In brief: Conference focuses on safety

Neighborhood Watch will host its annual Crime Prevention Conference at CenterPlace at Mirabeau on March 5.

The all-day conference will include sessions on boating safety, cyber safety, home safety, gangs, sex offenders and illegal drugs. Classes will run from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Registration begins at 7 a.m.

The cost is $12, which includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Registration forms and a complete schedule are available at www.spokanesheriff.org. Call 477-3055 for more information. CenterPlace is at 2426 N. Discovery Place.

Simulator to help train firefighters

The Spokane Valley Fire Department plans to start putting out fires digitally.

Spokesman Bill Clifford said the department will use a $10,000 grant to buy a digital training system in which firefighters battle flames on what looks like a big-screen television.

If water and compressed air from a realistic portable “extinguisher” are properly sprayed, the fire goes out. If not, the fire station still doesn’t burn up.

Clifford said training with real extinguishers is costly and messy, as well as too dangerous for some locations. With the simulator, firefighters will be able to provide training for area businesses.

Money for the simulator will come from the Honeywell Electronic Materials plant at 15128 E. Euclid Ave., which is to give district commissioners a check at their Tuesday meeting.

Holiday closes City Hall offices

Spokane Valley City Hall offices will be closed Monday in observance of the Presidents Day holiday and will reopen on Tuesday for regular office hours.

For more information, call 688-0232.

Liberty Lake

Arboretum plans to be presented

The City of Liberty Lake will present the final master plan concepts for its planned arboretum during a special community meeting at 6 p.m. Feb. 29, at City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive.

The public will be able to view proposed designs for the project. Refreshments will be served. Call 755-6708 for more information.

Edgecliff

Edgecliff center open after school

The new Edgecliff Neighborhood Center will be open after school Tuesday.

It will be open to children in grades K through 9 from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. The center is at the old Pratt Elementary School at 6903 E. Fourth Ave.

There will be gym games, a study area with computers and other activities. The Safe Haven program is being run by Edgecliff SCOPE. Call 477-6345 for more information.

– Staff reports