September 2021 Current

SEPTEMBER

2021

GREATER SPOKANE VALLEY

PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Permit #010 ZIP CODE 99019

FREE

Taking to the skies Historic Flight Museum is open at Felts Field, page 10

MEET NEW EV SUPERINTENDENT TALBOTT PAGE 2

SAYING GOODBYE TO CHUCK HAFNER PAGE 16

10TH ANNUAL GHOST BALL FOR ELEVATIONS PAGE 23

2

• SEPTEMBER 2021

The Current

RIVER CROSSING

Driven to Lead –

Talbott takes reins as EVSD Superintendent

By Craig Howard

Current Contributing Editor

It had been 13 years since Brian Talbott filled out a job application.

In his role as superintendent of the Nine Mile Falls School District, Talbott was content. His family was firmly entrenched in the small community just north of Spokane and Talbott was recognized as a civic pillar.

When it was announced in early December of 2020 that Kelly Shea would be leaving as superintendent of the East Valley School District, Talbott took notice – but didn’t think right away that the job was something to consider. Besides, his own district was gearing up for a levy election.

Talbott found out he made the first cut down to six finalists, then the next down to three. He was home with his family on the evening of April 1 when he received a call from EVSD Board Member Justin Voelker informing him he had been selected as superintendent.

is a trademark for Talbott. At Nine Mile, the phrase “Nine Mile Proud” became a community mantra. In his new role, Talbott has already come up with a similar theme – “Together, We Are East Valley.”

“I didn’t recognize the number,” Talbott recalls. “I said to Justin, ‘You do realize it’s April Fool’s Day.’”

Talbott grew up with a unique example of leadership under the same roof. His dad, Brian Talbott Sr., served as superintendent of the NorthEast Washington Educational Service District 101 from 1982 to 1998, an organization that oversees 59 public school districts in seven counties.

Talbott let staff at Nine Mile know early in the process that he was applying for the EVSD job.

Breaking the news that he had accepted the role was more difficult.

“It was bittersweet,” he said. “I cried my last day there.”

The family goal was to stay in Nine Mile until each of the Talbott kids graduated from high school.

They came close. Their youngest, Kyler, is a senior and will wrap us his final year at Lakeside High in 2022.

Genuine connections with the people he works with and serves

“People matter, relationships matter,” Talbott said.

Talbott grew up on Spokane’s South Hill and attended Ferris High School where he was a standout runner. He received an athletic scholarship to Eastern Washington University and competed in cross country and track while majoring in English. When it came time to apply for a job after graduation, Talbott looked outside the area, partly to make a name for himself beyond his father’s considerable

After the vote in Nine Mile passed by 75 votes, Talbott went to work collecting campaign signs and banners. Then he began gathering information on the East Valley position.

“I was very calm throughout the interview process,” Talbott said.

In high school, Talbott spent his summers driving a wheat truck and combine in Ritzville, gaining an appreciation for close-knit, smalltown culture. Growing up, he spent five years in Granger, another small town, when his dad was serving as superintendent there. With a goal of being a teacher, Talbott decided to only send resumes to school districts in more rural communities.

White Pass – a district between Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier, about 45 miles west of Centralia – fit the bill.

Talbott started out as a teacher and coach, helping with football, wrestling, cross country and track.

He quickly developed a reputation for his dynamic energy in both academic and athletic venues.

White Pass runners grew familiar with Talbot donning an orange fluorescent hat, so they could spot him from a distance and zoom into their coach’s encouraging words.

Talbott spent seven years as a teacher in White Pass before being hired as principal of Lakeside High at the age of 29. Five years later, he was named superintendent.

Talbott’s decision to leave White Pass for Nine Mile was prompted by his mom’s battle with cancer – a battle that she won.

“We wanted to be closer,” Talbott said. “We as a family decided that’s where we wanted to be. It was the right place at the right time.”

“I reached out to people in the Valley and got the pulse,” Talbott said. “What I heard resonated with me. I knew Kelly was a people person and the idea of following someone who had established relationships and built the community back up was intriguing.

I liked the idea of a challenge.”

When he talked with his wife Tricia and the couple’s three kids about the EVSD possibility, Talbott received a vote of support.

He submitted his paperwork just before the deadline in late February, joining the list of hopeful candidates. The rust of a being away from the job market never showed.

legacy.

Just three months before he left White Pass in 2009, Talbott celebrated the approval of a $16 million capital facilities bond – by a mere six votes – that funded the renovation of the elementary school and construction of a new middle school/high school.

Photo by Craig Howard Brian Talbott was hired as the new superintendent of the East Valley School District in April, replacing Kelly Shea. The Spokane native graduated from Ferris High School and Eastern Washington University before embarking on a career in education. He has previously served as superintendent in the White Pass and Nine Mile Falls school districts.

True to form, Talbott has jumped in enthusiastically at East Valley.

He has plans to meet with a wide variety of community leaders and organizations as he forges ahead, including the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce and local service clubs.

See TALBOTT, Page 4

SEPTEMBER 2021 • 3

The Current

Chuck Yoke 1929-2021

Our Yoke’s family is deeply saddened by the passing of Chuck Yoke.

Those of us who were fortunate to work alongside Mr. Yoke have lost a dear friend and mentor.

While he will be greatly missed, Chuck leaves behind a spirit that will forever be at the heart of Yoke’s Fresh Markets.

4

NEWS

• SEPTEMBER 2021

TALBOTT

Continued from page 2 “With the return to everyday educational delivery, I am excited to visit our schools to see and talk with students and staff,” Talbott said. “Meeting the fine folks that make up this school district both within the system and outside of it will be a focal point of my first year.

As superintendent, I see myself as one part of the whole.”

Q: How much did you know about the East Valley School District and the community before you decided to apply for the superintendent’s job earlier this year?

A: My knowledge and understanding of the East Valley School District was from the periphery of being within the same region. It wasn’t until the latter part of February that I began to do some serious inquiry and research regarding all things EVSD. Q: How difficult was it to leave the Nine Mile Falls School District and why did you feel the East Valley job may be a good fit for you?

A: To be completely honest, it was painful. For the previous 13 years Nine Mile has been our home, my place of work and where our children have attended school. Prior to this particular position opening, I had not considered leaving Nine Mile. In the East Valley application packet, there was a section that identified the challenges and opportunities within the district.

I felt that my skillset aligned with the advertised qualities the district was looking for. Most importantly, it was the sense of community and family in the EVSD that ultimately led to my final decision.

Q: Growing up, you were a student in a large district - Spokane Public Schools. Yet as a teacher, coach and administrator, you have always been part of smaller, more rural districts. Why do you think that has been the case?

A: I guess that has to do with some of those experiences that I

had in my youth. I have always enjoyed the small-town feel and the Norman Rockwell type settings of yesteryear. During my high school and college years, I drove farm equipment during harvest.

I enjoyed driving into town with a load waving at the other truck drivers and community members.

The blessing, that on occasion can also be a burden, is that everybody knows everybody.

Smaller communities have the innate ability to rally and come together for the benefit of others and the greater good. While serving in smaller districts, I have felt that I am more than just the superintendent. I am a community member, parent, neighbor and friend.

Q: How much influence did the teachers, coaches and school administrators of your youth have on your decision to pursue education as a career?

A: That’s a great question.

Coming from a father who dedicated, and still dedicates, his entire life to the profession, it would be easy to assume that I was headed this direction from the beginning – not so much. As a K-12 student, I was definitely not an overachiever.

School was a great place for me to get to my ulterior motives of friends and sports. I had many great teachers throughout my schooling experience. However, there are a few who stand out as those who would not accept mediocrity from me. These individuals had much higher expectations of me than I did of myself. They were willing to put in the time and show me what they saw. Frankly, I would not be where I am today without their guidance, support and push. I am forever indebted to them and have made sure that they know how important they were to me then and now.

Q: You were an accomplished athlete in high school and college.

In what ways has your experience in sports carried over to your work as a teacher, coach, and administrator?

A: As an athlete, I had the mindset that there were no shortcuts. I

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knew that somewhere, someone was working harder than I was. My goal was to make it difficult for that person to outgrind me. I suppose that is where the young athletic version of me best melds into my adult work approach. My goal is to use the precious time that I have and to maximize it into quality outcomes. I tend to go to sleep with work on my mind and wake up in the same manner. Although it was a long time ago, that is how I approached athletics as well.

Q: Has your time as a superintendent given you a greater appreciation for the time your dad spent in the same field for so many years? What lessons have you learned directly or indirectly from him that have helped you become a better administrator?

A: After graduating from college, I intentionally left this region in an effort to go out and make a name for myself. At that time, I believed it would be difficult to do as I am Brian L. Talbott II. Once I moved from teaching to administration, it truly didn’t matter how far away I was as my father’s name and contributions to education were well-respected and known. Dad has an innovative mind and a servant’s heart. He also has non-negotiable, high expectations of himself and others. I have learned a great deal from my father and his approach to work. Perhaps the greatest lesson modeled was the importance of relationships and the power of committed people driving toward the same objectives. Leadership can be gut wrenching – during seasons of ease, anybody can do it. The demonstration of strength, courage, perseverance, honesty, consistency, vulnerability and integrity must be well-established if we hope to get through the difficult and daunting times. My dad possesses all of these traits. I strive to emulate and represent his namesake and legacy.

Q: How will you as the new leader of EVSD, help students, staff and families navigate the challenges presented by COVID-19 this academic year?

A: During a leadership team meeting in late August, one of our administrators began a sentence with “As we enter the third year of this pandemic…” I realized in that moment, we can be so entrenched in the work that we neglect to

The Current

recognize the glaring details even when they are smacking us in the face. This was such an instance for me. Indeed, school staff and the families we serve are entering the third school year of pandemic impact.

Schools are caught in the dead set middle of polarizing mandates and requirements. As educators, we want our kids back in school, five-days a week so that we can do what we do best. Thankfully, we are able to do this as opposed to the way we opened last year. Most definitely, we would prefer that life would resume as it did prior to the pandemic. However, in lieu of that, we will work with our kids on a daily basis to help them realize and expand on their individual goals and potential. Specifically, we will assist individuals by being open to discussing their needs and concerns. We will communicate regularly with our families as to the ever-changing rules and expectations that schools must adhere to. I/we stand at the ready to assist our students, staff, and families in every way possible.

Q: You’ve come up with a slogan of sorts – “Together, We Are East Valley” that you are introducing at the start of the 2021-22 school year. What does that phrase mean to you and what are your hopes for the impact it might have on the district and community?

A: To be clear, I am not necessarily introducing it as the new mantra for the district. I am introducing it as my personal/ professional approach that I hope catches on through the district and broader community. The education of our youth is a team sport – it neither begins nor ends at the threshold of the schoolhouse doors.

Additionally, I believe the youth of this district, and all districts, are worthy of our collective best efforts.

This ideology would suggest an “all hands on deck” approach.

The phrase also implies that East Valley is more than a school district – it is a networked community of people, businesses, churches and schools. I am grateful for those partnerships that have long been established between the district and the community. I look forward to the amazing things that we will accomplish when we further lock arms and efforts for the benefit of our children. Together, we are East Valley.

The Current

NEWS

SVFD Report – July 2021

units. Two units had smoke and water damage. A total of seven residents were displaced by the fire. The Red Cross was contacted to assist the residents.

Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) crews responded to a total of 2008 emergency calls from July 15 – August 15, 2021.

August 5 – Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) units were dispatched around 1 p.m. to the 24000 block of East Sinto Lane in Liberty Lake to the report of a home fire potentially caused by a lightning strike. A neighbor called 911 reporting the fire and alerted the homeowner. The occupants were all evacuated to safety.

Crews could see smoke and fire as they approached the location and upgraded the fire to a working fire which dispatched more fire crews to help with the response.

Current News sources

Emergency Medical Services 1583 Fires 122 Motor Vehicle Collisions 99 Building Alarms 80 Dispatched and Cancelled en route 57 Service Calls 25 Hazardous Materials 21 Vehicle Fires 10 Technical Rescue 6 Other 2 Auto vs Pedestrian 2 Rescue Task Force 1 Other 1 Media Releases: July 15 – Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) units were dispatched at approximately 3:30 p.m. to an apartment fire in the 12200 block of East Maxwell. The fire was called in by a resident noticing smoke on the 3rd floor. Neighbors attempted to put the fire out with water before fire crews arrived.

The fire extended into the attic and across 2 apartments. Because of the large column of dark smoke, the first responding apparatus requested additional units while driving to the scene. Crews were aggressively assigned to search in coordination with fire attack. Two firefighters were injured, and a dog and cat were rescued.

Red Cross is on hand helping 6 families whose apartments were affected by the fire.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

July 26 - The Spokane Valley Fire Department responded to a reported apartment fire at the 6800 block of East 2nd Avenue.

A neighbor across the street called 911, stating that they could see fire in an apartment through the front window. The first arriving crews found a fully involved apartment and aggressively attacked the fire, while other crews searched adjoining apartments to ensure that no one was inside.

The fire was quickly knocked down before spreading to adjoining

When crews arrived, they found 3 neighbors with hoses spraying the area where the fire started.

Neighbors said they saw lightning strike at the back of the house where the fire originated. The fire was quickly knocked down and the roof line and ceiling opened to check for any extension. Crews helped to ventilate smoke from the house as well.

There was no power at the house and in the neighboring culde-sac also had lost power. Avista crews arrived to help re-instate the power after safety conditions were established.

August 11 – Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) responded to a commercial fire at approximately 5:27am, in the 9300 block of East Trent in Millwood. Initial reports to 911 stated a dog grooming business was on fire.

The first arriving crews found a well-developed fire venting through a doorway on the side of a four-business strip mall. The fire was upgraded to a working commercial fire, and brought crews from Spokane Fire, and Fire Dist 9 to assist the Spokane Valley Fire units on scene. Aggressive hose work, and quick access to the interior allowed for full knock down of the fire within 10 minutes. A search of the occupancies confirmed no one and no animals were inside. The damage was contained to two of the business, with the majority being in the grooming shop.

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• SEPTEMBER 2021

The Current

Introducing the

Safety Awareness Channel 2021 July Malicious Mischief Hotspots

Published Date: 8/23/2021 Prepared by Spokane County Sheriff's RIG 9 Unit

SVFD REPORT

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.

The maps provided depict where citizens have reported Vehicle Thefts, Burglaries, Malicious Mischief and Thefts. 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.

Citizens who have been a victim of crime are encouraged to call 911, if the crime is in progress, or Crime Check at 4562233, if not in progress, to report a crime.

Continued from page 5

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– Spokane Valley Fire crews responded to a call for a report of a brush fire. Crews pulled the red line off the Attack 9 (A9) engine to help wet down the area of a small fire that was burning alongside the road. Once crews had a line dug on either end of the fire and the area was sufficiently wet down, A9 returned to service. Ladder 8 crews were also at the fire. It was reported that fireworks had been thrown at the intersection.

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Ladder 8 and Attack 9 crews dug a line around the fire using natural barriers to include the tracks and streets. They continued to apply water until the fire was completely out.

Smoke Investigation, July 15, 7:54 a.m. - Spokane Valley Fire responded to the report of an illegal burn in the 5500 block of E Cataldo.

The area had a locked fence and no one outside. An occupant of the address came outside, and crews informed them of the burn restriction that are currently in place and asked them to extinguish the fire. Crews then returned in service.

Alarm System, July 20, 2:21 p.m.

Spokane Valley Fire Department crews responded to a report of an Alarm sounding in a commercial building.

Crews arrived to investigate the cause of the fire alarm activation. Crews found a lumber mill with nothing showing. An employee directed crews to a building where metal grindings had started a fire in sawdust. The fire had been put out.

A worker was grinding the welds on a metal tab on a conveyor to remove the tab when sparks ignited

SEPTEMBER 2021 • 7

The Current

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Connect with SVFD at: spokanevalleyfire.com. For department news, safety information, and timely updates, find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

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Established in 1940, SVFD is committed to pursuing excellence and is distinguished as an accredited agency by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), and by SVFD’s Class 2 fire insurance rating from the Washington Survey and Rating Bureau

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The Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) serves a population of 125,000+ over 75-square miles, including the cities of Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake and Millwood, as well as surrounding unincorporated areas. In 2020, our cross-trained Firefighter/EMTs and Firefighter/ Paramedics responded to more than 18,700 emergency calls.

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About Spokane Department

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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Possible Illegal Burn, July 25, 8:47 p.m. – Spokane Valley Fire responded to a potential illegal burn.

An RV has a small nook behind it that was built with bamboo walls and vegetation growing an arch over it. Inside the nook on tables there were two tiki type candles 3 inches in diameter and 6 inches tall. They were lit but located away from the walls and well below the vegetation arch. Crews advised the residents to be very careful with the open flames in those conditions.

Published Date: 8/23/2021 Prepared by Spokane County Sheriff's RIG 9 Unit

Spokane Valley Districts

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Motor Vehicle Collision, July 20, 6:02 p.m. – Spokane Valley Fire responded to a car collision in the eastbound lanes of Trent Avenue where one car had rolled coming to a stop on its top. Valley Ladder 10 began patient assessment and care.

AMR was on scene for patient transfer to the hospital.

Valley Engine 5 pulled a line for suppression. Crews extricated the patient who was then transported for further care.

2021 July Burglary Hotspots

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the sawdust and wood scraps on the platform below the conveyor.

The fire was extinguished with a fire extinguisher and buckets of water. There was no damage to the equipment or to the building and no signs of smoke or fire remained. The fire alarm was reset and operating normally. Crews advised the business to remove all wood debris and sawdust before resuming work.

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8

• SEPTEMBER 2021

Capital projects dominate council discussion

By Lincoln DoWright Current Contributor

White Elephant Building The City Council authorized the staff to purchase the property along Sprague Ave that was previously the White Elephant property. This property is directly adjacent to the Spokane Valley Police Precinct building and connects between the Appleway trail to Sprague Ave. The purchase price approved was fo $2.225 million.

Council unanimously approved the purchase.

Use of Lodging Taxes In a discussion on the goals for the use of the Spokane Valley Lodging Taxes which are spread across two funds. The primary fund being funded by a rebate from the state of Washington providing 2% of the sales taxes generated on hotel room stays to the City of Spokane Valley / a Lodging Tax Advisory Committee for allocation. Similarly the city has

NEWS

a second lodging tax fund which collects 1.3% sales tax on hotel rooms within Spokane Valley.

While discussing the typical goals for the cities use of the lodging tax funds, the city council authorized the staff to put together a request for the funds to be dedicated to the capital construction of the additional building at the Fair and Expo Center.

Spokane Regional Stabilization Center The City Council got an update on the Spokane Regional Stabilization Center, a facility that is designed as a voluntary option for individuals in contact with the police department that are in need of mental health treatment, substance use disorder, or withdrawal management. The goal of the facility is to be a diversion program for the jail system that would significantly decrease the rate of recidivism for those that the police departments come into contact with. The facility will be operated by Pioneer Human Services and located

on the Spokane County Campus downtown at 1302 W Gardner Ave. It will be staffed to handle 46 individuals at a time and has a goal of being open by October of this year.

been performed and was noted that in future years the city may bring on a consultant to help facilitate better local neighborhood outreach in the future.

Interlocal Agreement with Fire District 8

Balfour Park Design Update

With the Cities acquisition of the 17.7 acres of vacant land on the corner of 44th and Bates. The City while in discussions with Central Valley School District learned that Fire District 8 was also interested in purchasing a portion of the property to construct a new fire station. Fire District 8 currently has a fire station across the street on 44th and Bates as well but is interested in a larger facility that would better meet their needs. The city agreed to selling a portion of the property at the corner of 44th and Bates with the initial agreement for the district to purchase 3 acres at the same cost per acre that the city paid the school district ($88,983.05 per acre) or $366,949.15 total and that the city and fire district would do a joint site development plan allowing the fire district to purchase upto another acre if needed for the operation. It also provides the district until June of 2028 to secure the funding for the new station or the city can purchase the property back at the same amount.

Argonne / Montgomery After receiving phone calls and even public testimony at previous city council meetings from local business owners impacted by the Argonne / Montgomery construction the city council got an update on the project.

Contributed photo Contractor installs new stormwater management technology, Silva Cells, that will treat water run off underneath the sidewalks at the Argonne / Montgomery project, marking their first use in Spokane Valley.

The Current

The project is to reconstruct the intersection with cement concrete pavement. The plans call for 14” of concrete over 8” of crushed base material to try and get a longer lifetime from the road. It also attempts to improve the water quality / stormwater runoff in the corridor by installing a newer technology for water treatment that is the first of its kind within the city.

With the width of the roadway and limited right of way, the typical stormwater swales weren’t an option and the city opted for using Silva Cells installed under the sidewalks instead to handle the water. The project is projected to take 10 weeks and while is currently on target to complete on time was requested to help improve the access to local businesses with the temporary traffic control. It was also noted that with the many street projects currently underway by the city that the typical pre / construction outreach hadn’t

Back in July the city entered into a contract with AHBL, Inc for design services of the Balfour Park Expansion to possibly pair some improvements at the park for simultaneous construction with the adjoining library building scheduled for spring of 2022.

With the goal of get the parks design to 30%, including all of the architectural park elements that were identified in the previously adopted master plan of an events plaza, a signature playground, splash pad and rest room, picnic shelter, sports courts, veterans’ memorial, and amphitheater.

A community workshop was hosted at city hall on August 5th to help prioritize the elements of the plan and get additional public input as the design got advanced.

AHBL prepared a cost estimate of $3.5 million for what could be phase 1 of the park which would include installation of the utilities, grading, park pathways, parking lots, and basic landscaping. Then subsequent phases would include different elements from the master plan prioritized based upon the cities budget and the input gathered from the public.

Homelessness in Spokane Valley Housing and Homeless Coordinator Arielle Anderson gave an overview of the work that she has been performing since joining the city. Arielle described how the city has been focused on efforts around diversion or prevention of homelessness. She is the point of contact receiving calls from businesses, non-profits, and even individuals providing connections to services or most recently access to the COVID CARES funded programs.

Another large part of her position has been around community outreach not only making sure to get back to those who reach out to her but also outreaching to homeless out within the community. Her efforts have also been directly providing services such as cleanup of abandon homeless camps, sorting and storing of belongings from active homeless camps as we move them into services, even delivery services taking individuals to where they want to go.

The Current

While lots of efforts are going on the city wants to focus resources back onto having better documented plan or overall approach to homelessness and have Arielle’s position dedicate more time to the administrative or policy recommendation level. With that there is an opportunity where the City can apply for some Housing and Homelessness Assistance Act (HHAA) funds to help take on more of the outreach role for the city.

Consensus was given by the council to prepare an $85,000 request for the HHAA call for projects to support expanded homelessness outreach services within our city limits and come back for approval at the next city council meeting.

Mayor Ben Wick suggested that with the anticipated size of the pool of money being significant that the request also include the salary for the dedicated police officer position that the city is considering as apart of the 2022 Budget. The remainder of the city council agreed and the estimated $170,000 for an additional police officer will be included when this request comes back to the city council for action.

Proposed 2022 Budget This was the fifth touch on the 2022 Proposed budget with five more touches coming before the final adoption of the budget projected for the Nov 9th City Council Meeting.

The 2022 Budget currently includes appropriations of just under $90 million with $20 million in the capital expenditures. It also includes four new staff positions which include a Project Manager position in the City Manager Department, an Engineering Tech II, a CAD Manager, and a Code Enforcement Supervisor in the Building Department. These increases would take the full-time equivalent employee count to 100.25 from 95.25. Also included in

SEPTEMBER 2021 • 9

NEWS

the proposal is to add a dedicated police officer position in the Law Enforcement contract that would focus on homeless services (since the police department is a contracted service those positions aren’t included in the employee count).

At a high level, the proposed 2022 recurring revenue estimate of $51,997,700 is $3,308,481 or 6.80% greater than the 2021 amended budget of $48,689,219; and the 2022 recurring expenditure proposal of $48,194,350 is $3,221,523 or 7.16% greater than the 2021 proposed amended expenditures of $44,972,827.

Budgeted recurring revenues currently exceed recurring expenditures by $3,803,350 or 7.31% of recurring revenues.

Capital Projects The City of Spokane Valley has a budget policy that looks back two years at the fund balance of their general fund and proposes a transfer of any funds over 50% of the reoccurring expenditures into a separate fund called the Capital Reserve Fund. This fund is where the City Council gets to select and allocate dollars to projects that they see fit. Last year with the beginning of the pandemic the City Council chose to not roll over any of the excess funds to the Capital Reserve Fund in case the economy slowed.

Staff updated the Council that looking back at the fund balance of the general fund at the end of 2019 in excess of 50% of the reoccurring expenses resulted in a $11,126,343 allocation to the fund which hadn’t been earmarked to any project so far.

In addition to the $11 million another $1 million was added from the WA State funds received by the city for the reimbursement of the Flora Rd property, and $754k from projects

that were already underway.

Previously the city had advanced the following projects noting that their funds would come from this account. $300k for a trailhead at Flora and Montgomery, $1.6M for the Ponderosa Property at 44th and Bates which was purchased from Central Valley School District, $260,042 in order to connect a public water line to the Sullivan Park, $1M reimbursement to the Balfour Park (as the funds were burrowed from that project to purchase the Flora Road property from the Washington State Department of Transportation, and $2.225M from the purchase of the Sprague Ave Property (the former White Elephant Building). This left a balance of $7.5 million for the City Council to allocate.

After lots of discussion, consensus from the council was achieved to allocate $2 additional million to the Balfour Park Project achieving the $3.5 million in order to facilitate the foundational and infrastructure portion of the park development which would potentially go jointly out to bid with the Library Districts bid request for the construction of the library building itself. $1 million to the additional building at the fair and expo center, with the thought that this would fund the design of the new building (estimated to take over a year). $1.75 to the Spokane Valley River Loop Trail. This is the estimated amount needed to complete the design work on both the trail and the pedestrian bridges identified within the project. $225 thousand to install flashing school beacons in all remaining school properties across Spokane Valley

$1.4 million to start a City of Spokane Valley police car replacement fund which would replace all of the patrol cars that are currently over 100,000 miles. It is estimated that this project will require $1 million additional each year for the next five years. $64 thousand for the installation of art sculptures that the Spokane Valley Arts Council had donated to the city.

In the end all but Councilmember Hayley against the allocation with comments against the Balfour Park siting that she believed we had spent enough money on parks for awhile.

This left just over $1 million in funds that haven’t been allocated to any specific projects.

Look ahead to upcoming city agendas While it is subject to change the following topics are tentatively scheduled for discussion by the Spokane Valley City Council at one of their upcoming City Council meetings: August 31st meeting has been canceled.

Sept 7th – Introductory discussion on the 2021 Comprehensive Plan Amendments, An update on the Street Sustainability Committee, and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Update.

Sept 14th – Public Hearing on the proposed 2022 Budget Revenues and Property Taxes and an update on the Retail Strategies Sept 21st – Presentations from community organizations seeking the Cities Outside Agency Grants.

Sept 28th – First reading of the 2021 Comprehensive Plan Amendments and their corresponding map amendments.

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COVER STORY

• SEPTEMBER 2021

To Be or Not to Be, the plight of summer events

By Ben Wick

Current Publisher

With the resurgence of the COVID 19 virus, what seemed like a path to a more normal summer and hope for enjoying events has quickly turned from 100 degree weather into looking more like 2020. While at the time of publication for this edition the Governor hasn’t limited gathering sizes but required masks while being indoors events are finding it harder to find ways of limiting the spread and have chosen to postpone until 2022. Here is an update of the major events coming up in September: Felts Field Neighbor Days and the Historic Aircraft Airshow A partnership between the Felts Field Airport and the Historic Flight Museum this event was going to be an expansion from prior years of opening the gates at Felts Field Labor Day weekend and welcoming the neighborhood to come see all of the amazing airplanes and their local aviators at Felts Field. With the newly opened Historic Flight Museum and their passion, it was going to be expanded to include the World War II aircraft and potential air show as they move their event which was previously held at the Paine Field. Unfortunately, this event was postponed to 2022 but an exciting one to mark your calendar for when planning for next year.

Publisher’s recommendation is to still plan a visit to Felts Field and have breakfast or lunch at the Skyway Café to get a glimpse of what that event could have felt like and then spend some time at the Museum afterwards to see which plane you might want to take a ride in.

running through Sunday Sept 19th.

The interstate fair is a great event that is hosted across a 97 acre facility which is predominantly outdoors and has an open air grandstand featuring plenty of fresh air. This years Grand Stand Entertainment line up features two nights of PRCA Rodeo action (Friday and Saturday Sept 10th and 11th), Billy Currington on Tuesday night Sept 14th, the Legendary Voice of Motley Crue Vince Neil on Wednesday Sept 15th, Truck and Tractor Pulls on Friday Sept 17th and finished up with the traditional ever popular Demolition Derby on the last Saturday and Sunday. In addition to the Grand Stand Entertainment, the other stages across the grounds will host Racing Pigs, a Hypnotist and an Illusionist. Also new this year is an expanded Critter Country area which is where you can catch many exotic animals and even rumored to be hosting a Sloth this year! Discount tickets are available at the Spokane County Interstate Fair Office, online at ticketswest.com or at your local Costco warehouse.

Remember discount priced tickets are only available until the fair opens on Sept 10th.

Valleyfest Spokane Valleys premier community event is currently scheduled for September 24th, 25th and 26th and at the time of publication is still moving forward). Kicking off with the annual Bed Races hosted by the Liberty Lake Lions Club and the Hearts of Gold Parade along Sprague Ave on Friday night Sept 24th and Car Show / Vendor Booths

at CenterPlace Regional Event Center and Mirabeau Meadows on Saturday and Sunday. This event is also outside with plenty of fresh air and space to spread out. New this year will be a Multicultural Festival on Sunday designed to celebrate and share our diverse rich cultures and heritages with our neighbors through dance, art, music, fashion, food and business.

South East Spokane County Fair Homegrown and Handmade is the theme for the fair hosted in Rockford, WA currently scheduled for Sept 24th through 26th. Start off your weekend right with the Pancake breakfast at the fire station at 7ma on Saturday morning. While the Harvest Hoops 3 on 3 basketball event is postponed until 2022 there will still be the traditional fair activities such as a pie eating contest, Lion’s Club bingo and Soapbox Derby.

Liberty Lake Barefoot in the Park Traditionally held earlier in the summer the Liberty Lake Community had postponed the event to Sept 4th for 2021. This year also marks the city of Liberty Lakes 20th anniversary which will be celebrated that day as well.

The event which will be hosted at Pavillion Park in Liberty Lake will begin with a car show from 11am to 4pm, a celebration of the cities birthday at 5:30pm, the annual Lud Kramer Memorial Concert presented by the Spokane Symphony at 6pm and followed by a fireworks show.

The Current

Historic Flight Museum

By Nina Culver

Current contributor

The Historic Flight Foundation Museum has been battling COVID-19 closures as it attempts to create enough momentum to lift off. Those efforts took another blow when it was announced that the Felts Field Neighbor Day scheduled for Sept. 4 had been cancelled.

“That was to be a major thing for us,” he said. “We were going to demonstrate a lot of the military stuff.”

The museum is located at Felts Field in Spokane Valley and specializes in planes built between 1927 to 1957. All are airworthy and can be seen at air shows around the country when they’re not in the museum. Seven of them are also used to give rides to passengers.

Founder John Sessions said the museum is going ahead with a Fly Day that day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering flights to anyone who signs up for one. People can choose to fly in a DC-3, a Boeing-Stearman biplane or a de Havilland Beaver. The cost ranges from $250 to $600 depending on the plane, but flights on the DC-3 will be heavily discounted to $175 per person.

Sessions said he loves seeing people light up when they have the opportunity to fly in a historic plane.

“That’s why we’re continuing with the fly day, to make some smiles,” he said.

Sessions has been a pilot since 1983. He was working as a commercial transaction lawyer, which often included the sale of planes. He was working on a contract with a Boeing employee, who invited him along on a flying lesson. Sessions was hooked.

“As my business changed, I could fly myself around,” he said.

“I learned how to bush fly and float fly.”

Interstate

After a few years he started flying vintage planes and participating in airshows. “That’s really when I hatched the idea of this foundation as a philanthropic pursuit,” he said.

This year’s Interstate Fair theme is “More Fun in 2021” and (at the time of publication) the event is scheduled to open Friday Sept 10th

He wanted to inspire people and get them interested in flying as well as preserving history. He decided to focus on planes built between 1927 and 1957 because that was a

Spokane Fair

County

The Current

time of exceptional innovation in aviation history. New planes were being produced almost weekly by a variety of small companies, Sessions said.

“You’re really trying to turn the kids on to what it was like,” he said. “That Mustang over there was designed in 60 days by people with slide rules and pencils. I don’t think we’ll ever have a period like this one.”

But Sessions, who bought and restored all the planes in the museum’s collection, wasn’t just looking for old planes. He wanted planes that were part of history.

Signs next to each plane on display give information about the history of that particular plane.

Sessions said one of his favorites is a Royal Air Force Spitfire based in Duxford, England, during World War II. Toward the end of the war, it was assigned to Karel Posta, who was a Czechoslovakian pilot who had fled the Nazis and volunteered to fly with the RAF. The plane was given to Czechoslovakia after the war to help reconstitute the country’s air force, Sessions said. Posta flew the plane in air shows for a year as a way to inspire his countrymen. “We have a picture of him in Prague in front of 100,000 people sitting on the grass watching him fly,” he said.

COVER STORY

SEPTEMBER 2021 • 11

The plane was given to Israel in 1948 and then sold to Burma in 1954, where it stayed for 30 years. After a “wheels up” crash, it was sold to a museum in Myanmar. It wasn’t fit to fly and sat there until a British man spotted it, bought it, and brought it back to Duxford.

“It was in a warehouse as a project in waiting when we bought it,” Sessions said.

But Sessions is also fond of the 1944 P-51B Mustang, nicknamed “Impatient Virgin.” The plane was part of the 376th Fighter Squadron in Bottisham, England. The plane flew 750 combat hours and its pilots downed seven Nazi planes. Flags representing the downed planes are painted on the side of the aircraft, along with the names of its air crews.

The Mustang crashed on a training mission in April 1945 and was dug up from the field where it landed and was restored, Sessions said. The process to dig it up began in 2003 and lasted for three years.

“That Mustang is pretty special,” he said.

The collection also includes a Beechcraft Staggerwing, a Travel Air 4000 and a 1929 Hamilton MetalPlane. The Hamilton is the oldest airworthy Boeing airplane, Sessions said, and was used to fly passengers between Seattle and Bozeman. “It’s got wicker seats and

Photo by Nina Culver Owner of Historic Flight, John Sessions, on the Spitfire. the pilots used steering wheels,” he said.

The museum also has two National Park Jammers, the name given to historic touring buses.

“I bought them derelict and our volunteers restored them,” he said.

“We use them for events.”

A glossy black and red 1927 Cadillac Phaeton that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt used to tour Glacier National Park in 1934 is also parked in the museum. The car is available to rent and can be used in weddings and other events,

Sessions said. “I like to use these things,” he said.

Not only are the planes in the collection used in air shows, they’ve also been used in movies and television shows. The museum also doubles as a training facility for pilots learning to fly the T-6 trainer aircraft, DC-3 and B-25. “People come from all over the world,” he said.

Sessions said COVID has made launching the museum difficult.

“We opened to great crowds in December 2019,” he said.

The museum had to close in March 2020, opened again that September and closed again in November 2020. They’ve now been open for the last three months.

“COVID has made it interesting,” he said. “We’re trying to get some momentum going.”

One bright spot has been the museum’s secondary purpose as an event center. The planes are rolled out on the tarmac to make room for special events, including weddings, dinners and other gatherings. “We can do dinner for 600 in this space,” Sessions said. “We’ve had a prom here, we’ve had a 50th reunion here.”

The building also included a STEM lab and library that are usually used to host school field trips, but Sessions said he’s not sure how many will be happening in the coming months. “We’re just waiting to see what the school districts do,” he said.

Photo by Danica Wick More than just historic airplanes, the collection at Historic Flight also includes unique vehicles like the Original Yellowstone tour bus, completely restored to its original glory.

The museum, located at 5829 E. Rutter Avenue, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

12

• SEPTEMBER 2021

The Current

brought to you by

Student of the Month

Athlete of the Month

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As a West Valley Eagle, William Logan has made a habit of soaring to success. The senior maintains a 3.98 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society where he contributes to a variety of community service projects, including writing cards to residents of local retirement homes.

“I just like helping out,” Logan said.

As a junior, Logan took AP classes in Physics, English and American History.

He has been part of WV’s awardwinning robotics program and was on a team that advanced to the semifinals in a world competition. He has been a robotics team leader since his sophomore year. Logan has participated in baseball, cross country and wrestling.

“I don’t want to look back and say, ‘I should have,’” Logan says of his ambitious approach. He would like to pursue studies in mechanical engineering.

As the West Valley girls’ soccer squad begins the 2021 season, junior Abbie Sicilia will be front and center. As a freshman, Sicilia was named to the All-Great Northern League first team.

The following year, she was again a first teamer. Sicilia was part of a club that won the 2A league title in 2021.

She scored the game-tying goal in the final against Clarkston. She is also a standout for the Spokane Sounders club team. In basketball, Sicilia was the first player off the bench for WV’s 2A state runner-up team in 2020 and was a starter this season. In track, she was part of a district title in the 4 x 200 relay.

The junior maintains a 4.0 grade point average and is part of the National Honor Society as well as the National Society of High School Scholars.

You could say Spokane Valley is in Tim Hattenburg’s blood. The lifelong Valleyite graduated from Central Valley High School in 1971 where he was an accomplished distance runner. He attended Spokane Falls Community College before earning a double major in education and history from Washington State University. Hattenburg spent 20 years as a teacher and coach in the Central Valley School District and was nominated for Washington Teacher of the Year. He served 10 years on the Spokane County Library District Board of Trustees and ran twice for state legislature. He was elected to the Spokane Valley City Council in November 2019 and is currently a board member with the Spokane Regional Health District.

Hattenburg is known for his cheerful countenance and ready smile despite battling back pain and migraines. He and his wife Becky are proud parents of three kids.

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• SEPTEMBER 2021

The Crest

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Spokane Valley says goodbye to a legacy

By Danica Wick

Current Co-Owner

Family, friends, students, educators, and civic leaders gathered at CenterPlace Regional Event Center in Spokane Valley Sunday, August 22, as they greeted each other the air filled with camaraderie, which was fitting for the services that honored the life of Charles “Chuck” Hafner.

Spokane Valley Mayor Ben Wick led the services for his departed friend, “On behalf of Suzie and the Family I would like to thank you all for being here today to talk about Mr. Hafner, although he would hate me calling him that, to him it was always Chuck.”

His Daughter Sue welcomed everyone who came to share their stories of her dad. “He was a great man, a great father, and all of you sitting here are a testament to that.”

Chuck’s longtime friend Bob Jayne shared some early memories, stories, and adventures that he and Chuck had over the almost 50 years they knew each other. “Chuck was the best man in my wedding and family was extremely important to Chuck” said Jayne. Bob also shared how he, John Frucci, Bill Bates, and Chuck enjoyed being members of the Spokane Valley Kiwanis Club and even formed a bowling league at the suggestion of Hafner. Bob also told stories of Chucks passion for boating where Hafner not only liked to enjoy his own boat but also enjoyed sharing the activity with others while helping organize the local Boat Show each year.

Ben Small, Superintendent for Central Valley School District, said although he never worked at the district together with Mr. Hafner, when he [Small] was first hired everyone told him he needed to talk with Chuck. The crowd chuckled as Superintendent Small went through Mr. Hafner’s employment

File photo Friends of Charles Hafner gathered August 22 at CenterPlace Regional Event Center to share stories of his life. record and spoke briefly on his time teaching. Small quoted Teddy Roosevelt’s ‘The Man in the Arena’ noting that Mr. Hafner was always in the arena doing the work that needed done. His final note was to tell the crowd his first employment application included a question, how long do you plan on teaching?

“Chuck answered ‘forever’” Superintendent Small said, “I think we can say he accomplished that.”

Mayor Wick noted Mr. Hafner’s affinity to morning meetings, whether they were formal, over a cup of coffee, or out for breakfast.

Many would note this as the speakers progressed. “It’s funny to look back and think that in the beginning we weren’t friends for a little while until we got to know one another,” Mayor Wick said. “But he always was teaching from the dias and wanted to community to understand what we were talking about.” That’s something Mayor Wick hopes that he is continuing to

do.

Hafner was also a long time advocate for community health, serving on the Spokane Regional Health District board for more than a decade and chaired the board many times. County Commissioner Mary Kuney spoke to regale the crowd about first meeting Mr. Hafner in High School, “He was my principal and it was Mr. Hafner then.” But through out their years of serving the community she really enjoyed the time they both served on the Spokane Regional Health District Board. “Chuck did a lot for the Health district,” said Kuney, he was always going in meeting with the staff, walking around connecting with each one and fondly remembered his 7am Monday morning meetings that Chuck lead as chair of the districts transition committee that was tasked with finding a new Administrative Officer. “He was my father figure, principal, friend, and mentor. I will miss him dearly” said Kuney.

Chuck also believed firmly in public safety said Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich. He told the crowd that he met Mr. Hafner on the campaign trail and they stayed connected ever since. “He was a good, hardworking, and honest.”

Knezovich told the story about the path to restoring Crime Check and how the first community vote didn’t pass and shortly after the election he had received a package which contained “a photo of a dragon eating a knight” and a note from Chuck saying ‘Sometimes the dragon wins’ but that he and Hafner retooled the effort and were able gain the voters trust and brought back the Crime Check program for the community.

Marylin Cline, a long time board member for S.C.O.P.E., along side Sherriff Knezovich presented a plaque to Mr. Hafner’s family recognizing Chucks years of service as a member of the S.C.O.P.E. board.“

SEPTEMBER 2021 • 17

The Current

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18

• SEPTEMBER 2021

The Current

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Work ethic propelled U-Hi, Gonzaga grad to big leagues

By Craig Howard

Current Contributing Editor

Casey Parsons was sitting on a dugout bench as the wind from Lake Erie funneled through Cleveland Municipal Stadium on an August night in 1987.

A reserve outfielder for the hometown Indians, Parsons knew he had to be ready at a moment’s notice.

He had carved out a serviceable career in professional baseball with a knack for pinch hitting and running.

On this evening, the call came from manager Pat Corrales to step up to the plate in the sixth inning of a game against division rival Toronto Blue Jays.

“I had my jacket on,” Parsons recalls. “It was kind of cool. When I went up, I thought, ‘Just get a pitch you can drive.’”

Cleveland had loaded the bases, prompting a Toronto call the bullpen. Parsons dug in to face lanky righthander Mark Eichhorn known for his unconventional sidearm delivery. The first pitch was high and inside. The second offering was in a similar spot but never found the catcher’s glove.

Pines Elementary in Spokane Valley, Parsons was never one to back down from a challenge. He was small for his age but determined. At Bowdish Junior High, he turned out for football, basketball and baseball. His hero was Jim Barbieri, a less-thanstout outfielder with the Spokane Indians who went on to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1966 World Series.

Parsons’ dad worked as a salesman for Armor Foods and helped Casey and his brother learn the fundamentals of sports, especially baseball.

“He sacrificed a lot for my brother and I,” Parsons said. “My dad and mom were our biggest fans. They were at all of our games.”

In Spokane Valley Little League, Parsons excelled but remembers being “not overgifted athletically.”

“I don’t think I stood out though I do remember I could throw the ball farther than anyone else and I was blessed with quickness,” he said.

At University High, Parsons narrowed his sports down to

basketball and baseball. As a sophomore, he didn’t make the varsity baseball cut. During the summer, he played in a Babe Ruth League and was named to an allstar team that qualified for the state tournament – yet Parsons saw little time on the field.

“I wasn’t happy,” Parsons recalls.

“If anything, it made me realize I had to get better. It was a motivation. I felt at one point, I would get my chance.”

Parsons lettered in baseball his junior year, moving into the starting second baseman’s role midway through the season. As a senior, the prospect of college baseball came into focus. After graduating in 1972, he enrolled at Spokane Falls Community College on a scholarship.

Meanwhile, Parsons’ best friend since the second grade, Tony Higley, went from U-Hi to Gonzaga University and walked on to the baseball team. When SFCC played GU in scrimmages that fall, Parsons stood out.

“It didn’t matter who we threw at him,” Higley recalls. “We couldn’t seem to get Casey out.”

After it appeared GU star Lenn Sakata would leave college to enter the pro draft, GU head coach Larry Koentopp asked Parsons to join the

Parsons connected for a high, arching home run that landed in the right field bleachers. It was the club’s first pinch-hit grand slam in four years and all but closed the doors on the Blue Jays in a 14-5 rout.

Going back to his days at South

Higley said Parson’s unique work ethic had a ripple effect on teammates.

“Casey did it the right way, he didn’t do it the easy way,” Higley said. “I think it rubbed off on anyone who had contact with him.”

Parsons was invited to a tryout with the San Francisco Giants after graduating from GU. He began his pro baseball journey in Great Falls, Montana where he hit over .300 in a short-season A league. He continued to climb the minor league ladder with stops in California, Arizona, Connecticut and Utah before being traded to the Mariners in 1981. That year, Parsons received his call-up to the majors, spending eight weeks with Seattle and hitting .227 over 36 games.

“It was surreal,” Parsons said of his break-through to the big leagues. “All the hard work and determination paid off.”

Parsons would go on to play parts of four MLB seasons with Seattle, the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland.

After hanging up his cleats, he became a successful manager in the Oakland A’s minor league system for seven years. When the A’s won the World Series in 1989, Parsons was given a championship ring.

These days, Parsons and his wife Penne live in Spokane Valley where he runs a home inspection business.

The couple’s three daughters all graduated from U-Hi and went on to play college golf.

Unlike the Casey from Mudville in the iconic baseball poem, this Casey had delivered with a clutch at-bat and joy reigned in Cleveland that evening – despite the team being mired in the basement of the American League East. After rounding the bases, Parsons answered a curtain call, stepping from the dugout to tip his cap.

“The pressure is really on,” Parsons said of his role as a backup with a limited window to impress.

“You just have to make the best of the opportunities you’re given.”

roster. He would eventually become a starting outfielder for some of the program’s most successful teams, a run that included consecutive NCAA tournament appearances in 1973 and 1974.

Looking back, Parsons credits his success to a brand of perseverance that equipped him to step up to the plate with confidence – just like on that cool summer night in Cleveland 32 years ago.

Contributed photo University High alum Casey Parsons spent parts of four seasons in Major League Baseball with the Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians. Parsons is pictured above in 1987 with Cleveland after his pinch-hit grand slam against the Toronto Blue Jays.

“If one door closed, I’d try the next door,” he said. “There was no reason to give up hope. I knew I had to keep battling ahead even if there were heartbreaks. I just never gave up.”

SEPTEMBER 2021 • 19

The Current

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20

• SEPTEMBER 2021

Spokane County LIBRARY DISTRICT

Medicare Open Enrollment Workshop for 2022 Plans

LIBRARY

National Voter Registration Day at the library

By Dana Mannino, librarian Spokane County Library District

Are you looking for a civic volunteer opportunity? Consider helping out with the library’s upcoming voter registration drive.

Every year on National Voter Registration Day, Spokane County Library District teams up with the League of Women Voters to encourage people to keep their voter registration up to date. This year, the event takes place on Tuesday, September 28, during library open hours.

Volunteers at the Spokane Valley Library greet library customers and offer to help them update their registration if needed. Voters who

Discover: • What you can do during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period • How to choose & change plans • What Medigaps are & how they work • What programs you may qualify for that help you pay for Medicare ONLINE WEBINAR Tuesday, Sep 28, at 1pm Sign up today at www.scld.org/medicareworkshop This free, unbiased information session is presented by ALTCEW & SHIBA.

www.scld.org

Why FAFSA is important for anyone bound for college, trade school

By Stacey Goddard, librarian Current Guest Correspondent

If you have a high school senior in your family, there’s a very important task you need to add to your “start of the new school year” to-do list: Make sure you and your child fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

Your student may have already picked their first choice and safety-net colleges or is deliberating between a 2-year, 4-year, or trade school program. If so, you should make it a priority to fill out and submit the FAFSA. If your student isn’t sure they even want to continue their education beyond high school, then you still should fill out the FAFSA in order to keep all their options open should they change their mind later. I made the mistake of not filling out the FAFSA during my senior year of high school, my plans after high school changed, and I still regret the lost financial opportunities for that first year of college.

Also, the FAFSA isn’t just for high school seniors! Anyone planning to pursue a post-secondary education, including graduate school, should fill

have moved recently can make changes to their records right on the spot. New voters can also register for the first time at the library event.

If you are interested in helping, please sign up for one of our volunteer trainings. During training, you’ll learn about Washington’s voter registration laws from a member of the League of Women Voters, who will also guide you through hands-on practice in remaining non-partisan while interacting with library customers.

Volunteer trainings are online using Zoom and are scheduled for Saturday, September 18, at 2pm and Tuesday, September 21, at 11am.

You need to sign up to attend a training at www.scld.org/votervolunteer-training.

The Current

looking for volunteers at Airway Heights Library.)

Past volunteers have shared with us that they have enjoyed engaging with library customers on the importance of voting. It’s satisfying to help people exercise their right to vote and show them how to check their voter status for accuracy to make sure they receive their ballots for upcoming elections.

If you are unable to volunteer and think you might need to update your voter information, stop by any of our 11 libraries on Tuesday, September 28, during open hours.

A volunteer or library staff can help you check your voter registration and show you how to track your ballot’s status during an election cycle.

Once trained, you can sign up for a one- or two-hour volunteer shift at Spokane Valley Library. (We’re also

See you on National Voter Registration Day!

out the FAFSA and see what aid is available to them.

To help you navigate the FAFSA process, the workshop “How to Pay for College: FAFSA, WASFA, Scholarships, and More” is on Monday, September 20, at 6pm. This informative, virtual workshop is presented by the Washington Student Achievement Council. Learn how and when to apply, where to get help, and next steps to consider as you prepare for college. You can sign up at www. scld.org/fafsa-workshop.

You might be wondering: What exactly is the FAFSA and how does it help?

The FAFSA is a form that helps people determine the financial aid options from the federal government that they qualify for to help pay for college. This aid could be grants, work-study opportunities, or loans.

Many states and colleges also use the FAFSA to determine their aid offers to students, including potential students.

Applying for the FAFSA doesn’t mean you are required to take any aid that is offered. But if you don’t apply, then you won’t know what aid you qualify for.

Last year, less than half of Washington state high school seniors and college-bound students successfully submitted their FAFSA. That’s a lot of financial aid that was left on the table. I hope you take advantage of this workshop and don’t leave your financial options on the table for next year.

SEPTEMBER 2021 • 21

The Current GREATER SPOKANE VALLEY

A VALLEY-WIDE COMMUNITY NEWSMAGAZINE

EDITOR/PUBLISHER

Ben Wick

ben@libertylakesplash.com

CO OWNER

“ IT’S THE LAW ”

Danica Wick

The Current is committed to serving the Greater Spokane Valley area

danica@libertylakesplash.com OFFICE MANAGER

through excellent community journalism. We can’t do it at all without

Paula Gano

you, our readers, and we can’t do it for long without support from our

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advertisers. Please thank our business partners and look to them when

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Love The Current?

Support our partners.

CIRCULATION

CONTRIBUTORS

Nina Culver, Lincoln DoWright, Craig Howard, Mary Anne Ruddis

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.

The Current is brought to you by

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Announcements, obituaries, letters to the editor and story ideas are encouraged. Submit them in writing to publisher@valleycurrent.com. Submissions should be received by the 15th of the month for best chance of publication in the following month’s Current.

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

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In WASHINGTON Click or Call Two Business Days Before You Plan To Dig

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

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Errors should be reported immediately to 242-7752 or by email to editor@valleycurrent.com. Confirmed factual errors will be corrected on this page in the issue following their discovery.

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

Amaculate Housekeeping

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

Advertising integrity Inaccurate or deceptive advertising is never knowingly accepted. Complaints about advertisers should be made in writing to the Better Business Bureau and to advertise@valleycurrent.com. The Current is not responsible for the content of or claims made in ads.

Copyright © 2021 All rights reserved. All contents of The Current may not be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.

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22

• SEPTEMBER 2021

The Current

Eat, Shop

&Be Merry SHARE YOUR GIFT IDEA WITH THE VALLEY!

Advertising options

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(Restaurants, don’t feel left out. You can contribute a tantalizing menu item to be included in our article on dining out.) Either way, submitted photos are encouraged!

“Eat, Shop and Be Merry” is a special cover section that will be included in the December issues of both The Current and The Splash. That’s right — be a part of both publications for one price.

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Interested in running in our publications at other times throughout the year? You qualify for a discount! Are you already running ads with us? Your current discount applies.

Deadlines Display ad with submitted menu item or gift idea:

November 1

Distribution This guide is strategically scheduled to land November 22 and 23 — the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving and Small Business Saturday.

It will be distributed in The Splash (11,000 copies delivered to every address in Liberty Lake and available for free at more than 100 newsstands through Christmas) as well as The Current (26,000 copies delivered to 18,000 homes in Spokane Valley and at more than 250 newsstands throughout the greater Spokane Valley).

Get Ready for the Unexpected with a Disaster Go Bag

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Display ad (submitted gift idea or menu item will be printed if space is still available):

November 8 Reserve your spot today at 242-7752 or advertise@valleycurrent.com.

Connecting LOCAL PEOPLE with LOCAL BUSINESSES “Eat, Shop and Be Merry” is a community-minded project of The Splash and The Current encouraging spending holiday money.

Don’t think you need an emergency kit? Think again, say families who needed one.

Chris and Jenaya Burkett had heard of the wildfires that often occurred during the summers in Eastern Washington. But until the couple moved to Wenatchee with their two children Brinnley, 6, and Noah, 1, they had never actually faced the threat of one. “We didn’t think that two months in we’d be escaping and having to use our go bags so quickly, but here we are,” Chris said.

The Burkett family has put together go bags: backpacks full of necessities such as food, water, and medications, enough to last them three days in the case of an emergency. When the Red Apple Fire prompted the fire department to evacuate their neighborhood, the family already had what they needed to immediately comply and leave.

Speaking of natural disasters, Chris said, “Just realize it can happen. The reality is you have to be prepared.”

Jenaya adds, “And don’t just pack (go bags) once and then throw them in the closet and forget.” The couple routinely goes through their go bags to update clothing for themselves and their growing children and to change out expired foods and medicines.

Besides basic necessities, the family also has packed items just for the children. “It might seem trivial, but if you have children it’s good to have something in there to help them be less nervous, like a coloring book and crayons,” said Jenaya.

“Something to ease their mind a little bit, make them feel a little more comforted.”

Preparing in advance with a disaster-ready kit has helped families nationwide through extreme and abnormal weather events, which experts warn are on the rise.

“Having a personal preparedness plan increases your chances of staying safe,” according to a training program from the Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness.

Jolted awake by a neighbor’s urgent knocking, Aaron and

Jacqueline Pate were horrified to see the encroaching flames of the fastmoving Woolsey Fire that had been miles away when they went to bed.

It burned to within 100 feet of their Westlake Village home in 2018 as part of California’s deadliest wildfire season on record.

"Because we had go bags, we weren’t running around trying to pack things at the last minute,” said Jacqueline. “We had the time we needed to comfort our kids and get everyone safely into the car.”

The Pates credited the disasterpreparedness help they received as Jehovah’s Witnesses, both through periodic reminders at their congregation meetings and from tips for putting together go bags on the organization’s website, www.jw.org.

"Life is precious, so we encourage all to heed the Bible’s advice to take practical steps to protect ourselves from danger,” said Robert Hendriks III, spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses in the United States.

Go bags also have proven useful in the opposite circumstances as “stay bags.”

When February’s Winter Storm Uri left millions of Texans without heat, electricity, and running water, many go bags there saw their firstever use outside of hurricane season.

Houston residents Dan and Rhiannon Muey’s advance preparation enabled them to shelter in place for days, even as many in their area braved treacherous road conditions to scour barren store shelves for supplies.

“Our hurricane ‘go bags’ became our winter storm ‘stay bags,’ but we were so glad we had them,” said Dan. “Instead of waiting in lines for hours to get basics like drinking water, we already had what we needed.”

The Gauthier family regularly sit down to review and replenish the family’s emergency supplies. Their efforts paid off last August when Hurricane Laura hit them in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

“Having our go bags allowed us to act faster,” said father-of-two Matthew. “If we had to start from scratch it would’ve slowed us down a lot.”

Disaster-preparedness suggestions and tips for putting together a go bag are available from FEMA at ready.gov and from Jehovah’s Witnesses at https:// www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/ awake-no5-2017-october/disaster-stepsthat-can-save-lives/.

The Current

ON THAT NOTE

SEPTEMBER 2021 • 23

Helping children with special needs reach their full potential

By Mary Anne Ruddis Guest Contributor

Imagine that your child needed therapy or a piece of home therapy equipment that would positively change what they were able to accomplish for the rest of their life.

Evidenced based therapy that not only has been tested and proven to make a difference but that you have witnessed first-hand the effect on your child’s well-being. Now imagine that your insurance company deductible is $6000 and that the number of covered visits is limited to half of what your child needs.

By the time you reach your deductible, you are out of covered visits so that every therapy needs to be paid outof-pocket and your budget is already stretched to the limit. Or imagine that your child receives multiple therapies a week and the co-pays are $50 and your only option is to skip therapy or go deeper into debt until you can no longer continue with therapy putting your child’s entire future at risk. Or imagine that you have found a therapy or piece of therapy equipment that has made a night/day positive difference for your child and it is not covered at all by insurance and is too expensive for you to afford. These are examples of some of the problems that a grant from Elevations solves for parents of children with special needs.

Elevations: A Children’s Therapy Resource Foundation helps children with special needs reach their full potential by providing funding for therapy services and home therapy equipment so that children have access to the tools and therapies they need when they need them. There are windows of opportunities for therapy efficacies and parents do not have the luxury of trying to save up to afford therapy or fight with insurance companies for coverage – which many times is a losing battle. Medical debt can easily skyrocket putting families in danger of food and housing insecurity.

Founded in January of 2012 by a team of medical professionals, community members, and parents of children with special needs, Elevations will soon be celebrating 10 years of helping families of children with special needs in Spokane County. The first funding cycle in 2013 awarded just eight grants totaling $7,555.00. In 2020, ninety-three grants were awarded totaling $76,444. There are two grant cycles a year in the spring and the fall.

In May of 2021, Elevations awarded fifty-nine grants totaling $48,793 and is anticipating increased requests in October.

Since inception, 607 awards were granted totaling $431,390 to ensure that all children, regardless of socioeconomic status have access to the therapies and life-enhancing home therapy equipment that they need.

Ask any parent with a child in therapy services if that therapy is necessary for their child and the answer will be an emphatic “Yes.” As one parent of a child with autism stated, “I can say with my whole heart that early, intensive therapy of all kinds saved our family and is the reason my son is a thriving young adult with the brightest of futures.” Elevations wants that for all children.

Elevations board member Brad Messerschmidt is a parent of three children, one who has passed away, who have/had a rare genetic disorder that requires multiple therapies to help them live their best possible lives. He freely gives his time and resources because as he stated, “I understand so well the struggles that families face.

Money should never be a barrier for children to get what they need. Luckily, I am in a position to help. Anything

that I can do as a board member to ease the costs for families is so important.

You don’t need to be a parent of a child with special needs to help. Once you understand that the need exists, it is just the right thing to do.”

Elevations is a registered 501c3 nonprofit and is community supported.

That means lots of fundraising. The largest fundraiser of the year is the Ghost Ball on October 30, 2021 at Riverside Place in downtown Spokane.

The Ghost Ball is Spokane’s premier Halloween costume party. With heavy appetizers, live and silent auction, costume contest, and dancing it is a great time for a great cause.

Planning began early this year as the coronavirus vaccine began to allow for social gatherings and events to go forward once again. By the end of July, the sponsor tables had sold out. As the landscape has changed due to an increase in COVID-19 variant cases, Elevations is watching closely the guidance from the health department and state on how to go forward with an in-person event. They are committed to the health and safety of every guest and are putting in place contingency plans if the event needs to be limited in capacity or provide an online experience as happened in 2020. At the writing of this article, there are many unknowns. Please check out www. ghostball.org for updated information.

Although it may be disappointing to reduce the crowd size or pivot to a virtual or hybrid event, Elevations cares deeply for the health of the community.

Since the Ghost Ball is a major source of revenue for the November and May grants, they are hoping that regardless of how the event details shape up that those who care about these children and families will support the event in whatever fashion available. There are some amazing auction items from generous donors and local businesses.

Do you want to help in other ways?

Elevations is beginning a new volunteer Ambassador program. Details can be found at www.elevationsspokane.org. The program enlists community ambassadors to help amplify and share Elevations mission via social media platforms. Check out the website for more information on the work that Elevations does and additional ways to get involved.

Contact information: email: info@elevationsspokane.org phone: 509-385-2116 website: www.elevationsspokane.org

24

• SEPTEMBER 2021

The Current

Share your feedback regarding Spokane Valley streets

y e l l a V e n a k o p S

Did you know the City of Spokane Valley maintains over 450 centerline miles of streets?

The city is investigating sustainable funding options for its pavement management program.

Join us at one of these community meetings to learn more: Noon-1 p.m., Sept. 2 via Zoom (get link on webpage) 6:30-7:30 p.m., Sept. 8 via Zoom (get link on webpage) 4:30-6:30 p.m., Sept. 13 ‘Drop in’ Open House at City Hall (in person)

In the meantime, please take our online survey:

spokanevalley.org/pmp

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