Police Officer Kevin Schmeckpeper rides down stairs while practicing bike handling techniques at the skate park in Pavillion Park in Liberty Lake May 15. SR photo/Jesse Tinsley

We are a day late doing the Saturday Valley Voice highlights because of the holiday, but they say some things get better with age, right? Yes, I think I'll go with that. Reporter Lisa Leinberger had a story on Central Valley High School students who got the opportunity to chat with scientists who are simulating manned missions to Mars.

The Spokane Valley City Council had a bit of a wild meeting last week while they were debating a controversial zone change request that would allow high density housing on a chunk of land surrounded by single family homes. They decided to hold off on a final vote, though they did approve all the other zone change requests submitted as part of the annual comprehensive plan amendments.

Genesis Church has a new home. The church, founded in 2010, is now leasing the old Good Shepherd Lutheran Church across from Central Valley High School. A trio of Liberty Lake police officers recently completed special training before they head out on bicycle patrol.

Teacher Robbie Robinson, second from left, stands in a greenhouse with Harmony High School students, from left, Satieva Ankey, Josh Armstrong, Chris Kinyon, Cody Buchanan and Franki Turner. SR pohto/Dan Pelle

We have a ton of good stuff to highlight in today's Valley Voice, so much that I'm not sure I can include it all without making this the mother of all blog posts. So, here we go. Spokane County is looking at a building on East Trent as a possible home for a new regional animal shelter, but first the county commissioners have to convince Spokane and Spokane Valley to go along with the plan and open their pocketbooks to pay for it.

Reporter Lisa Leinberger stopped in at Harmony High School to look at a new product the students are making and selling called Harmony Hot Peppers. It's a mix of dried, ground hot peppers that I hear really clears your sinuses. The students built their own greenhouse to grow the peppers for the mix.

The Spokane Valley City Council spent some time Tuesday with the planning commission and a pair of Seattle land use attorneys to discuss the city's Shoreline Master Program, which has to be updated by the end of 2013. The Liberty Lake City Council heard a request for more money from the Liberty Lake Library to hire staff, but spent a lot of time discussing where the money might come from.

Also in Liberty Lake, police have identified two suspects in a recent string of vehicle prowls, but no arrests have been made yet. There's a partial list of possible stolen property included with the story.

If you are looking for a chuckle (and a clever headline), check out correspondent Cindy Hval's story on the celebration of her cats' birthdays. The cat pictured with the story looks less than thrilled about his birthday attire.

Liberty Lake Police Officer Mike Bogenreif shows the body camera he used during his shift Jan. 27. SR photo/Jesse Tinsley

We had some great stories for you in Saturday's Valley Voice, so here's your chance to check them out if you missed them Saturday. The Liberty Lake Police Department is investigating getting body cameras for its patrol officers. The department spent the last month testing the cameras and were pleased with the results. The story includes videos of two traffic stops recorded by an officer wearing the camera.

Reporter Lisa Leinberger talked to University Elementary School teacher Linda Honn, who will be inducted into the Washington Music Educators Assocation's Hall of Fame. She has been teaching for 29 years and helped develop the elementary music program for the Central Valley School District.

Last week the Spokane Valley City Council debated whether to add railroad quiet zones to the 2012 budget along with a gateway sign at Appleway and Thierman and a swale project on the west end of Sprague Avenue. In a divided vote, the council decided to remove the quiet zones from the list over concerns about the cost.

Also last week the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee met to discuss the second round of funding requests for 2012. The committee's funding recommendations to the city council raised some controversy last year when they didn't recommend funding for Valleyfest. During last week's discussion only two of the five committee members favored granting any funding to Valleyfest. Instead they recommended giving almost all the money the city has available to the Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau. It will be up to the city council, however, to decide what groups are funded and with how much.

Troy Robertson, a 1979 Central Valley High School graduate, is on the upcoming season of the CBS hit show “Survivor.” Photo courtesy Troy Robertson

There are several really cool stories in today's Valley Voice for your reading pleasure. Reporter Lisa Leinberger has information on the Fab 14 - the 14 area high school seniors competing to be this year's Lilac queen and princesses. There are some Valley girls in the bunch - Hannah Allen of University High School, Syndee Scofield of Central Valley High School and Hailey Ann Murray of West Valley High School.

Reporter Pia Hallenberg has a story on 1979 Central Valley High School graduate Troy Robertson, who is being featured in the new season of “Survivor.” The new season begins on Feb. 15 on CBS. The Spokane Valley Fire Department recently released information on 2011 response times. The department met the standard for almost every type of call. I also have a little more information on last week's armed robbery arrest in Liberty Lake.

A former assisted living center employee accused of robbing the place at gunpoint early Wednesday was ordered jailed on $50,000 bond after appearing in Spokane County Superior Court.

Timothy J. Martinez, 28, locked a 20-year-old female employee and a 77-year-old male resident in a room at Guardian Angel Homes in Liberty Lake after stealing a bag of narcotics about 2 a.m., according to Liberty Lake Police Department.

The center is across the street from the police department.

An officer and two sheriff's deputies responded within one minute.  They saw a man later identified as Martinez throw something under a parked car near the center. An officer forced him to the ground and put him in the back of his patrol car before retrieving the bag of drugs and an Airsoft rifle that had a laser sight attached, accoridng to court documents prepared by police.

Police followed Martinez's footprints in the snow back to the center. The employee said the robber knocked on the door and said he had a medication delivery, then displayed the rifle when she opened the door. The man was wearing a ski mask, but the employee said his voice sounded very familiar and that he kept apologizing to her and calling her by name. Martinez worked at the center last summer, according to police.

Martinez told police he was sorry but was “having money issues and had no choice,” according to court documents.

“This is what I get for having an idea about trying to make a quick buck,” he said.

Martinez remains in jail on charges of first-degree robbery, two counts of first-degree kidnapping and three counts of possession of a controlled substance: Lorazepam, Tramadol and Hydrocodone.

As it turns out, if you rob a place next door to the police station, it really doesn't take police long to arrive at all.

A man armed with a rifle reportedly locked an employee and resident of Guardian Angel Homes in Liberty Lake in a room after stealing a bag of narcotics at 2 a.m. Wednesday morning. The assisted living facility is located across the street from the Liberty Lake Police Department.

Liberty Lake police officer Mike Thomas and two Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies responded within one minute, according to a press release from Police Chief Brian Asmus. They spotted a man walking in a field nearby and saw him throw something under a parked car, Asmus said. The man, identified as 28-year-old Timothy J. Martinez of Spokane, was quickly arrested. A bag of medication and what appeared to be an assault rifle with a laser sight was found under the car. The rifle turned out to be an Airsoft Rifle that had been modified to look more realistic, Asmus said.

Click here for more details.

A volunteer assesses Kole LeGrant’s reading skills at Central Valley Kindergarten Center on Monday. SR photo/Kathy Plonka

Happy chilly Thursday morning, everyone. Today's Valley Voice is full of good stories to keep you occupied as you sip that morning cup of coffee. The city of Spokane Valley may be considering entering a partnership with the Spokane County Library District to buy 8 acres of vacant land that could be used to build a new Spokane Valley library branch and expand a nearby city park. The land, located at Sprague and Herald, is owned by the Pring Corporation. The company is refusing to split up the land and the district only needs four acres for its project.

Reporter Lisa Leinberger has a story on retired teachers and educators who volunteer three times a year to administer reading assessment tests to students at the Central Valley Kindergarten Center. The Liberty Lake Police Department has plans to test a personal video camera over the next month. The small camera attaches to the officer's shirt and records audio and video. The department is considering outfitting all its officers with the cameras if the test goes well.

Correspondent Cindy Hval has a touching Front Porch column that any parent of older children can identify with. Children grow up, move out and move on, leaving the parent in their car clutching the keys and wondering why it's so quiet all of the sudden.

The skeletal remains found near Henry Road in Liberty Lake Saturday have been identified as a man missing since April.

 Investigators say Christopher R. Milam, 51, died of a single gunshot wound to his chest. Police found a gun near his body. They have not ruled Milam's death a suicide and say they will be interviewing Milam's family.

Read more from Nina Culver here.

The skeletal remains found near Henry Road in Liberty Lake Saturday by a dog walker have been identified as Greenacres resident Christopher R. Milam, 51.
Milam was reported missing by his wife on April 23. She told police they had argued the previous day and Milam walked away while she slept, according to a May press release from the Spokane County Sheriff's Office. She reported that he had been drinking and she hid all the car keys so he could not drive, the release said.
The couple had recently moved to the 19800 block of East First Court from Texas. An autopsy showed that Milam died of a single gunshot wound to the chest and police found a gun near the body. The death is still under investigation, said Liberty Lake Police Chief Brian Asmus. “We are not ruling it a suicide yet,” he said.
Investigators are still checking the gun and will be speaking with family members, Asmus said.  

A man walking his dogs stumbled on a human skeleton Saturday in the 20000 block of Henry Road in Liberty Lake. The clothed skeleton was partially hidden by rocks and brush and a semiautomatic pistol was found nearby, Police Chief Brian Asmus said.

The deceased man has not been identified. An autopsy showed the cause of death as a single gunshot wound to the chest, Asmus said. Click here for more details.

Central Valley sophomore Madie Laws, left, and junior Meaghan Schmidt, right, react as teacher Bill Plesek places a beef heart on a dissecting tray. School districts throughout the region are kicking off a new career and technical program focusing on biomedicine and other scientific areas through a program called Project Lead the Way. SR photo/J. Bart Rayniak

A recent class at Central Valley High School was not for the faint of heart, since students were dissecting beef hearts. The class is part of a new program to introduce students to science, technology, engineering and math called Project Lead the Way featured in a story in today's Valley Voice by reporter Lisa Leinberger.

The Spokane Valley City Council voted in a split decision to make the speed limit on Indiana east of Sullivan 35 miles per hour as far as the newly completed one-way couplet, which will now have a lower speed limit of 30 mph.

Lisa has another interesting story on early settler Stephen Liberty, who was recently honored with a monument at the new Liberty Lake Arboretum. In other Liberty Lake news, police responded to several shoplifting calls last week.

The Positive Change group on the Spokane Valley City Council appear to be maintaining their control of the council, with incumbents Dean Grafos, Arne Woodard and Chuck Hafner in the lead. The race between Ben Wick and Marilyn Cline to replace Bill Gothmann, however, is still too close to call. More votes will continue to be counted over the next week or two.

Correspondent Cindy Hval has a touching story featuring a local couple whose grandson, Marine Lance Cpl. Garrett Gamble, has been honored at the Veterans Memorial at Valley Fourth Memorial Church. The church dedicated the 24-hour, lighted memorial earlier this year.

Reporter Lisa Leinberger checked in with an eighth grade class at Horizon Middle School that recently had a chance to chat on the phone with an astronaut on the International Space Station. The Liberty Lake Police Department recently responded to several 911 calls from citizens who saw a man drag a woman across Appleway Blvd. and force her into a car.

The Evergreen Railroad Modelers HO layout is built on a 25-foot-by-60-foot area with 18 bridges, a dozen tunnels, a large city and rail yard, three main lines, mountains, small towns and a computer system that allows the operator to run the trains with realistic sounds for steam and diesels. SR photo/J. Bart Rayniak

The November election is getting closer and our candidate coverage continues in today's Valley Voice with a story by Lisa Leinberger on the recent Rally in the Valley debate this week. Candidates for Liberty Lake Mayor and Liberty Lake City Council answered questions from students on current issues facing the city.

Lisa also checked out a few new towns - Bakersville, New City and Cobbleton. The cities are part of a huge model railroad layout created by the Evergreen Railroad Modelers. The cities are very detailed, right down to the cars in parking lots and shrubs dotting the hillsides.

The Spokane Valley City Council tackled several issues this week. The agreed to send a letter to Spokane County expressing their displeasure at being asked to subsidize the city of Spokane in a regional animal shelter plan after Spokane said it would only join the effort if their costs don't go up. They also had a split vote approving the first reading of the proposed Bike and Pedestrian Master Program.

This week's Liberty Lake police blotter includes a report on a citizen coming to the rescue of a police officer fighting with a suspect.

Scooter D. Carey in a 2007 Cowlitz County Jail booking photo. Photo courtesy of the Liberty Lake Police Department.

The Liberty Lake Police Department now has a name to go with the photo of a man suspected of breaking into a storage unit at Storage Solutions on East Mission on July 15 and stealing a motorcycle. He is Scooter D. Carey, 36, of Longview, Wash., and police believe he is still in the area.  

Police traced the truck the suspect used back to its registered owner, a resident of Kalama, Wash., and contacted the police department there for help. “They are very familiar with the registered owner,” said Liberty Lake Police Chief Brian Asmus. “He's a career criminal over there.”

The police there sent Liberty Lake police a list of the man's known associates, one of whom was Carey. Asmus said he has also heard that a woman identified as Carey's girlfriend was arrested in Coeur d'Alene last week and a truck full of stolen goods was recovered. A motorcycle was among the items recovered, but Asmus said he doesn't know yet if it is the same one stolen from Liberty Lake. Police are now looking for Carey, who is facing charges of commercial burglary and theft of a motor vehicle.

Spokane County owns the abandoned Great Northern right of way, which crosses under Trent Avenue east of Argonne Road in Millwood. It may be used for a commuter bicycle trail. SR photo/J. Bart Rayniak

For those of us who melt in high temperatures, let's start the day with an appeal to Mother Nature for a nice cold front. After that, let's take a look at today's Valley Voice. The old Great Northern railroad has been largely ignored for years, but now is being sought by Spokane Valley, Millwood, Spokane County and Avista. Spokane Valley and Millwood want it for a prosed Spokane Valley-Millwood Trail that would run from Spokane Community College to Liberty Lake. Spokane County wants to put in a pipe to carry treated wastewater and Avista want to use a section of it for a high-voltage electric line. Reporter John Craig's story includes details on all the plans, plus a map of the proposed trail.

Reporter Lisa Leinberger has been visiting local SCOPE stations this summer and this week she is profiling Trentwood SCOPE. It's somewhat unique because it is housed in an apartment and only has four volunteers. The four are extremely dedicated, though, and accomplish a lot. The Newman Lake Fire District is in the final stages of deciding how much to ask voters for in a bond on the November ballot to build a new Station 1. The estimated cost to build the station is $2.2 million. My story has a report from a special meeting this week and there's another meeting planned for next week for a final vote.

People who have been paying attention to vehicle prowling reports in Liberty Lake may remember that police there have arrested the same person twice after catching him in the act. But last week Liberty Lake officers arrested a duo for vehicle prowling who were also caught in the act and in posession of stolen property.

The Liberty Lake Police Department thought they had an easy case on July 15 when Storage Solutions on East Mission reported that someone had broken in and stolen a Honda Motorcycle from a storage unit. The video surveillance system captured crystal clear shots of the man involved and his truck. But the blue Dodge pickup had different license plates on the front and back. “Neither of those belong on the truck,” said police chief Brian Asmus.

So now Asmus is circulating photos of the suspected thief in the hopes that someone will recognize him. Asmus said it appears that the man scoped out the business the day before the theft was reported and may have seen the Honda's owner put the motorcycle in the unit. At one point he entered the storage facility using a gate code that was assigned to local contractor who did some door work at the facility last year. Asmus said it was hoped that the man was a current or former employee, but the business owner did not recognize the man.

Anyone who knows the identity of the man pictured above is asked to call the Liberty Lake Police Department at 755-1140.

It's time to take a look at the stories we've got coming for you in Thursday's Valley Voice. There was a public hearing before the Spokane Valley City Council this week on a proposed developers agreement between the city and St. John Vianney Church, which has applied to rezone a piece of property to the south of the church so Catholic Charities can build a low income senior housing complex. Plenty of people spoke against the agreement, but several also spoke in favor of it.

Reporter Lisa Leinberger recently visited with some happy dogs out at the Patricia Simonet Laughing Dog Park at Stateline. The Liberty Lake Police Department recently had a good week, clearing up several related crimes by recommending various criminal charges against five teenagers. They also dealt with a wayward gardner who wanted potting soil for his pots and decided to take some from a construction site.

There will also be a report from last week's public hearing before the Planning Commission on the city's proposed Bike and Pedestrian Master Program. People were overwhelmingly in favor of it and it received a unanimous nod of approval from the commission.

Superior Court Judge Tari Eitzen ruled in favor of the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum in a lawsuit filed by Ichabod’s Tavern, Peters Hardware and Dave’s Bar and Grill over parking lot access for the businesses. SR photo/J. Bart Rayniak

Since none of us blew away during yesterday's little wind storm, I guess it's time to take a look at the Thursday Valley Voice. A Spokane County Superior Court judge has issued a written opinion in a lawsuit filed against the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum, saying that three neighboring businesses have no easement rights to the property.

The Liberty Lake Police Department has arrested a familiar face this week in connection to a string of vehicle prowls in the area. Robert L. Hahn was arrested early Monday morning with allegedly stolen property in his pocket and burglary tools in his car. Liberty Lake officers have arrested Hahn several times before, most recently in December.

The Spokane Valley City Council has now seen the proposed development agreement negotiated by city staff and St. John Vianney Church after neighbors withdrew from the discussion. The agreement would limit a low income senior housing facility on the site of a proposed zone change to 40 units, limit the height and require the facility to remain low income senior housing for 75 years. A public hearing on the issue is scheduled for July 12.

Reporter Lisa Leinberger checked in with the Spokane Thunder drum corps this week as they finish up weeks of day-long practices to polish their performance. The group will be in a competition Sunday at 7 p.m. at Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane. If you've never been to a drum corps competition I highly recommend it. They are great to watch and a lot of the time you just have to marvel at their precision. Check Lisa's story for ticket information.

There was a light turnout at last week's candidate fair hosted by the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce. But the few people who attended were able to get their first look at some of the candidates for the Spokane Valley City Council.

Alert readers may have noticed an item in today's Liberty Lake crime blotter in the Valley Voice that references a hand gun turned in to the Liberty Lake Police Department this week. The man who turned it in said teenagers had been passing it around and he didn't want it to fall into the wrong hands. Today news comes from the Spokane Valley Police Department that an East Valley student has been arrested in connection to the gun. According to a police press release, the student brought the loaded gun last week to Harmony High, East Valley's alternative high school, and had been making threats against the father of a female friend.

The 14-year-old student has been arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm on school property, second degree unlawful possession of a firearm and felony harassment. Click here for more details.

A father and son became stuck in the mud Tuesday while leading police on an interstate chase after attempting to steal merchandise from the Wal-Mart just east of the Idaho-Washington border.

Michael R. Dyczok, 64, (left) and Michael Dyczok, Jr., 35, (right) were arrested near East Wellesley Avenue and North Harvard Road just before 11 p.m. after leading Post Falls police on a high-speed chase in a blue Volkswagen Jetta.

Post Falls police began watching Wal-Mart after an employee said the men had filled storage containers with merchandise earlier that day and placed them near the fire exit. Police saw the men grab the storage containers and flee through the fire exit, then speed away in the Jetta.  

But the father and son duo drove down a dead end road just across the Washington border and got stuck in mud, police say. Liberty Lake police assisted with the arrests.

Police say the Dyczoks threw a stolen X-Box from their car during the chase. It was recovered, along with other stolen merchandise located in the Jetta.

The men were booked into jail on charges of eluding police and tampering with evidence. The younger Dyczok also faces a charge of driving on a suspended California license.

Teacher Bob McCaslin and his CV Kindergarten Center class show the hats they can wear during school recess, provided to them by doctors and staff from Advanced Dermatology, who came to the school May 3 to teach skin and sun safety. SR photo/J. Bart Rayniak

There's a whole bunch going on in today's Valley Voice, so sit back and get your mouse clicking finger warmed up. While many school districts are trying to deal with expected budget cuts, the Central Valley School District has announced it does not plan to lay any teachers off this year and will instead not replace people who are leaving the district. Reporter Lisa Leinberger has that story.

I have a report from this week's Spokane Valley City Council meeting, where council members selected a new planning commissioner and interviewed two council candidates. The Liberty Lake Police Department is reporting an increased crime rate for 2010, but the rate is still the lowest in Spokane County based on population. The Department is also moving forward on replacing two officers who recently resigned.

If you are looking for something to do this weekend Lisa has information on the annual Heritage Fair hosted by the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum. The Liberty Lake Farmers Market and the Millwood Farmers Market are also setting up their tents for the season.

Eldon Jon of AC Starr Farms finishes spreading a load of cow manure donated by neighbor Carol Bear on the East Valley Schools Farm on April 25. The field is between East Valley High School and East Valley Middle School off Sullivan Road on Wellesley Avenue. SR photo/J. Bart Rayniak

Saturday's Valley Voice included news from nearly every corner of the Spokane Valley area. Reporter Lisa Leinberger worte about improvements to the East Valley garden at Wellesley and Sullivan, which will include beds for community members who want to grow their own vegetables. She also has a story about the East Valley school board's discussions on what happens now after the bond vote failed and state budget cuts are on the horizon.

The small Liberty Lake Police Department is down by two officers after they unexpectedly resigned for personal reasons. The department's detective and sergeant are taking patrol shifts to try and fill the gap until replacements can be hired.

Correspondent Valerie Putnam has a report on a special Millwood City Council meeting last week. The council heard and approved a plan by a group of residents to raise $10,000 to save the wading pool in Millwood City Park. The pool will not open until the money is raised. It would pay to resurface and repair the pool. Donations can be made at the Bank of America in Millwood.

Here's a quick look at what is coming in the Valley Voice on Saturday. There have been some unexpected changes to the Liberty Lake Police Department and I'll take a look at what is next. Citizens in Millwood who have been trying to save the town's wading pool are moving forward with their plans. Reporter Lisa Leinberger will also have a look at the small farm run by the East Valley School District and changes that are in store this year.

Now, all everyone has to do is hope for good weather on Sunday for all the Bloomsday participants. Go forth and run! Of course, walking it works too.

Clouds cover Mount Spokane as a hiker moves south on the Ben Burr trail on the Moran Prairie last October. SR photo/Christopher Anderson

You'd better hold on to your hats, it's a really windy day out there. Perfect weather to stay in and read the Valley Voice. Reporter Lisa Leinberger looked at East Valley's Continuous Curriculum School to see how a K-8 school operates. The district is working on plans to close the middle schools and use K-8 schools instead.

The Spokane Valley City Council interviewed four candidates for a vacant city council seat on Tuesday. You can find some biographical information on all five people the council had voted to interview here. Teenagers and toy guns don't mix, as Liberty Lake Police officers learned. One teen reportedly pointed a fake gun at an officer in an unmarked patrol car.

Correspondent Stefanie Pettit has information on Ben Burr, who has a street, trail and park named after him. In a way he's a household name, yet few know who he was.

We've got some great stuff coming your way in Thursday's Valley Voice. I talked to all five candidates who are finalists for the seat on the Spokane Valley City Council that was vacated when council woman Rose Dempsey resigned. In addition to that story with their biographical information I'll have a story on their interviews before the City Council on Tuesday.

Things have been a little exciting in Liberty Lake with a self-described gamer pointing a fake but realistic looking gun at a police officer. A teen boy was also questioned after he shot an air soft gun so many times that police only had to follow the trail of pellets to his home.

Reporter Lisa Lienberger will have a story on East Valley School District's plan to do away with middle schools and create K-8 schools. She looked at existing K-8 schools and how they work.

East Valley School District Superintendent John Glenewinkel, second from right, listens as EV Executive Director of Operations Brian Wallace presents the fiscal future of the school district and upcoming bond at an informational meeting March 15. SR photo/J. Bart Rayniak

There's a nice fat Valley Voice today to keep you busy over your morning cup of coffee. There are two sides to any story and that is the case with the East Valley School District's upcoming bond election. Reporter Lisa Leinberger has the views from both sides today. Is new construction long overdue or is the timing bad?

The Spokane Valley City Council hit the pause button on awarding a bid for the Indiana Avenue Extension road construction project over concerns about the road's design. The issue has been tabled for two weeks while the council seeks more information. The project was scheduled to start in mid-April.

Those of you who are fans of Geno's Italian Restaurant on Spokane's north side take note - the restaurant is closing on Saturday. Reporter Pia Hallenberg has a story on the end of the popular restaurant. Apparently the crowds are huge this week as everyone goes for one final visit. One woman said she was flying in from Washington, D.C., for her last meal there.

The Liberty Lake Police blotter has news of several arrests in the last week, including one shoplifter who ran out of the Safeway directly towards a detective.

Tomorrow will bring yet another stellar Valley Voice with a ton of community news. The plans to extend Indiana Avenue east of Sullivan hit a bump in the road when the Spokane Valley City Council narrowly voted to table a motion to award the construction bid for two weeks. Council members and the public have questioned the design of the road and whether there will be continued access to a nearby Centennial Trail trailhead.

Reporter Lisa Leinberger continues her coverage of the East Valley School District bond issue by doing interviews for pro and con stories that will run Thursday. The Liberty Lake Police blotter is a lenghty one, with a couple of unusual arrests in the bunch.

A lof ot questions and concerns have been floating around out there on the re-visioning plan proposed by the East Valley School District. In Thursday's Valley Voice, reporter Lisa Leinberger has a lengthy Q&A with East Valley superintendent John Glenewinkel that should answer a lot of questions about the how and why.

The Liberty Lake Police Department has been kept hopping lately. Four garage burglaries and vehicle prowls were reported in one night recently. One of the residents spotted a man near his garage. The description of the man and his car match those of the man police arrested in December for similar crimes in Liberty Lake, according to police chief Brian Asmus. A distressing number of the cars and garages that have been burglarized were unlocked, so everyone please remember to lock up. Also remember to bring your valuables inside at night.

The Spokane Valley City Council had a brief meeting Tuesday and formally adopted the procedure to fill the vacant city council seat. The plan is to have a new council member on the dias by the end of March.

Spokane Valley Mayor Tom Towey and his Pekinese, “Buddy”, get ready to ride Wed. evening, Aug. 18, 2010, along with Spokane Valley Cyclists For the Broadway Safety Project in a “Pedal with the Politicians”, to look first hand at bike lanes and safety issues in the Spokane Valley. Councilman Bill Gothman (blue helmet) also participated in the ride. SR photo/J. Bart Rayniak

In Saturday's Valley Voice, Spokane Valley Mayor Tom Towey takes a look back at his first year at the helm of the city, with its challanges and disagreements. There's a report from last week's council meeting where three council members reversed themselves on what items they wanted to support at the Washington State Legislature.

The Liberty Lake Police Department will soon get two new police cars to replace cars that have extremely high mileage and aren't reliable any more. The department will also be able to install a fence that will block off access to the rear of the police station where officers enter and exit. Correspondent Sandra Babcock has a nice column about a wildlife experience she had in Yellowstone National Park a few years ago and the lessons she learned from it.

Here's a few tidbits you can check out in Saturday's Valley Voice. The Spokane Valley City Council reversed themselves on the items they want to support at the 2011 Washington legislative session, despite having voted to approve them in October.

As the calendar rolls over to 2011, Spokane Valley Mayor Tom Towey is marking the end of his first year as mayor. We'll take a look at how he and others think it has gone. Plus, the Liberty Lake Police Department is celebrating the fact that it will get two new police cars in 2011 to replace aging, high mileage cruisers. The department has had to do without new cars for a couple years now.

There will be other nuggets in the pages. Make sure you grab a copy and take a look.