Council Presented With Petition For Stoplight Assumption 2Nd-Grader Emily Dellwo Says Indian Trail Road Too Busy, Dangerous To Cross

When Emily Dellwo’s second-grade social studies class got to a chapter on creating petitions, an idea sparked in her mind.

“Can kids do petitions, too?” she asked her mom after school one day.

When she found out that indeed they can, Emily, who goes to Assumption School, got to work.

Susan Dellwo doesn’t let her daughter walk to school because it involves crossing Indian Trail Road. So, Emily drew up a petition that said:

“We want a stoplight at Woodside and Indian Trail. Why? So it will be safe for Assumption students and people who walk to church to cross Indian Trail. It is busy and the cars go way too fast.” It was decorated with drawings of a big stoplight, trees and houses in bright colors.

Emily recruited a few friends, and for about two weeks, they went classroom to classroom collecting signatures. They also stopped by a spaghetti dinner held at Assumption Church to collect some adult names.

Friend Sara Sturm, 8, said she completely supports the petition “because the cars do go way too fast.”

Of the more than 200 people the girls talked to, Emily said only one didn’t sign because they didn’t live in the area.

The girls then presented their petition and its accompanying signatures to City Council members.

“They said it was a good idea,” Emily said, pleased. But also added that she was a little sad when council members chuckled after she asked, “Anybody got any questions?”

She figures the laughs were on account of her “just being a kid.”

Politics is nothing new to Emily or Sara. Emily’s grandfather is former City Council member Bob Dellwo, and Sara’s uncle is former Spokane mayor Jack Geraghty.

The girls said they hope a stoplight will be in place in a couple of weeks.

`Grandpa’ helping out at Colbert

Colbert Elementary School students know what to do when they have a computer question: Ask Grandpa.

Roland “Grandpa” Himley, 71, has volunteered at Colbert for three years. When he realized he had some extra time, he decided to help out at his grandkids’ school.

“I like working with kids and doing something useful,” Himley said.

To teachers, Himley is much more than useful - he’s indispensable.

“He’s wonderful,” said second grade teacher Debbie Schmick. “He does everything for us.”

As the local computer guru, Himley keeps files backed-up, oversees the computer lab during recess and is known as the person to go to with technical questions.

He also spends a great deal of time crafting clever questions for the school’s Accelerated Reader program. For certain books kids read, there is a comprehension test they can take on the computer. If they pass, they get points that they can trade for things like small toys, nail polish or Pokemon cards.

Students in Linda Jokinen’s fourth grade class have high praise for Himley and his test questions.

“They’re hard, but good,” said Derek Martin, 10, of the questions. Of Himley he said, “He may be old but he’s on the move a lot.”

“He’s really nice and caring,” added Corbin Richardson, 9. “He’s funny, too. He jokes around a lot.”

Colbert is always looking for volunteers to read with and tutor children of all ages. No experience is necessary. For more information, contact the school at 465-6300.

Craft fair at Mt. Spokane

The Mt. Spokane High School Bandstand, a band parents booster group, is sponsoring a spring craft fair on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More than 100 crafters will offer a variety of items, and there will be a special home and garden section. Admission is $1, and there is no cost for children under 12.