Washington Voices

With the approval of the 2009 bond, Spokane Public Schools will continue with plans to upgrade Spokane schools. According to a school district press release, improvements for Longfellow and Garfield Elementary schools will begin in May with new roofing, insulation, flooring and much-needed air systems. Each project will cost approximately $3.5 million. Seven other “1980-era prototype” schools will also receive upgrades during the next six years.

The Pacific Northwest Volleyball Qualifier will inject some much needed stimulus into the region Friday through Sunday and March 27-29 during one of the biggest junior volleyball tournaments in the country. Courts will be set up at the Spokane Convention Center and Eastern Washington University each weekend to accommodate girls ages 12 to 18, who will compete for a chance to qualify for the Junior Olympics in Florida. According to Suzanne Boyce, director of sponsorship and communications, the tournament will have an economic impact of approximately $3.9 million and will result in over 7,000 hotel room stays, making this the largest room-night generator in Spokane.

For 03-19-2009

Volunteers are needed for the 29th annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games scheduled in Spokane on July 13-18. The event is the largest annual wheelchair sporting event in the world and more than 500 athletes are expected to participate in the competition sponsored by the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The six days of competition will feature 17 events, including quad rugby, archery, swimming and track and field events. Admission to the event will be free to the public.

Volunteers are needed for the 29th annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games scheduled in Spokane July 13 through 18. The event is the largest annual wheelchair sporting event in the world and more than 500 athletes are expected to participate in the competition sponsored by the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The six days of competition will feature 17 events, including quad rugby, archery, swimming and track and field events. Admission to the event will be free to the public.

In the fall of 2006, Logan Olson became a publisher, and a young one at that. She was 21 when the first edition of Logan Magazine hit the stands. Producing a glossy magazine four times a year is a big job for anyone, yet Olson had mainly one person on her staff: her mom, Laurie. Neither had any publishing or professional writing background, and there were many times they found themselves overwhelmed by the decisions they had to make.

Wednesday was one of those unseasonably cold days last week, but that didn’t put a damper on the spirit at the groundbreaking for the Main Market Cooperative. The Main Market will go into the former Goodyear Tire store on the corner of West Main Avenue and Browne Street, and is expected to open this fall.

For 03-14-2009

In May 2002 the Spokane Valley, became a city despite the objections of many. A group soon formed that was intent on reversing that election. Sally Jackson, a well-known Valley matriarch who has devoted much of her life to our community, became the unofficial spokesperson for the “disincorporation group.” Unwilling to accept the results of a vote, she has often beat the drum to step back in time.

There were no ribbons and bows, but East Valley School District recently got a late Christmas present in the form of 55 Dell computers from the Spokane County Library District. Director of technology Brian Wallace said he had heard that the library district recently upgraded its public Internet stations and had some surplus computers on their hands. “They either find someone who can use them or sell them,” he said.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department solicited new bids this week for a pumper-rescue truck that was $61,000 over budget in a previous round of bidding. Earlier this month, commissioners of the independent fire district rejected a $541,008 bid from Seagrave Fire Apparatus of Clintonville, Wis. It was the only bid received.

Monday Valley Fire – 4 p.m. at Station 8, 2110 N. Wilbur.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department has a second deputy chief for the first time since December 2007. On March 2, Andy Hail took over the deputy chief’s position vacated by the retirement of Dave Lobdell. He was selected from more than 40 applicants and five finalists in a nationwide search.