Washington Voices

For 02-23-2013

Citizenship Course – Offered by World Relief Spokane, 1522 N. Washington St., Suite 204. For more information call (509) 484-9829. Employment, Education and Training – For Spokane County residents who have been laid off from work or have low income; provided through Work Source Spokane. Call (509) 532-3120 or visit www.workspokane.org and click on ‘Job Seekers.’

Spokane Valley Fire Department crews responded with Spokane County sheriff’s deputies to a report of a car in a field in Otis Orchards with its motor running and lights on at 8:21 p.m. on Feb. 19. When crews arrived to the 3100 block of North Meyers Road they found a van that was quite a distance from the road that had hit a telephone pole and run into an irrigation sprinkler pipe, said Assistant Fire Marshal Bill Clifford. The driver, a 52-year-old man, was declared dead at the scene. Crews reported that the man had significant head injuries and there was a lot of blood inside the vehicle, Clifford said.

Monday Spokane Valley Fire Department – 4 p.m. at the Administration Building, 2120 N. Wilbur Road.

NEWMAN LAKE – This week the Spokane County commissioners unanimously upheld a decision by Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Services Director Nancy Hill to not renew the commercial dog kennel license of Iron Horse Kennel. The business, owned by Wilma Turner, failed to pass its annual inspection three times in October after animal control officers reported finding rats in the feed and unsanitary conditions. Turner pleaded guilty to several criminal charges in 2011 after inspections turned up substandard conditions. She was recently found in violation of her probation when inspections in 2011 and 2012 revealed further problems at the kennel.

The town of Rockford faces uncertainty after a law enforcement levy to pay for the town’s contract with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office lost big at the ballot box this month. The measure sought to raise $33,000 by imposing a levy of $1.43 per $1,000 in assessed home value in 2014. In recent years the town has struggled to pay for the contract out of its limited general fund budget.

Lottery winners in Spokane County for the week of Feb. 18-22. $10,000

It’s not easy facing mortality. In fact, there’s nothing easy about confronting that final goodbye and for years, I’ve put it off with inventive excuses. In my 20s I was immortal, of course. In my 30s I miraculously remained immortal. Then the 40s hit and, in what seemed like a flash, my 50s. Now I was invincible. It’s the journey, I told myself, not the destination.

The Rotary Club of Spokane Valley is donating a book to every child at some Valley elementary schools. On Thursday and Friday, Rotary members will deliver books to Trentwood, Broadway, Opportunity, Ness, Orchard Center and Trent elementary schools. Friday is the birthday of Theodor Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss.

For 02-23-2013

Badminton – Monday-Thursday, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Spokane Valley HUB, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave. $2 per person, per session. Equipment provided. Call (509) 570-2875 or (509) 570-3354 for more information. Billiards – Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Spokane Valley Senior Center, 2426 N. Discovery Place. Call (509) 926-1937 for more information.

Global Neighborhood - Volunteers are needed to work with refugee individuals and families. Volunteers will interact with refugees, help them practice English, educate them on food, help with bus transit, and introduce them to family, friends and other aspects of the community. Volunteers are required to complete and submit the Global Neighborhood Volunteer application and undergo cultural orientation training. Volunteers must be at least 19 years old; submit to a Washington State Patrol background check; be willing to seek out resources for refugees; and commit to one year of service with a family or individual, three hours per week. For more information, call Amy Hendricks, volunteer coordinator, at (509) 703-7528 or email amy@global-neighborhood.org or visit www.global-neighborhood.org. Greater Spokane County/Valley Meals on Wheels - Volunteers are needed to deliver hot meals to elderly and disabled people. Volunteers will also need to check on the well-being of each person on their route. Volunteers may choose to drive a route any day, Monday through Friday, or drive as a substitute on flexible days. Meals will be picked up at 11 a.m. and delivered to approximately 15 people; delivery time is about 90 minutes. Volunteers are also needed to help prepare meals for elderly and disabled people. All skill levels are needed. Volunteers must use their own vehicles to deliver meals and must pass a background check. For more information, call Pam Almeida, executive director, at (509) 924-6976 or visit www.valleymow.org.

Fairfield City Council – The council discussed a tire collection event planned for April 27, the same day as the spring yard debris collection day. The council also discussed records management services and training city employees on records retention. (Source: Town clerk Cheryl Loeffler) Rockford City Council – A public hearing was held on a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant for flow meters. The city has received a tentative offer from the state Department of Ecology to fund the needed sewer lagoon system repairs and upgrades with a $1.3 million grant and a $1.5 million loan at 1.6 percent interest over 20 years. (Source: Town clerk Darlene LaShaw)