In brief: Officers collecting holiday donations

Law enforcement officers and firefighters in Spokane and Kootenai counties are seeking donations for their annual Holidays and Heroes program, which pairs public safety officers with needy children for Christmas gift shopping.

Volunteer officers will pick up the children in patrol cars Dec. 9 and take them to the Spokane Valley and Post Falls Wal-Marts to shop for holiday gifts for themselves and their families. The children then will be driven to Greyhound Park in Post Falls, where their gifts will be wrapped, food baskets will be waiting and the children can visit Santa.

Last year 105 children participated.

Cash and food donations can be dropped off at the Spokane County Public Safety Building, 1100 W. Mallon Ave., and the Spokane Valley Police Department, 12710 E. Sprague Ave.

– From staff reports

Sending thanks to U.S. troops

“Giving Thanks,” a new program from America’s Defense Department’s America Supports You program, has arranged for holiday communications with U.S. military personnel deployed around the world, according to the American Forces Press Service,

Anyone wishing to express gratitude to the troops for their service can text a brief one- or two-line message to 89279 until midnight Thursday. Each message sent will receive a response from an active-duty service member.

“We are counting on other American families to take a moment during their holiday celebration to think of those families and their family members who are serving and say, ‘Thanks’,” said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communications.

– Mary Jane Honegger

Spokane

City services close for holiday

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, Spokane City Hall will be closed today and Friday. City libraries, the solid waste transfer stations, and the Waste to Energy Facility will be closed today and open regular operating hours for the rest of the weekend.

Garbage pickup and curbside recycling will be a day late during the week of Thanksgiving for those residents whose garbage is normally picked up on Thursday and Friday. Because of the holiday, crews will do Thursday rounds on Friday and Friday rounds on Saturday.

Residents and visitors park for free at parking meters today. For the rest of the weekend, normal meter use rules apply.

Meanwhile, the Riverfront Park attractions, including the Ice Palace, Imax Theater, Spokane Falls Skyride and Carousel, are open today and throughout the weekend. For hours of operation, visit the Web at www. spokaneriverfrontpark.com.

– From staff reports