Saturday’s highlights

Dan Mork, shown in his office at city hall on Sept. 24, has served the town of Millwood for more than 30 years, including the last eight as mayor. He will step down Dec. 31 and take a break from public life. He works at HollisterStier. SR photo Jesse Tinsley
Good Monday morning, everyone. Welcome to the first full week of October. As usual we have some highlights from Saturday's Valley Voice in case you missed it. Reporter Lisa Leinberber has a story on Christmas ornaments being made by West Valley School District students for the 2013 Capital Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C. This year's tree will be cut from the Colville National Forest and 5,000 ornaments are needed to decorate it.
Correspondent Valerie Putnam has a story on the retirement of Millwood Mayor Dan Mork. Mork first began serving in the Millwood City Council in 1981 and was on the councl continuously until beging elected mayor in 2005. For the first time in decades he is not running for re-election.
Ballots for the November general election will begin arriving in mailboxes next week, so we have the first in a series of stories on the Spokane Valley City Council races. First up is the only race that doesn't have an incumbent. Bill Bates and Fred Beaulac are facing off in the race for the seat held by Mayor Tom Towey, who is not running for re-election.