Jonathan Brunt

Spokane park leaders let bygones be bygones this week and honored the family of a woman who gave $1.2 million to restore historic gardens on a bluff overlooking downtown. The Spokane Park Board voted 7-0 to rename Pioneer Park after Edwidge L. Woldson, the mother of Myrtle Woldson, who agreed in 2005 to make a $3.2 million donation for the gardens over six years.

Spokane police have located a 23-year-old woman after her purse and cellphone were found in Riverfront Park and her car was found parked a block away.

Republicans absent from corridor celebration

As leaders gathered Tuesday to celebrate the start of a phase of North Spokane Corridor construction paid for by the 2009 federal stimulus package, state officials said they will be ready if President Barack Obama’s plan for $50 billion for transportation projects wins support. “We’re not sure what all is in that package, but you can bet that the state of Washington will compete and compete hard for those dollars,” said Paula Hammond, the state Secretary of Transportation, speaking at a ceremony held on what soon will be the southbound side of the North Spokane Corridor.

While construction work continues on the North Spokane Corridor north of Francis Avenue, more vacant homes will be torn down this fall in central Spokane to make room for freeway work that won’t be done until leaders figure out how to pay the $1.6 billion needed to complete it. This summer, the state Department of Transportation awarded contracts to tear down about 50 structures – mostly houses – in the way of the proposed expansion of Interstate 90 and ramps designed to connect I-90 to the north-south freeway.

The fight in the late 1980s to build the city’s trash incinerator on the West Plains was big and passionate. “If this was the Civil War, we just got past Gettysburg,” exclaimed then-City Attorney Jim Sloane in January 1990 – shortly after the Environmental Protection Agency gave the final go-ahead to build the plant.

City parks officials are hoping to tear down a portion of a former dairy that’s in disrepair and was the site of a recent injury that cost the city $190,000. “The space is an increasing liability to us,” said Leroy Eadie, director of Parks and Recreation.

Three construction and design firms will pay Spokane a total of $750,000 to fix flaws in the city’s new vehicle fueling and washing center. The Spokane City Council voted unanimously this week to accept the settlement, which was reached during mediation that started in June, said Rocky Treppiedi, an assistant city attorney.

Bozo tops Jesus in county treasurer's race

In little more than a year, curbside recycling in Spokane could get easier and bins much fuller. Waste Management announced this month that it plans to build a regional recycling center in Spokane County. The proposal was announced shortly after it was rated the best concept among three reviewed by a Spokane Regional Solid Waste System committee.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray on Thursday stressed her support for programs in Eastern Washington and new financial regulations approved by Congress as she opened her general election campaign Thursday with a speech in Spokane. “I’m here to tell you Wall Street’s and big banks’ money cannot buy my vote now or any day ever. I will always fight for you,” she said in her 20-minute speech.

Murray kicks off general election campaign in Spokane

Marr wins city, Baumgartner wins county

White has tough task in facing Billig