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News >  Washington Voices

Few voters cast ballots

Despite a lot of campaign spending and generous doses of controversy, Spokane Valley’s City Council elections last month failed to generate as much turnout as the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District. All 10 Spokane County fire districts with candidates or propositions on the ballot exceeded Spokane Valley’s 49.6 percent voting rate for five council positions.
News >  Washington Voices

Youngsters caught short by dangerous cold

Spokane Valley firefighters rescued two juveniles from icy traps this week, starting with a 13-year-old girl whose tongue was frozen to a flagpole Monday. The second victim was a whitetail deer that fell through thin ice on Liberty Lake about 10 a.m. Wednesday.
News >  Spokane

Spokane science center proposal hangs on

A divided Spokane Park Board decided Thursday to give a long-proposed science center in Riverfront Park another chance. The board split 5-5 on member Ross Kelley’s motion to let the city staff work out differences in a disputed contract with nonprofit Mobius Spokane. Chairman Gary Lawton’s vote then tipped the balance in favor.
News >  Washington Voices

Council boosts allocations

Spare cash salved hard feelings when the Spokane Valley City Council handed out motel tax money Tuesday. A committee had recommended shortchanging the Valleyfest organization in next year’s allocations and completely stiffing the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum.
News >  Washington Voices

City considers street standards

Higher standards for street construction and a $200,000 increase in street maintenance are scheduled for action Tuesday by the Spokane Valley City Council. A far-reaching overhaul of street standards calls for roads with more gravel and asphalt to make them last longer.
News >  Washington Voices

Woman in serious condition after train crash

Spokane Valley firefighters provided advanced life support Tuesday when Maria L. Walsh’s minivan was broadsided by a train going 48 mph. But they didn’t have to cut apart the mangled Dodge Caravan to rescue her. She wasn’t pinned in the wreckage, and the force of the collision ripped away the passenger doors as well as the roof of the vehicle.
News >  Washington Voices

Dean Grafos sworn in

Dean Grafos took his seat on the Spokane Valley City Council Tuesday and staked out his positions while still warming up his chair. Six minutes after he was sworn in, Grafos read a statement calling for a freeze on salary increases, hiring, and “all nonessential spending.”
News >  Washington Voices

Projects could improve river access

A potential project in Spokane Valley could give boaters improved access to one of the river’s best whitewater patches. Chris Guitdotti, who oversees state land all along the Spokane River as the new manager of Riverside State Park, would like to develop a river plan that coordinates and prioritizes future projects.
News >  Washington Voices

Projects could open river to more users

A potential project in Spokane Valley could give boaters improved access to one of the river’s best whitewater patches. Chris Guitdotti, who oversees state land all along the Spokane River as the new manager of Riverside State Park, would like to develop a river plan that coordinates and prioritizes future projects.
News >  Washington Voices

Shoring up access

It seems “insane” to Andy Dunau to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to clean up the Spokane River without improving recreational access. Dunau is executive director of the Spokane River Forum, an umbrella organization for kayakers, canoers, rafters and anglers.
News >  Washington Voices

Court contract sustained

Spokane Valley will continue to contract with the Spokane County District Court for judicial service. City Council members asked court officials some pointed questions Tuesday, then voted unanimously to rescind a cancellation notice.
News >  Washington Voices

Hiker dies; crews go to propane, chimney fires

The past week was fairly slow for the Spokane Valley Fire Department, but one of the 170 calls was a fatal accident. Spokane Valley resident Stuart Anderson, 56, died around 1 p.m. Monday when he fell off a cliff in the Dishman Hills Natural Area.
News >  Washington Voices

4 positions available on Spokane Valley Planning Commission

City officials are taking applications for four positions on the seven-member Spokane Valley Planning Commission. One position would require a chosen applicant to take over the two-year unexpired term of Tom Towey, who will have to resign at the end of the year when he advances to the City Council.
News >  Washington Voices

Better paving for Spokane Valley will cost more

New street standards proposed for Spokane Valley could prove costly for the city as well as people waiting to get sewer service. Spokane County Utilities Director Bruce Rawls told the City Council Tuesday that a planned increase in residential paving standards would cost an estimated $900,000 next year.
News >  Washington Voices

Liberty Lake builder raising ground to finish house

Builder Michael Rogers is finishing his long-delayed house at Liberty Lake by raising the ground to satisfy a height restriction. A Spokane County hearing examiner decision in July required Rogers to shave 11 1/4 feet off what would have been a 54 3/4-foot, five-level hillside house, by some measurements.
News >  Washington Voices

Nonemergency calls costly to fire department

Spokane Valley Fire Department patrons could save some cash by calling a plumber instead of the fire department when their toilets back up. Such calls are fairly common and sometimes are a source of amusement, but they also are expensive.
News >  Washington Voices

Snow crews raring to plow

The man with the big shovel says Spokane Valley is ready for winter. “We’ve got all the plows and equipment and all the chemicals we need,” city Public Works Director Neil Kersten said. “We think we’re ready to go.”
News >  Washington Voices

Fire budget vote planned

Spokane Valley Fire Department commissioners are to conduct a final hearing Monday and take action on a 2010 budget that calls for construction of a new station. Chief Mike Thompson said a new Station 10 at 17217 E. Sprague Ave. is the primary reason for a 9.8 percent increase from this year’s budget, from $26,857,809 to $29,501,486.
News >  Washington Voices

Newman Lake saying ‘no’

Additional ballot counting makes it clear that Newman Lake Fire and Rescue voters think three commissioners are enough. A proposal to increase the fire district’s board from three to five commissioners was failing with 52.9 percent opposition after a third round of counting Tuesday. The vote was 384 yes, 432 no.
News >  Washington Voices

New faces, new priorities

Spokane Valley voters didn’t just speak Tuesday, they “shouted their wishes loud and clear,” according to Councilman-elect Dean Grafos. Still, a few things weren’t immediately clear.
News >  Spokane

Slate of ‘positive change’ candidates overwhelm at polls

Five candidates promising “positive change” for Spokane Valley’s 6-year-old city government swept into power Tuesday. “We changed it,” said retired school administrator Chuck Hafner, who led the Positive Change committee. “I’m so excited.”
News >  Spokane

Festival eerie only for its fun

Halloween mixed easily with the Fall Folk Festival Saturday at Spokane Community College. Tastefully dressed creatures of the night – no gore in this crowd – tapped their toes and moved their monster mitts to the music as they wandered among impromptu jam sessions.