Voices

Make menu sports fan friendly I was happy to read "Sports restaurant to open in Liberty Lake" (Valley Voice, 3-13), but grossed out that it plans to specialize in country fried steak with sausage gravy and burgers. Yuk!

'Landmarks' story inaccurate I read with interest your article in the March 13 Spokesman Review on the "surge tower" in the Valley. Unfortunately, nearly everything you said in that article was wrong, starting with the designation of that structure as a "surge tower." It was not. I grew up within 200 yards of that tower, playing under, on and in the irrigation system of which it was a part.

Liberty Lake police made several arrests during the week of March 10-17, and at least one of the suspects was familiar. Liberty Lake resident Cody L. Thompson, 22, was arrested for driving with a suspended license. "He's a repeat offender," said police Chief Brian Asmus. "I think this is like his fourth arrest."

The Liberty Lake Council heard a presentation during Tuesday's meeting about the planned arboretum, which has been named Nature's Place at Meadowwood. The planned green space will be on 2.8 acres behind City Hall that was donated by the Meadowwood Homeowners Association. "It formerly served as just a drainage area," said planning and building services manager Amanda Tainio, who has been heading up the project.

Spokane County Library District trustees decided Tuesday not to seek another vote this year on a proposal to build two new Spokane Valley libraries and improve the Argonne branch near Millwood. Voters last week narrowly rejected formation of a special taxing district for the work, but nearly 55 percent of them said no to a $33.4 million bond measure that needed 60 percent support to pass.

The Christian Youth Theater of Spokane is holding a dance competition, sponsored by Gozzer Ranch, which mimics one of televisions hottest programs, "Dancing with the Stars." What makes this fundraiser unique is the celebrities are locals seen on television or whose bylines are in newspapers every day – and most of them have absolutely no idea how to dance. Each celebrity has been paired with a professional dance instructor who has three weeks to choreograph and teach them a dance routine. The couples were asked to learn a dance, such as salsa, tap, swing, tango and more.

Spokane-area lottery winners for the week of March 10-16 include: $3,000 – Guy Smith, Spokane.

As Spokane emerged from its snowiest winter in 15 years, the poor condition of many of the city's streets became all too apparent with potholes, cracks and ruts showing up across the city. The pothole problems in February led Mayor Mary Verner to ask her public works staff to come up with the cost of fully funding street maintenance in Spokane. They came up with $14 million, a number the mayor said she supports.

MEDICAL LAKE – Last season was a lesson in growing pains for the Medical Lake baseball team as the Cardinals battled their way to a .500 finish in the Great Northern League under first-year head coach Tye "TJ" Smith. "Last year I wish we could have bonded more as a team," said senior catcher Tyler Owens. "Last year we could have played more as a team."

Name: Norwood "Woody" Borsvold Age: 83

Thursday BLUE PRINT (ROCK) – 7 p.m., Cruisers, 6105 W. Seltice Way. Stateline, 773-4706.

“The Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) 2009 Planning Meeting will be held today at 3:30 p.m. at the Office of Neighborhood Services – Fire Maintenance Center, 1610 N. Rebecca St. “The Chief Garry Park Neighborhood Council will meet today at 7 p.m. at Stevens Elementary School, 1717 E. Sinto Ave.

For whatever reason, many of us get a little fidgety when performers in the public eye speak openly about their religious faith. But that doesn't stop Rogers High School senior Andrew Durant, a three-sport Pirate star for the past four years, from talking about it. He's not a one-trick pony, but he's certainly not reluctant to say that faith is an important part of his life. "The way I go about my day, everything I do, is because of that," he said. "It means a lot to me no matter where I go and helps me to try to always do the right thing. It's important to me to respect everyone I encounter, and that's what I expect in return."

POST FALLS – Robin Hutchins has seen a lot of code violations – yards littered with junk cars, old appliances and piles of lumber, vehicles abandoned all over town and stacks of water-filled tires – but nothing compared to what was left behind at a former trailer park which became a dumping ground after it was left vacant. Trash piled up, vandals destroyed vehicles and buildings, and some used bathrooms inside abandoned trailers even though the plumbing was turned off. Hutchins, a code enforcement officer for the Post Falls Police Department, helped lead the clean-up.

The North Idaho College Foundation's Really BIG Raffle will kick into high gear as regional outlets begin selling tickets for the drawing to win a new $300,000 grand prize home. Ticket outlets include Stock Building Supply of Coeur d'Alene; Super 1 Foods in Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Hayden and Rathdrum; Stein's IGA in Rathdrum, Kellogg and Osburn; Trading Co. Stores in Post Falls; Lake City Ford in Coeur d'Alene; Riverside Auto Center in Bonners Ferry; the NIC Workforce Training Center in Post Falls; and the NIC Foundation Office on NIC's main Coeur d'Alene campus. Tickets can be also purchased online.

RLM Community Easter Egg Hunt – Saturday, 10 a.m. at Post Falls High School, 2832 E. Poleline Road. Includes categories for all ages through the fifth grade, also a special-needs area. Sponsored by Real Life Ministries, 1866 N. Cecil Road in Post Falls. Sunday Easter Service times at the church will be at 6:30, 8, 9:45 and 11:30 a.m. No child care provided at 6:30 service. 773-7325. Christian Youth Theater Spring Courses – Spring 10-week sessions begin Tuesday for ages 6-18. Beginning classes in drama, dance and voice. Specialty classes, stunts and combat, hip hop dance, and improv also offered. $175/registration. Intro to musical theater for 6- and 7-year-olds. Showcase performance for all students on June 3. Students between ages 8-18 may also audition for "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown," to be performed May 30-June 9 at Lake City Playhouse. Students can also register through the first two weeks of classes and at auditions. Call to register, 819-9281.