Buildings could be razed for Rite Aid

The only block in Spokane Valley that actually looks like a city would be partially razed to make way for a Rite Aid under a proposal before planners.

On the southwest corner of Sprague and Pines, four two-story buildings east of Dave’s Bar and Grill would be torn down for the store, which would sit across the street from Walgreens.

Buildings on the site range from 60 to nearly 90 years old and include the Odd Fellows Lodge at the center of the long-defunct Opportunity Township.

On behalf of owners Thomas Hamilton and David Thompson, Gramor Development of Seattle has asked the city to move an alley behind the buildings to accommodate the project.

A city planner told the council at its meeting Tuesday the company has not applied for a building permit yet and is in preliminary meetings with the city.

The council voted to schedule a May 10 public hearing before the Planning Commission on the alley.

– Peter Barnes

Valley scales back snowplowing service

Unless a blizzard hits, don’t look for plows on most residential streets in Spokane Valley in future years.

At its meeting Tuesday, the City Council unanimously decided to change the city’s snow removal policy to exclude flat residential streets “until functional traffic flow is substantially inhibited.”

Since the city incorporated, the lowest-priority streets for snow removal have only been plowed once, in 2003, said Public Works Director Neil Kersten.

Most years, the city budgets more for plowing than it spends, and last year City Manager Dave Mercier suggested the change could free up money in the city’s street fund.

Under earlier guidelines, plows were deployed to all streets when more than 4 inches of snow was expected. All the same, crews gave a higher priority to arterials and hills and seldom made it into flat neighborhoods.

Sanding and de-icing wouldn’t be done in residential areas either, Kersten said, except for problem spots and controlled intersections.

– Peter Barnes

Spokane

Fund to help pay for teenager’s funeral

A fund has been established to help with costs for 13-year-old Jesse McNerney’s funeral.

The Bancroft School student died on Easter after a tunnel he built in the dirt at a construction site collapsed on him. The teen was playing across the street from his home in the 1800 block of East Vanetta.

Donations can be made at any Washington Trust Bank to the Jesse Ryan McNerney Memorial Trust Fund.

– Jody Lawrence-Turner

Treats ahead for star, planet watchers

Two astronomical events involving Venus, the Pleiades star cluster, Mars and the moon will unfold during the overnight hours later this week.

Starting tonight, Venus will be making a close pass of the Pleiades in the western sky after twilight. Venus’ proximity to the Pleiades continues through Saturday. Venus is easily spotted by its brightness now.

During the predawn hours Friday and Saturday, the waning moon will pass alongside Mars in the east southeast sky prior to sunrise. The moon’s closest pass of Mars occurs overnight on Friday and will be hidden behind the Earth.

– Mike Prager