Washington Voices

Lottery winners in Spokane County for the week of Jan. 28-Feb. 1. $1,000

A dozen fishing flies created by master fly tier John Newbury will be auctioned Friday during a fundraiser for a Spokane man who suffered a brain injury in a December auto accident. The fundraiser will take place from 5 to 10 p.m. at Press, 909 S. Grand Blvd. The event will also include a raffle and other fundraising efforts.

Spokane Valley This week

Liberty Lake police officers made a couple of interesting arrests the week of Jan. 28 to Feb. 4, one of which started as a routine traffic stop. A car was pulled over at Mission Avenue and Barker Road at 1:50 p.m. on Jan. 31 for an equipment violation and a traffic violation. The officer saw the driver and passenger moving around a lot after the car was pulled over and saw the driver hand something to the passenger, said Police Chief Brian Asmus.

A recent study indicates that major solar-induced drought patterns have recurred across the midsection of the U.S. approximately every 80 years since at least the early 1600s. Some of the most severe droughts have lasted for a decade or longer. We are still in the latest version of this particular long-term drought cycle. We’ve seen some moisture relief in parts of Texas and the eastern Corn Belt in recent weeks, but parts of the Midwest and much of the Great Plains remain in the firm grip of choking drought with no significant precipitation in sight.

The goal of Somebody Needs You is to match donors with the specific requests of needy Spokane residents. The list of requests is coordinated by the Volunteers of America in cooperation with recognized social service agencies in Spokane. If you have an item to donate, please contact the social service agency directly.  Single mom of three needs twin bed frames and mattresses, fixed-side crib, dishes, pots, pans and furniture. Contact Shanna at East Valley ECEAP, (509) 893-4122.

Global Neighborhood - Volunteers are needed to work with refugee individuals and families. 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. For a complete list visit www.unitedwayspokane.org.

For 02-02-2013

For 02-02-2013

A group of firefighters from the Spokane Valley Fire Department will host a fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday outside the Albertsons at 8851 E. Trent Ave. The firefighters are preparing for the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb in Seattle in March that benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Saturday they will take turns on stair climbing machines in full turnout gear, including an air pack and mask.

Spokane Valley Mayor Tom Towey handed out his first community recognition award Tuesday to Greenacres Elementary School first-grade teacher JoAnn Dowling. As part of Spokane Valley’s 10th anniversary celebration, the city is honoring people, businesses and organizations who have made a positive difference in the community. The mayor will select a winner each month. Each winner will receive a certificate acknowledging their contributions and a key to the city.

Tuesday Fairfield City Council – 7 p.m. at City Hall, 218 E. Main St., Fairfield.

It happens all the time. You really enjoyed a variety of corn or tomato but can’t remember its name when planting season comes around again. Or you dig into that bare spot to plant something only to find a dormant perennial or bulbs were there first. Keeping a garden journal is an easy solution for the dilemma of lost names and hidden plants. A journal can make it easy to record your successes and failures, a memory jogger for names and sources and a mapping system for garden beds to remind you where you planted.