Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 562
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – Police arrested David Justin Quesnell, 40, on the 800 block of Russell Street after allegedly leading police on a high-speed chase on Nov. 25. Quesnell has been facing accusations of second-degree assault. According to the Airway Heights Police Department, Officer Baker attempted to stop Quesnell for reckless driving. Instead, Quesnell fled, driving dangerously through the area before being apprehended. Authorities allege Quesnell obstructed police during the arrest and also caused property damage in the p...
SPOKANE VALLEY – The city council’s approval of its 2025 budget last Tuesday was overshadowed by sharp exchanges and ongoing tensions between councilman Al Merkel and his colleagues. The budget, which totals $149.6 million across 31 funds, passed with a 6-1 vote, with Merkel casting the lone dissent. The meeting marked the third and final public hearing on the 2025 budget. Finance Director Chelsie Walls highlighted key points, including a General Fund expenditure of $67.7 million, a planned reduction of two full-time emp...
SPOKANE – Spokane County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Detectives have recently partnered up with the U.S. Marshal’s regional Violent Offender Task force in order to locate and arrest Jordan G. Fleming, the suspect in a Nov. 17 shooting at the Big Foot Tavern in north Spokane. Fleming, 30 years old, is considered armed and dangerous. Authorities advise residents to not approach him. The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $750 for information that leads to his arrest. Tips can be submitted by calling 1-800...
SPOKANE VALLEY – Spokane Valley Deputies arrested two men early Monday morning after they were caught stealing tires from a local business on North Fancher Road. The suspects, Hector N. Palomera-Tapia, 40, and Malcolm L. Kaisi, 32, were pushing shopping carts loaded with stolen tires when apprehended. Both men were booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of second-degree burglary and third-degree theft. The incident occurred on Nov. 25, at around 2:40 am. Deputies w...
SPOKANE VALLEY – The Central Valley School Board held a special meeting on Monday, Nov. 18 to discuss transgender athletes in girls’ sports, drawing a large and vocal crowd. After a lengthy discussion, the board passed a resolution and sent a letter asking the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) to reconsider its current policy, which allows athletes to play on teams that match their gender identity. The resolution passed 3-1, with one member abstaining. A similar letter to the WIAA and state law...
SPOKANE VALLEY – MultiCare Valley Hospital has earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit organization that rates hospitals for patient safety, announced Kevin Maloney in a newsletter on Nov. 18. Maloney is the media relations manager for MultiCare Health System’s Inland Northwest Region The grade is based on more than 30 safety measures, including the prevention of medical errors, infections, and injuries. Leapfrog rates hospitals with grades from A to F based on their safety protocols and res...
SPOKANE – The Spokane County Sheriff's Office has been recognized for achieving the highest professional standards in law enforcement. Last week the office earned accreditation through the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) during the group's Fall Conference. The WASPC accreditation process, which spans multiple months, involves a seven-phase review to ensure that agencies meet the association's high standards. These include effective a...
MEDICAL LAKE – Local residents may see big changes to their transit system, according to Karl Otterstrom, the Chief Planning and Development Officer at Spokane Transit Authority At the Nov. 19 City Council meeting, Otterstram laid out the STA’s plans to update local bus routes and accessibility. Route 63 had nearly 48,600 rides in the past year, while Paratransit served 2,820 rides in 2023. STA’s Rideshare program includes five groups with 22 riders. Changes are planned for Route 62, which connects State Highway 902 and F...
Airway Heights AIRWAY HEIGHTS — The Police Department reported the following arrests from Nov. 18-24: Nov. 18 Precious A. Bigsmoke was arrested on the 800 block of South King Street for criminal mistreatment in the second and third-degree. Nov. 19 Jina Comto was arrested on the 14300 block of West Highway 2 for first degree criminal trespassing and possession of a controlled substance. Nov. 22 Jay K. Hoffschneider was arrested on West Betz Road and South Normal Park Road for driving without an ignition interlock device, r...
CHENEY – Cheney Public Schools is rethinking school meals with local ingredients and international flavors, Nutrition Services leaders shared at the board meeting on Wednesday. “We want kids to recognize where their food comes from,” said Director LJ Klinkenberg. He highlighted the district’s commitment to local sourcing. Grass-fed beef from Cheney-area farms is used in chili and beef stew, while a Farm to School grant is funding lamb gyros. The team is introducing culturally diverse meals like gyros with house-made hummus,...
MEDICAL LAKE – Finance Director Koss Ronhault updated the city council on the third-quarter budget during the Nov. 19 meeting, stressing the city’s need for year-end amendments to the 2024 budget. He explained that while 83% of the city’s funds were reported as spent, the current number would be closer to 85%. General Fund revenues reached 89 of the $2.5 million budget, exceeding expectations by $135,000 due to higher-thang-anticipated sales taxes, permits, and interest income. Expenses stood at 67% used, however, key depar...
ROSALIA – A five-vehicle crash involving a semi-truck, icy conditions, and multiple cars left one person dead and another injured early Saturday, according to the Washington State Patrol (WSP). The accident occurred aroud 7:20 am, on State route 195, about three miles north of Rosalia, near Babb Road. Investigators say a southbound semi-truck lost control on the ice and jackknifed into the northbound lanes. A car heading north collided with the semi, pushing it into two other vehicles in the adjacent lane. Meanwhile, the t...
CHENEY – Cheney Public Schools is moving towards the next phase of their strategic plan to guide to student success beyond academics. Director of Teaching and Learning, Kelly Niccols, presented the plan, which features two programs: Portraits of a Learner (POL) for elementary grades and Portraits of a Graduate (POC) for secondary students. Niccols said that the district is hoping to create a student-centered system which emphasizes skill development and personal growth. “Everything we do is for the benefit of the stu...
CHENEY – The Cheney School board reviewed its 2025 legislative priorities for the first time at the recent board meeting on Wednesday night. The current focuses are state funding for special education and operational costs rather than on transportation. Superintendent Ben Ferney highlighted the district’s collaboration with Washington’s 295 school districts to present a unified request to the legislature. “We need to improve the prototypical model,” said Ferney. He noted that state funding only covers 7% of special education...
CHENEY – The school constructoin bond, rejected by voters earlier this year, is currently passing with 61.06% approval, amounting to 10,618 votes, as of the latest count on Nov. 12. The bond requires a supermajority of 60% or more to pass. The votes against Proposition 1 stand at 38.69%, totaling 6,729 votes. Initial election night results on Nov. 5 showed the bond trailing at 59% approval, just below the threshold needed for passage. Mike McLaughlin, Spokane County E...
OLYMPIA – The Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee (VAAC) has recognized exemplary service to veterans and their families through the 2024 Outstanding Service to Veterans Awards. These awards honor individuals and organizations that have demonstrated outstanding commitment and support to veterans across Washington State. The recipients will be formally celebrated at the Auburn Veterans Day Parade luncheon for their contributions. These awards fall into three categories, each focusing on different aspects of ser...
Liberty Lancer's Kendall Denny spikes the ball over the net while playing Freeman during the WIAA District 6 2B Tournament last week at Cheney High School. Liberty loss this match, 0-3. However, they took second in this tourney and advanced to 2B State Tournament in Yakima Valley SunDome....
SPOKANE VALLEY – A Spokane Valley Deputy arrested a woman after she allegedly tossed a bag of suspected methamphetamine and then claimed she didn't own the pants she was wearing. The incident took place on Nov. 10, around 9:05 am, when the deputy spotted a suspicious red Ford Focus parked on private property near East Mansfield Avenue and North Robie Street. The deputy approached 48-year-old Martha A. White, who was digging through the car's passenger side. She claimed to be f...
SPOKANE VALLEY – The West Valley School District's safety and security replacement levy is passing with 58.89% of votes in favor as of Nov. 12. The measure, Proposition No. 1, will help fund important updates and repairs across the district. According to Spokane County Elections Manager Mike McLaughlin, 11,144 ballots have been counted for this measure so far, with 6,640 votes supporting it and 4,594 against. Another 749 ballots still need to be counted, while 81 ballots w...
Missing Spokane teen found safe SPOKANE COUNTY – The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office reported that 16-year-old Naomi G. Berry, who was previously reported missing on Oct. 29, has been found safe this Tuesday. Berry was last seen leaving her home near East Upriver Drive and North Farr Road, and her family had expressed concerns about her safety. After days of searching, the Sheriff’s Office announced that Berry was found safe and thanked the public for their assistance. Valley Viewer puts property info online SPOKANE VALLE...
Airway Heights AIRWAY HEIGHTS — The Police Department reported the following arrests from Nov. 8-11: Nov. 8 Michael B. Finn was arrested for theft in the third degree (shoplifting) and making a false statement to a public servant on the 1200 block of South Hayford Road. Aaron W. Montoya Jr was arrested for violation of a domestic violence protection order and making a false statement to a public servant from the 1200 block South of Hayford Road. Nov. 10 Josue D. Oceguera was arrested for possession of a stolen motor v...
Cheney man froze to death CHENEY — The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office has determined that 47-year-old Justin Ball died from hypothermia. According to the weather reports on the night Ball was found, the low was 43 degrees. Police Sgt. Zeb Campbell confirmed that Ball died in his garage, and noted that Ball “was suffering from some medical issues that were contributing conditions to his death, that may have affected his ability to seek warmth and assistance.” Ball’s body was found Oct. 2, leading to an investiga...
SPOKANE COUNTY – Ted Cummings, Democratic candidate for Washington State House in Legislative District 4, expressed strong disappointment in the outcome of his race and broader election results, citing concerns over the political direction among voters. “I’m very disappointed,” Cummings stated in an interview Tuesday evening. “I had hoped that people would have rejected this whole MAGA Republican movement and vote in their own best interest. But people are okay with supporting hate and outright lies.” With election re...
OLYMPIA – It looks like the carbon tax is here to stay. As of the end of counting in the Tuesday, Nov. 5, general election, Initiative 2117 was going up in smoke. The measure that would have ended the state’s cap-and-tax program on carbon was failing with 1,566,065 votes (61.69%) opposed and only 972,623 (38.31% in favor). The ballot measure aimed to dismantle Washington’s current climate legislation requiring high-emission businesses to either reduce greenhouse gas emissions or purchase allowances to offset them. Suppo...
WASHINGTON – Leonard Christian expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm following his likely victory Tuesday evening, stating, “I just am excited to get to work, really humbled and appreciate and thank the voters, and all the people who helped us get here. Couldn’t have done it without a good team.” With a comfortable lead at 63% of the vote, Christian noted his respect for his opponent, saying, “I’d really like to thank my opponent; he kept it clean, and was a very nice young man to have in the race. I wish him the best....
