Brian Coddington

Their designs are inspired, their ideas fresh. Site plans drawn by architecture students from Washington State University have helped bring color, shape and texture to Mirabeau Point, the Spokane Valley community center that has long been only a vision in the minds of dreamers. Coupled with the recent approval of $1.5 million in state money for design and planning, the WSU students' work gives life to the $33 million Mirabeau Point project.

Sheriff's detectives are looking for witnesses to a burglary early Wednesday during which beer and three dozen cartons of cigarettes were stolen from a Spokane Valley grocery store. Deputies who responded to the burglary alarm at the Excell Foods store at 14515 E. Trent found a large hole in the front door. A rock was thrown through the glass at about 1:50 a.m., said David Reagan, sheriff's department spokesman.

Valley Fire District commissioners on Wednesday approved nearly $500,000 in budget cuts they hope will prevent a repeat of the cash flow problem that forced the district to seek a 14-month loan last month. Among the 22 items cut from the 1997 budget were purchase of a new ladder truck chassis and medic truck, and creating a new public education officer position.

A 37-year-old man was bitten by a dog Thursday morning, the fourth person to be attacked by a dog in the Spokane Valley in as many weeks. Gary Dent was bitten on the elbow while trying to chase a chow/Alaskan malamute mix away from a stray dog he had tied in front of his house in the 4700 block of East First Avenue, said animal control Officer Jennifer Kline. Dent said he heard the stray dog yelp and was bitten by the other dog when he went to investigate.

Spokane County engineers released the Valley Couplet's final supplemental environmental impact statement this week with minor revisions in response to comments from residents, environmentalists, business owners and fire officials. The project and five other alternatives are now scheduled for review by the county commissioners during Tuesday's weekly meeting.

Sheriff's detectives arrested two people on drug charges early Friday during a raid on the Spokane Valley house they shared. Those arrests followed recent unrelated drug busts at separate Valley houses that produced nearly 200 marijuana plants.

A Spokane Valley woman was arrested Saturday after allegedly trying to use a stolen check to pay for $660 worth of merchandise at a department store. Sheriff's deputies said Laice L. Peterson, 29, filled out the stolen check, signed the victim's name to it, and presented it as payment for a cart full of merchandise at ShopKo, 13414 E. Sprague.

Pratt Elementary School officials said about $15,000 worth of computer, stereo, and communication equipment was taken during a break-in that was originally thought to have been simple vandalism. Four Macintosh computers, four ink-jet printers, three portable two-way radios, a compact disc player and 20 pieces of software were taken during the burglary early last Sunday, Pratt principal Jeanne Baynes said.

1. "It's a great project," says state Rep. Mark Sterk, of the 70-acre community center. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 2. The Mirabeau Point plan includes an ice arena (lower left), a YWCA facility, park and recreational land, businesses and several access to the Centennial Trail.

Two of three animals involved in a recent string of Spokane Valley dog-bite incidents were euthanized Wednesday, and charges against their owners dropped. Lori Walsh and Kevin Bowman each released their dogs to county animal control rather than appeal dangerous dog designations, said Director Nancy Sattin.

A Spokane Valley man wanted for burglary was arrested Sunday after he allegedly used stolen credit cards at a Valley grocery store. Sheriff's deputies said they believe Michael T. Walls, 28, stole a purse, a wallet and power tools from a house in the 12900 block of East Cataldo late Saturday or early Sunday. Later, they said, Walls used credit cards that were in the wallet to buy groceries at a Valley Safeway store.

Arson may be to blame for a fire that destroyed a Valley log cabin that was more than a century old. The blaze at about 9:30 p.m. Friday reduced the unoccupied cabin at 4100 S. Sunderland to rubble.

Tony Lazanis was sentenced to two years for vehicular homicide. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

1. Seafirst Bank on East Sprague was robbed Monday. 2. After the March 6 robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank on East Sprague, state trooper Devyn Derrick and county sheriff's deputy Dale Dunham searched for the suspect. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 3. Sheriff's deputy Dale Dunham and state trooper Devyn Derrick search fields near the site of a Wells Fargo bank robbery on March 6. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Traci Williams of Reptile Rescue removes an albino king snake from the ceiling of Jamye Shollenberger's apartment. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Max's Subs and Espresso is giving away a $200 Moody Blues concert package in an effort to collect donations for the Spokane Valley Food Bank. Entry fee for the concert contest is a donation of a non-perishable food item to the food bank. Donations must be made at the sandwich and coffee shop at 9223 E. Montgomery. Entry is limited to one per person per day, but contestants don't have to buy anything to be eligible to win.

A Spokane Valley woman whose dog is believed to have attacked a 5-year-old neighbor girl now claims her dog is being wrongly accused. Trina Fleisher has appealed her chow's designation as a dangerous dog, saying in a letter to county animal control that a red Husky that lives next door bit Chanelle Passar in the face.

Chanelle Vassar received 12 stitches in her right eyelid after being bitten in a dog incident last week. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

A Valley firefighter runs a hose to the water hydrant near the back of Comfort Inn last Friday. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

A public hearing on a proposed 136-unit mobile home park in Greenacres was postponed Tuesday night until next month. The hearing on Strawberry Ridge was rescheduled for May 6 at 5 p.m. after county commissioners received letters from both sides requesting the delay. Developer Rich Dahm is proposing the mobile home park on a 39-acre alfalfa field at Eighth Avenue and Long Road zoned for urban residential use with a maximum of 3.5 units per acre.

A Spokane Valley man who allegedly broke into a Sprague Avenue barber shop was arrested early last Thursday after holding authorities at bay for nearly two hours. Mark Eugene Miller, 33, was booked into the Spokane County Jail for second-degree burglary after a standoff with sheriff's deputies and Washington State Patrol troopers ended peacefully.

1. Henry Heid, 75, was laid to rest at Pines Cemetery on Tuesday. The Otis Orchards man was found beaten to death in his garage last week. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Henry Heid 3. Forrest Heid talks about the death of his brother last week on the family farm. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

The state Department of Natural Resources will hold a public meeting Wednesday night on the draft Thompson Creek Watershed Analysis. The meeting, scheduled to last two hours, will begin at 6 p.m. in the Tri-Community Grange, one block north of Trent Avenue on Starr Road. The 30,000-acre Thompson Creek Watershed area, which includes Newman Lake, is located about 15 miles northeast of Spokane. DNR released the Thompson Creek Watershed Analysis draft earlier this month. It is available for review at local libraries.

Trina Fleisher surrendered her dog to county animal countrol officer Jennifer Kline this week after the animal bit a girl at a Valley home. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review