Pia Hallenberg

Pia Hallenberg reports on neighborhood news in North and South Spokane for The Voice section of the paper.

Contact Pia

Email: piah@spokesman.com
Phone: 509-459-5427
Fax: 509-459-5482

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Recent stories by Pia

Seniors strike a pose to help with fundraising

December 4, 2008 in Voices on Page N14 The Corbin Senior Activity Center is trying a new fundraising technique: the senior 2009 calendar. Members of the senior center posed for photos themed after popular songs like “The Monster …
Man donates landscaping to help beautify St. Patrick’s

December 4, 2008 in Voices on Page S1 Herman Victor St. Patrick probably will not notice the difference in the landscaping outside St. Patrick Catholic School in Hillyard. He’s the school’s hamster, and from his cage in the …
City takes down old maple

December 4, 2008 in Voices on Page S11 Earlier this week Spokane urban forestry staff took down an old maple tree that was leaning over Grand Boulevard, just south of the entrance to Manito Park. “This tree was …
Pools making progress

November 27, 2008 in Voices on Page N1 The major overhaul and rebuild of the city’s six outdoor swimming pools is benefiting from nice fall weather. In some places, construction is a little bit ahead of schedule. “We …
Unconventional income

November 27, 2008 in Voices on Page W1 When the economy is going down the drain, jobs are being cut and credit is running out just before the holidays, shoppers get creative. Local pawnbrokers are seeing more business, …
Stairway to controversy

November 14, 2008 in City on Page B1 Developer Mick McDowell wants to buy the Cedar Street staircase that links the Peaceful Valley neighborhood to Riverside Avenue above – along with the 25-by-95-foot strip of land it sits …
Biodiesel industry revs up

November 13, 2008 in City on Page B1 A biodiesel plant under construction for the past couple of years in Odessa, west of Spokane, is up and running. Inland Empire Oilseeds produced its first 15,000-gallon batch of biodiesel …
Golf cart use on city streets is an unclear course for many

November 7, 2008 in City on Page B1 Remy Osso, the owner of Northwest Golf Cars, usually gets excited when the phone rings off the hook. Lately he’s getting frustrated, too. “We’ve been getting numerous phone calls from …
Justice visits husband of three

November 1, 2008 in City on Page B1 When Heather Sullivan married Nicholas Garcia in 1998, she found him friendly, charming and caring. What Sullivan didn’t know was that Garcia was already married to Ana Garcia, and she …
City contracting for warming centers

November 1, 2008 in City on Page B3 As the temperature drops and the leaves fall, the city of Spokane is contracting with four social service agencies as of today to provide extra shelter for those who are …
shoppers not spooked

October 30, 2008 in City on Page A1 Sarah Palin has been flying out the door, with nurses and police officers in hot pursuit. Tombstones and bats are popular, too. When it comes to spending on Halloween costumes, …
Overseas forensics

October 25, 2008 in HandleX on Page I1 When Chet and Diane Park flew out of London’s Heathrow Airport five years ago, they had a lot on their minds. He was contemplating taking a temporary job in England; …
Dog lost in Texas no longer welcome at home

October 25, 2008 in Voices on Page I1 The only trace of Bruno at his former Spokane Valley home is the “beware of dog” signs on the chain-link fence. And former owner Ruth Stallings is just fine with …
Chopper-sharing business takes off

October 21, 2008 in City on Page B1 Scaling back in a skittish economy means different things to different people. To some, it means skipping a meal so the kids can eat; to others it means letting go …
BNSF gives site for new fire station

October 18, 2008 in City on Page B2 BNSF Railway Co. donated about 4.5 acres to Northern Lakes Fire District for a new station in Rathdrum on Friday. The existing station was built almost 30 years ago, when …
Far too many felines

October 14, 2008 in City on Page B3 More than 100 people are on a waiting list to drop off cats at Kootenai Humane Society. But the no-kill shelter in Hayden can probably expect to see more homeless …
Railroad bridge passes check

October 10, 2008 in City on Page B2 A weight restriction has been lifted at the Larson Beach Road railroad bridge south of Loon Lake. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway placed the three-ton weight limit on the bridge …
Snake’s foster parents charged with theft

October 10, 2008 in City on Page B1 The Coeur d’Alene couple who took in a homeless red tail boa found in a Post Falls yard last month have been charged with grand theft. Not because they stole …
Another opportunity for Oscar Ocana

October 7, 2008 in City on Page B1 Oscar Ocana, a Mexico-born business student, only recently learned English, but he uses a certain word a lot: “opportunity.” “I have been here for one and a half years,” said …
Buying wood? Don’t get burned

October 6, 2008 in City on Page A1 Temperatures are dropping, and the scent of wood smoke lingers in the air. As heating oil and natural gas become more expensive, thermostats are being turned down and those who …