DOCKSIDE
4h of July Community Parade Grand Marshalls Stan and Leslie Chalich
By Ninav Culver Splash contributor
Stan and Leslie Chalich, fixtures in Liberty Lake for decades, have been selected to be the grand marshals at the 37th annual Fourth of July parade that winds its way through the Alpine Shores neighborhood just south of the Liberty Lake city limits.
Most people will recognize Stan Chalich because of his 50 years spent as a teacher at Central Valley High School, but his wife has preferred to stay in the background. She worked quietly as a registrar at Central Valley High School for 25 years and had to be convinced to accept the Grand Marshal honor.
“I don’t like stuff like this,” she said, noting that this is not the first time parade organizers have tried to bestow the title on her and her husband. She said she believes other people are more deserving. “I don’t know why we’re doing it,” she said.
Her husband, however, convinced her. “I told her, ‘Well, you’ve got to do this,’” he said.
Leslie Chalich is a third generation Liberty Lake resident. Her grandfather, John Blair, and her father, Robert Blair, were both attorneys who attended Harvard Law School. Her husband grew up in Veradale, the youngest of seven children raised by a single mother after his father died when he was a year old.
“My mom was a saint, raised all of us plus some delinquents,” he said.
The two became friends in the seventh grade. Leslie Chalich recalls spotting him in elementary school
and thinking he was cute. They often played basketball together at her house. Leslie often rode her horse around the lake with her friend, Butch McHenry, back in the days when not many people lived there.
“Nobody was out here then,” she said. “We’d take them by the Pavillion and let the horses go swimming.”
In those days Leslie Chalich lived on the water. She went water skiing every day, competing in tournaments and also doing trick riding. A picture of her standing on the shoulders of two men water skiing was recreated in a mural inside Barlow’s restaurant. During Fourth of July celebrations, she and her friends would water ski at night
“My friends wanted to do it and we did it,” she said of the trick water skiing. “We did shows here and also on the river.”
She was in it for the fun of it and said she never had issues climbing up on top of the pyramid while skiing. “It’s easy to get up there,” she said. “It was just so much fun.”
About the only trick skiing she didn’t like was barefoot skiing, which required the lake to be smooth and glassy. “I didn’t like that, because you fall really hard,” she said.
She also did jumps and slalom on water skis. Once, she was pulled behind a car to water ski across a
pool at the University of Montana.
“She taught me how to ski,” her husband said. "She even skied in the irrigation ditch.”
Stan Chalich graduated from Central Valley High School in 1963, where he was voted Best Athlete. He attended Western Montana on a football scholarship, where he studied education even though he wasn’t completely sold on becoming a teacher.
“Once I did student teaching, I liked it,” he said.
The two began dating in college and married not long after. When Stan Chalich graduated, he soon got a phone call from Bill Ames, the principal of Central Valley High School at the time. “The principal called me and told me he had a job for me,” he said.
So he went back to the halls he had left only a few years before as a student and would not leave again until he retired in 2017. He became known for teaching social studies and civics, but he emphasized more than just books. He took students on trips to Washington, D.C., to watch how the federal government works. He took them on field trips to state and federal courtrooms.
“They learned the process,” he said. “I was very strict on the constitution.”
Above all, Chalich said, he taught them how to think. He taught them laws and rules and showed them how it should be done. He taught them how to think, not what to think. “I let them do the thinking,” he said.
Along the way, he also coached. He shepherded students through the sports of wrestling, tennis, football, basketball and baseball. He also coached AAU sports and ran summer camps.
After teaching or coaching and estimated 50,000 students during his career, one of the accomplishments he is most proud of was receiving the “Flame of Democracy Award” from the Washington State Bar
holding torchlights at Hill’s Resort on Priest Lake.
Photo by Nina Culver Stan and Leslie Chalich's roots run deep in Liberty Lake. Both retired educators from Central Valley School District, Stan with 50 years as a teacher at Central Valley High School and Leslie with 25 years as the Central Valley High School registrar.
CVSD is connecting with our community through this Link.
District on the rise...
CVSD Recognized as a Washington “District on the Rise”
Central Valley School District has been recognized as one of Washington's top-performing school systems in the 2026 Education Scorecard, a national report produced through a collaboration among researchers from Harvard University, Stanford University and Dartmouth College.
The report identified CVSD for rising scores in both math and reading, highlighting the district's exceptional academic growth compared to similar districts across Washington.
Student of the Month
Makaylah Hill is a motivated and accomplished recent graduate of Ridgeline High School who has already demonstrated dedication, responsibility, and a strong commitment to her future. Graduating a year early with an impressive 3.919 GPA, she has shown exceptional academic discipline and determination. Makaylah plans to pursue a nursing degree at Spokane Community College, where her compassion and strong work ethic will serve her well. Alongside her studies, she has built valuable professional experience as a barista at Jitterz Espresso and previously worked at Hollister and The Lanai in Coeur d’Alene. A member of the Falcon Cross Country Team, Makaylah has also dedicated her time to serving others through volunteer work with Blessings Under the Bridge, Ronald McDonald House, Duffles for Darlings, and Legacy Church, reflecting her generous spirit and passion for helping her community.
The Education Scorecard found that while Washington students continue to recover from learning disruptions, many districts remain below pre-pandemic achievement levels.
Despite state-wide challenges in math and reading recovery, CVSD was recognized for its sustained academic progress and district-wide commitment to student achievement.
Researchers highlighted several factors contributing to CVSD's success, including its district-wide Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum, targeted intervention programs and ongoing investment in professional development.
The report also noted the district's collaborative structure across its 29 schools and focus on using student data to drive instructional improvement.
Katelyn Taylor is an accomplished and dedicated student leader who has made a meaningful impact at Ridgeline High School and in her community. She is a National Honor Society member with a 4.0 cumulative GPA, a Spokane Scholar for Social Studies, and an active participant in Falcon Key Club, Civics Bowl, Women’s Empowerment Club, Link Crew, and Verde Loco Service. Katelyn has shown strong leadership as Vice President of the Ridgeline Civics Club and as a four-year Ridgeline basketball player, team captain, and recipient of the Basketball Leadership Award. She also volunteers at Trent Elementary School and works outside of school as a lifeguard, swim instructor, babysitter, and dog sitter. Katelyn plans to study Psychology at either Oregon State University or the University of Southern California.
“Recognition by the Education Scorecard affirms the work happening in our classrooms every day,” said Superintendent John Parker. “ While we’re proud of that progress, we remain focused on continuously refining our practices so every student benefits.”
Parker credited the district's success to a shared commitment among educators, staff, students and families.
“Our success is the result of intentional, systemwide work—grounded in strong, data-driven PLCs, curriculum, consistent professional development and a relentless focus on each student’s individual needs,” Parker said.
“That coherence across our district is what’s driving stronger outcomes and meaningful gains for all learners.”
The recognition reinforces CVSD's ongoing commitment to ensuring every student has access to highquality instruction and the support needed to succeed.
More info at: www.CVSD.org/Awards
Citizen of the Month
Don Walker has made a meaningful and lasting contribution to the Liberty Lake community through his leadership and service. As a Liberty Lake Rotary member and past president, and as a veteran, he helped support the Liberty Lake Hometown Heroes Banner Program, which began in 2022. The program proudly honors local veterans and service members by displaying banners along Country Vista and Liberty Lake Road. Since its launch, the project has grown to include 61 honoree banners, with a new group of honorees added each year. Through this ongoing effort, the community continues to recognize the dedication, sacrifice, and positive impact of those who have served.
Athlete of the Month
CHALICH
Continued from page 2
Association in 2009 “for over 40 years of integrating government and the justice system into his outstanding teaching in the Central Valley School District.”
Leslie Chalich worked for a time for her father, who was a municipal bond attorney, back in the days when each form had to be typed on a manual typewriter and if there was a change or a mistake, the entire thing had to be redone.
She stayed home when her children were young, then got a job working down the hall from her husband at Central Valley High School. “I really enjoyed that,” she said.
Since their retirement the couple has spent a lot of time on their back deck that overlooks Liberty Lake, often chatting with neighbors who stroll the footpath on the shore of the lake. They purchased the house for $21,500 in 1969 and added on to it twice to accommodate their growing family. They raised three sons there, all of whom still live in Liberty Lake. One lives next door.
Stan Chalich is looking forward to participating in the parade. He expects to see a lot of former students and neighbors. “I know almost everybody out here,” he said.
Q: What do you enjoy about living in Liberty Lake?
A. The sense of community at the Lake, chatting on the sidewalk with friends and neighbors that pass by, the friendliness of neighbors, watching my sons and grandkids have fun on the Lake, watching the ospreys hunt and splash on the Lake.
Q: What are your favorite things to do or places to go in Liberty Lake?
A. I used to enjoy water skiing before I got old, I would go every day, slalom skiing, trick skiing, jump and barefoot. I used to also enjoy riding my horse, Candy, around the hills at the Lake. Now I enjoy sitting on the deck, watching people have fun on the Lake, chatting with neighbors and watching storms. I enjoy going to local restaurants, like Chavelitas and Barlows and True Legends.
Q: Do you have a favorite Fourth of July memory?
A. We have always had the extended family out for the 4th, and that has always been my favorite memory. A lot of neighbors do the same, it is fun engaging with neighbors. Many people who grew up here and moved away, come back every year for the 4th and it is fun to catch up with them.
Photo by Nina Culver Community Parade Grand Marshalls Leslie and Stan Chalich sharing memories from their past, a photo of Leslie skiing with the Spokane Water Ski Club in the 5-Person Pyramid, and Stan with his Flame of Democracy Award that he received in 2009 recognizing his 40 years of integrating government and the justice system into his teaching in the Central Valley School District.
City Council hears frustration over fiber construction
By Nina Culver Splash contributor
The Liberty Lake City Council had a couple quiet meetings in June as city staff continues to work on large projects such as the city’s Comprehensive Plan amendment and annual budget.
A couple residents did come speak at the June 2 meeting to complain about water damage to their home caused during boring work to install high speed internet cable for Ziply Fiber. Resident Katylee Kenworthy said her home had a foot of water in it on May 8 and that when they called the contractor about the damages, they were told to bill the city.
Her husband, Cole Kenworthy, asked the council to clarify who is responsible for damages caused by the boring work and said the city should reconsider allowing Ziply Fiber to work inside city limits.
Representatives from Ziply Fiber were in attendance at the meeting to give a presentation to the council. Zipley representative Brett Gailey said Ziply Fiber currently serves four states in the Northwest and is working to expand its network offering 50 gigabyte home internet services via fiber optics. “It’s a large amount of money we’re investing,” he said. “A lot of current infrastructure is copper cable. Copper cable is very slow and fiber optic is very fast. People want to be in a community with fast, reliable internet.”
Chris Vickery, senior Osp Construction manager, said that if people have questions or concerns about work being done in their neighborhood, they should call the company. “Our goal is to respond to those in 24 hours or less,” he said.
Vickery said Ziply is working to connect its network to 2,300 addresses in Liberty Lake and hope to be finished by September.
Mayor Pro Tem Dan Dunne said his sprinkler system was damaged when Ziply was working near his home and the damage was repaired within a week of him reaching out to the company.
Council member Arlene Fisher, who said she was distantly related to the Kenworthy’s, urged the Ziply representatives to address the couple's complaint. “If you could do that I would appreciate it,” she said.
Mayor Cris Kaminskas said she has been in contact with the Kenworthy’s. “Things are being done,” she said. “We absolutely support the couple.”
Following their presentation, the Ziply representatives met privately with the couple.
The council also discussed the 2027-2032 Transportation Improvement Plan with proposed transportation projects. The TIP includes several arterial street projects in phases so they’re easier to complete as funding allows. Most of the projects do not yet have funding.
“If it’s not in this plan, it’s not eligible for grants” said Public Works Director Ben Turner.
The plan also includes $1.5 million in grind and overlay projects on residential streets. “It’s something we haven’t prioritized in the past, but it’s time,” Turner said.
There was a brief discussion on a proposed memorandum of understanding between the city and the HUB Sports Center. Last year a new parking lot and trail were added to the facility using city TIFF and LIFT funding. The improvements have been deeded to the city and the memorandum calls for the Hub to operate and maintain the improvements.
“The initial term is a 40-year term,” said Finance Manager Kyle Dixon. “Hopefully it will be longer than that.”
Councilman Hugh Severs asked if the term could be made even longer, for 60 or 100 years. “Forty is appropriate, probably,” Dixon said.
Dunne said he was grateful for the improvements. “This is one of the best examples of public-private partnership,” he said.
HUB Executive Director Phil Champlin said that between November 2024 and October 2025 the HUB hosted 561 activities and more than 67,490 people attended or participated in events there. “It is achieving what we hoped would happen,” he said.
The MOU was approved unanimously during the June 16 meeting.
Also during the June 16 meeting, Dixon presented information on his research into new accounting software for the city. Dixon said city staff have been using a system called Springbrook but the city is starting to outgrow it.
Dixon said most software packages he looked at were large, containing more than the city needed, and expensive. He recommended the council consider Tyler Technologies, partly because they offer a la carte modules, allowing the city to pick exactly what it needs while also giving expansion options for the future.
“Accounts payable is almost entirely automated,” he said. “Right now that is a huge burden on staff.”
If the software is approved, the city could begin the transition in July and shift fully over to the new software by early 2027, Dixon said.
The council also heard a presentation on the 2025 annual report for the Liberty Lake Library. More than 7,400 people have library cards and the number of active patrons did not increase much over 2025, said Library Board of Trustees member Barb Richardson. The number of visitors, more than 68,700, was also almost the same as 2024.
What was up sharply was requests to use the library’s meeting room, said library director Jandy Humble. Reservations went up from 450 in 2024 to 812 in 2025 and demand exceeds what the library can provide, Humble said. “The library is the only free meeting room in Liberty Lake,” she said.
Checkouts of books were down slightly and the number of e-books checked out were about the same. While e-books are popular, Humble said, they’re also expensive. A print book that is $14.95 might cost $150 as an e-book.
“They are much more expensive than physical books,” she said. “It’s a very expensive model that’s difficult to maintain.”
The library collaborates with other small libraries in Washington State to pool their money to purchase e-books, many of which can only be checked out 10 times before they expire and have to be repurchased.
“It is a cost share,” she said of the collaborative consortium. “It’s a huge benefit. There’s no way I could afford to maintain that.”
Limited space inside and outside the library is presenting challenges, Humble said. Based on the city’s population, the library should have 28,000 books but has only 21,815. “Our shelf space is out of room,” she said. “If we bring a book in, we have to take a book out.”
There’s also not enough parking in the parking lot, Humble said. The library hosts four story times a week, with between 50 and 75 people cramming into the library’s meeting room that is meant to accommodate 39. “Our story time is heavily attended,” she said. “The room gets hot and sweaty and crowded when you have 50 toddlers jumping and dancing to Baby Shark.”
The library also only has four computers for patron use and needs more, Humble said. Patrons used to be able to use the computers for two hours at a time, but that was recently cut down to one hour so more people can use them. “We have a lot of patrons come in every single day,” she said.
A lot of people come just to use the printers because they don’t have one at home, she said. The library needs more printers, but has nowhere to put them, she said. The library recently started a program that allows patrons to scan a QR code on their phone, upload their document and print it from their phone so they don’t need to wait for a computer to use.
In other business, the council unanimously approved the Spokane County Hazard Mitigation Plan update and Community Wildfire Protection Plan and approved spending just over $400,000 on furniture, fixtures and equipment for the City Hall renovation project.
The Lookout
July
Enforcement is under way
Do you know the rules for golf cart, e-bike, and e-scooter use?
Effective July 1, the Liberty Lake Police Department is expanding enforcement of the existing state and local regulations connected with driving golf carts, e-bikes, and e-scooters in public areas.
So what’s the best path after July 1 to avoid hearing that your vehicle is being impounded or towed by a private towing company? It’s as simple as following the rules … by knowing what they are.
During the April 28 town hall on micromobility vehicles, the LLPD announced that it would engage a two-month phase of public education and warnings to help area residents become better aware about those rules. The campaign has included the addition of a new “Micromobility” web page of informational resources as part of the LLPD’s website, as well as a series of recent posts on social media.
With July bringing on the enforcement phase, here are some of the key rules that can help operators of micromobility vehicles
– as well as the parents of young people who operate those vehicles –avoid an impounding or towing fee:
• Those who drive a golf cart in public in Liberty Lake must have a valid driver’s license. All riders must also be using a seat belt.
• Golf carts must have a registration sticker from the city’s police station before driving on public areas. Golf cart registration permits are available through the LLPD’s website, which can be found under the “Your Government” section at www.libertylakewa.gov.
• E-bikes must be operated within posted speed limits, and all
operators must wear a helmet.
• Class 3 e-bikes are prohibited at the city’s parks and sidewalks.
• E-motorcycles are prohibited in the city’s parks, sidewalks, and paved trails.
• Motorized scooter operators must be at least 16. These scooters cannot be operated in city parks, sidewalks, or paved trails.
• E-motorcycles are not allowed to operate on city sidewalks, at city parks, or on paved trails.
Introducing the Safety Awareness Channel
Crime Analysis Property Crimes Calls for Service: 20
Police Report
- May 2026
Splash news sources
Significant Cases
Malicious Mischief:
- On 5/31, a male suspect was arrested after damaging a toilet at Carl’s Jr. causing $1,500 in damage. He was located nearby on a bicycle, positively identified by a witness, and found to be carrying multiple concealed weapons during a search incident to arrest.
Burglary:
- Between 5/16 and 5/18,
a residential burglary occurred at an under-construction home.
An unknown suspect(s) forced entry through a rear sliding door and stole approximately $10,000 worth of Milwaukee tools from the garage, leaving behind bolt cutters used to defeat the lock.
Vehicle Prowl:
- On 5/9, a vehicle prowl occurred at Orchard Park. A male suspect smashed the rear driver’s side window of the victim’s vehicle and stole her backpack. Surveillance footage captured the incident and identified the suspect vehicle. Fraudulent card use was attempted but blocked
Theft:
Crime Analysis
Stops: 214 / Citations Issued: 21
- On 5/1, a Temu package was stolen from the victim’s front porch shortly after delivery confirmation.
- On 5/9, a male and female suspect were arrested after being observed using narcotics in a vehicle and subsequently identified on security footage stealing merchandise from a Safeway. They are the same individuals responsible for the vehicle prowl listed above.
- On 5/17, a package theft occurred on E Indiana Ave. A white female suspect stole Amazon packages valued at $250 from the victim’s front porch, possibly trailing an Amazon delivery truck.
- On 05/18, three females stole BuzzBallz alcoholic beverages from Safeway and fled on foot to a nearby apartment complex. All three were located and identified.
- On 5/21, a shoplifting
incident occurred at Ace Hardware involving a coordinated threeperson group – one adult female and two juvenile suspects – who used a distraction technique to steal a Milwaukee Combo Drill Set valued at $399.
- On 5/24, a shoplifting incident occurred at Walgreens. An unknown male suspect selected multiple alcohol products and exited the store without paying. Total stolen value is estimated at $150.
ARRESTS:
LLPD made 13 arrests in May, including the individuals from the malicious mischief and theft/ vehicle prowl calls listed above.
- 2026-88004340 – On 5/4, an officer stopped a male on a pedal-assisted e-bike after observing equipment violations. he attempted to flee but was quickly caught and stopped. He was cited and released after his mother responded to pick him
SAFETY CHANNEL LLPD Crime Analysis
Total Calls for Service: 935
up.
- 2026-88004389 – On 5/6, a male suspect was arrested for making bomb threats against Deaconess Hospital via the MyChart messaging platform, and obstruction of a law enforcement
officer. He had been held at Deaconess on a psychiatric hold for two days prior to the threats.
- 2026-88004970 – On 5/25, a female was observed rummaging through bags of donations. After being identified, she was found
to have two active warrants for her arrest. She was contacted and arrested without incident.
- 2026-88005041 – On 5/28, a female was observed in an argument with store employees at Safeway related to a shoplifting
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
July 27th to 30th
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Liberty Lake Church For kids ages 5-12
Get your passport ready for Ireland and join the adventure
Kids today need hope and reassurance. At Emerald Crossing VBS, they’ll explore Psalm 23 and discover how to move from worry to peace, fear to faith, and uncertainty to confidence through a relationship with the Good Shepherd.
Registration Now Open! VBS.LIBERTYLAKECHURCH.COM VBS@LIBERTYLAKECHURCH.COM
incident. When approached by officers, she complained of a medical emergency and provided a false name. She was transported to the hospital. Safeway requested she be trespassed from all Safeway locations for life.
- 2026-88004484 – On 5/9, a male driver was observed swerving into the bike lane, tailgating, and having expire registration. A stop was initiated. The male was severely intoxicated and arrested for DUI.
The Liberty Lake Police Department would like to remind everyone to drive slowly and safely in all marked school zones and neighborhood areas. The activity in those areas will increase as the summer kicks off and the kids get out of school. 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!
Liberty Lake goes big for 4th of July
By Nina Culver Splash contributor
Liberty Lake’s Pavillion Park will be bursting with events and activities on the Fourth of July as the city combines its annual concert and fireworks show with its annual Barefoot in the Park event for maximum splash. Other community events, including a neighborhood parade, a boat parade and a second fireworks show, are also planned for the holiday.
“It just seemed like a natural blend,” said city spokesman David Goehner of combining two of the city’s major annual events. “It’s my high expectation that this is the biggest Fourth of July the city has ever seen.”
In addition to being the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, this year is also the 25th anniversary of the city’s incorporation, both of which helped contribute to the city’s desire to make this year’s Fourth of July the biggest and best ever.
The “Founders and Fireworks” festivities in Pavillion Park will start at 2 p.m. Saturday and culminate with the fireworks show at 10 p.m. Mayor Cris Kaminskas will start off the event with a short welcome speech, followed by a centennial flag raising ceremony hosted by the
Liberty Lake Rotary Club at 2:15 p.m.
A special art piece commissioned for the city’s 25th anniversary will be unveiled at 2:30 p.m. The project has been overseen by the city’s Parks and Arts Commission. What it is, exactly, has been kept a secret.
“From what I know, it’s something that fits in well with the park,” said Goehner.
“It’s something that will harken back to the history of the Pavillion,” said Mickael Stevens, the city’s recreation coordinator.
Quite a few events will start at 3 p.m., including the Kids Zone, games, dunk tank, Liberty Lake Kiwanis car show and the food vendors.
The Kids Zone will include a lot of inflatables, including an inflatable football toss, bubble
Contributed Photo Skiiers celebrating the 4th of July on Liberty Lake at the Boat Parade.
Contributed photos
Liberty Lake 4th of July festivities include the annual Dunk Tank for charity (left), which will go from 3pm to 6:30pm with proceeds benefiting Girls Scout Troup 2360 this year. And the Liberty Lake Boat Parade where community members are encouraged to decorate their boats and show them off for the crowd (right) which happens on Friday July 3rd at Dreamwood Bay starting at 4pm.
COVER STORY
ball inside an inflatable arena, inflatable soccer billiards, inflatable soccer darts, inflatable axe throw, inflatable archery range and inflatable basketball. There will also be a 27 foot water slide and a two-lane slip and slide ending in a pool. Stevens said parents must be present and sign a waiver before allowing their children access to the games.
Some of the games are appropriate for all ages, including adults, such as bungee basketball, bungee run and human foosball. There will also be a mechanical bull from Urban Cowboy. Children can ride as long as they are taller than four feet and have consent from a parent. Riders must have no preexisting injuries and cannot be intoxicated.
The Liberty Lake Kiwanis car show will be in the northwest corner of the park as it usually is during the Barefoot in the Park event. The dunk tank is by donation, with proceeds benefiting Girl Scout Troop 2360. Several city officials, including the mayor and police chief, have agreed to be dunked along with a news anchor and sports reporter from KREM 2.
The city has been hearing that people want classic picnic games like egg tosses and sack races, Stevens said, so the city is expanding on its own version of those. Last year the city experimented with people racing with inflatable chickens and that will be back, along with races featuring a two person inflatable Weiner dog costume. There will also be the “Granny Pants Toss” with people wearing oversized pants and holding them open to catch balls tossed by their partner.
“People liked it,” Stevens said of the chicken race experiment last year. “Adults can do it, kids can do
it. It’s fun.”
The games are designed for ages 9 and up. The picnic games require advance registration online at secure.rec1.com/WA/liberty-lakewa/catalog. On-site registration will be allowed if there are openings still available.
They say you can’t get more American than apple pie, so the city is hosting an apple pie baking contest at 5 p.m. Saturday. There are divisions for ages 17 and under, ages 18-49 and ages 50 and up. Advance registration is required at secure.rec1.com/WA/liberty-lakewa/catalog until full. The pies will be tasted by judges and will not be available for public consumption.
Kids can take a break from games between 4 and 8 p.m. by painting rocks for the new painted rock garden in the northeast corner of Pavillion Park.
Soul Proprietor will play live between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. and the Liberty Lake Kiwanis beer garden will open at 5 p.m. JamShack, a dance party band, will begin performing at 7:30 p.m. and continue until the fireworks begin.
The fireworks will be shot off from nearby baseball fields and the city has made the show bigger than usual this year, Goehner said. “It will be longer than last year,” he said.
The fireworks will start around the same time as a community funded show set off on Liberty Lake. “If you sit in the right spot, you can see them both,” he said.
Public lakefront viewing of the community fireworks show is limited and available at the Liberty Lake boat launch and Liberty Lake Regional Park.
A detailed schedule and more
information about Founders and Fireworks events is available online at https://www.libertylakewa. gov/756/FOUNDERSFIREWORKS.
The day before the big event, on July 3, will be the seventh annual Liberty Lake Boat Parade. The parade started because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, said organizer Marla Larson.
“The land parade did not have their parade so we thought, well, let’s do a boat parade,” she said.
Every year people decorate their boats and turn out for a tour of the lake, showing off their patriotism and enthusiasm. The event will begin Friday at 2:30 p.m. with music on the water. Boats will line up for judging in Dreamwood Bay on the southern end of the lake at 3:30 p.m., with the winner announced at 3:45. The parade itself will start at 4 p.m., going counter clockwise around the lake. A group of water skiers always first in line to kick off the event, Larson said.
“My family does participate,” she said. “We love to decorate and be out there.”
The parade is always held on July 3 so it doesn’t conflict with the community parade and city sponsored events on July 4, Larson said. The boat parade usually attracts between 40 and 60 boats, depending on the weather.
“There’s been some years that are better than others,” she said. “We’re hoping for good participation.”
The public can watch the parade from Liberty Lake Regional Park, also on the southern end of the lake, and the Liberty Lake boat launch on the north end. “Some people go all out,” she said. “It’s really fun.”
People can register their boat to participate in the parade at https://
lilboatparade.com.
Saturday is also the 36th annual Community Fourth of July Parade in the Alpine Shores neighborhood. It’s a classic Fourth of July Parade, where kids can decorate their bikes or wagons and show up for a trek through the streets.
“It’s a huge tradition,” said parade chairwoman Ann Tichy. “It’s all about the kids. We don’t allow cars or pets.”
This year’s grand marshals are Leslie and Stan Chalich, who have lived in Liberty Lake for decades. Stan Chalich was a teacher and coach at Central Valley High School for 50 years. Leslie Chalich worked as a registrar at the same school for 25 years and, in her younger days, was known for water skiing competitions and trick water skiing.
“They’re a great couple and an asset to the community,” Tichy said.
People don’t need to register in advance if they want to participate in the parade. They just need to decorate their golf cart, bike, wagon, stroller or scooter and line up at 10 a.m. at Shoreline Drive and Liberty Drive. “Everybody participates,” Tichy said. “We really keep it simple for the kids.”
The parade will start at 11 a.m. and usually takes about an hour, Tichy said. “We get a lot of people,” she said. “It’s a nice parade. The community really loves it.”
There will be games in Alpine Shores Park following the parade. Organizers will also be selling official t-shirts from noon to 3 p.m. at the Alpine Shores Island.
Those coming to Liberty Lake for the various Fourth of July events are asked to be considerate parkers and not block the driveways of residents. Parking at Pavillion Park is limited.
HUB Sportscenter Encourages kids to play outside this summer
By Brooke Masters
Splash contributor
This summer, HUB Sports Center is bringing back Play Unplugged and giving kids across the Greater Spokane Valley area a reason to put down their devices and head outside. The goal is simple: get kids moving and engaged with their community, all while having a great time. Registration is open now, and while the program is geared toward elementary school-aged children, the HUB notes that older or younger kids are also welcome to join. The program started on June 17th and will run through October 2nd.
The program is centered on providing motivation to get out and explore the community. Kids earn a "Brag Tag," a plastic collectible similar to a military-style dog tag, for every activity they complete. Each tag carries a point value, and parents are encouraged to set their own family rewards once a child reaches a certain number of points. Points can also be tracked online and used for prize drawings at the HUB's Family Fun Festival in October.
Shea-Lynn Gerred, the HUB's Program Coordinator, said the Brag Tag challenges are designed around accessibility as much as fun. She explained that the goal isn't to keep kids away from technology forever, but to build an understanding that some of life's best moments come from playing, creating, and connecting. That philosophy shows up in the variety of tags available, which stretch well beyond traditional sports and include activities like reading and drawing.
Brag Tags are sponsored by local businesses and organizations, so earning one means visiting a real place in the community. For instance, to earn the "Gardener" tag kids can stop by The Plant Farm and
COMMUNITY
tell staff how to grow and care for a plant. One of Gerred's favorites this year is the Fossil Finder tag. For that challenge, kids become paleontologists for an afternoon, heading outside to find three things that could become fossils someday, a leaf imprint, a shell, a feather, or an interesting rock. They draw or write about what they found and where, then visit the Liberty Lake Municipal Library to pick up the tag. Other tags encourage kids to engage in different kinds of play.
The Bike Rider tag asks kids to ride a bike while wearing a helmet, then tell WA Trust Bank about their adventure. The American Spirit tag invites kids to dress in red, white, and blue and show it off at the City of Liberty Lake office building.
Play Unplugged is not new to the area, and Gerred said many families return year after year. She has heard stories of kids repurposing old tags long after a summer ends, scanning them as pretend grocery items or using them as power-ups in superhero games. Even once the event has ended, the tags are still a fun item that children find creative
uses for. Part of what keeps families coming back is the flexibility of the reward system. Parents can set their own goals and incentives, so a child who reaches a certain point total might earn a trip for ice cream, a movie night, or whatever treat makes sense for that family. That layer of personalization means Play Unplugged fits into different households in different ways.
Families looking for more summer fun can also plan around Brag Tag College, a one-day event planned for July at HUB Sports Center where kids can complete multiple Brag Tag challenges in one place. The exact date is still to be announced. The Family Fun Festival in October will offer a similar opportunity, giving families one more chance to play, take part in activities, and pick up a few final tags before the program wraps up for the season.
The program is free for kids and families and supported by local sponsors. For the businesses involved, sponsoring a tag is a way to give back to the community while also gaining visibility among local
families. When a child walks into a library or a local bank to pick up a tag, they are building familiarity with the places and people that make up their neighborhood. For some families, a Brag Tag challenge may be their first visit to a business they did not know was there. The HUB has described local visibility as one of the program's specific goals, but the benefit goes both ways: businesses support a fun summer activity for local kids, and the program gives families a reason to visit and get to know those same businesses.
Beyond the points and prizes, Gerred said the larger hope is that families walk away with moments and memories. The program asks kids to set down their screens, but it offers a season's worth of reasons to bike, build, read, garden, and explore alongside the people and businesses that make up their neighborhood. Whether a Brag Tag leads a family to a library, a bank lobby, or their own backyard, Play Unplugged is betting that the best parts of summer still happen unplugged.
Contributed Photo
By John McCallum Splash contributor
Falcon team awards listed, track and field post season results
Besides receiving a number of All-Greater Spokane League awards, Ridgeline High School athletes also earned individual team awards. These awards are given out during team functions at the end of each season during the course of the 2025-2026 school year.
Several awards are named after the school’s mission statement “Belong. Inspire. Grow.,” also known as “BIG.” Those values are listed in the school’s Vision Statement and described as” “Falcons BELONG because: You have value, You are supported, You are connected; Falcons INSPIRE because: We ignite curiosity, We pursue our passions, We live with purpose,” and finally “Falcons GROW because: We embrace challenges, We give our best, We persevere.”
“You will often see and hear those words in awards and speeches from our students, staff, etc.,” Ridgeline Assistant Principal for Athletics and Activities Grady Emmerson said in an email.
Athletes receiving awards named after these attributes are selected because they exemplify these values on the playing fields, in the locker rooms and in the school.
The following are the list of team awards by season and team.
FALL
Cross country (boys) – The Founder Award, Russell Allen. Cabinet Award, JJ Hosig and Landon Spinning. Exemplary OffSeason, Kian Henry-Sutherland. Best In-Season Improvement, Elijah Edgerly. Biggest Newcomer
Impact, Grant Summers
Award, Ellie Moore.
Cross country (girls) – Varsity Falcon of the Year, Emery Sevey. JV Falcon of the Year, Rachel Christensen. B.I.G. of the Year and Varsity Coaches Award, Gretchyn Carter. Phoenix Award, Sophia Sine. Spirit Award, Madalynn McHenry. JV Coaches Award, Sierra Tate.
Football – Offensive MVP and Special Teams MVP, Jameson Murphy. Defensive MVP, Jace Knoll. Lineman MVP, Colten Kuhl. Most Improve, Tyson Kelley. Nico Pena BIG Award, Kyson Olson. Coaches Award, Ryder Cross and Caleb Kuhl.
Softball (slowpitch) – Belong Award, Ella Score. Inspire Award, Quincy Coder. Grow Award, Adalynn Lent. MVP Award, Kadence Barcus.
Soccer (girls) – Defensive MVP, Tessa Bankey. Midfield MVP and Inspire Award, Quinn Mueller. Offensive MVP Lydia Lynn. Game Changer, Makenna Moore. Belong Award, Claire Lamoreaux. Grow
Contributed photo
Caden Andreas was named the Most Valuable Player for the Ridgeline basketball and baseball teams. The senior is a Washington State top prospect in baseball and is in the top-10 among the Greater Spokane League scorers in basketball.
WINTER
www.hubsportscenter.org
Basketball (boys) – MVP, Caden Andreas. Falcon Award, Bo Fried. Most Improved, Dylan Mortimer. Hustle Award, Brennan Downard, Kade Tesky, Jake Macall and Collin Murray. Above & Beyond Award, Matthew Ehlers.
Basketball (girls) – MVP, Grace Sheridan. True Falcon Award, Madilyn Crowley. Above & Beyond Award, Kate Taylor. Cam Over Cancer Award, Makinley Simmelink.
Cheer – Football Squad Captain, Akayla Almquist, Elyssa Goldsberry and Mylee Hatch. Wrestling Squad Captain, Elyssa Goldsberry. Basketball Squad Captain, Analiese Erlandson and Samantha Becker.
Dance – Most Valuable Dancer and Coaches Award, Scarlett Lambert. Most Inspirational, Selah Gymnastics – Most Improved, Kamila McMullin. Forever A Teammate, Bella Stuck. Most Dedicated, Kalie Hirshfield.
Contributed photo
Kali Rothrock won the triple jump and was second in the long jump and 200-meter dash at District 6 competition. At 3A state, the senior recorded a personal best for third in the long jump.
Wrestling (boys) – Belong Award, Judah Eck. Inspire Award, Ben Alicea-Copeland, Kaedyn Aurand, Emerson Stuhlberg. Grow Award, Gavin Alderson, Callan Larson, Landon Newbill and Ryan Soto. Outstanding 9th Grader, Wyatt Risken.
Wrestling (girls) – Belong Award, Zoe Grishko. Inspire Award, Hailee Argaw. Grow Award, Kaydence Jolley. Wrestler of the Year, Maelia Amen.
SPRING
Baseball – MVP, Caden Andreas. Offensive Player of the Year, Mikey Macall. Pitcher of the Year, Ben Wartinger. B.I.G. Award Nolan Wohl and Braeden Cress.
Golf (boys) – MVP, Liam Severs. Falcon Award, Joel Hernandez. Hustle Award, Bryce Duer. Young Gun Award, Sawyer Haggerty. Iron Man Award, Caleb Graczyk.
Golf (girls) – MVP, Chloe Hamilton. Falcon Award, Sawyer Anderson. Grinder Award, Julia Hernandez. Next Up Award, Taylor Boast.
Soccer (boys) – Belong Award, Silas Merino. Inspire Award, Ethan Nielsen. Grow Award, Evan Lucas. Offensive MVP, Draedan Simatos. Defensive MVP, Beckam Lopez. Midfielder MVP, Alfred Tachera. Playmaker, Thatcher Hemphill.
Softball (Fastpitch) – Belong Award, Quincy Coder. Grow Award, Sadie Chavez. Inspire Award, Kadence Barcus. Most Valuable Player, Persais Triplett. Offensive MVP, Millie Dobyns.
Tennis (boys) – Take Flight Award, Channing Curtis and Asher Fox. Talons Up Award, Teigan Bronec. Rehkow’s Racquet Award, Grant Brito. The Falcon Award, Tayne Scully.
Tennis (girls) – Falcon B.I.G. Vision Award, Grace Conard. Peregrine Falcon MVP Award, Stella Taylor. Falcon Flight Leader, Tessa Currin. Falcon Award, Giuliana Longo. Talon Award,
See SPORTS, Page 25
SPORTS
Continued from page 20
Abby Bolton and Audrina Aguilar. Most Improved Athlete, Sophie Jorgensen.
Track and Field (boys) – B.I.G. of the Year, Blaine Reeves. Falcon of the Year and Vertical Jumper of the Year, Jonah Thompson. Sprinter of the Year, Tony Rodriguez. Distance Runner of the Year, Keean Huntsinger. Horizontal Jumper of the Year, Calvin Koppenhaver. Thrower of the Year, Carson Atwood. Hurdler of the Year, Russell Allen.
Track and Field (girls) – B.I.G. of the Year, Sophia Sine. Falcon of the Year and Horizontal Jumper of the Year, Kali Rothrock. Sprinter of the Year, Tegan Leong. Distance Runner of the Year, Kalia Blanchard. Thrower of the Year, Hailee Argaw and Piper Irmer. Vertical Jumper of the Year, Jayden Kenney. Hurdler of the Year, Ava Chaker.
Rothrock leads Falcon track and field
Seven Ridgeline athletes advanced out of District 6 competition May 21-22 at Central Valley High School and on to state tournament action at Mt. Tahoma High School.
Kali Rothrock led the Falcons overall, winning the triple jump and finishing second in the long jump and 200-meter dash as well as third in the 400. The senior went 36 feet, 1.75 inches to win the triple jump and 17 feet for second in the long jump.
Freshmen Kalia Blanchard and Emery Sevey advanced to state with third place finishes in the 1,600, 3,200 and 800 respectively. Blanchard set a new personal best in the 1,600 with a time of 5:10.69 while Sevy set a personal best of 2:17.23 in the 800.
The 4x100 relay team of Taylor Teslow, Lillia Thompson, Raina Henderson and Tegan Leong also qualified for state, finishing second in 49.66.
Juniors Reed Swain and Tony Rodriguez were the only Falcon boys to advance out of districts. Both finished fifth in their events with personal best times, Swain in the 100 in 10.99 and Rodriguez in the 200 in 22.36.
Ridgeline finished fourth overall in the team standings with 87 points, one-half point behind Cheney. Mt. Spokane took the District 6 girls 3A title.
Ridgeline’s boys finished 11th overall.
Rothrock was the only Falcon to make the podium at state, May 2830. She posted a personal best of 1805.50 for third in the long jump and went 36-01.50 for sixth in the triple jump.
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Liberty Lake Hosts Volunteer and Service Expo
By Ben Wick Splash Publisher
On Thursday June 18th, the City of Liberty Lake hosted a new type of community expo, an expo of community organizations that depend on volunteers. Liberty Lake Mayor Pro Tem Dan Dunne shared he first learned about the idea while attending an association of Washington cities event where the City of Maple Valley described a similar event that they put on. “I know that there are people who want to get involved in our community but don’t know how” said Dunne.
Dunne working with the City organized 10 community organizations that weren’t necessarily non-profits but were groups that were looking for or are powered by volunteers.
“I am sure there are others but wanted to start somewhere” added Dunne who explained that depending on the response could see the event growing into an annual community event.
The organizations present included:
Liberty Lake Kiwanis, who were highlighting their summer events including the Liberty Lake Yard Sales and the 4th of July activities encouraging more community members to join them in organizing these important events.
Liberty Lake Parks and Arts Commission, who was highlighting their mural projects and parks improvements that are coming together based upon community feedback and participation.
HUB Sports Center, who was sharing about their program encouraging kids to be active over the summer by ‘Playing Unplugged’ and earning tags / prizes by accomplishing activities sponsored by local community businesses.
Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary, was sharing more about their mission and seeking people interested in joining their club as
LIBERTY LAKE THE
COMMUNITY NEWSMAGAZINE
well as promoting their upcoming Rotary Rim Ride happening September 12th and 13th this year.
Ridgeline Falcon Boosters, who are the community members and parents of Ridgeline High School
students who come together to support the students and clubs across Ridgeline. They were already seeking volunteers to help operate their concession stand during the home football games this fall.
their committee.
Friends of the Liberty Lake Library, were sharing about their book sales and encouraging member to join their organization and help support the Liberty Lake Library program.
Spokane County Emergency Management, was highlighting one of their programs, the CERT Program, or Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) where community members can volunteer to help support local first responders during critical incidents. They highlighted a recent example of the program where their volunteers recently helped the Red Cross stand up fire shelters during the recent wild fires.
Liberty Lake Lions Club, highlighted a number of their programs including collecting eye glasses for those who cannot afford them, sponsoring the sensory garden next to city hall, and helping support families in need during the holidays.
Liberty Lake Better Together, was promoting their recent Rock Garden and Goat statue dedication and encouraging community members to join their organization on a variety of civic and recreational projects.
Liberty Lake Community Engagement Committee, was there connecting with community members sharing their mission of being a conduit for the city to get feedback from the community and encouraged people to apply to join
River District Farm, was sharing about their farm and farm store which are both seeking volunteers to continue to build strong connections between local farms and the local community.
Drawing a crowd of more than 30 people, Mayor Pro-Tem Dan Dunne shared that he felt the event was a success. “My goal was to have get around 20 people to come.”
At least one community member approached the event sharing that they had recently joined the Liberty Lake community and wanted to get involved. “That is exactly who we wanted to connect with”
Photo by Ben Wick Community members check out local area organizations at the Liberty Lake Volunteer and Service Expo to explore new ways they can get involved in the community.
