AUGUST
THE
LIBERTY LAKE
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Permit #010 ZIP CODE 99019
2026
FREE COMMUNITY NEWSMAGAZINE
FLLML PRESIDENT BEKKEDAHL PAGE 2
SPORTS COMPLEX PERMIT DEBATE PAGE 16
CITY SEEKS FEEDBACK ON PROPOSED LOGOS PAGE 19
2 • AUGUST 2026
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DOCKSIDE Friends of the Library worked to a Summer Soiree, a night of food, Thanksgiving every year. Friends of maintain and improve the Liberty music and wine recently held at “The line is usually very long, Lake Library, particularly since she Liberty Lake Wine Cellars. especially the first day,” she said. the Library sees the library as the heart of the “It’s primarily fundraising,” “In this area, it’s the world’s largest community. Bekkedahl said. “It’s to provide the indoor book sale. That’s what we President “I just volunteered where they library the monies for the programs.” say, anyway.” needed,” she said. The semi-annual book sale is Among other programs, the Robin She was then approached about hugely popular, drawing both Friends of the Library help fund the serving on the board, a request that hundreds of donated books and library’s annual summer reading Bekkedahl initially surprised her. “I had to crowds of shoppers. Bekkedahl program, which is currently in about it,” she said. “I felt like I said volunteers put in a lot of hours progress. Kids can pick up a reading answered the think could add something to that.” checking and organizing donated log at the library and earn a prize for every five hours they read before currently serving a one- books to prepare them for the sale. call to service yearShe’s term as president of the board, “They go through stacks and Aug. 31, plus gain an entry into the By Nina Culver
Splash contributor
Retirement has allowed Robin Bekkedahl to become more involved in her community and one of the ways she has decided to do that is by being a member of the Friends of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library, where she is currently the board president.
though she has no intention of going anywhere when her leadership position ends.
stacks of books,” she said. “Many of the books are donated and have to be looked at.”
The primary function of the Friends of the Library is to raise money for library programs, Bekkedahl said, though members also serve as library volunteers. The organization does this by organizing spring and fall book sales as well as
The Friends of the Library have had several generous donors contributing books over the years, Bekkedahl said. The result is usually a book sale with plenty of volumes to browse through. The fall sale runs for two days the weekend before
Bekkedahl has lived in the area for the last 16 years. She’s originally from Idaho and earned a bachelor’s degree in program management. She also earned a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Eastern Washington University. She worked as an environmental scientist for Avista Utilities before she retired.
The Friends purchase craft supplies for various programs hosted at the library and recently funded an appearance by the Reptile Man. They also purchase supplies for the Halloween and Christmas parties hosted at the library.
Nearly every library or library district has a Friends of the Library group because of the need to raise money for programs, Bekkedahl said. “You wouldn’t have the extras that make the library,” she said. “Taxpayer money can’t go toward this.” Bekkedahl said her group usually asks library leadership what the needs are, then donates money for them. The library also receives some funding from the Diane E. Zahand Memorial Fund, which is designated specifically for STEM programs. Zahand was a former kindergarten teacher and founder of Prism School in Spokane Valley.
She enjoyed being around people who loved libraries as much as she did. “The group was so much into the library,” she said. “It was just a great volunteer opportunity.”
Bekkedahl said she liked that the
“That’s a great program,” she said. “It encourages all demographics to read. It’s all about literacy.
“This isn’t coming from taxpayer money,” she said. “This is coming from the community.”
About four years ago, a neighbor invited her to attend a Friends of the Library meeting. She did and found herself hooked. Bekkedahl said she practically grew up in libraries because she liked the books and liked the quiet. “It was just where I spent my time studying all the time,” she said.
Libraries are a different place now than they were when Bekkedahl was younger. Then, without Google at their fingertips, people used libraries more for research. “When I went to the library it was the Dewey Decimal System,” she said.
grand prize drawing.
Photo by Nina Culver Robin Bekkedahl has grown up with a passion for libraries and brings that passion to support the Liberty Lake Library through the Friends of the Library fundraisers that help provide the programming at the Liberty Lake Library.
By law the Friends of the Library can only provide donations for equipment, programs and materials. Bekkedahl estimates that the Friends of the Library contributes at least $8,000 to $9,000 a year, depending on how the book sales and other See BEKKEDAHL, Page 5
AUGUST 2026 • 3
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3 NINJAS
Bakery By the Lake
Bangkok Thai Best of Broadway Beyoutiful Hot Yoga Studio Birdie's Pie Black Diamond Nails & Spa Bruttles Candies CDA Timberline Adventures Clark's Tire & Automotive Coldwell Banker Cozy Coffee Crepe Cafe Sisters Dairy Queen Dave & Busters Escape Entertainment Fendii Nails & Spa Fox & Onyx Coffee Grain Shed Jack & The Bean Just Chillin
Kalispel Tribe & Northern Quest Casino
Kiwanis Lake Coeur D’Alene Cruises Liberty Lake Book Club Liberty Lake Neighbors Yota Stauffacher Liberty Lake Wine Cellars Mango Tree McDonald’s MeadowWood Golf Course Metro Express Car Wash Mexico Lindo Mirabeau Hotel Suite Nails by Anne's New Love Coffee Nothing Bundt Cake Outlaw BBQ Palenque Mexican Restaurant Panhandle Cone & Coffee Papa Murphy’s Paragraphs & Pages
Pho Liberty Rise Espresso & Dough Rose & Blossom Safeway Spokane Chiefs Spokane Civic Theatre Spokane Indians Spokane Symphony Tamale Box
The Tipsy Vine The Splash Newspaper Trader Joe's Trailhead Golf Course
True Legends Versalia Pizza Yoke's
The Friends of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library gratefully acknowledge the support, commitment and dedication of Mark and Sarah Lathrop, owners of the Liberty Lake Wine Cellars, and their hard-working hospitality staff for hosting and sponsoring the Summer Soirée event each and every year.
4 • AUGUST 2026
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CVSD is connecting with our community through this Link.
Building a sustainable budget for CVSD’s future... Schools are the foundation of our community's future. The students learning in CVSD classrooms today will become tomorrow's employees, business owners, health care providers, educators, public servants and community leaders. Investing in strong schools is not only an investment in today's students—it is an investment in the long-term strength, stability and quality of our entire community. CVSD is building a sustainable financial plan that balances current student needs with responsible preparation for the future. The
School Board-approved 2026–2027 budget includes staffing adjustments tied directly to enrollment, departmental efficiencies, stronger purchasing controls, increased reimbursement revenue and multi-year replacement planning. These efforts are designed to protect essential classroom services, while ensuring public funds are directed to the areas of greatest student need. The district is also working to provide a buffer by strengthening its fund balance, so it can respond to unexpected costs, any potential enrollment changes and economic uncertainty without creating sudden disruptions for students, families or staff. Savings have been redirected toward long-term needs, including replacing an aging school bus fleet. Staff also improved special education reimbursements to help reduce pressure on local resources.
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This work reflects a commitment to looking beyond a single budget year. By planning major purchases over multiple years, improving financial controls and examining how services are delivered, CVSD can reduce the risk of costly emergency expenses and create greater stability for schools. Responsible budgeting helps preserve the programs, staffing and learning opportunities that families depend on while positioning the district to adapt as community needs change. Local investment remains essential. The District and School Board is placing a three-year Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy on the November 3, 2026 ballot, maintaining the current levy rate of no more than $2.50 per thousand of assessed home value. Levy funding helps support learning programs, staff and student opportunities that are not
fully funded by the state, including special education, nurses, safety, counseling, music, athletics, advanced courses and extracurricular activities. It currently provides about 16% of annual operating expenditures and supports approximately 300 teachers and support staff positions. Strong schools help attract families and employers, support local businesses and prepare young people to contribute to the place they call home. A sustainable budget and continued community investment will help CVSD provide students with the skills, support and opportunities they need to succeed—and ensure our community is prepared for generations to come.
More info at: www.CVSD.org/Budget
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NEWS
BEKKEDAHL Continued from page 2 fundraising goes. The one urgent need the Liberty Lake Library has that the Friends can’t help with financially is the need for a larger library, Bekkedahl said. The city council has been discussing the need for a new library, but no location or funding has been identified. “We need more room,” she said. “We don’t have enough room for books. We don’t have enough for programs. The community has grown. The library hasn’t quite grown with it.” Bekkedahl said she spends a lot of time at the library, whether she’s looking for the latest book she wants to read or checking in with staff. “I’m always down there,” she said. “A lot of it is business oriented. I can’t say enough about the staff.” The next Friends of the Library Book Sale is Nov. 20-21 at the library, located at 23123 E. Mission Ave. Hours are from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, November 20, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 21. Anyone interested in donating books for the sale can contact the Friends via email at friendsllml@gmail.com. The Friends of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library meet at 1 p.m. on the last Thursday of every month at the library. New members are always welcome. Q: Do you consider yourself an avid reader? A. I read almost every night. With the advent of the digital opportunities, I like to take advantage of the access. Q: What is your favorite book or author? A. Growing up my absolute favorite book was Nancy Drew: The Mystery of the Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene. Today, I like mystery stories that have a little drama intermixed in the story and plot. Q: What do you see as the best part of the public library? A. The library staff is awesome. They are so helpful to the patrons and everyone that comes in. Q: What do you like best about serving on the Friends of the
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Library board? A. Besides what I iterated in the interview, I enjoy the members and their enthusiasm about contributing to the efforts towards the Library. Q: What led you to want to serve on the Liberty Lake Community Engagement Commission as well? A. A part of my planning experience and degree is the importance of Community Engagement. When the city of Liberty Lake started the new commission, I applied for this position to try and get community participation in the city. To understand the wants and needs of the community, you have to listen and provide opportunities for collective and collaborative feedback. Q: What do you like to do in your spare time? A. I enjoy doing sports activities. Living near the Centennial Trail offers me so many opportunities to bicycle and walk. If you can tell from my email address, winter is a major season for me because my husband and I are avid downhill skiers.
SPOKANE COUNTY
INTERSTATE FAIR Sept 15
September 11 – 20, 2026
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Sept 16
Daughtry
Sept 17
Nate Smith
PRCA RODEO Concerts DeMO DERBY TRUCK and trackor pulls Rides animals exhibits so much more!
TheSpokaneFair.com
6 • AUGUST 2026
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AUGUST 2026 • 7
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The Lookout More time to contribute to the 25th anniversary time capsule!
The city’s 25th anniversary time capsule will be buried later this year, which means area residents now have until Sept. 5 to contribute any item from today that can be seen by Liberty Lake’s future residents of 2036. You can take a look at the time capsule – and submit your items – at the reception area of Liberty Lake City Hall at 22710 E. Country Vista Drive. Organizers are seeking materials for the time capsule that convey something about Liberty Lake or something about our life in 2026. This could include materials related to local schools or businesses, products of 2026, current technology, area photographs, recent newspaper articles, and handwritten personal messages to future readers. Those with questions about submissions can call 509-995-3588.
Park’s new carousel sculptures bring back Liberty Lake’s past
Ahead of the inflatable water slides, live music performances, food vendors, and shiny entries of the car show that were part of the city’s July 4th Founders & Fireworks celebration, the public got its opening opportunity to see – and sit on – two newly installed sculptures at Pavillion Park.
Goetzinger, who was given the first opportunity to sit on them after they were formally unveiled on the afternoon of July 4. Goetzinger says he enjoys creating public art with historic significance. The new sculptures complement the 2000 mural down the hill that depicts the old carousel being ridden by notable people from Liberty Lake’s past. In fact, Goetzinger had a hand in helping paint that mural, which was designed by his brother, Rolf. Members of the city’s Parks &
“Much Ado About Nothing” is one of Shakespeare’s most celebrated romantic comedies. The story involves a series of deceptions and misunderstandings revolving around two romantic couples. As always, audience members are invited to bring their own picnic dinner to enjoy while watching the early evening
Arts Commission hope to be able to add more carousel sculpture installments at the park in the future. There was one additional unveiling at the park on July 4th. Visitors that day also had their first chance to view a new signage piece titled “The Pavillion Park Story,” set up just east of the pavilion stage. This item combines a timeline and historic photos from decades ago to narrate what inspired the present-day park.
The two-item piece just east of the park’s hilltop flagpole replicates poles with a horse and a rising frog from Liberty Lake’s 1913 Herschell-Spillman Carousel. The carousel operated near the lakeside for more than 30 years between 1923 and the early 1950s, and is now on display at the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit. The sculptor of the two carousel pieces is Sandpoint resident Peter
Shakespeare group returns on Aug. 19 with “Much Ado About Nothing”
The Montana Shakespeare in the Parks group makes its annual appearance at Liberty Lake’s Pavillion Park stage on Wednesday, Aug. 19, with a free public performance of “Much Ado About Nothing.” The play will start at 5 p.m., plus there will be a special pre-show performance for the earlier arrivers.
August 2026
Group adds rock garden to city park
performance. For those who might need assistance hearing the play, personal FM receivers and headphones will be available for borrowing from a merchandise table. Plus, people will be able to use the AudioFetch app to hear the show on their own personal devices. The Montana Shakespeare in the Parks group hails from Montana State University’s College of Arts
and Architecture. The troupe is performing this summer on more than 75 dates throughout five states in a tour that is running from June 10 through Sept. 8. Liberty Lake will be the group’s only stop in Washington. “As You Like It” is being presented at Liberty Lake through the sponsorship of the Greenstone Foundation, with the cosponsorship of the City of Liberty Lake.
https://www.facebook.com/libertylakewa
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People who’ve been passing by the northeast corner of Pavillion Park this summer have been enjoying the new rock garden that was donated by the Liberty Lake Better Together Foundation. The new feature, which was formally dedicated back on June 3, showcases two curving strips with an initial grouping of painted rocks that were designed by area youths. Plus, the site has the city’s first public goat sculpture, created by artist Tim Briggs of Spokane. That donated sculpture on the Molter Road side is expected to be followed soon by two goat statues that the city is planning to install at Town Square Park.
www.libertylakewa.gov
8 • AUGUST 2026
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Introducing the
Safety Awareness Channel LLPD Crime Analysis
LLPD Crime Analysis
Property Crimes Calls for Service: 30
Traffic Stops: 118 / Citations Issued: 17
On 6/1, a commercial burglary occurred at All Sport. A male suspect was confirmed via security camera inside a locked, fenced storage lot after hours, but evaded officers despite a search involving drones and K9 units.
Police Report - June 2026 Splash news sources
Significant Cases Malicious Mischief: Between 6/8 and 6/15, several instances of vandalism occurred in the bathrooms at Pavillion Park and Rocky Hill Park. On 6/17, complainant saw someone crawling under their car, security cameras caught the incident. Complainant says this is the 2nd occurrence in 6 months.
On 6/26, unknown suspects broke into Stepping Stone and discharged fire extinguishers causing $1000 in damages. Vehicle Prowl: On 6/4, three unlocked vehicles were entered in the Big Trout apartments parking lot, victims’ wallets and other personal property were stolen. Suspect vehicle was identified and searched. The vehicle was found to be stolen and was returned to the R/O. On 6/13, an unknown suspect entered an unlocked vehicle and stole a laptop belonging to a juvenile victim. Theft:
On 6/2, a phone scammer posing as a police detective nearly convinced a UPS Store employee in Liberty Lake, WA to walk out with ~$371 in store cash and deposit it via a barcode transfer at a nearby Walgreens. On 6/2, an employee of Yokes was cited after it was discovered she’d been stealing food for about 2 months. On 6/3, theft of a cat was reported. Victim contacted a woman through NextDoor app to have cat fixed and cat was not returned. On 6/10, a juvenile was cited for shoplifting at Yokes. On 6/13, an Amazon package was stolen from a porch on N Cirque Ln. Suspect photo was distributed but not yet identified.
On 6/17, a Cub Cadet riding mower was stolen from Home Depot. On 6/17, a catalytic converter theft was attempted. The suspect was captured on home security cameras. On 6/18, bike was locked up at the Park & Ride, lock was cut and bike was stolen. On 6/26, an e-scooter was stolen when the suspect took it for a “test ride” during a FB Marketplace transaction. ARRESTS – LLPD made 8 arrests in June 2026-88004845 – On 6/23, a shoplifting incident at ACE Hardware resulted in the theft of a $399 Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless Brushless 2 Tool Combo Kit. Suspect was identified via surveillance footage and vehicle registration, admitted to the theft by phone, voluntarily returned the stolen tools, and was issued a citation. -
2026-88005611 – On 6/17, an
The Splash arrested was made on I-90 EB near Liberty Lake Road after a Spokane PD traffic stop revealed an active bench warrant. 2026-88005384 – On 6/10, a juvenile male was cited and released for shoplifting at Yokes. 2026-88005735 – On 6/22, a male suspect was arrested at Safeway after refusing to identify himself during a lawful detention and obstructing an officer in the performance of his duties. The initial contact stemmed from a panhandling complaint. 2026-88005865 – On 6/27, officers observed two vehicles street racing eastbound on E Country Vista Dr at an estimated 80 mph in a posted 45 mph zone. The primary suspect was stopped and cited for Racing of Vehicles on Highways. The second vehicle’s occupant was contacted but not cited as the officer could not confirm who was driving at the time of the race. 2026-88005319 – On 6/8, a domestic violence incident occurred between a married couple residing together at Signal Point apts. The male was arrested. 2026-88005448 – On 6/12, officers responded to serve an ex parte Immediate Restraining Order obtained by a female against her ex related to custody of their 13-yearold son. The enforcement action was complicated by the discovery of an active misdemeanor warrant for the female, resulting in her arrest. 2026-88005469 – On 6/13, officers responded to a domestic violence assault at on N Wright Blvd. A male suspect was arrested and booked into Spokane County Jail for Assault 4D – Domestic Violence after allegedly pushing his adult son against a wall and placing a hand on his neck. Multiple juvenile children were present in the home at the time of the incident. The Liberty Lake Police Department would like to remind everyone about the rules related to golf carts. You must be 16 years old with a license to drive a cart and you can’t drive on any road marked over 25 MPH. Take additional time to be aware of the pedestrian traffic. The Liberty Lake Police Department has had an increase in speeding violators and are proactively enforcing those high traffic areas. Remember to secure your belongings inside your residence and out of your vehicles to prevent vehicle prowlers as the summer months tend to invite more prowling activity. Stay well and be safe.
LLPD Crime Analysis
SAFETY CHANNEL
Total Calls for Service: 836
AUGUST 2026 • 9
10 • AUGUST 2026
COVER STORY
The Splash
all those things. Our board couple of classes this year, including preschool program is expanding What families purchase believed this would help reduce the some geared toward science and this year with the addition of engineering. “That served a lot of another classroom. “Due to and students burden.” kids,” he said. “Sometimes we can’t continued community need, we are The free school supplies are adding a third preschool classroom limited to the elementary schools offer everything.” partnership with our Early can expect as because that is where the greatest Ridgeline expects to welcome inLearning Center,” said Principal need is, Parker said. He estimates the its largest freshman class this fall, Alisha Alsaker. “This collaboration they go back district will spend about $250,000 on Hardt said. Those students, as well has created a strong bridge between the effort by taking advantage of as other students new to Ridgeline, preschool and kindergarten, helping to School their bulk purchasing power. are invited to the school for guided ensure students enter Liberty Creek By Nina Culver
Splash contributor
When students in grades K-5 go back to school this month in Liberty Lake classrooms, the one thing they won’t have to worry about is purchasing their own school supplies. Kindergarteners start school on Aug. 31 while all the other grades begin on Aug. 26. Central Valley Superintendent John Parker said the district standardized the school supply list for elementary school students, then committed to purchasing all the supplies needed. “We are trying to streamline the whole process,” he said. “Parents don’t have to go and
All families will need to provide is a backpack and a water bottle for each student.
Other changes are coming to Liberty Lake schools. At five years old, Ridgeline High School no longer has that new school smell. It is also no longer adding long lists of new classes and programs. “We have spent the last five years building and adding programs every year,” said Principal Jesse Hardt. The one new addition in the works is the creation of a girls flag football team. It will be an outdoor sport held during basketball season. Ridgeline has actually lost a
tours on August 20 from 3 to 6 p.m. School schedules will be released in Power School on Aug. 19 and there will be a schedule change event at Ridgeline for those needing to make changes, which will also be held from 3 to 6 p.m. on Aug. 20. Ridgeline is also continuing the tradition started last year of having only freshmen arrive at the start of school on the first day of school so they have plenty of time to find their classrooms and settle in before the upper classmen arrive around 10:30 a.m. Selkirk Middle School is adding several Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes this fall. Building for the Future will prepare students for the manufacturing pathways available at Ridgeline and Medical Detectives will prepare students for the BioMed pathway at Ridgeline. “We are also adding a new photography class, giving students another creative elective to explore while building valuable technical skills,” said Principal Rachael Crooks.
The cell phone limitations previously enacted will continue, Crooks said, with students expected to keep their phone off and store in their lockers during the school day. “This practice has helped improve student engagement, reduce distractions and increase positive interactions among students,” she said. The school will host a Sixth Grade Sneak Peek event from 9 to 11 a.m. on Aug. 19 so students can familiarize themselves with the building. New students in other grades can come get a tour from 11:30 a.m. to noon on Aug. 19. Crooks said she is looking forward to welcoming students back into the building. “We are excited to welcome our Wolf Pack back for another great year,” she said. Liberty Creek Elementary serves students in grades K-2. The
ready to learn and thrive.”
The fall cross country club will return for first and second graders, but the school is moving its popular LEGO Robotics program for first and second graders to the winter. “After offering the program in the fall last year, we found that moving it to winter allows students to become more comfortable with school routines before jumping into robotics.” Liberty Creek will also continue to partner with Liberty Lake Elementary to offer a chess club for second graders. Liberty Creek has a new theme every year and this year’s theme is “Get in the Game….Every Player Counts,” Alsaker said. “The theme reminds us that student success is a team effort,” she said. “It reflects the importance of collaboration among out staff, students, families and community as we work together to create a school where every child feels supported, challenged and encouraged to grow.” Alsaker said she’s grateful the district decided to provide school supplies to elementary students. “We are incredibly grateful for this investment, which helps ensure every student begins the school year with the materials they need while reducing costs for families.” Liberty Lake Elementary will bring back several new clubs that launched last spring as well as continue the chess and tennis clubs, said Principal Jennnifer Tesky. “We look forward to seeing these programs continue to grow,” she said. The school, which serves grades 3-5, plans to launch a new Battle of the Books reading program this fall. Students read a variety of books and then form teams for a competition where they have to answer questions based on the books they read. The idea was suggested by a Liberty Lake parent
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COVER STORY
coming as well. Parker said the district plans to begin using School Links, which he calls a more robust high school and beyond platform that will help students decide what classes to take. “It’s going to be a more living and breathing document,” he said. “It’s going to be one of our major initiatives.” The district has spent the summer using money from the Capital Facilities Levy to build new restricted access safety vestibules at the front entrance to Adams, McDonald, South Pines and University elementary schools as well as Bowdish Middle School. They were the last schools in the district that needed the secure front entrances, Parker said.
Marissa Wenger, Tesky said. “We are grateful for her partnership in helping bring this opportunity to our students. “Beyond promoting a love of reading, the program strengthens collaboration, critical thinking and academic engagement.” Tesky said that she hopes to recruit other elementary schools to also form Battle of the Books teams in the future. The school is also starting up a new Garden Club, where students will grow plants and learn about gardening, the life cycle of plants and growing their own food. “We believe these authentic learning experiences help students develop valuable life skills while fostering curiosity and a deeper appreciation for the world around them,” Tesky said. The school plans to make changes in how students receive special education services, using a push-in support model instead of pulling students out of class to receive special services, Tesky said. “This allows students to receive specialized instruction, interventions and extensions while remaining in the general education classroom alongside their peers,” she said. “Our goal is to ensure every student has access to high-quality Tier 1 instruction while receiving the individualized support they need to thrive academically.” Teske said she’s also pleased that the school district is providing school supplies for elementary students. “We appreciate the
continued support from our school board and district in helping reduce financial barriers for families while ensuring every student begins the year with the tools they need to be successful.” One of the big changes in the Central Valley School District for the 2025-2026 school year was a change in the school calendar to add a midwinter break in February and make other small changes, including using full days for conferences instead of a series of half days. All the Liberty Lake principals said they were pleased with the new schedule.
Students in the district will get new Chromebooks this year after the district decided to lease 15,000 new devices to replace older devices. The district’s staff is working with the vendor to make sure everything is installed and ready to go before they are handed out to students. “It’s going to save our employees tons of time,” Parker said. Like other districts in the area, Central Valley School District is planning to put an Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) levy on the November ballot. The levy would replace an expiring levy and is estimated to cost homeowners
AUGUST 2026 • 11
$2.50 per $1,000 in assessed home value, which, by state law, is the maximum amount school districts can request. Levy dollars are typically used for sports, band, extracurricular activities and clubs, transportation, extra teachers to reduce class sizes and school nurses. The levy resolution was just approved by the board of directors and additional information will be given to parents and voters ahead of the election.
Back to School nights Ridgeline High School, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Sept. 9. There will be information about all sports, clubs and activities. Selkirk Middle School, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Sept. 3. Liberty Creek Elementary School, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 24. Liberty Lake Elementary School, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 24.
“The changes to the school calendar were very positive for both students and staff,” Alsaker said. “Overall, the calendar changes strengthened communication between home and school while supporting both student learning and staff well-being.” “Overall, the changes were very positive,” Crooks said. “We saw improved student attendance following the mid-winter break and students returned more refreshed and engaged in learning.” “Moving to full conference days allowed teachers to dedicate their complete attention to meeting with families rather than balancing instruction during the day with conferences in the evening,” Teske said. “This created more meaningful conversations focused on student growth, goal setting and strengthening the home-school partnership.” Other district-wide changes are
Photo by Ben Wick Ridgeline High School celebrates its 5th year welcoming students and will resume classes on August 26th this year.
12 • AUGUST 2026
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www.hubsportscenter.org it would be limited to Launch a ruse for us to believe the narration funding. “We’re working on that Liberty Launch said Academy students 70 percent of that this is being built by the school.” structure now,” he said. the time. “This school will be the The facility is simply too large Hume questioned how much Academy primary user of the facility,” he said. to be considered an accessory use, the school would pay to lease the The Mode Sports website Hume said. “They need you to facility. “We haven’t worked that Sports Complex previously held a slide presentation, think this is a school gym,” he said. out yet,” Kjer said. which has since been deleted, about “What’s being proposed here is testified three times during permits debated the proposed facility that boasted not subordinate to the school. The theKjer lengthy hearing and each time about the expansion of Mode Sports school is going to be substantially he began shouting and getting at Hearing that would take place after the smaller in size and scale than the argumentative. At one point he facility was completed. It stated the athletic facility.” refused to tell Hume who owns Examiner facility was designed to support Lenz said that the facility is Launchpad Assets. “Does that By Nina Culver
Splash contributor
The Liberty Lake Hearing Examiner heard 7.5 hours of testimony over two days in June while attorneys for Launchpad Assets argued that a 250,000 square foot sports facility touted in their own online materials as the “ultimate destination for athletics in the Northwest” is, in fact, nothing more than accessory use to the Liberty Lake Launch Academy, a private school located next door to the proposed facility. In return, city attorneys argued that a 250,000 square foot facility that is larger than the school and apparently designed for tournament play connected to a different entity, Mode Sports, does not qualify as an accessory use and is actually a Participant and Spectator Sports Facility that is limited in size to 30,000 square feet in the M-2 zoning the land sits in. Luke Kjar founded the Liberty Lake Launch Academy and also owns the building the school sits in, which is home to several other businesses and Mode Sports, which is “redefining the future of elite youth athletics,” according to its website. He also owns Launchpad Assets. Kjar’s attorney, Bill Lenz, stated repeatedly that the proposed facility is for the school, which emphasizes elite level sports. “This school will be the primary user of the facility,” Lenz said. “This use is normal and incidental to nearly all schools.” Lenz acknowledged that the facility would be open to the public when school is not in session but
“tournament-caliber year round.
competition”
According to the Mode Sports website, the organization currently has teams for boys basketball and volleyball, but has plans to add girls basketball, soccer, golf, wrestling, rugby, lacrosse and football. Attorney Taudd Hume, appearing for the city, argued that the facility can’t be an accessory use for the school because it will not be built or owned by the school. It will only be leased to the school. “Liberty Lake Launch Academy is not building this facility,” he said. “It’s a false narrative.” The design of the facility also does not resemble that of a traditional school gym, Hume said. Plans submitted by the applicant call for 1,800 spectator seats, a roof top viewing deck, a bar, concessions, a Farmer’s Market and a food truck area. The three-story building would also house seven pickleball courts, six basketball courts and a 95,000 square foot field that could accommodate soccer, rugby and lacrosse. The courts could also be configured to accommodate wrestling and volleyball. “This is the same facility they want you to believe is a gym for 250 students,” Hume said. “There’s space for a bar. It’s not a school gym. School gyms do not include bars into their renderings.” Hume said the city has no guarantee that if the facility is built, it would remain dedicated to school use during school hours. “It will bleed,” he said. “The kids won’t take 70 percent of the usage time and they’re not there in the summer. It’s
subordinate and incidental to the school, fits the definition of an accessory use and should be approved. “The city chose to focus on the size of the facility and the Mode website,” he said. “It’s clearly part of the school function to have an athletic facility.”
Hume said that non-student use of the facility must be “de minimis,” Latin for “of minimal importance,” to be considered an accessory use and it’s not. “They want to keep saying size doesn’t matter,” he said. “This facility, Mode Sports claims it is building it for its own athletes.” Kjer testified that other entities would be using the facility. “There’s going to be club sports, not just Mode Sports,” he said. “Mode Sports will be one of the primary users, one of the users after hours.” He acknowledged that the school would not build or own the facility. “The school is a non-profit,” he said. “It doesn’t have the assets to spend millions.” Kjer said he made the facility large because he hopes to expand Liberty Lake Launch Academy to 800 students and needs to have room to grow. He said a traditional gym would not be large enough. “I can’t go to capacity if I don’t have a gym to do sports in,” he said. He said he wants Launch Academy to be like IMG Academy in Florida, a boarding school and sports training facility that spans over 600 acres. “Our goal is to build something to rival IMG,” he said. Kjer testified that the project is estimated to cost between $25 and $30 million and will use private
matter?” he said. “I don’t need to tell you that. It’s not relevant.”
When questioned by his own attorney, however, Kjer said that he and his father own Launchpad Assets. Kjer also denied that he planned to put a bar inside the facility. “We’ve never planned for a bar at the school,” he said. When Hume questioned Kjer about the bar, Kjer denied knowing anything about it. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said. “I’ll have to ask my architect. It wasn’t on the plans. There’s no plans for a bar.” However, application materials submitted to the city clearly reference a bar. The Executive Summary portion of the Project Narrative reads, in part, “Above, a covered rooftop plaza offers open air standing room with a bar and viewing areas for special events.” Also testifying was Debbie Buchanan, head of Mode Volleyball, who said she currently rents space from schools and the Hub Sports Center. “Eventually, we would hope to use this facility,” she said. It’s hard to find space to play and practice and Buchanan said the 10 basketball courts in the proposed facility would be similar to the Hub. “At this point, there’s just not enough room,” she said. “I think there’s a lot of kids who need a place to go.” The Hub, which is also in Liberty Lake, is a 66,000 square foot facility classified as a Participant and See LIBERTY LAUNCH, Page 21
AUGUST 2026 • 17
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Ridgeline High School senior Lydia Ely brings dedication, service and creativity to everything she does. A 4.0 student, Ely has spent all four years in the Ridgeline marching band, playing trumpet and helping lead as co-captain of the brass leadership team. She also plays F horn in concert band and hopes to turn her love of music into a career by studying K-12 general music education at Brigham Young University in Provo. Beyond band, Ely is involved in Key Club, National Honor Society and theater, appearing last year as Mrs. Mayor in “Seussical the Musical.” Her commitment extends into the community through family history work and church service, including helping elderly residents with yard work and other projects. After graduation, Ely plans to serve an 18-month service mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, possibly with Partners Inland Northwest and Kevin’s Critters, before pursuing her dream of becoming a high school music teacher.
Brynlee Allred, a senior at Ridgeline High School, has built her high school experience around dedication, teamwork and a love for volleyball. A left-handed right-side hitter, Allred has played the sport for about six years and competes for the Ridgeline Falcons as well as College Preparatory Academy in Spokane. Last season she earned first-team all-state honors, a reflection of the energy and commitment she brings to the court. Volleyball has also taken her across the country, including a recent club nationals trip to Orlando, Florida. Allred is already looking ahead to the next level, having committed to play volleyball at Utah Tech University in St. George, where she plans to study kinesiology or pursue sports medicine. She is excited to graduate early, spend meaningful time with teammates and get a head start with her future college program. Through school, club sports and church service activities, Allred continues to show focus, gratitude and purpose.
Since joining Liberty Lake Library as Children’s Services Associate on May 4, Chelsea Griffin has brought warmth, creativity, and a strong commitment to young readers and their families. After nearly four years as a substitute for the library’s story time programs, Chelsea stepped into her new role with experience, enthusiasm, and a clear passion for children’s learning. She now helps plan and maintain engaging children’s programs, assists patrons with reference questions at the information desk, and continues to share her inviting presence during story time sessions. A graduate of Eastern Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in children’s studies, Chelsea combines academic knowledge with hands-on dedication to support early literacy and discovery. Her creativity also extends beyond the library through Wiggle Worm Sensory, an online store started by Griffin offering sensory bins and sensory items for birthday party rentals. Chelsea’s goal is simple and joyful: to provide sensory experiences to the world, one shake at a time.
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is a well-run, fiscally conservative sign is within the road right of way. City endorses agency that does not take on debt, Jim Frank of Greenstone Homes instead paying for projects as it goes. said that even though the sign is STA ballot Council member Rick Klingler within the right of way, it is 29 feet Other projects contained in said he likes that STA did all the away from the road. Most signs are from the road. “We’re measure and Connect 2035 include continuing projects in its previous strategic plan 12thefeetonesaway who installed the sign in to add new bus shelters and the and he likes the proposed projects 2007,” he said. right of proposes new expansion of the new mobility on in Connect 2035. “They run a very way is quite wide“Thethere.roadThere’s no demand program, which provides tight ship there compared to other place for this sign except for in the Logo at-home pickup by van in certain transit agencies,” he said. right of way.” The Division Street bus route is the busiest route in the system and ridership is projected to grow 40 percent there, Otterstrom said.
By Nina Culver
areas not currently served by STA.
Splash contributor
A good portion of the sales tax revenue will also pay for continuing current levels of service. If the sales tax renewal is not approved, Otterstrom said, the transit organization would lose $30 million in annual funding. The loss of that funding would likely also lead to the loss of state grants as well, he said.
During July meetings, the Liberty Lake City Council heard a presentation on the Spokane Transit Authority’s sales tax ballot measure and voted in favor of supporting the request. STA CEO Karl Otterstrom spoke about projects the transit organization has been doing with the last sales tax voters approved and what plans are in place for future funding if it is approved. The original ballot measure of twotenths of one percent, was approved in 2016. STA is requesting that the same sales tax be renewed for another 20 years. “This is already part of the sales tax in the region,” Otterstrom said. Otterstrom pointed to STA Moving Forward, the organization’s 10 year strategic plan. It called for adding routes, adding park and ride locations and improved bus stops. One of the key additions was City Line, the area’s first Bus Rapid Transit Route that connects Browne’s Addition and Spokane Community College. There were 27 projects listed in Moving Forward and 26 of them are either complete or nearly complete, Otterstrom said. The only one not done was a plan to extend a bus route into North Idaho. “The Kootenai County Commissioners declined to pursue that further,” he said. STA recently completed a new 10-year strategic plan called Connect 2035 that includes a list of 40 projects. One of those projects, the Division Street Bus Rapid Transit Route, has received federal grant funding that is contingent on reliable funding. Early renewal of the sales tax measure, currently set to expire in 2028, will provide that revenue stability and ensure the grant can be received, Otterstrom said.
“We would need to reduce service eventually,” he said. One criticism that has been voiced is that STA doesn’t need the sales tax revenue because it has a healthy reserve fund. Otterstrom said the transit group plans to spend down the reserves on onetime projects, including some of the projects identified in Connect 2035. A certain level of reserves is also necessary to pay for emergencies and other unexpected costs. “Reserves are not a good source for ongoing operations,” he said. Mayor Pro Tem Dan Dunne, who sits on the STA board, said the STA
Several other council members also voiced their support. Council Member Summer Darrow said that partnering with public transit is important and the city should support the ballot measure. In the end, the voters will have the final say. “If the majority of people are not in favor of this, we’ll see that,” she said. The vote to support the STA ballot measure was unanimous.
Several people spoke at the July 7 meeting about a “Gardens” sign at the intersection of Settler Drive and Liberty Lake Road. The sign was installed before the city incorporated and met the Spokane County sign code at the time. Tisha Goodman of Rockwood Property Management said the sign has been permitted as a legacy sign and the sign was recently improved. She said city code enforcement has said the sign is no longer in code and they were given until July 16 to remove it. The issue is apparently that the
City Manager Mark McAvoy said that the sign improvements were made without a permit, which means the sign is now in a non-legal, non-conforming status. The Mayor said the city can cease enforcement of the sign issue so the council can discuss it in the future. Councilmember Linda Ball noted that the old sign was crumbling and took a long time to get repaired. “It is a very beautiful new sign,” she said. Parks and Recreation Director Jen Camp gave a brief recap on the city’s Fourth of July celebration. Attendance was up this year, with 8,600 people coming to Pavillion Park for games, music, fireworks and food. Last year’s attendance was estimated at 6,800 and it was 5,500 in 2024. This year’s Fourth of July celebration was combined with Barfoot in the Park, a city event that usually includes family games. Last See LL COUNCIL, Page 22
20 • AUGUST 2026
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NEWS
Council debates parks and playground upgrades By Nina Culver
Splash contributor
The Liberty Lake City Council discussed a proposal to replace or upgrade the play structure inside Pavillion Park, debating whether it would be better to replace the old playground equipment with something similar or upgrade the equipment to accommodate kids of all ages and abilities. Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Camp said she was working on a Washington State Recreation and Conservation grant application and needed guidance on the scope of the project. Camp said the original plan was to simply replace the existing
structure with something similar and the city has $374,000 set aside to do that. However, resident responses to surveys show that many people want the playground expanded, Camp said. Of the 500 people who took the survey, 93 percent said they want to replace and expand the playground equipment. Another 70 percent of those people indicated they would be willing to increase their taxes between $12 and $60 a year to pay for it, Camp said. “This tells the story,” she said. “That’s a pretty heavy weigh in.” The existing play equipment, designed for ages 5 and up, was installed in 1997. It has a condition rating of level two, which means it has major structural, cosmetic and maintenance issues, Camp said. The lowest condition rating is a level one. One of the slides was vandalized and had to be removed, leaving a boarded up opening behind. Overall, the plastic equipment is beginning to crack and the surfaces are worn, Camp said.
“It’s not unsafe yet, but we don’t want to wait until it is unsafe,” she said. The playground equipment isn’t designed for toddlers and survey respondents said they want something that will accommodate children under age 5. They want something with more shade that can accommodate children of all physical abilities. They also want swings. Camp noted that the playground structure is the only thing there other than a splash pad. “There are no other play amenities there,” she said. Camp said the community has said loudly that they want swings, but putting in swings will require expanding the play area. “They need a very large footprint,” she said. “There’s not a huge amount of room to expand in that little bowl.” One option would be to move the Fallen Heros Circuit Course from its current location close to the playground and put swings there, Camp said. The exercise equipment could be moved to another location in the park, she said. Mayor Pro Tem Dan Dunne said he wants the new playground equipment to include kids aged 2-5. “I’m very interested in expanding that age range,” he said.
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Councilwoman Annie Kurtz said the city should listen to what people want. “I’m interested in listening to the community,” she said. “The elementary school took their swings out. They would really like swings.” While Pavillion Park currently does not have swings, the city does have swings at Rocky Hill Park and Orchard Prairie Park. They are
highly used, Camp said. Councilwoman Summer Darrow said Pavillion Park should definitely have swings. “I’m totally in favor of the expansion,” she said. Councilman Rick Klingler said he wants the playground to be as inclusive as possible. “We’ll need it now and we’ll need it even more as we grow,” he said. He also noted that he has often seen children playing on the Fallen Heros Circuit Course exercise equipment and thinks it would be better to move it further away from the playground, which would free up room for an expanded playground. Councilwoman Arlene Fisher said she has a lot of grandchildren and agrees that toddler playground equipment is necessary. “I fully support this,” she said. Camp said she has identified some playground equipment that will accommodate all ages as well as children with limited physical abilities, but it’s more expensive than what the city had planned to spend. It would cost closer to $1 million. Mayor Cris Kaminskas noted that playground equipment usually has a 20-year life span. A more accommodating playground structure may be more expensive up front, but it would only work out to about $50,000 a year, she said. The council agreed to have Camp seek a higher RCO grant, which matches city funding dollar for dollar, with the goal of upgrading the Pavillion Park playground equipment. Camp said the hope is to be able to replace the equipment in 2027, funding permitting.
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LIBERTY LAUNCH Continued from page 16
Spectator Sports Facility, which is allowed in the C-2 zone it sits in. It regularly hosts tournaments and other events of the type envisioned at Kjer’s proposed facility. Liberty Lake Community Development Director Amy Mullerleile said that during the application process, Launchpad Assets revised its square footage and listed amenities several times after city staff asked clarifying questions. Often those different submissions contradicted each other, she said. The city was told at first that the facility would be used exclusively by the school, but then told it would host some outside tournaments. The city would ask about specific spaces and uses and those would vanish from the next version of the proposal, she said. “It just felt we never got a clear answer,” she said. “It’s difficult to nail down what they’re proposing when it felt like the ball kept moving.” Former Community Development Director Lisa Key was also called to testify because of the work she did on the proposal before she left the city earlier this year. Key said the initial application was for a facility just under 200,000 square feet and city staff questioned from the beginning whether it was truly an accessory use to the school. “It seemed quite large compared to other school gyms,” she said. “From the very beginning that was a part of this discussion.” Kjer routinely refused to provide basic information for months,
AUGUST 2026 • 21
NEWS
including how many students his school currently has, she said. There have also been issues with the traffic study. The submitted trip generation letter doesn’t address questions received from the Department of Transportation and other agencies. Key said Kjer wanted to use “vested trips” assigned to Hewlett Packard, which closed 20 years ago. That request “doesn’t pass muster,” Key said. Kjer applied for a grading permit, but it wasn’t granted because the SEPA process was not complete, Key said. A project cannot break ground before the SEPA application is approved, Key said, but Kjer did, in fact, start work on the site. Key said Kjer told her he was in a hurry to start the project. “He was saying publicly that it was going to open,” she said. There’s also a well on the proposed building site and Kjer has not gotten approval from the Department of Ecology to relocate it, Key said.
City staff made several suggestions about how the project could move forward, including rezoning the site to light industrial, which allows Player and Spectator Sport Facilities, Key said. Kjer told her that process would take too long, Key said. She said city staff “practically held his hand” to guide him into making the facility an approvable use. “We tried to lay out what the next steps were and how he could be successful,” she said. The issue was trying to understand if the school use and other uses of the proposed facility were comparable and what the intensity of use was, Key said. Completing the SEPA process would have answered many
of those questions, she said. The proposed project also includes a lot of square footage for non-school uses, including the market place, bar and food truck area. “We never got that information,” she said. “The gym itself is not the issue, it’s all the other uses. It was significantly more than that.” Key said she was worried about a bait and switch. “If the school goes away, does this become a Participant and Spectator Sports Facility?” she said. “It’s designed like one.” Mullerleile said the city was consistently asking for traffic trip generation projections for weekend and evening hours, when the site would presumably be hosting tournaments and other events, and never got them. “We’ve had many conversations about it,” she said. “It seemed so difficult.” Mullerleile said she, too, had concerns about Launchpad Assets using the school to get the project approved then reneging on promises to limit it to school use during the day. “If they change those hours, there’s nothing we can do about it,” she said.
city was characterizing what was happening at the site unfairly. “It’s demeaning to my reputation,” he said. Lenz cut Kjer off. “Let’s keep it to the issue at hand,” he said. In closing arguments, Hume urged the hearing examiner to find in the city’s favor. “The is not a facility 240 students need,” he said. “This is a facility Mode Sport needs. This does not fit well, at all, with the city’s code.” Lenz said the city is alleging that the outside use of the facility will be dominant but doesn’t have proof. He questioned whether all school gyms would be considered a sports facility now and said the city didn’t analyze the school use of the facility, just outside use. “There is no reason to defer to the city’s interpretation,” he said. The hearing examiner has not yet released his opinion on whether the proposed facility is an approved use, which can be appealed in Spokane County Superior Court.
The city held several meetings with Kjer that weren’t successful, Mullerleile said. “It was not collaborative,” she said. “A lot of the meetings were very contentious. It was aggressive. There was a lot of yelling. It just felt like we were spinning our wheels.” Kjer acknowledged that he “took out a couple trees” on the site and said he got an email from the city telling him the work wasn’t permitted, but said he never received an official stop work order. He became upset and began shouting about how the
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Continued from page 19 year the city distributed 776 free wristbands for access to the games at Barefoot in the Park. There were 1,007 wristbands handed out for the games on Fourth of July this year. “It was so popular,” Camp said of the games. Spokane Valley Fire Department Fire Chief Frank Soto Jr. presented an update on the department’s responses so far this year, which include 1,934 calls for service in the second quarter. Those numbers are up half a percent from last year and Soto said the department has been busy. Soto said he’s concerned about the wildland fire risk, noting that the department started seeing August weather conditions in early July. “It’s already here,” he said. “We’re really concerned. I’m telling you, it’s going to be a bad year.” There have been numerous fires in the area recently and Soto recommended an app he uses called Watch Duty, which sends out alerts and updates on fire. He said he has found it to be timely and accurate. “It’s burning everywhere,” he said. “We’re surrounded by fires.” Liberty Lake Library Director Jandy Humble announced the addition of two new staff members, Children’s Services Librarian Cathy Bakken and Children’s Services Associate Chelsea Griffin. Bakken previously worked at the Spokane Public Library. “She has lots of experience and jumped in with both feet,” Humble said. Griffin is a familiar face. She has been the library’s storytime substitute for four years and has a bachelor’s degree in children’s studies from Eastern Washington University. Humble said she is grateful to have both women on board. “Summertime is the busiest time at the library,” she said. “They are incredible and we are so happy to have them.” The council got its first look at three options for a new city logo. The first includes a rising sun behind mountains with a lake in front and the second includes a group of green trees above several blue, wavy lines meant to represent a lake. The
The Splash
AUGUST 2026 • 23
NEWS
last couple of years.” As far as weeds on private property, Code Enforcement and Neighborhood Resource Specialist Sue Hudson Rau said she spends most of her time focusing on commercial properties, not residential ones. “My focus has been on the big picture and big parcels,” she said.
third option is very similar to the second, but includes the outline of a mountain behind the trees. McAvoy said the intent was to include features that residents said were important to them in a recent survey, features that includes trees, mountains and a lake. “Any of these elements can be mixed and incorporated in the final design,” he said. “These are just concepts.” The city is seeking public input on the three options. People can visit the city’s website at www.libertylakewa. gov and click on “Engage online!” to give their opinion. McAvoy said he hopes to have a final design to the council for approval in September. Klingler
said
he
liked
the
options. “I think they’re all really spectacular,” he said.
climbed on and Hill said she often sees children playing on them.
Dunne said he liked that the three options all include elements that people asked for. Councilwoman Arlene Fisher, who was one of the city’s first employees when it incorporated 25 years ago, said she prefers the city’s current logo and isn’t in favor of changing it. “I want to stick with what we have,” she said.
The group is also working on several murals and is planning a Chalk Aft Extravaganza for Oct. 3.
Nancy Hill of the city’s Parks and Arts Commission spoke about the group’s current and ongoing projects. New carrousel figures were recently unveiled in Pavillion Park in honor of the city’s 25th anniversary. The figures are designed to be
The council also discussed weed control and the benefits of using chemicals or pulling the weeds. Public Works Director Ben Turner said the city has 55 miles of roads and typically sprays the most visible areas such as arterials and medians. “We can’t hand pull that,” he said. Turner said he simply doesn’t have the staff to do full weed control throughout the city, including on residential streets. “We’re behind,” he said. “We’ve triaged a lot in the
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Fisher said she’s heard many complaints about weeds on the side of the road. “We’ve got to do better,” she said. Mayor Cris Kaminskas acknowledged that the city is short staffed and said she’s not sure how to handle the weed issue without adding staff. She suggested having a discussion about the issue during budget planning. “It does seem like a predicament,” said councilwoman Annie Kurtz. In other business, the council voted unanimously to approve the 2027-2032 Transportation Improvement Plan, the River District Town Center 2nd Addition final plat and a construction services contract for the Mission Avenue frontage improvements.
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Many in the Liberty Lake community may recognize Dr. Luna from his years as a massage therapist and owner of Therapeutic Moon Massage. What began as a career in massage therapy ultimately led him to chiropractic after seeing firsthand the difference QSM3 care made in his own family’s life. Dr. Luna proudly served four years in the United States Navy as an F/A-18 Super Hornet Avionics Technician before earning his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life University. During chiropractic school, he trained extensively with Dr. Russell Friedman, developer of the QSM3 technique, gaining advanced experience in the specialized approach our office is known for. As a father of five, Dr. Luna is especially passionate about caring for children, families, athletes, and veterans. I have known Stephen for many years and have watched his journey with admiration. His compassion, dedication to learning, and commitment to serving others make him an outstanding chiropractor. I am excited for our patients to experience the thoughtful, personalized care he provides and am thrilled to welcome him to the Intelligent Balance Spinal Care team. — Dr. Kim White, DC
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