Voices

CHENEY – Last year, the Cheney Blackhawks boys' soccer team had the kind of regular season most teams only dream about. Cheney rolled to a 19-0 campaign, only to see the dream become a nightmare ending with a 1-0 shootout loss to Prosser in the state playoffs. "Our whole team's been bitter about it all year," said senior forward Mitch Weller. "We've had a bitter taste in our mouth. We're just stoked and ready to play this year. Although we're missing some of our key guys from last year, this year we all have good attitudes and have been wanting to work hard and get back into the position we were in last year."

Attendant Care Registry – Free service matching disabled adults and children with personal-care providers; sponsored by Coalition of Responsible Disabled; 326-6355. Change Point! program – Ideal for women who are separated, divorced, or widowed, have a disability, or who have been incarcerated; provides free training in computers, resume preparation, job interviewing, communication skills, and conflict resolution techniques; sponsored by the Washington State Displaced Homemaker Program; contact Denise McKinnon at 279-6065.

Larry Grant, candidate for the District I congressional seat, popped into Bayview for an hour or so last week to meet with various voters. He held court at Ralph's Internet Coffee House, visiting with folks and answering questions. Farragut structures still survive

Central Valley School District finalized a plan to allow teachers and staff members to make up three snow days during a board meeting on Monday. The board of directors previously voted to waive the days for students, but employees are required to make up the time. Classified employees, including custodians and bus drivers, are paid on an hourly basis and had to use leave time to cover the days. The 700 classified employees in the district could use a mix of sick leave or personal leave days, said Neva Ringwald, director of human resources/classified. "We worked very hard with union leadership," she said.

The following students have been named to the first semester honor roll at East Valley High School. Seniors

The East Valley bond measure to modernize three schools appeared headed for failure after Tuesday's election. It had 54.28 percent approval at press time Wednesday, but requires a supermajority of 60 percent to pass. "We are disappointed," said Superintendent Debra Howard. "We appreciate all the help and support we had from the community and the staff."

Ongoing Banking for Books - Monthlong book drive campaign to benefit Page Ahead Children's Literacy Program. Donate NEW children's books to Global Credit Union, Northland Credit Union, Spokane Safeway Employees Credit Union, Spokane City Credit Union, Spokane Federal Credit Union, Spokane Media Federal Credit Union, United Health Services Credit Union and Washington Trust Bank. Runs through March 31. 789-3548.

It's finally warming up, and the robins and blackbirds are back. Now is a great time to take advantage of some educational opportunities offered by our region's Master Gardener and Master Composter programs. If you always wanted to know how to build a compost pile, the Spokane Master Composters have a deal for you. Starting March 24 they will teach you the ins and outs of turning garden and kitchen vegetable trimmings into black gold. In exchange, you will then be asked to donate 40 hours back to the community teaching other people about composting. The class will run for five Monday evenings and two Saturdays, ending with a hands-on practice session at the Compost Fair at Finch Arboretum April 26. Call the Recycling Hot line for more information and to register; (509) 625-6800.

OLYMPIA – A month after supporters inflated a 20-foot-tall rubber ducky on the steps of the Capitol, lawmakers this week approved tough limits on lead and other chemicals in children's toys. With passage of the so-called toxic toys bill "Washington will have the strongest toy standards in the country," said prime sponsor Mary Lou Dickerson, D-Seattle.

The team at Gonzaga University is ranked 10th in the country in the National Debate Tournament varsity rankings. Seniors Nick Bormann and Grace Saez competed at the Northwest Championship Tournament March 1-3 in Walla Walla. They defeated the top team at Whitman College and will advance to the National Debate Tournament at California State University at Fullerton, Calif.

"Remote Possibilities," the 46th annual Ham on Regal variety show staged by Ferris High School parents and alumni, continues through Saturday at the school. The shows strings together 16 song-and-dance comedy numbers that juxtapose and interpose TV shows of the past with current ones and depicts often awkward attempts to breach the cultural gaps between parents and their adolescent offspring.

Hearing aids don't work … languishing on the top of the dresser, that is. If you ask almost anyone that's recently purchased hearing aids, "How do you like your new hearing aids?" you're likely to hear a litany of complaints. They'll slowly shake their head, grimacing, probably remembering the two grand they cost, and utter, "I hate them; they drive me crazy. I just can't wear them."

A public hearing on a proposed reuse of the Pfc. Joe E. Mann Army Reserve Center as an educational facility will be held by the Spokane City Council on Monday evening. An advisory committee has recommended that the Mann Center be redeveloped for use by the Community Colleges of Spokane as well as Spokane Public Schools.

Some Athol residents have a harder time embracing their Athol-ness than others. In Athol, Idaho, for example, townspeople have joined in the hilarity caused by their unfortunately named town. You can buy cups, baseball caps, T-shirts and other items with slogans that poke fun at the name. Comcast SportsNet discovered that residents of Athol, Mass., population 11,500, are more sensitive about their town name when the cable sports network poked fun at it in an ad campaign. One ad read: "We can pronounce Worchester without sounding like an Athol." Athol selectmen directed the city attorney to write a letter of protest and one urged residents to boycott any newspaper containing the ad. Splitting hairs, the selectman noted that the correct pronunciation of their town is "ATH-awl." "There's always been this, shall we say, 'humorous pronunciation,' " Selectman Wayne Miller told the Associated Press. "If one person is doing it, that's nothing to worry about. But you have to draw the line when a major company uses it to make money." Comcast ap-hollow-gized and pulled the ad. Susannah Whipps, the only selectman to oppose sending the letter, said she was more concerned with vandals putting an "r" before and an "e" after "Athol" on town signs to change the name to "rathole." Expensive sex