2024 April Stream

The Water Front

“Every couple of weeks they added something new to my plate,” she said. “They kind of tricked me into it.”

By Nina Culver & Ben WIck Stream contributor

Community members familiar with the West Plains Chamber of Commerce will have no problem recognizing the organization’s newest executive director, Deanna Williams. Williams, who has been with the Chamber since 2017, was most recently the organization’s Director of Operations.

Chamber board of directors chairwoman Kendra Wiiest said it was immediately obvious that Williams was the best candidate of the dozen who applied. “She just really was the standout,” Wiiest said. “She’s very organized and she knows the past, present and future of the Chamber. She has the values that we were looking for. We decided on it as a group and she was the one.”

As part of the process of looking for a new director after the previous director, Mark Losh, left in December, Williams and Wiiest sat down and wrote a strategic plan mapping out the Chamber’s future. The two also wrote the job description for the new executive director, partly because Williams was always the one focusing on the details.

“She’s really the implementer,” Wiiest said. “She’s the one who does all the behind the scenes work.”

The Chamber covers the communities of Cheney, Airway Heights and Medical Lake as well as the rural area stretching to the Lincoln County line. “We’re unique because we’ve dedicated ourselves to making sure we can connect the smaller communities,” Wiiest said. “We’re really excited to have her so eager to make the commitment to growing the Chamber.”

Williams first got involved with the Chamber through her aunt, Christine Day, who owns Northwest Heating and Cooling. Day was on the chamber board and at the time the chamber had no employees and was supported by volunteers. Day asked Williams to do

Williams said she will be examining how to make sure members get the most out of their membership, since large and small companies have different needs. The Chamber will be looking at offering different kinds of memberships with that in mind. “We really need to focus on what kind of value we can bring to our members,” she said.

The Chamber has only two employees, Williams and a community engagement director that will be hired soon. They rely heavily on a group of core volunteers called the West Plains Connectors. They regularly touch base with members to see how business is going and if there’s anything they need, Williams said. The current volunteer

Base; Pasha Pechenov, Regional Vice President of Primerica; and Blake James, business development specialist at Colonial Life.

“They are awesome,” Williams said. “You see them at every single event.”

Though small, the West Plains Chamber has deep roots in the community. It was founded as the Cheney Chamber of Commerce in 1942. Williams said she’s not certain when the name of the organization changed and it expanded its reach.

Members receive discounted admission to events as well as access to free networking events. Member businesses are also the only ones allowed to advertise in the Chamber newsletter. But the biggest membership perk is online visibility. “We have

The webpage, located at www. westplainschamber.org, lists upcoming events as well. And since the Chamber encompasses a large rural area, there are also links to local farmers for those interested in buying their food locally.

As part of her new role, Williams said she will be exploring how to get members more involved in the Chamber and with each other. That could include reviving the committees that the Chamber used to have to brainstorm ideas on various topics, such as economic development. She also hopes to expand the West Plains Connectors and create a program that helps match corporate volunteers with local non-profit organizations in need of helping hands.

Williams said her transition into the executive director role has been seamless. “It’s been about the same as it’s been since Mark left,” she said. “I was already doing a lot of the decision making.”

She’s also grateful for the positive feedback she’s been getting from members since her promotion was announced. “It’s been really awesome, seeing the support from members,” she said.

Q. You have a family history of being involved in the West Plains Chamber, what made you want to get involved with the chamber?

A. Yes! My aunt, Christine Day, owner of NW Heating and Cooling, served on the board at the West Plains Chamber for several years. In 2017, she approached me about doing some work with the chamber. I started out doing a little bit of contracted work and after getting to know the community and the board I was more than excited to accept a full-time position with WPC.

Q. You talked about the chambers roots in the community, how long have you and your family been apart of the west plains?

A. I don’t remember exactly when my aunt moved to Medical Lake, but I remember going to her house when we were kids. In 2016, I moved out here from Coeur d’Alene and the following Contributed photo

Deanna Williams named Executive Director of the West Plains Chamber of Commerce after former director Mark Losh left in December to return to the Missula Chamber of Commerce as their Executive Director.

Chamber Director

WILLIAMS

Continued from page 2

year I started getting to know the community through the chamber.

Q. What have you enjoyed the most about your involvement in the West Plains Chamber?

A. When I look back on the past seven years, it’s really the values of the people here that I love the most and have been the most impactful. One of my greatest, personal values is gumption and it’s something the people here in the West Plains have. It takes courage to make room for growth in a place you call home, and it takes courage to preserve the things that make your community unique. It also takes a lot of dedication and hard work. None of these things are in short supply in our community.

Q. While you have already been apart of the chamber team, is there any new ideas you are looking forward to implementing now that you are the Director?

A. Two things come to mind:

1. I plan to reevaluate the benefits that come with being a member of the chamber. Our area and economy have changed, and it only makes sense that we pay attention to our members and what their businesses need and put together options that allow them to optimize their membership.

2. We are going to work on creating more ways for members and the community to get involved. While some of this is done through committee meetings, I want to focus on change through course of action and limit the time spent solely on discussion.

Q. In addition to being involved with the West Plains Chamber, I hear you are also a business owner and flower farmer?

A. That’s correct! I own and operate a small flower farm and am heading in to my third growing season. While I still consider myself very new to it, the lessons it has taught me are invaluable. It has brought me understanding for some of the struggles that many business owners endure and, in a way, has taken away a lot of my optimism - but replaced it with hope. There are many harsh realities a person has to face when owning a business and I want to be able to use any experience I can garner and use it to help our local businesses.

Q. The West Plains community is growing fairly rapidly, what do you see for the future, any challenges ahead?

A. There are always going to be

challenges when it comes to change and growth. When I think about the future of the West Plains and the inevitable development it will continue to support, I believe it’s important that our community thinks about the future of our area and the vision they have for it so that we aren’t faced with the challenges of our community changing in an unfavorable or detrimental way. Our community members are urged to pay attention to planning meetings with each of the cities and to not be shy about voicing your thoughts or opinions.

Q. With multiple different cities, how do you help connect with the different communities within the West Plains?

A. I remember several years ago the chamber was really working to pull our cities together and be the West Plains Community. But over time and in shifting our focus to initiatives under Mark Losh’s leadership we found that our cities have different needs and qualities. By supporting them individually and helping to tell their stories within our region it helped pull our communities together. That’s where we are really lucky with the people we have here: we have multiple communities that work with and support each other.

Q. You highlighted not only the importance of volunteers to the chamber but also wanting to match businesses volunteers with local nonprofits. What is your favorite event or group to volunteer with?

A. A couple of my favorite groups I’ve been able to help with are the Spokane Alliance for Fentanyl Education (S.A.F.E.) and their fall festival over the past few years and being involved with the Jensen Memorial Youth Ranch. We have so many incredible nonprofits in our area that are doing wonderful work and one of our goals at the chamber is to help them keep strong connections with the community and help them find groups of volunteers to help them with their missions.

Q. How can the community help support you and the West Plains Chamber?

A. Shop local. Eat local. Do business local. Attend local events. Buy your food from a local farmer or rancher. If you’re looking for a business or service, check our member directory – maybe there’s somebody right down the road from you that you don’t know about yet. Or if you’re on google looking for someone, look at the map and see who’s close to you. The best way you can support our chamber is by supporting our members and businesses.

Ecology cites International Airport for PFAS contamination

By Nina Culver Stream contributor

The Washington State Department of Ecology has imposed an enforcement order against the Spokane International Airport related to contamination by PFAS, a chemical that was previously common in firefighting foam used at airports, after months of negotiations broke down.

PFAS chemicals were first detected at Fairchild Air Force Base in 2017, leading to a series of well tests to determine the spread of the contamination. That work is ongoing. SIA conducted tests of its own wells in 2017 and 2019 and found contamination, but did not report the results. The contamination was found in multiple wells in the northeast part of the property and the southwest part of the property.

DOE Eastern Region Director Brook Beeler said DOE didn’t become aware of the contamination at SIA until last year. A citizen received the contamination information as part of a public records request to the airport and then notified DOE. When the contamination was first discovered, PFAS contamination was not required to be reported to the state, Beeler said. However, that changed in 2021 when reporting PFAS contamination became mandatory. At that time SIA should have reported the known contamination, Beeler said.

Research is still underway about the danger of PFAS, which is known as a forever chemical because of how long it lingers in the environment. It is thought to be tied to certain types of cancer as well as high cholesterol in children, low birth weight in babies and thyroid issues.

DOE and SIA began negotiating an agreed order to study and clean up the contamination on October 9. The process was supposed to last for 60 days, but SIA requested several extensions. The first extension, requested in a letter to DOE on November 9, asked for extra time

to hire technical experts. Ecology granted the extension, giving SIA until Feb. 8.

SIA asked for another extension in a letter dated Feb. 7, citing the need to have more time to refine the proposed scope of work as well as get guidance from the Federal Aviation Administration about the possibility of using airport revenue to pay for cleanup. DOE Site Manager Jeremy Schmidt said SIA had already brought up the FAA issue months ago and he would only grant a 30-day extension to March 11, warning that there would be no further extensions.

“As this topic was raised by SIA more than two months ago, Ecology believes ample time has passed and concludes this evaluation must be completed within 30 days,” Schmidt wrote. “To date, Ecology has not encountered the issue of certification at our other airport cleanup projects.”

Beeler said that Ecology met with representatives of SIA and the FAA to discuss the airport’s concerns. “We met with them and the FAA and don’t believe that’s an issue,” she said.

At one point the airport offered to move forward with the project before an agreed order was signed, but that would not have worked, Beeler said. “That work has to be done under Ecology’s oversight to make sure they’re following the state requirements,” she said.

In a letter dated March 7, SIA attorney Brian Werst asserted that Ecology’s proposed clean-up order “conflicts with the Airport’s obligations under federal law.” Werst said SIA had not yet received any guidance from the FAA.

In response, Schmidt wrote a lengthy, detailed letter on March 12 notifying SIA that the order that had been negotiated would be imposed on March 29. The plan outlines well testing, drilling new water test sites and a schedule for studying clean up possibilities. After that, Ecology will help pick the best clean up option and work will begin on it, Beeler said. “We’re asking the airport to develop a plan for studying it,” she said.

It is important that the work start as soon as possible, Beeler said, particularly since it has already been several years since the contamination was discovered.

“Further delay just isn’t acceptable,” she said. “Our correspondence has been firm in really laying out the requirements. This is happening, one way or another.”

Schmidt’s March 12 letter points out that Ecology made several changes to the order to address the airport’s concerns. “Ecology does not feel that a funding concern should prohibit SIA from entering into an AO, given the provisions of the agreement,” he wrote. “SIA has not provided any suggestions or options to address their concern outside of conducting remedial action work without Ecology oversight.”

The letter notes that the PFAS levels found on airport property are more than 500 times higher than allowed and that SIA kept this information hidden for years. “This lack of required notification to Ecology has delayed site cleanup work by more than two years,” Schmidt wrote.

Schmidt also noted that while SIA has expressed concerns about funding, it did not apply for a DOE Oversight Remedial Action Grant that would have paid 50 percent of all remedial action costs for cleanup.

SIA spokesman Todd Woodard declined to comment, but issued a statement in early April about Ecology’s decision. The statement said that the airport has been “meeting and communicating in good faith” with Ecology. “Despite the challenges and inconsistencies, we are proceeding with reasonable actions to investigate the extent of any PFAS on our property to assess whether there are pathways that result in human exposure and to develop plans to mitigate exposure exceeding appropriate standards,” the statement reads.

The statement also said that the airport received the guidance it was waiting for from the FAA on March 29, the same day the order was imposed by Ecology. “We are disappointed that Ecology has chosen to issue an enforcement order without waiting for and reviewing the guidance from the FAA,” the statement reads.

However, the statement does not say what the guidance said and Beeler said SIA has refused to provide Ecology with a copy for them to review. “We’ve also attempted to get the information from the FAA and have not received

it,” she said. “We sure would like to have that information too.”

The FAA declined to comment and did not respond to a FOIA request for a copy of the guidance.

Despite the conflict, Beeler said she expects the airport to follow the imposed order, most of which had already been agreed to. “We expect them to move forward with the work,” she said. “They’ve agreed to the timelines. They’ve agreed to the scope and the scale. It needs to be done now. We can’t wait.”

The public is invited to review the enforcement order online at https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/ cleanupsearch/site/16774. A public meeting to discuss the order and get input will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, May 6, at The Hub at 12703 W. 14th Avenue in Airway Heights. Comments can also be submitted via email to jeremy.schmidt@ecy. wa.gov. All comments should be submitted by May 27.

Calling All Local Graduates

The Stream is featuring West Plains high school graduates in the June issue. This invitation extends to all graduating seniors who live in the community, regardless of where they attend high school.

In order to participate, simply submit a photo with the following information to danica@ westplainsstream.com: Graduate’s name, high school, parents’ names and plans after graduation

Information must be received by Thursday, May 30th. Contact 509-242-7752 or danica@westplainsstream.com with any questions.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

April 13 | Airway Heights Summer Market - 10 am to 2 pm. Fresh local produce, USDA meats, baked goods, food vendors and more. 12703 W 12th Ave

April 13 | Medication Take Back Event – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Bi-Mart Store, 2221 1st St, Cheney. Cheney Police Dept. is hosting the event in the Bi-Mart parking lot. Bring unneeded, unwanted, or expired medication and they will be safely disposed of. Pick up a free locking box or pouch. Free to the public.

April 13 | Cheney Clean Sweep – 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Veterans’ Memorial Park, 612 4th Street. For the past 16 years in April volunteers have collected litter and cleaned up public spaces across the city. Comb the streets and neighborhoods of Cheney looking for litter and encourage residents to drop off household waste at collection areas. For more, visit https://www. cityofcheney.org/266/CheneyClean-Sweep.

April 14 | BINGO by Frog Hollow 4H -- 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tyler Grange, 610 1st St Cheney. Bingo is being hosted by the Frog Hollow 4H members. Play bingo with neighbors and have fun. Free to the public.

April 18 | Creating Rubber Band Racers – 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Cheney Library. Create your very own rubber band racing car. How fast and far will your car go? Race against other cars to see which one is the fastest. Families welcome, free. For more, scld.org.

April 20| Earth Day Volunteer at Turnbull NWR -- 9 a.m. to 1 p.m, Turnbull NWR, 26010 S. Smith Rd, Cheney. Join the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service along with the Friends of Turnbull and The Lands Council for a special Earth Day event. Give back by potting and

planting trees. No RSVP needed, free to the public. For more, email khall@landscouncil.or or brian_ walker@fws.gov.

April 20 | Dahlia Planting Demonstration – 11 a.m. Rosarium Garden Center and Event Venue, 9405 S Williams Lane, Spokane. Join Nicki Farrell from Tall Grass Farms and learn how to plant and maintain dahlias. Free to the public.

April 20 & 21| Airway Motocross Series Round #1 – The first motocross event of the season. Race classes for every level. Open to public to attend. For more, visit airway.com or call 509-218-5366.

April 25 | Star Wars Jedi Academy – 4 to 5 p.m., Airway Heights Library. All ages are invited to drop in and celebrate Star Wars at the library. Maky your own mini light saber, get some blaster practice in and more. Come dressed as your favorite Star Wars character. Ages 5+ & their families. Free. For more, scld.org

April 26 | The Old Schoolhouse Spring Vintage Pickin’ Sale – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Old Schoolhouse, 20815 W Espanola Rd, Medical Lake. Find great vintage finds at good prices! Enjoy shopping in the beautiful country setting of Medical Lake at the schoolhouse. Vintage furniture and décor for home and garden.

April 27 | Repair Café Workshop –1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Cheney Library, 610 1st St Cheney. Bring a household item that needs repair for an afternoon of learning and skill building. Example of things that might be repairable are lamps, fans, small appliances, toys, jewelry, and clean clothing. For more, visit scld. org.

April 29| Ranch Walk & Networking at the Jensen Memorial Youth Ranch – 4 p.m. Jensen Memorial Youth Ranch, 3312 S Ritchey Rd, Medical Lake. Explore the ranch and learn about how it was founded while networking and

diving into the world of agriculture and livestock. Free to the public. For more, visit West Plains Chamber of Commerce.

May 1 | May Day Garden & Farm Tour – West Plains – 8:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., West Plains Farm Cooridor. Meet at the Medical Lake City Hall and take a tour around local farms led by local florist Sue Hines. Free to the public. For more visit Spokane Farm Cooridors on Facebook.

May 10 - 11| Cheney Mayfest – 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. 9315 W Claire Ave, Cheney. Annual event in mid-May to promote the Cheney community and local businesses along with the growth of the city. Free to the public. For more, visit cheneymayfest.org

May 10-11| Dollars for Scholars Super Yard Sale – Friday 7 am - 6 pm, Saturday 7 am - 4 pm. Medical Lake High School Baseball Field Parking Lot. Donations can be made Thursday May 9th 8 am - 6 pm.

RECURRING

Medical Lake Indoor Farmer’s Market | 10 am to 2 pm, First and Third Saturday of each month. The Storehouse, 107 W. Lake St.

Seasoned Saints Potluck | 12 p. m. to 1:30 p. m., second Wednesday, Medical Lake Community Church, 211 N Washington St, Medical Lake. For age 55 and over. Bring a dish to share and enjoy food and fellowship. Free. For more, call 509299-3286

Stitch & Sew Group| 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Tuesday weekly, The Arcadia Building, 12929 E. Sprague Ave. Monthly real estate investing support group. All are welcome. For more, call 509.768.4357.

Tyler Grange #610 Meeting | 7 to 8 p.m., third Tuesday of the month, Tyler Grange 23712 S. "B" St., Tyler. Monthly grange meeting, public is welcomed. For more, call Theresa, 509-714-5575.

Espanola Grange #698 Meeting | 9 a.m., second Sunday of the month, 23607 W. Manila Rd, Medical Lake. Monthly grange meeting, public is welcomed. For more, call Walt, 509299-5269.

East Cheney Grange #885 Meeting | 7 p.m., third Friday of the month, Cheney Spangle Rd. Monthly grange meeting, public is welcomed. For more, call John, 509-994-4453.

LEGO Free Play | 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays, Various Libraries. Imagin and build with LEGO! Keep your engineering and problemsolving skills sharp using the library’s abundance of LEGO bricks. Families welcome. For more, scld.org

A Matter of Balance: Preventing Falls | 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday and Wednesday, Cheney Library. A Series of sessions for older adults who are concerned about fall. Learn strategies needed for setting activity goals. Free to public. For more, scld.org.

Cheney Library Book Club | 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., fourth Tuesday of the month. This book club is led by volunteers and meets monthly. New members are welcome to join at any time. For the current month’s title, call the library at 509-893-8280. Free to public.

Wonder Wednesdays | 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., every Wednesday of the month, Medical Lake Library. Drop by the library to try something new. Come explore and wonder with us. Grades K-5. Free. For more, scld. org.

Family Play & Learn Storytime | 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Various Libraries. Children ages 2-5 enjoy playing while learning during 30 mins of reading followed by 30 mins of activities. Free. For more, scld.org.

MUSIC & THE ARTS

April 19 | Kameron Marlowe with special guest Tucker Wetmore - 8pm. Spokane Tribe Resort and Casino. Go to https://spokanetribecasino. com/spokane-live/for tickets and more information.

April 26 |Steel Panther on the Prowl World Tour - 8 pm. Spokane Tribe Resort and Casino. Go to https://spokanetribecasino.com/ spokane-live/for tickets and more information. Warning: Explicit Content

May 2-4th, 9-11th |The SongeBob Musical. Cheney High School Drama Department Production. Purchase ticket for $15 at https:// wa-cheney-lite.intouchreceipting. com/SpongeBob?preview=true

May 11 | Hunter Hayes Flying Solo: Season 2 - 8pm. Spokane Tribe Resort and Casino. Go to https://spokanetribecasino.com/ spokane-live/for tickets and more information.

May 12 | Need to Breathe - 7 pm.

Northern Quest Casino - BECU Live. 100 N Hayford Rd, Airway Heights

May 15 |Boys II Men - 7:30 pm.

Northern Quest Casino - BECU Live. 100 N Hayford Rd, Airway Heights

HEALTH & RECREATION

April 13 | Opening Day for West Plains Little League –8 a.m. Salnave Park, 1116 Salnave Rd, Cheney. Join the West Plains Little League for the opening day at the Salnave Park. Free to the public.

April 24 | Plant Propagation from Seeds and Cuttings – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Cheney Library. Learn how to propagate seeds with or without a greenhouse and how to propagate plants using cuttings. Presented by Master Gardener Steve Nokes. Free to public. For more, scld.org

May 11 | Kids Fishing Day – 8 a.m., Clear Lake Resort, 14824 S Clear Lake Rd, Cheney. Registration for the Kids Fishing day is open. Lake will be freshly stocked with fish for kids to catch. $10 per child age 5 to 14 years old. Sign up at https:wdfw. wa.gov/sites/default/files/ fishing/youth/2024/2024-clearlake-kids-fishing-event-registrationform.pdf

CIVIC & BUSINESS RECURRING

Airway Heights City Council | 5:30 p.m. weekly on Mondays, Court House, 13120 W 13th Ave. Public is welcome.

Cheney School Board | 6pm. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, Cheney Highschool, 460 N 6th St.

Cheney City Council | 6 p.m., second and fourth Tuesday of each month, City Hall 609 2nd St. Public is invited.

Medical Lake School Board | 6:00 p.m., fourth Tuesday of the month. Location varies, for more visit mlsd. org

Medical Lake City Council | 6:30 p.m., first and third Tuesday of the month. Medical Lake City Hall, 124 Lefevre St.

Airway Heights Kiwanis Club Meeting | Fourth Wednesday, Noon at The HUB, 12703 W 14th Ave

Cheney Kiwanis Club Meeting

| Thursdays 7:00 am at Sessions

Village Clubhouse

Medical Lake Kiwanis CLub Meeting | Second Wednesday each month,, Noon at The Pizza Factory 123 S Broad Street

If you have an upcoming meeting or event that you want added to the calendar, email the details to calendar@ westplainsstream.com so we can include it in the next edition.

Friday May 10th 7am – 6pm

Saturday May 11th 7am – 4pm

Friday May 9th 7am-6pm Saturday May 10th 7am-4pm

Friday May 14th Saturday May 15th 7am-4pm

Friday May 9th 7am-6pm Saturday May 10th 7am-4pm

Medical Lake High School Baseball Field Parking Lot on LeFevre Street

Denny’s Harvest Foods parking lot SR 902 Medical Lake

Medical Lake High School Football Field Parking Lot On LeFevre Street

Denny’s Harvest Foods parking lot SR 902 Medical Lake Contact Dan Dorshorst 995-1099 to arrange for pick-up/delivery

Donations of usable/sellable items - sports equipment, household goods, clothing, furniture and more - can be dropped off at the parking lot on Thursday May 9th from 8am -6pm

Please… no junk! For more information, please contact Dan Dorshorst 509 -995 -1099 or Steven Meltzer 509 -951 -5468. We are not able to pick up items due to staffing, thank you! We could sure use some volunteers!

Airway Heights preserves water resource upgrade funding, projects

By John McCallum Stream contributor

A long-term project to provide a stable water supply to Airway Heights is once again back in the funding cycle, albeit with a few changes.

City legislative lobbyist Holly Sanabria told the City Council at its April 1 meeting that $14.95 million in funding the city received from federal Covid-19 relief funding and was in danger of losing had been recovered and was available. The money was preserved thanks to changes the city made to a proposed project to provide a new source of water to replace Airway Heights existing sources that have been contaminated by PFAS chemicals leaked into the groundwater from Fairchild Air Force Base firefighting activities.

Originally the city had proposed

drilling a new well to draw water from the Spokane Valley / Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer. That was would have led to the city losing a much of its water rights on the West Plains. The city was also informed it would lose the $14.95 million in federal funding for the project if the money wasn’t used by the end of the year.

Instead, the city worked with local officials and state legislators on an agreement to receive more water from the city of Spokane while also beefing up its water storage and transmission capacity. The four projects to do this total almost $36.78 million and include construction of two new water storage tanks capable of storing 7.1 million gallons, a new water transmission main and a new booster pump station.

Airway Heights’ portion of these projects totals almost $15.1 million,

with the $14.95 million in secured funding factored into the expenses.

Shelter replacement, new police investigator

Also at the April 1 meeting, the council unanimously approved resolutions maintaining and replacing picnic shelters and structures at Martella Park along with a measure to hire a full time investigator for the Police Department.

The council awarded a $309,643.51 contract to Bosco Construction, LLC to replace the roofs of shelters 2 and 3 along with residing the city’s storage shed at the park. The bid for this was $174,037.50, however an addendum to replace the entire shelter 1 was also included in the bid packet.

This will be done through Northwest Playground Equipment, Inc. at a cost of $135,085.81. The city has received a $100,000 grant from the state’s Community Outdoor Athletic Facilities (COAF) program to help with the project costs.

Parks & Recreation Director JC Kennedy said the have 60 days to complete the project per the grant’s requirement.

“Time is our biggest enemy at this point, but it’s a pretty straightforward project,” Kennedy said.

Council approved a request by Police Chief Brad Richmond to begin addressing some of the department’s lagging personnel needs by hiring a fulltime detective corporal investigator. The cost for the position will be $120,000 a year, which City Manager Albert Tripp said would be covered by redirecting funds currently going to a city debt service, which is sent to end soon.

A 2022 Police Safety Assessment study concluded the department needs to hire the investigator, four fulltime patrol officers, four additional police vehicles and a contract grant project manager in 2024 – 2025. The city has made no changes to its law enforcement needs since 2019, but has seen yearly call volumes rise from 9,223 that year to 21,519 in 2023, with 4,364 calls for service already received in 2024.

Richmond told the council the city has 37 active cases it is investigation — a number recently added to by a homicide and reported child assault

over the last couple of weeks. Of these cases, 54% involve child molestation / assault, requiring 120 man-hours to investigate.

City approves new surplus property sales, utility agreements

At the March 18 meeting, the council passed the second reading of Ordinance C-1021, which would change how the city conducts its sales of surplus property. The proposed changes allow staff to dispose of any personal property whose value is $0 by “the most efficient means possible.” Personal property valued less than $25,000 but greater than $0 can be sold without council approval.

Personal property greater than $25,000 must receive council approval to be appraised and sold. The means of any personal property sales are left the City Manager or a designee.

All real property would still require council approval for appraisal and sale.

Council also approved agreements accepting state Department of Ecology funding for two projects: a water reuse system and storage expansion and the Southside Sewer projects. The two are actually four projects grouped into two funding pots.

The agreements, totaling just over $1.135 million, allow for the design and engineering of the four projects along with a wastewater facilities plan, water reclamation plant SCADA and membrane upgrades.

Other action items and ordinances

Council also approved the following items:

• A $48,000 contract with Loomis Public Affairs for assistance with public outreach for the city’s August primary levy lid lift ballot measure to fund law enforcement.

• Two right of way dedication deeds with the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, JR Enterprises and GPI, LLC for a roundabout at U.S. Highway 2 and Lyons Road.

Council also approved the first reading of ordinances creating a new Capital Projects Fund entitled “Public Safety Building Purchase and Remodel Fund,” and one entitled “Public Safety Building Debt Service Fund.”

Medical Lake receives TIB funding for Lefevre pedestrian project

By John McCallum Stream contributor

A new grant will allow the city of Medical Lake to undertake a project improving nonvehicle access and safety along Lefevre Street.

At its April 2 meeting, the council unanimously approved receipt of a $1.586 million grant from the state Transportation Improvement Board’s Complete Streets project for pedestrian and bicycle improvements along Lefevre from Hancock Street to Brooks Road. The project will provide new sidewalks and lighting, and must be completed by December 2024, with the city providing $101,280 in matching funds.

The Complete Streets project is funded through the state’s Climate Commitment Act. Passed into law in 2021 and taking effect in January, 2023, the Act generated $2.3 billion last year for greenhouse gas reduction projects through the sale of pollution permits “allowances” in quarterly auctions to the state’s major polluters to cover emitted metric tons of carbon.

The ACT has funded a number of statewide projects, some of which are on hold pending outcome of a ballot measure this fall where voters will choose between retaining the funding mechanism or terminating it.

Preserving history; new right of way codes

Council also approved the first read of two ordinances on April 2, one adopting new codes regarding historic preservation of buildings and another to adopt new project right-of-way standards.

Ordinance 1122 would incorporate Spokane County standards and requirements for historic preservation into Medical Lake’s municipal codes under Chapter 2.40

“by reference.” According to a memo to the council and mayor from City Administrator Sonny Weathers, passage of the ordinance would address the city’s vision of including “meaningful connections to our history, and strategic objectives include protecting the historical and cultural character, managing the image, and enhancing the appearance of our City.”

Residents or businessowners who voluntarily wished to participate in the program would receive a “special valuation” credit towards property taxes for 10 years after completion of historically appropriate improvements to their property.

The ordinance also requires an interlocal agreement between Medical Lake and the Spokane County Historical Preservation Office for preservation services. There is no cost to residents “as long as county funding remains stable.”

Ordinance 1123 sets new standards for contractors seeking right-of-way permits in the city. Weathers told the council the need to replace the standards stemmed from a 2022 review by the city’s insurer, the Washington Cities Insurance Association, found the existing code language was old, stemming from the 1970s, and addressed only underground work.

Council discussed the new codes at length at their March 19 meeting, expressing concerns about requirements such as liability insurance and applicability to smaller, residentbased projects. Those concerns were addressed to council satisfaction, with Weathers noting “not all activities are equal” and would fall under the new requirements.

Water issues, emergency response

Council approved three resolutions at its March 19

meeting dealing with water and climate issues.

The first was an amendment to the $450,000 Department of Ecology grant Medical Lake received in April 2023 to administer an extensive study of chemical contamination and water flow of the West Plains Aquifer. The amendment provide for additional public outreach measures to be conducted that include public meetings and a technical advisory group to solicit feedback on aspects of the project now underway.

Councilman Chad Pritchard abstained from voting since he is currently conducting the study in his role as geosciences professor at Eastern Washington University.

Council then approved receipt of a $100,000 Department of Commerce 2023 – 2025 Climate Planning Grant to develop a plan for mitigation of potential climate hazards, including wildland fires. Through meetings and research, the city will develop a plan understanding potential climate hazards, the city’s vulnerability to these, plans and policies providing solutions and creation of mitigation strategies.

Weathers said the resulting documents will be included in the city’s Comprehensive Plan, and include a communications plan for informing the public should a climate disaster strike – such as another wildland fire.

“In the midst of a crisis, we’ve learned communication is a challenge,” Weathers said,

referencing the August 2023 Gray Road Fire that decimated the southern portion of the city.

“So, when it strikes, we can pick up a book and know what steps to take,” he added.

“It’s a playbook we can share with other small cities,” Mayor Terri Cooper said.

Council approved receiving the grant 6-1, with Councilman Don Kennedy opposed.

Finally, council unanimously approved awarding the Jefferson Street Water Main Project to Colville Construction. The city received eight bids for the work, with the lowest bid coming from Lowe Excavating at $378,957.

After evaluating the bids, the city’s engineer, Haggarty Engineering, found three areas of irregularities in Lowe’s bid and deemed it nonresponsive, giving the contract to the next lowest bidder, Colville Construction at $401,890. The engineering estimate for the work was $405,440.

Fire in a hole — agencies work to mitigate state landfill blaze

By John McCallum Stream contributor

Almost eight months after it started, the last vestige of the Gray Road Fire near Medical Lake continues to smolder — with no end yet in sight.

Since roughly mid-September, officials with four different agencies have battled a slow-burning fire in an unpermitted, almost 70-yearold underground landfill on

state property just northeast of Waterfront Park. The Department of Ecology notified the Department of Social and Health Services in a Feb. 12 letter that an Environmental Report Tracking System report from Feb. 8 indicated the potential for hazardous materials at the site.

“During the investigation, Ecology determined that contamination exists at your site,” Ecology Section Manager Nicolas Acklam wrote in the letter to DSHS Capital Program Project Manager Kristine Keller.

“As a result, we added this property to our database as a state cleanup site that will need to be cleaned up pursuant to MTCA (Model Toxics Control Act) requirements,” Acklam added. Exact contents of the landfill

are unknown, Spokane County Fire District 3 Deputy Chief Bill Dennstaedt said in an April 3 interview. According to DSHS, the landfill largely contains building materials such as concrete, brick, metal, plaster, asbestos insulation and painted surfaces, although a report available on the Ecology webpage created for the incident indicated the “suspected” presence of metals, lead, mercury and arsenic along with potentially barium and other organic compounds.

The webpage also stated that, because some debris came from medical facilities, there could be the presence of radioactive materials as well. Site scans by U.S. Air Force personnel revealed no radioactive materials, however.

Additionally, a report prepared

for DSHS by Mountain Consulting Services of Spokane, the center portion of the debris pile is coal waste.

Dennstaedt said Fire District 3 was contacted by Bureau of Land Management wildland fire crews putting out hot spots in the Gray Road burn perimeter about the landfill fire on Sept. 18. While skilled in handling wildfires, these crews lack the necessary training and equipment, such as breathing apparatus, to deal with more complex fire scenarios such as this, Dennstaedt added.

Fire District personnel spent a couple weeks pouring thousands of gallons of water on the site without success. After consulting with Ecology, the decision was made to monitor the fire over the winter to see if it would burn itself out.

“January came and it was still active, smoking,” Dennstaedt said, adding fire crews returned to the site to pour more water on it, without success in extinguishing it.

“We’ve put over 10,000 gallons of water on it since the Gray Fire,” he said. “We’ve not seen any open flame in this, just open steam pockets.”

The site is west of Pine Street northeast of Waterfront Park and southwest of the former Pine Lodge Correctional Center, almost directly east of the West Medical Lake boat launch. Specifically located behind Lakes Memorial Cemetery and south of Poplar Street, accessible by a dirt track south of the cemetery, the overall dump site is — according to the Mountain Consulting report — approximately 400 feet long by 50 feet wide and about 30 feet deep.

Of additional concern is the fact the site is located approximately 300 feet east of the West Medical Lake shoreline.

“We want to control the use of water suppression because we don’t want to cause any groundwater issues,” Dennstaedt said.

Eastern Washington University Geosciences Department professor Dr. Chad Pritchard said they have taken water samples from the area. As of press time, April 8, they were still awaiting results of those samples.

Dennstaedt said the area burning is roughly a circle 25 – 30 feet in

Contributed photo

FLIR (or Forward Looking Infrared) image included in the February 9th, 2024 Department of Ecology Investigation Field Report that confirmed the unpermitted landfill is on fire underneath the ground near the eastern shores of West Medical Lake resulting from the Grey Rd Wildfire in August of 2023.

diameter. State security and DSHS personnel check the site daily.

“DSHS has hired an industrial hygienist to test materials and air sampling of the site,” Norah West, DSHS Assistant Director in the Office of Communications and Government Affairs, said in an April 4 email.

Ecology has also installed a portable air sampler to monitor air quality. Besides Fire District 3, DSHS and Ecology, officials with Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency are also working on the incident.

“At this time, pollutants from the smoke are recorded as below an actionable limit,” West added.

Spokane Clean Air Communications/Outreach Manager Lisa Woodard said agency inspectors have visited the site three times since January. On each occasion, minimal smoke and no flames were observed, although during the March 20 visit, fire officials said when they applied water on March 19 it increased the amount of smoke.

According to several residents, there was also a smell of burning petroleum permeating through the city that day as well.

“We’ll continue to conduct routine visits to check for odors,” Woodard said. “In between our routine visits, we will respond to any odor or smoke complaints filed with our agency.”

COVER STORY

Dennstaedt said they are still working on developing a plan to extinguish the landfill fire so clean up can begin. Part of the plan includes better access to the site for fire crews along with security fencing.

According to Ecology, some steps include removing trees, brush and other ignitable material in the vicinity and developing a plan to dig out the material and hose it down in metal boxes.

Fire information can be found at, https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/ cleanupsearch/site/16994.

Photo by John McCallum

A wooden barricade and sign warn people not to approach the site of an underground landfill fire smoldering on state property near the eastern shores of West Medical Lake.

Contributed image

Image included in the February 9th Department of Ecology Field Report identifying the specific location of the burning unpermitted landfill on the Eastern State Hospital site.

The Pointe

Local Cattlemen's Beef Donation Brings Joy to Spokane Veterans Home

By Ashley Humbird Stream Contributor

We typically associate the first of April as a day to play tricks on people in the spirit of April Fools’ Day, but this last April 1st was anything but a trick. The day ushered in both warm temperatures and an air of generosity, respect, and community spirit. It was a gesture made possible by the Spokane County Cattlemen who donated 300 pounds of beef to the Spokane Veterans Home.

Jim Wentland, the President of the Spokane County Cattlemen, shared the backstory and sentiments behind this remarkable donation. As Wentland recounted their decision, it was clear this was more than a simple act of giving—it was a story of gratitude, reflection, and community stewardship.

"The idea came to us during one of our members' meetings. We were discussing how we could give back to the community that has supported us for so long," Jim explained, his eyes lighting up with the warmth of the tale. "We instantly thought of our veterans. These men and women have given so much for us; providing some of the bounty of our labor seemed only fitting."

It’s not every day you come across a story woven with such genuine intentions. The Spokane County Cattlemen, known for their dedication to sustainable farming and local stewardship, view this donation as an extension of their commitment to nourishing the community that holds them up.

The Spokane County Cattlemen’s group has been around since the early 1950’s and currently is made up of about 60 members. “We have a lot of people who join so that they know where their beef comes from.” Wentland explains that he himself has been in the group since the late 1970’s and has served as President of the group for the last eighteen years.

There was a time that the Spokane

County Cattlemen where a part of a larger state association, but when a virus was found on a diary farm in 2003, the Spokane County Cattlemen decided to split and form their own group. “We keep up to date on what’s going on in the beef industry and inform our members of what’s going on and what we need to do,” and in addition to helping farmers, Wentland shares that a large part of their program is supporting the next generation of young men and women livestock raisers.

“We support youth in our organization. They pay a small membership fee to have a ‘dog in the fight’. And then we reward them heavily at the end of their project year.” Wentland says that at the next Junior Livestock Show in May at the Spokane County Fairgrounds, the Spokane County Cattlemen will have a display and talk with all the kids that come through for the event; he estimates they’ll talk to 1,200 kids in two days based on previous years. Wentland was at the event to help deliver the donation and was

able to witness the joy and gratitude from the residents at the Spokane Veterans Home. Boxes were unloaded from the fresh-off-thefarm working truck and placed on a rolling cart. The beef will be used in special burgers this upcoming spring and summer to grill and other special meals made by Neal Salemi, the dietary manager at the veteran’s home.

This beautiful act of kindness has ripple effects beyond the warm meals it will create. It serves as a testament to the power of community, the importance of giving back, and the unspoken bonds that connect each of us. The Spokane County Cattlemen's Association has indeed set a table where the values of respect, appreciation, and unity are served generously.

Wentland reached out to Russ Emtman, a fellow Spokane County Cattlemen member and owner of Emtman’s Triple E Angus Ranch in Valleyford Washington, for the opportunity to donate the steer that would be processed for the veterans. “We felt like it was something that we needed to do,” Emtman recalls of the decision to help. “It is our first year donating for this event.”

“All 300 pounds were harvested from just one animal. It was a USA born, bred, and raised cow, through

and through. Nothing but the best for our vets!” Emtman proudly explains, “This is something that we, my wife and I, wanted to do for the vets to show our thanks! We were honored to have Jim ask us to assist with it.”

It’s important to remember how impactful local organizations and individuals can be when they come together for a common cause. This story isn’t just about beef; but the countless ways we can give back, each day, to those who have served our community and country.

“Well, I come from a veteran family. I spent some time in the army myself. These people took care of us, protected us, and they need our help and that's what we're here for.” Wentland assures that he’ll continue this tradition as long as possible.

The Spokane County Cattlemen are involved with a number of local non-profits across the county and have a presence at the Spokane County Interstate Fair every year. Follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ spokanecattlemen. Wentland encourages anyone who is interested in beef that the cattlemen raise to reach out at 509-995-6558 or at jim_2jlivestock@yahoo.com for more information.

Photo by Ashley Humbird Russ Emtman owner of Emtman’s Triple E Angus Ranch with members of the Spokane County Cattleman including President Jim Wentland, the Combat Vets Motorcycle Association including the commanding officer Rich Brown and residence of the Spokane Veterans Home celebrate the donation of 300 lbs of beef to the Veterans Home.

PUZZLES

Sponsor ed By:

By John McCallum Stream contributor

CHENEY Baseball

Cheney and Medical Lake teams managed to get in a number of games, matches and meets before heading into spring break, April 1-5.

The Blackhawks are 2-6 in Greater Spokane League play, 3-7 overall. Cheney opened with a 15-3, 5-inning win over long-time rival West Valley, blowing open a 6-2 game with nine runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Senior Quinn Hubbs got the win on the mound.

After losses to Pullman and Mead, twice, the Blackhawks returned to the win column with wins over Lewis and Clark. Hubbs led Cheney at the plate in a 3-0 win March 22, going 1 for 2 and scoring a run.

At Hart Field March 26, Hubbs threw 6 2/3rds scoreless innings in Cheney’s 6-0 win over the Tigers. Hubbs and fellow senior Carter McPherson each had three hits.

The Blackhawks have lost four straight, twice each to Gonzaga Prep and Central Valley, both in a three-way tie for second currently in the GSL.

Boys soccer

New head coach Noah Prophet has 13 letterwinners

Golf

Softball

If you would like to sponsor this section call 509-242-7752

returning to a program the former player Blackhawk hopes to guide back to soccer prominence. Cheney opened the season winners of five of their first six games, including four in a row. The Blackhawks are currently seventh in the GSL at 1-2, 5-3 overall and have lost two straight, including a 2-0 shutout at the hands of GSL leading Ridgeline.

The Blackhawk boys are regrouping after the departure of Jake Valance, who finished tied for 29th at 3A state in 2023, to graduation. Three freshmen comprised the varsity team: Brayden Anderson, Ryan Howe and Justin Krasselt, along with sophomore Kyren Fleming and senior Tryson Little.

Miranda Hotchkiss is the only senior on the Cheney girls team. Juniors include Elisa Bertelsen, Loriza Canoto, Lauren Howe, Mya Mayher and Allison Vold with freshman Chloe Gawenit.

Head coach Gary Blake returns a couple All-GSL players in his 20th season at the helm of the Blackhawks with second-teamer Mia Ashcroft (junior) and honorable mention Sedona Ericson (senior) back in the outfield. Otherwise, Cheney is undergoing a bit of a youth movement, with four freshmen and one sophomore comprising the varsity 11.

The Blackhawks are currently fourth in the GSL at 3-3, 3-4 overall. After three straight losses to open the season, Cheney ripped off three wins in a row, beating Ferris (16-6), Lewis and Clark (19-6) and Ridgeline (12-6)

before losing to 10-0 to thirdplace Mead heading into spring break.

Tennis

The boys are off to a 2-2 start with losses to West Valley and Mead and wins over East Valley, 6-1) and Rogers, 6-1. The Blackhawks have a fairly experienced squad with four seniors — Aiden Flanary, Samuel Frenk, Brian Kibet and Logan Konrad — and three juniors — Jacob Estock, Zaknafein Hammersmith and Reece Higbee — on the roster.

The girls are off to a good start at 4-3, posting wins over Medical Lake (7-0), East Valley (4-3), Shadle Park (4-3) and Rogers (7-0). Five seniors — Delanee Griffin, Kylee Hahn, Paige Lacey, Sydney Lincoln and Ellerie O’Regan — and four juniors — Hailey Magalsky, Megan Price, Anabell Taylor and Morgan Weathers — fill out nine of the 12 roster slots.

Track and field

Head coach Derek Slaughter has another large team this season with 120 boys and 65 girls turning out.

Distance runner Calvin Hinton, junior is the only state competitor returning on the track, placing 14th last year in the 3,200 meters. Seniors Kordell Laher and Tucker Van Wormer will lead the sprinters, having traveled to state last year as part of the 4x100 team placing 12th.

The girls strong suit will be in the field where senior Joy Assonken returns from a District 8 title and ninthplace finish in the javelin at state in 2023. Joining her will be senior Clara Browne, who finished third in the discus

at the District 8 meet and just missed state.

MEDICAL LAKE Baseball

The Cardinals currently sit atop the Northeast A League standings at 4-1, 8-5 overall. After going 2-3 in their first five games, Medical Lake has turned things around at 6-2 over the last eight, including a 7-6 win over 2023 NEA champion and state qualifier Deer Park on March 26.

Soccer

The Cardinals are fourth in the NEA at 3-2, 4-5 overall.

Softball

Medical Lake is seventh in the NEA at 1-3, 5-5 overall.

Track and field

Chiche Okemgbo is the only returning state competitor from 2023. The senior should lead the girls in the field, placing third in the shot put, seventh in the triple jump and the javelin and 12th in the discus last year at 1A state.

Current Northeast A League top-5 rankings for the boys has senior Hayden Luzier first in the 800, Nakai Ornelas fourth and second in the 1,600 and 3,200, the 4x400 relay team fourth, Chuks Okemgbo third in the high jump and Garrett Montney and Dakota Phillips tied for second in the pole vault.

Freshman Autumn Trout is first in the 100 and 200, Kaylee Dennler is second and third in the 1,600 and 3,200, Makalia McKenny is fourth in the 100 hurdles, the 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams second and third respectively, Okemgbo first in the shot put and discus, third in the javelin and first in the triple jump.

Share your memorabilia, memories of Expo ‘74 during the 50th anniversary celebration

By Corinne Wilson, librarian Spokane County Library District

Expo ’74 was the first World’s Fair that was environmentally themed, and it changed Spokane’s landscape permanently. Riverfront Park’s old railroad lines and trestles were replaced with the IMAX theater (new technology at the time), butterfly sculptures (including the remaining one), the Looff Carrousel, and the Spokane Convention Center (Washington State Pavilion at the time of the fair).

Spokanites and those visiting Spokane crowded around exhibits from Kodak and General Motors and

We’re digging these gardening workshops, resources at the library

By Stacey Goddard, Librarian Spokane County Library District

While I’m not a great gardener myself, my next-door neighbors have amazing green thumbs. This means I get to benefit from all their hard work from spring through fall and enjoy the beautiful colors and scents of the flowers they grow.

One way to improve my gardening skills at the library is with their spring programs presented by WSU Extension Spokane County Master Gardener Volunteers and other local experts to help budding and experienced gardeners alike.

With our unpredictable spring weather, one option to get a jump on the growing season is to plant seeds indoors. I remember my mom

listened to a mid-Watergate address from the controversial President Richard Nixon. Innovators and scientists discussed concerns about the effects of deforestation, nuclear waste, and greenhouse effects— issues that have continued to inspire discussions about climate change and environmental stewardship for 50 years.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary, Spokane County Library District (SCLD) invites you to drop off memorabilia and photos from Expo ’74 at any of our library locations for an exhibit we’re sharing in July. You can also submit images online at www.scld.org/expo-74.

If you have Expo ’74 stories and memories to share, then the library would like to video record and share them online as well. Simply indicate your interest on the form in our libraries or online at the link above.

Items for the exhibit are being collected April 1–May 10. You can enjoy a showcase of World’s Fair items exhibited at Airway Heights Library (1213 S Lundstrom St), Cheney Library (610 First St), and Medical Lake Library (321 E Herb St) in July as well as at other SCLD libraries,

planting tomato seeds in small containers in March and setting them up under a grow light on an unused kitchen counter. Then, after they germinated and sprouted, she had sturdy starters to plant outside when spring had truly arrived.

Master Gardener Steve Nokes shows us how to propagate new plants from seeds, with or without a greenhouse, as well as from plant cuttings. Stop by Cheney Library (610 First St) on Wednesday, April 24, at 6:30pm for “Plant Propagation from Seeds & Cuttings.”

Need assistance identifying a garden pest or determining why a plant is not thriving? Drop by Cheney Library on Friday, May 3, anytime between 1pm and 5pm for the “Master Gardeners Plant Clinic.” The Master Gardener volunteers can help you with a wide variety of horticulture issues, including plant selection, plant problem diagnosis and treatment, and pest identification (limit pest/ soil sample to 1-gallon bag or smaller).

except Argonne and Spokane Valley Libraries.

For the celebration, we’ve also partnered with the League of Women Voters to provide opportunities for civic discussion about the focus of Expo ’74: the environment. During the program, we discuss how individuals, neighborhoods, and municipalities can prepare for the climate crisis’s impacts. You can share your concerns, ask questions, and exchange ideas with others.

This discussion “Expo ’74: 50 Years of Environmental Awareness” takes place at Cheney Library on Wednesday, May 15, at 6:30pm.

If you’re interested in learning more about these topics before the talks, you can check out titles from our climate booklist at www.scld.org/ climate-booklist. For local information on climate-related topics, head to our Civic Lab Online at www.scld.org/ civic-lab-online. There you’ll find facts about Spokane’s Recycling, Water Conservation and Gardening, and Nuclear Waste and Power.

We look forward to sharing your Expo ’74 memories and hearing your thoughts about the current climate crisis.

The gardening program I’m most looking forward to is “NoDig Gardening.” With this method of gardening, you put compost (yay, composting!) on top of the soil and plant in the compost itself. During this program, professional gardener Erin Nelson discusses no-dig techniques that work for raised beds, field planting, and even container gardens. Drop by for “No-Dig Gardening” at Cheney Library on Wednesday, May 8, at 6:30pm.

Also, our seed library at Cheney Library lets you borrow vegetable, flower, and herb seeds to plant in your garden. At harvest time, you collect some of your heirloom (nonhybrid) seeds and bring them back to the library for other gardeners to enjoy. Learn more at www.scld. org/seed-libraries.

The library has many inspirational and informational print and digital books about gardening. Stop by the library to get help from our staff to find the books you need for your next garden project.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Expo ’74: 50th Anniversary Celebration

Share your memories, photos, and memorabilia from Expo ’74 in our libraries during the month of July.

Have a Spokane World’s Fair story to share? Let us capture it on video!

Submissions accepted through May 10.

AIRWAY HEIGHTS LIBRARY

1213 S Lundstrom St

CHENEY LIBRARY

610 First St

MEDICAL LAKE LIBRARY

321 E Herb St

Learn more at www.scld.org/expo-74.

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ON THAT NOTE

Budding Summer Market Finding Footing Offering Unique Goods to the Community

By Colette Buck Stream contributor

Eager farmers’ market shoppers have another market to attend in the West Plains. Open from April to September, the Airway Heights Summer Market is entering its second year and the goal is to connect the West Plains community to artisans and farmers working locally to produce unique goods.

Led by Linda McNeill of Paper Garden Spokane, a craft and vendor fair event coordinating business, the summer market sets up in the parking lot of The Hub facility along Highway Two on the second Saturday of each month. Dozens of vendors can be found at each market offering everything from customized drink tumblers and crochet plushies to farm fresh produce.

“Shoppers are always looking for something different and unique, they don’t want to see the same things at every event they go to,” McNeill said. “(We) limit the number of vendors per event…to try and give both the shoppers a diversified shopping experience, as well as giving the vendors an opportunity to make money in sales at the event, which is why they’re there.”

While still working to establish a foothold in Airway Heights, the budding market started as a conversation on an Airway Heights Facebook discussion group where members lamented about the lack of a community market in the city. McNeill said she was a part of the group and decided to chime in, posing the idea that she could potentially create one after doing some research.

“There were other comments of ‘somebody tried this in the past and it didn’t work,’ and so my comment was ‘let me check in to see what it would involve and I’ll consider maybe seeing about getting one started,” McNeill said while recalling the exchange with a laugh. “That blew up the comments, so I kind of became obligated at that point to try and make one work.”

Most of the prep work needed to get the market up and running involved permits and applications with the City of Airway Heights. Once that was taken care of, McNeill turned to her own experiences

running Paper Garden and began recruiting vendors to fill the market throughout the season.

Heading into this year, McNeill said the goal is to continue improving the vendors and the types of items available for purchase. Something new to this season’s market is furniture made from recycled and repurposed wine barrels, which will be available for the first couple of market sessions, and Dachshund Rescue Northwest, a local foster and rescue agency hoping to place dogs in need into good homes.

“She’s going to be bringing a mini horse or donkey, or both as she said, depending on how the donkey is acting that day,” McNeill said when discussing options for kids attending the market. “It’s not a petting zoo, but she will allow the kids to touch, but she’s very careful with it. She will have some of the rescue dogs available for adoption as well.”

Even with a varied roster of unique vendors, McNeill said she’s still working on bringing additional attractions to the market for later this year or next season. Those ideas include more food options for patrons, a regular meat and animal product vendor, and even a kid’s corner with activities to keep little ones engaged while their parent’s shop with ease. Mc Neill said she hopes to find a group or organization that already works with children on a regular basis to set up the corner and manage it during market hours.

“I don’t know if that’s going to develop this year because there are a lot of safety issues involved with that because you have to be careful who is working with the kids,” McNeill said. “Not everybody knows how to do that…to build a fun place where a parent might feel safe to leave their kids so they can walk around the markets and the kids can have fun.”

Community members interested

in attending the market should be aware that the market’s hours changed from last year to accommodate peak traffic hours and allow vendors to maximize their time. Market patrons will be able to shop their favorite vendors and discover new ones from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month through September.

If you’re a craftsperson, artisan or farmer, and you’re interested in securing a vendor spot for the upcoming summer market season, McNeill asks that you reach out to her via the market’s email listed on the Airway Heights Summer Market Facebook page. While submissions with short descriptions of the items are acceptable, McNeill encourages anyone interested to submit photos of the wares they plan to sell to help her ensure a variety.

“Sometimes people will say, ‘I make jewelry,’ but what type of jewelry do you make?” McNeill said. “Is it resin, is it beaded, is it a gemstone, because it makes a difference on what type of jewelry.”

Contributed photo Our