Brian Coddington

Sheriff's deputies stopped a car Saturday and ordered its occupants out at gunpoint after one of the passengers pointed a toy gun at others in the car. Cpl. Dave Van Wormer pulled up behind the car at Argonne Road and Mission Avenue. He heard a scream coming from the car and saw a man in the back seat pointing a handgun at another man in the front seat. The man then pointed the gun at the woman driving, the deputy said.

Christ Lutheran Church Pastor Tom Shelly says every church he's been associated with during his 15 years in the ministry has been victimized by crime. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Lt. Bill Dagon of the Valley Fire Department is about to become petty officer 1st class in the U.S. Navy as a member of a reserve unit going to Germany. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Two men wearing ski masks robbed a Spokane Valley espresso stand at gunpoint Monday night. The men walked up to the north drive-up window at Buzzies Espresso, 12821 E. Sprague, about 8:20 p.m., opened the window and demanded money, said Lt. David Wiyrick. One of the robbers pointed a handgun inside the window and ordered the employees to open the door, deputies said.

Dennis Burr, a middle school principal from Sunnyside, talked at Ponderosa Elementary School Tuesday about ways to curb gangs and youth violence. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Students at Chester Elementary believe principal Dennis Olson deserves a place in the St. Patrick's Day parade today. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

With two pickups stopped and three students beginning to walk across Sprague, the car at left races throuth the crosswlak outside Greenacres Junior High. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Increased parental and community involvement are the most effective ways to curb rising youth problems, residents who gathered at a youth and family planning meeting said. A handful discussed problems youths are facing and possible solutions Tuesday night at Central Valley High School. Residents placed youth violence and drug and alcohol abuse at the top of the list of problems. "We see (youth violence) getting out of hand," said Opportunity resident Cheryl Miller. "Our kids are afraid to walk home from school. They're afraid to take the bus. That's real scary for us and for them."

A man driving a stolen car led sheriff's deputies on a high-speed chase Monday morning, forcing the closure of several Spokane Valley streets. Deputies spotted a maroon Toyota Corolla near Sprague Avenue and Gillis Road about 9 a.m. The car had been reported stolen. When deputies tried to stop the car, it sped south on Bowdish Road. The car continued south on Dishman-Mica Road before turning back to the north and heading along Highway 27 at speeds of up to 110 miles per hour.

In honor of a genius. To celebrate Bobby Fischer's 53rd birthday Saturday, about 80 kids competed in a chess tournament at Auntie's Bookstore. Photo by Liz Kishimoto/The Spokesman-Review

Curbing increasing youth and family problems will be the topic of a Tuesday night community meeting at Central Valley High School. The forum is part of an effort to develop a county youth and family comprehensive plan to combat seven problem behaviors outlined by state legislators: violence by juveniles, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, teen suicide attempts, dropping out of school, child abuse or neglect and domestic violence.

They came in search of something good from an accident that was so bad. More than 100 family members, friends and neighbors of 16-year-old Anna Sherman gathered Saturday night for a candlelight vigil at the scene of the accident that took her life. Teary-eyed speakers young and old challenged Sherman's friends and classmates to learn from the accident, urging them not to drink and drive.

One man was injured in a fight early Sunday between gang members and partygoers. Shortly after midnight Sunday, deputies found a 25-year-old man bleeding from the head and lying on the living room floor of a house in the Spokane Valley. Lt. David Wiyrick, sheriff's department spokesman, said nearly 25 people were running in and out of the house in the 400 block of South Chronicle Road. Shawn Hughes had been punched, kicked and hit with a beer bottle during a fight with a group of men who were trying to steal a keg of beer from the house, Wiyrick said.

1. Anna Sherman 2. Anthony Lazanis is escorted to a State Patrol car Friday after surrendering to authorities. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

A 37-year-old woman was charged early Saturday with stealing checkbooks from three women and forging their signatures on the checks. Betty Nanette Rucker, a transient, was booked into jail on charges of forgery and second-degree possession of stolen property. Rucker had stolen checkbooks and identification stashed in the pockets of the stolen coat she was wearing when deputies arrested her at Matthew's Restaurant about 3 a.m., said sheriff's Lt. David Wiyrick.

1. Visut Kaemuongmul, 23, has owned The Sound Factory dance hall, at 6515 E. Sprague, for six months. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Beer bottles litter the ground outside The Sound Factory, where liquor is not legally allowed to be consumed. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Authorities briefly closed a Spokane Valley intersection Tuesday after a junior high school student found four blasting caps and took one home. Malachi Winger, 14, was walking home from North Pines Junior High Tuesday afternoon when he noticed four silver objects about the size of a pen cap at the corner of Alki Avenue and Virginia Court. Not knowing what they were, the eighth-grader picked one up and took it home. Upon closer examination Winger noticed the word "explosive" printed on it and showed a neighbor and his mother, who called deputies.

The owner of a Spokane Valley teen dance club was arrested early Saturday after sheriff's deputies broke up a fourth after-hours party at the club. Deputies said they found alcohol and several people inside The Sound Factory, 6515 E. Sprague, about 3 a.m. As a teen dance club, the Sound Factory is licensed to operate until 2 a.m. No alcohol is allowed. The owner, Visut S. Kaemuongmul, 23, of 3124 E. Jackson, was booked into the Spokane County Jail for allowing liquor in an unlicensed public place. Kaemuongmul was also cited for operating the business after hours.

Glen Hinckley gets a well-lubricated thank you from his dog, Brak. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

1. Duct tape covers bullet holes in a window of a home on North Lillian Road that was shot up Monday. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Left, children in front of a neighboring house that was hit by gunfire four months ago. 3. Gunfire has rocked Bob Firor's neighborhood twice in four months. Firor's home was hit last year, and his neighbor's home was struck by bullets this week. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

A 15-year-old boy used a baseball bat Friday night to stop his father from stabbing his mother. Jan Schneider was stabbed in the mouth at least once during the Friday night attack, said sheriff's Lt. David Wiyrick. Her estranged husband, Gunner G. Schneider, 48, was booked into the Spokane County Jail for first-degree assault.

1. Security guard Shelagh Tilton keeps an eye on things in the halls of East Valley High School. She and colleague Rod Holmes have helped reduce conflict at the school. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Security officer Rod Holmes talks to Assistant Principal Ray Stookey. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 3. Security officer Shelagh Tilton gives directions to two students who were late for class. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Todd D. Bates, seated across the table, tells about his pit bull Shera at a dangeroug-dog hearing. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Falling tiles are forcing Spokane Valley Fire District officials to repair its training tower. The building's walls and ceilings will be coated with a spray known as "refractory concrete," said Fire Chief Pat Humphries. That will replace the fire resistant tiles. Furnace bricks will also be added to the tower's floors.