A dock sits below Coyote Rock development in May 2012 just after the Washington State Court of Appeals ruled that docks installed at the development were illegal. SR file photo

The Washington State Supremen Court has declined to review a Court of Appeals decision that ruled the two docks installed by a developer in the Coyote Rock development on the Spokane River are illegal. The appeals court said that shoreline exemptions can only be used by homeowners, not a developer building a spec home. This ends, for now at least, the long debate over the legaility of the docks. I'll keep an eye on what happens next. Look for a story on the issue in Friday's paper. 

Machines operated by Piersol Construction scrape dirt from the Flora Road landing along the Spokane River on Thursday. SR photo/Jesse Tinsley

It's another sunny Monday morning, so enjoy the sun while we still have it. A look at the calendar shows that October is just around the corner. Meanwhile, we have some highlights from Saturday's Valley Voice. Reporter Lisa Leinberger has her first entry in the East Farms Diary. She will be spending time at the East Farms STEAM Magnet School in East Valley as it transitions from an elementary school and wrote about her first day in class. She gave blog readers a preview last week.

The Department of Ecology is working on several Spokane River beach cleanups to remove and/or cap sites contaminated by heavy metals flowing in from upstream. Right now they're working on Flora Road and a spot near Barker Road is next.

Correspondent Valerie Putnam reports that the city of Millwood made changes to its medical marijuana dispensary license rules. Correspondent Steve Christilaw spoke to 1962 Central Valley High School graduate Bob Keppel, who was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame for his achievements in track.

Contaminated dirt from the north bank of the Spokane River near Harvard Road is removed by Able Cleanup Technologies to be disposed of at the Graham Road Landfill in 2008. SR file photo.

The Department of Ecology plans to clean up some beaches this summer in Spokane Valley, but they won't begin work until later in the summer when the Spokane River flow is low. Work has already been done in some areas to reduce heavy metals contamination, including at Harvard Road. Work this summer will take place at Barker Road on the north side of the river and on the south side of the river at Islands Lagoon, Myrtle Point and Flora Road. Click here for more details.

The cleanup plan for Kaiser’s Trentwood plant, seen here Tuesday, is estimated to cost $16 million. SR photo/Jesse Tinsley

A public meeting on Kaiser Trentwood's cleanup plan is set for 7 p.m. Thursday at Trent Elementary School, 3303 N. Pines Road. The Department of Ecology is overseeing cleanup of the Spokane Valley site next to the Spokane River, which is contaminated by hydrocarbons and PCBs dating back to the 1940's. The company is proposing spending $16 million over the next 30 years in addition to the $12 million already spent to clean up oil and monitor groundwater. Read reporter Becky Kramer's full story here.

Theresa Ray sorts through bananas for Spokane Valley Partners Food Bank. She works at NOVA services and volunteers at the food bank. She also brings NOVA clients with her for job training. SR photo/J. Bart Rayniak

I hope everyone had a great weekend and that at least part of that time was spent checking out Saturday's Valley Voice. But if you didn't, I've got links to some of the stories we brought you. Reporter Lisa Leinberger checked in with Spokane Valley Partners, which houses nearly a dozen agencies and groups under one roof to help low income residents. Correspondent Valerie Putnam reports that Millwood has changed course and will open the wading pool once someone is hired to staff it. I'm sure lots of children in the area will be happy to hear that.

The developer of the Coyote Rocks development along the Spokane River and the Department of Ecology are arguing over the ordinary high water mark of the river. The newest phase of the development may be in jeapordy if the Spokane Valley hearing examiner sides with the DOE. That decision won't come for a couple weeks. The Spokane Valley City Council spent some time last week discussing sign codes and landscape regulations and some changes may be coming on those.

Some cooler weather should arrive with your Saturday Valley Voice this week (thank goodness). A hearing was held last week on the Trailside portion of the Coyote Rock development along the Spokane River near Plantes Ferry Park. There is a dispute between the developer and the Department of Ecology on where the river's ordinary high water mark is east of the Centennial Trail foot bridge. If the hearing examiner agrees with the DOE, the developer's attorney says it may kill the project.

Reporter Lisa Leinberger recently visited Spokane Valley Partners to check out their programs and see what is new. I'll also have the second round of reporting from Tuesday's Spokane Valley City Council meeting. The council spent some time discussing sign codes and landscaping regulations. Some changes to those rules might start going through the amendment process soon.