It’s what we see too often, the belief that by not discussing our problems, we are protecting our family. The truth is that the more we internalize it, the more damage it causes.”
Looking back, Dumlao says he would have dealt with his father’s challenges differently.
By Craig Howard Current Contributing EditorLong before he became an advocate for those who count the military as part of their lives, Eliseo “Joe” Dumlao saw the need for support and encouragement under his own roof.
Dumlao’s dad served in the U.S. Navy which meant several moves for the family and adjusting to a routine that often meant his father on a ship somewhere. Dumlao spent the first six years of his life on the East Coast before the family – which included Dumlao’s mom and younger brother – relocated from Virginia to San Diego.
“We drove across the country to California,” Dumlao recalls. “I got to see the United States that most people don’t get to experience.”
When Dumlao was 13, another move took place, this one to Hawaii. It was on the island of Oahu that he began to form some roots. When Dumlao’s dad was traveling the world, he would write letters home to his wife and kids.
“He would tell us about places that definitely weren’t North America,” Dumlao said. “I remember him crossing the Equator, sailing to the Arctic, the tropics. I was always looking up on the atlas where he was at, whether it was Italy, Hong Kong, wherever. I saw there was so much out there.”
Dumlao’s dad served in Vietnam and the Gulf War, carrying emotional scars from the realities of battle. Dumlao remembers seeing signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder when his father was home. Alcohol became an escape – but one that would take a tragic toll. In 2008, Dumlao’s father passed away at the age of 60 from issues related to drinking.
“He had his struggles,” Dumlao remembers. “He never sought help.
“At the very least, I could have been more compassionate,” he says.
Dumlao admits to being “a troublemaker” as a kid. His introduction to martial arts and mentor Paul Ortino Jr. brought structure, accountability and selfdiscipline.
“It helped with school, being able to focus and concentrate,” he said.
The introduction would be the start of a journey in martial arts has spanned nearly 40 years and includes high-level achievements as a competitor and instructor in a variety of approaches, including Kenpo Karate, Judo and Tae Kwon Do. Dumlao and his history are acknowledged in a book titled “Martial Arts Masters and Pioneers.”
Dumlao excelled in high school, maintaining a 3.5 grade point average and taking advanced placement courses in history and English. When he graduated in 1991, Dumlao’s career aspirations varied from architect to computer scientist to martial arts instructor.
Several college offers came Dumlao’s way, including a partialscholarship to a school in Iowa to compete in martial arts. An acceptance letter also arrived from a university in Spokane.
“It was from Gonzaga,” Dumlao said. “I didn’t even know where that was.”
Dumlao decided to enter the working world with a goal of saving money for college. He later enrolled at Hawaii Pacific University and attended for a semester before eventually enlisting in the U.S. Air Force, nine months after receiving his high school diploma.
Dumlao reported to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas for basic training and soon realized his martial arts background would behoove him during the demanding introductory agenda. Gravitating toward logistics, Dumlao’s first assignment was in Missouri where he served until 1996. While there, he was deployed to the Middle East during Operation Vigilant Warrior, the U.S. response to Iraq threatening the Kuwait border.
Later, he transitioned to the Ariano Air Force Base in North Italy as part of the 31st Fighter Wing. In 1999, Dumlao was sent with his squadron to enforce a United Nations no-fly zone over Iraq as part of the Bosnian campaign against Kosovo. While in the Middle East, Dumlao took part in humanitarian efforts to help refugees displaced by the conflict. It was then he realized that social work may be in his future.
“I think that was a turning point for me,” he said. “We were bringing in food and supplies but the best thing we gave them was hope.”
That same year, Dumlao got married. His wife, Julie, was also enlisted in he Air Force. In 2000, the couple was reassigned to the Fairchild Air Force Base just outside Spokane. Dumlao had only visited the Inland Northwest once before for a week of training.
“We thought we would eventually move again but we’ve been here ever since,” he said.
Dumlao’s enlisted time in Spokane
Continued from page 2
included deployment to Turkey just 48 hours after 9/11. Two years later, he was back in the Middle East, serving in Iraq where part of his responsibilities included handing out food and water to residents following the successful invasion of the country and overthrow of Saddam Hussein.
In 2009, Dumlao medically retired from the Air Force and spent the next two years as a federal employee in the Army as part of a Military Entrance Processing Station, a unit that helped enlist new recruits.
While in Missouri, Dumlao had fulfilled a promise to his mother to return to college. He earned his bachelor’s degree and later received his master’s in Social Work with a focus on Trauma Counseling from Eastern Washington University.
In 2012, Dumlao began a new chapter, signing on as an outreach specialist with the Vet Center.
“It’s been a good fit,” he said. “This is my crowd, my people. I just want to get veterans genuine help, When I retired from the military, I remembered how lost I was.”
The Spokane Valley-based Vet Center welcomes Veterans, activeduty personnel and members of the National Guard and Reserve and their families. Specializing in “connection, camaraderie and community,” Dumlao said the goal here is to “assess needs, work out a strategy, solve issues and follow up.”
Those who receive support do need to be enlisted in VA health care or have a service-related disability. All services are provided at no cost. In addition to resource support in areas like mental health counseling, employment and healthcare, the Vet Center provides one-on-one, group and family counseling.
Dumlao is on the road half of the time, part of a team that travels in the Mobile Vet Center. As an EMDR therapist, he specializes in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.
“I’m here to help navigate, to remove barriers, eliminate confusion and help them step into a better life,” he said.
As Veterans Day approaches, Dumlao said he sees the holiday as “a time to listen and give Vets a chance to tell their story.”
“A lot of Vets don’t put a lot of stock in their own experience and contributions and how much it means to others,” Dumlao said. “Veterans Day should really help to educate the general public about what these Vets did to preserve the republic.”
The 24/7 Vet Center support line can be reached toll-free at 877-9278387. To contact the Vet Center in Spokane Valley, call 509-444-8387. More information at www.vetcenter. va.gov.
Q: How did growing up in a military family affect your decision to enlist in the Air Force?
A: I didn’t join until nine months after graduation as I tried to pay for college on my own, hoping that I wouldn’t incur any debt. That was a difficult task living in Hawai`i, paying for college and trying to have my own place. After a semester at Hawai`i Pacific University, I stopped going to classes and concentrated on work and martial arts. Later, I felt I needed more direction and I decided to join the US Air Force, it wasn’t a difficult or scary decision. Life as a Navy brat help me understand what was expected.
Q: As far as the contrast between deep roots and more of a transitory life, you moved around growing up but have lived in the Inland Northwest home for over 20 years now. What are the pluses and minuses of both scenarios?
A: I miss Hawai`i and its culture but Spokane is just a nice place to call home. There are quite a few residents here from Hawai`i so there’s some of the islands here. Spokane is not too crowded and not too rural for my tastes, just right. A large reason why I live here is the relatively low humidity. Places I’ve lived previously was too humid for me. The biggest minus about the Inland Northwest is its lack of proximity to the ocean. The waves and seafood always call out to me. Hearing the ocean and smelling the salty air always recharges me.
Q: What are some of the major takeaways you have from your various deployments overseas?
A: Having served in five different campaigns, several continents and many countries, I learned people are very similar. At our core, we value similar things: family, culture, food and identity. I try to connect to several of those values when I’m a visitor to another country or culture. It helps me understand my surroundings, the people and eventually build a better understanding of my environment
and the mindset of the population. In my current occupation, that understanding leads to compassion which is very much needed to accomplishment my task of assisting Veterans and their families with federal, state and local resources.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who is considering a career in the military?
A: Take the time to explore what you want out of the service. The military will get 110 percent out of you. Make sure you get as much as you can for yourself from the service. Understand what benefits the service has to offer you. Discover how it can enrich your life after serving two years or 32 years. Today, it is easier to research all the different jobs that are available to fit your needs. Find something that can align with your knowledge, passion, and/or dreams. Do something that gives you a sense of fulfillment at the end of the day.
Q: For those not familiar with the Vet Center here in Spokane Valley, how would you describe the mission there and your colleagues who call it their professional home?
A: The Vet Centers are part of the Department of Veterans Affairs with a special mission. The main part of our unique mission is to provide readjustment counseling to eligible Veterans. Readjustment counseling is described as using a wide range of psycho-social services for Vets to make a successful transition from the service to civilian life. We also help Veterans and their families understand VA benefits and refer them to local resources. When we travel to rural areas, we connect with Vets and help them access their resources. Anyone is welcome to stop in or call and find out more!
Q: It sounds like you’re on the road a lot with your work. What do you enjoy about visiting towns and cities across your coverage area?
A: My co-worker and I spend 20 or more hours each week on the road. Our Mobile Vet Center covers four states and 35 counties. It’s great to go to work and have the scenery change almost daily. I love interacting with residents and Veterans from our rural areas, they are proud of their home and their local culture and I’m ready to learn. I enjoy seeing parts of the Inland Northwest that I might not have gone to on my own time and discovering the history of the areas. I am fortuitous to have a job that helps others and lets me explore our region.
Q: With Veterans Day this month, how do you hope people will observe this holiday in a way that honors those it is set aside for?
A: Veterans Day has as many meanings as there are Veterans. My experiences with Veterans and this observance day is that most Vets do not want to be the center of attention. The day is often reserved for reflection of their own military experiences and honoring those who served with and before them. I hope Vets enjoy the company of other Vets as they attend events and that their loved ones can just join in and experience the moment. Our area does a great job organizing honoring events for our Vets. Choose one and be a part of it!
Q: The physical injuries sustained during military service are typically those that more apparent to the general public but there are also mental and psychological wounds carried by those who served our country. How can we be more aware and sensitive to the veterans and active duty personnel facing such challenges?
A: First and foremost, please do not assume anything about those in uniform and our Veterans. If you suspect they are harboring feelings and emotions from a traumatic experience, do not pressure them into talking, let them take the lead. If they are willing to talk, just be present and compassionate. Understand you do not need to be the problem-solver, instead, gather resources and talk to a professional. Manage your own stress, feelings, anxiety and expectations. Do not pass judgement and understand that most Vets feel they are protecting their loved ones by not discussing such experiences.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: My job has changed over the past 10 years. During those changes, some of the constants has been wonderful co-workers. We have minimal staffing turnover in the Vet Center thus leading to strong continuity but also translates to strong working bonds. Everyone is dedicated to their piece of our mission and gives so much of themselves. I enjoy personally connecting with a fellow Vet, listening to their issues and being part of their journey to resolution. Every day is Veterans Day at the Vet Center and when we can extend a hand in assistance, it makes me proud to be part of a solution.
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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 456-2233, if not in progress, to report a crime.
The City Council adopted a book of rules and procedures for how the council conducts themselves. The City Council discussed making changes to these rules including: Removing the Three Touch Principle, adding public comment opportunities during Study Session format meetings (providing public with an opportunity to give comments at all meetings of the City Council), changing the way councilmembers are allowed to participate in meeting remotely, increasing the tolerance for accepting gifts to allow councilmembers to accept gifts upto $50, and a section defining a process for evaluating Executive Session Violations. No decisions were made and discussions will continue at a future
n August of 2022 the City of Liberty Lake received an application for a development of 98.2 acres around the Ridgeline High School. The development proposes 1,176 apartment units and over one million square feet of commercial space, and one convenience store / gas station. In the traffic analysis performed by the developer (Centennial Properties) the proposed development will generate, on average, nearly 18,000 new vehicle trips daily. Of these new vehicle trips it identified that over 10,500 of them will enter the City of Spokane Valley along Appleway Ave and over600 will enter the City along Sprague Ave.
City of Spokane Valley Traffic Engineer Jerremy Clark advised the City Council that with these additional trips the intersections of Appleway and Barker will Fail as well as the Barker and I90 East Bound Ramp intersection. The City staff have provided these observations back to the City of Liberty Lake for their consideration of what kinds of mitigation is needed to support
The City Council began its discussions on its 2023 State Legislative Agenda and talked about the following
Pines Grade Separation Project request is a placeholder item pending final approval of the Move Ahead Washington award in the coming weeks.
• Request to fully fund grants requested for Greenacres Park Phase 2.
• Consideration of support for minor league baseball stadiums and request to approve a $1,175,808 grant
from the Youth Recreational Facilities (YRF) program and a $1,848,577 grant from the Building for the Arts program for the Idaho Central Spokane Valley Performing Arts Center located in Spokane Valley to galvanize the city’s economic development efforts.
• Request to revisit public safety policies, particularly related to the crime of possession of a controlled substance, restrictions on vehicular pursuits and increasing investments in alternative responses teams.
• Requesting changes to the Growth Management Act relating to local flexibility, a change to municipal utility taxing authority, and removing barriers to the construction of housing.
• Continued commitment to defending local control and protecting and enhancing local state-shared revenues.
While the agenda has not been approved yet the discussions from Councilmembers were to strengthen the language around the Public Safety policies request.
Spokane County Parks has indicated that it will be submitting a proposal to use approximately $4 million of the County’s ARP funds to fund a master plan, design, and construction of some portion of improvements at Plante’s Ferry. As part of its proposal, they have requested a letter of support and partnership with the City for the planning, improvements, and operation of Plante’s Ferry. They have indicated they are open to discussing further what type of partnership might work, which could include financial contributions towards planning, joint use, split financial contributions towards operations, or some other arrangement.
In a 6 to 1 vote with Councilmember Padden against, the City provided a letter of support for the application and indicated a willingness to contribute 50% or $50,000 towards the masterplanning efforts of Plantes Ferry.
In 2021, the City Council decided to more proactively replace the police vehicles and began a program of purchasing approximately 15 cars per year. To begin that program the council appropriated $1.4 million from the capital reserve account. Due to supply chain disruptions and demand exceeding supply, many of the vehicles ordered were unable to be supplied in 2022. The manufacturer has asked dealerships to cancel 2022 orders and resubmit as a 2023 order for 2023 vehicle models. This new order would be for 2023 vehicles at 2023 prices (Between $8-
9,000 more). The council had discussions on weather to reduce the number of cars ordered to maintain the previously established budget of the $1.4 million or dedicate another $150,085 to maintain the order for 15 police cars. Similarly the 2023 budget was proposed assuming that the cars under the previous cost estimates and in order to maintain the original order quantity it would require an additional $304,332.
The City Council gave consensus to move forward with the replacement plan at the original levels and having to put more money into both of these categories.
Each year since the beginning of the city the City Council has included a portion of funds to be granted our to other community agencies for either Economic Development or Social Services support. For 2023 the City Council has allocated $182,000 for this process and using a process that begins by asking council for their individual recommendations came up with an ultimate allocation for: Elevations Childrens Therapy$11,041; Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels - $21,185; Inland Chess Academy - $1,457; JAKT - $10,714; Junior Achievement of Washington - $4,143; My Turn Theatre - $4,286; Spokane Valley Arts Council - $17,326; Spokane Valley Heritage Museum - $16,469; Spokane Valley HUB - $4,286; Spokane Valley Partners - $46,155; Spokane Valley Summer Theatre - $10,326; Teen & Kid Closet - $10,000; Transitions - $8,571; and Widows Might - $16,041.
The largest discussion that came through the process was over the funding for Valleyfest which didn’t get any funding from this process since only three of the seven city councilmembers included an allocation to them on their individual recommendations. Mayor Hayley commented that in her perspective, Valleyfest is getting city in-kind support which adds up to over $30,000 and shouldn’t need more funding than that. Councilmembers Wick, Peetz, and Hattenburg made the case that Vallefest should receive some of this funding especially since 2023 is the 20th anniversary of the City and that the city is trying to plan larger celebrations. Ultimately no funding went to Valleyfest from the Outside Agency funds.
The Stormwater Utility, an enterprise fund, is funded through the collection of Storm and Surface Utility (Utility) fees from developed parcels located within the City, and the Spokane County Aquifer Protection Area (APA) fee. The Stormwater Utility Fee of $21 per year is assessed uniformly on single family residences, duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes. All other developed property
is charged $21 for every 3,160 square feet of measured impervious surface area. The current stormwater rate is expected to generate about $1.9 million in 2022.
The City has recently developed a Stormwater Utility Plan to establish the long-term goals of the Utility, identify solutions to adverse stormwater conditions, aging and non-standard stormwater facilities, address capacity and water quality issues, identify strategies necessary to ensure compliance with the MS4 permit and UIC programs, and develop a sustainable financial plan for the utility. The Stormwater Utility Plan identified two Level of Service (LOS) recommendations, Minimum Required and Pro-Active. The Levels of Service recommendations guided a Stormwater Utility Rate Study and recommendations for potential stormwater utility rate structures and fees.
The public had the opportunity to provide input through a survey and public meeting held on October 20, 2022.
The Minimum Required LOS, if adopted, will increase the Stormwater Utility Rate by $24/year to $45/year. This rate increase includes funding for an additional 3.0 full time employees (FTEs). Currently, there are 4.13 FTEs funded by the Stormwater Utility.
The Pro-Active LOS, if adopted, will increase the Stormwater Utility Rate by $37/year to $58/year. This rate increase includes funding for an additional 7.0 FTEs from the existing staffing levels.
While the majority of Councilmember (Higgins, Hayley, Woodard, and Hattenburg) asked to bring back a motion to adopt the Pro-Active LOS plan, the final vote hasn’t occurred yet.
While meeting schedules and topics are subject to change the following is currently planned for City Council meetings throughout the month of November:
Nov 1st a discussion on Spokane Regional Emergency Communications (SREC) System and the Park Maintenance Contract.
Nov 8th will have public hearings on which project application(s) to submit for Community Development Block Grant’s requests for projects and the 2023 City Budget. It is also the final reading for the City Budget.
Nov 15th, will hear an update on the Sprague Ave Pilot Study results, The Balfour Park Project Update, and the Comprehensive Plan amendment process.
Nov 22nd, will have a motion consideration on the renewal of the Law Enforcement Contract.
There is no meeting planned for Nov 29th due to the Thanksgiving Holiday.
I am a second-generation East Valley graduate and my children are third-generation students. My mother’s family originally moved into the East Valley School District to be closer to the Trentwood plant after my grandfather was hired as an employee on the production floor in the late 1950’s. My grandfather retired from Kaiser as a Mill Wright after 40 years of employment. Though sadly he passed away 24 years ago, my grandmother, who is about to be 99 in a few months, continues to receive a portion of his retirement from Kaiser Aluminum. The area that my grandparents chose to raise their family is where I currently reside. My mother continues to live in the area she grew. It’s a safe assumption that Kaiser Aluminum has helped produce three generations of Spokane Valley residents who are proud to call the area their home.
Ashley Potter, local Valley residentOn the eve of Veterans Day, and the remembrance of past roles many Americans filled during war time, Kaiser Aluminum has been a forward moving force that played a vast and wide spread capacity in winning the fight against freedom during World War II. Though the aluminum mill plant has been in the Valley for over 80 years, many who call the Spokane Valley home drive by without knowing the vital role the plant and its employees played in shaping both Trentwood and the surrounding Spokane Valley.
It began when Henry Kaiser moved to Spokane Washington in 1906 at the tender age of 24. It was a bold choice to make, embarking to a
city that had only been incorporated a scant twenty-five years beforehand. He married Bess Fosburgh in 1907 and lived in a home he purchased in Spokane where they would grow their family over the next years.
After Kaiser left Spokane, his construction company completed work on the Hoover Dam a full two years ahead of schedule. And for the next couple of years, he was absent from Spokane’s history.
The time for riding into war was past. The new advancement in technology included planes and ships could transport troops more quickly than the previous World War. With the change in battle tactics and transport in World War II the need for materials to make planes and ships grew rapidly. Shortly after the invasion of Poland on Sept. 3, 1939, the United States sent troops to protect bauxite mines in Dutch Guiana. Bauxite is a needed component of aluminum.
By the beginning of 1941, the United States announced the aluminum shortage and called for
expanding production of aluminum across the United States. The newly constructed Grand Coulee Dam would feature strongly in the decision to build aluminum smelter plants in the Pacific Northwest. The main locations to feature these plants would be Spokane, Tacoma and Troutdale, OR. Grand Coulee Dam has since been estimated to have produced power that made aluminum that went to be manufactured into one-third of the planes built during World War II.
The Trentwood mill in Spokane, now Spokane Valley, was built in 1941 by the Department of Defense in collaboration with the Aluminum Company of America or Alcoa with the sole purpose of the production of aluminum for planes and ships. The plant sits on over 465 acres just off Sullivan Road. The The Mead plant was built shortly thereafter. The story goes that one of the main reasons the two plants were built so far apart is to protect one during the war, if the other plant were to be bombed. If this story has roots in truth, is unknown. The Mead plant would pour molten aluminum into large forms that would make ingots that would then be transported to the Trentwood plant to be rolled into sheet metal. During this time over one thousand people were employed at the mills in Spokane. One thousand people in a town that was only 50 years old is a staggering amount. The population of Spokane during the 1940 census was just 122,001. The aluminum plants brought prosperity to the region for generations to come.
The sheet metal produced at the Trentwood mill plant would then go on to be manufactured into about 1,500 planes at Boeing factories in Seattle and other manufacturers who built planes that would eventually help win the war for the allies. Planes that were being built for the war effort included the B-17 Flying Fortress and the P-51 Mustang. Warships were also created from this Spokane made aluminum. The naval vessels in the Liberty fleet were among some of the ones to receive a portion of the millions of square feet of rolled aluminum that came out of the Trentwood plant.
Both Trentwood and Mead plants would continue to be owned by the United States government until after the war ended in 1945. In early 1946 Henry Kaiser came back to Spokane Washington after having been on the construction side of the war effort. He owned and operated multiple
back
ship yards in Washington, Oregon, and California. The aluminum that he sourced to build warships such as the Liberty Fleet contained the aluminum sheet metal that was produced in Spokane at the Trentwood mill plant. When he came back to Spokane in 1946 his company acquired the Trentwood and Mead plants and re-named them Kaiser Aluminum.
Kaiser was the first businessman to implement voluntary group health plans in the country at field hospitals in his shipyards during war time. Kaiser Permanente was started to care for his employees and their families. By August 1944, 92% of the employees at his Richmond shipyard had joined.
While under his direction the aluminum plants expanded to employing over two thousand people over the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. People who began working at the plants stayed for the duration of their careers. They received health care packages, retirement packages, and a quality of life that was unmatched for the average American. The areas around the plants grew rapidly. The East Valley school district saw numerous families employed at Kaiser Aluminum.
Today the Mead plant is no longer used for aluminum, but the Trentwood plant is still a working plant and employs over 950 Spokane residents. The Trentwood plant
A group of high school students toured three local businesses on National Manufacturing Day on Oct. 7 to explore possible future careers in the manufacturing industry.
The field trip was organized by the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, which reached out to manufacturers Acme Machine Works, Altek and Wagstaff. “They’re chamber businesses and we knew they’d be able to host students,” said Licett Figueroa Garbe, the Chamber’s Director of Community Engagement and Policy. “We started this months ago.”
would be the way to do it. Like many industries right now, there are plenty of jobs available for people with a willingness to learn. “Everybody is hiring,” Garbe said. “The manufacturing industry is really in need.”
Manufacturing Day, which is an initiative of The Manufacturing Institute, is held on the first Friday in October to help encourage teens to consider careers in manufacturing. It was launched in 2011 and since then the U.S. Census Bureau has expanded the concept to create Manufacturing Week.
remains one of Spokane’s largest manufacturers with approximately 63 acres under roof. As in years past, aluminum is still being made for the Boeing factories in Seattle to manufacture planes. “Trentwood produces highly engineered heattreated plate, sheet, and coil products for the global aerospace and industrial aluminum end markets. Since 2005 Kaiser Aluminum has invested over $390 million in expansion and modernization of the Trentwood facility resulting in continued growth, capability, KasierSelet processing, and improved manufacturing efficiency.” Kyle P. England, Sr. Director Manufacturing Human Resources and External Affairs explains about the growth and future of the Trentwood plant.
“The Trentwood facility has been in operation for 80 years providing a substantial economic benefit to the region and Washington State, and we look forward to our continued success in the Spokane Valley.” Kyle shares about the impact Kaiser has had on the Spokane Valley.
Kaiser Aluminum will always be a part of the Spokane Valley story. From planes that shot down enemy soldiers and saved our brave heroes who fought for freedom, to the families who moved into the area to provide a better quality of life for their children. The future of the plant will continue for generations to come
While all three companies are part of the manufacturing industry, they make different things. They use processes such as welding, machining and fabrication to make their products. Garbe said she wanted the tour to showcase a variety of different manufacturing methods so students could be exposed to as much as possible.
The Chamber wanted to find a way to observe Manufacturing Day and thought that reaching out to students who might be interested in a career in manufacturing
Some students don’t realize what options they have after high school, particularly options that might include trade school or a training program instead of college. The manufacturing industry offers good jobs with good wages and has been trying to reach out to the upcoming generation to increase interest in careers.
Garbe said more high school students seem to realize now that college isn’t the only path toward a good job. “There’s definitely a shift,” she said. “People are discovering they can go into trade school if that’s the best fit for them.”
Garbe said she’s seen data that
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It seemed natural to reach out to Spokane Valley Tech to find students interested in going on the tour since the school and the chamber share a parking lot. Many of the students who went on the tour were in the advanced manufacturing class, so they already had an interest in manufacturing. All were juniors and seniors considering their next step after high school.
At each of the three stops students had a chance to tour each facility and to see demonstrations on how things are made as well as to ask questions. They asked employees about their jobs and the training that they had in addition to asking how things worked.
Garbe said each manufacturer agreed to slow down production while the students were there so they had plenty of time to observe the process and ask questions. “It was a very immersive exploration tour,” she said.
The students were engaged and asked a lot of questions, Garbe said. Each manufacturer seemed impressed by the students and one said if the students were 18 he would like to hire them, she said. “Everyone was impressed by them,” she said.
The Chamber partnered with the Inland Northwest Aerospace Consortium and the Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing to put on the tour. The sponsors paid for a charter bus to take the students on the tour since the regional bus driver shortage has made using school buses for field trips difficult.
businesses of the greater Spok ane bonus we will include your gift idea listing can’t-miss local gift ideas. eel left out. You can contribute em to be included in our ar ticle way, submitted photos are rr y ” is a special cover sec tion in the December issues of both Splash. That ’s right — publications for one price Distribution ically scheduled to land November 21 and and Tuesday before Thanksgiving and Small in opies address ailable ough The opies homes at sstands er
The trip was the first organized by the Chamber and was a success, Garbe said. The Chamber would like to offer similar school trips in the future if there is funding or if the bus driver shortage is resolved. “We’re exploring the possibility of continuing to host these,” she said.
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Time will tell if any of the students who went on the tour will go on to make manufacturing a career, but Garbe said the Chamber is grateful they were able to connect potential future employees to companies that need good workers.
at the shoppers and businesses of the greater Spok ane Valley — and as a bonus we will include your gift idea as par t of our stor y listing can’t-miss local gift ideas. (Restaurants, don’t feel left out You can contribute a tantalizing menu item to be included in our ar ticle on dining out.) Either way, submitted photos are encouraged!
“Eat, Shop and Be Merr y ” is a special cover sec tion that will be included in the December issues of both The Current and The Splash. That ’s right — be a par t of both publications for one price.
ve your spot today at 509-242-7752 or adver tise@valleycurrent.com.
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I t will be distributed in The Splash (12,000 copies delivered to ever y address in Liber ty Lake and available for free at more than 120 newsstands through Christmas) as well as The Current (27,000 copies delivered to 20,000 homes in Spok ane Valley and at more than 220 newsstands throughout the greater Spok ane Valley).
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509-242-7752 www.libertylakesplash.com Wick Enterprizes Publishing House The Current, a monthly publication for the Valley, offers visual storytelling, eye-catching ads and community coverage readers have come to rely on. This free newspaper is available at more than 150 high-traffic places around the Valley, including the following locations: Pick up a free copy of “Honoring local communities and encouraging citizen involvement” Albertsons Anytime Fitness Arby’s Barnes and Noble Barney’s Harvest Foods Brickhouse Massage and Coffee Bar Bruttles Gourmet Candy Shop Dishman Dodge Hallett’s Maket and Cafe HICO Village Library Longhorn BBQ Maverick Scrumdillyumptious Donuts Skyway Cafe Terry’s Breakfast and Lunch Yoke’s Fresh Market Wohuld you like to carry The Current in your place of business? Contact us at Natasha@libertylakesplash.com. GREATER SPOKANE VALLEY A VALLEY-WIDE COMMUNITY NEWSMAGAZINE The history of Kaiser, a community icon, page 10 NOVEMBER 2022 COLDIRON PUBLIC SERVANT COMING SPRING 2023 TO SPOKANE VALLEY PAGE 16 MURAL PROJECT COMPLETED PAGE 27
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Brought
A new family entertainment center is slated to open in Spokane Valley next year, offering everything from an indoor play structure to mini bowling to laser tag.
The center, to be located at 10502 E. Montgomery Avenue, is the dream of former commercial airline pilot Tim Homer. The center is to have an aviation theme and will be called Flight 509.
Homer currently owns and operates All Star Jump, which rents out various inflatables for birthday parties, festivals and other events. “Now is our busiest season,” Homer said. “This project came about because we’re quite slow in the winter.”
Homer envisions Flight 509 as something that would be busy yearround, particularly in the winter. His original plan, however, was much more modest. At one point, All Star Jump had some inflatables set up inside the Spokane Valley Mall and Homer first thought of setting up an indoor inflatable play park. He even had a location picked out, the former Babies R Us at Division and Francis in Spokane.
“Then the pandemic hit and we changed our plans,” he said.
Homer met someone at a convention who inspired him to dream bigger. “He helped us put together the mix of attractions based on what’s popular around the country,” Homer said.
Flight 509 will include a threestory Ballocity play structure, mini bowling, a ninja warrior course, a ropes course, bumper cars, virtual reality and arcade games. There will also be a café and several party rooms that people can rent.
“It’s a good selection,” Homer said. “Our idea is to have something kids of all ages can do. There’s a whole mix of stuff in there for people to do.”
Homer bought his current building on East Montgomery in 2018, the same time that he bought
All Star Jump, which takes up half the building. He said he was bored and looking for something to do after he had sold an environmental engineering company he owned and retired.
Homer decided to build a new 20,000 square foot building right next door to his current building. An existing building would be hard to find because the threestory play structure and two-story laser tag and ropes course require a 30-foot ceiling, he said, and it just made sense to expand on site.
“We already own the lot,” he said. “It’s very difficult to find a building that suits our needs.”
The Montgomery location is also somewhat centrally located, with Airway Heights and North Idaho both within a 25-minute drive.
Homer broke ground two months ago and is building the shell of the building himself with the help of family and friends. Once the shell is up, a general contractor will be brought in to finish the building, Homer said.
The walls of the building are insulated concrete forms that
Homer describes as Lego blocks that stack together and are then filled with concrete. The design will be energy efficient and soundproof, Homer said.
As part of the project, Homer plans to repurpose 2,000 square feet of his existing building and put in bathrooms, a kitchen and a party room. Homer said his new facility will include a seating area with tv’s where parents can sit and enjoy beer and wine.
The original plan called for the building to be complete this fall, but Homer said he’s looking at April or May of 2023 because of construction material shortages and supply chain issues. “Our main circuit breaker is 50 weeks out, our insulation is eight months out,” he said. “It’s a terrible time to build. The quotes we’re getting are outrageous.”
The estimated cost to construct the building is $3.5 million and the entire project is expected to run $6 million, Homer said. He and his wife, Tammy, are the sole owners.
Homer hopes that his new facility will be used for birthdays, senior all-nighters and even
corporate events. He also expects the various activities to be popular, but he’s not sure how many visitors his family entertainment center will attract. He expects weekends to be the busiest time and that the number of visitors will fluctuate depending on the time of the year.
“Our target is about 100,000 to 110,000 (visitors) per year,” he said.
“It’s hard to say.”
He also expects to add employees. Right now All Star Jump has between 25 and 30 employees in the summer and three or four during the off season. Homer said he plans to have between seven and nine full-time employees and about 40 part-time employees at Flight 509.
“With this, we can keep the same people on year-round, they’d just work in different places,” he said.
Homer has not yet decided what he will charge for admission, but said it will be comparable to other entertainment centers in the area.
“We’ve designed it to be pretty high quality,” he said. “We’re not trying to be the cheapest venue out there, but we will be affordable.”
Nolan Fracz is literally paving a better path for fellow residents of his community. When he realized that patrons of a garden club at a local church were faced with walking on unpaved, uneven ground, Fracz decided to make a brick sidewalk his Eagle Project. The undertaking took nearly 50 hours total. The senior at East Valley High School maintains a 4.0 grade point average and is currently taking AP Government, Calculus and Literature. Fracz has been part of the EV soccer program since his freshman year and earned varsity letters as a sophomore and junior. He also competes with the Washington East club soccer team. This summer, Fracz was part of an internship program through New Tech and Avista that introduced career opportunities in the energy field. He is considering a focus on mechanical engineering in college.
Makenzey Gillespie had not competed in track and field since middle school before turning out for the East Valley High School team as a junior last season. She participated in the 110-meter hurdles and 4 x 100 relay, qualifying for the state 2A meet in both and placing 10th overall in the hurdles. Her time of 15.4 seconds in the event placed her fourth on EV’s alltime record board. She was part of a team that won the 2A Greater Spokane League crown last year. “We all had a great mindset,” Gillespie said of the Knights’ season. “Everyone pulled together as a team.” The senior has played volleyball since her freshman year and also been a cheerleader the past two years. She maintains a 3.4 grade point average and would like to study marketing and business in college.
For 15 years, Rick Scott and the Sheriff Community Oriented Policing Effort (SCOPE) were synonymous. Scott served as a volunteer with the organization for 10 years before becoming director in 2007. He retired earlier this year. It was not uncommon during Scott’s tenure for SCOPE to average between 65,000 and 75,000 volunteer hours a year in support of law enforcement. The assistance translated into approximately $2 million in annual savings to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. In 2016, Scott was honored with the Sheriff’s STAR Award for his “outstanding job performance, dedication and professionalism.” In the early 2000s, Scott led an effort in his own Edgecliff neighborhood that cut the crime rate in half. He now helps with the Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council (GSSAC) as the Community Safety Partnerships coordinator, working to improve the connection between the public and police.
Come visit your spokane valley neighborhood FinanCial Center loCated at 615 n sullivan road
By Nina Culver Current contributor
The Spokane County Regional Veteran Services Center has been operating quietly on North Evergreen Road in Spokane Valley since 2017, helping veterans access services and benefits.
The center is meant to be a one stop shop, offering help with everything from disability claims to burial at the Veterans Cemetery. “It’s a hybrid model of providing state and county veterans services at the same location,” said Operations Manager Christopher Dorcheus.
The staff at the center includes six accredited veteran service officers. They’re there to help connect veterans to the services they need. “They help triage the needs of veterans and their families,” he said. “There’s so much we do here. It’s a great service center.”
All the service officers are military veterans themselves. That helps ensure that the officers and veterans share a common frame of reference, Dorcheus said. “We can understand more than a civilian that was never in a combat situation,” he said. “We understand how the military operates.”
One of the key services the center provides is help with serviceconnected compensation, which often means disability benefits. Applying for a service-related disability can often be a lengthy and confusing process, Dorcheus said.
The center also administers the Veteran Relief Fund, which provides emergency assistance to veterans in need. The fund contains money that comes from Spokane County property taxes. The emergency assistance provided covers a wide variety of needs, including food, rent, transportation, utilities, and burial assistance.
Though the Spokane County Veterans Services office has been around since 1952, the county only began partnering with the state in 2017 in order to offer more services. Veterans can get help finding financial assistance, employment, education and re-entry into the community.
Employment services include workshops, transition services of current members of the military, assistance with resumes and assistance with job searches. Staff can also work with veterans on how to use their GI Bill education benefits. There is also a Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program specialist on staff at the center.
Generally the services the center provides can be used by those with proof of an honorable discharge (DD-214), proof of residency in Washington State for at least 12 months, proof of residency in Spokane County and proof of either serving 180 days on active duty or completing a full contract in the reserves or the National Guard. Applications for emergency assistance also require proof of income.
Dorcheus said that many people aren’t aware of the services that the center provides. “The veterans don’t know what they don’t know,” he said. “They just don’t know what they’re eligible for or qualify for.”
The center also has a computer lab that is free for veterans and their families to use. Those that want to can come in for a free cup of coffee and just visit. “We’re a great place to stop and just come in and see what we can offer,” Dorcheus said. “This is a beautiful center. It’s a center made to honor our veterans.”
While the center does not have counselors on staff, the service officers can easily connect a veteran to one if needed, Dorcheus. They do what is called a warm handoff, staying involved throughout the process and not just giving the veteran a number to call. “It’s a direct connection,” he said. “We will maintain contact.”
If the center doesn’t provide a service itself, it partners with other organizations that do. One of the partners the center works with is the Spokane Vet Center on Mirabeau Parkway, which is
funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The Spokane Vet Center has counselors on staff to provide free sessions for a variety of service-related issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder.
Dorcheus said the county’s center is often confused with the federally funded center, but the two offer different types of services.
The Spokane County Veteran Services Center has been gaining recognition for its work. It received an award for 2022 Best Practices for Veteran Services from the National Association of Counties. The award was one of several given to innovative country government programs across the country.
Dorcheus said having their hard work recognized has been rewarding. “We’re super excited about that,” he said.
The Spokane County Veteran Services Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and no appointment is necessary. Those interested in getting more information can call (509) 477-3690 or send an email to VETSTUDY@ spokanecounty.org.
By Craig Howard Current Contributing Editor
In the wake of four narrow losses to some of the area’s best teams, Hudson Dayton echoed the sentiments of his Central Valley teammates:
“We could very easily be 7-0,” said the senior receiver. “We’ve really been one possession away from winning all those games.”
The Bears started out the season with three straight victories, rolling over Ridgeline, 33-0, in the opener on Sept. 2 before hammering Lewis and Clark, 38-7, a week later. In that game, senior quarterback Dylan Gravelle completed 14 of 21 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns while also scampering for 97 yards on 10 carries.
A 17-0 victory over Cheney followed on Sept. 23, vaulting CV to the top spot in the Greater Spokane League and prompting talk of a significant post-season run. On the Bears’ first defensive stand, senior linebacker Brandon Thomas picked off a Cheney pass attempt and promptly returned it 32 yards for a touchdown.
“I was just watching the quarterback and saw where he threw it,” Thomas said. “I was in the right place at the right time.”
Senior running back Zac Abshire led the Bears on the ground against the Blackhawks with 104 yards.
Central Valley traveled to Moses Lake on Sept. 23 for a nonconference matchup with the Mavericks from the Columbia Basin Big 9. A Bears’ defense that
had stymied offenses in the first three games gave up 358 yards in a 25-22 overtime loss.
CV resumed league play on Sept. 30 against Mead. Despite another stellar effort by Gravelle – 19-of-35 for 244 yards – the Bears fell 21-17 as the Panthers scored the go-ahead touchdown with under a minute left in the game. Dayton led the Central Valley receiving corps with nine catches for 127 yards.
At the start of the year, CV head coach Ryan Butner had visions of his team pulling away from the GSL crowd.
“I truly believed we could be a bit of a dark horse and run the table in our league,” he said. “Injuries have impacted our ability to be consistent.”
CV visited Mt. Spokane on Oct. 7 with the beginning of the game closely resembling the Bears’ electric start against Cheney. On the Wildcats’ first play from scrimmage, senior defensive end Aiden Labrosse stepped in front of a slant pass and returned it 20 yards for the game’s initial score. After Mt. Spokane found the endzone, Gravelle connected with Dayton for a 68-yard touchdown throw to put CV up 14-7.
The Bears went up 28-14 shortly before halftime when Kaden Harkin hauled in a 12yard toss from Gravelle. CV’s offense sputtered in the second half while the Wildcats scored two touchdowns to send the game to overtime. Ethan Keene’s 1-yard plunge proved to be the difference in a 35-28 Mt. Spokane victory.
The defeat was aggravated by an injury to Abshire, CV’s top rusher and co-captain, who was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Other key Bears have been sidelined this season with the same prognosis, including starting linemen Caden Priebe,
Finance Committee - I worked with Rep. Mike Volz to eliminate the usurious late penalties on property tax. Previously we had worked together successfully in the Spokane Country Treasurer’s Office to allow partial payments of any amount at any time. Coupled with HB 1410 sponsored by Rep. Volz which passed unanimously we culminated a ten year effort to help distressed tax payers.
Community and Economic Development Committee - As Assistant Ranking member we made long strides to get broadband Internet out to rural areas of Washington State for work, school, and healthcare.
Children, Youth, Family - As Assistant Ranking member overseeing Juvenile Justice, Foster Care, and Early Learning we worked to help youth to overcome present day challenges while endeavoring to maintain fiscal responsibility to tax payers.
Carter Albertson and Richie McSwain.
“Our depth was decent at the beginning of the season but it’s been dwindling,” said Butner.
Despite the string of downto-the-wire defeats, Butner said he has been encouraged by his team’s sustained effort.
“They’re playing hard,” he said. “It’s just a matter of conveying to our guys that they are still a good team. We’re playing these tough teams really close and are just a play or two away.”
CV’s string of close losses reached four after dropping a 28-21 home tilt to Gonzaga Prep on Oct. 14. After trailing 14-0 at half, the Bears roared back on the strength of three touchdown passes by Gravelle. The Bullpups eventually secured the win on the strength of their traditional ground game led Lilomaiava Mikaela who pounded out 150 yards on 27 carries.
“Those four losses have been demoralizing but also uplifting in another way, just knowing that we’ve played really good teams like Gonzaga Prep tough,” said Dayton who had eight catches for 114 yards against G-Prep. “We don’t get down on ourselves. The offense is always picking up the defense and the defense is always picking up the offense.”
Thomas – who sat out the 2020 season after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma and having his right foot amputated just above the ankle – speaks with a unique level of experience when it comes to the topic of resilience.
“It’s been frustrating but you have to learn from it and grow as a team,” Thomas said of the Bears’ four-game slide. “We just have to focus on our opponent and give it our all.”
Thomas has been making the most of his final season, compiling 82 tackles, including 20 for losses, three forced fumbles and an interception. He missed the Moses Lake game with a fractured thumb.
“Brandon’s having an incredible year,” said Butner.
“He brings so much intensity, enthusiasm and leadership.”
On the offensive side, Gravelle has seamlessly replaced Luke Abshire – now at Montana State – as CV’s field general. The senior began his prep career as a quarterback, transitioned to wide receiver, then moved back to signal caller upon Abshire’s graduation.
“It’s pretty dynamic in terms of what he’s able to of doing, whether it’s passing or running,” Butner said. “He’s an athlete back there.”
Butner, who played football at CV and graduated in 1996, received some words of wisdom recently from his old coach Rick Giampietri who led the Bears to a 4A state title in 1997 with Butner on the sidelines as a volunteer coach.
“He said, ‘Once you get into the playoffs, anything can happen,’” Butner said. “He reminded me that every team is 0-0 when you start the postseason, that the regular season doesn’t really matter at that point. It just depends on the way the ball bounces.”
The Bears controlled the ball and the line of scrimmage in a 35-0 drubbing of Ferris on Oct. 21. Gravelle threw for 264 yards and five touchdowns, including two to Dayton who moved into a tie for eighth on the all-time GSL single season reception list with 50. He is also 76 yards away from joining the league’s top 10 single-season yardage club. The CV defense held the Saxons to 100 total yards.
CV’s victory combined with Lewis and Clark’s loss to U-Hi clinched the No. 2 seed on the 4A GSL side for the Bears. They will host Kamiakin from the Mid-Columbia Conference in a crossover playoff game on Friday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.
“The team played hard as always and we got back to our style of defense,” Butner said of the Ferris win. “We’re playing well right now given the number of injuries we’ve sustained. Once we get to the post-season, if our confidence is high and we’re playing well, we could make a dent.”
Holiday shopping is top of mind for many people this year. Coupled with the excitement of spending time with family and friends, giving gifts can bring a lot of joy and warm feelings to gatherings.
I enjoy gift giving and shopping. If you’ve read my previous articles, then you know that my favorite shopping event of the year is coming up soon: Small Business Saturday.
American Express launched Small Business Saturday in 2010, during the recession, to spotlight and support the locally owned and operated shops that are the backbones of our communities.
Now, with inflation affecting all of us, it can be important watch how we spend our dollars and approach holiday shopping wisely. One way you can do this is by choosing to spend locally to support your community after you’ve shopped, or avoided, the Black Friday sales.
Spokane County Library District is the Neighborhood Champion for four communities in Spokane County this year: Millwood (Argonne Library), as well as Cheney, Deer Park, and Medical Lake. We’re helping you
The World Cup soccer competition kicks off this month, and you can immerse yourself in the action by participating in a reading challenge and library programs inspired by soccer.
Celebrate with reading when you sign up for the all-ages “Online Read Along: World Cup” reading challenge on Beanstack (scld.beanstack.org). Read a story about, inspired by, or written by someone from each of the countries playing in the World Cup. Track your progress with these great stories and earn digital badges
and other community members discover fantastic local stores in each community.
This year, we’ve extended our Small Business Saturday program to a weeklong event, November 26 to December 3, to give you more time to explore and shop at local businesses.
When you shop during the event, you can also enter a prize drawing for a chance to win a gift card to a local business. Stop by Argonne Library, or the other libraries, to pick up your Shop Small Passport. Collect stickers for your passport as you shop at participating businesses, and then turn it in at the library by December 3 for the prize drawing.
using the online reading tracker Beanstack. The reading challenge runs from November 21 to December 31. Sign up or log in to get started at https://scld.beanstack.org.
Here is a sampling of the 32 books selected for this challenge: “Saffron Ice Cream,” by Rashin Kheiriyeh; “Night of the Moon,” by Hena Khan; “I Am the Subway,” by Kim Hyo-eun; “Franky,” by Leo Timmers; “Abuelo,” by Arthur Dorros; and “Birdsong,” by Julie Flett.
Each book is available in the library’s collection at www.scld.org/ catalog. Within the Beanstack app and on the website, you can even watch videos of Librarian Molly reading the stories and sharing the art from the picture books to complete the challenges.
Watch World Cup matches at the library too!
You can stop by Spokane Valley Library for two World Cup viewing
Prizes have been generously provided by the Friends of the Argonne Library for the Millwood location.
If you haven’t had a chance to visit the small businesses of Millwood before, you’ll find that holiday shopping is great way to explore the town’s sights and experience Millwood’s small-town feel. Plus, you never know what you may find – perhaps that perfect gift – at these vibrant, local shops!
For more information about our weeklong Small Business Saturday event, visit www.scld.org/shopsmall-2022.
In Millwood on Small Business Saturday & all week long
November 26–December 3
Find great gifts for everyone on your holiday list!
When you support small businesses, you support the whole community.
parties on Monday, November 21, 11am–1:30pm and on Tuesday, November 29, 11am–1:30pm. While watching the U.S.A Men’s team take on Wales and then Iran, you can work on a soccer-themed kids’ craft.
Fans of the television series “Nailed It!” will enjoy the spirited competition of the library’s World Cup-inspired, soccer-themed cupcake decorating challenge. The library’s online program “Nailed It! Soccer Edition” takes place on Wednesday, December 14, 6:30–7:30pm.
You can compete by yourself or recruit members of your household to form a team. Librarians will give you the decorating challenge, and you will use cupcakes, frosting, and whatever you have on hand at home to assemble it and reach the goal! You can sign up for this program at www. scld.org/world-cup-events.
It’s good to have goals. Make these programs part of yours!
Stop by Argonne Library for your Shop Small passport.
Then collect stickers as you shop for a chance to win a prize.
www.scld.org/shop-small-2022
EDITOR/PUBLISHER Ben Wick
ben@libertylakesplash.com
CO OWNER Danica Wick
danica@libertylakesplash.com
CIRCULATION Larry Passmore circulation@libertylakesplash.com
Nina Culver, Lincoln DoWright
Craig Howard, Ashley Humbird
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On October 12, 2022 at Ridgeline High School and October 13, 2022 at East Valley High School, students of those school asked candidates questions they have developed over the last several weeks. At the conclusion of the event all candidates were given a one minute opportunity to address the community in attendance. With the assistance of the Spokane County Elections Office we then held a mock election to give students the opportunity to experience the entire process. These are the results of that election.
U.S. Senator
Patty Murray 61%
Tiffany Smiley 39%
Congressional District 5
Cathy McMorris Rodgers 44%
Natasha Hill 56%
Secretary of State
Steve Hobbs 40%
Julie Anderson 60%
Leg. Dist. 4 Rep. 1
Ted Cummings 46%
Suzanne Schmidt 54%
Leg. Dist. 4 Rep. 2
Rob Chase 25%
Leonard Christian 75%
Spokane County Commissioner Dist. 3 Josh Kerns 91%
Wild Bill Schreiner 9%
Spokane County Commissioner Dist. 4
Mary Kuney 69%
Brian Noble 31%
Spokane County Auditor
Vicky Dalton 77% Bob McCaslin 23%
Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney Larry Haskell 32% Deb Conklin 68%
Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels 61%
Wade Nelson 39%
District Court Judge 3 Jenny Zappone 85% Eric Dooyema 15%
District Court Judge 6
Deanna Crull 68% Andrew Biviano 32%
Thank you to the students and staff at both Ridgeline High School and East Valley High School for their hard work on these events. We look forward to working with you again next year!
The Current is committed to serving the Greater Spokane Valley area through excellent community journalism. We can’t do it at all without you, our readers, and we can’t do it for long without support from our advertisers. Please thank our business partners and look to them when offering your patronage. Of
Our sincere appreciation to the following businesses for their foundational partnerships withThe Current and its partner publications:
Central Valley art students completed a mural project for Adams elementary that began in the Fall of 2019 beautify the concrete walls that the students play handball on.
The idea began with an elementary teacher at Adams Elementary contacting the Central Valley art department to inquire if they would be interested in painting murals on the handball courts in their playground area. The Central Valley art staff wanted to help create art in the community and began planning in the Fall of 2019. The concept began to take shape after emails were exchanged with the plan to be an art collaboration for students.
The Central Valley art staff bought in Daniel Lopez, a local muralist in Spokane, to be a guest speaker for the students and encourage them in the upcoming project. He shared with the students what it is like being a public artist and what it takes to make a mural. The students had time to meet with him and brainstorm ideas and learn about the process in the winter of 2020.
With the school closures caused from the COVID pandemic, the planning stage was put on hold for the next couple of years. The students that were sophomores when the project first began to take shape would have to wait until the fall of their senior year in 2021 to resume planning for the murals at Adams elementary.
The art team realized the murals could be completed and brought the project back to life in 2021.
At Adams elementary there are two handball walls with a surface on each side resulting in four possible murals for the students to paint and complete.
There were over a dozen designs submitted for the murals with four of them making the final cut. Each mural would be completed by a team of students that would include
the design creator acting as the lead planner.
Two of the students that had their mural design chosen were Jaycee Liu and Allie Scott, both 11th graders at Central Valley.
“I didn’t really have much of an idea,” shares Jaycee. “Until one the advisors mentioned they wanted to get the kids at Adams really engaged in the design. And so then at that point I had the idea to kind of make a game with my design.”
Jaycee’s mural includes big bold and bright pop art flowers with the center of the flowers being ‘targets’ that kids can aim for and collect points while playing handball. Her thought was that it would also serve as a good way to teach addition while the kids were playing and having fun!
Allie Scott says, “immediately my brain started flowing with all these ideas because I went to Adams elementary. And before the walls were always beat up and I was excited they were coming up with ideas to bring more life into the school.”
Allie was drawn to some of the local murals around Spokane that are interactive. Like the big angel wings at Hello Sugar. She thought it would be fun and cool to create something similar for the kids at Adams. Allie’s design is based off dragonfly wings with geometric
in the wings. Across the top of the mural in bold font is the word soar.
Reflecting on their experiences of the past year and the sense of accomplishment both girls share, Jaycee wants to continue being involved with art projects during her high school career. She hopes to get involved in community service projects that involve art.
“Art is kind of the way I express my emotions. Whenever I need an escape art is always there.” Allie explains about her future art projects.
The Central Valley art department is one that is led by a team of four staff members. Kyle Genther teaches multiple different types of art mediums and was one of the faculty members that helped bring this project to life. On the day of the project there were about 2530 students that were involved in the final painting of the mural. He and other fellow art team, were on hand with the students at Adams to assist if needed in helping with techniques.
While the high schoolers were painting the murals at Adams, the students would come out on recess and take a gander at their progress over the course of two days. “It made me feel nostalgic, like how would I have felt to see these big kids painting at my school? It made me happy thinking that we
are influencing these kids, maybe having them now think, one day I want to grow up and paint murals” Allie recalls.
Kyle loves art and enjoys seeing his students take their personal ideas and put them out into the world for public consumption. “Public art has this way of getting people to engage with it. And confront it. And apricate it hopefully. What we noticed almost immediately while we were at Adams painting is that the kids wouldn’t just run out to recess, they would come out to the wall, sit down, and start asking questions. And I think that is the power of public art.”
The Central Valley art students and staff are currently working on putting together an amazing display to honor the veterans at the Veteran Day assembly the school is hosting in November. It will consist of over two thousand red poppies to make up a path leading to three large sculptures.
“I felt a great sense of pride with what they had accomplished as a group together.” Kyle share about the final mural being completed. “Getting to see what our students had worked so hard on, finally getting to see the art in public, and to know that this would be something that would last for years and have an impact on the students of Adams really gave me a lot of happiness and pride.”
