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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Clarksville

Another weird place in my city

‘Life Goes On’

The Spokesman-Review

It seems to look a little sadder each time I drive by.

Yet there’s something still intriguing about the ramshackle Spokane Street Motel at Second and Spokane.

The classic, though now-broken sign, looks out of place in a commercial landscape of cheap neon and cookie-cutter plastic.

As long as it exists, the landmark Spokane Street Motel will be a memorial to its two former owners, Frank and Tessie Pozar, who disappeared on Oct. 29, 1984.

No bodies were found. No killer was ever caught.

Some years back, the tale haunted me enough to turn it into a song called…

Life Goes On

Tessie and Frank ran the Spokane Street Motel.

Two hardworking souls, everybody wished them well.

Sailing away – into their golden years.

’Til that October day. Tessie and Frank disappeared.

Just a small crime, in a small town.

Happens every day.

Just a small crime, in a small town.

Headlines fade away.

And life goes on, just like it did before.

--

Evidence bags. Cops collected all the clues.

But with no bodies, murder is so hard to prove.

Sonny Boy said: “I ain’t takin’ no blame.”

And life goes on and the mystery still remains.

Just a small crime, in a small town.

Happens everywhere.

Just a small crime, in a small town.

Nobody seems to care.

And life goes on, just like it did before.

--

Was there blood on the walls?

Did they put up a fight?

Did they recognize the face of a killer that night?

Did they cry out in fear?

Were they simply erased?

How can two human beings disappear – without a trace?

--

Tessie and Frank ran the Spokane Street Motel.

Two hardworking souls, everybody wished them …

Just a small crime, in a small town.

Happens every day.

Just a small crime, in a small town.

Headlines fade away.

And life goes on, just like it did before.



Doug Clark
Doug Clark joined The Spokesman-Review in 1982. He is a columnist whose columns appear on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.