Volunteer Shannon Braithwait, left, puts out clothing at the Council Closet, a clothes bank at Barker High, on Wednesday. Students and their families can choose clothes from the donated items when the closet is open. SR photo/Jesse Tinsley

I abandoned the blog for a day off Friday, but now it's Monday and I'm back with some highlights from Saturday's Valley Voice. Reporter Lisa Leinberger has two interesting stories. The Central Valley School district houses the Council Closet in Barker High School. The closet provides used clothing, shoes and other items to students in need.

At Pasadena Park Elementary, students got the chance to vote on a new rock climbing wall for the playground earlier this year. The wall is now installed and students have been eagerly climbing all over it. The new equipment was purchased by the school's Parent Teacher Organization.

Correspondent Deborah Chan has a touching column on her struggle with breast cancer. Correspondent Steve Christilaw wrote about the Central Valley High School cross country team, which recently won the state championship.

Sidewalk construction near Pasadena Park Elementary School is seen East Upriver Drive Oct. 5. SR photo/Tyler Tjomsland

It looks like this might be the last sunny Thursday we have in a while, so let's dive in to some highlights from today's Valley Voice. The Spokane Valley City Council voted Tuesday to buy just over eight acres of land at Sprague and Herald from businessman Jack Pring. The city is partnering with the Spokane County Library District, which plans to build a new library on a portion of the site if a planned construction bond passes. The city plans to use its portion to expand Balfour Park.

New sidewalks are going in near Pasadena Park Elementary and reporter Lisa Leinberger has the story. The project is being paid for with a Safe Routes to School grant. Reporter Pia Hallenberg spoke to some teens who plan to sleep outside in cardboard boxes as part of a homelessness awareness project. Teens are being asked to collect pledges to benefit Family Promise of Spokane, Shalom Ministries and Mission Community Outreach Center.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department board of commissioners is under new leadership after the resignation of commission chairman Monte Nesbitt. Former vice-chairman Kolby Hanson has taken over the leadership role.

We've got tons of good stuff coming your way again in Thursday's Valley Voice. The East Valley School Board voted to take the plunge and ask residents to approve a bond on the April ballot. The Spokane Valley City Council had a fairly short meeting Tuesday, but did vote to approve a ban on selling e-cigarettes to minors.

The North Palouse Community Food Bank in Fairfield has been well supported by the community. It serves the towns of Fairfield, Rockford, Latah and Waverly and we went down there last week to so how they do it. Reporter Lisa Leinberger talked to some third graders at Pasadena Park Elementary who have been learning about the Iditarod sled dog race. The students made centerpieces that will be shipped to Alaska to decorate the tables of the mushers who will gather for a banquet.

There will also be another Spokane Valley campaign announcement for the November election. You'll have to check out the Valley Voice tomorrow for more details. 

Pasadena Park Elementary volunteer Cheri Reed helps third-grader Grace Peters find the perfect gift for her family at the Scholar Dollar Christmas store, which she organizes. SR photo/Bart Rayniak

Now that we’re all up on this fine Monday morning and on our first (or second) cup of coffee, it’s time to take a look at some highlights from Saturday’s Valley Voice in case you missed it. Spokane Valley Fire is heading up a new ambulance contract that includes nearly every fire department and district in the county. Response times are down and some tweaks are being made to the contract to make it better.

A volunteer grandma at Pasadena Park Elementary spends her December running the Scholar Dollar store for children who have earned points by reading. They can spend their points on Christmas gifts. Spokane Valley Partners is not having a Season of Sharing this year due to budget cuts.

An audit of 2009 records shows no problems for the City of Spokane Valley, according to auditors. However, the city is dealing with a criminal case against a former employee for theft of city money. Millwood residents will see increases in their water and sewer rates beginning Jan. 1. And at Tuesday’s Spokane Valley council meeting, deputy mayor Gary Schimmels will recommend that the council appoint the mayor’s half-brother to the planning commission.

Saturday’s Valley Voice will have a bit of everything - school kids, emergency services and city government. The students at Pasadena Park Elementary spent the fall reading to earn points. Now they’re spending those points to buy Christmas gifts at the Scholar Dollar Store run by Cheri Reed.

The new contract between American Medical Response and the majority of the fire districts and departments in Spokane County seems to be going well. Spokane Valley Fire is administering the contract and data shows that response times are dropping. Auditors gave the City of Spokane Valley a clean bill of health this week, but the city is currently involved in a criminal case against a former employee who is facing felony theft charges for allegedly stealing money from city deposits.

And in a story that shows how the economy is affecting everyone, Spokane Valley Partners has announced that there will be no Season of Sharing this year.

Read tomorrow’s stories here for more details.

A cougar has been reported in the area of Pasadena Park Elementary School. A deputy has been dispached to check it out.

Update: Deputies tracked an animal behind a nearby church, but then discovered it was just an ordinary housecat. The resident who called in the sighting says that’s not the animal she saw. The search continued, but nothing was found.