Countdown Stalls With Delay In Argonne Project

Sat., July 27, 1996

Compiled From Staff Reports

There is a good reason the sign counting down the weeks remaining before the Argonne Underpass opens has not changed during the past couple of weeks.

The project has fallen a month behind schedule.

County officials said Thursday the project is now scheduled to be finished Oct. 14.

Engineers were overly optimistic last month when they set the opening date for Sept. 13, a county spokesman said. The new date puts the county back on schedule to meet the original completion date it targeted when the project began last July.

The sign which has been counting down the weeks until the project is completed will be set for the new schedule Monday morning.

Engineers considered assigning extra crews to the project to meet the September finish date, said Chad Hutson, county spokesman. However, they changed their minds because they estimated the move would have cost an additional $50,000.

Crews are beginning to dig the northern half of the underpass. Traffic is scheduled to be routed back to Trent via Argonne on the north side of the underpass by Aug. 26. The Buckeye detour will then be closed.

Supporting Valleyfest

Valleyfest, a celebration for children and families, continues to draw community support.

Farmers and Merchants Bank has given $500 to help fund the Sept. 21 event, and U.S. Bank will help Valleyfest with printing costs.

Arts and crafts vendors can sign up for Valleyfest booths. Contact Karen Parsons, 926-5675, for more information.

The event at Terrace View Park also includes a parade that emphasizes children’s entries, games, entertainment, such activities as facepainting and bubble magic, a performance of the musical “Tom Sawyer” and concert by the Spokane Symphony Orchestra.

SCOPE East hosts fair

The Sheriff’s Community Oriented Policing Effort East station will host its second Security Fair Saturday in Otis Orchards.

The fair will run from noon to 5 p.m. at the Otis Orchards Library, 22324 E. Wellesley. Admission is free.

Attractions include a bicycle rodeo and a demonstration by the Sheriff’s Department search and rescue and K-9 teams. SCOPE exhibits such as fingerprinting and radar gun also will be on display.

Prizes will be given to participants of the bike rodeo. Applications will be available for anyone who wants to sign up to be a SCOPE volunteer.

About 500 people attended the fair last year.

Democrats meet

The newly formed Spokane Valley Democrats will hold its second meeting on Monday night.

The meeting is scheduled to be held in the Valley Library, 12004 E. Main, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

All Valley Democrats and others who plan to vote for Democrats are invited to attend.

For more information, call Herb Brimble at 926-8502.

, DataTimes

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.