2025 June Current

Candidates declare for Spokane Valley City Council

By Nina Culver Current contributor

The City of Spokane Valley has a busy ballot this election season, with all three incumbents drawing at least one challenger and a soon to be vacant seat pulling in four candidates.

Though councilman Al Merkel is not on the ballot, he still looms large over the election. He’s had an often contentious relationship with other council members, a majority of whom voted to sue Merkel in February over alleged Public Records Act violations in regards to his posts on the Nextdoor app. He was previously censured by the council and stripped of his committee assignments over the same issue.

Merkel held meetings to recruit people to run against the council incumbents up for re-election and has since used a Nextdoor post to endorse the people who filed to run against councilman Ben Wick, Mayor Pam Haley and councilwoman Laura Padden.

“Merkel promised he would find challengers for all of us,” Padden said. “His stated goal is to replace us with people who agree with him so he can be mayor. He wants to be mayor and run the city.”

Spokane Valley has a city manager form of government. The council votes for one of their number to serve in the role of mayor.

Padden has drawn two challengers for her seat, which she has held for one term – Brad Hohn and Gonzaga University student Joseph Ghodsee. Padden, who is the wife of former Washington State senator Mike Padden, has worked at the Community Colleges of Spokane as a software developer for more than 20 years.

Padden said she believes the city is in a good spot and wants to continue the work that’s being done. She wants to support businesses and right-size the police force, which experts have said is understaffed. “If we have a thriving business community, we will be in a much

better economic place,” she said.

She’s pleased with the steps the city has taken recently to hire an additional 10 police officers. “We had some really good accomplishments with adding an existing 10 officers without increasing revenue,” she said. “Other departments had to take cuts. That’s hard to do when your revenue is slack.”

The city also needs to manage the land inside and near its borders, she said. “We need to move our boundaries,” she said. “We’re restricted by the Growth Management Act. We’re hoping to be able to either move the boundaries or swap land.”

Ghodsee, who previously earned associate’s degrees in political science and criminal justice at North Idaho College, is currently studying business at Gonzaga University. He is also a disabled Air Force veteran.

Ghodsee said he’d like to focus on building better supply chain networks in Spokane Valley in order to attract well paying jobs. “What I try to do with my life is improve others,” he said.

His goal is to have an impartial city council and said he hopes to block Hohn, who has been endorsed by Merkel, from advancing out of the primary. “I’m working to ensure the council remains impartial,” he said. “An impartial council is necessary for a good business environment.”

Hohn, who manages High Mountain Horsepower, has lived in Spokane Valley for more than 30 years. “I’ve watched the Valley grow,” he said. “There’s a lot of value here, in terms of a way of life.”

He said he was interested in

running because he’s concerned about development. A new housing development went in near his home recently, but the narrow road where cars have difficulty passing each other was not improved. He said he also doesn’t believe council members are inquisitive enough.

“Most of the council members are just rubber stamping what the city manager says,” he said. “Accountability is important.”

Hohn said he doesn’t agree with the council’s plan to increase sales taxes by 1/10 of 1 percent in order to hire more police officers. “I think the money is already there,” he said. “They just need to know how to spend it correctly. We shouldn’t have to raise taxes to pay for officers.”

Hohn said he’s aware that Merkel endorsed him and said that Merkel helped him file to run for office. “I like Al a lot,” he said.

He said Merkel is making it a point to ask questions in council meetings so information is available to the public. At recent meetings, there have been too many interruptions and not enough professionalism, Hohn said.

“The whole council was like kids at school, arguing back and forth,” he said. “You don’t air your dirty laundry like that.”

Wick, the editor and publisher of The Spokane Valley Current, Liberty Lake Splash and West Plains Stream newspapers, has served on the council since 2012, with the exception of 2016-2017. He served as mayor from 2020 to 2021. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Eastern Washington University and previously worked as the IT manager for Spokane Industries.

Wick is currently the president of the Spokane Valley Kiwanis Club and was selected as the Harry E. Nelson Citizen of the Year in 2024 by the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber highlighted Wick’s decades-long advocacy for Spokane Valley, which dates back to his involvement in the city’s incorporation.

Political newcomer Daryl Williams has filed to run against Wick. During his management career he led movie theaters, a Hastings location and Radio Shack stores. He’s retired, but works in customer service at Fairmount Cemetery and has owned a karaoke business for the last 30 years.

“I’ve been going to the council meetings for a little while,” he said. “Some degree of politics interests me. I just thought there’s a little too much chaos.”

Williams said he doesn’t like the chaos. “The council has to find a way to disagree in a civil manner,” he said. “Every single meeting there are personality attacks. A lot of it is directed at Al Merkel.”

Williams said he wasn’t aware that Merkel has endorsed him, but said Merkel did help him file to run for office. “He’s been helping in that way, but he doesn’t preach to me or push his agenda on me,” he said. He disagrees with many of the decisions the council has made recently. “They’re certainly not listening to the voters,” he said. “They’ve raised taxes, they’ve raised the rates for license plates. The Sprague Avenue redesign was a waste of money. There has to be some accountability.”

Mayor Pam Haley, who has served on the council since 2016 and as mayor since 2022, said she is running for election again because there are projects she would like to complete. “I really enjoy what I do,” she said.

The city just deployed a second police officer/social worker patrol team and she would like to add more. “That’s been so successful,” she said. “Outcomes have been amazing with that program. A lot of people have been housed.”

Haley said the recent contentiousness on the council weighed on her as she was making her decision whether to run again. “I think all of us took a little longer to

SV council Governance Manual discussion turns acrimonious

By John McCallum

Current contributor

A Spokane Valley City Council discussion on changes to its Governance Manual devolved into accusations of council control and defamation at the May 20 meeting.

City Manager John Hohman led a presentation on proposed manual changes that Councilman Al Merkel alleges are aimed at him, with some audience members voicing agreement. Third-party investigations and a Spokane County Hearing Examiner decision have concluded Merkel likely engaged in an abusive and combative nature towards city staff and other council members as well as misused his

personal social media account to conduct council business.

The latter is a violation of state law, and has resulted in nearly 70 public records requests for Merkel’s posts being made with the city. The city is finding it difficult to fulfill these requests due to the nature of Merkel’s social media accounts.

The manual changes outlined by Hohman varied from housekeeping items to modifications in the way the council conducts business. Some of the latter included clarifying council member reports are not opportunities for general issue comments and allowing the mayor during mayor reports to address any inaccurate information given during the meeting.

Amendments to sections regarding council meeting decorum included prohibiting threatening, obscene language, use of “fighting words,” speech integral to criminal conduct as well as a adding a definition of “defamation” and clarifying the “point of order” process. In the manual, defamation is defined as “a false assertion of fact, or opinion that implies the existence of a false fact, subjecting

another person to hatred, contempt, ridicule, strong public criticism, or verbal abuse.”

Language also prohibits council members from encouraging or participating in disruptive behavior coming from audience members. Audience members have often reacted vocally at meetings — including during the manual discussions on May 20.

Finally, Hohman said amendments to the council’s social media policy were recommended by the Governance Manual Committee to better align the section with current state law.

Merkel questioned how fines instituted under “Council Conduct Standard and Enforcement” work. The language allows council members by a majority-plus-one vote to issue fines of up to $100 per day for council member violations that continue after a council review meeting, or $500 for each separate violation of council codes and standards.

City attorney Kelly Konkright pointed to a paragraph that states council members can only be fined for posting about city business on

social media accounts not considered an official council account or where the council member fails to preserve such posts as required by Washington law.

“It’s not 1 and 2, only one condition can be filled for a violation to take place,” Konkright added.

Merkel also questioned removal of the word “verbally” from the section regarding “Dissents and Protests,” claiming the move allowing only written protests was a violation of members freedom of speech.

Councilman Ben Wick suggested verbal protests could be added back in during agenda item discussions, but excluded from general council comments later in the meeting. Hohman added the exclusion wasn’t to stifle council discussion, but to keep meetings moving along.

Several audience members claimed during public comments that the changes were targeted at Merkel, accusing city staff and council of retaliation against the councilman for his outspoken opposition to the way the city has historically done business. Spokane Valley resident John Harding

accused the council of “lawfare” in trying to control Merkel.

“You’d better think this through,” Harding warned council regarding the manual changes.

“He’s the voice of us because that’s all we get,” Spokane Valley resident Kendra Rojas said. “He’s the voice of the people.”

Merkel reiterated during council comments it was apparent the changes were all aimed at him.

“What they’re saying is, the things I say are not OK with them,” he added.

Hohman proceeded to add what he called “context” to the issue. He said in January 2024, he had a conversation with the newlyelected councilman regarding the city’s efforts to add 10 new officers to its police department, part of the 30 officers recommended by a cityinitiated study report delivered in November 2023.

Hohman said he appreciated Merkel’s direct style of communication, noting he often “telegraphs where he wants to go” with his remarks and thoughts. In the 2024 conversation, Hohman alleged Merkel asked him to delay work city staff and council were doing in finding recurring funding to pay for the officers.

Hohman said he asked why Merkel didn’t want him to do his job.

“And he goes, well, I have two years to make this council look as bad as I can, and I want to make those six idiots look bad,” Hohman said. “And he corrected it and said ‘five and half idiots.’”

From that point forward, Hohman continued, Merkel’s behavior has been geared towards

what he claims the councilman sees as an opportunity to take control of the council. He added three of four council members are currently up for reelection, and if things went Merkel’s way and new members supportive of his efforts were elected to council, he could be voted mayor.

According to the Spokane County Elections Department, four candidates have filed to fill council Position 1 currently held by longtime member Rod Higgins, who is retiring. Those candidates are Lisa Miller, Adam Smith, Mike Kelly and Kristopher Pockell.

Wick is challenged in Position 4 by Daryl Williams. Current mayor Pam Haley is challenged by Catherine Nelson in Position 5 and Councilwoman Laura Padden is challenged in Position 7 by Brad Hohn and Joseph Ghodsee.

“There are six of us up here who want nothing to do with power,” Councilwoman Jessica Yaeger said in frustration with the comments.

Yaeger was elected the same year as Merkel, but has been a consistent opponent to his behavior. It was Yaeger who alerted the city to his use of his personal social media account to conduct council business.

Merkel was clearly incensed at Hohman’s comments, noting he couldn’t believe the city manager, who he said is not bound by Governance Manual standards, could be allowed to sit in the chamber and make such accusations.

“That was pure defamation,” Merkel said. “Pure defamation, that was a great deal of lies.”

Haley eventually put an end to a somewhat contentious exchange between Merkel, herself and Hohman and called for a vote on the manual changes. It passed 5-2, with Wick and Merkel against.

PRESENTS

Spokane Valley Kiwanis Club

The maps provided depict where citizens have reported Vehicle Thefts, Burglaries, Malicious Mischief and Thefts. The Spokane Valley Police Department and the Spokane County Sheriff’s office analyze this data to determine high crime areas and where to allocate resources. Citizens who have been a victim of crime are encouraged to call 911, if the crime is in progress, or Crime Check at 4562233, if not in progress, to report a crime.

2025 April Theft Hotspots

Spokane Valley Districts

SV CANDIDATES

Continued from page 2

decide this time because it has been contentious,” she said. “I feel like I can make a difference and as long as I can make a difference I want to stay.”

She is being challenged by Catherine Nelson, who has worked in the real estate industry for decades, first as a lender and now as a Realtor. “I have either worked or lived in the Valley since its inception,” she said.

She said she worries about increasing taxes, though the city council has voted to decline the allowed annual 1 percent property tax increase for the last 16 years. “We’re starting to worry about being taxed out of our homes,” she said. “Every time we turn around we’re being asked for more.”

Nelson said she favors paying for additional police officers within existing revenue. The city could do it if it no longer does “frivolous” road projects, such as the roundabout on 16th Avenue and planned road work on Argonne Road that includes widening the sidewalks, Nelson said.

She has been endorsed by Merkel, who also rails against the roundabout and Argonne Road project in his Nextdoor posts.

Councilman Rod Higgins did not file for re-election and four people stepped up to file for his seat – Lisa Miller, Adam Smith, Mike Kelly and Kristopher Pockell.

Pockell, who previously ran unsuccessfully for a Washington State House position in 2024 and Spokane Valley Fire Commissioner in 2015, is a software engineering manager for OpenEye and also coowns Elixir Sauce Company. He was the first candidate to file for the seat and had been planning his run since January.

“Just based on talking to people, I hadn’t heard of anyone else trying to run,” he said.

He said he decided to run after hearing Higgins wouldn’t be filing and said he wants to continue the

city’s fiscal responsibility. He’s lived in the Valley for 30 years. “I love this place,” he said.

Kelly, who ran unsuccessfully for Washington State Senator in District 4 in 2024, works as the chief financial officer for KT Contracting in Salem, Oregon. He was appointed to the Spokane Valley Planning Commission last year and is currently a Republican precinct committee officer.

“I felt like the seat needed to be filled with insight and experience,” he said of his decision to run for city council.

He said he’s concerned about density requirements and recent changes to the city’s building codes and parking requirements. He identifies policing as his number one priority, followed by fiscal responsibility. He said he would be a peacemaker on the council, particularly involving the council’s relationship with Merkel.

“I feel like there have been opportunities on both sides to deal with this less contentiously and more maturely,” he said.

Lisa Miller, an attorney, has lived in Spokane Valley for a year and a half and owns Lex Law Corp., working as a private judge and arbitrator. She said she previously served on the city council of Valley Village, California, when she lived there. “It was a dynamic process and I really enjoyed it,” she said.

Miller, who serves on the city’s homelessness task force, said she’s been mostly pleased with the council’s recent work. “I don’t think there’s anything the city council has fumbled,” she said. “I’m very supportive of public safety. I’d like to see us lean into technology.”

She identifies herself as a fiscal conservative and said her experience as an arbitrator could be useful on the council. It’s normal for people to disagree on issues, but it has to be done in a civil and orderly way, she said. “I think that’s something the city council could benefit from,” she said.

Adam “Smash” Smith is a mixed martial arts fighter and owner of Smash Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The former firefighter with Spokane County District 4 and Spokane County District 10 also ran unsuccessfully for city council in 2019, 2021 and 2023. Smith did not respond to requests for comment.

2025 April Burglary Hotspots

Spokane Valley Districts

Curtis Ackerly • Alessia Adams • Caden

Congratulations Graduating Class of 2025

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Spokane Valley Tech

June 6, 6:00 PM

Central Valley High School

June 7, 3:30 PM, McCarthey Athletic Center, Gonzaga University, 801 N. Cincinnati Street

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East Valley Parent Partnership

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High School

June 4, 6:00 PM The Fox Theater,

East Valley High School

June

9th, 6:30 pm

The Podium @ 511 Joe Albi

Way, Spokane WA 99201

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East Valley Online

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Spokane Valley High School

June 6, 6 PM, SCC Lair

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St., Spokane, WA

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West Valley High School

June 6th, 6 pm

The Podium, 511 Joe Albi Wy, Spokane WA 99201

Brice Abbey • Faith Aberra • Reina Akins • Michael Anglesey • Kloe Anzivino • Abigail Axthelm • Hamid Azizi • Champ Bailey • Nicholas Barnhart • Kenton Bell • Gwyneth Betts • Derek Bippes • Kaitlan Bockstruck • Treyson Bohr • Maxim Bondarenko • Kolbiy Boyd • Olivia Brakke • Titus Brown • Willow Burrill • Kenzie Bushnell • William Busse • Ava Carlson • Zander Cates • Ashlyn Chase • Amelia Childers • Austin Clark • Max Clocherty • Ariana Coorough • Stewart Courchaine • Piper Crewdson • Benjamin Currie • Shayla Daly • Myah Dantzler • Malachi Darby • Blake Davis • Ethan Davis • Lilyanna Davydenko • Moriah Dedera • Isabella Dice • Abigail Dixon • Briauna Dubois • Hadassah Duff • Jackson Duthie • Matthew Duthie • Nicholas Dvorak • Audrey Endres • Amelia Farina • Andrew Fey • Daniel Filenko • Kendall Focht • John Ethan Fosburg • Jaxn Fraser • Kohl Froelich • Noah Gadd-Lewis • Mia Galindo • Alba Garcia • Bryant Garrett • Ta Mla Gay • Selihom Gebrewold • Elliona Gibbs • Riley Gilbreth • Olivia Goodman • Parker Gorena • Riley Gower • Trista Grant • Jack Green • Austin Griffith • Zacharias Hamdani • Annaka Hansen • Leaness Hardy • Lyla Harke • Hayden Harlander • Hunter Harlander •

• Mark Kopets • Tim Kozenya • Ophillia Lamberson

• Kaitlyn LaSalle • Aiden Learn • Michail Lemeza

• Parker Lemmon • Roman Leshkevich • Kira

Marashi • Skylor Mcgillivary • Fox Meyer • Quinten

Murphy • Eva Newsom • Jace Nick • Ethan Pasols

• David Peralta • Stuart Peters • Peighton Peterson

• Dakota Philips • Alex Popov • Conan Proffitt • Andres Raygoza • Adam Riddell • Monroe Ripley

• Liam Roeh • Sophia Rowley • Noah Sanders • Serenity Seaman • Qloee Sessions • Braydan Shaw

• Ryder Shook • Star Stapleton • Veronica Stilson

• Jamie Thurber • Melody Tidd • Daveid Toombs • CJ Turnidge • Angelina Voropay • Kayelyn Webster

• Gradyn Willey • Blazen Willms-Brown • Lylly Winslow • Tristan Wolf

Saoirse Harris • Riley Hayes • Ashton Heid

• Zachary Hein • Cooper Henkle • Karissa Hill • William Hobbs • Ethan Holden • Hunter

Holdway • Chaya Hughes • Chloe Hunsaker • Sydnie Hurley • Zachery Hutchins • Quinlan Hyatt • Eva Irish • Piper Jewett • Hunter

Jones • Zaiden Jones • Evan Joubert • Zander

Kaiser • Connor Keenan • Audrey Klingsheim • Mason Koestner • Reimee Kozlowski • Timothy Krauter • Chelan Kruger • Conner Kunz • Kennady Kunz • Yassin Kusaibati • Peyton

Layugan • Alexis Lennon • Jeffrey Leonov

• Ethan Little • Trenten Lobdell • Natalie Lohstroh • Chiaxee Lor • Bryson Maidhoff

• Derek Maney • Liam Manning • Kimberlie Martinez • Makaila Mastel • Alexander Matias

Alonso • Simeon Mattingly • Joseph McCormick

• Brian McKenzie • Cameron McOmber • Ella McQuaig • Jaidyn Mendoza • Brennan Meyer

• Caiden Moore • Joshua Moreau • Melaina

Morris • Noah Moseley • Josiah Moua • Gentry

Mullins • Kaleb Munday • Magnus Nelson •

Sutton Nordhus • Evan Nuxoll • Dannika O’Neil

• Nikita Oberemok • Brendon Oldenburg • Jayden Oliver • Macy Osborn • Jace Palmer

• Jesse Parkins • Cecilia Pedigo • Kameron

Person • Ava Petersen • Henry Pierce • Dakota Pooley • Kensly Pritchard • Penelope Purdum

• Bobby Raiford • Melany Ramirez Laynez • Anya Redman • Jayden Reese • Isaiah Rico • Carlos Rivas • Robert Robert • Karlee Roderick

• Isabella Rowland • Andrew Royston • Ericka Sadler • Jaden Salinas • Martin Sams • Bj Samuel • Gage Sanderson • Brayden Sapier

• Lillian Schroeder • Harley Scott • Aubrey Sety • Kaya Seyhanli • Ikaika Shumaker

• Lillian Simons • Eliza Simpson • Parker

Simpson • Donald Sinclair • Henry Sinclair • Teagan Smith • Nathan Soss • Camron Soto

• William Spinden • Brandon Spunich • Sorrel

Stewart • Michael Stoneham • River SulzleKaempfer • Noah Sutherland • Abigail Swatzell

• Caleigha Taylor • Mayumi Thompson • Emily Toothaker • Ethan Turley • Damon Turner

• Ally VanWeerdhuizen • Brenna Vasicek

• Audamenaih Venegas • Nevaeh Vining • Marryn Wade • Tyler Ward • Elaina Warren • Czkar Washington • Caydence Watson • Parker

Weller • Shyanne Weston • Colt White • Abigail Williams • Ethan Williams • Connor Wilson • Lindsey Wilson • Noah Wright • Anna Writebol

June 5, 6:00 PM Ridgeline High School

20150 E. Country Vista Dr

Rowan Agnew • Arlo Arwine • Alonzo

Avelar-Miron • Manuel Bedolla-Larson • Savannah Bigchild-Chatwin • Angelise

Birdtail • Kyler Cooley • Koda Courchaine

• Emmali Eenkhoorn • Hailee Elkins • Kimora Estrada • Ayden Fluegal • Tia Foley

• Jocelyn Gallegos Martinez • Rachel Gibbs

• Alexander Gutierrez • Mikel Hooley • Kendall Kaluza • Austin Madden • Addison

McGee • Aiden McNelly • Cadance Monico • Tommy Moore • Abigail Ohmann • Bailey

Renken • Makenzie Rose • Alyssa Ross • Mason Scharff • Kodey Swanstrom • Jocelyn Taylor

Valley Christian

School

June 7th 1PM

Aundreya Arnold • Preston Arnold • Micah

Bilbruck • Baylee Brown-Sonder • Ian

Craciun • Mya Desgrosellier • Jonathan Drick

• Eila Efta • Evelina Florianovich • Rebekah

Helt • Job Hill • Daniel Hisel • Emma Lynn

Jarvis • Ryen Johnson • Autumn Keyannie

• Trenton Lartz • Andrew Legkobit • Jacob

Legkobit • Westin Madden • Jaden Mariner • Evelyn Miller • Paisley Rounsley • Seth Shoop

• Jack Siderius • Connor Simonds • Joseph Steinbach • Manda Walker • Melissa Walker

Jacinda Abrams-Galloway • Astrid Kate

Alcayde • Elleot Alden • Avery Allan

• Carmyn Allen • Julius Allen • Kailee

Alteneder • Halle Ames • Joseph Anglin

• Lilya Anzalone • Timur Artemov • Chyenne Arwood • Ariana Baker • Logan

Baldwin • Violet Ballard • Ashlyn Barlow

• Sophia Bartlett • Meliah Beal • Dakotah

Bean • Makayla Bearce • Brianna Bedolla

• Sophia Benedetti • Aidan Berg • Brent

Bergom • Lily Brannon • Brian Brantner

• Jenna Brereton • Alexandra Brewer • Nicole Broderson • Ayla Brown • Krista Brumley • Caleb Burbank • Ashley

Cabaniss • Kadynce Cadman • Hyrum

Call • Sophie Carbajal • Natalie Cardona

• Catherine Carey • Ashlyn Carver • Tristan Caskey • Mary Caudillo • Kyndall

Cecchetti • Garret Christensen • Lucas

Claeson • Michael Coe • Daniel Colin

• Rylee Collins • Alayna Contreras • Addison Corkery • Neil Corneliusen • Gabriel Costa-McEwen • Sailor Crabb • Abby Crandall • Gary Crawford • Calister

Crosby • Railee Culver • Abigail Culwell

• Zachary Cummins • Gracie Czapla

• Kellyesse Daniels • Marien Darling

• Alexander Dawley • Sofia De Leon

Rodas • Jack Del Mese • Kristin Delong

• Jaynee Dement • Abram Denney • Audrey Denton • Cassie Devenish • Emily Dillabough • Addison Donahue • Finnius Dorr • Eleora Dossou • Cameron Doughty

• Evan Eidson • Zachery Emtman • Aurora Engle • Jaxson Ensley • Colby Erickson • Nathan Espiritu • Morgyn Fackenthall • Wyatt Fielding • Miguel Figueroa • Kiahna Fisher • Owen Flatt

• Jacob Ford • Mason Forkner • Canon Frank • Oakley Frescas • Ali Fridye • Alexandria Friedman • Anthony Garcia • Emily Garcia • Carson Gardner • Niccolo Gentile • Tyanah Giannini • Carla Giner Jimenez • Kalee Gisolo • Lucas Gisolo • Cameryn Goff • Kendall Goff • Zayda Goodell • Micah Grove • Annie Gubler

• Madison Haag • Samya Hall • Evan Hartmann • Madison Hawkins • Maria Hawkins • Michael Hawkinson • Andrew Hebden • Kjersten Hemenway • Kiara Henderson • Gavin Hendon • Joseph Henneman • Elanna Henson • Desirae Herrera • Morgan Hiatt • Anna Hoekema • Hans Hofstee • Adara Hooper • Nathan Horn • Hillary Ichungwa • Alekzander Isbelle • Tomas Jackson • Charlotte Jamison • William Jarrad • Zachary Jenner • Trevor Jessen • Alexis Johnson • Beatrice Jones • Bobby Jones • Mattilynn Jones • Tyler Jundt • Bethany Kasner • Nevaeh Keith • Riley Kekahuna • Owen

UniversitySchoolHigh

June 7th @ 9 AM McCarthey Athletic Center, Gonzaga University, 801 N. Cincinnati Street

Kinney • Conner Knapton • Tucker Kobes

• Noah Koenig • Brodie Kossuth • Travis Kottwitz • Benitah Kramlich • Zoey Larson • Amy Laywell • Joy Leah • Emma Leonard

• Alyssa Lester • Kordell Liberty • Griffin Linterman • Elise Lombardi • Sophia Long • Mary Loosmore • Kennedy Lowe • Sophia Lynch • Ryley Lynn • Samuel Lyon • Arthur Maas • Addy MacArthur • Harit Mamkhuntod • Anthony Martinez • Kara Mayhle • Talon McArthur • Olivia McCargish • Benjamyn McCart • Alya McDonald • Breena McGinnity • Caila McGuire • Cordell McLaughlin • Maggie McLuskie • Elliot McNeice • Alexander Meier • Samuel Meier • Ethan Mejia • Justin Mejia • Nicole Melby • Raegan Miller

• Andrew Milmore • Haley Monteressi • Emmie Morris • Miriam Mungiiria • Anthony Munoz • Ayden Namie • Emerson Nebel • Olivia Neel • Shaffer Neils • Kohlton Nelson • Anaya Nitschke • Aeryn Nix • Adisson Nordean • Craig Norman • Jacob Nunez • Quinton O’Bannon-Ramos • Nolan Orndorff • Madison Orr • Brandon Osborn • Emily Osborn • Gage Osborne • Benjamin Parish • Ella Parnell • Carmine

Patrick • Peyton Pearce •Roman Penkov • Laurent Plessy • Kaylee Pomeroy • Ariana

Ramirez • Candace Ramirez • Annalynn Rask • Rebecca Reeder • Jonathyn Reese • Benjamin Reincke • Evelyn Richard • Jackson Richter • Owen Rickman • Jaxx

Ridenhour • Lily Rideout • Aviana Rife • Isaac Rigsby • Cloe Riley • Cameron Roberts • Isabella Roberts • Libby Roberts

• Sabrina Robinson • Deziree’ Rocha • Kelly Rowe • Logan Rule • Zalla Sabawon • Joshua Sandberg • Kowen Sanders • Sofiia Savchuk • Baiylee Schleve • Eva Schmidt • Allison Schmitter • Freddie Schoo • Eric Schwarz • Nicolette Scollard

• Ryland Scollard • Justin Scott • Justine

Sears • Elijah Segalla • Naomi Seitz • Juliana Shevchuk • Jordan Sipe • Malarie Sizer • Samuel Skidmore • Lilia Skliarova

• Coal Smith • Jacob Smith • Logan Smith • Nora Smith • Jonah Soderquist

• Piper Spradley • Tobin Staneart • Blake Stephens •Taylre Stephens •Kacee

Stewart • Alexis Stolp • Jackson Stolp

• Hayden Stroe • Elliot Suda • Ryan

Sulpizio • Shane Swan • Owen Tait • Samuel Thomas • Ava Thompson • Katrina Thompson • Connor Thornberry • Janet Tiberke • Colton Tidd • Lexi Titchenal • Allie Tomaso • Damian Torres-Cardona • Lucas Tracy • Brennan Tucker • Gavin Tucker • Celeste Uribe Garcia • Nathaniel Vansant-Froese • Elizabeth VanTassel • Cadence VanZandt • Martina Vareschi

• Olivia Vignere • Mia Wallace • Joseph Walsh • Hallie Walters • Clive Wardell

• Century Warner • Chase Way • Fiona Wherity • Hunter White • Leila White • Jeffrey Whitman • Michael Wienckoski • Arthur Wiener • Jacob Wilcox • Ashlynn Williams • Peyton Wolcott • Cooper Worthy • Abigail Young • Ian Younger • Lucas Zerfoss

The Oaks Classical Christian Academy

June 13th, 7 PM

Robert Bailey • Daniel Bursese • Matthew

Bursese • Cole Harken • Kane Hughes • Grace

Kaiserman • Sarah Love • Julia Maier • Noah

Mattson • Ava Morris • Samantha Palpant • Klara Sana • David Wendt • Beatrice Wiens

Draya De La Rosa Adams Elementary

Lincoln Schoonover Bowdish Middle School

Iggy Martinez Broadway Elementary

School

Emma Eve Friemel Chester Elementary

Samantha Larratt Evergreen Middle School

Ashley Figueroa Greenacres Elementary

Noah Edwin Wright West Valley High School

Taylor Libey Liberty Lake Elementary

Carter Copeland McDonald Elementary

Kodey Swanstrom Mica Peak High School

Palina Blagikh North Pines Middle School

Hayley Hutto

Kayla Rae Barnes Horizon Middle School

Scout Piper Opportunity Elementary

Joe McCord Liberty Creek Elementary Levi Tenney Ponderosa Elementary

Abbie Bargel Progress Elementary

Warrick Duarte Ridgeline High School

Mia Lopez Riverbend Elementary

Mackenzie A Lambert Selkirk Middle School

Elijah Papineau Spokane Valley Tech

Carolina McAllister Summit School

Robert Morkert Sunrise Elementary

Ryder Schwab University Elementary

Dawson Thaler Henry East Farms Elementary

Emmery Fatzinger East Valley High School

Ainsley Petersen East Valley Middle School

Kassidee Engelhardt East Valley Parent Partnership

Giovanni Governale Trentwood Elementary

Tempe Durrant Freeman Elementary

Emma Hollen Freeman High School

Conner Durrant Freeman Middle School

Josephine Esteves SVLA/CVVL K-5

Sofiia Tverda Centennial Middle School

Asher Ellison Dishman Hills High School

Axel Villarreal Millwood Kindergarten Center

David Turlak Pasadena Park Elementary

Berkley Rose Sigler Seth Woodard Elementary

Peighton Peterson Spokane Valley High School

Madden Cole Williams West Valley City School

Lili Baker South Pines Elementary

Bronx Anderson SVLA/CVVL 6-8

Samantha Kelley WV Virtual Learning Center

Kailey B McElderry Tekoa High School

Raegan Miller University High School

Conrad Holman Continuous Curriculum School

Arthur Meinhart Pioneer School

Axel Mendez Trent Elementary

Levi Maughan Otis Orchards Elementary

Alexis MendezGonzalez Ness Elementary

Cameron Salazar Orchard Center Elementary

Brought

The Crest Candidates declare for

local elections

By Nina Culver

Current contributor

About and for Spokane Valley area seniors

really active in the community,” she said. “I just felt like I could do more.”

She expects the city to have to tackle a deeper conversation on water management, looking at ways to maximize resources while limiting rate increases. “We’re our own utilities company,” she said. “This isn’t a today problem, but this is a 5, 10, 20 year plus problem.”

to run, Seifert said. “Neighbors thought I’d be a good fit,” she said.

Her goal is to make sure the city is held accountable and is transparent with its residents, keeping them informed about what is going on. “Millwood is small,” she said.

The town of Millwood will have a new mayor in November after current mayor Kevin Freeman did not file for re-election. Two current council members, Shawna Beese and Shaun Culler, have filed to run for the seat and Beese, who is up for re-election on the council, gave up her council seat to do so.

Freeman had held his mayoral seat for 12 years and announced during his last election four years ago that he would not run again.

Beese, who has lived in Millwood her entire life, was previously elected to two terms on the council after being appointed to the seat. She spent decades as a critical care nurse and earned a PhD in nursing with an emphasis on population health. She currently works as an assistant professor of rural health promotion at Washington State University.

She serves on the board of directors of Millwood Impact and is involved in the community garden. “I’m always interested in our natural resources,” she said.

Beese said she has a deep understanding of how the city works after her time on the council. “I’m

Culler was first appointed to a council seat in 2009 and has been elected to the position ever since, often running unopposed. In his capacity as a city council member, he has served on the Spokane Aquifer Joint Board, the Solid Waste Advisory Committee and the Spokane County Housing and Community Development Advisory Committee. Culler could not be reached for comment.

Two candidates have filed for the council seat being vacated by Beese, political newcomers Tina Seifert and Gareth Kahl.

Seifert, who has lived in Millwood for more than 30 years, is a mostly retired paralegal. She said she first started attending council meetings because of neighborhood issues she was interested in. She was among neighbors who spoke at the planning commission in late 2023 supporting a zoning change that would prohibit putting a new mobile home park on East Empire Avenue.

and then considered running herself. Having a vacant seat on the council seemed like a good time

Though Kahl has lived in the area for years, he is a relative newcomer to Millwood, moving into the city limits last November. He owns an electrical contracting company and said he decided to run because he wants to be involved.

“I just want to be a part of the community,” he said. “Millwood is a special place. I want to make sure it stays that way. It’s a walking town. You still see people out walking their dogs. You don’t see that too much anymore.”

Incumbent Millwood city councilmember Dan Sander is running unopposed for re-election.

Many other races in the greater Spokane Valley area are also unopposed. Fire commissioners Patrick Burch and Michael Kester are unopposed in the Spokane Valley Fire Department. Commissioner Andy Rorie is unopposed in Spokane County Fire District 8.

Dennis Gleckler does not have an opponent in Spokane County Fire District 13 (Newman Lake). The District 13 Position 1 seat is currently held by Eileen Weyrauch, who did not file for re-election. Gleckler previously ran against commissioner Teresa Phelps for Position 2 in 2021 and lost.

In the West Valley School District, incumbents Dan Hansen, Robert Dompier and Pam McLeod are running unopposed. East Valley School District board members Beata Cox, Carolyn Petersen, Jonathan Horsley and Mike Bly also have no opponents. Peterson will be a newcomer to the board, as District 3 incumbent Justin Voelker did not file for re-election.

In the Freeman School District, incumbents Nathan Talbott and David Teague will not have an opponent on the ballot.

There are also multiple uncontested races in several small south Spokane County towns, including Fairfield, Rockford, Spangle and Latah. In Fairfield, mayor David Rafferty and council members Joshua Boyd and Alisha Anderson are unopposed.

There are two contested city council races in Latah, with Marie Supon and Adam Papini competing for Position 4 and incumbent Yvonne Warren and challenger Nancy Conley vying for Position 1. Papini previously ran for a city council seat against Larry La Bolle in 2019 and lost. Corinna Rittgard is the only candidate on the ballot for Mayor of Latah.

In Rockford, incumbent mayor Carrie Roecks is unchallenged and incumbent town council members Tim Fricke and Walt Whitman are also unopposed. In Spangle, council members Ron Cockle and Rebecca Johnson are unopposed.

Baseball

By John McCallum

Current contributor

CENTRAL

VALLEY

Spring sports teams hit postseason play

The Bears finished third in the GSL overall, tied at 13-5 with Mt. Spokane. Earning the No. 2 seed to the District 6 playoffs, CV watched their winnersbracket advancement chances disappear in the top of the seventh inning against No. 7 Ridgeline.

The Falcons overcame a 5-4 deficit by scoring four runs in the frame enroute to an 8-5 win. Bounced into the consolation bracket and needing to win out to secure the district’s third slot to state, the Bears ended their season with an 8-2 loss to No. 3 Southridge, finishing with an overall record of 14-8.

Fastpitch softball

The Bears finished seventh in the GSL at 7-11, losing their last four games. Seeded eighth in the district playoffs, they found the win column elusive as well, losing their opener to topseeded Kennewick, 2-1, and a loser-out consolation bracket match up with No. 4 University, 9-2.

Central Valley finished 7-15 overall.

Golf

The Bears boys were edged out by two strokes of a team trip to state by Walla Walla at district competition at Horn Rapids in Richland. Junior Chase Sturgis (tied for seventh), senior Benjamin Jones (tied for 14th) and freshman Carson Graczyk (tied for 14th) all earned individual state berths, as did senior Aubrey Hancock for the Central Valley girls.

At Qualchan Golf Course in Spokane, Sturgis shot a two-day score of 152 to finish in a four-way tie for 17th. Graczyk and Jones missed the secondday cut, shooting rounds of 82 and 86 respectively.

Hancock also missed the secondday cut for the girls, shooting a day-one round of 101.

Soccer

The Bears finished second in the GSL regular season but emerged at the top 3A team in the league at 6-3.

Baseball

Central Valley continued a seasonending two-game winning streak by opening district playoff action with a 3-0 win over seventh-seeded Cheney. The second-seed Bears then edged sixth-seed Mt. Spokane 2-1 to advance to the title game with fourth-seed Ridgeline.

In the matchup with the Falcons, senior defender Kevin Ng scored three goals and CV went on to claim the district title and state berth with a 4-1 win. The win earned the Bears ninthseed and first-round bye to state.

CV’s trip was short, losing 5-0 to No. 8 seeded Bellevue at Shoreline Stadium north of Seattle to end their season. CV finished 2025 with an 11-6 record.

EAST VALLEY

Wins were elusive for East Valley this year. The Knights finished the GSL 2A season at 0-18, 0-21 overall, ending their season in the first round of the district playoffs with an 8-0 loss to No. 3 seeded Deer Park.

Fastpitch softball

The Knights rebounded from a 6-13 record in 2024 to finish second in the GSL’s 2A division at 14-4, two games back of league champion Deer Park. Part of that rebound included a sevengame win streak stretching from March 29 – April 19, going 7-2 in April with doubleheader splits with the Stags and third-place Clarkston.

In district competition, secondseeded East Valley beat Clarkston 16-6 in the second round and Pullman 17-8 in the title game. In crossover action with District 5 and a shot at state on the line, the Knights fell behind visiting Ephrata 8-0 after two innings and ever recovered in their 17-1 loss to the Tigers.

East Valley finished with an overall record of 16-7.

Golf

Junior Teegan Martin shot a two-day score of 165 (83, 82) to finish in a four-way tie for 29th at boys 2A state competition May 20-21 at Riverside Golf Course in Chehalis. Junior Brady Flahavin also made the trip, shooting a day-one score of 91 but missing the cut.

Soccer

The Knights placed third in the GSL’s 2A division with an 8-4 mark. Seeded third in the playoffs, they edged Rogers 1-0 in the opening round, but fell 2-0 to second-seed West Valley in the second round, ending their season at 11-7

overall.

Tennis

www.hubsportscenter.org

The Knights girls’ doubles team of Mila Benninghoff and Fasai Xiong advanced to 2A state competition at the Nordstrom Tennis Center in Seattle. They won their first match 3-6, 6-3. 6-3 against a duo from R.A. Long, but lost their quarterfinal hookup with a Lynden pair, 6-0, 6-1.

Benninghoff and Xiong finished their season with a consolation round loss to a team from Columbia River, 7-6, 0-6, 0-6.

UNIVERSITY

Baseball

The Titans advanced to the 3A state tournament with the No. 3 seed out of district playoff competition. University finished fourth in the GSL at 12-6, 16-9 overall, earning the No. 6 seed to districts.

The Titans upset No. 3 seeded Southridge in the opening round, 8-4, scoring five runs in the top of the seventh for the win. Runs proved hard to come by in a second-round loss to No. 7 Ridgeline, 1-0.

Knocked into the consolation bracket, the Titans responded with a 4-2 win over No. 8 Shadle Park, and advanced to state with a 3-2 win over No. 4 Mt. Spokane. Seeded No. 18 in the 20-team state field, University ended its season with a 4-3 loss at West Seattle.

Fastpitch softball

University placed third overall in the GSL at 13-5. Earning the No. 4 seed in district competition, they were upset in their opening round game by Hermiston (Ore.), 10-4.

They knocked off rival Central Valley in the consolation bracket match up, 9-2, but fell 13-2 to No. 3 Kennewick in the second round, ending their season at 15-8 overall.

Golf

Kinyon Gable was the only Titan girl or boy advancing out of district competition to state. At 3A state at Indian Canyon, the freshman shot an opening round of 98 but missed the second-day cut.

Soccer

The Titans struggled on the pitch this season, losing their final eight games to finish ninth in the GSL at 2-7, 2-12-1 overall and missing the playoffs.

Tennis

Niccolo Gentile in singles and Talon McCarthur and Garret Christiansen in

doubles advanced to 3A state for the Titan boys. Gentile lost to Southridge’s Ty Parrish, 6-2, 6-2, in the district singles championship at Walla Walla while McCarthur and Christiansen knocked off fellow Titans Riley Yates and Michael Coe to win the doubles title, 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 (7-1).

At state at the Vancouver Tennis Center, Gentile lost 6-1, 6-0 to Joe DeGarcia of Mercer Island in the second round. In the consolation bracket, Gentile beat Micah Nelson of Prairie, 6-2, 6-2, but ended his run with a 6-0, 6-0 loss to Steven Anderson of EdmondsWoodway.

In doubles at Vancouver, McCarthur and Christiansen lost their opener to Seattle Prep in straight sets, beat a duo from Bellarmine 6-4, 6-4 in the consolation bracket before falling 6-2, 6-2 to Shorewood.

The Titan girls had equal postseason success. Kailee Alteneder defeated teammate Madison Orr in the singles final 6-1, 3-6, 6-0 at Walla Walla. In doubles, Annie Gubler and Kiara Henderson missed a trip to state, losing their third-place match to Mt. Spokane’s Hannah Meythaler and Addison Vanwert 6-2, 6-2.

University won both the boys and girls district team titles.

Alteneder and Orr both lost their opening round matches at state in Vancouver, Alteneder 6-1. 6-2 to Bellevue’s Chloe Han and Orr 6-0, 6-0 to eventual state champion Tayler Conway of Liberty (Renton).

In the consolation bracket, Orr advanced with a grueling 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 win over Mount Tahoma’s Vanessa Swan, but lost to Bellarmine’s Chloe Lee, 6-2, 6-2. Alteneder lost her consolation bracket opener to Shorewood’s Alex Mignogna, 6-2, 2-6, 4-6.

WEST VALLEY Baseball

The Eagles had high hopes for a big playoff run as the season wound down. West Valley went 15-3 to capture the GSL 2A regular-season title, edging secondplace Pullman by one game.

In the playoffs, the top-seeded Eagles advanced with a second-round win over No. 5 seeded Rogers, 4-3, and earned a district title and trip to the crossover game with District 5 top-two teams for state with a 6-1 win over the Greyhounds. In that crossover game, third-seeded See SPORTS, Page 22

Student of the Month

Oaks Classical Christian Academy senior Beatrice Wiens is in the running for Valedictorian holding a 4.0 GPA. Wiens participated in the Oaks’ cross country teams from 2nd through 8th grade but has most recently helped coach the schools cross country teams which end in 8th grade. Wiens enjoys helping the younger generation and volunteers as a teachers aide for the 1st grade class. Most recently Wiens participated in the school play ‘Cinderella’ where she was a dancer. Outside of school Wiens is active at her church (Christ the Redeemer) where she regularly volunteers to help in the Nursery as well as the annual community outreach week where they partner with multiple different nonprofits in a week long series. Inspired by her father, after graduation Wien has been accepted into Gonzaga’s Nursing program.

Athlete of the Month

Noah Mattson a senior at the Oaks Classical Christian Academy began playing basketball when he was 4 years old. While Mattson has played on a number of teams over the years including the AAU Team ‘Elevate’ which was started by his father. Most recently Mattson has played on the Oaks team as a point guard and team captain being recognized as this years most valuable player (MVP) as their team won the Christian league championships. Off the court Mattson is a tenor in the Oaks Honor Choir and he recently played The Earl of Cavendish in the most recent school play, Cinderella. Noah is also very involved in his church (Bible Baptist Church) where he leads his youth group in worship, raking leaves for the elderly, and singing Christmas Carols during the holidays. After high school Mattson as accepted a scholarship to play basketball for Dordt University in Iowa where he will play Basketball and study business.

Citizen of the Month

Katie Louie began her career at the Central Valley School District as a math teacher in the fall of 2008 and now serves as principal at the campus on Sullivan Road. The Bothell native graduated from Washington State University and has her master’s in Educational Leadership from City University. Louie was named the 2024 CVSD Educator of the Year by the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce.

When not leading a high school, Louie enjoys reading, baking and running. A half-marathon experience from a few years ago spoke to the resilience that has become her trademark. After falling and breaking her kneecap, Louie finished the 13.1-mile course and reported to her chaperone duties at CV’s Homecoming celebration that night.

“I told the doctor, ‘I might have been injured but I’m not a quitter,” Louie said.

Members Michael F., Matt N., & Christa S.

AN IMPORTANT UPDATE TO A REGIONAL PROJECT

WHERE YOU CAN LIGHT THE WAY!

How YOU can impact the Spokane Valley region by making a commitment to invest in the completion of the new permanent home for Spokane Valley Summer Theatre

It is no longer viable for the award winning Spokane Valley Summer Theatre to rent theatre space in the Central Valley School District. SVST needs its own home - which is why we are building the performing arts center. The arts are an important part of any healthy, thriving community, and SVST has a 10 year track record of having an economic impact on the Valley. The quality of SVST productions speak for themselves, offering audiences professional theatre, while at the same time being a place for seasoned artists to thrive and a new generation of artists to be trained.

Imagine the Idaho Central Spokane Valley Performing Arts Center (pictured above) changing not only the landscape of its location near Mirabeau Park, but also being the heartbeat of Spokane Valley - a place to enjoy year-round professional theater by Spokane Valley Summer Theatre (with free parking), a training center - offering classes for area youth, and a space outdoors and indoors for all to gather and be inspired: A Beacon of Light and an Iconic Landmark.

Many of you have asked about the new performing arts center and have wondered about its status. Building it has been like running a marathon - but the finish line is in sight with a viable path to get there. We have approximately $12M in the ground already (20% complete) with zero debteverything has been paid for in cash. And here’s how you can help: by investing and getting ALL of your investment back plus up to 5% interest.

• We have a goal to raise $15 million through the investment platform, SEMBLE.

• You make a commitment to invest and NO MONEY changes hands until we raise the total $15 million.

• You receive ALL of your investment back plus interest.

• It’s a win-win for our community. You get to be a part of this legacy project and have a hand in completing it, knowing that you’re making a difference, while at the same time getting your money back.

• Never heard of SEMBLE? They made it possible to build Northwest Christian Schools and a new building for The Oaks Classical Christian Academy. Founder/CEO Todd Tarbert is originally from Davenport, WA and he has chosen us to benefit from this platform. Please see our listing on the SEMBLE site for details (loan.semble.com/listing/svst/).

Will you join us in creating something that will impact the future of our community?

HOW TO INVEST:

Contact Founder/CEO of Semble, Todd Tarbert, for more information on how to INVEST in your community.

Todd Tarbert 206-412-3092

todd@semble.com

Visit our SEMBLE investment site: loan.semble.com/listing/svst Scan

Phase I at 70% completion

Level up with the Online Summer Reading Challenge for everyone

By Erin Dodge Current Guest Contributor

Spokane County Library District (SCLD) has announced the theme of this year’s Online Summer Reading Challenge: “Level Up at Your Library”. When you take on the reading challenge, you can reach a new reading goal, try new activities, and explore and expand your knowledge about your community. It begins June 1 and goes through August 31, 2025. This reading challenge is for everyone—adults, families, teens, kids, and even infants. You can sign up on the Beanstack website at scld.org/ beanstack or by using the Beanstack app, found at scld.org/apps.

Summer Reading features puzzles, games, and skills to “Level Up at Your Library”

By Erin Dodge Current Guest Correspondent

This summer, “Level Up at Your Library” with events and activities at Spokane County Library District (SCLD) locations, including Spokane Valley Library (22 N Herald Rd), Argonne Library (4322 N Argonne Rd), and Otis Orchards Library (22324 E Wellesley Ave).

This year’s Summer Reading theme is based around puzzles and games, which may have you wondering how it relates to reading.

Public Services Manager and librarian Mary Ellen Braks shares this insight: “Playing games and solving puzzles is a fun way to continue

Adults can track their beach reads, book club reads, informational reads— all their reading! Studies have shown that when adults read regularly, it can help reduce stress, strengthen memory, and improve sleep quality.

Reading during the summer helps children maintain and improve their reading skills. It can help prevent summer learning loss—also called “summer slide”—which happens when children aren’t reading during the summer break and can lose up to three months of reading progress.

Public Services Manager and librarian Gwendolyn Haley shares, “Along with the engaging activities at our libraries, the reading challenge helps ensure that kids’ reading skills remain strong and that they are ready to learn when returning to school in the fall.”

Kicking off the challenge, kids and teens (ages 0–17) who register for summer reading with Beanstack can visit their library to choose an ageappropriate book, while supplies last, that they get to keep.

All readers can earn badges by tracking reading minutes, rating

learning through the summer to develop literacy, STEM, and social skills. Basically, you’re sneaking in learning through games.”

At SCLD summer programs, kids and families can create and play games, make game-related crafts, and participate in engaging activities, including “Science & Play: Bubblemania,” “Ping Pong Palooza,” “Create Your Own Sock Animal,” “Make Perler Bead Creations,” “Build Your Own Board Game,” “Mario Kart Coding & Crafts,” and “Minecraft Mashup Crafts & Activities.”

Get ready for an exciting summer of storytelling, creativity, and inspiration with the “SCLD Online Author Series” summer lineup, featuring four incredible authors who have captivated readers of all ages: Katherine Applegate, Raúl The Third, Marie Lu, and Rex Ogle. Ask them questions and hear about their writing journeys, creative processes, and beloved books.

Teens and tweens can level up their creative skills during “Cupcake Decorating” and “LEGO Stop-Motion Studio.” During “RPG Adventures,” teens explore tabletop role-playing games and

and reviewing books they’ve read, and completing activities. Activity challenges include things such as playing a new game with family and friends, trying a new hobby or learning a new skill, exploring Washington State Parks, finding a new eBook or audiobook using SCLD’s digital resources, and more.

Registered youth, ages 5–17, who read at least 300 minutes can earn a free ticket to a Spokane Velocity FC or Spokane Zephyr FC soccer match, while supplies last.

Everyone who registers and reads at least 600 minutes during the challenge receives a Certificate of Achievement and bragging rights.

The giveaways have been provided by the Library Foundation of Spokane County. The free Summer Reading books were made possible by generous donations from community members to Library Giving Day 2025. You can learn more about the Foundation at supportscld.org.

Help SCLD reach its community reading goal this summer by tracking all of your reading minutes! Sign up starting June 1 at scld.org/beanstack.

level up their characters during the adventures. Expand your local and geological knowledge during the “Medical Lake Geology Walk & Water Sampling” for tweens, teens, and adults.

“Kids Free Afternoon Snack” continues at Spokane Valley Library this summer. Kids ages 1–18 can eat a free, nutritious snack at the library, Monday–Friday, 3:15–4:15pm. The snack program is not available when the library is closed on June 19, July 4, and September 1, 2025. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Summer Reading is for adults as well. Level up your creativity and knowledge during programs such as “Cookie Decorating,” “Tree Identification Walks,” “Making Pressed Meadow Flowers,” “Long-Stitch Bookbinding,” and “Introduction to Wilderness Survival,” among others.

Be sure to pick up a copy of “Engage” at your library or local grocery store. You can also view it online at www.scld.org/engage. Its pages are full of information about these and other library programs and activities happening this summer.

LEVEL UP at Your Library

Online Summer Reading Challenge

For all ages

Sign up on Beanstack to:

• Track your summer reading

• Get a free book (kids & teens)

• Reach your reading goal! Get started at scld.beanstack.org

Summer Reading Programs

Check these out!

• Ping Pong Palooza

• Build Your Own Board Game

• LEGO Stop-Motion Studio

• Tree Identification Walks

• Wilderness Survival

See all events at scld.org/engage

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SPORTS

Continued from page 18

East Valley (Yakima) broke a 1-1 tie with a run in the top of the seventh and held on for the 2-1 win, ending West Valley’s postseason hopes. The Eagles finished at 17-5 overall.

Fastpitch softball

The Eagles finished the 2A GSL season in fifth place at 6-12. Seeded fifth in the district playoffs, West Valley ended its season with a 15-12 loss to No. 4 Pullman, tying the game at 12 with three runs in the top of the sixth only to have the hosts post three runs in the bottom of the inning.

West Valley finished the season 6-15 overall.

Golf

Eagles junior Melia Cerenzia tied Bainbridge’s Grace Charintranont for fourth at girls 2A state competition at Tumwater Valley Golf Club May 2021. Cerenzia shot a two-day score of 157 (82, 75), bettering Charintranont by two strokes on day two. Both finished six strokes back of state champion Jana Knapp of Mark Morris.

Junior Brooklyn Ingram shot a firstround score of 97 but missed the secondday cut.

Sophomore Ryder Saville advanced to boys 2A state competition at Riverside Golf Course in Chehalis, shooting a dayone score of 95 but missing the cut for round two.

Soccer

The Eagles finished the 2025 GSL season in second place at 8-4, four games back of 12-0 Pullman. Seeded second in the playoffs, West Valley earned a first round bye, defeating East Valley 2-0 in the second round to advance to the title game with the Greyhounds.

In that May 15 game, freshman midfielder/forward Mamadou Diallo scored the winning goal in overtime to give the Eagles a 2-1 win over Pullman, handing the league champions their first loss.

The win earned West Valley a topseed to crossover action with District 5. It proved to be short-lived as the Eagles fell 3-2 to No. 3 seed Quincy, ending their season at 13-5 overall.

Tennis

Eagles girls’ doubles team Sutton Nordhus and Brynlee Ordinario placed eighth at the 2A state tournament at the Nordstrom Tennis Center in Seattle. The duo lost their opening round match to the eventual state runner up team from Columbia River, 6-0, 6-3, but rebounded well in the consolation bracket.

Nordhus and Ordinario defeated a duo from Chief Sealth, 6-0, 6-0, and followed that with a win over a pair from Fife, 6-2, 6-4. They finished their run with a three-set loss to a pair from R.A. Long, 4-6, 6-0, 2-6, to finish eighth.

EDITOR/PUBLISHER Ben Wick

ben@libertylakesplash.com

CO OWNER Danica Wick

danica@libertylakesplash.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Nina Culver, John McCallum

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SV council moves public safety money to pay Merkel legal costs

By John McCallum

Current contributor

The Spokane Valley City Council approved an ordinance amending the city’s 2025 budget, with some General Fund revenue designated for public safety needs redirected to pay for ongoing legal costs associated with court proceedings between the city and Councilman Al Merkel.

The total budget amendment reflected an increase of revenue in the 14 listed funds of just over $5.435 million against an increase in expenses of $13.98 million. Part of this included addition of Fund 108, “Affordable & Supportive Housing Sales Tax Fund” which reflects a $1 million “Connection Housing Infrastructure Program” (CHIP) grant received by the city but to be passed-through to the Spokane Housing Authority for assistance with construction of a new, 240-unit multifamily affordable housing facility at 9910 E. Appleway Boulevard.

“Of those increases, about $3.5 million reflect transfers between city funds,” Spokane Valley Finance Director Chelsea Walls told the council.

The amendment reflected increased General Fund revenues of $926,686 and increased expenses of $989,764. Of the latter, over onethird — $350,000 — was tabbed as “increase in contract attorney services” to cover estimated legal costs associated with the city’s suit against Merkel.

Merkel is being sued after a thirdparty investigation and Hearing Examiner ruling determined he likely violated public records laws regarding use of his personal social media account to conduct city business. The city is trying to get the court to order Merkel to comply with city and state public records requirements.

To offset the increase, the amendment lists decreases in salaries, payroll taxes and benefits in the Public Safety Department

along with a $130,000 decrease for law enforcement vehicle replacement. This amounts to foregoing replacement of two aging law enforcement vehicles.

The amendments largest revenue/expenditures increase came in Fund 316, “Economic Development Capital Projects Fund.” Revenue for the fund increased by $2.5 million due to a transfer in from the Hotel/Motel Tax – Tourism Facilities Fund 104 to be used for construction of the city’s $7 million cross country course off Flora Road north of the Spokane River.

That was then recorded as a $4,696,250 expenditure increase to cover the unexpended budget for course construction. An increase of $1,674,500 in Capital Facilities Fund 312 reflected payment of $759,600 still owing on the purchase of Washington State Department of Transportation land by the city adjacent to Sullivan Park and $914,000 transfer out to the Park Capital Project Fund 309 for the associated Sullivan Park Water Line Project.

Merkel asked Walls how much money was left in Fund 312 after the transfers. Walls estimated this to be $4.4 million at the end of the year.

Merkel said some of this funding could be used to pay for “wasteful spending” on efforts against him rather than defunding public safety.” Walls said all except $985,000 of the Fund 312 money had been allocated for upcoming projects.

“That $985,000 far exceeds what is being spent on this political persecution,” Merkel said.

“Some would say what is being called political persecution is holding someone accountable,” Councilwoman Jessica Yaeger replied.

Council passed the first reading of the ordinance 6-1 at their May 13 meeting. A second reading was slated for the May 27 meeting.

Council approves homelessness interlocal agreement

At its May 13 meeting, the council approved signing an interlocal agreement (ILA) between the city and the Spokane County Housing and Community Development Department for a “collective regional effort centered on the

5-year plan to end homelessness.”

The “Spokane Regional Continuum of Care 2020-2025” is the latest iteration of regional efforts to combat homelessness that began in 2023 but produced no regional approach.

Instead, in 2024, the city of Spokane, Spokane County and Spokane Valley agreed to working on homelessness through interagency goals by development of a single request for proposals process for all agencies, development of a strong, real-time database system, created a mechanism through which private/philanthropic sources could leverage government funds and improvement of planning coordination among the jurisdictions.

City Services Manager Gloria Manz outlined five objectives for the ILA: 1. Promote an equitable, accountable and transparent homeless crisis response system; 2. Prioritize those with the greatest barrier to housing stability and the greatest risk of harm, 3. Prevent episodes of homelessness whenever possible, 4. Seek to house everyone in a stable setting that meets their needs and 5. Strengthen the homeless provider workforce.

The ILA establishes joint and individual responsibilities for the parties involved, including updating and approving homelessness plans pursuant to state laws, coordinated planning, development and outreach methods and coordinating inclement weather responses for cooling shelters and warming centers. The agreement outlines ways the parties can “coordinate when distributing homelessness grant funds, and awarding grants for programs designed to achieve goals identified in the Homelessness Strategic Plan.”

The interlocal agreement is for five years, with the city moving on its own to develop its own five-year plan. Council has also taken steps, per state law, to utilize document recording fees collected by the county for Spokane Valley to partially fund some of the city’s homelessness efforts.

Merkel expressed concern with the ILA’s second objective, claiming it would lock the city in with what he considered spending “the most money with the fewest people.” Merkel added the money would be better spent with preventing homelessness, adding later in council comments that the objective

was the “largest waste of homeless funds.”

“We have no choice on these objectives if you still want to administer the funds,” Manz said in noting the objectives come from the state Department of Commerce.

Mayor Pam Haley disagreed with Merkel’s assessment, noting the objective didn’t specify a definition of who individuals facing the greatest barriers and risks were.

“It could be a working, single mom with three kids,” she added.

The ILA was approved 6-1, with Merkel voting no.

Pines, Argonne construction measures passed

The City Council passed several resolutions related to construction. The first was a contract amendment approved at the May 20 meeting with HDR Construction Management for Phase 2 of the Pines Road / BNSF Grade Separation Project that would construct a new Centennial Trail trailhead.

Phase 1 of the $48 million project, which began in February 2025, involves construction of an underpass under the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway tracks on Pines / State Route 27; a realignment of Pines to the east and replacement of the current signalized intersection with Trent Avenue / SR290 with a multi-lane roundabout. The city has raised about $52.3 million in funding from a variety of state and federal sources.

The amendment would authorize execution of a contract amendment with HDR not to exceed $1,999,376.13 for the amendment or $2,346,513.36 for the total contract. Construction of Phase 2 could take place this summer.

At the May 6 meeting, council approved a $1,132,739 design services contract with KPFF, Inc. for the Argonne / Interstate 90 Bridge Project. Spokane Valley has secured $1,297,500 in grant funds from the Spokane Regional Transportation Council along with committing $202,500 of its own money to fund a portion of the preliminary engineering.

The project would add a third lane to the Argonne Road bridge of the interstate or replace it with a new, three-lane bridge to help alleviate congestion and add bicycle/pedestrian facilities.