In their words …

“I get to be a mom today and be responsible and pay bills.”

— Marla Peone-Clark, participating in a celebration to commemorate 10 years of the Spokane County Drug Court program that helped her overcome 18 years of substance abuse.

“The Seattle SuperSonics want to stay here, and we will look at other local options. But if people from other cities call, we will pick up the phone for the first time.”

— SuperSonics CEO Wally Walker, saying the professional basketball franchise is considering a move unless the city of Seattle and state of Washington come through with funds for renovation of KeyArena, where the team plays its home games.

“They think it’s a hippie business, a counterculture business, a pot business, and it’s far from that.”

— U.S. Hemp Co. President Aaron Carvajal, whose California-based firm is opening a branch in Spokane, describing a common public belief that the hemp products his business sells are related to legalization of marijuana, which comes from the same plant.

“It’s like knowing only modern art and then stumbling on the finger of God touching the hand of Adam.”

— University of New Hampshire archaeologist William Saturno, likening a recently discovered mural of the Mayan creation story to Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel.

“We’re sending animals out with the equivalent of cell phones and they’re telling us where they are.”

— Ron O’Dor, senior scientist for the Census of Marine Life, a 10-year international effort, scheduled to end in 2010, to tally all marine life in the world’s oceans.

“It’s always a great day for clean athletes when individuals who cheat are held accountable and stripped of the rewards gained through doping.”

— Terry Madden, CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, after the Court of Arbitration for Sport banned U.S. sprinters Chryste Gaines and Tim Montgomery from track competition for two years for steroid use and invalidated Montgomery’s world record in the 100-meter dash.

“I think it will be uplifting to people to see that it isn’t necessarily the backrooms that make the decisions. It can be activists.”

— Businessman and former congressional candidate Don Barbieri, reflecting on the role played by grassroots citizens, rather than Spokane’s business and political leaders, in the recall of Mayor Jim West.