RIVER CROSSING
University High School Raegan Miller Crowned Lilac Queen
By Nina Culver
Current Contributor
Raegan Miller knew when she was a little girl that she wanted to be a Lilac Princess. Not only has that dream come true for the University High School senior, she was recently crowned this year’s Lilac Queen.
Miller said the reasons she wanted to become a Lilac Princess changed over the years. “I think when I was younger it was about being a princess and wearing the crown,” she said.
But when she was a high school freshman, she became friends with senior Shelby Zehm, who would go on to become a Lilac Princess. That’s when she realized that being in the Lilac Court was really about serving the community and learning leadership skills. “I saw her go through the process, saw her change and grow,” she said. “I found that their mission statement really resonated.”
Each participating high school selects a senior girl to be a Lilac Princess. They each participate in an eight-week program that teaches resume development, time management, interview skills, etiquette and more. After interviews, the top seven are selected to be in Lilac Court. After another round of interviews, judges select the Queen.
Miller said she believes her background in dance helped her because she was used to performing in front of people. When she was two, she started attending classes at Donna’s School of Dance. Her parents wanted to get her involved in an activity and gave her several
options. “Apparently they asked me and I said I wanted to dance,” she said.
For fifteen years, Miller specialized in tap dance, though she also dabbled in jazz, hip hop, lyrical, Bollywood and contemporary dance. “I really liked the meticulousness of it,” she said of tap dancing. “In other styles, you’re dancing to the music. In tap, you’re kind of creating your own music.”
She gave up dancing when the COVID-19 pandemic forced Donna’s School of Dance to shut its doors after more than 55 years in business, but she stayed busy.
She’s been a varsity cheerleader for all four years of high school and has played volleyball for six years, three of those on the varsity team. She also volunteers with the Crimson Crew, which helps freshmen acclimate to high school, and has been involved in ASB activities all four years. This year she is ASB president. She has also been a longtime volunteer with her school’s unified sports teams.
Since she was crowned on March 30, Miller has worked hard to juggle her classes, school activities, friends, family and her new duties as Queen. Miller said she keeps it all straight by keeping
a meticulous calendar like her mother taught her. “She has taught me from a very early age that organization and communication is key,” she said.
Miller said participating in two varsity fall sports at the same time also helped polish her time management. She’s also not afraid to discuss conflicts when they arise in order to find a solution. “Sometimes you can’t figure it all out yourself and have to ask for help,” she said.
She has plans to attend St. Mary’s College of California and earn a teaching degree. She said she’s wanted to be a teacher since stepping foot in Mrs. Briggs’ kindergarten classroom at Ponderosa Elementary School. Having Mrs. Briggs as a teacher was the best thing that ever happened to her, Miller said, and her teacher taught that learning is fun. “She really created a safe environment in her classroom,” Miller said.
Her goal is to become a kindergarten teacher just like Mrs. Briggs, Miller said, so she can have an impact on new learners. “I want their first impression of education to be fun and memorable like my teacher did for me,” she said.
Miller said she chose St. Mary’s because she felt at home there, despite the fact that her father is a die hard Gonzaga University fan and the two schools are basketball rivals. Though the family joked that she could never attend St. Mary’s, her father supported her decision, she said.
She was accepted to several colleges, but Miller made her decision quickly. “I could just see myself there,” she said. “I committed while on my tour and that was the only school I toured. St. Mary’s is the top education school in California.”
But before she leaves for college in the fall, Miller will spend a lot of her time representing her community and performing
Contributed photo
University High School senior, ASB President, and Lilac Princess Raegan Miller was crowned Lilac Queen for the 2025 Lilac Festival. Raegan plans to attend Saint Mary’s College after high school to become a Kindergarten Teacher.
Council reaffirms “no sanctuary city” status, approves affordable housing
By John McCallum
Current contributor
By a 5-2 vote at its April 1 meeting, Spokane Valley’s City Council passed a resolution reaffirming a 2016 ordinance declaring the city is not a “sanctuary city” when it comes to immigration.
The former ordinance directed the Police Department “to assist other law enforcement agencies in enforcing U.S. immigration laws, and directing SVPD and Sheriff’s deputies, when operating in City limits, and City employees to require proof of legal residence in the U.S. when it is appropriate as part of their assigned jobs.”
The 2025 resolution, 25-003, does not direct law enforcement in the same manner as the 2016 version. It does say the city will support enforcement of specific United States codes that “define and prohibit unlawful entry and reentry of aliens into the United States” while also stating the city “does not agree with, support or promote” what is referred to as the “Keep Washington Working” act.
According to the Act, law enforcement cannot collect information on a person’s immigration, citizenship status or birth place, with the exception of a connection between that information and the investigation of a violation of state or local criminal law.
The Act also prohibits law enforcement agencies from “providing any ‘non-publicly available personal information’ about any person (including individuals subject to community custody) to federal immigration authorities in a noncriminal matter — such as a civil immigration
matter — except as otherwise required by state or federal law or a lawfully issued court order.”
At the meeting, Deputy City Manager Erik Lamb said staff worked with Councilwoman Jessica Yaeger on the resolution, with Yaeger providing supporting materials. The resolution came about after Yaeger, Councilwoman Laura Padden and Mayor Pam Haley returned from a lobbying trip to Washington D.C. where they met with White House staff.
Yaeger said the resolution is needed to protect the city’s ability to obtain federal funding, which could be denied by the administration of President Donald Trump to jurisdictions declaring themselves immigrant sanctuaries. She disagreed with the Keep Washington Working Act, calling it “a ruse” that violates the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause.
Thirty-seven individuals gave public comment on the resolution, with 35 speaking against it. While many were from outside the city, some were from Spokane Valley, and all addressed negative impacts and messages the ordinance sent
to immigrants, particularly those from Latin America.
One resident spoke in favor of the ordinance while another noted the impact to federal funding. Councilman Al Merkel, who said his mother is from Honduras, felt the resolution wasn’t needed.
“This is an empty statement, a waste of time,” he said, but added he heard from a number of residents urging him to support the resolution, which he did.
In a comment near the end of the discussion, Mayor Pam Haley said the resolution has nothing to do with politics but more to do with making the 2016 ordinance comply with the Keep Washington Working Act. A review of the resolution shows this is not clearly stated, and instead, makes the point the city believes a conflict exists between state and federal law regarding immigration and that it supports enforcement of federal statutes “to the maximum extent allowed under Constitutional, Federal, State, and local laws to promote public safety.”
In fact, the resolution
advocates for lawmakers to make changes to the Act so enable better enforcement of federal laws. It also advocates for other jurisdictions to issue policies prioritizing enforcement of federal immigration laws as well as “adoption and enforcement of policies that
prioritize public safety for all individuals who live and reside in the United States lawfully.”
In a November 2024 presentation to council, Spokane County Sheriff John Nowells and Spokane Valley Police Chief Dave Ellis said it was their intentions to abide by U.S. and Washington statutes as much as possible. Ellis said in an interview it would depend upon the situation whether or not officers asked individuals for identification. If there is no crime, there is no reason to ask, and even then, all they need to produce is their name, not paper ID.
“We don’t ask about their citizenship status,” Ellis said. “The Keep Washington Working
See SV COUNCIL, Page 24
Introducing the Safety Awareness Channel
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 March Theft Hotspots
SAFETY TIP OF Bike Safety
Cyclists, Check Your Equipment
Always inspect your bike prior to riding.
● The seat should be adjusted to the proper height and locked in place
● Make certain all parts are secure and working properly
● Check that the tires are inflated properly
● Make sure the bike is equipped with reflectors on the rear, front, pedals and spokes
● A horn or bell, a rear-view mirror and a bright headlight also are recommended
Plan to Be Seen
Make certain drivers can see you.
● Wear neon, fluorescent or other bright clothing
● Whenever possible, ride during the day
● If you must ride at night, wear reflective clothing and use flashing lights
Wear a Helmet
Helmets appropriate for bicycling should be worn by everyone – adults and children – on every bike ride regardless of length of the ride. Make certain the helmet is certified by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Follow these guidelines from NHTSA to properly fit the helmet:
● Adjust sizing pads or fit ring until the helmet is snug
● Position the helmet level on
your head, covering the forehead and not tipped backward or forward; this will be about one to two finger widths above the eyebrow
● Adjust the side straps so they form a “V” shape under and slightly in front of your ears
● Center the buckle on the chin strap under your chin
● Buckle and tighten the chin strap until it is snug; no more than one to two fingers should be able to fit between the chin and strap
● When fitted, the helmet should not rock more than 1 inch side to side or front to back on your head
● Watch Fitting a Bicycle Helmet
Follow These Rules of the Road
Stay safe by following these rules:
● Get acquainted with traffic laws; bicyclists must follow the same rules as motorists
● Ride single-file in the direction of traffic
● Remain alert, keep your head up and look around; watch for opening car doors and other hazards
● Use hand signals when turning and use extra care at intersections
● Never hitch onto cars
● Before entering traffic, stop and look left, right, left again and over your shoulder
May is National Bike Month
During National Bike Month, cycling enthusiasts across the country celebrate the many benefits of cycling.
The League of American Bicyclists, which advocates for a “Bicycle Friendly America,” sponsors Bike Month each year. The 32-page National Bike Month Guide has everything you need to plan a Bike Month event in your community. The League’s Ride Smart program also is a great resource for educational videos, classes, tips and other information about bike safety.
2025 March Burglary Hotspots
Districts
State Begins Speed Camera Pilot along I90 in Liberty Lake
By Nina Culver
Current contributor
Frequent drivers of eastbound Interstate 90 between the Harvard Road exit and State Line have likely noticed two cameras perched on bright orange stands on the edge of the road. The cameras are part of a speed camera pilot project to identify speeders on the busy stretch of roadway.
Washington State Department of Transportation assistant communications manager Amy Moreno said the pilot project was requested by the Washington State Legislature as they looked for ways to reduce serious crashes caused by speeding. “In recent years we have seen an increasing number of speed related crashes,” she said. “This was their proviso. This was not requested by WSDOT.”
The Washington Department of Transportation has been working with the Washington State Patrol and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission to reduce the number of speed-related crashes in the state.
The pilot program is unique in that it requires two cameras spaced three miles apart. The cameras record the speed of each vehicle as it passes by and tracks the time it takes each vehicle to travel the distance between the two cameras, creating an average rate of speed. If a vehicle’s average speed is too high, the cameras will take a picture of the vehicle’s license plate.
The average speed method is much different than the usual method of using a camera to measure speed at a single point. “This is the first time this particular method has been used on a state highway,” Moreno said. “It’s heavily used in Europe.”
The section of I-90 near Liberty Lake was selected because it had at least two but no more than three lanes of traffic, had enough space between on and off ramps to get accurate data and had a history of high-speed crashes that caused serious injury or death, Moreno said.
“It’s by no means saying this is the worst spot in the state,” she said.
There were 48,121 crashes reported on state highways in 2023, according to WSDOT data. Of those, 346 fatal collisions involved the death of 392 people.
The site near Liberty Lake is one of only two in the state that are part of the pilot program, with the other being on Interstate 5 between Cook and Bow Hill roads in Skagit County. Signs warning drivers about the speed cameras have been posted at each location. The Legislature specified that it wanted a location on the east side of the state and one on the west side for the pilot project, Moreno said.
The cameras only take a picture of a vehicle’s license plate, not the driver, Moreno said. A warning letter will be sent to the registered owner of the car notifying them of the speed violation and how much a ticket could have cost them. There will be no fines issued during the pilot program, Moreno said.
“It’s not a ticket,” she said. “It’s just a courtesy.”
The warning letters will not be sent to owners of cars registered in a different state. “It will only go to Washington residents,” she said. “It’s just a safety program.”
Residents are being asked to give the state feedback about the pilot program by visiting engage.wsdot. wa.gov/highway-speed-cameras. Those comments, plus the data collected by the speed cameras, will be presented to legislators.
The Legislature hopes the program will encourage drivers to slow down and reduce the number of collisions, Moreno said. “Hopefully this will save lives,” she said.
The state allocated $2 million for the pilot program to pay for purchasing the cameras, setting them up and postage to mail the warning letters. If a vehicle is photographed multiple times speeding through the pilot project area, only one letter will be sent, Moreno said. “We have a very limited budget,” she said.
Though the first camera near the Harvard Road exit is within the Liberty Lake city limits, neither the mayor nor the police chief was
notified in advance that it was being installed, said Police Chief Damon Simmons. No one has called the department to complain, but Simmons said he did get a call from someone asking what the camera was for.
There currently are not any speed cameras in the city of Liberty Lake, but Simmons said he is considering asking the City Council to install traditional speed cameras in school zones and near parks. However, the council needs to approve a city ordinance allowing the cameras first, he said.
The speed cameras on I-90 will be removed in late June, Moreno said. It will be up to state legislators to decide if they want to continue the program in some form, she said, whether that is an expansion of the pilot project, advancing to issuing tickets or not continuing the program at all.
“That’s really going to be their decision,” she said. “The future of the program is up to the Legislature. I think a lot will have to do with what the data shows.”
PUBLIC SAFETY
Continued from page 11
minimum of 10 additional officers over the next two years, increasing the number funded by potential passage of the sales tax measure by three. If those positions were funded and filled, it would still leave Spokane Valley 10 officers and personnel shy of the Matrix study’s recommendation of 30.
A dispute over funding city priorities
While all council members support the need for more officers, how they are paid for is in dispute. Councilman Al Merkel was the lone “No” vote on the ordinance sending the proposal to a public vote. Councilman Ben Wick was not present at the April 15 meeting, having an excused absence, but was a “Yes” vote on the April 1 first reading.
Merkel has regularly criticized his fellow council members for not doing enough to find funding within the existing budget to eliminate in order to pay for officers without seeking additional revenue. At past meetings in 2024 and this year, he has proposed cutting funding from city projects — including elimination of the Sprague
Avenue stormwater improvement and lane reduction project completed last fall — as well as trimming budgets of all city departments.
At a meeting this year, Merkel read off amounts he would cut from each department. He has also been a consistent “No” vote on most councilapproved funding decisions such as pursuing grants for street projects, especially if those grants require city matching funds, and has advocated that the city’s top priority is public safety funding before all other needs.
“I think this is an egregious waste of money in terms of asking people to provide more taxes,” he said at the April 15 meeting. “We should be looking within our own budget to fund our priorities first. That is our job. That is our responsibility to the taxpayers.”
Merkel isn’t the only critical voice regarding the sales tax proposal. Several residents voiced concerns at the April 1 public hearing, including criticizing results of a city survey showing public opinion in favor of the sales tax as being an inadequate sample size.
“Cops don’t work, they don’t provide the safety we’re looking for,”
Valley resident Kaylie Hughes said, adding people who are adequately housed and fed make better decisions when it comes to following the law.
Other individuals testifying at the public hearing were more supportive, as are all council members. Several were critical of Merkel himself.
“It’s amazing to me that the council member who poses himself as a champion of the people only wants it if the people’s voice come through him,” Councilwoman Laura Padden said. “And he is trying to silence the people by not allowing them to vote on this. Let the people speak.”
“Just in case anybody has missed it, what Councilman Merkel is proposing is not funding streets, or parks or pools,” Councilwoman Jessica Yaeger said. “So, what he is proposing does not work.”
Yaeger added she doesn’t like the idea of a tax increase either, but the city has done as much as possible to find internal savings.
“We did make cuts,” Deputy Mayor Tim Hattenburg said. “We tightened our belt about as far as we can without cutting needed programs.”
Mayor Pam Haley said council
is charged with other aspects of city business besides just public safety, with residents looking to its members to make decisions on other services while not wasting public money. In her opinion, the council has been very successful at this.
“The one thing I hear the most when I go out in the public and talk with the citizens is how much we do with how little money we get,” Haley said. “And that’s reality.”
As for Merkel’s accusation advancing the sales tax measure was a waste of public money, Communications Manager Jill Smith said the cost to put it on the August ballot ranged from $30,000 to $200,000, depending upon how many other measures might also be on the ballot. The city would use its standard methods of communicating aspects of the proposal to voters such as the website, social media, Community Conversation events and other presentations.
“We do anticipate a one-timeall-city mailer closer to the election, which is again allowed by state law and would cost an estimated $30,000,” Smith added. “This would be paid out of the 2025 general fund budget.”
Brought
SPOKANEGARDEN EXPO MAY 10th
9am-5pm
Spokane Community College 1810 N. Greene St.
GARDENING FOR KIDS
For grades K–5
Dig into some dirt for gardening fun. Learn about plants and their lifecycles, and take home a plant start to care for and watch grow.
SPOKANE VALLEY LIBRARY 22 N Herald Rd Thursday, May 1, 3:30–4:30pm
MORAN PRAIRIE LIBRARY 6004 S Regal St Tuesday, May 13, 3:30–4:30pm
SPOKANE
By John McCallum
Current contributor
CENTRAL
Valley teams racing towards post season action
VALLEY Baseball
Streaking might be the buzzword for Central Valley baseball this season as the Bears have put together several of the winning variety.
The first was a three-game winning streak coming off a 9-7 season-opening non-league loss to Southridge. Central Valley followed that with wins over Kennewick and a pair from Cheney.
After an 8-4 loss to Mt. Spokane, the Bears put five consecutive wins together, downing Mt. Spokane 9-8 on April 1 followed by doubleheader sweeps of Ferris and Ridgeline.
A 7-5 loss to Gonzaga Prep ended that streak, but Central Valley quickly got another one – their current one – under way with wins over G-Prep (158) on April 17 followed by a doubleheader sweep of Shadle Park.
CV is currently tied with G-Prep for first in the Greater Spokane League at 9-2, 103. The Bears have two games each with Lewis and Clark, University and Mead on their schedule.
Central Valley is currently ranked seventh in the Washington Interscholastic Athletics Association’s 3A RPI. Fastpitch softball
The Bears (5-7, 5-9) are tied with Ferris for fifth in the GSL and are two games behind fourth-place Ridgeline.
Soccer
Baseball
After opening with three straight losses, CV reeled off three straight wins to end the month of March. After opening April with three losses to the top-three 3A GSL teams — Mt. Spokane, University and Ridgeline — the Bears have stayed in the race with wins over Shadle Park, Ferris and LC.
CV can still move up in the standings, but it won’t be easy. Three of their five remaining games are with those three GSL 3A leaders.
Stags set for April 26.
www.hubsportscenter.org
During that winning streak, the Knights had impressive wins over North Central (34-2, 37-1), Pullman (15-2), Clarkston (12-2) and West Valley (9-7, 14-6). They travel to North Central and West Valley for single games and a pair of doubleheaders to wrap up the regular season, including the finale at home with Pullman May 10.
The Knights are ranked 17th in the WIAA 2A RPI, with Deer Park fourth and Clarkston 20th.
Soccer
With a 4-1 record, 6-3 overall, the Bears were essentially tied for the lead with Ridgeline for the lead in the GSL standings among 3A schools as of April 23, and second overall behind Lewis and Clark. Central Valley had four games remaining, including a matchup April 23 with Mt. Spokane, one game behind them in the standings, along with a key contest April 30 at home against the Falcons.
CV’s only losses were to LC and twice to G-Prep, all by 2-1 scores.
EAST VALLEY
The Knights continue to search for their first win of the season, and were 0-12 in the GSL and 0-14 as of April 22. Seventh in the GSL 2A classification, East Valley has five games remaining, including a pair with sixthplace Rogers, 3-10, 3-12.
Fastpitch softball
After a 2-1 start, a sevengame winning streak helped elevate the Knights into second-place in the GSL 2A classification. At 8-2, 8-4 overall, East Valley is four games back of unbeaten Deer Park in the win column, two in the loss column, and had a home doubleheader with the
After a 2-3 start, the Knights turned their season into a competition for a high playoff spot with a five-game winning streak. Since their seventh win, 5-1 over 1A Lakeside on April 14, East Valley has dropped games to North Central 1-0, and GSL 2A-leading and topranked Pullman, 2-0.
At 5-2 in the GSL, 7-5 overall, East Valley has chance to overtake rival West Valley and secure the No. 2 seed to the playoffs. Three of their final four games are against league opponents below them in the standings: fourth-place Deer Park (2-5, 4-6, 9 points), sixth-place Clarkston (2-5, 3-7, 6 points) and Rogers 0-8, 1-10) before wrapping up the regular season at home against West Valley.
UNIVERSITY
Baseball
At 8-3 GSL, 9-4 overall the Titans are right in the thick of things for the league title, tied with Mt. Spokane for third and a game back in the win and loss columns from 3A leader CV. University gets two shots at the Bears, April 29 and May 1.
After an 11-1 season-opening loss to Kennewick, the Titans went a tear, winning nine of their next 10 games, the only loss a 14-6 setback to Gonzaga
Prep. The final win in that stretch was a 1-0 shutout of Mt. Spokane on April 15, with the Wildcats ending the University streak with a 16-1 thumping on April 17.
University got back in the plus column with a 6-1 win over Ridgeline, which followed a 7-2 loss to the Falcons. The Titans also have games against Shadle Park (2), Cheney (2) and the CV matchups before ending the regular season May 7 at Kamiakin.
Fastpitch softball
The Titans (9-3, 10-4) are third in the GSL but in secondplace among 3A teams, trailing league and 3A leader Mt. Spokane by three games. Four of their five remaining games are with teams chasing them in the standings, the lone exception their regular-season finale May 2 at 4A Mead (11-1, 13-1).
Their home-finale April 29 against fourth-place Ridgeline, third in GSL 3A, could also be a big game. The Falcons knocked off University 9-4 on March 31.
Ranked No. 21, the Titans are one of only three teams on the east side of the Cascades in the WIAA’s 3A RPI Top25 (Ridgeline is No. 26). Southridge out of the Tri-Cities is No. 23, with unbeaten Mt. Spokane ranked No. 1.
Soccer
At 2-3 in league, 2-7-1 overall, the seventh-place Titans are in a battle for better playoff positioning. Three of their four remaining games are against teams above them in the standings, including a regular-season finale on the road at Central Valley.
WEST VALLEY
Baseball
At 10-1 in the GSL, 10-2 overall and ranked eighth in the WIAA’s 2A RPI, the Eagles are certainly soaring. West
Valley owns a one-game lead over Pullman (9-2, 9-4), and three games over Deer Park.
West Valley opened with a sweep of Clarkston, lost 10-9 to 3A Cheney, then rattled off three more wins – including over Pullman – before losing 6-4 to Deer Park. They got back in the plus column with a 5-0 win over the Stags, and are currently in the midst of a fivegame winning streak.
The Eagles have seven games remaining, two with Pullman and one more with Deer Park, and wrap up the regular season May 6 at home against East Valley.
Fastpitch softball
The Eagles are fifth in the GSL 2A classification, 3-6 and 3-8 overall. Their three wins all came April 1-2 over North Central and a doubleheader sweep of Rogers.
West Valley had one more game with the Pirates on April
22, results too late for this issue, and a doubleheader with NC on May 3. They also have single games against league leader Deer Park and secondplace East Valley along with doubleheaders against Pullman and Clarkston.
Soccer
As of April 23, the Eagles were in a battle for the GSL 2A crown — a battle that wouldn’t be easy to win. West Valley was 6-2 in league, 10-2 overall with 18 points, trailing unbeaten and WIAA top-ranked Pullman (8-0, 12-0, 24 points) but barely ahead of third-place and rival East Valley (5-2, 7-4, 15 points).
The Eagles were bringing a three-game winning streak into their final three regular-season games — all on the road. After a visit to fifth-place North Central, West Valley wrapped up its schedule with trips to Pullman and East Valley.
The Eagles were ranked eighth in the WIAA’s April 23 2A RPI standings.
SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE
SV COUNCIL
Continued from page 5
Act is pretty clear.”
At the April 1 meeting, Councilman Ben Wick asked if passage of the resolution would change city operations.
“No, I don’t see any change,” Lamb said.
Wick and Deputy Mayor Tim Hattenburg both voted against the resolution.
Council strengthens illicit massage business codes
At the April 15 meeting, council voted unanimously to adopted three changes to the city’s codes regarding illicit massage businesses and massage therapy licenses. Council originally passed an ordinance in 2023 adopted state law regarding these operations, including reflexology, with the goal of the new ordinance to provide law enforcement and the city more tools to ensure these businesses are complying with licensing requirements.
two proposals to provide affordable housing on cityowned properties in the Carnahan area west of Lowe’s. The resolution authorizes the city manager to execute final agreements with Habitat for Humanity to build affordable housing at 228 E. Carnahan and 4908 E. 1st Avenue.
The East Carnahan property was purchased in March 2024 for $633,000 — part of $2 million council set aside for affordable housing property acquisition from the $16 million the city received from the American Recover Plan Act (ARPA) in 2022. Council authorized using $4 million of this funding in 2023 for a variety of projects dealing with affordable housing and homelessness.
The changes include broadening who can be held responsible for violations, requiring applicants to provide a state-issued massage license, pass a background check if no license, undergo an inspection within 120 days of license issuance and revocation of license if found in violation of city codes.
It also changes the violations to be issue, with a first violation resulting in a misdemeanor and a second a gross misdemeanor. In Washington state, a misdemeanor conviction can lead to imprisonment in a county jail for up to 90 days, or a fine of up to $1,000, or both. A gross misdemeanor carries a maximum jail sentence of 364 days and a fine of up to $5,000.
Police Chief Dave Ellis said there have been an estimated 17 illicit massage businesses in the city, of which 77% were shut down this past year.
Affordable housing approved for Carnahan area
At the April 22 meeting, council voted 6-1 to approve
The city issued a request for proposal for the properties in October, 2024, and eventually received two. Habitat for Humanity and Millenium Northwest both made presentations to council at the April 1 meeting, with only Habitat making a proposal for both properties.
Council members were subsequently asked to rank their preference. Six council member ranked Habitat for Humanity’s proposal at the top. Councilman Al Merkel did not submit his rankings.
Habitat for Humanity’s proposal calls for 24 units at the 228 S. Carnahan property, each 2-3 bedroom, 1.5 bathrooms at 1,277 square feet. Each unit carries the capabilities for tenant ownership, and are geared towards families, seniors and individuals experiencing disabilities.
The 1st Avenue property will be a large, four-bedroom/ two-bathroom single family home for a larger family or individuals experiencing disabilities.
Council has directed staff to prioritize homeownership, workforce housing, seniors, homeless and individuals with disabilities when it comes to decisions on affordable housing projects.
Love The Current? Support our partners.
The Current is committed to serving the Greater Spokane Valley area through excellent community journalism. We can’t do it at all without you, our readers, and we can’t do it for long without support from our advertisers. Please thank our business partners and look to them when offering your patronage.
Our sincere appreciation to the following businesses for their foundational partnerships withThe Current and its partner publications:
Of note: This thank you message was produced by The Current’s advertising team, which works its tail off on behalf of partner businesses, helping them share their messages through advertisements. This is an independent function from The Current’s editorial team, which has its own evaluation process to determine the community news stories and features it pursues. For
information about a win-win partnership that expertly markets your business to thousands of readers (while making this home-grown community newspaper possible), email advertise@valleycurrent.com. With story ideas, contact editor@valleycurrent.com.
EDITOR/PUBLISHER Ben Wick ben@libertylakesplash.com
CO OWNER Danica Wick danica@libertylakesplash.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Nina Culver, John McCallum
Valley Current P.O. Box 363 Liberty Lake, WA 99019 Phone: 509-242-7752 www.valleycurrent.com
The Current is published monthly by or before the first of each month. It is distributed free of charge to every business and home in the greater Spokane Valley area. Copies are located at drop-off locations in Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake and the surrounding area.
The Current is brought to you by
Wick Enterprizes
Publishing House
Submitted materials
Announcements, obituaries, letters to the editor and story ideas are encouraged. Submit them in writing to publisher@valleycurrent.com. Submissions should be received by the 15th of the month for best chance of publication in the following month’s Current.
Subscriptions
Subscriptions for U.S. postal addresses cost $20 for 12 issues. Send a check and subscription address to P.O. Box 363, Liberty Lake, WA 99019. Subscriptions must be received by the 15th of the month in order for the subscription to begin with the issue printed the end of that month.
Correction policy
The Current strives for accuracy in all content. Errors should be reported immediately to 509-242-7752 or by email to editor@valleycurrent.com. Confirmed factual errors will be corrected on this page in the issue following their discovery.
Advertising information
Display ad copy and camera-ready ads are due by 5 p.m. on the 15th of the month for the following month’s issue. Call 509-242-7752 for more information.
Advertising integrity
Inaccurate or deceptive advertising is never knowingly accepted. Complaints about advertisers should be made in writing to the Better Business Bureau and to advertise@valleycurrent.com. The Current is not responsible for the content of or claims made in ads.
Copyright © 2025
All rights reserved. All contents of The Current may not be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.
Wheeler Legacy
By Nina Culver Current contributor
Darl Wheeler wasn’t one to make a splash. He worked hard all his life, hated change and hid a soft heart under his often gruff exterior. He died March 21 at the age of 92.
Most people in Spokane Valley and Otis Orchards will recognize Wheeler as the longtime owner of Wheeler’s Farm Market, a small building tucked back on the side of busy Trent Avenue east of Barker Road.
Even those who weren’t regulars sang his praises, particularly on the Yelp page dedicated to reviewing his farm stand. One poster, identified as Jennifer J., wrote in 2018 about stumbling on Wheeler’s Farm Market on a road trip. She describes it as an “old-school” farm stand “run by a sweet older gentleman.”
His dedication to hard work can be traced back to his childhood, where he was fourth out of 10 siblings struggling through the Great Depression. He was born in Rugby, North Dakota, but the family moved to Grand Coulee when he was a few years old. The family lived in a makeshift RV next to a stream for several years, doing whatever work they could find.
They moved to the area in 1943 and Wheeler attended West Valley High School.
