Voices

I got such a kick out of Christy Dawn's letter "Make menu sports fan friendly" (Valley Voice, March 20). You go girl.

"Are We There Yet? On the Road to God's Design for Your Family" – Family series begins Sunday at Real Life Ministries, 1866 N. Cecil Road, Post Falls. Addresses the topics of family, communications and marriage, single again, sex, finances, blended families, raising young children, teenagers and parents. Call for information, 773-7325. Catalyst for Young Adults – Meets Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in RLM 2, Upper Room, Real Life Ministries, 1866 N. Cecil Road. Experience powerful worship and teaching for young adults ages 18-25. Call Ann at 777-7325, ext. 148.

A cash reward is being offered for information that solves the assault and robbery of an elderly Spokane Valley couple inside their garage last month. The 88-year-old husband and wife arrived at their home in the 11100 block of East 22nd Avenue around 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 24, and had pulled their car into their garage and lowered the drive-through door.

Kootenai Health is offering free car seat safety inspections Friday in Post Falls. More than 95 percent of car seats and booster seats inspected at previous events sponsored by Kootenai Health were installed incorrectly, according to Sarah Nielsen, Kootenai's volunteer services manager.

If there's anything to be gleaned from the Clifford Helm case it's that Spokane has witnessed a gut-wrenching lesson in forgiveness. If your head's been in the fish bowl since 2005, Clifford Helm drove his truck into the Schrocks' van one winter evening. The Schrocks' five children died in the crash. Helm was injured. Jeffrey Schrock, the father and driver of the van, was also injured. In one split second lives changed forever.

For the week of March 31-April 4 Monday – Riblets, roasted red peppers, vegetables, wheat bread, baked apple slices.

The goal of Somebody Needs You is to match donors with the specific requests of needy Spokane residents.The list of requests is coordinated by the Volunteers of America in cooperation with recognized social service agencies in Spokane. If you have an item to donate, contact the agency directly. “Single mom needs a couch, dresser and small kitchen table with chairs. Contact Marci at TLC, 325-2959.

The Spokane Scholars Foundation will present its annual awards banquet April 21 at the Spokane Convention Center at 6 p.m. The banquet will honor more than 125 local high school seniors who have excelled academically in the areas of English, social studies, mathematics, science, world languages and fine arts.

Boys Rogers

GIRLS Gonzaga Prep

Although there is evidence to the contrary, the calendar says spring arrived last week. That means it's time for spring break – time for families to spend some time together doing something fun. Time to make some memories. For many years my family headed for the Oregon/Washington coast every spring break. We would fire up whatever old truck we had, hook up our 1972 Prowler trailer and hit the road. We never spent much money on these trips, but the family memories we made are treasured.

Spokane Valley City Council members will seek a vehicle registration fee while working with the city of Spokane on a more ambitious plan to raise money for street maintenance. Despite some misgivings, the council directed City Manager David Mercier Tuesday to prepare a proposal in which voters could be asked to approve an annual vehicle registration fee up to $100.

This is nuts! They've got a pill for whatever ails me – or, whatever I think ails me … or, whatever I've been scared into thinking ails me. Is this the age of the quick-fix mentality? I'm afraid so, but don't blame us for expecting a pill for just about anything and everything. We, and many of our doctors, too, are being played like a fiddle by the giant pharmaceutical companies – while being lured down that legendary, "primrose path."

It's too early to know if 2008 tax and fee revenues will meet Post Falls' projections, but the city will soon be pushing forward with budgeting for next year. And this year the approach to drafting that budget could dramatically change. The Post Falls City Council is scheduled to discuss using "zero-based budgeting" at its meeting on Tuesday.

Central Valley Coach: Dennis McGuire