2026 August Stream

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Students prepare to go back to school

learn about changes await them, page 10 WPC DIRECTOR HIGHLIGHTS EXPERIENCE PAGE 2

AH DATACENTER CONCERNS PAGE 4

HEALTH DIST. GUIDANCE FOR FIRE VICTIMS PAGE 14

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• AUGUST 2026

The Stream

The Water Front one of his tasks was to oversee the U.S.D.A. Farm Service Agency a good job.” Chamber switch to a paperless filing system by President Donald Trump. He Wyss took over at the Chamber that was tested here before being was reappointed to the role by in January, working under the Director helps enacted around the country. President Joe Biden, then by Trump outgoing executive director When he was about to be again in May 2025. However, Wyss through February to learn the businesses transferred to another state, Wyss was fired in October 2025 and no ropes. “Boy, has it been a joyride,” quit so he could stay in Washington official reason was given for his he said. “I love it.” with previous State. He served as chief deputy termination. Wyss said he’s made several assessor for Spokane County “When you’re a political changes, all with the goal of fire recovery for two years before moving to appointee, you serve at the serving members better. The Okanogan County, where he was will and the pleasure of the West Plains Chamber serves the experience the government affairs director administration,” he said. “I knew communities of Cheney, Airway By Nina Culver

Stream contributor

West Plains Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jon Wyss is in a unique position to help businesses on the West Plains impacted by the recent wildfires, whether their business burned down or had to shut down because of evacuations.

for his wife’s family’s business, Gebbers Farms. Along the way he was the north region director for the U.S. Apple Association for 10 years and the vice president of the USA Farmers Association. In 2019, Wyss was appointed to be the Washington State executive director of the

that going in. I’m fine with that.”

At the time, several farmers complained about his removal and the lack of an explanation, but Wyss said they didn’t have to give one. He said he was glad he could do the work as long as he did. “It was an honor,” he said. “The farmers apparently thought I did

“For a small business, two hours is a lot of time, value and money,” he said. “People loved that. We have members show up to meetings now.”

His former home in Okanogan County was threatened by wildfire four times, he just recently returned to his home after being evacuated for the Fairview fire and, beginning in 2014, led the long term recovery group for the Carlton Complex Fire that burned more than 250,000 acres in north central Washington.

Previously, the Chamber ordered the cheapest supplies and other items it needed, but Wyss said he’s made a commitment to shop at member businesses. “If our members can supply it to us, we’re buying from our members first,” he said. “That’s been met with huge open arms. That’s actually helped us drive membership.”

Wyss said he became adept at working with numerous state and federal agencies and even testified in the U.S. Senate about the need for Doppler radar in central Washington in order to improve weather forecasts.

Wyss said he’s also been visiting non-member businesses to ask them what the Chamber can do to help them. The attempt to reach out seems to be working, Wyss said, since 10 new businesses have signed up as members in the last five months.

Wyss said he can advise businesses on what records they need in the wake of a fire and what they need to do to get assistance. He can also help West Plains businesses still dealing with the aftermath of the Gray fire in Medical Lake in 2023. “I can help them for years to come,” he said. A long road led Wyss to the West Plains Chamber. He started working part-time for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Texas while he was in college, then developed it into a career that took him to South Dakota and Portland. He came to Spokane in 2000, where

Heights and Medical Lake, but the meetings were always held in Airway Heights. Wyss said the meetings now rotate among the three cities, which makes it easier for members to attend at least some of the meetings because they don’t have to take as much time away from their business.

Photo by Nina Culver West Plains Chamber Director Jon Wyss came to the Spokane area in 2000 and started with the Chamber back in January. Wyss even spent some time as a Wildfire long term recover group leader back in 2014.

But he’s also not neglecting current members to recruit new ones. Wyss said he’s been calling members and asking them three questions: what are we doing right, what do we need to improve and where do you see your relationship with the Chamber in three years? “Those three questions have opened a lot of doors for discussion,” he said.

AUGUST 2026 • 3

The Stream

Wyss said it's his job to monitor what is going on at the legislative level so member businesses know what is coming. A small business owner usually doesn’t have the time to do that, so Wyss focuses on what he sees as one of his most important jobs, educating his members. At the same time, however, he makes it a point not to overwhelm members with emails. That’s been done so well that the emails sent have a 45 percent click through rate, Wyss said. “When they see an email came from us, they know it’s important,” he said.

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Wyss said he expects the Chamber to host webinars and other events in the coming weeks to help businesses deal with the aftermath of the fires. Those will be listed on the organization’s website at www.westplainschamber.org. Q: What attracted you to the position at the West Plains Chamber of Commerce? A. Chambers of Commerce are known for being the voice of their community and businesses. The Chambers are designed to be the first place a business can call for help in making connections with other business leaders, where people searching to open a business can call and get accurate information on the community, and just an overall support network for the community. Knowing these things, I knew I wanted to be a part of that effort for the West Plains Community. Q: How does leading a smaller Chamber of Commerce differ from heading up a larger one, such as GSI? A. We are fortunate to have GSI and the Spokane Valley Chamber in Spokane County as one group just cannot represent every aspect of our diversified county. The West Plains Chamber is just a smaller version of GSI and the Spokane Valley Chamber. Each of us represent our members to maximize benefits to the members. We have similar committees in Government Affairs, Finance, Outreach, and Education for members. I know since I have become the Executive Director it feels like we as the Chambers are a giant team getting things done for See WYSS, Page 4

spokanetransit.com/youth

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• AUGUST 2026

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Former AH Continued from page 3 councilman the entire area. We also have to throw in S3R3 into this mix as they issues too are trying to bring business and support a business climate in West Plains our area. Where we slightly differ as the After 14 years in the role for data center West Plains Chamber is that we my wife’s family, I was appointed have two sovereign nations within to be the Executive Director for warnings our area that we have to make sure WYSS

we support as the Chamber and intermix those two nations into the business climate and community. We then have to ensure we wrap Fairchild Air Force Base into the mix as well. I am proud to be able to work with our tribal partners and the base. Q: What are your goals as the executive director of the West Plains Chamber? A. SHORT (6 mo) - Committee establishment, review membership tiers, financial stabilization, improve communications with members and member database improved. MEDIUM (6-12 mo) - Implement new membership benefits and engagement strategies. Write a chamber playbook on process and procedures.

LONG (1-2 yr) - Continual improvement process to retain members and gain new members, establish successful collaborations with other entities, resources, and solidify the chamber's role in the community while exploring opportunities for a physical office space in the West Plains. Q: How do you think your background prepared you for this position? A. I worked for the Office of the Chapter 11, 12, and 13 Bankruptcy Trustee’s in Texas, Oregon, and Washington over 12 years. I started out in the mail room and worked my way up through the office doing data entry, then case management, then finance restructure, and then taught myself computer programming and became the systems administrator who developed and wrote code to move the Trustee Offices into a paperless environment, which is still used today by all offices in the country. I then became the Chief Deputy

Assessor for Ralph Baker when he was elected. I served in that role for two years and then after getting married went to work for my wife’s family which is involved in the agriculture, marketing, sales, tourism, cattle, and other businesses as the Government Affairs Director.

the Farm Service Agency. I was responsible for managing the 26 offices across the state and the State office for both farm programs and farm lending. I was also the spokesperson for the two administrations at events throughout the state with agricultural and finance organizations, and worked closely with producers to advance the administration’s policies with the farmers.

In addition, in my spare time, I worked with the Snohomish County Boys and Girls Club and the Cal Ripken Foundation to bring a program called Badges for Baseball to the Chelan, Doulgas, and Okanogan County Communities where kids were treated to a free one-day baseball clinic by the Ripken Foundation. We started the clinics to show we could support the expansion of a Boys and Girls Club in these areas. I was proud when we opened the first club in Brewster, Washington, and then later expanded that to open two Boys and Girls Clubs within the Colville Reservation. I was also able to work with the Ripken Foundation and Boys and Girls Club to bring the Mission Park Ability Ball Field to Spokane for athletes with disabilities in 2017. Each of the above items prepared me to lead the West Plains Chamber, whose economic diversity fits well with my history. Q: What do you enjoy doing in your off hours? A. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family and kids. We have very active kids in sports, band, and kids being kids so it keeps us very busy. I do enjoy vacations home to Wyoming and Yellowstone where you can go for hours in the mountains without ever having a cell signal, allowing you to relax and enjoy.

By John McCallum Stream Contributor

If Spokane County’s West Plains are targeted as the location of a proposed data center, Airway Heights needs to make sure it zoning codes and siting processes are legally up to date to deal with such a development. That was the advice given to the City Council at its Aug. 3 meeting by former council member Hank Bynaker. During the public comment period, Bynaker asked that the council, Airway Heights Planning Commission and city staff do a thorough review of existing city codes to make sure that should a request to build a data center somewhere in the city materialize, Airway Heights had the proper and current codes to legally confront such a request. “I want to put everything in place before that happens,” Bynaker said of the possibility. Bynaker said his concerns stem from what he believes is interest on the part of several Spokane County Commissioners to strike a deal with a data center company to build a “large load” facility somewhere on the West Plains. Spokane County Commissioner Al French, a Republican who represents the West Plains, has been in conversations with Apricus Energy Solutions for over a year about the possibilities of building a data center as part of a hydrogen production facility near the intersection of West Medical Lake Highway / State Route 902 and Hayford Road. French also spoke in support last February of a bill in the state Legislature sponsored by Rep. Timm Ormsby (D-Spokane) that would extend sales tax breaks available elsewhere in Washington for the purchase and installation of data center equipment to companies seeking to build in

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Spokane County. Bynaker said he Zoomed a recent commission meeting where there was a lot of discussion in locating a data center on the West Plains. “There appears to be a lot of interest in the West Plains area,” Bynaker told the council. “There’s been no public input, no public conversation about any of this and that’s where I have a big problem.” Data centers, particularly those referred to as large load “hyperscale” facilities the size of dozens of football fields and requiring high amounts of electricity and water, have become controversial in communities across the country. Some are taking preventative measures by issuing data center construction moratoriums — a step taken in June by Spokane’s City Council with its one-year moratorium. The County Commissioners recently delayed a vote on placing a moratorium on data center construction proposed by Democrat commissioners Chris Jordan and Amber Waldref. According to a news release, several local community activist organizations were hoping to provide public comments to the commission urging a moratorium at its Aug. 11 afternoon meeting. According to a March report from Pew Research, three-quarters of Americans know something about data centers with 25% saying they know a lot and 50% saying they know a little. Of those surveyed, almost 40% said data centers have negative impacts on the environment and home energy costs, with 30% indicating they negatively impact the quality of life. Percentages of respondents saying they felt data centers positively impacted these factors were 5-20% less those indicating negative impacts. Twenty-five percent felt data centers were good for local jobs and 23% felt they were good for local tax revenue. There are about 4,000 data centers in the U.S., ranging from small server rooms to larger facilities spanning acres. Most are located in 10 states, including 1,244 in Virginia, Texas and California. There are currently six data

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centers in Spokane County, according to Datacenters.com. These range from the 32,000 square foot facility operated by TierPoint in Liberty Lake to the 3,829 square foot facility owned by Cogent on Spotted Road near Spokane International Airport. Proponents of data centers point to positive economic impacts of more jobs, more local tax revenue and improvements to energy infrastructure. According to a February 2026 TechRepublic.com article, in 2024 data centers paid an estimated $3.2 billion in state and local tax revenue nationally while providing hundreds of construction jobs. The report noted that once operating, data centers are not the job supplier most proponents believe they are, with a typical center employing 20-50 high tech workers and hyperscale centers up to 150. In an interview for a story in the April 9, 2026 issue

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of the Harvard Gazette, Ben Green, assistant professor in the University of Michigan School of Information and Public Policy and a faculty associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, said local revenue is often offset by tax breaks given to data centers for building in communities.

amounts of electricity and water. According to TechRepublic, a medium sized center can consume up to 110 million gallons of water annually for cooling —equivalent to 1,000 households usage — with hyperscale centers using up to 5 million gallons daily.

“Over the last year, Virginia and Georgia have given up more than a billion dollars’ worth of revenue as a result of tax breaks,” Green said. “That’s money that is being handed back to the industry rather than going into public funds that could pay for infrastructure, schools or healthcare.

In 2023, Google’s two centers in Council Bluffs, Iowa used 1.4 billion gallons of water. A center built on the West Plains likely wouldn’t draw from the local aquifer, estimated to hold roughly 800 billion gallons of water, but from the larger Spokane / Rathdrum Prairie system, estimated to hold 12 trillion gallons of water.

“Also, there are not beneficial ripple effects like you might see with other industries,” he added. “Living within a stone’s throw of a data center does not mean that you are getting better or faster or cheaper access to these technologies.”

The city of Spokane currently has three water main connections to provide water to the West Plains — two with Airway Heights and one with Medica Lake. In 2025, Airway Heights used almost 697 million gallons of city of Spokane water.

Data

centers

require

huge

As for electricity, TechRepublic

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notes a typical cloud data center might draw the equivalent power needed by 25,000 homes while a new AI hyperscale facility could require power equivalent to 100,000 homes. In June, Avista announced it had reached an agreement with one “large load customer” to provide up to 125 megawatts (MW) beginning in 2029 and increasing to 500 MW by 2032 — an amount equal to more than half of the combined power usage by all residential and commercial customers in Spokane County. That customer is suspected to be a data center, with French telling the Spokesman Review it is not Apricus and he is not aware of who it might be. Avista has since said it has halted discussions with the customer over public concerns. French said he will not support any data center in the county unless it can operate without raising electricity rates for existing users and pays its own way. A 2024 study done by North Carolina State and Carnegie Mellon universities projected electricity rates for all customers nationally could rise by 8% by 2030 due to data center requirements. Data centers are also being linked to water supply contamination from what is referred to as “forever chemicals” called polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. These are found in chemicals like firefighting foam, with data centers using them in their cooling systems. The West Plains water supply has been hard hit by PFAS contamination linked to uses at Fairchild Air Force Base and Spokane International Airport, leading to the shutting down of private wells and three Airway Height wells and a greater reliance on water pumped from the city of Spokane. The chemicals have also been linked to increased cancer rates, including among some West Plains residents.

Contributed photo by Datacenters.com At just under 4,000 square feet, the data center owned and operated by Cogent on Spotted Road is one of the smaller facilities. Data centers can range from this size to hyperscale facilities that cover 100-200 acres to the massive “exascale” facility planned by Amazon in Boardman, Oregon covering 1,300 acres.

Bynaker said he has given Airway Heights City Manager Albert Tripp a letter outlining his concerns and called on the council to lend its voice to the potential impacts of a large West Plains data center. “We need help out here,” he added.

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• AUGUST 2026

Answering the call beyond the uniform Stream news sources

For most people, a wildfire is a sign to get out. For others, it is a call to run towards danger. Equipped with years of training, experience and a promise to serve, one Airman stepped into the billowing and stifling smoke of a wildfire to protect a family, a neighborhood and the community in which he chooses to support every day. On Saturday, August 1, 2026, the National Weather Service issued a rare "Particularly Dangerous Situation" Red Flag Warning—the first in Washington state history— predicting the volatile convergence of 50 mph wind gusts and critical dryness that primed the Spokane region for catastrophe. These extreme conditions fueled the nearsimultaneous eruptions of the Old Trails, Fairview, and Autumn Lane fires by early evening, unleashing a historic urban firestorm that forced 67,000 residents to flee their homes and pushed emergency responders to their absolute limits.

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hesitation on our part. We just jumped in and started doing what we've been trained to do.”

Road, the unpredictable mission of firefighting suddenly hit close to home.

The conditions on the ground were ruthless. The smoke grew so dense that it swallowed the landscape entirely. Residents in the area and as well as the Fairchild community held their breath wondering if they were going to be evacuated.

"When we arrived, I saw a family standing outside their house," McNair explained. "All I could think was, 'If this were my home, I'd want someone doing everything they could to save it.'"

“I couldn’t see two feet in front of me,” the firefighter recalled. "One of my teammates had to follow the hose to reach my position.” One of the men battling the blaze behind the thick smoke was U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Eric McNair, 92nd Operations Group first sergeant. His ability to maintain a calm composure during chaotic, high-stress situations like fighting fires was heavily forged by his background as a Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape specialist. Outside of his current duties supporting the health, morale, and welfare of Airmen, McNair steps into heavy turnout gear to serve as an all-hazards volunteer firefighter/ EMT for Spokane County Fire District #3. For McNair, protecting this community is deeply personal. As his attack truck pulled up to a threatened home on Espinola

That protective instinct stems from a deep, familiar pain. In 2011, when McNair was a Senior Airman at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, a massive tornado swept through the area, wiping out the entire base and his home. He lost everything, but that tragedy eventually fueled his desire to become a volunteer firefighter in 2018. "The community at Little Rock really wrapped their arms around us during that terrible time," McNair said. "We lost everything we owned, but having the community rally around us meant the world. I always knew I wanted to give back in that same way." This experience showed him the importance of community support while going through difficult times, making his service as a volunteer firefighter essential to him. “It was a very historic day

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for Spokane County, most of our firefighters in the county were out for 24 to 48 hours straight without any rest,” Turner said. “There’s a lot of credit due to all of our firefighters and all of the crews that stayed out and helped protect communities across the board.” Spokane County Fire District #3, along with other mutual aid agencies, were able to declare that forward progress of the Espinola Fire was stopped within an hour, reducing risk and calming the community. Firefighters remained on scene to continue putting the fire out and protecting nearby structures for over 14 hours. For McNair, service does not end when the duty day is done. Whether supporting Airmen as a first sergeant or responding to emergencies as a volunteer firefighter, he sees both roles as opportunities to serve something larger than himself. As the Spokane Area wildfires continue to persist, displacing residents and impacting fire victims, Team Fairchild stands with the greater Spokane community, recognizing the resilience of those affected and the dedication of the firefighters and first responders working tirelessly to protect lives and property.

“We had extreme fire weather that day,” said Alex Turner, Spokane County Fire District #3 battalion chief. "We had other fires already going on throughout the county, we had been working all day with our area coordinators to make sure we kept resources in-district and also moved some resources to assist with the fires around Spokane.” Then, at approximately 7:30pm, another wildfire started, burning just five miles west of Fairchild Air Force Base, moving quickly towards the installation. Arriving first on the scene with a crew of three firefighters, the initial attack team, originally dispatched to the Spokane fires, knew they only had a small window to slow the fast-burning wildfire down before it spread. They relied on their training from the fire station to control the scene before backup arrived. “I was definitely a little nervous, with the winds, the fire conditions, the fires that are already going around in the area,” the volunteer firefighter stated. “We all knew exactly what our job was, we knew exactly what to do, there was no

Photo by U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Audie Curtis U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Eric McNair, 92nd Operations Group first sergeant, stands in front of an attack fire apparatus for an environmental portrait at Spokane County Fire District #3, Cheney, Washington, Aug 5., 2026. Responding to emergencies as a volunteer firefighter helps protect the local community while demonstrating the commitment to service that supports military readiness.

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Medical Lake Messenger Mayor’s Minute

As Mayor of Medical Lake, I am continually inspired by the progress our community is making together. Across our city, strategic investments in infrastructure, recreation, public safety, and environmental stewardship are helping build a stronger and more resilient future while preserving the qualities that make Medical Lake such a special place to call home.

Mayor Terri Cooper This year has demonstrated the power of partnerships and community involvement. From successful festivals and community events to ongoing capital improvement

projects, we continue to see the positive impact of residents, businesses, volunteers, and community organizations working toward a shared vision. These collective efforts not only enhance quality of life for current residents but also help position Medical Lake as an attractive destination for families, visitors, and future investment. As we continue implementing our strategic priorities and planning for the future, we remain committed to responsible stewardship of public resources, transparent decision-making, and meaningful community engagement. Together, we are creating a Medical Lake that is resilient, connected, and ready for future opportunities. Thank you for your continued support, participation, and pride in our community. The momentum we are experiencing today is possible because of the people who make Medical Lake such an exceptional place to live, work, and visit.

City Snapshot: Where Nature and Community Meet One of Medical Lake’s greatest assets is its setting. Nestled among lakes, forests, rolling farmland, and extensive recreation opportunities, the community offers residents and visitors access to an outdoor lifestyle that is both accessible and authentic. Multiple lakes, miles of trails, public parks, wildlife viewing, fishing, boating, kayaking, birdwatching, and year-round recreation opportunities are all available here. Yet what truly distinguishes Medical Lake is not simply the landscape. It is the way the community embraces it. Families gather at Waterfront Park. Friends meet downtown for dinner before a walk along the shoreline. Volunteers work together to beautify parks and public spaces. Local businesses welcome visitors with the warmth and hospitality only found in communities where relationships still matter. Medical Lake offers the rare opportunity to slow down, reconnect, and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. It is not a destination people rush through … It is the kind of place you take your time to leave!

Community Connections: Celebrating Success This summer once again demonstrates the strength of Medical Lake’s community spirit. Founders Day brings residents, visitors, businesses, and community organizations together for a weekend filled with celebration, tradition, and hometown pride. From parades and family activities to music and community gatherings, the event showcases the energy and character that make Medical Lake unique. The Linger at the Lake concert series transforms Waterfront Park into a destination for music, relaxation, and connection. Residents unfold lawn chairs, families gather on the grass, and visitors experience the lakefront at its best. The Farmers Market continues to support local growers, artisans, and entrepreneurs while providing residents with fresh products and a chance to connect with neighbors. Behind every successful event are dozens of volunteers whose time and dedication help create memorable experiences for thousands of people throughout the year. Together, these events contribute to a vibrant local economy, strengthen community connections, and reinforce Medical Lake’s growing reputation as a destination worth exploring.

Community Calendar

Events you won’t want to miss: 10/31 Fall Festival Holidays: 9/7 Labor Day, 10/12 Columbus Day Medical Lake Farmers Market: 8/15, 9/5, 9/19, and 10/3 Linger at the Lake Concert Series: 9/12 (Graphic of Craft Beer Festival).

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• AUGUST 2026

Medical Lake City Council hears PFAS Update

By Ben Wick

Stream Publisher

PFAS Contamination Councilmember Chad Pritchard gave an update during his committee reports on his work focused on PFAS / PFOS pollution

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originating from historic firefighting foam use at Fairchild Air Force Base and Spokane International Airport. Councilmember Pritchard showed maps from the 2025 study performed by Eastern Washington University and talked about the testing that has been completed over the last

No Name Ditch Stormwater leaving the northeast corner of Fairchild Air Force Base contains some of the highest PFAS levels measured anywhere on the West Plains—over 2,000 parts per trillion. No Name Ditch has been known as a point source since 2017 and studied in 2025, but polluted water still leave the base and affects thousands of private wells.

PFAS in the West Plains Spokane

Airway Heights

Spokane International Airport

Fairchild AFB

Craig Rd Well Medical Lake

Silver Lake

Source: 2025 EWU Report

FAFB boundary

Firefighting Training Site

The primary storm water facility on the Airforce base is connected to and drains into the No Name ditch that continues off the base and across the West Plains Community all the way to seven-mile continued

at Fairchild Air Force Base

Under federal Superfund law (CERCLA), action is required when a source is actively releasing toxic chemicals. This includes taking “Interim Actions” to reduce immediate risks.

Fairchild AFB

two years around the region. “The biggest zone of contamination we found was around No Name Ditch. Here we found around 20,000 parts per trillion, far above the federal limit of 4 ppt” noted Pritchard.

Filtration Request

PFAS from No Name Ditch is also moving in unexpected directions. Irrigation water and leaking pipes are adding extra water to the ground, changing how groundwater flows and pushing contamination into new areas. This contaminated groundwater is now reaching the City of Medical Lake’s Craig Road Well, contributing to elevated PFAS levels in the public water supply.

While Fairchild Air Force Base plans to continue system-wide sampling and filtration, No Name Ditch remains a key source that can be treated directly. Addressing this location would help prevent further spread of contamination and protect nearby communities. Removal of contaminated soils is key. As well as filtration, a sock style or granular activated carbon filter along the stream bed. Installation will likely cost between 2 to 10 million dollars.

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No

Na m e

i tc

h

Stormwater Gate

*Suggested filter placement

Reinterpreted from : 2025 FAFB Remedial Investigation Report

General PFOS Concentrations (ng/L) 40,000 – <400,000

400 – <4,000

4 –<40

4,000 – <40,000

40 – <400

<4.0

Budget Updates

&

Questions? Please email Chad Pritchard cpritchard@ewu.edu

Administrative

Council received a quarterly budget update highlighting stronger than expected interest revenue and a minor overage in library insurance, $3,421 actual vs the budgeted $3,353 or approximately $100 more than budgeted. The difference will require a future budget amendment to allow for the difference. Finance Director Koss Ronholt, mentioned that the City owns the building that the Spokane County Library District uses and the property insurance came back slightly higher than anticipated. Finance Director Ronholt also reported on recent grant activity, including two Recreation and Conservation Office submissions and several opportunities that sounded good but after further investigation the cities projects did not align with eligibility requirements. Subdivision Modernization

D

Stormwater Facility

Pritchard. Groundwater modeling indicates the contamination plume is continuing to spread and is beginning to reach the Medical Lake well along Craig Road, prompting increased discussions around the need for filtration at this contamination source. Councilmember Pritchard shared that he and the city were having discussions with state and federal partners to help secure the funding to implement the filtration request.

Code

A major workshop item centered on restructuring Medical Lake’s subdivision regulations. Medical Lake’s existing subdivision rules, spread across Municipal code Titles 15 and 19, have long been considered outdated. The proposed overhaul would streamline the code, introduce clearer land division standards, and strengthen infrastructure requirements. The Planning Commission recommended raising performance bonds from 110% to 150%, ensuring developers complete required improvements rather than leaving the city holding the bag. Councilmembers also grappled with the problem of “serial short plats”—a loophole that allows developers to divide land in small increments, sidestepping infrastructure obligations. Ideas

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ranged from deed restrictions to time limited approvals, all aimed at preserving fairness and ensuring new development contributes to the city’s long term stability. Comprehensive Plan Hearing Continued The council opened a public hearing on the city’s Comprehensive Plan—a document that guides growth, zoning, transportation, and environmental stewardship. But with the Washington Department of Commerce still reviewing the plan, the hearing was continued to September 1. No public testimony was offered, though the council made clear that community input remains welcome. Infrastructure Projects Move Forward The city dock project, nearing completion, required a change order due to ADA compliance adjustments and a shift from a T shape to an L shape design. The modifications added roughly $17,000 to the project. The capital project was previously awarded to Treeline Contracting Inc, for $98,797.50 which after the increase will be at $116,003.70. Council approved the contract change unanimously and will be included in a future budget amendment. Finance Director Koss Ronholt shared that the project funding was in the cities capital improvement fund which has enough of a balance to accommodate the increase.

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small.”

Fire Responders and victims By Nina Culver

Stream contributor

Eastern Washington University responded quickly to the Spokane Complex Fires that started on Saturday, August 1, opening its residence halls to volunteers as well as students, faculty members and their families that were displaced by the fires. The Old Trails fire, Autumn Lane fire and Fairview fire all started on August 1, a day when a rarely used “particularly dangerous situation” warning was issued, which is a step above the Fire Weather Watch typically issued when the wind is high and temperatures are low. The fires, pushed by the wind, grew quickly and forced the evacuation of nearly 60,000 people. The university’s crisis response team met the day after the fires began to discuss what the university could do to help, said Linn Parish, Director of Communications and Media Relations. That included talking about opening up residence halls for those in need of assistance. “Like a lot of organizations, we’re really searching for ways we can help those affected,” he said. “We really wanted to do our part, however

SRHD Issued a Harmful Algae Another item—the city’s PFAS related area-wide groundwater Bloom Alert for investigation grant—was extended West Medical Lake at the request of the Department of Ecology. The state needs more time to complete the review of the study. This is the 4th amendment to the grant and loan agreement between the Department of Ecology and the City, and extended the expiration date from June 30, 2026 to December 31st, 2026. The council agreed to the extension unanimously with Councilmember Pritchard abstaining. Closing Notes The meeting wrapped with reminders about ongoing fire recovery resources and upcoming community events, including a PFAS focused educational hike and water sampling activity planned for August 11.

Stream media sources

Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD),issued a harmful algae bloom (HAB) alert for West Medical Lake after test results taken this week revealed potentially harmful toxicity levels for cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae. Per Washington State Department of Health’s Recreational Guidelines, SRHD strongly advises that recreation at West Medical Lake stop until further notice. There is currently no known illness among people or animals due to this HAB. Water quality monitoring and testing will continue each week to confirm a HAB is still present. Signage at the lake will be updated once toxicity levels are within acceptable limits. Testing results can be found on the Washington State Toxic Algae website.

With school not yet in session, some of the residence halls were available. “Some of our dorms are already open with students in them already,” Parish said. “Our student athletes are already practicing.” The Red Cross reached out about housing the hundreds of volunteers coming into the area to assist those who have either lost their homes in the fires or were, until recently, banned from returning home due to mandatory evacuations. Parish said the Red Cross is paying a reduced summer camp rate for housing the more than 200 volunteers. “My understanding is they’ve deployed from across the country,” he said. “The volunteers are appreciative. Sometimes they’re staying in temporary structures and tents.” Parish said the university also discussed housing members of the National Guard who were here to help, but they found somewhere else to stay. Meanwhile, a small number of affected students and staff and their families are staying in one of the residence halls. The families, some of whom came with pets, are staying at no charge. The university posted on social media and on its website to make people aware of the availability. “Only a handful have taken us up on it, but we wanted to make it available,” he said. “The important thing was just

Symptoms of exposure to algal toxins vary depending on the exposure. Symptoms include rashes, hives, diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, and/or wheezing. More severe symptoms affecting the liver and nervous system may result from ingestion of water. If an individual has symptoms after a potential exposure, they should consult their health care provider. If a pet exhibits symptoms after potential exposure, the owner should consult with a veterinarian since animals are more likely to drink toxic water causing more severe reactions. If people choose to eat fish from the lake, it is recommended that they remove all fat, skin and organs before cooking, since toxins are more likely to collect in those tissues. The heat and lower than normal water levels in the region this summer can create an ideal environment for organisms to easily grow and multiply. There is potential risk for pathogens that cause issues such as cercarial dermatitis (also known as swimmer’s itch), harmful algae blooms, or bacterial infections that can cause health problems and sickness.

AUGUST 2026 • 9

making the space available for those who could use it.” The residence halls were also made available to about 80 people connected to Fairchild Air Force Base who were displaced by the fires, Parish said. Parish said there was no need to open up the dining hall for the fire refugees because it operates yearround and is available for their use. In the week after the fire, the University also opened its indoor rec facilities for all faculty and staff to provide a place to exercise out of the smoke that blanketed the area. The ice-skating rink was also opened to the general public each afternoon. Parish said the residence halls will remain open to the Red Cross volunteers and those affected by the fires until August 16, when staff will have to start preparing the rooms for the arrival of students signed up for the fall quarter. Eastern Washington University was not the only institution to open its doors to those displaced by the fires. Gonzaga University also opened its residence halls to a number of its faculty and staff, their families and their pets. Whitworth University was located inside the Level 3 evacuation zone for the Old Trails fire that swept through the Indian Trails and Five Mile neighborhoods and was shut down until Monday, when most Level 3 evacuations were lifted. Community members are encouraged to take the following precautions when choosing a body of water for recreation: Pay attention to signage and do not swim in water that is under a health advisory or is listed as having a toxic algae bloom on the Washington State Toxic Algae website. Avoid water that is stagnant, has dead fish or other aquatic animals in it, or contains large amounts of algae. Do not swim or play in water near sewer or other discharge pipes or in areas that are frequented by livestock or other land animals. Do not swim near or play in marshy areas where snails are commonly found. After following the above precautions, it is still safest for a person to avoid getting water in their mouth and nose and to stay out of the water if they have open wounds, sores, or diarrhea. Individuals who swim or play in the water should shower with soap and water when done. If somebody suspects water contains harmful algae, they are encouraged to visit the Washington State Toxic Algae website for directions on how to report it.

10

• AUGUST 2026

What students and parents can expect as they go back to school By Nina Culver

Stream contributor

As students across the West Plains prepare to go back to school, local school districts are preparing to welcome students back to updated buildings and new principals. Students go back to school on August 25 in the Cheney School District, which has spent the summer making improvements to schools around the district, paid for by the bond voters approved in 2024. Not all the projects will be complete by the time students go back to school. Kitchen upgrades are still underway at Salnave Elementary and similar upgrades are expected to be complete in December at Windsor Elementary. “Those buildings were not designed to serve the amount of students we have taking hot lunch,” said Superintendent Ben Ferney. Staff will continue to serve food from the kitchens during the renovation and meals will be prepared offsite and brought into the building during times certain equipment is inoperable, Ferney said. “We have a great nutrition services department,” he said. “They’re making it work.” The district completed electrical upgrades in some buildings. Old carpet was replaced and the walls were painted at Betz Elementary and the high school, giving both schools a more uniform appearance rather than a patchwork stitched over decades. Upgrades were also completed to the HVAC system at the high school. “Staff and students and buildings need to be the right temperature,” Ferney said. “It’s nice to get those updates.” Of course, construction of the new Skyway Elementary is continuing, with plans to have the school complete and open in time for the 2027-2028 school year. The school will sit on land at the

COVER STORY

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intersection of Craig Road and First Avenue in Airway Heights and construction has been underway since a groundbreaking ceremony in May. The school will house 500 students, relieving overcrowding at the other district elementary schools. Like many local districts, the Cheney School District plans to put a replacement Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) levy and a replacement Capital Levy on the November ballot. School districts have traditionally put ballot measures on the February ballot, but they are increasingly shifting to the November election instead because it draws a higher number of voters. “We want turnout,” Ferney said. “It’s a good time to do it. We want people to be able to vote and give their opinion.” Both three-year levies are renewals of existing levies. The EP&O levy is used to fund more teachers for smaller class sizes, athletics, extracurricular activities, special education, school resource officers and transportation. The estimated cost would be $2.10 per $1,000 in assessed home value. Ferney said many of the programs parents like and expect to see are funded by the levy, not by the state. “It’s a replacement,” he said of the levy. “It’s not new.” The Capital Levy for Technology, Security and Infrastructure Improvements is used to replace outdated computers and Chromebooks, upgrade security cameras and purchase other classroom technology. The estimated cost would be ten cents per $1,000 in assessed home value in 2028, 15 cents per $1,000 in 2029 and 20 cents per $1,000 in 2030. When the proposed EP&O levy, proposed Capital Levy and existing bond are added together, it is estimated that taxpayers will be paying $3.90 per $1,000 in assessed home value, down slightly from the $3.93 currently being collected. “We estimate our overall tax rate to go down,” Ferney said. “We want to be sensitive with what’s going on in the economy.” The district has selected three new principals, two of whom are new to the district. The principal of Skyway Elementary, Gabby Smithley, was previously announced and she started her work as a planning principal in July. She

Contributed Photo, The construction site off of Craig Road is full of activity as Skyline Elementary School construction continues. plans to work out of various school buildings throughout the year but has committed to being in Airway Heights at least one day a week to meet with parents and community members. Smithley said she maintains a Skyway Elementary Facebook page and will post when and where she will be in Airway Heights so people can stop by and talk with her about the school. Smithley said her job is to set up the structures of the school and build a culture that will allow her to create a school that can thrive. Smithley, who was most recently the assistant principal at Sunset Elementary, has worked in the district since she did her student teaching at Snowden Elementary. She was also a kindergarten teacher at Sunset Elementary for several years before moving into administration. Smithley said she’s grateful that Cheney has a great leadership team to offer her support. “We really have a great collaboration, district wide,” she said. One of her tasks is to help select a mascot for the new school and she’ll be working to get feedback from parents and students. “That’s kind of one of our next steps,” she said. Smithley said she’s looking forward to working with Skyway parents and students. “I’m excited to be able to start a new school,” she said. “It gives me the opportunity to really listen to families about what they want to see.” Katie Huffman is the district’s new Director of Learning Options, where she oversees the district’s

three alternative learning options – Three Springs High School, HomeWorks and WIN Academy. Huffman, who has been an educator since 2006, said she got her bachelor’s degree in journalism. “I never imagined becoming a teacher,” she said. “I remember explicitly telling my parents that teaching was for the birds.” But a school district called shortly after she earned her degree and asked her if she was interested in teaching high school journalism and she took the job. “I said, I guess I can do anything for a year,” she said. She was convinced to change her mind by the end of her first day in the classroom. “I absolutely loved it,” she said. “I can’t imagine doing anything else.” She taught in North Carolina for 10 years before moving to Spokane, where she taught journalism and English at Lewis and Clark High School and Sacajawea Middle School. She was also the principal’s assistant at Audubon Elementary School. When she earned her principal certification, she sent applications to nearly every school district within an hour’s drive. She landed a job as the assistant principal at the Columbia Virtual Academy in the Valley School District, a small district near Chewelah. At the time the Academy was a K-8 online school and Huffman made a presentation to the school board about the need for a designated middle school program, which she helped build. The Columbia Virtual Academy

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COVER STORY

the job at Rogers. White said she wanted to make the switch from the classroom to administration so she could support and empower teachers to teach their students. “I’ve done a lot of instructional coaching and training with teachers,” she said. That’s where the bang for the buck is, supporting my teachers.”

Contributed Photo, Skyline Elementary School starts to take shape with an anticipated opening date of Fall 2027. is now K-12. Huffman was the principal for three years. “Now they have a really strong, incredible program,” she said. Huffman said she has come to love working in alternative education. She is pleased that instead of leading an online only school, she’ll now be leading three different alternative learning options that include inperson instruction. “You get to see these kids in person,” she said. Previously, the three programs each had their own principal, but the principals of Three Springs and HomeWorks have moved on. Huffman said she will be bringing the three programs together as a department. “I’m more the overarching umbrella for all three,” she said. Huffman said she spent her first month on the job meeting people and learning how the programs work. “Every single person has been so wonderful and so willing to jump

in and help explain processes,” she said. This year Caroline White is taking over as principal at Cheney High School, having spent the last five years as an assistant principal at Rogers High School in Spokane. She grew up in a family of teachers and watched her mother run a classroom for 30 years. She said she watched as her mother dedicated herself to her students, whether that was teaching them in the classroom or helping them get food or new sneakers. White said she tutored adults in college, which really sealed the deal on her career choice. “That was super inspirational to me,” she said. White has been an educator for 24 years, teaching mostly middle school math and science. She taught in the Diocese of Spokane for seven years, then at Garry Middle School for three years. She also spent three years as an assistant principal at Lakeside High School before taking

She said she applied for the position in Cheney because she saw the way the community supported the district by recently passing a bond, which paid for significant improvements at the high school. She said she also liked that the district has a strong commitment to school improvement. “There’s a strong team component here,” she said. “I’m super excited to be here and meet the community.” Students in the Medical Lake School District will return to the classroom a day later, on August 26. A key new initiative in the district is to expand the early learning opportunities, said Superintendent Kim Headrick. Two years ago, the district only offered half-day preschool at Michael Anderson Elementary, which is located on Fairchild Air Force Base. The program expanded last year to include classrooms at both Michael Anderson and Hallett Elementary schools. This year, there will be a preschool classroom and a Transition to Kindergarten classroom at Hallett, plus three preschool classrooms and a Transition to Kindergarten classroom at Michael Anderson. While the district is funded for 35 Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) slots and 20 Transition to Kindergarten seats, Hendricks said the district will be able to accommodate more students than that.

AUGUST 2026 • 11

“We’ll be able to serve up to 120 in early learning,” Headrick said. “Any above the 55 we’re funded for we will fund with local dollars.” Headrick said she anticipates there will be a need for the early learning programs. “I expect we will be close (to 120),” she said. “We know the child development center on the base still had a wait list for most of the year last year. We had a wait list as well.” The school district will also continue its work to expand its school psychologist program, which is funded by a $3.5 million federal grant from the Department of Education to train four school psychology graduate student interns from the University of Washington each year for four years. The goal is to train school psychologists who will go on to work in small, rural school districts that typically have no access to school psychologists. “In Medical Lake we will have interns and/or psychologists themselves in every building,” she said. The work of the district’s new Community Facilities Task Force Committee, which was created in December 2025, will also continue, Headrick said. The group has been working to develop a 25-year facilities plan. The next step will be to get public input on potential facility and grounds improvements in the district. There is only one new principal in the district, but he has a familiar face. The former assistant principal of Michael Anderson Elementary, Barry Warren, has been selected as the new principal. Warren has been an educator for 21 years and spent many of those years teaching sixth grade.

Contributed photos, Left to Right, Caroline White is the new principal at Cheney High School, Gabby Smithley the principal at Skyline Elementary School, Katie Huffman is the new Director of Learning Options at Cheney School District, and Barry Warren the new principal at Michael Anderson Elementary

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AUGUST 2026 • 13

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Try Out a New Activity During

Wonder Wednesdays For kids age 5+ & their families Explore and wonder with us each week! MEDICAL LAKE LIBRARY 321 E Herb St Wednesdays, 3:30–4:30pm

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• AUGUST 2026

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requirements specific to the Spokane dust when appropriate. nails or metal Health • Do not use a regular shop Complex fires. • Damaged electrical wiring or Do not handle damaged chemicals vacuum to clean ash because it can Guidance for equipment put fine particles back into the air. Fire can damage containers of • Natural gas, propane or cleaners, pesticides, • Wash exposed skin after household heating-oil hazards Residents fertilizers, fuels and other chemicals. contact with ash. • Ash and soot • Do not touch leaking • Clean ash from belongings Returning to materials • Asbestos-containing before moving them away from the or damaged containers unless instructed by trained personnel. when it is safe to do so. Fire-Damaged • Lead and other hazardous property, • Do not mix chemicals. An N95 or P100 respirator can substances reduce exposure to particles, but or Destroyed • Do not pour chemicals into • Household chemicals that it does not protect against gases, drains, toilets or storm drains. may have leaked or been damaged vapors or chemical fumes. Homes • Do not burn household by heat Asbestos may be present in all Contributed by Spokane Regional Health District

Use extreme caution and follow asbestos cleanup and removal requirements Residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the Spokane Complex fires may be able to enter their properties after emergency officials authorize reentry. However, a property being cleared for re-entry does not mean a fire-damaged structure is safe to enter, clean or occupy. Fire-damaged homes and burned property can contain hidden structural hazards, toxic ash, asbestos, lead, damaged electrical systems, leaking fuel or chemicals, and other dangerous materials. In addition to the guidance provided by Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) on Aug. 9, 2026, please take the following considerations before entering your property. Do not enter until officials say it is safe Do not enter a burned or damaged home until fire officials or the appropriate authority have cleared the structure for entry. Even after an area is reopened, a structure and the surrounding area may remain unsafe because of: • Damaged septic system tank lids, causing accidental falls and drownings, particularly for children and pets • Unstable walls, roofs, ceilings or floors •

Damaged foundations

•

Broken glass and exposed

If you are unsure whether a structure is safe, stay outside and contact the appropriate building, fire or emergency officials.

If your property has a septic system, ensure that the septic tank lids are still secured and in good condition to prevent a fall and drowning hazard on your property. Protect yourself from ash and debris Ash and debris from burned homes can contain hazardous materials from the structure and its contents. This can include plastics, treated materials, metals, asbestos and lead. If you are authorized to enter for an assessment or to retrieve belongings: • Wear gloves, long sleeves, long pants, closed-toe shoes and eye protection. Cleanup kits with the appropriate personal protective equipment are available through the American Red Cross at the Disaster Assistance Center, Shadle Park High School, open through Wed., Aug. 12. • Wear a properly fitted NIOSH-approved N95 or P100 respirator when exposure to ash or debris cannot be avoided. If asbestos is suspected, P100 or N100 masks are recommended. Mask Distribution: o o Sites o

SRHD Locations City of Spokane Distribution American Red Cross

• Keep children and pets away from burned areas and ash. • dust.

Avoid stirring up ash and

•

Keep ash damp to reduce

homes and can be released into the air when building materials are broken, cut, swept or demolished. Lead-based paint may also create hazardous dust when damaged or disturbed.

Asbestos fibers can become lodged in the lungs and remain there throughout life. Fibers can accumulate and cause scarring and inflammation and lead to serious conditions including lung cancer and mesothelioma. Do not remove ash or debris until a survey (test) is conducted by an Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA)-certified building inspector. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and their recovery partners will not be conducting asbestos surveys when they assess and remove household hazardous materials (See SRHD 8/12/26 Press Release). All owners of properties damaged or destroyed are required to obtain an asbestos survey conducted by an AHERA-certified building inspector. Once the survey is completed, regardless of the results, a Notice of Intent (NOI) must be filed with Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency (SRCAA). A copy of the NOI is required before the City or County will issue a building permit. If the survey is positive for asbestos, a Washington-certified abatement contractor must be hired to remove the asbestos debris/ash. Visit this SRCAA’s factsheet for detailed information on asbestos survey, removal, and disposal

chemicals. •

Keep children and pets away.

• Leave damaged unidentified containers in when possible.

or place

• Follow local instructions for household hazardous-waste disposal. Watch for propane and heatingoil hazards If a propane tank or heating-oil system was exposed to the fire, do not use it until it has been inspected by the appropriate supplier or qualified professional. Fire can damage tanks, valves, fittings and fuel lines even when the damage is not immediately obvious. Be careful with electrical systems Fire can damage electrical wiring and equipment. Do not touch damaged electrical equipment or wiring. Have the electrical system evaluated by a qualified professional before restoring or using electrical service. Protect your family from contaminated food and water Food exposed to wildfire smoke, heat or firefighting chemicals may not be safe, even if it looks normal. When food has been exposed to fire, smoke, heat or chemicals, throw it away unless local health officials specifically determine that it can be safely salvaged. If you rely on a private well, fire, power loss and damage to the well system may affect water safety. Do not assume well water is safe to drink until it has been evaluated according to local guidance.

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NEWS

Health Officer Issues Fire debris is not ordinary Emergency Order to household trash. Do not transport loose, unpackaged ash or fire debris. Follow Accelerate Removal of local requirements for asbestos surveys, packaging, transportation Household Hazardous and disposal. Do not burn fire debris on your property. Burning building Materials in Spokane County materials can release additional Do not move fire debris without knowing the disposal requirements

toxic smoke and chemicals and may violate local fire restrictions. Before beginning cleanup or demolition, contact your insurance company and consult a qualified cleanup, restoration or demolition professional as appropriate. Resources can be found at Spokane Complex Wildfire Response Resources. Smoke damage can remain after the fire A home does not need to be burned down to have smoke damage. Smoke and soot can enter through windows, doors, ventilation systems and other openings. FEMA recommends an initial assessment of fire and smoke damage after local officials have authorized return. The assessment should include looking for damage to roofs, windows, doors, electrical systems and HVAC equipment. Visible structural fire damage should be addressed by qualified professionals rather than treated as a routine homeowner cleanup project. Take your time Returning to a damaged or destroyed home can be overwhelming. You do not have to clean everything up at once. First make sure the property is safe to enter. Then document damage, contact your insurance company, and get professional advice about structural safety, hazardous materials and cleanup. For additional guidance: • Spokane Regional District - After a Wildfire

Health

• U.S. EPA - Dealing with Debris and Damaged Buildings • U.S. EPA Materials Removal

–

Hazardous

• FEMA - FEMA Homeowner’s Guide to Residential Smoke Damage •

SRCAA Asbestos

• Cleanup and debris removal Spokane Complex Wildfire Response Resources

Stream news sources

Order Authorizes EPA and FEMA Access to Fire-Damaged Properties Spokane Regional Health District Health Officer Dr. Francisco Velázquez today issued a public health order authorizing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and their recovery partners to conduct household hazardous materials assessment and removal activities on properties damaged by the Spokane Complex Fires. At the request of the state of Washington, FEMA tasked EPA with household hazardous material removal during the ongoing recovery operations. The order applies to properties affected by the Old Trails Fire, Fairview Fire, and Autumn Lane Fire, which collectively caused widespread destruction across Spokane County. The health officer's action is intended to protect public health by allowing federal, state and local partners to quickly identify, assess, and remove household hazardous materials that may remain on burned properties. Household hazardous materials can include toxic ash, burned building materials, batteries, fuels, propane cylinders, asbestos-containing materials, leadcontaining materials, and other substances that may pose risks to people and the environment.

our community remain our highest priority.” Beeler said. “We know people want to return home as soon as possible, but hazardous materials left behind by the fires pose real risks and must be addressed before cleanup and rebuilding can safely move forward.” Under the order, fire-damaged properties will automatically have household hazardous materials assessed and removed unless the property owner chooses to opt out. Property owners who opt out will be responsible for coordinating and funding their own hazardous materials cleanup, obtaining required permits, and complying with all applicable environmental and public health regulations. City of Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown had this to say about the health officer emergency order, “As all evacuation levels are lifted, protecting public health must remain among our top priorities. The EPA has extensive expertise in hazard mitigation and assessing the risks associated with returning to homes impacted by wildfire. I support their work to ensure homes are safe and will continue to work alongside our regional partners to put the health and safety of our residents first.”

AUGUST 2026 • 15

Limited Access Authority The order authorizes EPA, FEMA, and designated recovery partners to enter fire-damaged properties for activities directly related to wildfire recovery, including: •

Hazard assessments

• Environmental and testing

sampling

• Identification of hazardous materials • Removal and disposal of household hazardous materials •

Environmental monitoring

• Documentation necessary to support recovery operations The order does not authorize criminal investigations, access to undamaged homes, unrelated inspections, permanent occupation of private property, or seizure of personal property unrelated to cleanup activities. Additional Information The state and EPA will publish information regarding cleanup schedules, affected areas, property owner resources, and opt-out procedures as operations begin. Residents are encouraged to monitor official updates from Spokane Regional Health District, Spokane County Emergency Management, EPA, FEMA, and other partner agencies for the latest information. Please visit SRHD’s After a Wildfire webpage for more resources and guidance on how to stay safe when returning to property that has been impacted by fire.

"Many fire-damaged properties contain hazardous materials that are not always visible," said Velázquez. "The goal of this order is to remove barriers to recovery, reduce health risks, and help affected communities move safely and efficiently toward rebuilding." Brook Beeler, regional director of the Washington State Department of Ecology, emphasized the importance of safety during recovery. “As we transition from response to recovery, the health and safety of

Contributed photo Left to Right: Brooke Beeler, Regional Director of the Washington State Department of Ecology and Frank Velázquez, Health Officer for the Spokane Regional Health District.

16

• AUGUST 2026

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FEBRUARY

2026

The

west plains

PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Permit #010 ZIP CODE 99019

FREE

Community newsmagazine

MEDICAL LAKE KIWANIS SENIOR CITIZEN VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR - STEVEN

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LIBRARY

AUGUST 2026 • 17 SPOK ANE COUNT Y LIBR ARY DISTRICT

Reardan, Washington, includes one visit. Additional 2-foot–gauge train ride per person. Family Museum Passes for Additional rides are only $2 per Mobius Discovery Center are These passes are available available all year long, but this library passes person. seasonally and are only available summer additional passes have to museums through the end of September. been added through September For over 30 years, the train 30 to give library customers more museum was located at the Spokane opportunities to experience this and cultural Interstate Fairgrounds. Many local local, hands-on educational venue residents may remember riding the that has been designed for children centers narrow-gauge train each September and families. at the fairgrounds, where it was You’ll find a mix of playoffered located until 2014. These days, based and inquiry-based exhibits everyone can enjoy the train ride, that make exploration enjoyable, through all the restored trains, and railroad engaging, and educational. memorabilia at the museum in Because for safety reasons, September Reardan. children visiting Mobius Discovery By Erin Dodge

Spokane County Library District

A great way to round out summer is with a free pass to a local or regional museum or cultural center. Fortunately, Spokane County Library District (SCLD) has passes available to reserve at no cost for indistrict customers. Families can explore trains and railway history at the Inland Northwest Rail Museum and experience hands-on STEAM activities at Mobius Discovery Center, now through the whole month of September. These passes can be reserved by in-district customers, providing admission for up to 2 adults and 4 children in the same household. The pass for the Inland Northwest Rail Museum in

The museum aims to preserve the history of railroading in the Inland Northwest for current and future generations to explore.

The museum’s collection includes almost 30 different rail cars and engines, plus an outstanding selection of railroad memorabilia and an extensive library. The museum has added both rolling stock and motive power to the collection in recent years. Ongoing locomotive restoration projects include the Great Northern #598 and the Spokane Portland & Seattle #804. Inland Northwest Rail Museum is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 10am–5pm. However, the museum recommends checking their website, inlandnwrailmuseum. com, for updated hours or other restrictions when planning your

Share Your Garden’s Bounty at a Produce Swap

Center must be accompanied by someone who is 16 years old or older. And for the safety of all young visitors, adults must be accompanied by a child to visit Mobius as well.

For all ages

When you arrive at either venue, you will need to present your printed pass and your photo ID that matches the name on the pass to gain entrance.

Bring extra produce from your garden (fresh only).

Mobius Discovery Center Family Passes are generously sponsored by the Library Foundation of Spokane County. Find out more about the Foundation and its mission at supportscld.org.

Take home something different from another garden.

All SCLD museum and cultural passes are in high demand and become available 30 days in advance at midnight for available visit dates. To see all available passes and check availability, visit scld.org/passes.

AIRWAY HEIGHTS LIBRARY 1213 S Lundstrom St Aug 1–Oct 31, during open hours CHENEY LIBRARY 610 First St Aug 1–Oct 31, during open hours Leftovers will be delivered to a local community food bank.

Photo courtesy of https://inlandnwrailmuseum.com

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18

• AUGUST 2026

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Results are in from the August Primary

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West Plains voters firmly turned down an effort to establish a West Plains Aquifer Protection Area, which would have taxed property owners to provide money for water quality monitoring for the next 20 years. Voters appear to have approved, however, a renewal of the Spokane Transit Authority sales tax, the Spokane County Library District levy and Cheney Proposition 1, which will collect money for residential street improvements. Election results are not yet certified and, as of August 7, about 21,000 ballots remained to be counted. After several days of counting ballots, the Aquifer Protection Area proposal appears to be failing with a 56 percent no vote, with no votes outpacing yes votes by just over 900 votes. The Aquifer Protection Area was put on the ballot by Spokane County in the wake of residents dealing with PFAS contamination in groundwater across the West Plains. PFAS is a group of “forever chemicals” that came from firefighting foam used at Fairchild Air Force Base and Spokane International Airport for decades. The state and Federal government have been doing testing to determine the spread and severity of the contamination. The proposed APA was modeled after the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer Protection area that was first approved by voters in 1985. It would have collected $1.25 per month for every drinking water hookup and $1.25 a month for every household using a septic system. The money would have been available to use for planning and infrastructure for stormwater, wastewater and drinking water as well as drinking water monitoring. In the city of Cheney, almost 56 percent of voters approved renewing a utility tax on electricity and natural gas to repair residential

ON THAT NOTE

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streets and sidewalks. Voters approved a utility tax of 4 percent in 2012 and this ballot request was to both renew that tax and increase it to 6 percent. The utility tax is the city’s only dedicated funding for residential street and sidewalk repair. It is primarily used for small projects like pothole repairs, crosswalk improvements and wheelchair ramps on sidewalks. Countywide, voters appear to have approved a renewal of the Spokane Transit Authority’s 0.2 percent sales tax, which was last approved by voters in 2016. The renewal has a 20-year sunset clause unless voters agree to renew it again before it expires. The passing margin was extremely tight on election night, but has since grown to a 51.78 percent yes vote. If the approval trend continues, the measure will pass. STA has said it will use the money to maintain current operations as well as fund several one-time projects, including the Division Street Bus Rapid Transit Project, which will be similar to the City

Line that runs between Browne’s Addition and Spokane Community College. Voters across the county also approved a Spokane County Library District levy lid lift to allow the district to collect 45 cents per $1,000 in assessed home value, with a little over 53 percent voting yes. The limit the district can collect is 50 cents per $1,000 in assessed home value. The last time the district collected that much was in 2019 and the amount has dropped annually ever since. This year the district is collecting 33 cents per $1,000. The district has libraries in unincorporated Spokane County and also serves the communities of Millwood, Fairfield, Cheney, Deer Park, Medical Lake, Spokane Valley and Airway Heights. The district also has a mobile van that visits various locations and small towns such as Rockford, Spangle and Waverly. District officials have said that the money will be used to maintain existing operations as well as do some maintenance on the district’s 11 libraries, including roofs and HVAC systems. Officials had warned that if the levy lid lift

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failed, they would have to consider charging for the use of meeting rooms, closing one or more libraries and spending less on digital books. Voters also narrowed the field in two races in the state’s 6th Legislative District, which includes parts of Spokane as well as Airway Heights, Medical Lake and Cheney. Neither seat has an incumbent, with Rep. Mike Volz leaving to run for Spokane County Treasurer and Rep. Jenny Graham opting not to run for re-election. The top two in each race will advance to the general election in November. In Position 1, the six-candidate field was narrowed to Democrat Michaela Kelso, who received 30 percent of the vote, and Republican Alan Nolan, who received 25 percent of the vote. There were two Democrats and four Republicans originally in the race. Kelso is a disabled U.S. Army veteran who is on the executive board of the Spokane County Democrats. Nolan is a U.S. Air Force veteran and current Mead School Board member. In position 2, former Spokane City Council Member and

Republican Jonathan Bingle took a commanding lead with 50 percent of the vote, but the results are much closer for second place, with Democrat Julia Payne drawing 25.27 percent of the vote and Independent Aaron Croft with 24.09 percent of the vote. Only 338 votes separated Payne and Croft as of the August 7 count. Bingle was known to clash with the more progressive Spokane City Council and lost his re-election bid in 2025 but was expected to do well in the 6th District, which has reliably voted Republican for many years. In the 5th Congressional District, which sprawls over much of Eastern Washington, Republican incumbent Mike Baumgartner earned 43 percent of the vote as of the Aug. 7 count, down from 48 percent on election night, in a 12-candidate field. In November he will face Democrat Carmela Conroy, who received a little over 21 percent of the vote, about 5,000 more votes than Independent Nate Powell. Baumgartner and Conroy previously faced off against each other in 2024.

You are The West Plains Stream Want to see your name in print (for all the right reasons, of course)? Or maybe you just want to help point out great ideas for content worth sharing with your neighbors? The Stream is a community newspaper, so if you are part of the Airway Heights, Medical Lake, Fairchild and Cheney areas, we want to know what’s important to you. We like to say there are three of us, and there are more than thousands of you. Maybe one of the questions below applies to you? If so, you can help us out.

 Do you celebrate? We want people to know about everything from your new baby, to your upcoming wedding or anniversary, to your incredible office or sporting achievement. Photos, announcements, honors — please send! We will feature it in the “Local Lens.”

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• AUGUST 2026

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SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMERS, GROWERS AND MAKERS!

SPOKANE COUNTY

INTERSTATE FAIR

September 11 – 20, 2026

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Sept 17

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