1. Don't rain on my parade! Eastern Washington wide receiver Romaine Smith shows his spirit during the parade of champions in downtown Spokane on Saturday. Photo by Jason Clark/The Spokesman-Review 2. Fans brave the inclement weather to cheer on local athletes and teams that had successful seasons.

Spokane Mayor John Talbott assured residents and his City Council colleagues on Tuesday that he doesn't want to stop the $100 million redevelopment of River Park Square. "I am committed to see that project through," Talbott said at the beginning of the council meeting. "I want River Park Square to become a reality in downtown."

The city of Spokane on Friday denied a $100,000 claim from a police officer who alleges her supervisor mistreated her because of her sex. In a claim filed last month, Officer Stormi Koerner, 29, charged that Sgt. William Drollinger sabotaged her chances for promotion to training officer because he had "problems working with women officers." Rocco Treppiedi, assistant city attorney, said Friday the city denied the claim because the charges are false.

Five Spokane City Council members sent their own letter to federal officials Friday, defending a proposed $22.65 million loan to a downtown redevelopment project and dismissing concerns raised by Mayor John Talbott. The letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development was sent in reaction to a December letter written by Talbott. He asked HUD for a meeting with agency officials and raised questions about the pending loan for the River Park Square project.

(From For the Record, January 17, 1998): Letters sent separately: A Friday story detailing Spokane Mayor John Talbott's concerns about a federal Housing and Urban Development Department loan to assist a downtown redevelopment project stated that a letter from Talbott and another letter from a Washington, D.C., lobbying group were sent together to HUD. The letters actually were sent independently, although the letter from the lobbying group refers to Talbott's upcoming meeting with HUD officials. The site for the new River Park Square is being prepared even though the mayor is questioning the project's HUD loan. Photo by Roger Ames/The Spokesman-Review

1. The ice rink with its cranky compressor would go, along with the outdated rides and IMAX theater, under a Park Board plan to renovate the dilapidated Pavilion in Riverfront Park. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review 2. The Park Board says spending $2.8 million to repair the Pavilion is a waste of money. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

Like grocery stores and gas pumps, Spokane's newfangled parking meters will soon accept payment in plastic. Buying time on the electronic devices soon to debut downtown should be easier than on their mechanical ancestors, city officials say. No more twisting the cranky handles or reading the tiny print on the time dial. Just plug in a coin and an easy-to-read digital display tells drivers how much time they have. Eventually, prepaid credit cards will be available.

The cost of a false alarm may be somewhat less alarming now. On Monday, the Spokane City Council unanimously approved a plan to reduce the fines for bogus alarms and instead teach people how to avoid them entirely. Council members Orville Barnes and Rob Higgins were absent.

Crying wolf may cause less pain this year than last. A law aimed at lowering the number of false burglary alarms in the city isn't working, say Spokane Police Department officials. Reducing the fines - and teaching people how to avoid them entirely - may be more effective, said Capt. Steve Braun of the Police Department.

Mayor John Talbott

A proposal to vacate a section of Shawnee Avenue to a developer hit a snag Monday when Indian Trail residents raised objections. Spokane City Council members delayed until Jan. 26 making a decision on the proposal to vacate Shawnee from Wieber Drive to a block east. In the meantime, they asked that developer Robert Frisch meet with residents to talk about their concerns.

Spokane attorney Steve Eugster took aim at the River Park Square project again Wednesday, filing a lawsuit against the city designed to shake loose records related to the downtown redevelopment plan. The project's cornerstone is a Nordstrom department store. Eugster wants a copy of the draft lease agreement between Nordstrom and the developers, which they plan to use as security for a proposed $22.65 million loan. Those dollars would come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which would loan the money to the city. The loan has received preliminary approval from HUD but hasn't been awarded.

Two Rockwood residents told the Spokane City Council on Monday they want to clean up the overgrown, debris-ridden city lots next to their properties, but they want to own the land first. Their neighbors say that's a bad idea. Council members delayed until Feb. 2 a decision on the two separate proposals to vacate sections of Conklin Street on the South Hill. During the interim, they want the proponents to talk with neighbors about their concerns.

1. Barnes 2. Rodgers

Tonight, John Talbott plans to recommend Councilwoman Cherie Rodgers as mayor pro tem. His first meeting as Spokane's new mayor may provide the first obstacle of his term.

WSU defensive end Dorian Boose signs autographs Friday evening after he and other members of the Cougar football team returned from Pasadena, Calif., and the Rose Bowl. Photo by Torsten Kjellstrand/The Spokesman-Review

Jack Geraghty says thank you to supporters and City Hall workers at a reception Tuesday evening. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

Community's future After being sworn in as mayor of Spokane, John Talbott accepts a U.S. flag from Dynamic Christian Academy kindergartner Rochelle Leisinger, 5. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

After defeating Jack Geraghty in November, John Talbott become mayor today. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

Spokane settled three lawsuits with one check on Monday when the City Council agreed to pay Steve and Leslie Ronald $1.9 million for their riverfront property. The "global settlement" ends the city's lawsuit to condemn the couple's land just north of the downtown library. In exchange for the lump-sum payment, the Ronalds agree to drop two lawsuits they filed against the city. One lawsuit alleges city officials blocked their building permit. The second maintains the city "inversely condemned" their land by promising in a separate settlement to buy the property.

The citizens board that reviews complaints against the Spokane Police Department struggled through another round of changes Monday and survived.

Nearly four years ago, the Spokane City Council bought into a proposal to shift control of the city's community policing efforts to a nonprofit group. Police officials helped sell the plan by assuring council members Spokane COPS would grow less and less reliant on taxpayers as private support for the nonprofit group increased. But that hasn't happened. Spokane COPS Director Cheryl Steele plans today to ask the council for $132,925 - more than twice the amount of the original contract approved by the council in March 1995.

Spokane city officials say they have no idea how much money is needed to fix the ailing Monroe Street Bridge. So they're planning to hire someone to find out. During today's briefing session, City Manager Bill Pupo plans to ask City Council members whether they want to spend $42,000 on a quick study of the bridge's condition or take a full-blown look at what's wrong with the structure.

The Spokane City Council on Monday gave a nod to the Garry Park area, making it the 11th in the city's increasingly popular neighborhood council program. "This is one of the best things to happen to our neighborhood," said Jim Santorsola. The Garry Park neighborhood includes everything between the Spokane River on the west and north, Trent Avenue on the south and Fancher Road on the east.