Volunteers SCOPE out neighborhoods

In the darkness of a West Plains night, city police departments can’t be everywhere at once.

That’s why there is a grass-roots watch system working in Cheney, Airway Heights, and Medical Lake – the EWU/Cheney Sheriff’s Community Oriented Policing Effort.

On Oct. 11, SCOPE volunteers will be out in force at the EWU Governor’s Cup football game, working with the Cheney Police Department on controlling foot traffic and rowdy fans.

They don’t chase criminals, have high-speed car chases, or use police dogs, said president Terry Munro. Instead, SCOPE volunteers are ordinary citizens who do a good job reporting crime.

“We’re just eyes and ears,” Munro said. “We’re nonconfrontational.”

The SCOPE program has volunteers drive around town in a patrol car looking for any trouble.

Munro said SCOPE is always looking for more volunteers.

The West Plains group is one of 16 stations across Spokane County.

Any West Plains citizen can call SCOPE and ask to have their home watched while they are on vacation.

“They’ll check your home for you,” Munro said.

For more information, call Munro at 456-8512.

Crafts for charity

People are bringing their home-made everything for this year’s craft fair in Medical Lake.

Vendors will offer wood crafts, crochet, candles, collectibles, and other items in the church gym at Lake City Assembly Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“It’s a real variety of things,” said fair organizer Gail Jensen. They had 300 to 400 people visit last year.

The fair is taking applications for vendors who’d like to join.

“The creativity of different people – they make things you’ve never seen before,” Jensen said.

The church’s women’s ministry group is the organizing hand behind the fair. Part of the fair proceeds support this group, which provides meals for sick people, people whose family members have recently died, and other needs in the community.

To register in the fair, contact Jensen at 244-8459.