Azaria Podplesky

Kay Bryant, of Spokane Valley Rotary, had no problem gaining the attention of the children Monday in Althea Erbeznik’s first-grade class at Ness Elementary School. Bryant was reading the Dr. Seuss classic, “Horton Hatches the Egg,” as part of the school’s celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday and the annual delivery of books donated by Rotary.

On Wednesday, the Mead School District will host Hoops for Hope to raise money for the Community Cancer Fund. Faculty members from Mountainside and Northwood middle schools will play during the first and third quarters of the annual benefit game, and staff from Mt. Spokane and Mead high schools will play during the second and fourth quarters of the game. Over the past decade, staff and students have raised more than $45,080 for Coaches for Cancer through Hoops for Hope events. Admission is $5, and raffle tickets, also $5, will be available for purchase the week of the game. Prizes will be raffled during halftime.

With a new year comes a new group of high school students vying for one of seven spots on the Lilac Festival Royal Court. On Sunday, six will become princesses, and one will become queen. “Each year, they are, as a group, high achieving girls,” said Cecelia Stephens, one of the volunteers with the Lilac Festival and a past president. “They care about the community, they are very giving, and when it’s done, they’re proud to be from this community.”

The Cheney High School Cyber Patriots teams competed in the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition on Dec. 6. Team Bravo placed first of 15 teams in the Washington Gold division and fifth in the nation. The team will compete for the Western Regional championship on Jan. 18. Team Bravo is Joe Riddle, Kendra Kendall, Matt Dupler, Bradley Travis, Marianne Pollard and Kyle Sewright. Team Alpha placed second in the state and will also be competing in the regional championship. Team Alpha is Noah Brown, Colton Dotson, Jake McGillicuddy, Andrew Jenkins, Blake Meldrum and Ian Case.