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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Pat Sciuchetti

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News >  Washington Voices

Home Ransacked, But Owner Is Thankful Kittens Not Hurt

Burglars ransacked every room in her house. Knocked the decorations off her Christmas tree. Stole her TV, VCR, microwave and several Christmas presents. Still, Barb Decker is thankful. The Valley woman is grateful her two curious kittens, home at the time of the burglary, were unhurt. She's also glad she wasn't there when someone used a crowbar to tear her front door from its frame.
News >  Washington Voices

Messy Yard Cleaned Up; Neighbors Are Happy

Gus Opfer cleaned up his neighborhood last week. It took his own pickup truck, a rented Bobcat and dump truck, two other men and more than four days of work. But finally, the yard at Sixth and Van Marter is free of trash. "I didn't care to be seeing it anymore," said Opfer, who owns a cabinet shop across the street. He jumped at the chance to spend Christmas week hauling away the old mattresses and shoveling up broken glass.
News >  Washington Voices

Parishioner Helps Nab Church Burglary Suspect

An alert worshiper helped police catch a man suspected of prying open a Valley church safe while parishioners prayed in another room. Sheriff's deputies arrested 28-year-old Christopher C. VanGuilder late Sunday morning after a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church said he saw a man walk out of the church office with a lock box containing money. Services at the church on South Schafer Road were just finishing up.
News >  Washington Voices

Dare Sponsors Cycling Camp

The Spokane County Sheriff's Department will hold a DARE cycling camp Tuesday at Centennial Middle School, 915 N. Ella Road. Children ages 10 to 18 are welcome. The free camp promotes drug-free lifestyles by teaching children to stay busy through sports. Participants will meet once a month for several months, then enjoy a 150-mile bike ride this summer. Teachers and sheriff's deputies will host the camp, which will run from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants or parents must sign a liability waiver prior to attending the camp. For more information, call Scott Szoke at 456-4734.
News >  Washington Voices

Fire Levy Vote Feb. 3

Spokane Valley Fire District 1 will ask voters to approve a $6.785 million special levy on Feb. 3. The 1999 special levy represents just over half the district's maintenance and operations budget for the year. The rest comes from regular property taxes. The levy includes funding for a $640,000 pumper/ladder truck to replace the district's 26-year-old ladder truck, which has more than 100,000 miles on it.
News >  Washington Voices

Mail, Packages Taken By Thieves In Valley

Who would steal candy canes off Christmas trees, packages off porches and money out of mailboxes? It's definitely a grinch. And he's slid himself down into the Spokane Valley. Police received a flurry of stolen mail reports over the weekend, primarily from Edgecliff and West Valley neighborhoods.
News >  Washington Voices

Sewer Offices To Have Public Meeting Rooms

The Liberty Lake Sewer District plans to build a new headquarters next year, and share it with the community. The 5,864-square-foot building will be located at the northeast corner of Country Vista and Mission Avenue, behind the Albertson's store in the Liberty Lake Town Center. It should be completed by fall, sewer district manager Lee Mellish said. It will include at least two community meeting rooms, which will probably be offered to the public at no cost. Each will hold at least 50 people, Mellish said.
News >  Washington Voices

Heart & Hope Family Has Fervent Christmas Wish That Woman Will Recover After Heart Transplant

1. Waiting for word about mom: Daughters Heather and Melisa sit with their father, Tab Bray, awaiting news about Karen Bray's condition after receiving a new heart. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Karen Bray in her hospital room prior to her heart transplant. She spent almost five months in intensive care at Sacred Heart while waiting for a donor organ.
News >  Washington Voices

In Cold Weather, Pets Need Extra Care

The Humane Society reminds pet owners that the cold weather puts their animals at risk. Here are some tips to keep your dogs and cats healthy during winter: Young, old or short-haired pets should never be left outdoors when the temperature drops sharply. Most animals are safer kept indoors, except when taken out for exercise. A sweater helps short-haired dogs stay warm during walks. Outdoor dogs need to be protected by a dry, draft-free doghouse that faces away from the wind. It should be large enough to allow the animal to lie down comfortably, but small enough to hold in its body heat. The floor should be raised a few inches off the ground, and covered with cedar shavings. Cover the doorway with burlap or a rug.
News >  Washington Voices

Display Mobile Homes Stripped

Burglars broke into two display units at Lamplighter Homes Inc. Sunday night, sheriff's deputies said, stripping them clean of furniture and appliances. They even swiped the place settings. The burglary may be related to two other recent mobile home incidents in the Valley, sheriff's officials said.
News >  Washington Voices

Train Horn Ban Begins Friday At University Road Crossing

Eight years of persistence have paid off for Tony Lazanis. The Valley motel owner and his neighbors have won their battle to ban train whistles - at least temporarily - at the University Road crossing. Starting Friday, Burlington Northern Santa Fe engineers will blow the whistles only in emergencies, or to warn nearby pedestrians and work crews. Motorists will see new black and yellow warning signs, reading "Caution, No Train Horns."
News >  Washington Voices

Valley Boy Assaulted, Robbed

Thieves punched, kicked and robbed a 13-year-old Valley boy Sunday night as he walked through his neighborhood with his older brother, sheriff's officials said. The teens were walking in the 13600 block of 14th Court about 10 p.m. when two teenage males in a pickup truck began yelling at them. After the older brother ran away, the teens confronted the younger boy, deputies said, pushing him to the ground, hitting and kicking him, and stealing his wallet and watch.
News >  Washington Voices

Santa Claus Keeps On Truckin’ Through Valley

Santa Claus will once again be rolling through Valley neighborhoods on a fire truck from Valley Fire District 1. Valley firefighters will be with Santa, handing out candy canes and playing festive Christmas music. The Santa Sleigh will make make its rounds from 6 to 9 p.m. each night. Here's the schedule:
News >  Washington Voices

Scapca Focuses On Cutting Down Smoke In Five Valley Communities

The Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority wants Valley residents to stop smoking. This winter, SCAPCA's regional campaign to reduce fireplace and wood stove smoke will focus on chimneys in Millwood, Liberty Lake, Newman Lake, Otis Orchards and Greenacres. Air quality field staff recommended a Valley focus this year, based on smoke complaints and their own personal observations, said Ron Edgar, SCAPCA's chief of technical services.
News >  Spokane

Family Hit Hard By Grief And Tragedy Hours After Favorite Niece Was Shot And Killed, Her Uncle Was Found Dead Of A Heart Attack

The last time the McMichael family was all together was Thanksgiving Day. They gathered at the Old Country Buffet in the Spokane Valley for a good time and a feast. As usual, 14-year-old Breanna sat next to her uncle Norman. "They were very, very close," said Dianne Sullivan, Breanna's mother. So close, the family will bury the two together today.
News >  Washington Voices

Masked Man Robs Woman At Deposit Box

A man wearing a dark mask and gloves robbed a woman as she tried to deposit money at a U.S. Bank branch in the Spokane Valley early Sunday. The 23-year-old woman had driven to the U.S. Bank branch at 15426 E. Sprague with a co-worker just after midnight to deposit checks and cash for her employer. She parked near the night deposit box and waited for the man ahead of her to finish his deposit.
News >  Washington Voices

Business Vandalized, Hit By Arson

Two months ago, burglars ransacked, flooded and vandalized Hassan Mallah's business. Now, Valley Fire District investigators say, an arsonist has tried to burn it down. Mallah, the owner of Spokane Office Concepts, 10311 E. Montgomery, lost $120,000 in merchandise, office equipment and personal property during the September burglary. The thieves left faucets running and cleaned out Hallah's office, taking numerous collectibles, including several swords.
News >  Washington Voices

Group Hires Lawyer To Fight Subdivision

A newly formed citizen's group has hired an attorney to fight a proposed subdivision on the east shore of Liberty Lake. Citizens Allied for Liberty Lake (CALL) has hired attorney Stephen Eugster to help them oppose the proposed MacKenzie Bay Beach Properties subdivision. The subdivision would be located about one-quarter mile south of the intersection of Lakeside and Neyland roads and would include 200 to 300 feet of common beach area. Owner Rex Harder is seeking preliminary plat approval to subdivide the 24.5 acres into 35 lots for single family homes. He would like to have individual building lots ready for sale by next summer. Eugster was one of about 10 people who testified at a public hearing on the subdivision last week. Most opposed the development. The county Planning Department received 30 written comments on the proposal, 29 of them in opposition, associate county planner Louis Webster said.