November 2020 Splash

NOVEMBER

THE

LIBERTY LAKE

PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Permit #010 ZIP CODE 99019

2020

FREE

COMMUNITY NEWSMAGAZINE

Business takes off in Liberty Lake Expansion and new development under way, page 10

DOCKERY STANDS IN CIVIC LEADERSHIP PAGE 2

CITY CONTINUES PLANNING FOR 2021 PAGE 9

SEARCH FOR NEW POLICE CHIEF UNDER WAY PAGE 16

2 • NOVEMBER 2020

The Splash

DOCKSIDE Civics Lesson

Lewis and Clark High School. Her mother earned her degree from the University of Washington while her father was a Washington State University alum.

By Craig Howard

Torn between the Evergreen State’s two rivals, Dockrey headed to the Palouse and enrolled at the University of Idaho.

– Dockrey moored in community causes Splash Contributing Editor

Nearly two decades ago, Linda Dockrey could be found in a cramped space along Meadowwood Lane, introducing residents to their new community library.

She majored in anthropology and found the diverse collection of fellow Vandals on campus to

be a refreshing change from the neighborhood of her youth. When Dockrey was a sophomore, she met her future husband, Pat, an engineering major from California.

The couple will celebrate 50 years of marriage next summer.

current home of the Liberty Lake Post Office. Five years after planting roots on the family acreage in 1976, Pat and Linda built a home they still live in today. They would raise their two sons – Matthew and Christopher – there.

After college, the Dockreys moved to a rural area southwest of Liberty Lake on land first farmed

by Linda’s great grandfather Peter Morrison in the late 1800s. Morrison owned a livery stable near the

Linda and Pat joined the South Hill Kiwanis Club before Liberty Lake formed its own chapter. When it was announced in 2001 that a new club would be established in the city that had just incorporated, the Dockreys signed on as charter members. Over the years, Liberty Lake Kiwanis raised money for college scholarships, sponsored programs like Book Bank, Painta-Helmet and Lend-a-Crib while donating support to a variety of causes like the McGruff Safe House, Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, Tree of Sharing, anti-drug curriculum for elementary school students and more. The club’s impact traveled beyond the U.S. for causes like the SIGN program that equips doctors in Third World countries with the skills and equipment to set and heal fractured bones.

As a founding member of the Community Library Council (CLC) – a grassroots effort that generated interest in a local library along with thousands of donated books – Dockrey and fellow volunteers were part of the first chapter of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library.

A humble section in the lower level of the Greenstone Building served as the original venue where residents flocked to check out a variety of materials. Dockrey was among those stamping everything that flew out the doors.

When the library eventually picked up its roots and transitioned to a renovated warehouse on Mission Avenue, Dockrey was part of a group that provided input on the project to city staff.

Dockrey was at the center of a club that averaged 260 hours of community service a month in 2003.

Three years earlier, the chapter was named the Northwest’s Outstanding Kiwanis Club. Dockrey has served as treasurer, secretary and a board member and remains active to this day.

“The library helped establish Liberty Lake’s identity,” Dockrey said. “It’s the heart of our community. It equalizes everyone.”

The CLC eventually transitioned into Friends of the Library with Dockrey again supporting the cause. She would go on to spend a decade on the library’s Board of Trustees. A self-described life-long learner, Dockrey has made it a priority to help others along a similar path. In recent years, she has stepped up to donate time with the Spokane County Library District’s Reading Buddy program at two elementary schools – Trent and Otis Orchards.

A Spokane native who grew up in the Rockwood neighborhood on the South Hill, Dockrey faced a dilemma after graduating from

For 15 years, Dockrey was cochair for the Kiwanis Father/ Daughter Dance, a major fundraiser for the club. She and Pat have also been staples at the chapter’s Pavillion Park concession stand, dishing up burgers, fries and snacks that translate into funds for the club’s many causes. When Kiwanis added the Liberty Lake Yard Sales to its quill of events, Dockrey stepped up to work with vendors.

Contributed photo Linda Dockrey has been part of the Liberty Lake community since 1976. The Spokane native is a charter member of the Liberty Lake Kiwanis Club and was instrumental in the formation of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library. She served on the library’s Board of Trustees for 10 years.

Dockrey also helped establish the K-Kids program – a branch of Kiwanis – at Liberty Lake Elementary with Pat Lutzenberger.

The program taught the importance See DOCKERY Page 5

NOVEMBER 2020 • 3

The Splash

a message from:

spread kindness. not covid-19. be safe for all of us. keep wearing a mask. keep washing your hands. keep staying 6 feet apart.

#KindnessNotCOVID

#InlandStrong

#InlandBizStrong

KindnessNotCOVID.org

Spring is in Full Swing, Now is the Time to List!

NEWS

4 • NOVEMBER 2020

The cold weather isn’t 174,900 $ stopping this market! $1,747,000

16.8 ACRES 10710 S MICA VISTA LN 4BD/5BA 5709 SQFT $426,300

NEW CONSTRUCTION

The Splash

0

9,97

$29

SVFD Report

water can and walked roughly 1/4 of mile East on the Centennial trail where they located an illegal warming fire burning in a thicket of trees on the west side of the river. VE 4 made SplashAT news sources SPEND THE SUMMER THE BEACH CHARMING HOME IN TURTLE CREEK with the person who reported Medical Services 69E 9THcontact 208 S NEYLAND AVE #58Emergency 2BD/2BA 1456SF 18403 AVE 4BD/3BA 1953SF the fire. When the reporting party Fires 5 was uncooperative, VE 4 requested 70 9 , 0 9 that SCSO respond for further 7 Building Alarms

4 4 9 4 , $ 4 $49 Dispatched and cancelled en route 4 investigation. VE 4 extinguished the illegal burn, stirred burning debris Motor Vehicle Accidents 3 and ensure smolder embers were Service Calls 2 smothered. VE4 directed SO office to the person who reported the fire who Hazardous Materials 1 13.90 ACRES WITH UNIQUE DESIGN RIVER DISTRICT BACKYARD was still on sceneOASIS and then returned Of Note: 23706 E TRENT AVE 3BD/2BA 1956SF 19730 E DECHUTES AVE 5BD/3BA 3927SF to service.

– October 2020

• Burn Restrictions were lifted October 20, 8 a.m. Due to the current 0 0 9,97 9,00 and forecasted cooler and $51 $74 wetter conditions, restrictions for specified outdoor recreational fires (campfires, fire bowls, and fire pits) have been lifted for the Spokane County and Spokane Metro Area by order of the ENTERTAINERS DELIGHT STUNNING Spokane Metro Area Fire Marshals.

Moving Violation – October 9, Spokane Valley firefighters $475,000 responded to a call for an car accident where extrication was needed. Valley 31 (V31) was in charge of Safety.

Upon arrival, Valley Engine 3 (VE3) observed a 2 car accident ,one vehicle was on its passenger side, the other GOLF COURSE SETTING SPECTACULAR VIEWS vehicle its wheels blocking east 875 N BELLA LAGO LN 12.22 ACRES 16517 E 24TH LN 4BD/4BA 5583SF 915 N DUNBARTON OAKS LNon5BD/4BA 5918SF The burn restriction lift will remain bound lane of Appleway.

VE3 staged Call to Buy or Sell Today C Call all tto oB Buy uy o orr S Sell ell T Today oday in place until weather and fire danger oncoming in the turn lane blocking conditions change. traffic to the south of the incident.

Pam Fredrick, Broker Pam Fredrick, Broker (509) 370-5944 Provided that people are in VE3 was initially assigned EMS, (509) 370-5944 pamfredrick@johnlscott.com pamfredrick@johnlscott.com compliance with the following upon arrival and equipment was regulations, outdoor recreational fires, staged to assist with EMS. Valley 22 For a Virtual Tour Visit: For a Virtualcampfires, Tour Visit:are allowed in (V22) then assigned VE3 extrication including www.pamfredrick.com www.pamfredrick.com the City of Spokane, Spokane Valley, group with Valley Ladder 10 (VL10) Airway Heights, Cheney, Liberty and with VR8 assisting. VE3 was Lake, Millwood, and throughout all told the patient had neck and back unincorporated areas of Spokane pain but was stable and that it would be a slow extrication. VE3 assisted County. with stabilization. Valley Rescue 8 Chimineas, portable outdoor (VR8) arrived on scene and spotted fireplaces, or other patio/deck in front of the vehicle needing patient warmers are allowed as long as extrication. VE3 and VR8 built a tool approved fuel (seasoned clean, cache and roof removal system to “Proudly Serving Liberty Lake and Spokane since 2000” dry firewood, briquettes, propane, facilitate extrication. VR8 coordinated or natural gas) is used and other with the VL10 Engineer who was — Demandforce.com requirements are satisfied. The fire supporting the patient while awaiting cannot be used for the purpose of the roof removal. A fuel sawsall was debris disposal, including paper, utilized for the roof removal. The natural vegetation, garbage, etc. patient was lowered to her feet and Check the current status at was able to walk assisted to get out of https://www.spokanecleanair.org/ the vehicle. AMR was on scene. Once cleared, all crews returned to service. current-burning-conditions .

Appliance Fire – October 9, Incidents: Accepting New Patients Spokane Valley Fire responded for Smoke Investigation, October 12 an appliance fire call. VE3 arrived to Comprehensive Eye Care for all ages – Spokane Valley Fire was called to a small single family residence with Cataract | Glaucoma | Red or Dry Eyes a report of smoke near exit 299 off of occupants evacuated. VE3 observed Specialty Contact Lenses I-90. Crews arrived with the objective smoke in the structure from a cooking to investigate the source of the smoke. fire. The fire was contained to the Valley Engine 4 noticed a small oven and was tamped out with a column of grey smoke emitting from DR. BRET ULRICH DR. MICHAEL PARK glove. No damage was done to the the tree line west of the river, south oven. Fire appeared to be started by of I 90, and north of the Centennial grease on some tinfoil inside the oven.

Trail foot bridge. VE 4 relayed this The stove was pulled away from the 24 Hour Emergency 869.9053 information to dispatch and advised cabinets and with no heat observed, 22011 E Country Vista Dr. Suite 101 them that they would be making VE3 assisted the home owners with Next to Wake Up Call access on foot. VE 4 was positioned ventilating the structure with PPV M, W & Th 8-5 • Tu 1-7 • F 8-1 on Spokane Bridge Road and the for approximately 5 minutes. With Centennial trail access point. VE 4 no further assistance needed, VE3 w w w. L i b e r t y L a k e E y e C a r e C e n t e r. c o m crews grabbed wildland tools and a returned to service.

4016 S UNIVERSITY CT 3BD/3BA 2030 SQFT

EXCELLENCE IN THE EYES OF OUR PATIENTS

New Location Now Open!

893.7574

The Splash

DOCKERY

NEWS

Continued from page 2 of service through projects like food and clothing drives for nonprofit causes and writing cards of support to veterans and residents at local assisted living facilities. Antibullying themes were also part of the effort.

Q: Liberty Lake Kiwanis was founded in 2001, the same year the city of Liberty Lake incorporated.

As a charter member, what have you enjoyed about being part of this club?

A: What an interesting time it was to belong to a club that was just getting organized and at the same time watching a city do the same.

The newly elected mayor and some City Council members also joined Kiwanis so it was only natural that the club formed a relationship with the city. I remember that one of our first service projects was cleaning up the Zip Trip corner (where Walgreens is today) so the entrance to our new city looked nice. Through Kiwanis I’ve met many wonderful people and have been able to get involved in many interesting projects that allowed me to grow as a person.

Q: The Liberty Lake Municipal Library began as a grassroots campaign that turned into one of the pillars of this community.

As one of the early catalysts, how rewarding is it to see what the library has become?

A: It has been such a pleasure watching our library grow, develop and now become the heart of our community. I began my volunteer work at the library as a member of the Community Library Council, later known as The Friends of the Library. Soon after the city took over our fledging book collection and hired a library director, I was appointed to the Library Board.

During the 10 years I was on the board, the library went from one room in the Greenstone Building to two rooms and then to the building it occupies today.

Although I have played a small role in the evolution of our library, I am so proud of everyone’s work to turn our collection of donated books into the state-of-the-art library we have today and I’m looking forward to what the future has to offer.

Q: From trails to parks to the

library, service clubs and more, Liberty Lake is largely defined by the initiative taken by residents who stepped up to make a difference. Moving forward, who do you think will carry the torch when it comes to this kind of civic engagement and volunteerism?

A: Recruiting volunteers has become a universal problem for all clubs, boards and committees.

Volunteering takes time and young families have little extra time but it is important to remember that events such as the Father Daughter Dance, the Yard Sale and the movies and concerts in the park are put on by volunteers that work year around on fund raising and planning. I would encourage anyone that has just a bit of free time to look into joining one of these groups – Kiwanis, Friends of Pavillion Park – that sponsor these fun community events. It is very rewarding and it will help ensure these activities continue to make Liberty Lake the special place that it is.

Q: The library has been at the center of several capital bond campaigns that have fallen short at the ballot over the years. As Liberty Lake continues to grow, how do you see the next chapter of the library playing out?

A: I have no doubt that the library will continue to play an important role in Liberty Lake.

The pandemic has shown us that libraries are indeed not obsolete and are more popular than ever.

Modern libraries can be much more than book depositories. They can act as community centers by providing meeting rooms, holding classes, loaning out not only books but other items such as sporting goods, toys or tools. Hopefully after the COVID pandemic is over and the library reopens and as the city continues to grow, the City Council can move forward planning for an expansion of the library as the Community Needs Assessment Team recommended for the Library Master Plan.

Q: Finally, you're at a point in life where you could live anywhere you want. What keeps you in this community?

A: We have lived in this area for 40 years and still love it. We have a wonderful group of friends and enjoy our community involvement.

Why on earth would we leave?

NOVEMBER 2020 • 5

PATIENT

FOCUSED

GENER AL • COSME TIC • COMPUTER- GUIDED

DENTISTRY

• Same

Day Crowns Day Bridges • Same Day Implants • Same Day Extractions with Implants • Oral Surgery • Implant Supported Pediatrics Dentures • Root Canals Extractions • 3D CBCT X-Rays • Sedation • Nitrous/Laughing Gas • Periodontics • Same

Same Day Emergencies &

Saturday Appointments

NO INSURANCE?

SAVE 20% WITH OUR MEMBERSHIP PLAN ASK US HOW

509-891-5001

Payment Plans Available Dental Savings Plan Discounted Fees Most Insurances Accepted

1328 N Stanford Lane Liberty Lake, WA W W W . L I B E R T Y L A K E F A M I L Y D E N T I S T R Y. C O M

FURNACE REPAIR MORE THAN FULL CONVERSIONS INSTALLATION AIR ...We do it all!

CONDITIONING FURNACE REPAIR FULL CONVERSIONS INSTALLATION AIR CONDITIONING 535-1711 | 122 N. Helena | www.bannerfuel.com FURNACE REPAIR

PROPANE Furnace Repair. Full Conversions.

Installation. Air Conditioning.

6 • NOVEMBER 2020

The Splash

Introducing the

Safety Awareness Channel

Police Report - September Splash news sources

Total incidents generated by Officers and emergency calls for service last month 501 Traffic Collisions/Hit & Runs / Injury Collisions 3 Citations (Traffic/Criminal/NonCriminal) 42 DUI (Driving Under Influence) 0 Thefts / Vehicle Prowls / Vehicle Theft / Burglaries 24 Malicious Mischief 7 Argument / Assault DV / Simple Assault / Assault w/a Weapon 8 Parking Violations 6 Suspicious Vehicles 21 SEX CRIME, 09/11/2020; Officers

Least Most

responded to the area of Wright BLVD on the report of a female caller requesting Spokane County Dispatch to “please help me.” An exact address was discovered and Officers contacted the parties involved. Through the Officers’ investigation probable cause was developed to arrest the involved male at the location for Rape 3rd. He was booked into the Spokane County Jail on the aforementioned criminal offense. This investigation continues.

VEHICLE PURSUIT, 09/21/2020; An alert Officer noticed a male passed out behind the steering wheel while parked at the gas pumps of the Cenex Zip Trip. The Officer woke the male driver by tapping on the driver window. The male was not cooperative, refused to identify himself, and recklessly drove away from the Officer. Officers began pursuing the vehicle. The involved

vehicle and male driver made it to Rockford, Wa before a PIT (Pursuit Intervention Technique) was utilized to bring the pursuit to an end. The male driver continued to be uncooperative and refused lawful commands from Law Enforcement, running from the now disabled vehicle. A Spokane County K9 was utilized, catching and subduing the suspect male for Officers to take him into custody. After being treated for the K9 contact, the involved male was transported to the Spokane County Jail where he was booked for Attempting to Elude Police Vehicle, Resisting Arrest, Obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer, Driving with a suspended license, and Possession of Controlled Substance. He was additionally booked for a Department of Corrections Felony Escape warrant.

DRUG ARREST, 09/27/2020; Officers responded to the report of

circles contain the number of incidents in a given area.

a person bothering located at Carl’s Jr. Arriving, Officers were told the involved male had ordered food and was now sleeping at the table and wanted him to leave. Officers contacted the male and requested that he leave the business. The involved male told Officers he wanted to turn himself in on a warrant. The identity of the male was confirmed along with a local warrant for his arrest.

Officers arrested the male. Search incident to arrest, Officers discovered a glass pipe commonly used to smoke Methamphetamine and a baggy of mushrooms. The male claimed the mushrooms were hallucinogenic/ psychedelic mushrooms.

The involved male took a “trip” to the Spokane County Jail where he was booked for his active warrant to include Possession of a Controlled Substance and Drug Paraphernalia.

NOVEMBER 2020 • 7

The Splash

The Lookout The Community Corner

By Mayor Shane Brickner

Who would have thought on Jan. 1, 2020 we would be facing one of the most challenging years of our lifetime? We ended 2019 with a water boil order in place, then moved into 2020 quickly facing COVID-19, some staff changes and some serious divide throughout the country.

Despite all these major roadblocks, what we did not do is waiver in our promise to the community and the city staff that we would be united, working together to make sure our beautiful community thrives during these challenging times. We all rolled up our sleeves and jumped in to do our individual parts, making sure we as a city came through 2020 and will move into 2021, ready on all fronts.

When COVID hit, we reacted swiftly, working with citizens and local businesses alike to make sure we got through this together. You, as citizens, stepped up to support our local businesses, our staff worked

extremely hard and our city council worked hard to make sure they were making the best decisions possible.

They started discussions on master plans for pedestrian crossings, plans on what to do with our existing facilities and land and looked at what our community and staffing needs will be not for just now but for the bigger picture of full grow out. This is the proactive approach I had hoped for and you all responded, working together to make it happen.

Now it is time to look forward to the future of our community and continue to have that proactive mindset, not waiting for items to trigger our action but to have a strong plan in place.

We need to look forward and not get caught up looking in the rearview mirror at what was but to rather focus on what will be. It gives me great honor to roll out our 2021 budget.

The 2021 budget has some conservative projections as we want to stay proactive. Highlights include:

• Adding another police officer in order to stay ahead of the crime rates and keep our community in the top 10 safest cities to live • Working through the Master Plan on pedestrian crossings and traffic improvements to keep our community safe. The items include speed reading signs in high traffic areas and traffic lights throughout Country Vista west of Liberty Lake Road to help keep our residents and students who will be attending Ridgeline High School safe • As a city, we are working diligently along with our partners and WSDOT to ensure that the overpass funding is secured. The Henry Road overpass funding from the state is more critical than ever. I would be remiss not to mention that you as a citizen can contact your representatives in Olympia and advocate for this project.

• Addressing the needs for Operations and Maintenance in order to support their staff’s response to our continued growth.

• Getting started on the Trailhead Golf Course building/facility development,

Garden Notes By Joice Cary

• Continuation of the Harvard Bridge widening project and westbound on ramp modifications which should be wrapped up early to mid -021.

• Maintaining our facility and fleet services while looking at our facilities and asking ourselves, “Do they meet the needs for our community now and into the future?”

• Getting back to having our wonderful events throughout our community whenever possible • Continuation on improvements towards citizen engagement and a city marketing piece (helping bring good businesses into our community) • A continuation of projects we had to postpone from 2020, rolling them into 2021 I would like to end this 2021 budget release with this quote: “Those that say they can and those that say they can’t are both right.”

- Confucius

Snow plow season is upon us! Here is some basic information about how the city plans to keep roads clear and safe through the challenges that cold weather brings:

City Horticulturist Fashion Week is held each September in Millan, Paris, New York and London. In these cities, the latest high-end fall fashions are enthusiastically marched down the runway. The cost to attend the show on a budget is approximately $4,000. This covers a cheap seat ticket to Fashion Week, economy airfare, discount hotel and one fabulous event ensemble.

Runway fashions are created from beautiful fabrics, needle, thread and an abundance of genius and talent.

Mother Nature employs natural and organic elements of water, soil, sunlight and temperature to create the vivid reds, vibrant oranges and glowing yellows we have enjoyed this fall.

utilizing the grounds to the best of its ability

City ready to safely navigate winter

The fashion of fall

This October, Mother Nature staged a specular fashion show of her own, free to all and held locally throughout Liberty Lake. The show is called “fall.”

November 2020

• Arterials and collectors will be plowed at 2 inches of snowfall • Residential areas will be plowed at 4 inches • Residential areas will be plowed by zones (according to the map) The city needs your help!

• Please help out our snow plow operators by keeping vehicles and trash cans out of the roadway Like Fashion Week, each year the fall show is unique. This year a perfect combination of sunny, clear days, cold nights and a proper amount of rainfall brought a glorious profusion of color. These conditions are optimal for breaking down chlorophyll in leaves. As green chlorophyll disintegrates the leaf’s true colors are revealed – red,

yellow, brown, purple, rust and orange – that have been hidden behind green all summer.

Just as designer will choose a certain model for a certain look, Mother Nature has chosen her models as well – birch, ash and beech trees to wear the best yellow while outfitting maple, oak and Burning bush in the best red.

• Give plow equipment plenty of room • Don’t throw snow from driveways or sidewalk into the roadway • Smile and wave to your snow plow operator!

Notify Me -Sign up for notifications and updates regarding plowing and road conditions. Go to www. libertylakewa.gov and click on the “Resident Services” tab, then click “Notify Me” to register for text and email updates.

https://www.facebook.com/libertylakewa • www.libertylakewa.gov

8 • NOVEMBER 2020

City Council News and Notes – November 2020

By Craig Howard

Splash Contributing Editor

• Mayor Shane Brickner encouraged residents to support local businesses through continuing challenges related to COVID-19. He added that the city is still offering personal protective equipment – including masks, cleaning spray and hand sanitizer – at no cost to local businesses.

• The Liberty Lake Municipal Library is coordinating a cookbook project that will feature original recipes from local residents. To contribute a recipe or to find out more, email Library Director Jocelyn Redel at jredel@ libertylakewa.gov.

• At the Oct. 6 council meeting, Bricker acknowledged the passing of longtime Liberty Lake resident Dick Canfield. “It’s a sad loss for many,” the mayor said. “He definitely left his fingerprints on this community and will be greatly missed.”

• City Administrator Katy Allen said the city expects to have confirmation of the new police chief by the Nov. 3 or Nov. 17 council meeting. A virtual open house was held with the five final applicants on Oct. 21. The quintet interviewed with city officials the following day. A total of a dozen hopefuls applied for the job, held since 2001 by Brian Asmus.

“It’s great to see so many quality individuals want to serve in our community,” Brickner said.

• Finance Director RJ Stevenson told council on Oct. 6 that sales tax revenue “is still greatly exceeding expectations” for this year. Revenue received in

NEWS

September chimed in at $423,000, roughly $100,000 higher than the same month last year. Meanwhile, reductions the city made in response to COVID-19 have translated into roughly $400,000 in decreased expenditures compared to last year. “The changes we made in the spring are coming into full effect,” Stevenson said. “We’re definitely looking at surplus.”

• The long-awaited Harvard Road Bridge expansion project began on Oct. 19. City Engineer Ben Schmitt told council on Oct. 6 that the plan is to complete most of the work around the bridge structure on I-90 in the winter with deck work and lane shifts coming later when the weather clears. “You’ll start to see more impacts to traffic in the spring but otherwise you’ll just see crews in and around the bridge during the winter working on the support structure.” The project will result in westbound on-ramp modifications and is expected to be completed by mid-2021.

• The Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District’s annual Leaf and Beach Pickup has been revised for this year. The following update is from the LLSWD website: The district and our partner, the city of Liberty Lake, will not be picking up bags curbside or on the lake this year. No exceptions. The decision was made to best protect our staff so we can continue to provide essential water and sewer services. The district has a small staff and the risk of key staff becoming ill or being placed under quarantine will negatively impact our ability to provide essential water and sewer services to our customers. Since the physical pickup of bagged yard

waste around the community will not occur, we will allow drop-off of leaf and yard waste at our Water Reclamation Facility property on Indiana Avenue. The drop off area will be open dawn to dusk Nov. 2 through Nov. 20 only. The area for disposal will be clearly marked.

District staff will be monitoring the drop off site regularly and may require your load to be inspected prior to unloading. You may bring your yard waste for drop off (bagged or unbagged) but please limit materials to leaves, yard/ garden vegetation, pine needles and grass clippings. The following items are prohibited: Rocks, trees, branches, limbs, shrubs, sod, pumpkins, and garbage. The purpose of the annual fall cleanup is to protect the lake, aquifer and river from nutrient loading from stormwater that may transport decaying vegetation. Yard waste is beneficial to the landscape when composted but can be a detrimental nutrient source when mixed with stormwater that discharges to waterbodies. For more information please contact the district office at 509-922-5443. We apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you for your support and understanding during this unprecedented and tumultuous time.

• The city’s Parks and Arts Commission continues to meet remotely once a month. The group is currently gathering historical material about the Pavillion Park mural that will be added to the city’s website. There are also plans to install a kiosk at the park that will feature information about the greenspace and carousel depicted in the mural. The commission is seeking a sponsor for the project.

Another utility art wrap – sponsored

by STCU – is scheduled to be added on Appleway.

• Allen said the city will receive

28th Annual Beach and Leaf Pick-Up - Modified DROP OFF OPEN DAWN TO DUSK

November 2-20th Please visit our webpage for guidelines on participating in this event.

922-5443 www.libertylake.org/leaf-and-beach-pickup-2020/

The Splash

another $165,000 in CARES Act federal support related to COVID-19 relief. The funding would bring the total received by the city to $495,000.

• Brickner proclaimed the week of Oct. 4-10 as Fire Prevention Week. Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) teamed up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years —to promote this year’s campaign, “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!” The campaign works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe. “The importance of getting ahead of an emergency call by implementing preventive fire safety practices in homes and businesses is something every citizen, homeowner and business should implement,” said Brickner.

According to NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Almost half (44 percent) of reported home fires started in the kitchen. Two-thirds (66 percent) of home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other cooking materials. For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and cooking fire prevention, visit www.fpw.org. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends testing smoke detectors monthly, replacing the batteries at least once every year and replacing the entire smoke alarm every 10 years.

Install smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. On levels without bedrooms, install alarms in the living room (or den or family room) or near the stairway to the upper level, or in both locations.

• Resident Dg Garcia donated two banners to the Liberty Lake Police Department.

The flag states “Service Before Self” and is framed by the words, “Duty,” “Honor,” “Community,” “Integrity” and “Excellence” around the LLPD emblem. One flag will be displayed at the LLPD precinct; the second was presented to Asmus who recently retired as chief of police.

The Splash

NEWS

City zooms in on capital projects, 2021 budget

By Craig Howard

Splash Contributing Editor

Talk about scheduling.

serendipitous

A workshop on the city of Liberty Lake’s Capital Facilities Plan proved to be a perfect place setter for the introduction of the 2021 budget at the Oct. 20 City Council remote meeting. Topics like road improvements, building projects and upgrades to pedestrian amenities found more than a few crossovers as the governing board talked dollars and sense.

The Capital Facilities Plan covers a six-year period and features a priority list that will continue to define the look and timbre of Liberty Lake. Council must adopt an updated plan each year at the same time as the annual budget.

State grants and other funding opportunities often hinge on a thoughtful, well-organized capital projects blueprint.

“We have some priorities that have shifted and some that have stayed the same,” said Mayor Shane Brickner.

The workshop focused on a rundown of capital projects ranked in subjective order by individual council members.

“It’s an attempt to look at all these things that are important to the community and figure out a strategy of how we make that happen,” said

Planning Engineering & Building Director Lisa Key. In the capital projects category, council members ranked the public works yard at the top, with the upgrade of the Trailhead Golf facility the runner-up. Library improvements were next, followed by public art, the Orchard Park Community Garden and the shade structure at Rocky Hill Park.

Construction of the public works yard is already underway with the mayor’s preliminary 2021 budget setting aside $600,000 for the project.

Another $24,500 has been earmarked for public art.

“We’ve got some pretty costly projects underway,” Key said.

That’s a big consideration when you look at what we can work on next year.”

City Administrator Katy Allen said $10.7 million is now set aside for capital projects – including transportation improvements – for 2021.

When asked by Council Member Annie Kurtz if the city’s staff – historically on the streamlined side – will be able to address all the work on the list, Key conveyed confidence.

“In my opinion, it’s going to be a lift but I think we can do it,” Key said.

Some around the dais expressed concern about the abstract nature of the project wish list – more specifically the lack of accompanying price tags.

“What’s missing in this is at least a ballpark idea of what it’s going to take to accomplish each project,” said Council Member Odin Langford. “We’re missing the target in my opinion because there are no numbers here.”

Key said the goal is to map out a clear direction.

Contributed photo This aerial picture of Orchard Park under construction was taken in early May 2019. The Liberty Lake City Council is considering a community garden at the site which has become one of the area's more popular greenspaces since opening last year.

“My intent was that this be used to inform the thought process related to the draft Capital Facilities Plan and see if there are some opportunities based on your priorities to move some projects forward, some projects back and maybe eliminate some,” she said.

Council Member Dan Dunne said it would be important to look at the overall benefit of each item on the list.

“If a project has value or merit, See PROJECT, Page 13

NOVEMBER 2020 • 9

10 • NOVEMBER 2020

A plan for the future, despite pandemic Businesses expand in Liberty Lake

By Nina Culver

Splash Contributor

Many businesses have struggled through the pandemic that has dominated 2020, but some businesses in Liberty Lake are taking the opportunity to move forward with new projects, some designed to help them weather the changing business environment.

Western States Equipment is poised to break ground on a new facility on the west side of Liberty Lake. The HUB Sports Center is eying new programs and offerings that can help it continue to function in an environment where large sports events are not happening.

Huntwood Industries, one of the largest manufacturers in Liberty Lake, has just finished a major expansion project.

Western States Equipment Western States sells, rents and services Caterpillar heavy equipment at 18 locations in five western states.

Headquartered in Meridian, Idaho,

COVER STORY the company had been looking for a place to expand for nearly a year, said company president Kelly Olson.

They considered everything from where their clients were to where their existing employees lives.

The company identified a vacant 30 acre parcel just east of Camping World that offered good access to Interstate 90. “Liberty Lake just popped out,” said Olson. “It’s very ideal for us for access. It’s just a nice, open area.”

Western States currently has two facilities in Spokane, one on Dyer Road and one on East Trent. There’s also a location in Hayden. “The Spokane area is very ideal,” Olson said.

The operations at both Spokane locations will move to the new facility when it is finished, likely in the fall of 2020, Olson said. Those locations will close and the employees will all move to the Liberty Lake location as well. “We’ll decide what to do with those properties at a later time,” she said.

Ground was supposed to be broken on the $30 million project in September, but a dispute between the cities of Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake has halted work.

Access to the new facility at 20150 E. Cataldo is inside Liberty Lake, but most of Cataldo is located inside Spokane Valley city limits. The city of Spokane Valley has appealed

Liberty Lake’s decision to allow the project because Spokane Valley is worried about the increased use of the street, Olson said.

“They’re concerned over the condition of Cataldo,” she said. “We are stuck. We’ll have to delay our project until spring.”

When additional roads are built in the next few years, including the extension of Henry Road over the freeway, the site will have additional access points, Olson said. But until those projects are finished, Cataldo is the only way to access the site.

Spokane Valley wants Western States to completely rebuild the road, which has several other businesses located on it.

Olson said she’s hopeful that the issue will be resolved in time for general contractor Bouten Construction to start work when the weather warms in the spring.

Western States plans to construct four buildings – a machine shop, equipment rental, equipment service and parts – totaling 115,000 square feet. It will use 18 acres of the site, leaving another 12 acres for equipment storage and future expansion, Olson said.

“It will be the largest facility investment Western States has made in 65 years as a Caterpillar dealership,” she said. “We’re very excited. We look forward to joining

Contributed rendering of proposed Western States Equipment Building proposed for Cataldo Site.

The Splash the community.”

HUB Sports Center The HUB Sports Center has been contemplating its future since its doors closed in March. With large sporting events and games still prohibited because of the pandemic, the facility has turned to offering other services in order to remain open.

The 60,000 square foot facility has five basketball courts that are also used for pickleball, volleyball and other sports. There are rooms upstairs that can be used for dance or martial arts classes. The facility sat silent until Spokane County entered Phase 2 on June 1, when groups of five players and a coach were allowed.

“Groups of five is not a sustainable business model,” said executive director Phil Champlin.

Champlin starting looking to the local schools to see what the HUB could offer. They now offer STEM day camps for students in grades K-8, physical educations classes, an after school program and an academic support program for students in grades K-8 who attend the Central Valley School District.

The HUB also started offering weekly drive-in movies. Food trucks are there each night so families can make it a full night out. The last movie night, featuring “Hook”

The Splash

COVER STORY

Photo by Nina Culver Phil Champlin, HUB Sports Center Executive Director poses in front of Team Photo wall at the HUB Sports Center. at 4:45 p.m. and “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” at 8 p.m., is on Nov. 7.

The goal has been to find out new ways to serve the community, Champlain said. “Those are short term, immediate things we can do,” he said. “Long term, what are the solutions?”

As part of that discussion, the facility’s board of directors have been talking about possible new additions in the coming years. The discussion has centered on what to do with the vacant 3.5 acres on the facility’s north side.

One of the suggestions has been to put in an artificial turf field that can be used for football, soccer, rugby, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee and more. “We can reconfigure it to do different things,” Champlin said.

“They playability time would be a lot longer than you would be able to have with grass.”

Other options discussed have include outdoor pickleball courts, a trail running from the new Selkirk Middle School to the HUB along an old railroad right of way and a building that could double as a storage facility and a teen center. “We discussed community gardens,” he said.

There has even been talk about adding RV parking for people who come to the HUB for events.

Champlin said he attended a recent Liberty Lake City Council meeting to talk about the possibility and what might be required.

Champlin said that none of the ideas have been developed and all are currently little more than notes on a napkin. The board has simply been brainstorming ideas. “We’ve got to take care of the immediate, making sure we’re covering expenses,” he said. “We’ve got concepts. It’s something we’ll talk about as a board, as an organization.”

The biggest piece will be figuring out how to pay for any improvements.

“Like a lot of ideas, it’s going to come down to financing,” he said. “It may be a phased approach.”

There is currently no timeline to determining what project, if any, the HUB will move forward with first, Champlin said. “We want to be proactive and starting dreaming today what tomorrow will be,” he said.

Huntwood Industries Huntwood Industries called the Spokane Valley Industrial Park home until it moved to Liberty Lake in 2005. When the business

was looking to expand its footprint as a way of consolidating several different locations, Liberty Lake was the natural choice for the same reason the company moved there in the first place, said Director of Business Development Brandon Hunt. There’s good access to the freeway and a stable power grid.

“We like the clean feel of the city,” he said. “We got a great deal on some land.”

The business specializes in custom cabinets as well as butcher blocks, garage systems and house doors. There was an outlet store

NOVEMBER 2020 • 11

located just down the road on East Mission that featured ready-made cabinets and other products and the decision was made to move the store to the production facility at 23800 E. Appleway, Hunt said.

“We were already so close,” he said. “It sometimes confused customers, you know, which one do I go to,” he said. “We’re moving it in house now here in our main factory.”

The company also wanted to build a new warehouse to store both finished cabinets and raw materials.

The company lets their wood climatize before making cabinets from it. “We like to have it indoors a week or two before using it,” he said.

The 63,000 square foot warehouse was completed at the end of September. The total square footage in use at the company site in Liberty Lake now totals 630,000 square feet.

No new jobs are being added because of the project. The outlet store employees have been transferred to the new location. Hunt said the focus has been on retaining the jobs the company has during the pandemic. There are about 700 employees, most of them in Liberty Lake, but some at showrooms throughout the northwest, including Seattle, Bellevue, the Tri-Cities, Portland, Boise and Seattle.

“We’ve been able to keep almost everyone employed,” he said.

Though the expansion effort began before COVID-19 hit, it made sense to continue because almost everything had already been ordered and paid for, Hunt said. “Most of the cost had already been accounted for,” he said.

Hunt said he’s pleased that the company was able to expand in Liberty Lake. “Overall, it’s been a good place to do business,” he said.

Contributed rendering Huntwood expansion now completed at their Liberty Lake facility.

12 • NOVEMBER 2020

The Splash

brought to you by

Student of the Month If any students at Central Valley High School are looking for lessons in resilience this year, they may want to ask Scott Twining for some advice. The CV senior has overcome a congenital hearing challenge to become a standout in speech and debate. Aided by cochlear implants, Twining has thrived in school, maintaining a 3.92 grade point average. He is a member of the National Honor Society and contributes to a variety of community service projects, including the annual food drive and making blankets donated to nonprofit causes. “I really like knowing we are helping people in need,” he said. Twining holds a parttime job at the Liberty Lake Safeway and was named Employee of the Month for July. “I’ve just learned not to give up,” he said. “You keep moving and building up momentum and it gets better for you.”

Athlete of the Month Sarah Pecha was a sophomore in her first of cross country when she found another gear. Competing for the Central Valley junior varsity squad, Pecha raced to a time that earned her a place with the varsity seven. She would end the season as the Bears’ No. 4 runner. As a junior, she was one of only two CV harriers to qualify for the state 4A meet. Her time of 19 minutes, 30 seconds in the 5K (3.1-mile) regional race was a personal record.

Pecha is a two-year letter-winner in track, competing in the mile and 2-mile. The senior maintains a 3.92 grade point average and is part of National Honor Society and the Leadership program. She has been a member of the Liberty Lake Youth Council for the past four years and plays violin in the CV Chamber Orchestra.

Citizen of the Month Caryn Baksis understands the art of healing. The Liberty Lakebased counselor spent six years in the U.S. Air Force as an air traffic controller, including deployment in Iraq at a base near the borders of Iran and Kuwait as part of the War on Terror. “I was proud of serving,” Caryn says. “I was proud to be a 22-year-old woman over there, supporting our mission.” Transparent about her own losses and personal trauma, Baksis helps others along their individual paths to recapture peace. The Florida native worked at the Veterans Outreach Center in Spokane Valley prior to opening her practice in 2017. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Gonzaga University and a master’s in marriage and family counseling, also from GU. Baksis is certified by the American Counseling Association. She is the proud mother of three children.

THE

LIBERTY LAKE

COMMUNITY NEWSMAGAZINE

&

Thanks you for all you do in our community

Building lasting communities for everyone to be a part of.

ENRICHED LIVING. LASTING VALUE.

New homes in Spokane, Liberty Lake, Post Falls & Coeur d’Alene. greenstonehomes.com

NOVEMBER 2020 • 13

The Splash

PROJECT

Continued from page 9 then we should go about that process to see how it could be appropriately funded,” Dunne said. “Whether it’s grants or other opportunities.”

Return on investment and impact on residents informed Council Member Phil Folyer’s ratings.

“I ranked some of mine based on projects that would most affect the citizens and not cost millions and millions of dollars,” Folyer said.

The elephant in council chambers continues to be Trailhead, a site that has generated consistent revenue over the years but features an antiquated clubhouse and parking area.

While progress was made with an Arizona-based design consultant earlier this year on a Trailhead renovation plan, the pandemic put things on hold. Currently, there are no funds set aside in the 2021 budget for the golf facility.

“If you do want to put a number in for the Trailhead upgrade perhaps we can have another meeting to see what that number is going to be,” said Allen.

The council scorecard on Oct 20 also included rankings of transportation projects with the Henry Road overpass topping the list, followed by the widening of Harvard Road bridge and a traffic signal near Ridgeline High School. A third category – trails and pedestrian projects – ranked sidewalk improvements on Mission Avenue from Aladdin to Caufield first, followed by a similar overhaul of sidewalks on Madson from Mission to Appleway. Allocation of pedestrian crossings finished third.

“With so many projects, I felt like we needed to focus,” said Kurtz.

jumped in to do our individual parts, making sure we as a city came through 2020 and will move into 2021, ready on all fronts.”

Brickner emphasized it would be important, in budget matters, “to look forward to the future of our community and continue to have that proactive mindset” For 2021, the mayor is calling for the addition of another police officer and working through the Master Plan on Pedestrian Crossings and Traffic Improvements, specifically speedreading signs in high traffic areas and adding traffic lights on Country Vista west of Liberty Lake Road in the area near Ridgeline High School.

Brickner said the Henry Road overpass continues to be critical despite state funding streams that have become less certain since the pandemic. Brickner said the city is “working diligently along with our partners and WSDOT (Washington State Department of Transportation) to ensure that the overpass funding is secured.” Brickner encouraged citizens to make their voices heard in Olympia regarding the project.

Other budget priorities Brickner mentioned on Oct. 20 included addressing operations and maintenance needs, making progress on the Trailhead remodel, maintaining municipal facility and fleet services and continuing work on citizen engagement and a marketing campaign to draw new businesses to Liberty Lake.

Council members will be reviewing Brickner’s draft and circling back with input and questions leading up to approval of the budget.

“Despite all these major roadblocks, what we did not do is waiver in our promise to the community and the city staff that we would be united, working together to make sure our beautiful community thrives during these challenging times,” the mayor said.

“We all rolled up our sleeves and

We make it easy to smile!

Call us to schedule your appointment today!

509-924-0381

FREE

Whitening for Life

“Getting your priority lists will be very helpful,” Brickner told council.

919 N Pines Rd.

Spokane Valley, WA 99206

www.spokanefamilydental.com info@spokanefamilydental.com

509-924-0381

Brickner introduces budget Brickner presented council with his draft version of the 2021 municipal budget Oct. 20, acknowledging the challenges the city has faced over the past year.

Dental Emergencies • Dental Cleanings • Wisdom Teeth Extractions • Invisalign • Crowns • Oral Surgery • Root Canals Dental Implants • Teeth Whitening • White Fillings • Children’s Dentistry • Dentures and Partial Dentures • Veneers

919 N Pines Rd. Spokane Valley, WA 99206

Serving the greater Spokane Valley since 1985 Residential and Office Cleaning Licensed and Insured www.amaculate.com

$1.00

Emergency Exam

509-924-0381

919 N Pines Rd. Spokane Valley, WA 99206

$50

Walmart or Target gift card

with paid cleaning

509-924-0381

919 N Pines Rd. Spokane Valley, WA 99206

Brought to you by

SPOT 10 DIFFERENCES

NOVEMBER 2020 • 15

The Splash

Spokane Gymnastics Saturday Afternoon Camp

Every week from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Parent's Night Out Gymnastics Camp Saturdays from 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Gymnastics Classes for all Ages and Abilities

Winter Session – December 7 – March 20

533-9646

Two CLEAN and spacious facilities in Spokane Valley Argonne Village and Pines!

16 • NOVEMBER 2020

The Splash Brought to you by

Want to sponsor this section?

Ask us how! 242-7752

About and for Liberty Lake seniors

Liberty Lake narrows search for new police chief to final 5 accountability • Commitment to candidates innovative policing practices •

By Tie Lemerond Splash contributor

The City of Liberty Lake has narrowed the search for the new police chief to 5 candidates.

The nationwide search began shortly after former Liberty Lake Police Chief Brian Asmus announced his plan to retire early to pursue an opportunity with the Central Valley School District.

Chief Asmus had been with the department since it was founded in 2001 and left behind some very big shoes to fill. “If we could have kept him around for twenty more years, we would have,” said Liberty Lake Mayor Shane Brickner.

Twelve applicants applied from multiple states, which was nearly double the number of applicants as the city expected to receive. Brickner stated, “We expected to receive six to eight applicants, but we received 12, all of which were stellar candidates, making our decision very hard.”

The position was posted on the city website as well as with the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Officers (WASPC), a nonprofit law enforcement organization whose function is to “provide specific materials and services to all law enforcement agencies in the state.”

Candidate qualities

experiences

and

The City of Liberty Lake was very specific in their search criteria, in hopes of obtaining a chief who has the following experiences: • Contemporary policing and staffing methods in a highperforming department • Providing high-level management and leadership to the Department • Providing regular, inclusive communication to all Department members • Showing support for all employees • Team building and staff development • Handson leadership, integrity and

Building a functional and cohesive team with measurable outcomes that align with the Department’s core values • Ability to make timely and informed decisions Additionally, Mayor Brickner advised they are looking for the following qualities in the next chief: A servant leadership style • Somebody who is there for the people in the community and is approachable • Somebody who has a similar mindset to the culture of the Liberty Lake Police Department • Somebody who will lead with integrity and respect • Somebody who is fair but firm • A person with excellent oral and written communication skills who is comfortable speaking with various groups, elected officials, and with the media.

Candidate education and testing Candidates must have at least a BA or BS degree, a minimum five years’ experience as a municipal police offer, a minimum of three years in a supervisory position within a police organization, and have completed a minimum of five leadership classes. A comprehensive background check has been completed on each of the final five candidates and each candidate is required to complete a polygraph and a psychological examination.

What happens next Meet the candidates - The city of Liberty Lake will be holding an open house on Wednesday, October 21st at 7pm so all citizens and staff members can meet the candidates.

The open house will be held via Zoom in order to maintain social distancing for all. A moderator will be asking a list of questions to each candidate and citizens are encouraged to listen in and provide feedback to Mayor Brickner.

Interviews – On Thursday, October 22nd, each of the five candidates will complete two

Contributed photo Former Police Chief Brian Asmus retired last month from the City of Liberty Lake for an opportunity with the Central Valley School District. separate interviews. The first interview will be with a panel of citizens, business owners, and a representative from a non-profit.

The second interview board will be made up of police chiefs from surrounding cities.

Final interview – On Friday, October 23rd, each candidate will interview with Mayor Brickner and former Police Chief, Brian Asmus.

Mayor Brickner is predicting the final selection will be made by October 30th.

Anticipated start date The anticipated start date for the new chief of police will be in December, giving him time to get the lay of the land before officially taking the reins on January 1st.

This will give the new chief time to transition out of his current department, plus move and/or relocate if needed. Once an offer of employment has been made, Mayor Brickner will talk to the candidate

about relocation and to see if he will need help with moving fees.

From Mayor Brickner “I can not say enough good about Brian Asmus, our former chief, and what he means to this community. It is tough shoes to fill for sure. I look forward and hope the citizens will join us on Wednesday. The Zoom meeting will go out on the City of Liberty Lake’s Facebook page as well as on our email list.”

Photos and information on each candidate were not available at the time of this interview.

Candidates will not be announced until the Wednesday night Meet the Candidates Open House Zoom meeting.

As much as everybody hated to see Chief Asmus leave the department, they wish him the best of luck in his new position as the Director of School Safety and Security for Central Valley School District.

NOVEMBER 2020 • 17

The Splash

PUZZLES

MEET OUR NEW ATTORNEY Danielle J. Palm Attorney

Complimentary Initial Consultation House Calls Available Reasonable Flat Fees

Jen Ballantyne Owner, Attorney

CALL (509) 252-5003 OR VISIT ESTATESANDELDERS.COM Estates & Elders Law 23403 E. Mission Ave #113, Liberty Lake, WA 99019

18 • NOVEMBER 2020

The Splash

Sponsored By:

Rare Air Bears – Looking back at CV’s sole state with 198 yards on 13 of 17 passes and a touchdown. Central Valley football title finished 13-1 with its only loss

By Craig Howard

Splash Contributing Editor

Nate McFarlane remembers getting a call from a reporter with the Seattle Times 23 years ago regarding the whereabouts of Veradale, Washington.

At the time, McFarlane was a senior standout on the 1997 Central Valley football squad that finished as Greater Spokane League cochampions and advanced through the 4A bracket to face highly regarded South Kitsap in the championship game. Leading up to kickoff, CV was portrayed by westside media as the decided rural underdog.

“They thought we were just country boys from some place called Veradale,” McFarlane recalls.

The Bears would travel across the mountains to square off against undefeated South Kitsap in its own backyard at the Tacoma Dome. By game time, fans in CV sky blue and white nearly doubled the South Kitsap contingent.

“We had huge community support,” said Chris Sullivan, a senior tackle in 1997 who now serves as a CV assistant coach. “Not only at that game but with breakfasts and send-offs. Our fans were amazing.”

coming against Gonzaga Prep. The closest the Bears have come to a trophy since was 2017 when they reached the 4A semi-finals and lost to eventual champ Richland.

Rick Giampietri, CV head coach from 1993 to 2015, remembers the title team returning 10 starters on offense and eight on defense.

“It was a fun team to coach,” Giampetri said. “We had a stout defense. I also had a lot of good coaches around me.”

CV stamped its ticket to the final by stunning undefeated and topranked Puyallup led by quarterback Luke Huard and a cadre of receivers headed to Division-1 schools.

Puyallup came into the matchup at Joe Albi Stadium in north Spokane averaging 48 points a game. The Bears stifled the Vikings’ highpowered offense, forcing key turnovers and emerging with a 10-0 win.

“It seemed like every time they made a big play, we got the ball back,” said Giampietri. “There’s no

way I thought we would shut them out.”

The Bears opened the game with a field goal and added a touchdown when Garrett Graham, a senior linebacker and University of Oregon recruit, picked up a fumble and churned into the endzone.

“Puyallup was pretty frustrated that they had to come to the east side to play us,” Sullivan said. “I remember Coach G saying, ‘They average 48 points a game – all we need is 49.’”

Giampietri points to the 1995 Bears’ squad that finished undefeated in the GSL but lost in the first round of the playoffs to Kamiakin as a group that set an example for the title team.

“I always thought the ’95 team taught the ’97 team how to practice,” he said.

CV lost to Kamiakin again in the 1996 post-season. After the Bears defeated Wenatchee and Pasco in close playoff games the following year, Kamiakin was waiting again in the quarterfinals. This time, Central Valley prevailed 16-7.

“It didn’t matter how good the opponent was, we just went out and played,” said McFarlane, a cornerback who earned a

scholarship to Eastern Washington.

“It didn’t seem like there was any hype or pressure. We just played football.”

The defense was led by senior Wil Beck, a senior noseguard who was named to the All-GSL team three straight years. Like Clowe, Beck played on scholarship at Idaho.

“Beck could dominate a football game,” Giampietri recalls.

A total of 11 of the 22 starters on the ’97 team went on to play college football. Giampietri said the state crown gave the program another level of cachet.

“People seem to believe in you more after you win state,” he said.

“You don’t get as many secondguessers or doubters.”

Current CV head coach Ryan Butner was a volunteer assistant with the ’97 squad, only two years removed from playing for the Bears. He says the state championship squad “still comes up in conversations.”

“That team was super talented and had great character,” Butner said. “Winning a state title doesn’t happen very often. You can still call on it and refer to that team’s work ethic and say, ‘We’re from Veradale and we can do this.’”

At halftime, the Bears led South Kitsap 28-13. The Wolves would not score another point the rest of the way. By the time the clock ran out, CV had secured a 49-13 victory and the school’s first state football title. Junior running back Tyree Clowe – who would later play at the University of Idaho – led the way for the Bears with 254 yards and three touchdowns.

“We couldn’t tackle him,” South Kitsap head coach DJ Sigurdson told the Kitsap Sun after the game.

Quarterback Chad Adamson complemented the ground attack

Contributed photo The 1997 Central Valley football team defeated South Kitsap 49-13 at the Tacoma Dome to capture the only state football title in school history. The Bears shut out undefeated and top-ranked Puyallup 10-0 in the 4A semi-final to earn their way to the championship game.

NOVEMBER 2020 • 19

The Splash

Season of Nostalgia

Three Holiday Radio Plays The Christmas Eve Truce

Christmas in

Tinseltown All Is Calm, All Is Bright

December 9th December 23rd November 26th Visit www.CVHSNRG.com to tune in free of charge!

This is our gift to the extended CVHS Families and our loyal patrons. Happy Holidays from the CVHS Theatre Family!

Underwritten in part by:

CVHS eatre

Th ers Boost

CVHS Bear Boosters

Lukins & Annis Attorneys

20 • NOVEMBER 2020

The Splash

Eye Exams Without the Air Puff!

Your Local Multifocal Contact Lens and Headache Expert!

Independently and Locally Owned!

Michelle Darnell, OD

509-210-0303 23505 E Appleway Ave #106 Liberty Lake, WA 99019 3.5” x 2.5” | Maximum Font Size: 30 pt

Want a financial advisor that puts you first?

Marc Rubin

Financial Advisor 1334 N Whitman Ln Ste 240 Liberty Lake, WA 99019 509-444-9808

e d wa rd j o n e s .co m MKT-5894K-A

The Splash

HISTORY

NOVEMBER 2020 • 21

22 • NOVEMBER 2020

The Splash

SERVICE Pick up a DIRECTORY freeTREEcopy of SERVICE

Love The Splash?

Support our partners.

The Splash is committed to serving Liberty Lake through excellent community journalism. We can’t do it at all without you, our readers, and we can’t do it for long without support from our advertisers. Please thank our business partners and look to them when offering your patronage.

Our sincere appreciation to the following businesses for their foundational partnerships with The Splash and its partner publications:

E NRIC HE D LIV IN G . LA STIN G VA LUE.

style

THE

YO U WA NT

THE

COMMUNITY NEWSMAGAZINE

EDITOR/PUBLISHER

AFFORDABLE ARBORIST

The Current, a monthly publication for the Valley, offers visual storytelling, eye-catching ads and community coverage readers have come to rely on. This free newspaper is available at moreYOU than LOVE 250 high-traffic places around the Valley, including the following locations:

community

Ben Wick

ben@libertylakesplash.com

83 ft. Backyard Lift • Removals • Thinning • Pruning Shaping • Lot Clearing • Stump Grinding Residential & Commercial • A+ Rated BBB Member Affordable Arborist Tree Care, Inc. 509-879-0577 • Veteran Owned & Operated WA Lic#AFFORAT935KG

Pick up a free copy of

LIBERTY LAKE

CO OWNER

Danica Wick

danica@libertylakesplash.com OFFICE MANAGER

Paula Gano paula@libertylakesplash.com

CIRCULATION

Larry Passmore

circulation@libertylakesplash.com CONTRIBUTORS

Nina Culver, Craig Howard, Tie Lemerond, Ross Schneidmiller The Liberty Lake Splash P.O. Box 363 Liberty Lake, WA 99019 Phone: 242-7752 www.libertylakesplash.com The Splash is published monthly by or before the first of each month. It is distributed free of charge to every

Adorkable Flowers and Gifts Anytime Fitness Barlows Fieldhouse and Subs The Current, Pizza a monthly Greenstone publication for the Valley, Just Chillin’ Frozen Yogurt offers visual storytelling, KiDDS Dental eye-catching ads and community Liberty Lake City Hall coverage readers have come to rely Liberty Lake Portal Building on.

This free is available Liberty Lakenewspaper Smile Source T HE YOU D E S ER VE atSafeway more than 250 high-traffic places around theGolf Valley, including the Trailhead Course Fieldhouse Pizza • Spokane Family Dentistry following locations: True Legends Grill mes in Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Post Falls & Coeur d’Alene.

The WELL Coffee House Windermere • Liberty Lake Family Dentistry Adorkable Walgreens Flowers and Gifts Banner Fuel• Liberty Lake EyeCare Anytime Fitness Washington Trust Bank greenstonehomes.com Barlows Yoke’s Fresh Market Fieldhouse Pizza and Subs THE LIBERTY LAKE Would you like to carry The Current in your Greenstone Index of advertisers place of business? Contact Paula at Just Chillin’ Yogurt Following are the local advertisers in paulaFrozen @valleycurrent.com. this issue of The Splash.

KiDDS Dental COMMUNITY NEWSMAGAZINE Liberty Lake City Hall Amaculate Housekeeping 13 Liberty Lake EyeCare Center 4 Spokane Folk Festival 15 Liberty Lake Portal Building Liberty Lake Smile Source Banner Furnace & Fuel 5 Liberty Lake Family Dentistry 5 Safeway Spokane Gymnastics 15 Trailhead Golf Course Central Valley Theatre 19 Liberty Lake Sewer & Water District 8 True Legends Grill Greater Spokane Valley Chamber 3 City of Liberty Lake 7 Liberty Lake Smile Source 20 The WELL Coffee House The Future is Bright Youngest leadership team since the Spokane Valley’s Walgreens Estates and Elders 17 Lilac Family Eyecare 20 incorporation, page 10 Windermere 20 Washington Trust Bank Fieldhouse Pizza 19 Marc Rubin 20 Yoke’s Fresh Market

quality

GREATER SPOKANE VALLEY

A VALLEY-WIDE COMMUNITY NEWSMAGAZINE

Greenstone 12

Simonds Dental Group

24

John L Scott - Pam Fredrick

Spokane Family Dentistry

13

4

THE ‘WHY’ OF NEW HOMELESS NETWORK PAGE 2

Service Directory

22

Of note: This thank you message was produced by The Splash’s advertising team, which works its tail off on behalf of partner businesses, helping them share their messages through advertisements. This is an independent function from The Splash’s editorial team, which has its own evaluation process to determine the community news stories and features it pursues. For more information about a win-win partnership that expertly markets your business to thousands of readers (while making this home-grown community newspaper possible), email advertise@libertylakesplash.com. With story ideas, contact editor@libertylakesplash.com.

MASTERING DRIVE-THRU BULK MEAT PAGE 22

GUILD HAS GENEROSITY SEWN UP PAGE 18

business and home in the greater Liberty Lake area.

Additional copies are located at drop-off locations in Liberty Lake and Otis Orchards.

The Splash is brought to you by

Wick Enterprizes Submitted materials

Publishing House

Announcements, obituaries, letters to the editor and story ideas are encouraged. Submit them in writing to editor@libertylakesplash.com. Submissions should be received by the 15th of the month for best chance of publication in the following month’s Splash.

Subscriptions Liberty Lake residents receive a complimentary copy each month. Subscriptions for U.S. postal addresses outside of the 99019 ZIP code cost $12 for 12 issues.

Send a check and subscription address to P.O. Box 363, Liberty Lake, WA 99019. Subscriptions must be

received by the 15th of the month in order for the subscription to begin with the issue printed the end of that month.

Correction policy The Splash strives for accuracy in all content. Errors should be reported immediately to 242-7752 or by email to editor@libertylakesplash.com. Confirmed factual errors will be corrected on this page in the issue following their discovery.

Advertising information Display ad copy and camera-ready ads are due by 5 p.m. on the 15th of the month for the following month’s issue. Call 242-7752 for more information.

Advertising integrity Inaccurate or deceptive advertising is never know-

Would you like to carry The Current in your place of business? Contact Paula at paula@valleycurrent.com.

Publishing House

ingly accepted. Complaints about advertisers should

“Honoring local communities and encouraging citizen involvement”

responsible for the content of or claims made in ads.

Wick Enterprizes GREATER SPOKANE VALLEY

A VALLEY-WIDE COMMUNITY NEWSMAGAZINE

509-242-7752

www.libertylakesplash.com

be made in writing to the Better Business Bureau and to advertise@libertylakesplash.com. The Splash is not Copyright © 2019 All rights reserved. All contents of The Splash may not be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.

NOVEMBER 2020 • 23

The Splash

Eat, Shop

&Be Merry SHARE YOUR GIFT IDEA WITH THE VALLEY!

A holiday guide for the Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Millwood, Otis Orchards, Newman Lake and Rockford areas

Advertising options

4.83˝w x 5.66˝h

9.83˝w x 5.66˝h

4.83˝w x 11.5˝h

(normally $750)*

(normally $1300)*

(normally $1300)*

1/4 PAGE: $450 1/2 PAGE: $780 1/2 PAGE: $780 at the shoppers and businesses of the greater Spokane Valley — and as a bonus we will include your gift idea as part of our story listing can’t-miss local gift ideas.

(Restaurants, don’t feel left out. You can contribute a tantalizing menu item to be included in our article on dining out.) Either way, submitted photos are encouraged!

“Eat, Shop and Be Merry” is a special cover section that will be included in the December issues of both The Current and The Splash. That’s right — be a part of both publications for one price.

FULL PAGE: $1500

(normally $2,500)*

* Normal rates based upon the typical cost of advertising at that size in both The Splash and The Current.

Interested in running in our publications at other times throughout the year? You qualify for a discount! Are you already running ads with us? Your current discount applies.

Deadlines Display ad with submitted menu item or gift idea:

November 46 November

Distribution This guide is strategically scheduled to land November 23 and 24 — the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving and Small Business Saturday.

It will be distributed in The Splash (10,000 copies delivered to every address in Liberty Lake and available for free at more than 100 newsstands through Christmas) as well as The Current (26,000 copies delivered to 18,000 homes in Spokane Valley and at more than 250 newsstands throughout the greater Spokane Valley).

9.83˝w x 11.5˝h

That’s a total of

36,000 copies

of this holiday guide distributed throughout the greater Valley through our alreadypopular monthly publications.

509-242-7752 • www.libertylakesplash.com

Display ad (submitted gift idea or menu item will be printed if space is still available):

November 18 November 11

Reserve your spot today at 242-7752 or advertise@valleycurrent.com.

Connecting LOCAL PEOPLE with LOCAL BUSINESSES “Eat, Shop and Be Merry” is a community-minded project of The Splash and The Current encouraging spending holiday money.

24 • NOVEMBER 2020

The Splash

We welcome NEW patients with

22106 E Country Vista Drive Suite D Liberty Lake www.libertylakedental.com

FREE ZOOM *with purchase of a New Patient Exam, Necessary X-Rays & Recommended Cleaning.

Offer Expires 11/30/2020

893-1119 Dr. Enoch Ross • Dr. Ross Simonds • Dr. Amanda Roper

Valley Chamber Membership Why Join the Chamber?

Our Mission

We are the catalyst for building relationships, driving collaboration, and championing opportunity in the Greater Spokane Valley.

Membership Benefits

Advocacy Programs

We advocate for public policy changes and programs that stimulate and sustain growth for business. Our Government Action Committee consistently reaches out to elected officials at all levels of government to keep you informed on the latest developments.

Regardless of the size or type of business, Chamber membership provides an affective means to network with business leaders, share ideas and receive valuable insights on common business challenges. Our membership provides: • Opportunity to collaborate and network • Member-only discounts • Referrals to member businesses • Sponsorship and advertising opportunities

10808 E Sprague Ave, Spokane WA 99216 | 509-924-4994 | spokanevalleychamber.org