Deer Park air show is free, hands-on

Deer Park Airport is 70 years old this year.

To celebrate the milestone, flight enthusiasts are putting on an air show to recognize the history of aviation in the community.

The event on July 19 will feature historic aircraft, flight demonstrations and classes for children. Activities start at 8:30 a.m.

Organizers hope to attract as many as 3,000 people.

Each of the featured aircraft will take off for a flight demonstration. The rest of the time, pilots and their planes will be parked so that people can walk up for close inspection and to ask questions.

“People can get up and actually touch them,” said Michael Jean, a member of the air show steering committee.

Jean said the show will give people the opportunity to learn more about aviation.

Dozens of pilots from around the region are expected to fly in for the day.

One of the featured aircraft is a 1928 Boeing 40C biplane, which was restored at Felts Field after being salvaged from a crash site in Oregon in 1993. That plane is scheduled to fly at 10 a.m.

“Every hour on the hour we are going to feature an aircraft,” Jean said.

Another plane on display will be a Stearman Speedmail, which dates from the same period as the Boeing 40C. It will put on a flight demonstration at 1 p.m.

The Boeing Museum of Flight is offering two free classes for children, one on Flying Gizmos and another on rocket science. The classes require preregistration at (509) 276-3379 or by email at deerparkairport@qwestoffice.net. The rocket class has limited space.

In the 1960s, the airport grounds were the home of the Deer Park drag strip. Cars and drivers from the period will be at the show. They will put on a car parade at 12:30 p.m.

A helicopter will offer rides for $40 a seat.

Organizers are building a small, fabric-lined pond to show off a pontoon plane.

The show is free. However, there will be a $2 parking fee. A Kiwanis pancake feed will be available in the morning.

Extra officers on DUI patrol

Extra law officers will be on patrol starting Tuesday looking for people driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The regional enforcement effort will continue until July 13 to reduce driving fatalities.

Highway 904 work nearly done

The repaving project on state Highway 904 from Four Lakes to Cheney is getting close to being finished. Final paving and painting still need to be done. Most of the work is occurring during evening and early morning hours from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Drivers may encounter single-lane traffic controlled by flaggers and pilot cars.

Elsewhere, the intersections of Francis Avenue and Market Street have all lanes open as work there wraps up.

Interstate 90 from Liberty Park to Havana Street is undergoing nighttime work on the shoulders, resulting in some off-ramp and lane closures from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Street projects around the Valley

In Spokane Valley, Fourth Avenue from Thierman to David roads remains closed to all but local traffic through 5 p.m. on Thursday for utility work.

Elsewhere in Spokane Valley, repaving continues along the western portions of East Sprague Avenue and adjoining streets.

Trent Avenue beneath the Sullivan Road overpass will have a westbound curb lane closure today from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

I-90 work on hold for holiday traffic

Work to widen I-90 east of Snoqualmie Pass will shut down Thursday through next Monday so the maximum number of lanes can be opened to handle holiday traffic.

However, rock blasting today through Wednesday will cause closure of all traffic in the construction area for an hour at 8 p.m. each night.