RIVER CROSSING
Racing Duo represent Spokane Valley in Air Races
By Nina Culver
Current contributor
Women pilots from around the country landed at the Felts Field airport in Spokane Valley this month as part of the 48th annual Air Race Classic, a race that has its roots in the days of famed flier Amelia Earhart.
Some of those pilots hailed from the Spokane Area, including Sarah Roark and Rachel Skirvin, who together created the team Felts Field Sky Queens. The team, flying a Piper Cherokee 235, were the first to take off at the race start point in Fairhope,
Alabama, on June 17.
There are different stops on the race route each year. This year there were stops planned in Mississippi, Arizona, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon. Teams had to fly during daylight hours using visual flight rules. Teams are not required to stop at each airport, but they must do a high-speed, low-level pass if they do not land.
Pilots are free to stop for gas and overnight breaks when they need to or wait out bad weather. “When we’re on the ground, the time stops,” Skirvin said.
The race is unique in that planes are required to be at full power at all times, Skirvin said, which isn’t usually done because it burns fuel at a rapid rate and is hard on engines.
Planes had until 5 p.m. on June 20 to reach Felts Field, but it’s not necessarily who lands first who is declared the winner. Before the race, each team flies
a square with three miles per side at full power accompanied by a race official. The amount of time it takes to do that is used to calculate a handicap speed.
“Really it’s not about beating the other pilots, it’s about beating your handicap speed,” Roark said. “Sometimes people win this by a thousandth of a second.”
“Every team has a fair shot at winning this,” Skirvin said.
The Piper Cherokee the team flew had more power than other planes in the race, but that didn’t necessarily give them an edge, Roark said. “Even planes with less power than ours can technically win,” she said. “It’s strategy. It’s really going to challenge us to sharpen our skills as aviators.”
The two women flew the race route in reverse to get to Alabama, stopping at each airfield to learn where the gas pumps were and meet the mechanics.
The 43 teams took off in Alabama in 30-second intervals, but there was almost immediately a problem. Planes had to skip the first scheduled checkpoint in Mississippi because of bad weather and go on to the second stop in Harrison, Arkansas.
“We skirted around the thunder and stayed really low,” Roark said.
The Felts Field Sky Queens landed at the finish line at around 6:30 p.m. on June 19, nearly a full day before the technical end of the race. They had considered stopping somewhere overnight, but decided to go for it. “We really pushed it the last day because the weather was set to move in,” Roark said.
The first women’s air race was the Women’s Air Derby in 1929, sending pilots from Santa Monica, California, to Cleveland, Ohio. The annual races stopped in the 1930’s and resumed after World War II, then called the All Women’s Transcontinental Air Race. That race ran for 30 years before discontinuing, then the Air Race Classic came into being.
Though both Roark and Skirvin are pilots, they had different journeys to get there and have different goals in mind. Flying for Roark, who is a corporate pilot for a company in California, is a second career. She was originally a librarian, working as an archivist for the National Park Service.
Her work eventually led to a job writing technical publications for the Alaska Air Group, which operates Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. Horizon has a pilot development program and Roark applied and was accepted in 2011.
“When I was in elementary, I said I wanted to be either a librarian or a pilot,” she said.
Being a pilot was in her blood. Her family owned Grand Canyon Air and her mom, dad, brother, aunts, uncles and grandparents were pilots. “I am the last of my people to become a pilot,” she laughed.
Roark wants to be a pilot for Alaska Airlines, which requires 1,500 hours of flight time. Roark is close to her goal, with over 1,400 hours in her log book.
Skirvin’s path was not so clear cut.
Photo by Nina Culver
Sarah Roark and Rachel Skirvin the Felts Field Sky Queens participated in the 48th Annual Air Race Classic that finished at Felts Field.
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SKY QUEENS
Continued from page 2
She was far too focused on working, going to school and raising her daughter. “Being a pilot was not on my radar at all,” she said. “I just spent the time trying to survive. I was a single teen mom.”
She got a job in medical billing, then worked her way up to being a business manager for hospitals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she realized that life was short and she should set goals for herself above simple survival. “I needed something more,” she said.
Something about being a pilot sounded good, so she called a flight school and arranged a ride in a small plane. “It was amazing,” she said. “I was hooked.”
After researching, she decided her goal was to be a pilot for Life Flight, which requires 2,500 hours of flight time. She put her head down and got to work. “I just started working through all my ratings,” she said.
Skirvin currently works as an flight instructor for Northwest Flight Service, headquartered at Felts Field. “I love bringing the joy of aviation to others,”
she said.
She has also considered being a corporate pilot and flying cargo in Alaska. “I’m here for the journey,” she said of reaching her ultimate goal. “There will be a lot of stepping stones to get there.”
She currently has over 550 hours of flight time and is confident she will make her goal of 2,500. “The second I say something out loud, I have to do it,” she said. “And I go full speed.”
Both women were approached about participating in the Air Race Classic by Andy Luebke, president of the Spokane chapter of the Washington Pilots Association. He wanted Spokane to be represented in the that would end in Spokane for the first time ever.
“I hadn’t ever heard of the Air Race,” Skirvin said.
Once Luebke filled them in, however, they were on board. “It’s so cool,” Skirvin said. “Yes, I would love to be a part of that.”
In the end, three other local teams signed up – the Lilac Ladies, the Idaho Skies and the All Sports Aviation Ladies.
The pilots from the race attended the
Felts Field Neighbor Day celebration the day after the race ended, but before the results were announced. The lack of results didn’t phase the crowd. Some people approached Roark and Skirvin to talk about how the race went, their dreams of becoming a pilot someday or to ask for a signature.
“It was the most challenging thing and stressful and so much fun the entire time,” Roark said of the Air Race Classic.
The duo did not place in the race, but won the fastest leg between La Grande, Oregon, and Spokane. But they did well among the local teams. “We were so excited to be the fastest in our home state,” said Roark.
Q: What is your favorite part about being a pilot?
A: I love traveling, and the challenge of flying into airports and airspaces I’ve never been before. Every place is different and it requires study and quick thinking.
Q: What’s the hardest part about being a pilot?
A: The cost upfront for flight training can be overwhelming and often leads people to quit. There can also be a lot of pressure as a female pilot
to work harder to prove ourselves as good aviators. The schedule can also be difficult on relationships and families, we are gone often days at a time and that can be hard for loved ones.
Q: Have you ever had an emergency while flying and, if so, how did you handle it?
A: Rachel and I had an issue with a fuel pump warning while we were training together. We kept calm, assessed the situation, found an airport nearby we could land at if needed. It turned out to be a wiring issue, which we didn’t know while we were flying, but we were very close to Felts Field so we opted to land where we knew our mechanic was.
Q: How did flying the Air Race Classic route in reverse go?
A: We had so much fun doing it! We met amazing crews at each airport and were able to scope out bathrooms and the fuel situation. We actually did not make it to Starkville, MS because of weather and that stop was canceled anyway because of weather, so we never went! We did have an amazing stay in Rock Springs, Wyoming, where we recreated a photograph Amelia Earhart did in 1931. You can see that on our FB or IG.
Council amends budget, approves road work, denies Merkel settlement
By John McCallum Current contributor
At the May 27 meeting, the Spokane Valley City Council approved final passage of an ordinance amending the city’s 2025 budget, with some General Fund revenue designated for public safety redirected to pay for legal costs associated with court proceedings between the city and Councilman Al Merkel.
The total budget amendment reflected an increase of revenue in the 14 listed funds of just over $5.435 million against an increase in expenses of $13.98 million, with about $3.5 million of those increases reflected by inter-fund transfers.
It also included addition of an “Affordable & Supportive Housing Sales Tax Fund” which reflects a $1 million federal grant received by the city but passed-through to the Spokane Housing Authority to help with construction of a 240-unit multifamily affordable housing facility at 9910 E. Appleway Boulevard.
The amendment reflected increased General Fund revenues of $926,686 and increased expenses of $989,764. Of the latter, $350,000 was tabbed for estimated legal costs associated with the city’s suit against Merkel.
To offset the increase, the amendment lists decreases in salaries, payroll taxes and benefits in the Public Safety Department along with a $130,000 decrease for law enforcement vehicle replacement.
The amendments largest revenue/ expenditures increase came in the “Economic Development Capital Projects Fund.” Revenue for the fund increased by $2.5 million due to a transfer in from the Hotel/Motel Tax – Tourism Facilities Fund to be used for construction of the city’s $7 million cross country course off Flora Road north of the Spokane River.
That was then recorded as a $4,696,250 expenditure increase to cover the unexpended budget for course construction. An increase of $1,674,500 in Capital Facilities Fund reflected payment of $759,600 owed on the purchase of Washington State Department of Transportation land by the city adjacent to Sullivan Park and $914,000 transfer out to the Park Capital Project Fund 309 for the
Sullivan Park Water Line Project.
Merkel suit settlement denied
Council voted 6-0 at their June 3 meeting to deny accepting a proposed settlement of a lawsuit brought by the city against Councilman Merkel regarding his social media posts and compliance with the city’s Governance Manual and the state’s Public Records Act.
Merkel is being sued after a thirdparty investigation and Hearing Examiner ruling determined he likely violated public records laws regarding use of his personal social media account to conduct city business. The city is trying to get the court to order Merkel to comply with city and state public records requirements, officially filing suit in February, 2025.
On May 13, Merkel’s attorney proposed a settlement with the city. The five terms asked the city to dismiss its case against Merkel “with prejudice,” meaning Spokane Valley would give up its ability to pursue the same claims on events that occurred before the date of the settlement.
Merkel was also asking for the appointment of an “independent master” to review his personal social media posts and determine what constituted a public record. Merkel would only be legally obligated to produce those records determined by the independent master as public records as defined by the Washington Public Records Act.
Spokane Valley would be responsible for paying 100% of the expenses for the independent master, and the city would reimburse Merkel “for all of his attorney fees, both past attorney fees and those incurred in the future as they pertain to this dispute.”
According to the staff report, if the city agreed to the terms, the settlement would not result in a court order determining what posts of Merkel’s were public records, compel him to produce those posts or compel him to comply with the city’s Governance Manual’s social media policy in the future.
“As such, if Councilmember Merkel were to either violate the settlement agreement or continue to post about City business on his personal social media in violation
of the Governance Manual, the City would have to start from square one with a new court action,” City Attorney Kelly Konkright wrote in the report.
Merkel did not vote on the resolution, and did not recuse himself from the proceedings.
Wellesley preservation begins
Council approved a $1.077 million contract with Big Sky ID Corporation at its May 27 meeting for the Wellesley Avenue Preservation Project. The project includes storm water improvements, new pedestrian crossings, upgraded ramps to meet ADA requirements and new lane markings on Wellesley between Tolford and Isenhart roads.
The engineering estimate was just over $1.572 million, with Big Sky being the lowest responsive bidder among eight companies pursuing the project. The project is funded with $1.1 million from the Pavement Preservation Fund and $450,000 from the Storm water Management Fund.
The contract was approved 6-1, with Merkel the lone no vote.
Transportation project list adopted
The council looked to the future at its June 17 meeting and passed a resolution adopting the city’s Transportation Improvement Plan for 2026-2031. The plan includes a list of prioritized projects the city hopes to implement over the next six years, many of which will rely on outside funding sources to complete.
The plan, which must be submitted to the Washington State Department of Transportation, lists 34 projects which if all were completed would cost an estimated $250.22 million. These projects included the $16 million Pines Road (State Route 27) / BNSF Grade Separation Project slated to begin soon
and is fully funded with a variety of federal, state and city sources.
Also on the list is the proposed $50.85 million Sullivan Road / SR290 Interchange Project which is still looking for about $41.92 million in funding, and the $26.94 million Argonne Road / Interstate 90 Bridge Project, of which $24.49 million is still unfunded.
Also included is additional preservation work to Wellesley Avenue, Fancher Road from Sprague to Trent and South Sullivan Road 8th to 32nd. Various intersection improvements, storm water system upgrades and miscellaneous citywide street projects also made the list.
After a public hearing on the plan, council voted 6-1 to approved the resolution, with Merkel voting no.
Signage, ROW permit updates approved
At the June 3 meeting, council approved the second readings of three ordinances, one prohibiting placing of signs on city traffic devices and two updating the right-of-way permit process.
Ordinance 25-009, originally discussed at the May 13 meeting, added a new subsection to the Spokane Valley Municipal Code providing language clarifying that signs may not be placed on or attached to traffic control devices in a way that obstructs visibility of those devices or on bridges.
Ordinance 25-007 removed language pertaining to right-of-way permitting procedures from the Municipal Code’s development and land use regulations and added them to a new section, Title 9, related to vehicles and traffic. Ordinance 25-008 formally adopted both of these moves.
Council voted unanimously to approve all three ordinances.
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Spokane Valley council gets 2026 budget picture
By John McCallum Current contributor
When it comes to planning the 2026 city budget, the Spokane Valley City Council will definitely face some challenges.
At a June 10 day-long budget workshop, Spokane Valley Finance Director Chelsie Walls peered into her crystal ball to try to give members an economic forecast and projections for the coming year. The city utilizes revenues from seven sources to pay for items in its General Fund — including public safety along with operations and some capital projects.
Property taxes flat
Walls began with property taxes, collection of which were just shy of $13.697 million in 2024 — a 1.76% increase over 2023. That growth,
however, is fairly flat, and since councils haven’t taken the statelaw-allowed 1% increase since 2009 — and thus increased property tax rates in Spokane Valley — the modest increase is represented solely by new construction.
Homeowners seeing increases in their property taxes are actually seeing increase in valuation from new construction. Walls explained that as these valuations increase, the rate the city can levy decreases.
“Because in Washington state, we set a dollar amount rather than a rate,” Walls said. “We set the dollar amount (in Spokane Valley) at $14 million for the levy and the county spreads that across the entire valuation.”
The estimated property tax numbers of 2026 aren’t available yet, and Walls said she is using a county-provided estimate of $200,000 in new construction to assist with her projections. Since a 1% increase hasn’t been taken by a Spokane Valley council in 16 years, that amount is banked, and could increase the levy capacity by an additional $1,304,820 if used.
First sales tax decrease since Great Recession
After rising steadily for over a decade, sales taxes in Spokane Valley dipped by almost 1% in 2024 over 2023 numbers — the first decrease since 2008-2010. The actual collection was almost $32.24 million, $287,073 short of the budget estimate.
Councilwoman Laura Padden noted a recent article she read indicated revenue from tourism in Spokane County was the highest ever seen. She added that was likely driven by city of Spokane events, but wondered why Spokane Valley would subsequently see a sales tax decline.
“It should bleed off to us, somewhat,” she added of the increased tourism revenue.
Walls said sales taxes in Spokane Valley are driven by vehicle sales and big box stores such as Target and Walmart. Taxable vehicle sales began declining in 2021, with 2024 seeing a 5.3% decline over 2023 numbers. Taxable sales for big box stores are following a similar pattern.
Total collections in 2024 were $962,131, and so far through March they are running 18.14% of last year’s similar figures. Walls has budgeted $962,000 for 2026; a cautious figure she believes is pretty stable.
Residents not fueling up locally
After seeing a 13.89% drop in 2020 due to Covid, fuel taxes rebounded to pre-pandemic levels by 2022, but showed a decrease of about 3.5% in 2024 as compared to 2023, bringing in just over $1.9 million last year. More worrisome for budgeting is a 29.8% drop in revenue so far in 2025, with receipts tallying $409,371 compared to $582,942.
Both Walls and Hohman said the dip seems more drastic than what would historically be true, and will contact local and state officials to make sure there hasn’t been calculation errors or reporting issues. The fuel tax is based on the number of gallons sold, not the price, with 2026 estimates from the Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) based on per capita rates.
City Manager John Hohman noted some of that might be influenced by consumer debt, which is at an all-time. When people get overextended on debt, they tend to scale back their spending.
“That’s a national trend we’ve been keeping an eye on as well,” Hohman added.
Data from two state sources forecast minimal growth in retail sales tax revenue, 2.6% in 2025 and 4% in 2026, with Washington’s inflation rate in March below the national average for the first time since 2021.
The city is estimating 2025 sales tax collections at $33.2 million, $162,000 more than the 2025 budget. Through April 2025, revenue is up 2.78%, coming in at just over $10.51 million; a $283,979 increase over this time in 2024.
Telephone lines, it’s about time
For the first time since its implementation, city telephone utility taxes increased in 2024. While modest, the almost 1% jump ended a trend that had seen an average decrease in revenue of 7.14% since 2009, reflecting a drop from just over $3 million to $900,000 in 2024.
While factors such as more fuel-efficient vehicles, hybrids and electrics could help explain the decrease, Padden provided another factor — gas that is $1 cheaper in neighboring Idaho.
“Being a border town, a lot of people are voting with their vehicles and going over to Idaho,” she said. “It’s not surprising.”
Hohman said one counter measure the city can take right now to redeem some revenue is look into how much of hybrid and electric vehicles “add-on fees” the city is receiving, making sure it is getting its fair share.
“We can see what the local share of that is, if any,” he added.
The city budgeted $1.978 million for fuel tax revenue in 2025, and will wait on estimates for 2026 from the MRSC.
Heads in local beds
Covid also significantly impacted the travel business, and motor lodging in Spokane Valley felt the hit, recording a 40.41% drop in Lodging Taxes in 2020. Like other areas of the economy, that’s rebounded, hitting a historic high in 2024 of $905,895. So far through April, lodging taxes have dropped 2.94% compared to 2024, and while the city doesn’t
have 2026 budget estimates yet, it is expecting those levels to be around $900,000.
Real estate and construction
Real Estate Excise Taxes (REET) have been a bit of a rollercoaster since 2021, increasing 70% that year ($6.2 million collected) over 2020, but dropping 10.26% in 2022 and another 40% in 2023, down to $3.356 million. Revenues rose 6.2% in 2024 over 2023 numbers, amounting to almost $3.565 million in collections and through April 2025 are up 59.4% as compared to the same time last year, $979,750 so far.
Walls said the overall trends indicate these revenues are stabilizing to around pre-pandemic amounts. The same goes with permits, which locally are showing a high amount of activity but low construction valuation amounts.
The city collects four types of permit fees: engineering, planning, building and business licenses. City staff are proposing a number of options for increasing revenues from these, including fees for more specific categories of service and bumping business license fees to $100.
Combined, changes in these four areas could yield $1,019,000 in additional estimated annual revenue.
Feeding rising costs with smaller revenue pie
Likely the biggest challenge for Spokane Valley, and many other jurisdictions, is tax revenues failing to keep up with rising costs — especially with law enforcement. Hohman said in past council budgeting sessions, staff used a graphic to show law enforcement costs as compared to property tax revenue. That changed to sales tax revenue because police costs eventually outpaced property tax revenue.
Now, that is true with sales taxes. Historically, law enforcement costs have increased an average of 5.2% annually.
In the past five years, that has grown to 10.93% annually, while sales tax revenues — the city’s largest tax revenue source — has averaged just 1.18% growth annually. In cold, hard dollars, that’s $13.4 million in more law enforcement costs compared to $1.5 million in sales tax
revenues.
In 2025, the budget for contracting with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement in Spokane Valley was just over $34 million. That budget reflects numbers from the new Collective Bargaining Agreement but also the addition of 10 new officers — the first phase of 31 new law enforcement personnel recommended by a cityfunded study released in November 2023 to bring the Police Department up to recommended staff levels for public safety in a city of over 108,000 people.
Combining all law enforcement services, such as jail and court costs, the 2025 budget totaled almost $40.724 million. The budgeted Sheriff’s Office contract in 2026 is estimated at over $35.91 million, with total costs for services tabbed at over $42.62 million.
To help cover the cost of 10 more new officers in Phase 2, voters in Spokane Valley are being asked to approve a sales tax increase of one10th of 1% added to the existing 8.9% rate in the Aug. 5 primary election.
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Regions only Indoor Year Round Farmers Market opens at Conservation District
By Nina Culver Current contributor
Residents who live just south of Interstate 90 east of the Thor/Freya corridor now have access to a new farmer’s market, one that will be open year-round.
The Scale House Market, which opened May 31, is tucked away from the road at 4422 E. Eighth Avenue, surrounded by trees in what used to be a quarry.
The market, which took years to bring to fruition, is a partnership between Four Roots and the Spokane Conservation District, which is headquartered next to the market. Four Roots is an organization that distributes food boxes to those in need, supports local farmers who want to sell locally and promotes food system education.
The market is unique in that is has indoor and outdoor vendor space, as well as a commercial kitchen and refrigerators and freezers for vendor use. It gives them a space to store food, which can also help reduce food waste. “That on site refrigeration and freezer is a game changer for our vendors,” said Spokane Conservation District director Vicki Carter.
The commercial kitchen is also available to the hot food vendors, many of whom are graduates of Feast World Kitchen, a downtown restaurant that hosts chefs from around the world. “It really provides opportunities to try something new,” said Roots CEO and Scale Market director Brittany Tyler.
“I love the cultural element this offers to Spokane,” Carter said.
The rotating vendors, including the hot food vendors, food trucks and live musicians, are announced in regular updates on the market’s
Facebook page.
Neighbors have been excited about the opening of the new market, which is easily accessible.
“This is bikeable, this is walkable,” Carter said. “It is on the STA route. This neighborhood has not had a market before.”
The Mercantile inside the market building is open five days a week, offering products from vendors who might not always be on site. People can buy a wide variety of products, including milk and other items from several local dairies, fresh eggs, baked goods, mushrooms, fresh flowers, seafood, coffee, meat, beer, wine, prepared foods, fresh herbs, candles and pasta imported from Italy.
Some of the Mercantile vendors have booths while others may have just a display shelf or cooler. “A lot of the vendors are on wholesale agreements if they don’t have enough for a booth,” Tyler said.
The Mercantile is open from
11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The outdoor market is open from May to October from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays, 3 to 8 p.m. Fridays and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
There are over 250 vendors signed up to participate in the market and an effort was made to emphasize first-time and minority vendors, Tyler said, though there are also experienced vendors on site to serve as mentors. “There is a balance,” she said.
The vendors will vary depending on the season, keeping the market fresh for repeat visitors. “The vendors will change, the workshops will change, the events will change,” said Carter. “There’s always something new going on.”
Amanda LaShaw of LaShaw Ranch Roasters, based in Rockford, restocks their display in the Mercantile weekly. They roast several different blends of coffee and also sell a cold brew concentrate. “It’s a big seller,” LaShaw said. “It’s delicious. You can get a cup of coffee for under $1 and it lasts for six weeks.”
LaShaw said business at the Mercantile has been going well for the small batch roaster. “We’ve already doubled our order here in just two weeks,” she said. “I want to say our cold brew sold out the first day.”
Blissful Whisk, a coffee shop and bakery that used to have a location on Barker Road in Otis Orchards, has moved into the Scale House Market. The owners shut down the Barker
There are some local companies that people will recognize, including Revival Tea, Elixer Sauce and Dry Fly Distillery. Spokane Worms sells worm castings, a favorite of gardeners. “You wouldn’t believe how much this flies out the door,” Tyler said. It’s like a fertilizer, but not.”
Photo by Danica Wick
Cultural food vendors keep busy at the newly opened Scale House Market Place on May 31st, the opening day for the new facility owned and operated by the Spokane Conservation District.
location because the rent was too expensive. There was no relocation plan in place and the Scale House Market opened up at the right time, said manager Fox Rex. “It just kind of came along right before we were set to close for good,” she said. “It’s been really good, really busy.”
Blissful Whisk still sells its signature baked goods, including cinnamon rolls, muffins and scones. Owner Tiffany Cable said she’s happy with her new location at the market. “The people who are running it are wonderful,” she said. “It’s a happy place. I think it’s only going to build.”
Tyler said the only criticism she’s heard is that the fruit and produce at the market sometimes costs more than what is in the grocery stores. Local farmers provide fresh food that hasn’t been shipped long distances or picked too early, reducing its nutritional value, Tyler said.
“People are realizing quality of food is important,” she said. “If you are paying a little more for a tomato here, it’s because it was picked at its peak.”
The market has submitted the required paperwork to be able to accept SNAP and WIC cards and it awaiting final approval, Tyler said. “It could be tomorrow, it could be a month from now,” she said. “We’re set up and ready.”
Having a year-round, indoor farmers market has been a goal for
COVER STORY
years. Tyler was working with the Farmers Market Association when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the markets had to close. “It changed how they were sourcing food,” Tyler said. “Our local farmers really lost their channel to sales. We began to identify a lot of the gaps in our food system.”
She got involved in a COVID relief food box program and broke off from the Farmers Market Association to create Four Roots.
The food boxes were full of locally sourced produce and other products that allowed local farmers to still sell their harvest. “We went from 300 boxes a week to 4,000 boxes a week,” Tyler said.
The boxes were originally funded by the federal government, then the state took over the program in 2023. That funding is now ending, Tyler said, which made it even more important to provide a farm to market option. “We saw it coming,” she said of the funding stopping.
Tyler said it became evident during food box distribution that people didn’t necessarily know what certain ingredients were or how to use them. “People didn’t have the skills to use whole food,” she said.
Food education became a part of the Four Roots mission and the organization plans to host classes, workshops and demonstrations at the Scale House Market on how to cook with the products available at
the market.
“Part of resilience is education,” Carter said. “The intent of everything we do has an element of education.”
The link between Four Roots and the Conservation District goes back years, to when Tyler was an intern at the Vets on the Farm program run by the Conservation District. Both were interested in sustainability.
When the Conservation District built a new headquarters building, they let Four Roots use their old building. Next to the new Conservation District building was an old scale house used to weigh trucks full of gravel when the site was a quarry. The scale house was 165 feet long and 18 feet wide. “It had a scale on the floor and they’d weigh it out and roll out,” Carter. “In our campus master plan, this had been identified as an incubator for business.”
Over time, discussions of a yearround farmers market began to center on the scale house. “It wasn’t one moment,” Carter said. “It was a series of conversations.”
A feasibility study was done in 2022 that indicated Spokane could support a year-round market. From there, organizers requested money from the state legislature, receiving $500,000 in 2023 and $500,000 in 2024. “We got so much support in Olympia,” Carter said. “That was our seed money.”
A capital campaign was launched and organizers received a $1.2 million loan from the Department of Commerce. The old scale house was expanded and renovated, the scale removed and traded to a local company for site work. “It became a $4.4 million build,” Carter said.
The community and local businesses rallied for the capital campaign, Carter said. BECU donated $500,000 and Avista Utilities funded the refrigeration system. The Avista Foundation is putting in two ecology ponds in front of the building to provide wildlife habitat, which are not yet complete. Ag West sponsored the outdoor food court and STCU sponsored the commercial kitchen, which cost $250,000. The Kalispel Tribe is also a sponsor.
So far the market has been well received, Carter said. “Spokane has been just so generous in coming out,” she said. “I really hope people continue to support us.”
Photo by Danica Wick
The Conservation District gave away free reusable bags promoting at opening day of the Scale House Marketplace.
Student of the Month
Sabriel Wick an incoming 8th grader at Greenacres Middle School loves to get involved. Wick has played on the 7th Grade Varsity Basketball Team this year, the Junior Varsity Volleyball Team and tried out for Tennis. Off the court Sabriel plays the Upright Bass in Orchestra for the last three years, joined the Greenacres Jazz Band with her Bass, and played symbols in the Greenacres Marching Band which won 1st place in their size group at the Junior Lilac Parade this year. Sabriel has also been recognized with the Honesty PACE Character Trait, and was recently recognized as having read the most books throughout the school year at Greenacres. Outside of school, Sabriel shows Turkeys at the Spokane County Interstate Fair and volunteers with the Spokane Valley Kiwanis Club at their Food Booth and came up with the idea to purchase stuffed animals for the Police and Fire Departments that they could distribute to kids they come into contact with.
Athlete of the Month
Central Valley School District’s Sydney Maloy is Vaulting to the top with the Spokane Gymnastics Team. Maloy who is going into the 6th grade in the fall at Selkirk Middle School has been participating in Gymnastics at Spokane Gymnastics since she was 5 years old and this is her fourth year on the Gymnastics Team level as she begins her first year at the Gold level. Last year Maloy placed 10th in the state. While Vault is her favorite event, she enjoys all events from bars, beams, and floor. Sydney also enjoys golfing, snow skiing, volleyball, and soccer. Outside of the gym Maloy has served the last two years at the Student Representative to the School Board representing the Progress Panthers (her elementary school), was apart of the Student Leadership Team, and served as a Kindergarten Buddy helping the newest students to the school stay calm and get acclimated. Her favorite subject in school is Writing as she loves to write stories.
Citizen of the Month
Vicki Carter, the Spokane Conservation District Executive Director had led the district to new heights. While Carter started out at the district working the front desk, answering phones, taking care of customers and helping with the tree sale she quickly moved up taking over as office manager just 6 months later. She has been director since 2011.
“When I started here we had four employees and an annual budget of $150,000. I’ve done pretty much every position — not the technical positions — within district operations, from human resources, finance, budget and accounting, public outreach, communications, policy and legislative work,” she said.
Today, there are 24 full-time employees, 37 during the height of seasonal work, and a $16 million budget.
In 2021, she oversaw the relocation of the districts office to their current location on 8th Ave which is also the new home for the Scale House Market, a year round farmers market that recently opened in Spokane Valley.
Members Michael F., Matt N., & Christa S.
Habitat Builds first Spokane Valley Development with more planned
By Nina Culver
Current contributor
Habitat for Humanity Spokane launched its 24th Blitz Build in June, recruiting hundreds of volunteers to make rapid progress on housing for seven families.
“We try to get as far as we can as fast as we can,” said CEO Michelle Girardot.
The build site, tucked away on Collins Road just east of Pines Road in Spokane Valley, was bustling during the Blitz Build. A single-family home that started construction last year was having the finishing touches completed, ready to be handed off to a family. Three duplexes were in various stages of completion, but were not expected to be finished by the end of the 10-day Blitz Build.
The homes are not traditional stick-built homes. They were built with insulated concrete forms that are stacked on top of each other before being filled with concrete. That makes the walls of the homes thick and energy efficient as well as fire resistant, Girardot said. “It’s essentially building with blocks,” she said. “They can withstand 300 mile per hour winds.”
As the homes are complete, solar panels will be installed on the roof. “These homes are net zero,” Girardo said. “What that looks like is a couple bucks a month in electric bills.”
Decades ago, it used to be obvious which homes in a neighborhood had been built by Habitat for Humanity, Girardot said. Now, however, efforts are made to make the homes blend in with the existing neighborhood. “We want to make sure no one can tell this is a subsidized or Habitat build,” she said.
During a Blitz Build, there are two shifts of volunteers each day, which tallies up to 4,800 volunteer hours by the end of the build. “That’s the equivalent of hiring two full-time construction crews for a month,” Girardot said.
Cindy Green began volunteering with Habitat a year ago after she retired from her job with the Spokane Regional Health District. “I like doing this kind of stuff and helping move housing forward,” she said. “That’s very satisfying for me. And the people are awesome.”
Like many other volunteers, Green didn’t have any experience in construction, but volunteers are taught each task they’re asked to do. “Every day I learn something,” Green said. “The site supervisors are so willing to teach me. Last week I was putting up forms and bending rebar. I laid three rooms of flooring.”
Habitat’s mission and the people who carry it out keep her coming back, Green said. “There’s never not anything to do,” she said.
The vacant land where the homes sit was purchased with American Rescue Plan money as well as Community Development Block Grant funds, Girardot said. The money was also used to install infrastructure, such as sewer, water, electricity and the driveway to reach the property.
Girardot said she hopes the three duplexes will be ready for occupancy by November, assuming there are
enough volunteers available to work on the duplexes as well as the 30 other units currently under construction in Spokane County. “We rely on volunteers,” she said. “It also depends on do we have enough volunteers to get the work done.”
There’s a waiting list of families who need housing. Those who are approved for a Habitat home are required to learn about home ownership and put in up to 250 hours of work. The families end up with a mortgage that pays for the home, while Habitat retains ownership of the land the homes sit on.
“These homes are part of a land trust,” Girardot said. “The land is not part of the purchase price.”
Most mortgages are between $280,000 and $345,000, based on the size of the home, Girardot said. The mortgage cost is either the cost to build the home or the appraised value, whichever is less.
Keeping the land separate ensures the homes are affordable, Girardot, especially now when even two income families cannot afford to buy a home. Habitat serves families who make up to 80 percent of the area’s median income. “What I’m hearing more and
more of, kids can’t buy a home,” she said. “Unfortunately, the reality is, without programs like this, we’re going to see more of the middle class fall out.”
The affordability of the homes carries forward if a Habitat family chooses to sell it in the future, since the sale price will not include the land. “A Habitat home will always be low income,” she said.
Building homes for low-income residents is a task that will never end. Habitat will have completed 25 units in Spokane County by the end of the fiscal year, Girardot said. “Next year we’re slated for 38 units,” she said.
Eventually she hopes her organization will be able to complete up to 50 units a year. “That will naturally change and shift depending on what public funding exists,” she said.
Habitat already has more building projects identified in Spokane Valley, Girardot said. The organization is finalizing a purchase of land next to the Lowe’s store on East Sprague Avenue, where they plan to build 25 units.
“We’re excited to be building more in the Valley,” Girardot said.
Photo by Nina Culver
White insulated concrete forms are used for exterior walls at the newest Habitat for Humanity construction site in Spokane Valley. Once arranged, pumping trucks will arrive and file the forms with concrete.
Brought
Bring your blanket and lawn chair. Kids games & food starting at 6 pm
• Discover science tidbits during Science & Play: Bubblemania
• Spark your imagination to Create Your Own Sock Animal
• Sign up for Summer Reading with Beanstack & get a free, new book
All programs are free at SCLD libraries.
Discover more summer programs at scld.org/engage.
Moana
The Crest
About and for Spokane Valley area seniors
Felts Field opens for Neighbor Days
By Nina Culver
Current contributor
Despite a gloomy start to the day, hundreds of people gathered at Felts Field in Spokane Valley on June 21 to participate in the annual Neighbor Day celebration, checking out aircraft old and new parked on the flight line.
The small airport on the southern shore of the Spokane River in Spokane Valley bustles with activity most days as numerous small planes come and go. It’s also the home base of helicopters belonging to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and Life Flight.
The gates are opened to the public once a year for the neighbors who regularly watch aircraft come and go, said Spokane International Airport Marketing and Communications Manager Alannah Toft. “It’s for the surrounding community,” she said. “Unless you’re flying, you don’t really know what goes on inside the gates.”
Helicopters from Inland Helicopter regularly buzzed in and out during the event, offering paid tours of the Valley.
But the stars of the show were the antique aircraft on display, many meticulously restored by aviation fans to their original appearance. Among the oldest were two Boeing Stearman biplanes emblazoned with “U.S. Army” on the underside of the wings. The planes were often used before and during World War II by the Army and Navy to train military pilots.
Also on display was a World War II Grumman Goose, an amphibious airplane used by the U.S. Navy. The plane was the first single-wing and twin-engine plan designed by Grumman, first built to transport rich businessmen. During the war, it was often used as a military transport.
Retired Air Force Major John Boyle was on hand to answer people’s questions about the plane. The one on display had been given to Britain for use during the war before being returned to the United States and eventually sold as surplus, Boyle said. The plane could carry nine people and had a range of 1,000 miles.
Boyle doesn’t own the blue plane with “NAS Whidbey Island” stenciled on the side, but knows a lot about it. Though he was a private pilot, he never flew for the Air Force, instead serving as a public information officer for 20 years. “My eyes weren’t good enough for the Air Force,” he said.
The Goose is based at Felts Field and Boyle said he often helps by providing information about it at special events. “I help out and answer questions at events like this,” he said.
The plane is owned by Addison Pemberton, who bought it in 2012 as a hulk. Pemberton said he found it in a play yard at the Palm Springs Air Museum, where children climbed through it freely. “We brought it up here and spent five years putting it back together,” Pemberton said.
He owns Pemberton and Sons Aviation, which restores antique airplanes. Between him and his sons, the family owns 12 vintage airplanes,
six of them biplanes, housed at Felts Field. Several of them were on display during Neighbor Day.
“We have eight hangars on the field,” Pemberton said. “I like to support the airport.”
Pemberton said he has restored 23 airplanes during his career. “I started buying and flipping airplanes in high school,” he said.
Pemberton said he doesn’t have a favorite among the antique aircraft he owns. “I love the vintage airplanes, they’re all unique,” he said. “All of the airplanes do different things.”
Though vintage airplanes are his passion, Pemberton also owns the manufacturing company Scanivalve in Liberty Lake. The company makes intelligent pressure and temperature measurement instrumentation, including those used in wind tunnels.
Neighbor Days also included several informational booths, including a display by the Mobile Military Museum. On display were several former U.S. Army vehicles, including jeeps and an ambulance that wouldn’t have been out of place on the set of the M*A*S*H television show. Some vehicles and airplanes were open for tours and lines of families with young children lined up to take a look inside.
On display in one of the hangars was the mostly intact shell of a PBY amphibious aircraft with an external radar dome and machine guns mounted near the tail. The plane was known for low level reconnaissance over the ocean during World War II and could stay airborne for 15 hours. There are plans to restore the aircraft to flight condition.
Many of those in attendance held their phones in their hands, taking photos as they went. Kevin Liechty, a photographer, had a large camera slung over one shoulder. A former Cessna pilot, he was just there to enjoy the planes. “Those are my favorites,” he said, pointing to the Stearman biplanes. “If it flies I like it. My favorites are war birds in general.”
Liechty lives near the flight path for Felts Field and often hears planes buzzing overhead. His ears are always perked for a “round” engine, the type used in antique airplanes. “When they fly over the house, my wife knows I’m running outside to the deck when I hear a round engine,” he said.
Neighbor Day also celebrates the history of Felts Field, which is so old it predates the term “airport.” In the early days of aviation, there were many small air strips. Felts Field, initially called Parkwater Aviation Field, began functioning as an airstrip in 1913. It was very popular and was also frequently used by the military.
“During the early era of aviation, it was one of many,” said Toft. “Felts emerged as the prominent one.”
The field was one of the first designated as an airport in the United States in 1926 by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The airport was renamed Felts Field in 1927 in honor of Lt. James Buell Felts, a Washington Air National Guard pilot who died in a plane crash.
The airport was used by passenger airlines until the late 1940’s, when those types of planes got too big for the runways at Felts Field. The airport remained busy, however, and an air traffic control tower was added in 1966.
Photo by Nina Culver
Boeing Stearman biplane painted with US Army emblems was one of the oldest planes on display at the Felts Field Neighbor Days.
By John McCallum
Current contributor
Central Valley
Valley athletes bring home hardware from state 2A/3A meets
Spokane Valley track and field teams enjoyed post-season success to wrap up 2024-2025, with five of the eight men’s and women’s teams placing in the top-10 at 2A and 3A state competition May 29-31 at Mt. Tahoma High School in Tacoma. Contributing to that success were seven individual event state titles earned by athletes from Central, East and West Valley high schools along with University.
The Bears women finished 11th overall with 20 points at 3A state while the men were 18th.
Senior Davina Kostecka led CV with a state title in the 100-meter hurdles, posting a new personal record of 14.79 seconds to capture first. Senior Kara Minette was third in the discus with a throw of 127 feet, 1 inch while junior Cora Donley was fifth in the shot put with a toss of 38-03.50.
For the Bears men, senior Ben Hampton was fourth in the shot put with a toss of 52-09.25, with junior Adam Judd fifth in the discus at 16710. Junior Joseph Hilton was sixth in the triple jump with a leap of 43-08.50, and while not scoring any team points, junior Jordan Folsom finished 12th in the pole vault, clearing the bar at 12-06.
East Valley
The Knights women tied Lynden for fourth at the 2A state meet, both with 48 points, while the men finished 10th overall with 23.5 points.
Senior Veronica Garcia, junior Hayden Anderson and the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams led the way for East Valley. Garcia captured the 2A state title in the 400-meters with
University
a time of 55.74 while Anderson was second in the 300-meter hurdles with a PR of 44.54 and third in the 100 hurdles in 15.16.
The 4x100 team of Anderson, Weather Salinas-Taylor, Aniya Shaw and Ashlynn Deaton capture the title with a time of 48.39. The 4x400 team of Anderson, SalinasTaylor, Deaton and Garcia was third in 3:57.31.
Sophomore Jadyn Thomas was fourth in the javelin at 122-07. Senior Lucy Akre was sixth in the pole vault at 10-feet.
For the East Valley men, senior Talan Hughes captured state titles in the 110-meter hurdles at 14.72 and the 300 hurdles, setting a PR of 37.81 in the latter. He also placed sixth in the 100-meter dash in 11.11.
Senior Logan Ihle was ninth in the shot put at 49-02.50 while senior Jackson Halela was tied for eighth in the high jump, clearing the bar at 6 feet.
www.hubsportscenter.org
The Titan women were ninth overall with 24 points at 3A state. Leading the way was senior Addy MacArthur’s 3A state title in the shot put, setting a new PR of 46-04 to win the crown by almost six feet.
MacArthur was second in the disc with a throw of 140-08, 3 feet, 4 inches behind state champion Lillian White of Walla Walla.
The Titans 4x400 team got into the scoring act with a fifth-place finish.
The team of sophomore Mariah Denney, freshmen Ainsley Miller and Peyton Richter and junior Kyla turned in a time of 3:55.82 to get on the podium, 73/100ths of a second behind fourth-place Shorewood.
Junior Quin Lipke placed fourth in the javelin for the U-Hi men with a throw of 174-07. The 4x400 team of juniors Luke Trefry and Jaxson Bisquera and seniors Luke Gisolo and Abram Denney placed eighth with a time of 3:29.29.
West Valley
The Eagle women placed sixth
with 35 points and the men were eighth with 29 points at 2A state.
Cooper Henkle brought home a pair of state titles for the West Valley men. The senior captured the discus title with a throw of 188-08 and won the javelin crown with a throw of 204-09.
Junior Quinlan Hyatt was third in the discus with a PR of 165-06. Senior Erik Borg was 12th in the javelin at 152-01, but placed sixth in the 400 at 50.77.
The Eagle women 4x400 team of Aubrey Matthews (freshman), Hadassah Duff (senior) and juniors Quincy Andrews and Lauren Matthew captured the 2A state title, turning in a time of 3:53.10. Matthew was second in the 400 in 56.75 and fourth in the 200-meters in 25.63, with Andrews fifth in the 400 in a PR of 58.58.
Duff set PRs of 5:08.21 for seventh in the 1,600-meter run and 11:30.68 for eighth in the 3,200. Sophomore Iraina Swift was fourth in the discus at 115-00
LEVEL UP at Your Library
Your library card gives you access to repair manuals for vehicles, small engines
By Dana Mannino, librarian Spokane County Library District
Have you tried to find your vehicle’s repair manual online recently? It can be a frustrating experience. Nearly every manual is behind a paywall. In the best-case scenario, you pay $10 to download a PDF from a shady overseas website. In the worst case, you end up downloading a computer virus.
Online Summer Reading Challenge
For all ages
Sign up on Beanstack to:
• Track your summer reading
• Get a free book (kids & teens)
• Reach your reading goal!
Get started at scld.beanstack.org
Summer Reading Programs
Check these out!
• Mario Kart Coding & Crafts
• Ping Pong Palooza
• LEGO Stop-Motion Studio
• Wilderness Survival
• Movie Nights at Balfour Park
See all events at scld.org/engage
This is why every DIY mechanic needs a library card. Spokane County Library District (SCLD) provides free access to two online databases of repair and service manuals from industry experts.
The first is Auto Repair Source
SCLD’s extensive collection of digital books keeps kids, teens reading, learning
By Tammy Henry, Librarian Spokane County Library District
Spokane County Library District (SCLD) has many online resources to keep your kids and teens reading and learning all summer long! Here are three you can try out at home.
For anyone looking for educational activities this summer, we have Scholastics Teachables (scld.org/teachables). This resource is filled with printable activity worksheets, games, puzzles, mini books, and more for children in preschool through grade 8. This resource is great for summer learning and also for additional athome practice or for homeschool families year-round.
Materials in Teachables can be
(scld.org/auto-repair). It’s powered by the folks at MOTOR Magazine, the longtime monthly service and repair publication for auto shops and mechanics. To use Auto Repair Source, enter your car’s make, model, and year, and then browse the category of information you need. You can use Auto Repair Source to find details and troubleshooting steps when checking engine codes. It also includes a great collection of wiring diagrams.
The second resource, Small Engine Repair Source (scld.org/ small-engine-repair), provides a similar level of information for motorcycles, ATVs, and even lawn mowers and snow throwers. Small Engine Repair Source is built on the full-text archive of Clymer repair manuals, the long-time leading publisher of information written for DIY mechanics. Small Engine Repair Source features clear photographs and step-bystep instructions for inspecting and maintaining your motorcycle. It’s also a good source of information
found by searching with keywords, by Common Core standards, or by selecting a specific grade level, subject, or theme. Most worksheets come with a key or explanation for adults leading the lesson or activity. With free printing at the library, up to 80 pages per week, you can get your summer worksheets ready ahead of time.
TeenBookCloud (scld.org/ teenbookcloud) is great for high school students as well as teens in middle school. They can read or listen to books online with no holds and no waiting. Since everyone can read the same book at the same time, you can create a summer book club, and no one will have to track down a copy of your selected title.
Some TeenBookCloud titles are enhanced with “read along,” which are titles where the text is highlighted as the audio version plays. For struggling readers, this resource also has an extensive number of high/low books, which are high interest titles with a lower reading level of simple vocabulary, short chapters, and captivating plots. You’ll also find graphic novels, nonfiction, and AP English/ classics titles ready to stream.
on older models of mowers, lawn tractors, and other outdoor power equipment.
With your in-district library card, you can log in to either database from the comfort of your home. Or you can visit the library and use these resources with help from a librarian or other knowledgeable staff. The library also offers 80 pages of free printing per week. So, once you’ve found the information you need, you can print it out and take it back to your garage for reference.
Residents of Spokane County can sign up for a free library card by visiting scld.org/getcard or by stopping by any SCLD location, including Spokane Valley, Argonne, Fairfield, and Otis Orchards Libraries.
Don’t get stuck paying to download a computer virus. Instead, access high quality, vetted information for your DIY project for free. All you need is your library card!
You may already be familiar with OverDrive (scld.overdrive. com) and its collection of eBooks and audiobooks. This collection has an extensive number of digital books for kids and teens to borrow. You can toggle these different age groups from the main menu. Librarian-created book lists can be found by scrolling down the home screen for each audience. Kids’ lists include audiobooks for “Family Road Trips,” “Short & Sweet” reads, and “Read-Along Adventures.” Teen lists include “Adventure Calls,” “Clean Romance for Teens,” and “What’s Your Fandom?”
The Libby app (scld.org/ libby-app) from OverDrive makes borrowing eBooks and audiobooks on eReaders and other mobile devices easy and convenient. You can search by title or author, browse by subject, and filter by audience. These online resources are available 24/7 to in-district card holders through SCLD’s Digital Library (scld.org/digital-library). I encourage you to explore these great online options to keep kids and teens reading and learning this summer!
ELECT LISA MILLER
Summer is Better with Bundts
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CONTRIBUTORS
Nina Culver, John McCallum
ParaSports gets new home in Otis Orchards
By Nina Culver Current contributor
ParaSport Spokane just celebrated its new location and partnership with the East Valley School District with a June open house. The non-profit organization dedicated to helping disabled people participate in sports now occupies the former Mountain View Middle School at 6011 N. Chase Road near the Idaho state line.
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ParaSport serves adults and children, offering strength and conditioning classes. There are also programs for several Paralympic sports, including wheelchair basketball, track and field, sled hockey, swimming, fencing and road racing. Some participants use a wheelchair on a regular basis and some don’t, said ParaSport executive director Teresa Skinner.
“You could be literally anything,” Skinner said of the various disabilities they accommodate. It’s often hard for someone with a disability to believe that they can participate in sports, Skinner said, and so many just assume they can’t do it. But they can and the many ParaSport athletes that have gone on to win Paralympic medals and international competitions is proof of that.
“We have athletes that are among the best in the world at what they do,” said Development Director David Greig.
East Valley Superintendent Brian Talbott said Greig initially reached out to him when they knew the organization was losing their lease on space at Valley Christian School, where they had been for seven years. “I found out they were in an 80 by 20 (space) and all their equipment they had to take out and put back,” he said.
ParaSport has an extensive collection of sport wheelchairs and in the old location they were stacked three high and two rows deep, Skinner said. “When the athletes arrived, they actually couldn’t get their own equipment,” she said.
building back, they discovered water damage in one of the gyms.
“When we walked in it looked like a skateboard park,” Talbott said. “The wooden floor had waves and rolls.”
The floor was ripped out, leaving bare concrete behind. At the time, Talbott said, the district was considering putting some sort of trades training program in the former school, so left the concrete. Now the gym is the home of ParaSport’s track and field program. ParaSport and East Valley partnered to write a grant for funding to upgrade the gym, receiving $86,000 from the Hagan Foundation.
ParaSport has already acquired Mondo flooring, which is rubberized and provides cushioning for athletes. They are still looking for artificial turf and want to put in a sand long jump pit along one wall.
we needed some seed money in order to grow.”
But though the building isn’t a school any more, Talbott envisions his students still being involved. Students in manufacturing classes could make some of the specialized stands some wheelchair athletes use to compete in various sports. Art students could paint murals on the walls. “There’s so many opportunities,” Talbott said. “This is not simply a lessee and a lessor. This is a partnership.”
Talbott said that in the future, he’d like to see an outdoor track installed at the former school. However, that’s not something the district can afford, so other funding options will have to be explored, he said.
The group had toured the former middle school while looking for a new location, but initially weren’t interested because it was so far out and didn’t have an outdoor track. But by last August, they had to do something and Talbott said he offered the school again, even if it was just to store equipment while they figured something out.
The two organizations signed a lease and ParaSport started offering some classes in the former school last September. Now the organization has spread out throughout the school and there’s plenty of room for the wheelchairs, which sit in the former wrestling room off one of the school’s two gyms.
The organization finally has a chance to breathe and decide how to move forward, Greig said. “When we first started this, we were in a triage situation,” he said.
Skinner said she’s grateful for how much space they have now, particularly when compared to their previous location where people literally tripped over each other. “It was so, so cozy,” she said. “To have this is just unreal.”
Many of the athletes in the program started as children and Skinner said she estimates that 78 percent did not come willingly for their first visit. “You’re asking them to do something they’re scared to
do, that they’re nervous about,” she said.
However, as they gain confidence and skills, they come back eagerly.
In recent months, ParaSport has seen several new athletes a week, Greig said. “People are finding out about us,” he said. “Since we’ve been here, there’s been a ton of people from Idaho.”
Alaina Gott, who has been coming to ParaSport for the last five years, is visually impaired. She runs several track and field races and also participates in fencing. She said ParaSport has improved her independence by showing her what she can do.
“I’ve always done sports growing up,” she said. “I’ve made friends and created a family here.”
Talbott said he’s happy someone is using the building again. The school closed in 2011, then was used as the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office training center for several years before the law enforcement agency moved into a new facility near Airway Heights in 2023. “It’s a match made in heaven,” he said. “No one wants a boarded up building.”
There is still some work to be done to the former school. Right before the Sheriff’s Office moved out, a large hailstorm hit, Talbott said. When the district got the
“He was a big believer in education,” Talbott said of the late Dr. Cornelius Hagan, who created the Hagan Foundation. “They took a big risk on this program because it’s not necessarily education. I think the Hagan Foundation recognized
Talbott said he’d also like to explore allowing other community groups to use the building, particularly the remaining gym, when ParaSport isn’t using it. “Gym space is at a premium,” he said. “We want this building to be used. We’ve only scratched the surface about what this means to our district and the community.”
Photo by Nina Culver
ParaSports serves adults and kids of all ages and includes several paralympic sports such as wheelchair basketball which they have new space for in their lease of the former Mountain View Middle School and Chase Road.
