Voices

Dave and Judy Payne's home-buying decision was made easier by a visit from their soon-to-be next door neighbors, Mike and Grace Zentz. "They welcomed us to the neighborhood even before we moved in," Dave Payne recalled.

John Heywood, the English playwright and poet, wrote: "Many hands make light work." That proverb aptly reflects the efforts of those who reached out to help Gene La Liberte when his left knee gave out on him in early December.

I've received a number of e-mails this past week concerning a particular article that states that our planet is in a sudden cooling period. The term "New Ice Age" has been floating around, and with the harsh winter of 2007-08, some are wondering if this is the case. I have stated in previous articles that I believe we're in a long-term cycle of wide weather "extremes," the worst cycle in more than 1,000 years.

Spokane Art Supply offers friendly service When my husband, Richard, went to Spokane Art Supply in Spokane Valley to purchase a mat-cutter, framer Laura Nuchols didn't merely explain the difference between two cutters by listing features and benefits. She unboxed both and helped him test-drive each, giving pointers along the way.

Ruben Rosario is the latest newsman to pile on Idaho's U.S. Sen. Larry Craig – or as Rosario calls him "Larry Craig, the undead." Rosario, a columnist for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, reasons Craig "is as hard to whack as one of those pesky creatures stumbling about in zombie flicks." Every time you think Craig's done for, Rosario wrote Feb. 27, he pops up again. Rosario based his column on the filing by Craig's lawyers of a 242-page-long, 13,962-word brief in the senator's ongoing attempt to withdraw his guilty plea in that infamous toe-tapping incident in a Minnesota airport bathroom sex sting. Craig's "obstinate and delirious state of self-denial is filling the pockets of already well-heeled, white-shoe lawyers from the Beltway and New York," writes Rosario. Through Feb. 15, Craig has spent $213,000 on lawyers while forcing the Metropolitan Airports Commission to squander $28,000 in legal expenses. "To save money," Rosario writes, tongue firmly cheeked, "I strongly suggest lawyers be required to use one-ply to file future motions in this extremely crappy case." Underground agent

The second annual auction by the Friends of Turnbull to raise money for the environmental education program at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge is set for 1-4 p.m. Sunday at Northern Quest Casino. The $25 admission fee includes hors d'oeuvres, a raffle ticket and bid card. A no-host bar is available.

Voters interested in learning more about the upcoming Lakeland School District levy election are invited to attend an informational meeting at 6:30 p.m. March 18 at Timberlake Junior High School in Spirit Lake. Lakeland School District voters will cast ballots March 25 on the two-year, $3.9 million levy.

Friends of the Spokane Public Library will hold its annual Spring Book Sale at the Downtown Library, 906 W. Main Ave. The sale will be today and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will feature a special deal. Customers can fill a bag with books for $3.

The Modern Electric Water Company has dropped it electric usage rate by 4 percent effective March 1. The reduction comes from operation efficiencies and a reduction in the wholesale power cost from the Bonneville Power Administration. The board of directors recently voted to pass the savings on to customers.

Two Spokane City Council members and Mayor Mary Verner are trying to head off a political collision involving a major expansion of the commercial area near ShopKo on South Regal Street. On one side are developers and property owners who have spent years trying to amend the city's land-use plan to allow a much greater commercial presence at Regal and Palouse Highway. Developers are seeking a district commercial center designation under three separate land-use changes by Home Depot and Black Development. Taken together, they would provide numerous new outlets for South Hill shoppers as well as a tax windfall to the city.

Apology extended; tax increase claim upheld Mr. Ralph Baker, I, Ed Griffin, do apologize to you, because you did not have any way of knowing if I was a homicidal maniac or not.

The Liberty Lake Police Department was busy between Feb. 25 to March 3, with several arrests and numerous citations. Lamont A. Brooks, 28, of Spokane was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and speeding on March 2 on I-90. One of his passengers, Justin S. Walden, 27, of Seattle, was arrested for giving a false name to police. He was also wanted on two warrants, including one from Everett for failing to register as a sex offender. Rex J. Benham, 47, of Cheney was arrested on a warrant from Spokane and 39-year-old Shane D. Huntsucker of Mead was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Rodney W. Knight, 43, of Liberty Lake was arrested on charges of driving with a suspended license, failure to show liability insurance and license and plates required, while Todd S. Neff, 39, of Post Falls was arrested on a charge of driving with a suspended license. David A. Perrin, 29, of Liberty Lake was arrested for driving with a suspended license and license and plates required.

MEDICAL LAKE – Voters within the Medical Lake School District will be asked to approve a $19,544,500 school bond in Tuesday's election for a new elementary school. A supermajority of at least 60 percent of voters is needed to pass the measure. The bond would cost taxpayers $1.70 per $1,000 of assessed property value to pay for a new school serving students in kindergarten through the third grade at the same location as Medical Lake Elementary School. The bond would also help pay for eight new classrooms at Medical Lake Middle School.

Name: Raylene Combs Age: 58

POST FALLS – Now is the time to start looking for an alternate route. Construction crews have begun preparation work on a Post Falls project to improve Mullan Avenue from Idaho Street to Highway 41, and heavy-duty work will be under way by the end of the month.

•The Five Mile Prairie Neighborhood Council will meet today at 6:30 p.m. at School House, located at the corner of Five Mile and Strong roads. •The Community Assembly will meet Friday at 4 p.m. in the City Council Briefing Room, City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

The neighbors who live around Comstock Pool and use it regularly during the summer had a message for Spokane City Hall this week: Don't change it. While recreational features like water slides and beachlike shallow areas have become popular around the country, most of the people who consider Comstock their pool wanted little of that during a planning meeting Tuesday at South Side Senior Activity and Community Center.

Liberty High School softball head coach Tami Mangis knows all about legacies. Her father, Fuzzy Buckenberger, is wrapping up a highly successful coaching career at Whitworth University this season after the winningest season in program history last year. If having to live up to her father wasn't enough, Mangis takes over a Lancer team from former coach Scott Hemberry that has advanced to three straight state tournaments.

There is a slight tint of sorrow in the eyes of artist Ilse Killian-Tan. She grew up in a loving family in East Germany when communism was in full force. She called it an awful and confusing time. The politics affected her childhood, but art helped her through the trying times. "It's important to be in harmony with the universe and everything. When I'm out of sync I cannot be creative," she said, "I feel sorry for people who don't touch their creative side."