Stories by Amy Edelen for the Spokesman-Review

News > Local government

Proposal renaming Appleway Trail in honor of former Sen. Bob McCaslin takes Valley council members by surprise

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 1, 2018

A proposed bill renaming Appleway Trail “Senator Bob McCaslin Trail” was presented at a Spokane Valley City Council meeting Tuesday – much to the surprise of a few council members.

News > Spokane

Spokane Valley City Council OKs change in Waste Management contract to add road-funding fee

Thu., Feb. 1, 2018

Spokane Valley City Council approved a change Tuesday to its $13 million garbage collection contract with Waste Management that would add a fee funding road preservation while largely maintaining current service rates.

News > Spokane

Fire roundup: Pines Village unit destroyed; signs of smoking and oxygen device found

Wed., Jan. 31, 2018

The Spokane Valley Fire Department last week responded to several calls involving unauthorized burning, a report of gas siphoning from church vehicles and an elderly woman rescued from an apartment fire.

News > Spokane

Former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s event in Spokane canceled after community backlash

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 30, 2018

An effort to bring controversial former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio to Spokane unraveled Monday amid backlash from veterans and community members.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Man in custody after break in, theft of vehicle

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 26, 2018

A crime spree this morning involving a double burglary and a stolen vehicle landed a 31-year-old man in the Spokane County Jail for multiple felony charges.

News > Spokane

Felons already in jail accused in home-invasion robbery in Spokane Valley

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 26, 2018

Two men already in jail are now accused of breaking into a Spokane Valley home last year, waking an resident at gunpoint and demanding money.

News > Spokane

Local Elks Club moving to new home

Fri., Jan. 26, 2018

Despite a bout of vandalism to their lodge Sunday, the Spokane Valley Elks are thriving, adapting and moving to a new home.

News > Spokane

West Valley High band director surprises Indiana drill team with brand new musical equipment

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 24, 2018

West Valley High School band director Jim Loucks makes good on promise to present new band equipment to an Indiana drill team that captured his heart over a year ago during a Veterans Day parade performance in New York.

News > Spokane

Ponderosa Village development to begin this spring in Spokane Valley

Wed., Jan. 24, 2018

South Spokane Valley residents will soon see a mix of new retail businesses and a restaurant brought forth by a proposed multi-building development off Dishman Mica Road.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Pickup crashes into parked train on West Plains

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 19, 2018

A passenger truck crashed into a stopped train on Coulee Hite Road around 5:30 a.m. Friday in western Spokane County. The truck, pulling a boat and trailer, was traveling south on Coulee Hite Road – just north of Sprague Road and about eight miles east of Reardan – when it struck a train stopped across the road while connecting railroad cars, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

News > Spokane

Contract awarded for Appleway Trail extension from Sullivan to Corbin roads

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 18, 2018

Spokane Valley City Council awarded a $1.97 million construction contract to Wm. Winkler Company to extend a portion of Appleway Trail from Sullivan to Corbin roads.

News > Spokane

Spokane Valley fire roundup: Electrical panel, two clothes dryers were in flames

Wed., Jan. 17, 2018

The Spokane Valley Fire Department this week responded to several calls including two fires originating from clothes dryers and an electrical panel fire that knocked out power to 10 businesses at the Spokane Industrial Park.

News > Spokane

Spokane Valley fills seats on planning commission, tax advisory panel

Wed., Jan. 17, 2018

Spokane Valley officials have appointed community members to the city’s Planning Commission and Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.

News > Spokane

Spokane Valley council votes to limit yard sales to three per year

Wed., Jan. 17, 2018

Spokane Valley residents will be allowed just three yard sales per year under a neighborhood nuisance law passed Tuesday by the City Council.

News > Spokane

It’s a bold but not bitter business: Spokane coffee economy buzzing with high share of shops, roasteries

Sun., Jan. 14, 2018

The U.S. coffee market is a $40 billion industry, and Spokane is spending more than its share.

News > Spokane

Missing snowmobiler found in Kootenai County

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 12, 2018

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office found a missing snowmobiler in the Panhandle National Forest.

News > Spokane

Fire roundup: Crews respond to fire in same dumpster, different day

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 10, 2018

Cooking, rubbish and holiday decoration fires have kept the Spokane Valley Fire Department crews busy during the first week of 2018.

News > Spokane

Spokane Valley takes aim at ‘nuisance properties’

Mon., Jan. 8, 2018

Spokane Valley officials are considering options for a new ordinance to tackle nuisance properties.

News > Health

New rules allow individuals to change sex designation on birth certificates

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 4, 2018

The Washington state Department of Health on Thursday announced a new rule that allows individuals to change their sex designation on their birth certificate.

News > Spokane

Infrastructure improvements help lure new business to Spokane Valley

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 4, 2018

For one northeastern industrial area, planned infrastructure improvements – including the possible addition of an overpass rail crossing at the intersection of Barker Road and the train tracks – and the announcement of two companies building manufacturing facilities could add hundreds of jobs and potential for new businesses.

News > Spokane

Rod Higgins wins close vote to maintain role as Spokane Valley mayor

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 3, 2018

Spokane Valley Mayor Rod Higgins narrowly held on to his position Tuesday in a vote that shows a divided City Council. In two 4-3 votes, council members selected Higgins to keep the mayor’s position and Councilwoman Pamela Haley to be deputy mayor.

News > Spokane

Spokane Valley City Council will pick a mayor on Tuesday

Tue., Jan. 2, 2018

Five Spokane Valley city officials on Tuesday evening will take the oath of office to form a new council that is expected to be more moderate. Newly-elected council members Ben Wick, Linda Thompson and Brandi Peetz, who defeated more conservative incumbents, will be sworn in at the same time as Mayor Rod Higgins and Councilwoman Pam Haley, who both won re-election in November.