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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Melodie Little

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All Stories

News >  Spokane

Humans undermining beavers’ work

Leave it to beavers to put up structures that naturalize a stream and refurbish a wetland. Leave it to humans to foil their dam plans. In a tale fraught with irony, a few homeowners are destroying the very creatures and dams that are accomplishing what scientists prescribe for improving Liberty Lake. The beaver-bashers are violating state wildlife laws – which carry fines up to $2,000 and one year's jail time – to protect an illegal trail on Spokane County park property.
News >  Voices

New hospital officer pleased to return to Valley roots

A Valley native is gearing up to lead Valley Hospital and Medical Center and its 458 employees into the future. Keith Baldwin was hired as the new chief operating officer in June and returned to the same community where he played baseball for the Central Valley Bears.
News >  Spokane

Valleyfest attracts enthusiastic crowds

Valleyfest launched a new era under a vast expanse of blue sky and a backdrop of tall pines on Mirabeau Meadows Park on Saturday. Although the location changed from past years, fans of the 15-year-old festival say it retained its charm.
News >  Spokane

Pullman family hailed as heroes

Michigan authorities are hailing a Pullman family as heroes after they led police to a disturbed teenager who'd amassed an arsenal of weapons for a possible attack on a Detroit-area high school with 2,000 students. "We could have had a potential Columbine situation on our hands, honestly," said Officer Tom Wixson of the Clinton Township Police Department. "They are definitely heroes."
News >  Spokane

Mayor: Let utility-takeover ruling stand

The mayor of Liberty Lake wants his city to abide by a court decision that halted its takeover of Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District and called for a public vote. "My recommendation is not to appeal the lawsuit," Mayor Steve Peterson said.
News >  Voices

Fun and frolic

Men modeling tasteless lingerie and a Jerry Lee Lewis knockoff are among acts lined up for "Feeble Follies II." Preparation started last month for a troupe of 30 seniors performing in the show at the Spokane Valley Senior Center on Sept. 25. The center has hosted five or six talent shows of different names in the past. Last year, two performances sold out, attracting nearly 200 people. For those who haven't attended, the follies is a mishmash of ridiculous lip-syncing, garish costumes and unsightly wigs.
News >  Spokane

Farmers harvest some fond memories

There's a lot of history on Crayton Guhlke's 3,000-acre Davenport farm. "My great-grandfather homesteaded out here in 1882. Me and my wife went to school here and we never left town," he said.
News >  Spokane

Pregnant woman seriously hurt in fall from window during fire

A pregnant woman was seriously injured when she fell from a second-floor windowsill while trying to escape an early morning fire that may have been intentionally set. Andrea Daymude reportedly stepped out a window and onto a narrow brick sill to escape a blaze that was sweeping through the hallway of the Reilly Apartments, 1526 W. Broadway, the building's owner and Spokane Fire Department officials said.
News >  Spokane

Liberty Lake sewer annex ruled illegal

Liberty Lake had its day in court and was slapped around with a vengeance. During a Superior Court hearing on Friday, Judge Michael P. Price ruled that the city's attempt to take over the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District utility's assets violated state laws.
News >  Spokane

Pay hike foes turn in petition

Spokane Valley city government's most vocal critic visited city hall for the first time on Friday, bringing along a petition with more than 8,000 signatures. Sally Jackson was among 50 volunteers who appear to have gathered enough signatures to stave off an impending pay increase for elected officials until the public can vote on the matter.
News >  Spokane

Racer regains consciousness

A young motocross racer recently awakened from a monthlong coma, mumbled a few words and then said "Hi Mom." Shiri Howell's first words touched off a flood of relief for her mother, Angie Howell, who spent many worried hours at her daughter's bedside at Sacred Heart Medical Center.
News >  Spokane

Culinary bliss at Riverfront Park

Pig Out in the Park continues today and Monday in Riverfront Park. Voracious eaters from throughout the Northwest united for a massive culinary adventure at the park on Saturday.
News >  Voices

Generous gardeners

Area gardeners have donated thousands of pounds of veggies to area food banks — and the harvest season is still young. Gardeners participating in Plant a Row recently delivered nearly 3,000 pounds of corn, cucumbers, tomatoes and other produce to the Valley Food Bank.
News >  Spokane

Restaurant prepping for Pig Out

Tony Brito is no stranger to long hours in front of a hot stove. As temperatures climbed into the 80s on Tuesday, Brito stood over a pot of boiling rice in the kitchen of Aracelia's Mexican Food Restaurant on East Trent Avenue.
News >  Voices

Buster Alert

Gina Hardy makes a big deal about Liberty Lake pets. The city services coordinator organized Liberty Lake's first pet festival in September and pioneered a system for reuniting lost animals with their owners.
News >  Voices

Funding for dreams

Yelena Bibikov may be thousands of miles from her homeland but she's only steps from realizing her dreams. Back in Kazakhstan, Bibikov's religious beliefs kept her on the lower rung of the work force. Twelve years and a host of life experiences later, she's creating a successful sewing business in Spokane Valley. Bibikov is learning about tax laws and licensing requirements through Refugee Small Business classes offered by Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs, a local nonprofit.
News >  Spokane

Motocross racers raise funds for injured teen

The local motocross community is pulling together to help 17-year-old Shiri Howell, a professional rider who has been in a coma since an accident three weeks ago. Three days after placing fourth in the Women's Motocross Association National Championship in Washougal, Wash., the East Valley High School honor student collided with another rider while practicing at Extreme Motorsports, a motocross track at the Spokane County Off-road Vehicle Park.
News >  Voices

Program needs more backpacks, supplies for students

When Cheryl and Mike Cicchetti recently tied the knot, they asked wedding guests to bring school supplies instead of crystal and linen. The couple is among a number of community members gathering school supplies for a Spokane Valley Community Center back-to-school program. The program distributes backpacks and other school-related gear to children from low-income families, who struggle to afford extras.
News >  Voices

Shimmer shines

Shimmer has logged more air miles than most seasoned travelers — albeit his flight accommodations were a bit cramped. "He'd rather be scrunched than travel in cargo," said Barb Davis, who stows the 9-year-old sheltie under her seat and pays $250 for his airfare to Europe. The pooch and his human trainer have traveled the world for eight years, competing in national and international agility events. Although he doesn't rack up frequent flier miles, Shimmer is the dog equivalent of an Olympic athlete.
News >  Spokane

Dog Days of Summer lively

Daisy isn't what you'd call a head turner, but she has that certain something that caused a Valley couple to stop for a second look. Once free from her cage, the German shepherd-mix made her move toward Jim and Sharon Currier.
News >  Voices

Turning house into home

A house used by Spokane Valley Community Center to help homeless families get back on their feet is getting a makeover. Members of Spokane East Rotary and women from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have donated hundreds of hours to renovate the interior of the four-bedroom home, which is next door to the community center on East Broadway.
News >  Voices

Wild ride

Merlin Motors is preparing to unleash a lean-mean rocket onto area roadways. The Merlin Roadster melds a motorcycle's freedom and a race car's good looks into a stealth package with sexy bad attitude. The single-seat vehicle has three wheels and bridges the gap between motorcycles and cars. "This is a toy. It's just a pure pleasure machine," said Ron Keto, an East Valley High School graduate who is setting up a Spokane Valley production facility that will employ 15 to 20 people to assemble the vehicles.
News >  Voices

Card rooms see more poker interest

Vince Brazier's luck disappeared in a flash and by 11 a.m. he had busted. His hand, two pair with aces and jacks, was beat by three 7s. The loss was a "bad beat" any way you look at it.
News >  Voices

Liberty Lake garden tour Saturday

Liberty Lake's garden tour offers big ideas for growing vegetables and flowers in small spaces. On Saturday, five gardens in Liberty Lake, Greenacres and Otis Orchards will showcase a mix of landscapes with ideas galore.