Jerry Kienbaum talked about collecting snowmobiles for his museum in Greenacres on Monday. SR photo/Kathy Plonka

The top news in today's Valley Voice is reporter Lisa Leinberger's story on the East Valley School District's continuing transition to a K-8 education model. The district has had several meetings lately and heard emotional testimony from parents. On Tuesday they voted unanimously to moved the preschool and other special programs to East Valley Middle School in the fall.

Lisa also has a story on Spokane Valley resident Jerry Kienbaum, who has spent years amassing a collection of vintage snowmobiles. He runs the Northwest Museum of Vintage Snowmobiles.

Spokane County is planning several upgrades to the Argonne Road corridor north of the Spokane Valley city limits over the next few years, replacing pavement and adding sidewalks. The only project scheduled for this year is the replacement of the Bruce Road bridge over Deadman Creeek south of Mount Spokane Park Drive.

The Spokane Valley City Council spent some time Tuesday on how to avoid a bill of over $300,000 when new limits on the number of misdemeanor cases public defenders can handle take effect in October. That amount would be the city's share of seven new attorneys Spokane County might have to hire to help with the load. The increased cost would be charged to the city every year.

Golf carts at Painted Hills Golf Course sit locked behind a fence. SR photo/Dan Pelle

There are some good stories in today's Valley Voice, topped by one that should put a few rumors zipping around to rest. The gates of Painted Hills Golf Course are chained shut as the owners go through the bankruptcy process. There are reportedly several interested buyers, but there's no way to tell yet when, or if, the course will reopen.

Reporter Nicole Hensley has a profile on East Valley High School junior Rachael Coleck, who fills the dual roles of cheerleader and wrestler. She talks about how she deals with being a girl involved in a male dominated sport. The Spokane Valley City Council spent some time this week talking about whether they should adjust their sign code and if street parking on the one-way section of Sprague Ave. is a good idea.

The Washington State Court of Appeals has upheld the decision of a Spokane County Superior Court Judge throwing out a lawsuit filed against the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum by several neighboring business owners. The lawsuit was filed when the museum fenced in their parking lot for outdoor exhibits, which meant that customers of nearby businesses could no longer use the lot as a shortcut.

Luke Pillsbury, director of youth ministries for Opportunity Presbyterian Church on Pines Road, sits with some of the toys for the church’s toy store, where community members who are invited can get toys at a deep discount. SR photo/Jesse Tinsley

Welcome to a snowy, somewhat slippery Monday morning. We brought you some good stories in Saturday's Valley Voice, so lets look at some of the highlights. Opportunity Presbyterian Church opened its toy store for business Saturday, carrying on an annual tradition of providing extremely low cost toys to low income residents. The store, which is organized by the church youth, has been growing every year.

A Newman Lake woman was recently charged with animal cruelty after someone reported buying a sick puppy from her Iron Horse Kennel on Hauser Lake Road. An inspection by SCRAPS animal control officers reportedly showed other violations at the dog kennel as well. The woman, identified as Wilma L. Turner, also has a hearing scheduled for Wednesday on allegations that she has violated her probation after she pled guilty to two charges related to conditions at her kennel in 2011.

Reporter Lisa Leinberger has a story on East Farms Elementary School teacher Elisha Erickson, who was recently given an award by the Spokane Valley Fire Department for taking in two children that were dropped off at a fire station with little information. One of the children was a student of Erickson's. Lisa also has a story on a possible bond vote in the East Valley School District. The school board will meet Tuesday to decide whether or not to run a bond to modernize and repair several schools. Four previous attempts to pass a bond in recent years have failed.

The Spokane Valley City Council had several discussions during its Tuesday meeting, including a draft Shoreline Master Program restoration plan, fee amounts for 2013 and street maintenance and sweeping contracts.   

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.

Perhaps the biggest news in today's Valley Voice is that the Spokane Valley City Council agreed this week to negotiate with SCRAPS for animal control services. The city has been contracting with SCRAPS since incorporation, but SpokAnimal had also submitted a proposal to provide animal control services. The decision has been discussed for months. The decision isn't final, however, until the city approves a contract.

Reporter Lisa Leinberger tagged along last week when a group of new teachers and employees in the East Valley School District took an orientation tour of the district on a school bus. They got a look at each of the schools and what makes them unique.

If you are planning ahead, start thinking about the Southeast Spokane County Fair in Rockford Sept. 21-23. It features livestock, a carnival, parade, fun run, live music, pie eating contest, 3-on-3 basketball tournament, horse show and Cow Chip Bingo. Admission is free, so bring the family.

Bob Williams of Longview, Wash., rides a body bowl slide on Monday at Splashdown Waterpark in Spokane Valley. Williams said he and his son, Bob Jr., travel to the park from the West Side as much as they can. SR photo/Tyler Tjomsland

It's hot and it's Monday. Enough said. That does mean, however, that we have some Saturday Valley Voice highlights to share. If you're looking for a something to do and a way to beat the heat, check out the Splash Down Waterpark. Reporter Lisa Leinberger recently stopped by to check out the Fastball water slide and the Cannon Bowl.

A captain in the Spokane Valley Fire Department is in a dispute with the department over sending religious emails using department email. Capt. Jon Sprague has been suspended without pay for two shifts, but the firefighters union is contesting the discipline.

Correspondent Steve Christilaw talked to Morgan Manchester, former East Valley High School soccer player and current captain of the Gonzaga University women's soccer team. Manchester stopped by an East Valley practice recently.  

Linda Crowe, pastor of Veradale United Church of Christ for the past 17 years, is shown outside the church on Tuesday. She is retiring. SR photo/Jesse Tinsley

Apparently we're back to rainy and cool Mondays now. While you enjoy your morning coffee, we've got a bunch of stories from Saturday's Valley Voice to highlight. The Rev. Linda Crowe has been the pastor at the Veradale United Church of Christ for 17 years. She retired Sunday and it was an emotional experience for Crowe and her congregation.

Reporter Lisa Leinberger has a story on East Valley High School student Emily Harris, who won a statewide art competition. Her painting, titled “My Childhood,” will hang in the Cannon Tunnel, which connects the Cannon House Office Building to the Capitol Building in Olympia.

The Liberty Lake City Council has an opening after Susan Schuler announced her resignation so she can move to New Zealand with her husband. Anyone interested in applying for the seat needs to do so by 4 p.m. on May 31. The Spokane Valley City Council had a discussion last week on what projects to fund with the street preservation money they recently set aside. There was some debate over which roads should be done first.

In other road construction news, the Sprague Avenue reconstruction project between Evergreen and Sullivan started today. The project will be completed in four phases to limit traffic impacts. Access to businesses will be maintained. The project should be done by mid-August.

Correspondent Juli Bergstrom Wasson has details on Wags to Riches dog grooming, which opened in Spokane Valley last fall. It's not just a place to go if Fido needs a bath and a trim. Owner Virginia Patton has nearly completed the requirements that will earn her the title of master groomer and she likes to do creative trimmming styles.

A dock sits below the Coyote Rock development Tuesday. The Washington state Court of Appeals ruled that docks installed at the development were illegal. SR photo/Tyler Tjomsland

We have a ton of good stories for you in Saturday's Valley Voice, so let's get right to it. The Washington State Court of Appeals recently ruled that the docks at the Coyote Rock development are illegal after a lawsuit filed by the Department of Ecology, but the court didn't examine one of the issues presented by the DOE and the environmental groups that joined the lawsuit.

Reporter Lisa Leinberger has a great story on students at Summit School, who sent their teacher light-hearted threats in iambic pentameter to convince him to allow them to put on a shortened, clown-based version of “Hamlet.” Lisa also reported on vandalism of the sheds at the East Valley community garden. Police quickly arrested the group of teens responsible, but students were left to clean up the mess.

A goup of Girl Scouts has come through in a big way for the town of Millwood. Correspondent Valerie Putnam reported on their successful effort to raise enough money to repair the town's wading pool. The Spokane Valley City Council seems willing to explore contracting with SpokAnimal for animal control services instead of SCRAPS. City staff is still in the information collecting stage.  

Lexi Saeger is working her way toward a national competition by selling shopping bags, right, that she makes from empty pet food bags. She also made a skirt and camisole out of the bags, left, for the Future Career and Community Leaders of America competition. SR photo/Dan Pelle

The rain is back, but since it is Thursday there's a Valley Voice to take a look at over coffee since you can't look out the window and see sunshine. Reporter Lisa Leinberger attended an East Valley school board meeting this week where there was a public hearing on the district's plan to take on $6.2 million in nonvoted debt to pay for new portable classrooms at the elementary schools. The portables are needed to allow the schools to include students in grades K-8. The topic did generate some discussion.

Correspondent Cindy Hval interviewed Lexi Saeger, a student at Freeman High School, who makes clothing and shopping bags out of old pet food bags. She's been selling her shopping bags and they are available at a local store.

The Spokane Valley City Council voted Tuesday to name nine people to its new ad hoc economic development committee. The council also voted to pass a new sign code ordinance. This week the Spokane Valley Fire Department commissioners gave a resident an outstanding citizen award for his role in saving a woman from her burning apartment. The commissioners also voted to put a replacement maintenance and operations levy on the Aug. 7 ballot.

Spokane Valley councilman Arne Woodard is known for his ties. Many are bright, loud and a few are a bit wild. He owns about 60 of them and since his appointment to the council last year, Woodard has tried to wear a different tie every Tuesday night. SR photo/Dan Pelle

Saturday's Valley Voice was so packed with stories that I'm really not sure how we fit them all in. Here's your chance to take a look if you missed them. Spokane Valley City Councilman Arne Woodard has been making a name for himself by wearing colorful and unusual ties to council meetings. He thinks the ties make him more approachable and they fit his sense of humor.

Reporter Lisa Leinberger has several stories on local schools. The East Valley School District is considering purchasing portable classrooms for its elementary schools to create room for seventh graders. There will be a public hearing on the subject during the school board's meeting Tuesday. Lisa talked to students at University High School last week who were taking part in a distracted driving demonstration. They tried texting while driving and also driving with special goggles that simulated a drunk person's vision.

Students at University Elementary School spent some time last week planting seeds to grow in their new donated greenhouse. The students seemed happy to get out and have fun in the dirt.

Nineteen people have applied to serve on Spokane Valley's new economic development committee. The story includes a list of those who have applied. Mayor Tom Towey will make his appointment recommendations on Tuesday. Last week there was a public hearing regarding a retroactive substantial development permit being sought by a Liberty Lake homeowner for shoreline improvements that were put in without a permit. The owner, Lloyd Herman, was ordered to remove the improvements but has not done so.  

East Valley’s Farm to School project leader Lynette Romney stands on the porch of a shed at East Valley Farms on Tuesday. The project, which sits next to East Valley Middle School and East Valley High School, is on a Bonneville Power easement. The community garden is the work of service clubs, school kids, farmers and others who want to participate. SR photo/Jesse Tinsley

There are two interesting school stories in today's Valley Voice from reporter Lisa Leinberger. The Central Valley School District is moving forward with plans to open a new Skills Center at Sprague and University that will be called Spokane Valley Tech. The board voted this week to set aside earnest money for the building that currently houses West Valley's Contract Based Education.

East Valley is ramping up its Farm to School project that is in a field between the middle school and high school on Wellesley Ave. The farm will grow beans for Second Harvest and an acre is set aside for the community. A plowing day is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m.

The Spokane Valley City Council agreed Tuesday to adopt changes to the sign code proposed by a sign company representative. The council is scheduled to have a final vote on the sign code changes on April 24. Correspondent Cindy Hval has another one of her touching Love Stories today about a couple who met later in life and became best friends before marrying.

A tip to Crime Check has led to the arrest of one person in the recent theft of tools from the East Valley School District maintenance office. The tip came after police released video of the thief in action. After the video was release, somone wearing a hooded sweatshirt returned the tools to the front porch of the maintenance office. Reporter Meghann Cuniff has more details here.

In other crime news, police are searching for an “aggresive panhandler” who threatened a Spokane Valley store manager with a knife on Sunday. The woman was reportedly asking people for money at Sprague and Sullivan when she was approached by the manager. She drove away in a white F-150 truck. Meghann has more details on that case here.

Cemetery Director Richard Cesler, far right, reads the names of veterans from Washington who did not receive funeral honors. SR photo/Colin Mulvany

It's Thursday, which means another edition of the Valley Voice has hit porches across Spokane Valley. Reporter Lisa Leinberger has a story today on the monthly Veterans Memorial Tribute Program held at the Eastern Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake. The ceremony gives formal honors to veterans who did not receive the honors at their own funerals for whatever reason.

The Spokane Valley City Council spent a fair amount of time Tuesday complaining about a recent story and editorial on a possible conflict of interest due to the close ties some council members have to Jack Pring, the owner of property the city is considering purchasing. After their digression from the agenda, the council decided to move forward with the purchase by preparing a conceptual site plan for the property and negotiating a letter of intent to purchase.

The city recently launched new permit software that has opened up a whole new realm for how employees can track and process permits. There are also plans to open up information to the public by this summer. And if you are looking for something to do this weekend, Lisa has information on the play “Did Someone Say Murder?” being put on by the East Valley High School drama department.

Trail developer Mark Pinch stops to enjoy the view from the top of the 552-acre Saltese Uplands, an area of Liberty Lake that was recently purchased through Spokane County’s Conservation Futures program. SR photo/J. Bart Rayniak

One of the highlights in today's Valley Voice is a story by correspondent Jill Barville on the new Saltese Uplands natural area. Spokane County is working to buy the 552 acre property south of Liberty Lake off Henry Road as part of the Conservation Futures program. A trailhead will be built on Henry Road next year and hikers and bikers will be able to enjoy a network of seven miles of trails.

Reporter Lisa Leinberger has a report on enrollment in the Central Valley, West Valley, East Valley and Freeman school districts. Most of them have larger numbers of students, but enrollment at East Valley's Continuous Curriculum School took a huge jump. This week the Spokane Valley City Council debated the need for a facility to precess water and debris removed from the city's numerous drywells. A decision on whether to apply for a grant for the project will likely be made at the Nov. 15 council meeting.

Reporter Pia Hallenberg has a touching story on Libby McGrory, who has battled breast cancer four times. She recently participated in a 200-mile fundraising bike ride called the “Tour de Pink” in California.

The Valley crew has been hard at work this week getting everything ready for Thursday's Valley Voice. Reporter Lisa Leinberger checked in the local school districts (East Valley, West Valley, Central Valley and Freeman) to see how district enrollment is doing. We'll have a story on the new Saltese natural area and a report on Tuesday's Spokane Valley City Council meeting. There was a lengthy discussion on stormwater projects that are eligible for grant money. There were a bunch of other topics covered, but those will have to wait until Saturday's Valley Voice. Don't forget to pick up your paper in the morning to check out the stories.

Dracula (Michael Ashton Toth) was found lurking around the Dracula Blood Drive at Central Valley High School on Oct. 17. More than 80 students, faculty and community members participated and received a $3-off coupon to CV's”Dracula” for donating. SR photo/J. Bart Rayniak

We brought you news from nearly every corner of the Spokane Valley area in Saturday's Valley Voice. Reporter Lisa Leinberger has information on Central Valley High School's upcoming performances of “Dracula.” The star of the show turned up at a blood drive at the school recently.

We also have a bunch of election stories. Lisa put together a Q&A with the candidates for Liberty Lake Mayor. There are also stories on the Marilyn Cline/Ben Wick Spokane Valley City Council contest and the council race between Dee Dee Loberg and Arne Woodard (though Woodard didn't respond to multiple requests for answers to the questions).

Lisa also had a story on the levy discussions going on in the East Valley School District. The district is considering running a levy in February to pay for things like music programs, libraries, counselors, sports programs, AP classes and more.

The Spokane Valley City Council heard a report last week on the Parks and Recreation Department's policies on allowing car shows in city parks. They also discussed city entrance signs and where to put them.

The newest roundabout in the Spokane Valley is at Flora Road and Mission Avenue. SR photo/J. Bart Rayniak

We managed to pack a lot of news into Saturday's Valley Voice. We looked into the growing popularity of roundabouts, which are popping up all over Spokane County. The city of Spokane Valley now has three.

Reporter Lisa Leinberger listened to the superintendents of four Spokane Valley school districts talk to the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce education committee about cuts they have made over the years because of reduced funding from the State. She also stopped by East Valley High School, which installed an automated external defribrillator last week.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department had a busy week with several arson fires and a major two-alarm fire at a medical building.  

Like many seventh-graders, Karissa Johnston, 12, left, and Charli Bise, 12, struggle with getting their locker to open on the first day of classes at East Valley Middle School on Wednesday. SR photo/Colin Mulvany

We had a ton of news packed into Saturday's Valley Voice. I'm actually surprised we were able to fit it all in. Reporter Lisa Leinberger stopped in at East Valley Middle School on the first day of school to see how the students were dealing with having one less middle school in the district. She also has information on the bus problems East Valley has been having.

The new Port of Entry facility is open near Stateline. All the technological bells and whistles haven't been installed yet, but once everything is up and running things will be smoother for truck drivers as well as the WSP commercial vehicle enforcement officers.

The Spokane Valley City Council discussed improvements to its permit process and correspondent Valerie Putnam reports that the town of Millwood is considering several road construction projects.

Snowplows are parked waiting for winter at the new City of Spokane Valley public works facility on East Euclid Avenue just west of Flora Road near the Spokane Business and Industrial Park. SR photo/J. Bart Rayniak

Now that we're refreshed from the long holiday weekend, it's time to take a look back at some Saturday Valley Voice stories that deserve a look. The City of Spokane Valley has moved into its new Street and Stormwater Maintenance facility on the back edge of the Spokane Valley Industrial Park. The new site has plenty of room for all the trucks and snow plows.

Four Spokane Valley City Council candidates involved in a joint campaign event in early July had, with one exception, not reported any donations received to put on the event as of last week. The Public Disclosure Commission said that even though the donations should have been reported long ago, it would likely not seek any disciplinary action such as fines unless a complaint is received.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department has become one of only 144 departments world wide to become internationally accredited. Reporter Lisa Leinberger checked in with Liberty Lake SCOPE volunteers, who patrol the city trails on golf course and do school patrols. She also reports that East Valley raised $1,100 from its sale of old uniforms.

East Valley Athletic Director Joe Kostecka lays out Mountain View Lancer and East Valley Middle School Squires uniforms that will be sold during Friday’s sale. SR photo/J. Bart Rayniak

If you have fond memories of being a Mountain View Middle School Landers or East Valley Middle School Squires, now is your chance to own a piece of your history. Reporter Lisa Leinberger has a story in today's Valley Voice on the upcoming sale of old softball, cross country, westling, football and other uniforms. All students in the combined East Valley Middle School will become the Knights, so the district has no need for the old uniforms. They will be sold from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday at the middle school, 4920 N. Progress Road. The district will use the proceeds to buy new uniforms.

Lisa also has a story on newly approved agreements with the classified staff and principals unions in the Central Valley School District. Both groups have agreed to accept pay cuts after the state cut the amount given to school districts for their salaries.

There was a lengthy debate at this week's Spokane Valley City Council meeting on whether to fund a study to possibly create railroad quiet zones on two crossings on the Union Pacific line north of Trent and west of Millwood. The proposal was voted down, but not before a discussion on who has the authority to select the city's consultants that was touched off by councilman Arne Woodard presenting the council and staff with a brochure from a company in Texas he thought the city should do business with.