Voices

True stories told for many years When my family moved to Spokane in 1933 I attended Irving School.

The precarious state of the economy has hit the Inland Northwest, including the folks in the Elk-Chattaroy area. Many people are struggling, but still have holiday spirit. While asking people in the community if they are doing things differently for Christmas this year, they have shared some interesting ideas and innovative ways to celebrate the holiday.

The Medical Lake City Council approved a resolution making changes in administrative fees for 2009. “A lot of them are updates, a few of them are language changes so we don’t have to come back every year,” said Doug Ross, city administrator.

Public meetings, clubs and support groups in the Post Falls/Rathdrum area in the upcoming weeks: Hauser Lake

Twinkling lights, inflatable snow globes and electric reindeer are delightful, but the centerpiece for most folks’ holiday decorations is the Christmas tree. When were newly married, Derek and I shopped for our tree at local lots or grocery stores, but after the children arrived something changed. “It isn’t very festive to buy your Christmas tree at Fred Meyer,” Derek opined. He looked out the window at the small boys playing in the snow. “I think they need to see trees in their natural environment.

Thursday AARON MANNINO (ALTERNATIVE/FOLK) – 8 p.m., Calypso’s Coffee, 116 E. Lakeside Ave., Coeur d’Alene, 665-0591.

North Central High School students will have a once in a lifetime opportunity on Jan. 20 when they attend the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. World Strides, a company that provides educational student travel programs, approached the social studies department at NCHS in April, with the trip to Washington. History teachers Christine Petterborg and Gabe Medrano made announcements to students, with fliers and posters and received interest from nearly 60 students.

Plymouth Congregational Church, 1502 W. Eighth Ave., will introduce its new pastor Sunday at the 10 a.m. service. Senior Pastor Gary Gardell, who will join the church in January, will deliver a special Christmas message.

Plymouth Congregational Church, 1502 W. Eighth Ave., will introduce its new senior pastor Sunday at the 10 a.m. service. The Rev. Gary Gardell, who will join the church in January, will deliver a special Christmas message.

Police arrested a 28-year-old Spokane Valley woman Sunday after she stabbed two other women during a heated discussion about her fitness to be a mother, said spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan. Shelly Rae Jones was booked into the Spokane County Jail about 4:30 a.m. Sunday on two counts of second-degree Assault.

To introduce the Rathdrum Prairie’s latest large-scale addition, the Prairie Transfer Station, Kootenai County Solid Waste is inviting the public to check out the facility with an open house and ribbon-cutting this Friday from 10 a.m. until noon. The 38,000-square-foot facility – almost three times the size of the current Ramsey Road Transfer Station – is north of Post Falls on Pleasant View Road at Prairie Avenue. With construction complete on the $10.7 million station, which sits on a 67-acre site that began being developed for the garbage drop-off site in November last year, only a few final kinks in finish work and computer software need to be ironed out before its early 2009 opening. A staff of 14 will operate the facility.

The Karen refugees from Burma will host a holiday celebration on Dec. 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will be held at the East Central Community Center, 500 S. Stone St. The festivities include Karen youth singing and dancing, speeches and food.

New listings John R. Rogers High School Class of 1969 – July 25, at the Mirabeau Hotel, contact Lynn Freeman at lmfreeman13@yahoo.com.

Although it’s just one week until Christmas, there is still time to send a letter in to Rathdrum’s Secret Santa. The Santas are busy answering the requests they’ve already received – one for warm blankets, and another for Sunday school clothing for a family of foster children – but say they are still hoping to hear from more with needs during this holiday season. “We are asking for people with needs to share them with us so we can help give them a better Christmas,” said one of the Secret Santas.

For 12-18-2008

For the week of Dec. 22-26 Monday – Beef stew with vegetables, corn, biscuit, oatmeal fruit bar.

Ever wonder what happens to the stuff in safe deposit boxes when the owners disappear? It goes to Olympia. After at least five years of no payment and no contact with the owners, banks and credit unions can turn the items over to the state Department of Revenue.