Washington Voices

For the first time in more than 57 years, the Millwood City Park wading pool remains dry. Based on a recent decision made during a June 16 city staff meeting, the pool may remain closed for the summer.

After a lengthy discussion Tuesday night, the Spokane Valley City Council agreed to spend $40,000 to do some traffic modeling on Sprague Avenue and Appleway in advance of a council vote on whether to put the issue of one-way Sprague on the November ballot. The council must decide by Aug. 15. “It’s very tight to meet the ballot date,” said Public Works Director Neil Kersten. “We’d probably have to have a special meeting.” After the initial study of the traffic impacts on the one-way sections of Sprague and Appleway between Argonne and University roads the second step would be to do a full analysis of all the intersections to see where turn lanes might be needed or any other changes made to make sure the intersections are not failing, he said. That second phase would cost an additional $40,000 to $60,000.

OPPORTUNITY – The Spokane Valley Heritage Museum was recently awarded a $1,500 grant from Spokane Preservation Advocates. Funds from the grant will be used for the renovation of the scroll sign, “Anno Opportunity 1912” hanging over the door on the Opportunity Township Hall, now the home of the museum.

Eve, the kitten who stole the heart of every school bus driver in the Freeman School District, is having a new adventure. Local children’s author Katie Youngren has written a second book revolving around the antics of the cat which was discovered near the district bus barn last October.

City’s salary increases wrong in tough economy I see in The Spokesman-Review (Valley Voice, June 18) that the Spokane Valley City Council is planning a budget that includes a 2.5 percent salary increase for all employees, along with other increases in expenditures.

It comes as no surprise to see Sally Jackson back on a baseball field, this time coaching a team of Spokane Valley area 4- and 5-year-olds at T-ball. “I used to teach them to turn a double play,” Jackson laughs. “Now I try to get them to remember where first base is and to not roll in the grass when they’re in the field. That’s harder than it sounds.”

Spokane Valley Fire Department crews had a Christmas in June moment this last week. One of the 218 calls received in the week of June 23-29 involved a man doing a little illegal burning on his backyard barbecue. Crews were sent to the 900 block of North Sargent Road just after 5 p.m. on June 24, said Assistant Fire Marshal Bill Clifford. The resident was burning a Christmas tree with its ornaments still attached. “I believe it was a fake one, too,” Clifford said. “If it’s not fireworks, it’s burning Christmas trees.”

June is the month the gardens really come alive and put on a show for us. So have the weeds. Most you can pull and be done with them. A few, however, will come back time and again to haunt you. Mouse-eared chickweed usually invades gardens and lawns as spreading masses of small, fuzzy leaves that resemble their namesake. It has a tiny white flower that is blooming now and will often climb other plants. In lawns it can form a thick mat of wiry stems that goes to seed under the mower blade.

A report of prescription fraud was received at 4:15 p.m. on June 25. A fake prescription was filled at the Liberty Lake Safeway, and the case is under investigation, Liberty Lake police Chief Brian Asmus said. A man who said he had no money for a taxi ride was arrested at the Liberty Lake Safeway at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday. A taxi driver reported that he had picked up a 30-year-old resident of Rochester, Wash., in downtown Spokane and given him a ride to Liberty Lake. The man allegedly got out of the taxi and ran inside the Safeway without paying. The driver followed the man inside and he ran through the aisles of the store, prompting employees to call police, Asmus said. When an officer arrived the man struggled with the officer before being arrested. He was charged with theft and obstructing a law enforcement officer.

Central Valley High School Class of 1991 Reunion – July 22-23. Cost is $70. Visit www.eventbrite.com/event/ 1275720715/efbnen to purchase tickets. Call (509) 936-3001. Central Valley High School All Class Alumni Reunion Picnic – July 24, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., at Liberty Lake Pavilion Park, Liberty Lake. Contact Maggie Crabtree at (509) 535-0073 or Maggie@crabbytrees.com.

For 15 years, Edgecliff SCOPE, 522 S. Thierman Road, has been maintaining a visible presence in the neighborhood, helping to make homes and streets clean, healthy and safe for everyone. It started in 1996, when the neighborhood was experiencing a lot of drug activity. Neighbors banded together at SCOPE, or Sheriff’s Community Oriented Policing Effort, and started neighborhood watches, cleaning up garbage from their streets, removing and recording graffiti and driving around the neighborhood at night, looking for suspicious behavior.

For the week of July 4-8 Monday – Happy Fourth of July! Kitchen closed.

Registration is now open for the Spokane Valley Youth Soccer Association’s fall/spring 2011-’12 season. The league is for children ages 4 to 14.

The Spokane Skills Center recently announced the students named to the second semester honor roll. The following students earned a 3.5 grade-point average or above at the Skills Center and their home high school. Second semester

Two more Spokane Valley churches are joining the ranks of those offering vacation Bible school sessions for elementary-age children. Kids can spend a few of their summer days making crafts, playing games and listening to Bible stories. • Valley Bible Church, 3021 S. Sullivan Road, will hold its VBS session July 11-15. Classes will be held daily from 9 a.m. to noon for children age 4 through the eighth grade. The race car theme is “Drive: Press on for the Prize.”