance with free speech, while protecting the safety of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The new ordinance removes any reference to solicitation by emphasizing safety and prohibiting interference with vehicular traffic.

A new map of the City entitled “Prohibited Roadways as defined by SVMC 8.25.025(D) and referenced in SVMC 825.025(E)” defines where the ordinance is applicable.

Violation of this code is considered a misdemeanor. The motion to suspend the rules and approve these changes was approved by 6:1, with Mayor Ben Wick dissenting, concerned that some citizens may want further discussion before the code is adopted.

MARCH 2021 • 9

STATE PARK LANDS

NO.

DATE

REVISIONS DESCRIPTION

DRAWN BY DESIGNED BY

BY

----

Know what's below Call before you dig.

the signal by pressing a button on a pole adjacent to the crossing.

Junk Vehicle and On-Street Parking Council requested information from staff about both junk vehicles and on-street parking. State law defines a junk vehicle as meeting three of the following requirements: (a) Is three years or older; (b) Is extensively damaged, such damage including but not limited to any of the following: A broken window, or windshield, or missing wheels, tires, motor, or transmission; (c) Is apparently inoperable; (d) Has an approximate fair market value equal only to the approximate value of the scrap in it. The City adopted these definitions and must, by law, not adopt laws that conflict with State law. Spokane, Liberty Lake, and the County use similar definitions.

Junk vehicles in the public rightof-way are dealt with by the police.

Laws require notification using a sticker, and permit the vehicle to be impounded after 24 hours.

City code permits up to two junk vehicles on private property in a residential zone, but must be sightscreened. The code does not restrict the number of working vehicles on private property. Complaints about junk vehicles on private property should be referred to the City and its Code Enforcement Officer.

Parking on streets is covered by the Washington Model Traffic

01/20/2021

Ordinance, WAC 308.330 and was adopted by the City. It covers the City’s Traffic Engineer authority, standards for no parking zones, and unlawful parking. Parking is prohibited in front of a public or private driveway or within five feet of the end of the curb radius leading thereto; Within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant; Within twenty feet of a crosswalk; Within thirty feet upon the approach to any flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign, or traffic control signal located at the side of a roadway; and within twenty feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station. Parking complaints should be referred to staff or Council. Staff is looking into whether calling Crime Check results in a referral to the City or not.

Plans for Trail North of River With the acquisition of the 40 acres of land from the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for a City park, plans were presented to the Council for a new trail linking the new park with Plantes Ferry Park. This new, Spokane River Trail would go along the north side of the Spokane River from Flora Road to where Trent crosses the river just east of Pines Rd. At the Flora end of the new trail, a pedestrian/bike bridge would be constructed across the river, linking the new trail to the Centennial trail. Similarly, a new pedestrian/ bike bridge would be constructed

JAM JAM

---- SPOKANE RIVER TRAIL

SHEET

CONCEPTUAL LAOYUT (OVERALL) RIVER CROSSING SW OF PLANTES FERRY SPORTS STADIUM PARK TO SPOKANE VALLEY PARK LANDS

between the present Trent bridge and the BNSF railroad bridge to the east, again providing a link to the Centennial Trail.

Appointments to SRHD and HCDAC Recently, Council member Linda Thompson stepped down from her appointment to the Spokane Regional Health Board (SRHD) to avoid any possible conflict of interest because her employer was having financial agreements with SRHD related to COVID grants.

In addition, Council member Arne Woodard’s term on the Housing and Community Development (HCDAC) is expiring. There is also a vacant position on HCDAC. Council confirmed Mayor Ben Wick’s appointment of Woodard to another term on HCDAC, appointment of Thompson to the vacant HCDAC position, and Council member Tim Hattenburg to the SRHD position.

Open Government Training Each year, staff presents Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act training to the Council.

The guiding principle from Washington State Law for both is, “The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies that serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good See SV COUNCIL, Page 22

10

COVER STORY

• MARCH 2021

The Current

Spokane Valley Trails

By Nina Culver

Current contributor

Part of the draw of living in Spokane Valley is that there are miles of trails people can access, some that snake through natural areas mere steps away from residential neighborhoods and others that run through the heart of the city. The recent addition of trails on Mica Peak and in the Dishman Hills Natural Area managed by Spokane County are drawing hikers and bicyclists while the City of Spokane Valley has completed the Appleway Trail that runs from University Road to the eastern city limits after years of work.

And while current projects are complete, there will be more to come. One of those new additions will be the Etter Ranch Trailhead in East Valley.

Dishman Hills Phillips Creek Trailhead Spokane County purchased 179 acres of the former “Flying L Ranch” owned by the Phillips family on the edge of the Ponderosa neighborhood in Spokane Valley in 2018. The trailhead to the new 2.25 mile Phillips Creek Trail begins at 4102 S. Sunderland Drive. The trail connects to the Glenrose Trail on the west side of the Dishman Hills.

It’s a far cry from what was once the vision for the area. In the 1950’s, Spokane County envisioned extending 44th Avenue over the Dishman Hills, said Paul Knowles, Special Projects Manager for Spokane County Parks, Recreation and Golf. Thankfully, that plan was scrapped years ago. “We’ve kind of made that connection between the communities by trail,” he said.

The county used Conservation Futures money to buy the former ranch. The money comes from a property tax of 6.25 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, which was first approved by voters in 1994. Since then, the County has purchased over 9,000 acres to both conserve land and open it up to public use.

“That program is driven by willing sellers, sellers who reach out to us,” Knowles said.

The county launched a community planning process for the new trail in 2019 and built it

By Nina Culver Spokane County Special Projects Manager Paul Knowles along side a new informational sign at the new Dishman Hills Phillips Creek trailhead which opened in fall of 2020. with volunteer labor in 2020. The trail opened in September and has been well used, according to the traffic counters at the trailhead. On a recent snowy day there were several cars in the parking lot.

“It seems pretty busy,” Knowles said. “Going out on the trail, there’s always people here.”

The county also developed a forest management plan for the 600 acres in the Glenrose unit of the Dishman Hills Natural Area, which includes the former Flying L cattle ranch. Recently an inmate work crew was on site to thin trees to reduce fire risk, an important consideration in an area right next to a residential neighborhood.

“Obviously you have residences just to the east,” Knowles said. “This was a working cattle ranch. It wasn’t like there was a whole lot of active forest management.”

And the work isn’t done yet.

“There’s going to be one more trail built this spring that will connect the Flying L trail to the Cliffs Trail,” Knowles said.

That new trail, dubbed the “Inside Passage,” will create a loop on the east side of the ridge. “A lot of people prefer loop trails,” he said.

Knowles said that he hopes the new trail, which will also be built by volunteers, will be finished this year.

Appleway Trail The 5.1-mile trail, built along old Milwaukee Railroad right of way just south of Sprague Avenue, was built in phases as the City of Spokane Valley acquired funding to complete the various sections. It now stretches from University Road to the eastern city limits, where it connects to the Liberty Lake trail system.

The right of way is owned by Spokane County and the city and the county signed an agreement in 2012 that allowed the city to develop a trail system on the land. The first section, from University Road to Pines Road, was built in 2015. It was a bare bones affair, with little more than the trail in place. The city added amenities to that section, including a restroom, benches and landscaping,

in 2019.

The city completed the section from Pines to Evergreen Road in 2017 and the section from Sullivan Road to Tschirley Road in 2018.

The final section, from Evergreen to Sullivan, was completed last year.

“That was a big one, because it was a mile-long pathway that connected east to west,” said city spokesman Jeff Kleingartner.

The city couldn’t have a groundbreaking ceremony last summer because of the pandemic, so the trail just quietly expanded.

“We’re super proud of it,” he said.

“For five miles, it’s got a lot on it – three restrooms, lots of drinking fountains. Most of this trail is 10 to 12 feet wide. There’s good opportunity for people to socially distance while being out there.”

There are trailheads with parking at University Road, Pines Road, Best Road and Tschirley Road. Water is available at University, Blake Road, Conklin Road, Best and Tschirley.

There are benches, garbage cans and pet waste stations scattered along

The Current

the length of the trail. Bathrooms are located at the University, Adams Road and Tschirley access points.

The trail is technically open yearround, but it is not plowed in the winter.

The trail crosses several major arterials, including Pines and Sullivan. There are crosswalks at each arterial and trail users can activate flashing lights to alert traffic to stop so they can safely cross the road.

The trail seems to be popular, Kleingartner said, but the city is still trying to spread the word about the completed trail. “I walk and run on it,” he said. “It seems to be well used, but it could be more used.”

The city has been studying how the trail can be a catalyst to economic development, Kleingartner said.

“The trail is really close to Sprague, a business center, so there’s opportunity there,” he said.

There’s still more to come for the trail. The city is planning an Appleway stormwater improvement project this year and the city will use that opportunity to extend the trail west from University Road to Farr Road, Kleingartner said.

There have also been discussions about building a short trail segment from the University Road trailhead to Balfour Park, which is located just north of Sprague on Balfour Road. However, no design work has been done and no funding has been identified, Kleingartner said.

COVER STORY

MARCH 2021 • 11

purchased, the county got a grant to produce a trail plan for the mountain and then another grant to help build a trail. The construction grant was only $106,000, but it was enough.

“That’s the beauty of theses types of projects,” Knowles said. “They’re not capital intensive.”

The county decommissioned some roads and created several loop trails, some of which use old logging roads. Once again, the county relied on volunteer labor from groups like the Washington Trails Association and the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington to create the 14 miles of trail. The trails cover 2,000 vertical feet.

“That’s a big trail system,” said Knowles. “You can really get a workout if you want.”

The Mica Peak trails are unique in several ways. They were designed to be used year-round and are open to cross country skiers and snowshoers in the winter. There’s also a single direction flow trail designed for mountain bikers. That trail, which isn’t designed for high speeds, runs for three miles, Knowles said.

“It’s not for hikers, not for horseback riders,” he said. “It’s strictly for mountain bikers. The feedback we’ve gotten so far is that mountain bikers are loving it.”

The county also partnered with the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance East Chapter and Spokane Nordic in developing the trails.

Contributed photo Mica Peak Trailhead on the newly acquired 900 acres that now connects the Mica Peak Conservation Area to Liberty Lake Regional Park.

Etter Ranch Trailhead In 2019 Spokane County purchased 230 acres of the Etter Ranch at Flora and Wellesley, just across the street from East Valley School District’s Continuous Curriculum School. The land has been added to the Antoine Peak Conservation Area.

“We’re in the process of designing a trailhead that we’ll build this year,” Knowles said.

Plans for the former ranch land include adding two new trails that will connect to already existing trails in the conservation area. In

addition to a paved parking lot and a restroom, the final trailhead conceptual site plan also calls for a gravel parking area for trucks pulling horse trailers.

Funding for the trailhead has not yet been identified, but the project could be built this year if funding allows, Knowles said. “It creates a valley trail to summit experience,” he said.

The location of the trailhead across from a school will allow for unique learning opportunities, Knowles said. “It’s such a cool opportunity,” he said.

In the future the city would also like to build a connection from the Appleway Trail to the Centennial Trail, Kleingartner said, though it would be a major undertaking.

“Those trails aren’t that close together,” he said.

Mica Peak The roots of this new trail system go back years. Spokane County purchased 900 acres on Mica Peak in 2013 and in 2014 purchased five acres on Belmont Road in order to build a trailhead on it, which was completed in 2015. In 2018, using Conservation Futures funding, the County purchased another 900 acres on Mica Peak from Inland Empire Paper, a final piece that would create the third largest natural park in Spokane County.

“That connected the Mica Peak Conservation Area to Liberty Lake Regional Park,” said Knowles. “That creates 5,000 acres of county land.”

When the first 900 acres was

Contibuted photo Appleway Trailhead at University road. The west side entrance to the newly completed trail that connects all the way to Liberty Lake.

12

• MARCH 2021

The Current

brought to you by

Student of the Month

Athlete of the Month

Citizen of the Month

Whether it’s in academics or athletics, Anna Chisholm is a shining star at Freeman High School. The senior maintains a 4.0 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society She has been named to the Northeast A League All Academic Team for three years running and was selected as a valedictorian for the class of 2021. Chisholm was recently named a Spokane Scholar for Social Studies and has taken five AP classes, including biology, calculus and environmental science. She is also part of Freeman’s Conservation Club that focuses on recycling and environmental awareness.

She has lettered in varsity soccer, basketball and tennis and was part of the Scotties’ third-place state trophy in basketball last season, earning alltournament recognition as the team’s leading scorer. “It’s a lot like a family,” Chisholm says of the environment surrounding Freeman sports.

Whether he’s patrolling the defensive backfield in football or throwing out would-be base stealers as a catcher, Tyler Balkenbush excels. The Freeman High School senior has lettered in football since his freshman year and plays free safety and wide receiver for the Scotties. He also plays special teams and was one of the team’s leading tacklers last season. “I usually don’t leave the field,” Balkenbush says. He was a freshman on the Freeman squad that won the program’s first-ever state baseball title in 2018. In his last full baseball season, Balkenbush hit .286 with 14 runs batted in and nine stolen bases for the Scotties who placed fifth at state. He was among the league leaders in runs scored with 32 and was named to the Northeast A League second team.

Balkenbush is also part of the ASB Spirit Committee.

Mary Kuney represents District 2 on the Spokane County Board of Commissioners. A graduate of Central Valley High School and Gonzaga University, Kuney was appointed as a county commissioner in September 2017 and has emerged victorious in two elections since. Kuney spent 10 years as Washington state auditor and was serving as Spokane County chief deputy officer prior to becoming a commissioner.

She has also served as chair of the city of Spokane’s internal audit committee.

The Kansas native has a background as a certified public accountant, started two successful businesses of her own and has served on the board of the Hutton Settlement and Boys and Girls Club.

She has also volunteered with the Junior League of Spokane and helped chair the HUB Sports Center capital campaign.

Kuney and her husband Max are proud parents of two children.

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MARCH 2021 • 13

The Current

Spokane Valley Fire Department Pilot Project

By Nina Culver Current Contributor

The Spokane Valley Fire Department is one of 250 departments located across the country selected by the National Fire Protection Association to participate in a Community Risk Assessment pilot program designed to identify and prioritize risks in the community.

Phase one of the pilot project involved 50 fire departments that worked to identify the features to be included in a digital dashboard.

Valley Fire is participating in phase two, which is designed to help use that digital dashboard to reduce risk.

According to the NFPA, the data driven system uses maps, graphs and other tools that can help departments identify places and conditions that impact the safety of the community.

The goal is to help departments find the best way to use the data they have, the NFPA said in a press release.

“They’ll take our data,” said Fire Marshal Greg Rogers. “We get to collaborate with other agencies. It just helps us across the board. We kind of get to learn from each other.”

Sometimes when people hear the phrase “risk reduction” they think of thinning forests or creating green space around rural homes to provide fire protection, but Rogers said risk reduction can encompass a lot more than that.

“We’ve tried to expand that,” he said. “That includes our smoke alarm distribution program and our fall program for seniors. The Spokane region has double the amount of fall incidents than the rest of the state.”

Even using the pickup truck’s used by battalion chiefs to block traffic when crews are assisting an accident is a form of risk reduction, Rogers said.

That’s been seen twice in the last two weeks when two different battalion chief vehicles have been rammed from behind on the freeway. The trucks were damaged, but they did their job of protecting firefighters and crash victims, Rogers said. “That’s risk reduction,” he said.

Risk reduction has even made its way into the fire stations in recent years. “You used to keep your boots

and bunker pants next to your bed,” Rogers said.

But it’s now known that cancer causing soot particles cling to firefighting equipment and uniforms, Rogers said. In recent years, three Valley Fire firefighters have died from cancers caused by smoke toxins they were exposed to on the job, Rogers said. Now each firefighter has two complete sets of gear so if one gets dirty, it can be decontaminated before being worn again. Gear is also not allowed inside the living quarters in order to reduce risk even more.

The department’s program, overseen by Risk Reduction Specialist Caroline Kusher, also includes the use of pit crew CPR to increase the department’s save rate, teaching CPR to high school students and placing automatic defibrillators in local businesses.

“It’s a holistic approach that you identify proactively what you can go out and mitigate against,” Kusher said.

The department started the pilot project in January and is collecting data for the project that will hopefully pinpoint other areas where risks can be reduced. The data could identify risks in certain neighborhoods or in certain residents that would allow the department to fine-tune its approach to target only those areas or those groups instead of designing programs that cover the entire area served by the department.

“We want to make sure we’re targeting the right groups,” Rogers said. “This is going to allow us to target specific areas and generations and age groups.”

While Rogers wants to learn from other departments, he’s also hoping that other departments may be able to learn from them. “We want to take this opportunity to share with others what the Valley has been doing,” he said.

Kusher said she’s looking forward to seeing some results from the project and seeing what can be done to mitigate the risks identified. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to leverage what 249 other departments are doing, sharing the successes and challenges and how they have addressed that,” she said.

But that doesn’t mean that specific numbers will be shared with other departments, she said. “Our data is unique to us,” she said. “It is not shared across the board.”

What’s shared is the methods, said Rogers. “One of the methods we

Spokane Valley Fire Department Sound Off Program Current news sources

Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) is one of several local Fire Agencies that will participate in the Sound Off Program. The program is designed to teach elementary school children how to stay safe from fire.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) is a FEMA grant subrecipient and will participate in the Sound Off Program.

“Sound Off with the Home Fire Safety Patrol is a schoolbased fire safety program created through a grant to the Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI), a non-profit organization,” said SVFD Fire Marshal, Greg Rogers.

“The program teaches children in grades 2-3 and their caregivers how to stay safe from fire and offers home safety visits to install free smoke alarms in homes that need them.”

Washington joins six other states (Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Vermont) as new Phase 1 State Teams. Each state team has selected 3-5 local teams to deliver three Sound Off lessons in 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms in a total of 29 high-risk communities. State teams will distribute free smoke

alarms provided by the grant to install in student and other highrisk homes.

Spokane Valley Fire Department is extremely proud to be a part of this program that helps educate and create a safe community for children and their families,” said SVFD Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Specialist, Caroline Kusher. “This program upholds CRR practices and promotes fire safe communities as a way of life for everyone. To learn about some of our other CRR efforts, join us on social media during the 2nd Annual CRR Week, January 18 -24. This year’s theme is “Getting Ahead of the Call”.

If classroom visits are not possible due to COVID-19, some virtual tools have been developed and more will be developed during the grant period. Local teams in Washington include Lacey Fire District 3, North County Regional Fire Authority, Pasco Fire Department, Spokane Fire Department, and Spokane Valley Fire Department.

Over the next few months, representatives from these agencies and the SFMO will receive virtual training from MPHI project managers. The training will cover Sound Off history, best practices, and development; the teaching kit and other printed materials; and review online videos and virtual materials.

The SFMO is excited to participate in this proven and worthy program as it works towards making Washington a safe place to live, work, and play.

might learn from them is they might be tracking a specific demographic that we are not,” he said. “It truly may be something somebody else is already tracking that we just don’t know anything about. This is going to allow us to work smarter and harder.”

Once phase 2 of the pilot project is complete, the NFPA will fine tune the digital dashboard and then make it available to all the fire departments in the country, Kusher said.

The National Fire Protection Association is a non-profit organization that works to eliminate death, injury and property damage due to fire, electrical and related hazards. It offers training, certification and education programs.

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MARCH 2021 • 15

16

• MARCH 2021

The Crest

Orchard Crest is set to open its Memory Care Facility

By Nina Culver

Current Contributor

Orchard Crest Retirement Community is eagerly awaiting the opening of their newly constructed 22,500 square-foot memory care facility. The building was designed

by Portland, Oregon based LRS Architects, who has designed over 400 senior living communities in over 30 states, and constructed

by Lydig Construction, Inc of Spokane.

Located at the west end of their property at 222 N. Evergreen Road in Spokane Valley, the new memory care facility has 53 bedrooms and 48 bathrooms. With eight floor plans, both single and double occupancy living units, residents are certain to have the space they need to live comfortably. The building is a secured building, designed and built with the special needs of residents with memory issues.

One of the very nice features of this community is that it is set up with Tunable Lighting, also

known as “Circadian Lighting.”

Lisa Warnock, Director of Housing Interiors for LRS Architects, states “The system changes automatically throughout the day to mimic the color and output of the natural day lighting cycles. There is significant research being accumulated that suggests that these types of lighting systems can improve a whole host of health outcomes by re-setting the Circadian Cycles that have been thrown off by living in traditional electrical lighting systems.”

The community is a two-level building with each level having a large Dining Room with a homelike server kitchen, a Living Room, a coffee bar, TV room, an activity room, a full-service Salon, Calm Room, and a Bather Spa room.

Additionally, throughout the halls are numerous “activity stations” where residents can engage in a variety of self-directed activities that speak to their interests such as workbenches for the handyman, hats and scarves for the ladies, and nurseries with baby dolls and doll clothing. The facility will consistently change the items, so residents always have different things to look at, touch, or work on. In addition to the “activity stations,” there are also interactive artworks peppered through the halls.

The building is designed in the shape of an O with the upper level being set up for higher acuity residents. It has a large deck area with a covering over part of it and it looks down over a beautifully landscaped enclosed courtyard.

The property has walkways inside of the courtyard for residents to stretch their legs. There are also multiple oval-shaped raised garden beds for residents to raise plants and/or flowers.

Once opened, there will also be a daily calendar of life enrichment activities specific to memory care residents.

Prior to moving into the memory care facility, potential residents are assessed by a licensed nurse to assure their needs can be met. Residents with varying levels of dementia can live in the memory care community as long as they do not need a skilled nursing home.

Once opened, staffing will be adjusted according to the number of residents and will increase as resident numbers increase. “Since we are a 24-hour business, we will start with one employee per shift as caregivers/Medication Aides, plus a Licensed Nurse in addition to office staff and receptionist. We also have support staff from the other buildings on our campus, such as dietary, maintenance, housekeeping, laundry, and

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activities. When we are at capacity, I estimate 50 employees for this building,” states Administrator, Sandy Davidson.

Residents will receive three meals per day, which are included in their monthly costs. Many of those meals will be customized by a contracted licensed nutritionist for the residents with specialized dietary needs. Orchard Crest Memory Care accepts private pay and long-term care insurance. “If a resident lives with us 2 years or longer they could apply for a state funded Medicaid program depending upon our availability,” states Davidson.

Sandy Davidson is the Orchard Crest Memory Care Administrator.

He has 30 years’ experience in long term care, the past 6 of which he operated strictly memory care. Orchard Crest Retirement Community and Orchard Crest Memory Care is owned by Jaclin Smith and Norm Hunt. Jaclin has been a resident of the Northwest since childhood and visits regularly. Her smile brightens the day of all of those she encounters.

Norm has lived in Spokane for over thirty-five years and his wit is appreciated by all. Both Jaclin and Norm have extensive experience in owning/operating long term care facilities.

Orchard Crest follows all state requirements for long-term care communities and is licensed and inspected by the Department of Social and Health Services. The hope and expectation is that the building will open with 4-6 residents within the next couple of weeks, and will gain 3-5 additional residents per month thereafter. Deposits have been taken from a few prospective residents. Davidson states that they have their certificate of occupancy and are waiting for the Department of Social & Health Services to make the licensing inspection.

Contributed image Emergent VT CEO Dennis Winters has changed his business model during the COVID-19 pandemic to meet the need he sees for the community.

For more information on Orchard Crest Memory Care, contact Jacki at 509-928-2222 or log into their website at https://www. orchardcrestretirement.com/ memory-care

MARCH 2021 • 17

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• MARCH 2021

The Current

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Local teacher flourished as three-sport college standout

By Craig Howard Current Contributing Editor

Growing up in Spokane, Christine (Peterson) Francek was accustomed to the unique traits and weather patterns of the four traditional seasons.

As a college student on the other side of the country, Francek established herself as an uncommon athlete with a dynamic approach to a variety of seasons.

At St. George’s School, a private K-12 college prep academy along the Little Spokane River, Francek remembers facing an uphill challenge when she first took up basketball. For years, snow skiing had been her best winter sport. She excelled on the Mt. Spokane racing team and later at the Mt. Schweitzer Alpine Racing School.

At one point, she nearly qualified for the Junior Olympics.

Basketball – at least initially – was another story.

“I was horrible, definitely one of the worst on the team,” Francek recalls.

“I remember dribbling the ball off my foot.”

Shift ahead to Francek’s junior year at St. George’s and an outlook that was decidedly different. She was a starter on a team that finished 30-0 and won the 2B state championship in 1994 by defeating Davenport at the Spokane Arena. Francek earned first team AllState tournament honors as a junior.

“By Chrissy’s freshman year in basketball, she was amazing,” says former St. George’s teammate Elizabeth Willis. “She was just so athletic. Any sport she tried, she ended up being good at.”

In high school, the list of other sports for Francek included soccer – where she was an All Greater Spokane League player for Lewis and Clark, in lieu of a team at St. George’s – track and cross country where she won an individual state title as a junior and led the Dragons to a team 2B crown.

Francek received college recruiting letters for basketball, soccer and track but eventually opted to sign with Stanford University for soccer, a sport she had played since the second grade.

The Cardinal qualified for the NCAA tournament in Francek’s freshman season – but Palo Alto represented an adjustment for the first-year Division 1 player.

“It was a little overwhelming,” Francek said. “Stanford was good for me to be surrounded with those kinds of athletes but ultimately, it wasn’t the best fit.”

Francek considered switching to track or basketball at Stanford but a conversation with St. George’s basketball coach Ross Thomas opened up another door. Middlebury College, where her friend Willis had signed for soccer, was an NCAA Division 3 school

in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). By January of 1996, Francek was enrolled as a student-athlete on the campus in Vermont’s Champlain Valley nestled between the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks.

“I knew I wanted to go to a school that would be a good fit academically and also knew I wanted sports to be part of my college experience,” Francek said.

Willis recalls Francek’s transition to Middlebury being seamless as she blended in with the soccer team and quickly adjusted to life on campus.

“Chrissy is probably the most humble person I know,” Willis said.

“I don’t even think she mentioned Stanford when she came to Middlebury.

It was just amazing to me how she got

Contributed photo University High School teacher Christine (Peterson) Francek (left) was a standout athlete in the early 1990s at St. George’s School in Spokane before earning a soccer scholarship to Stanford University. After a season at Stanford, Francek transferred to Middlebury College in Vermont where she excelled in soccer, basketball and track.

better in college, just faster and more skilled. She never appeared tired or fatigued.”

Francek became a starter on a Middlebury basketball squad that won the NESCAC title her junior year. In her career as a Panther, she exceeded 1,000 points. In 1997, Francek was part of a soccer team that reached the NCAA Division 3 Elite Eight. In track, she qualified for nationals in the 400-meter hurdles three years in a row.

“You couldn’t ask to coach a better kid and a finer athlete,” said Jen Fulcher, who coached soccer and basketball at Middlebury when Francek was there. “The great players make everyone around them better and that was Chrissy. She was all about the team and competing and being humble all the time.”

In addition to “a relentless work ethic,” Fulcher remembers Francek being the player Middlebury turned to when a game came down to the deciding play.

“The best players play like they’re not afraid to fail,” Fulcher said. “I knew that Chrissy would find strength and joy in that moment.”

After graduating in 1999 with a degree in math, Francek moved to New Jersey where she taught and coached at a private school. She married in 2001.

The following year Francek was hired

by University High School as a math teacher and coach. Her husband Jason is the assistant principal at Horizon Middle School. The couple lives in Spokane Valley and has two sons.

“I always knew I wanted to raise my family in a place like Spokane,” said Francek. “Plus, I love U-Hi. It’s the best place I could work. We have phenomenal staff and administration that supports our staff.”

Francek coached cross country, track, soccer and basketball at U-Hi in addition to soccer at St. George’s. She last coached in 2007.

As for the rarity of being a threesport athlete in college – not to mention completing two Iron Man competitions – Francek says she simply savored each season.

“My favorite sport was the one I was playing at the time,” she said. “I think it’s good to play multiple sports.

You never know what you’re going to excel in.”

MARCH 2021 • 19

The Current

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• MARCH 2021

LIBRARY

Available for curbside pickup: seed packets, Discovery Passes, STEM The 2021 Check Out Washington Explorer kits

By Gwendolyn Haley, librarian Spokane County Library District ONLINE BOOK CLUB

Lose yourself in a good book Read with us March 18–May 20 News of the World

by Paulette Jiles

The days are getting longer, and spring is on our minds. The Library District wants to help you get started with your gardening by sharing seed bundles.

We’ve prepackaged all the seeds from our seed libraries along with helpful gardening tips and some fun gardening activities for all ages. Each bundle contains an assortment of 12 different packages of heirloom seeds (vegetables and herbs).

You don’t need to place a hold for the seed bundles. Just come by The BookEnd, Argonne, Otis Orchards, or Spokane Valley Library during regular curbside hours, call the curbside number once you arrive, and ask our staff for a seed bundle.

The limit is one per customer per visit, while supplies last. We are unable to accommodate special requests for specific seeds at this time.

How to get free tax help in person, online

By Stacey Goddard, Librarian Spokane County Library District

“…lovely and tender…”

– The Washington Post “A narrow but exquisite book about the joys of freedom…”

– The New York Times

www.scld.org/online-club

www.scld.org

If you’re among the many people who are stressed out about their taxes and worried how you will get your taxes completed and filed, I have good news for you.

From now through April 9, inperson assistance will be available from AARP Tax Aide volunteers at The Northeast Community Center (4001 N Cook St, Spokane). An appointment is required, so you’ll need to call 509-353-4851 to set one up.

Appointments are likely to fill up quickly, so the following online options may be your best bet for preparing and filing your 2020 taxes. You can e-file with the IRS and its partners or with a service from Spokane County United Way. The IRS website (https://www. irs.gov) is your one-stop center for everything tax-related. You can browse tax topics, such as how to get your tax record or check on your refund status, and locate specific

Discover Passes have arrived at the library. Explore millions of acres of state parks and public lands. Each backpack includes binoculars, field guides, other interpretive materials, and a special Discover Pass for parking at Washington State Parks.

For fun day trips in our region, you can visit Riverside State Park, Palouse Falls, and Gardner Cave, to name just of few. The backpacks check out for 7 days at a time and can be picked up curbside. To place a hold, visit www.scld.org/discoverpass.

We have new STEM Explorer Kits for students in grades K–5. Each kit focuses on a different topic from the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

The kits include a collection of some of the following things to explore: a book, hands-on activities, learning games, or scientific equipment. Some of the 15 topics to

tax forms and instructions. The IRS Free File web page (https://www. irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-yourfederal-taxes-for-free) helps you determine if you are eligible to file for free.

On the IRS Free File web page, you’ll find a list of questions about the service that I encourage you to review before you start the process.

Topics include the benefits of using the Free File program and the safety of your personal information.

Spokane County United Way offers another option for online help with filing your taxes at https://www.myfreetaxes.com/.

The website is easy to use and safe (H & R Block provides the secure software), and it’s free for all simple returns. For more information about this service, you can visit the Spokane County United Way Free Tax Preparation web page at https://www.unitedwayspokane. org/free-tax-preparation.

If you’d prefer to mail in printed tax forms, the library can help print the forms you need from the IRS website. You can use our Mobile Printing service (https://www. scld.org/mobile-printing/) and Curbside Pickup service to get the

The Current

explore are engineering gears and mazes, green energy, nature and outdoors, and robotics.

Students under the age of 10 may need adult help with the activities.

For children under the age of 5, we recommend our Ready for School with STEM kits.

You can check out a STEM Explorer Kit for 28 days. These kits can be picked up from the library using our curbside service. To find them in our catalog and place a hold, visit www.scld.org/checkout-stemexplorer-kits.

Since the Check Out Washington backpacks and STEM Explorer Kits are too large to return in the library’s book drop, you will need to return them during curbside hours. All other items and books should be returned in the book drop.

For help reserving items and books through our catalog (www. scld.org/catalog), you can call the library at 509.893.8400 during library curbside pickup hours, currently 12– 6pm, Monday–Saturday.

forms you need.

Some tax instruction booklets are over 100 pages, which is over the library’s weekly print limit. Here’s a solution! You can call 1-800-TAXFORM (1-800-829-3676) to request all the tax forms and booklets you need, and they will send them to you.

Now that you know some of your options for completing your taxes, I hope the prospect of tackling them is less stressful. If you still have questions or need help getting started, please contact us at the Library District at 509-893-8400.

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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. Copies are located at drop-off locations in Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake and the surrounding area.

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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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SV COUNCIL

Continued from page 9 for the people to know and what is not good for them to know.

The people insist on remaining informed so that they may maintain control over the instruments they have created. RCW 42.56.030.” A public record includes any writing containing information relating to the conduct of government or the performance of any governmental or proprietary function prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics.

These writings include e-mails, tweets, text messages, transitory postings on Facebook and other social media, meta-data (data about the writing such as time and person posting), and police/security video.

Note that this includes any email a citizen sends a Council member about city business, including the email address of the sender. Public records must be made available to citizens within five days of the request. There are a number of exceptions to public disclosure, for example, those involving attorneyclient privilege.

All meetings at which a majority of council or other city committee member is present and city business is discussed must be public meetings. That is, the meeting must be announced to the public and the public invited to attend.

Votes must not be by secret ballot at such meetings and decisions can only be made in a public meeting.

Some exceptions are allowed, for example, legal preparation for litigation or reviewing an employee performance. Note that the Spokane Valley City Council has only one employee it is permitted to review, the City Manager.

Council Briefs • Council approved a joint grant application with the County to the U.S. for an INFRA grant for the Bigelow Gulch/Forker Road/ Sullivan Rd. project. The City’s part would be $10 million and the County’s part, $30 million.

• At the request of Sen. Patty Murry and Representative Cathy McMorris Rogers, the Council approve a prioritized list of projects to be considered for earmarks in the federal budget: Pines Road/BNSF Grade Separation, Spokane River Trail, Bigelow-Sullivan Corridor, Spokane County Fair & Expo Exhibit Hall, and South Barker Corridor.

Update on COVID-19 vaccinations, mental health support From Current News Sources

The COVID-19 vaccine is now being made available with high-risk healthcare workers and long-term care residents being prioritized first, followed by first responders, then people aged 65 and older and multigenerational household members.

You can figure out your eligibility with the Washington Phase Finder website. Simply enter in your information, including your work, age and health and you will be notified on whether you qualify for the vaccine. To find what your phase is, visit www.findyourphasewa.org or call 800-525-0127.

The latest announcements on the vaccine can be found at the Spokane Regional Health District’s COVID-19 information page at “COVID-19 Updates & Information” at www.srhd.org which will always be the source of the most updated information and resources for Spokane County. SRHD can also be reached 509-324-1500.

For the full list of vaccination sites in Washington, visit the Department of Health website at www.doh. wa.gov. The WA Vaccine Hotline can be reached, toll-free at 800-5250127 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.

The following mental health resources can be accessed for help and support: First Call for Help: (877)266-1818; Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800)273-8255; Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 and WA Listens – (833) 681-0211, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Language access services are available and TTY can be accessed by dialing 7-1-1 or preferred method.

Thank you for reading

The Current

ON THAT NOTE

MARCH 2021 • 23

Historic times at Spokane Valley Heritage Museum From SVHM contributors

As we enter into our 17th year of preserving and serving history to the region at the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum, we are very thankful that we survived an historic time in our world! We are grateful beyond measure that the museum's supporters contributed generously to sustain operations during the closure.

The museum also received several CARES Grants to assist with the loss of revenue due to the mandatory closure to the public as part of the COVID-19 response.

While we were closed to the public, the “wheels” kept turning and planned changes were implemented within the Valley Museum walls. An area of the museum has been reconfigured to create a larger archives research area that also complies with the 6-foot social distancing guidelines. The museum’s collection now contains over 11,000 photos. Archives and artifacts number more than 6,600.

Although the museum was closed to visitors, research and photo requests continued. Donations of historic photos and archives didn’t stop either. Research requests came from all across the country and the world.

Looking ahead Spring is a time of growth, and one of the ways the museum will be growing is having our collection online to view and search. This is a monumental achievement and a goal that the Valley Museum is thrilled to announce. By late spring, the photo collection should be accessible on the website,

https://spokanevalleymuseum. pastperfectonline.com.

Public history presentations are an important way to engage the community in a deeper understanding of how the community developed.

How an historic event impacted our region and getting to know a historic figure that played a role in the life of the community helps to instill a sense of identity and a sense of belonging.

The museum is also discussing radio spots of “The More You Know History” facts with KPBX. The uncertainty of the pandemic and the inability to gather in large numbers has prompted the Valley Museum to create and produce virtual history programs. Serving history through virtual presentations will keep us aligned with our mission to share the region’s history; and replacing lost revenue from cancelled in-person presentations is important as well to sustain the museum’s growth.

To that end, the Valley Museum will be announcing presentations hosted on the professional Zoom platform for a small fee to attend. Programs determined to date for the series include Riblet’s Eagles Nest, Felts Field history, Otis Orchards and Spokane University, with others under consideration.

The “Drive Your History” tours were very successful in previous years, and the museum planning committee hopes to host at least one in 2021!

Our building, the Opportunity Township Hall, will be 109 years old in July 2021. The museum building will be getting a new roof, back door, rain gutters and more this year.

Thanks to a direct appropriation from the state legislature with the help of Senator Mike Padden!

The museum staff has been delighted to participate in the planning for the Doris Morrison Learning Center to be constructed in conjunction with the wetland restoration project in the Saltese Meadows. We will be designing and creating the interpretive storyboards for the center as well as for the trail that has already been completed.

Speaking of trails, we will also be creating an interpretive storyboard for the Appleway Trail that will honor the Porter family. The Porters came to the Valley in 1908 and farmed until the late 1980s. The signage will be located near Vera on the trail. By the way, Vera was named for D.K. McDonald’s daughter, Vera. Mr. McDonald has a road and school named for him. He was an early 1900s real estate developer and also founded Modern Irrigation and Land Company as well as Vera Water & Power.

One of the most historically significant collections the museum has received is Nicholas (Nick) B. Mamer’s own personal collection of photographs, letters, ephemera and artifacts. Nick was a distinguished local aviator, flying out of Felts Field

for a number of years. The Mamer Clock Tower at Felts was built to honor him. Nick was killed in Jan. 10, 1938 when a mechanical failure on the plane he was piloting caused it to crash near Bozeman Montana.

The museum is curating an exhibit on Nick Mamer to open in the late spring.

Additional planned exhibits for 2021 include Spokane University, Riblet’s Story and spotlight exhibits on various individuals who left their mark on the Spokane Valley.

The museum is reopening to the public on Wednesday, March 3. Times are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. We are located at 12114 E. Sprague in Spokane Valley and welcome all to visit! Guidelines include in house visitors of up to 25 percent of capacity, masks are required and social distancing will be maintained.

As many of our volunteers and visitors are seniors, which we are determined to protect, all visitors will be required to wear masks that cover the nose and the mouth. If you have medical reason for not masking up, we ask that you please wait to visit when the threat of COVID-19 has passed. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation. Questions?

Call us at 509-922-4570 or visit www. spokanevalleymuseum.com.

24

• MARCH 2021

The Current

VALLEY CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP Why Join the Chamber?

Our Mission

We are the catalyst for building relationships, driving collaboration, and championing opportunity in the Greater Spokane Valley.

Membership Benefits

Membership with The Chamber is an investment in you, your employees, your business and your community. It means you join a group of organizations big and small that are a force working for the greater good of the region. And for every business that invests in a membership, its employees are also considered members! Membership also provides: • • • •

Advocacy Programs

We advocate for public policy changes and programs that stimulate and sustain growth for business. Our Government Action Committee consistently reaches out to elected officials at all levels of government to keep you informed on the latest developments.

Community engagement through Chamber events and activities Meaningful connections and referrals Involvement in the Chamber’s Big 5 initiatives Member-only discounts, sponsorship opportunities and much more

10808 E Sprague Ave, Spokane WA 99216 | 509-924-4994 | spokanevalleychamber.org

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