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The September meeting of the Airway Heights Planning Commission was canceled due to lack of quorum. One of the commission’s current three members was unable to make the meeting, which led to its cancellation. There are still two open spots on the dais. Among the items originally on the agenda included a public hearing regarding the proposed multifamily development on North Craig Road, which could serve as an alternative housing location for residents living in Accident Potential Zone Two, leading to the runway of Fairchild A...
The economy is still struggling, gas prices are high, Congress is debating potential actions in the Middle East, JJ Abrams has placed his love of Star Wars above Star Trek and the Mariners are still in the cellar of the American League West. I tell you, the more things change, the more they stay the same. So, forget all about that doom and gloom and let’s turn for a brief second to something that never changes: tea. Yes, this is a column about tea. And, cue the action-packed text! I’ve always been a tea lover. When I was you...
The Airway Heights City Council may shake up its study session schedule in the near future. Councilman Steven Lawrence asked if there was a way to look at council compensation, since the City Council had dropped its number of committee meetings from three to one, condensed into the monthly work session. City Manager Albert Tripp said he would look into the matter and bring some information to the next study session Monday, Sept. 23 at 5:30 p.m. Other council members, including Barron Williamson and Kevin Richey, said their...
With one opening on the Medical Lake School Board of Directors, the board interviewed a potential candidate right before the last meeting, Tuesday, Aug. 27. Felicia Jensen answered a series of questions posed by the board, ranging from her previous work experience to what vision she has for the school district. Jensen is a candidate for the position vacated by director Julie Albright, who resigned in June. Jensen is a former military member, serving 24 years in the armed forces before recently retiring as operations manager...
Reports from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction show fairly steady Measurement of Student Progress test results for the Medical Lake School District. Math scores were mixed compared to last year, with a noticeable drop in fifth-grade results, with only 38.7 percent of students meeting standards. While that drop was significant, seventh-graders jumped up from 51 percent to 69 percent meeting standards. Overall, reading showed a slight improvement across the board, with third, fourth and 10th grades hitting...
For the past several months, community members in Airway Heights have been working hard to prepare for the inaugural service of The Heights Church coming up Sunday, Sept. 8. Jacob Powers, the pastor at The Heights Church, said 40 to 50 church members have helped throughout the prep period, and that they’re ready to hit the ground running for the first service. “They’re involved and dedicated,” he said. Powers, a pastor at Life Center North in Spokane, first contemp...
An aerospace composite course at the Airway Heights Corrections Center is providing hands-on lessons for offenders. The program teaches offenders skills to help them obtain an entry level job creating aerospace composite materials, covering all of the elements needed to be a versatile presence in the workforce. Chad Lewis, Director of Department of Corrections communications, said the concept of teaching and putting vocational skills to work at the same time has made the...
According to elementary school principals in the Medical Lake School District, parents are excited about all-day kindergarten in the upcoming school year. Although not funded by the state this year, the two elementary schools in the district will begin all-day kindergarten. At the Tuesday, Aug. 27 school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Pam Veltri said the district sacrificed a curriculum adoption to make it happen. Hallett Elementary will have three kindergarten classes and Michael Anderson Elementary will have four....
An alternative housing project first brought forward to the Airway Heights Planning Commission earlier this month received some additional talk at the City Council’s monthly study session Monday, Aug. 26. The City Council discussed the proposed rezone of a subdivision located on Craig Road north of Highway 2, bringing other non-action items to the table that will appear at future council meetings. The project has drawn some criticism from area jurisdictions, given its proximity to the Joint Land Use Study 65 decibel noise c...
There really is nothing like the start of a road trip. You’re excited, ready to get on the open road and the weather is usually pretty good. As I write this, I’ve just finished the first of a four-day venture throughout our great state. Like all trips, there were hiccups, but the great thing about traveling is quite simply the opportunity to see something new. I’ve never been to Grand Coulee Dam, but crossed that off my list this afternoon. Simply put, it lives up to its name. Grand. Driving along Highway 2 shows just how g...
Business in the early days at Silver Lake Mercantile has been going well for Lyn Joyfull. Joyfull previously owned and operated the mercantile store Hidden Treasures in Airway Heights before moving to Silver Lake toward the end of last year. For her, searching for antiques became something greater than a hobby in the 2000s, and finding value in an obscure object is well worth the hunt. After making the call to open up a new store, she and the building landlord got to work on...
Pearl Snaps, a Spokane bluegrass group, entertains the audience at Blue Waters Bluegrass in Medical Lake last weekend. The annual three-day festival draws dozens of talented local and national touring bands to the Northwest....
A multifamily development north of Highway 2 on Craig Road drew some raised eyebrows at the Airway Heights Planning Commission. The project, still in the planning stages, was the topic of a workshop at the commission’s Monday, Aug. 12 meeting. It’s meant to provide housing opportunities to residents living in Accident Potential Zone Two, leading to the runway of Fairchild Air Force Base. Those residents would have the first opportunity to move into the facility. Development Services Director Derrick Braaten said the city doe...
Medical Lake, Airway Heights and Spokane County Fire District 10 have a plan to share resources in an effort to help each other operate more efficiently throughout the West Plains. The three fire departments are working together to produce a document that shows any duplications of service between them. Airway Heights Fire Chief Mitch Metzger said the idea first gained some traction within the city when one of the two pumps failed, necessitating the purchase of a new one...
The West Nile virus was detected at Fairchild Air Force Base last week, after sampling a mosquito trap site on the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Trail. Members of the 92nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron gathered sample pools of mosquitoes on the south side of the base near one of the cedar trails. The diseased mosquito was found in that area. Mosquitoes become infected with the virus from a bird that carried it. Other mammals, like humans and horses, aren’t carriers of the disease. “Members from 92nd Civil Eng...
Drumming and dancing were just on the surface of the annual powwow at the Airway Heights Corrections Center. Around 230 people were involved in the event, including offenders and visitors. The day started with a grand entry, flag song, charging song and dancing. Meals and a giveaway, followed by more dancing. Altogether, the event lasted around six hours Thursday, Aug. 1. “Today’s powwow, everything that we do is to give back,” one offender, Seymour Ruben, said. “To show ou...
New zoning code updates received a third and final reading after nearly two years of discussion at the Monday, Aug. 5 meeting of the Airway Heights City Council. Two ordinances, one to enhance availability of multifamily housing and another adding a mixed-use overlay, have gone back and forth between the city and various jurisdictions relating to how it would fit with aerospace enhancements. Spokane International Airport and Spokane County were among those who had numerous comments throughout the timeline. Airway Heights at...
Handmade regalian, taking several months to make, was on display at a powwow of area Native American tribes held last Aug. 1 at Airway Heights Correctin Center. See the story on page 3....
Plans from Spokane Transit Authority are moving along with the proposed West Plains transit center, and representatives shared project updates at a recent Cheney City Council meeting. Last month, STA received an award for a Spokane Regional Transportation Council grant, totaling $951,500. That money, which consists of federal dollars, will go directly to the preliminary engineering and design of the transit center. STA communications manager Molly Myers said the work on the...
This past Sunday, sounds of the baroque period filled Riverfront Park for the last time, marking the end of an era. The Royal Fireworks Concert has been a staple of my Julys for a number of years now, and it’s an event I thoroughly enjoy. Unfortunately, unless some major funding comes through, this year was the concert’s last, marking the end of a 35-year tradition in Spokane. Every year, I look forward to the fireworks, of course. But the music is surprisingly good, and given the history of the ensemble, it’s a great night...
The Spokane County Library District gave the Cheney City Council a rundown of its five-year survey results, noting service increases across the board at the Cheney Library. At the Tuesday, July 23 meeting, the library noted the various conversations it had with community members, which took place throughout the county at each branch last year. Input gathered from those community meetings was reviewed by trustees and staff to identify service priorities and develop measurable goals and objectives for the future. Over the past...
The Medical Lake School District will be working with a $19.15 million budget in the 2013-14 school year. At the July 23 board meeting, the budget was passed unanimously. Included is $18.75 million in general fund revenues, which increased by $1.25 million over the previous year, largely due to state funding increases. In addition to the increased state funding, the district received $260,000 more than it expected in Impact Aid revenue last year. The district noted that sequestration cuts were still in effect, and could play...
The annual Blue Waters Bluegrass Festival is just one week away, and talented musical acts are slated to perform throughout the three-day show, Aug. 9-11 at Medical Lake’s Waterfront Park. Music director and acting president Kevin Brown said this year’s festival offers a wide array of bluegrass music ranging from traditional to the upbeat and high-energy groups, while maintaining the traditional music seen last year. “Last year, we took a different direction,” he said. T...
Medical Lake High School tennis players teach some basic skills of the sport to youngsters during the annual 24-hour Tennis-a-thon July 17-18 at the high school tennis courts on Lefevre Street....
The Medical Lake City Council is considering a change in how it handles garbage billing, which should facilitate customer service if passed. Currently, City Hall handles garbage billing for Medical Lake, based on information Sunshine Disposal sends to the city. As a result, if a resident has questions on their bill, they first go to City Hall, which then asks Sunshine Disposal the same question. City Administrator Doug Ross said a representative from Sunshine would be at the next City Council meeting to discuss the potential...
