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Waterwise, drought tolerant, xeriscaping, drip-irrigation, terms that suggest the value of water, are often in gardeners discussions these days. Resources for more information include online searches, Xerces publications and contacts with the Spokane County WSU Master Gardeners. Master Gardener, Kris Moberg-Hendron, leads the Waterwise Information Program and welcomes gardeners interested in Water Wise landscaping to visit the demonstration gardens at the WSU extension office at 222 N. Havana, in Spokane. Registration is not...
In 1922, the Columbia Basin Irrigation League was formed. Just a year later, Congress passed a bill allowing an investigation of the irrigation project with appropriations of $100,000. This was the very beginning of the process that led to construction of the Grand Coulee Dam, the largest dam in the world at the time, to help provide irrigation to the Columbia Basin, and power to the Pacific Northwest and beyond. It was also the beginning of one of the largest irrigation efforts in the nation, the Columbia Basin Project. The...
In 1922, the Columbia Basin Irrigation League was formed. Just a year later, Congress passed a bill allowing an investigation of the irrigation project with appropriations of $100,000. This was the very beginning of the process that led to construction of the Grand Coulee Dam, the largest dam in the world at the time, to help provide irrigation to the Columbia Basin, and power to the Pacific Northwest and beyond. It was also the beginning of one of the largest irrigation...
City Council votes on Barker Project Valley Herald SPOKANE VALLEY —The city council voted unanimously on a motion consideration for the Barker Road Widening project at their regular meeting on June 6. The current project, according to reference documents, is the last segment of the multi-phase project and will construct the remaining road improvements connecting both east and west ends of Euclid Avenue including the Union Pacific Railroad crossing and the multi-use path from east Euclid to the Barker Grade Separation Project...
MEDICAL LAKE – State-planted trout are competing with goldfish for food in the four West Medical Lake ponds. As a result, state officials want use Rotenone in the ponds to eradicate the goldfish population. Although goldfish are the “target species” of the “naturally occurring” poison, Rotenone is highly toxic to all “gill-breathing organisms, state documents on its use show. Before poisoning the ponds – formed with the water level in West Medical Lake declines in warmer months – the state Department of Fish and Wildlife wa...
CHENEY — Family Play & Learn Storytime on May 26 and 31, and every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday throughout the month of June from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the meeting room of the library at 610 First St. Children ages 2 to 5 and their families are welcome. Children will be able to play while learning during 30 minutes of reading picture books, singing songs, and learning fingerplays. This will be followed by 30 minutes of activities that explore the concepts of math, science, art, and literacy. Weed Control in Your Garden on M...
The following building permits were approved in April APPROVED Building 01/11/2023 04/25/2023 Jalomo - Add Vinyl Siding, Replace/Widen Patio Door Install vinyl siding and new 16’ patio door (widening existing door opening) $44,625.00 609 IRENE PL, CHENEY Residential INLAND HOME IMPROVEMENTS INC DANIEL SCHIMKE INLAND HOME IMPROVEMENTS INC DANIEL SCHIMKE APPROVED Building 02/15/2023 04/17/2023 Skutley - Add 4th Bedroom, Remodel Kitchen, Add Bathroom, Porch Support Reinforce sagging floor near bay window in living area and inter...
April 2023 Margaret A. Swenson Finally, it is springtime. Time to plant, clean, work and dream. Warm days invigorate me and it seems energy stored away all winter has finally found release. Though raking, shoveling and stretching are now part of my day, I need to be mindful, as my father always said, “Rome wasn’t built in a day!” My retort was, “Yes, but it didn’t take long to tear it down!” I am always encouraged and inspired by the work my neighbors do. And though I live in the country, I am grateful not to be policed by my...
In Washington, this year we’re fortunate to have escaped the historic droughts plaguing other parts of the world. The Columbia River basin water system has been at normal levels which is good for our agriculture, hydropower generation, barging, local water supplies, and fish and wildlife. However, 20 years ago we faced the same severe drought that is afflicting the world’s major river drainages including the Colorado, Rhine, and Yangtze. That water scarcity is forcing factorie...
SPOKANE VALLEY – The deadline to apply for the 2023 USDA Conservation Stewardship Program is Oct. 13. The program is open to producers seeking technical and financial assistance with conservation efforts. Under the program, farmers can receive payments for managing, maintaining and expanding conservation measures like planting cover crops and buffer strips, as well as improving pollinator habitat. Farmers can also receive help with irrigation monitoring, herbicide application, grazing systems and more. Applicants will be r...
By Mark Schoesler Senator A draft of the “Lower Snake River Dams Benefit Replacement Report,” requested by Washington’s U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and Gov. Jay Inslee last fall, recently was released to the public. While intended to make the case for breaching the four dams between Clarkston and the Tri-Cities, the report ironically makes a good case for keeping the dams. The report estimates it will cost between $10-$27 billion to replace the benefits provided by the four dams. Knowing how government projects usually go over...
Even though the neighbors line up to take pictures of your impeccably weed-free, absolutely straight rows of vegetables and Better Homes and Gardens has made an appointment to feature your garden in their next issue, or NOT! The reality may be pumpkin vines strangling anything that dares venture on the pathways, zucchinis the size of small children hiding under its giant leaves and tomato plants totally out of control; all is well. Try not to worry about rows of carrots you didn’t thin and as my grandpa used to say, ...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Eastern Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Spokane, helped get legislation approved by the U.S House of Representatives on Wednesday night that includes language to protect four Lower Snake River dams. “Salmon and dams can-and-do co-exist,” she said Thursday. “Study after study has shown the critical benefits the Lower Snake River dams provide to our region: affordable and reliable hydropower, low-emissions transportation of goods, and irrigation for farmers in Washington who feed the world....
My green babies are ready to go outside. The soil temperature is nearly 55 degrees and there is no snow on Mt. Spokane. My new irrigation system with drip lines is set up; importantly, I have a new tube of sunscreen. I’ll get a new hat and gloves next week. Since my dear little green ones have never tasted outside air or natural sunshine, I will have to ease them into the real world. After bringing them all back inside the first night, I rigged up vinyl tablecloths to cover them. I didn’t sleep all night, worrying they wou...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – Kids in Airway Heights have a new playground to explore in Shorty Combs Park. The upgrade is part of the Airway Heights Parks and Recreation plan to improve to city park facilities. Parks and Recreation Director J.C. Kennedy said the department ordered the metal playground in late 2021 from Buell Recreation at a cost of $77,145, which includes new fall protective material to protect children from injuries. He said plans for the revitalization of the park b...
If you belong to the DIYG’s “Do it Yourself Gardeners,” temptations at nurseries and garden centers are endless. I find the tool isle especially intriguing. Glittering steel rakes and battery-powered diggers and weeders, Ah, the joy of it all. However, my tool belt includes a good quality hand pruner, pocket-size fold-up saw, a strong weed prong, rubber hose washers, and a flathead and Phillips screwdriver (for hose and irrigation line repair). It also includes a small jar of *Vick’s Vapor Rub to repel biting insects...
Again, I found myself at the grocery store with a bad attitude. Are you kidding me? I fumed at the produce manager—$3.00 for a green pepper? I stomped out of the vegetable section, bought some packets of seeds and left the store in a huff. I stopped at the hardware store and purchased some “Soil for Seed Starting.” Visions of colorful jars of canned veggies danced in my head all the way home. I had saved stacks of plastic cups and poked three holes in the bottom of each one. To insure there were no contaminants in my recyc...
POMEROY – Two Eastern Washington lawmakers are irate that Gov. Jay Inslee is pushing wind and solar farms on the region without providing for local input. Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, and Rep. Mark Klicker, R-Walla Walla, said Monday, March 28, that it’s unconscionable the governor vetoed portions of House Bill 1812 that would give local leaders and opportunity to challenge wind and solar farm placement. The governor vetoed sections 19-22 of the bill establishing an ind...
City to study utility rates CHENEY – The City Council unanimously approved Resolution F-015 on Tuesday, March 22, to allocate over $90,000 to study residential and commercial water and utility rates. Cheney will contract with the FCS Group to perform the research, costing the city $92,565. “It’s always nice to have a third party come in and do an extensive rate study,” Public Works Director Todd Ableman said. The city has been contracting with FCS Group since 2009 to study utility rates. Ableman said the city’s emergency...
February 9, 2012 10 years ago Cheney's Matt Duvall contributes to agriculture work in war – torn Afghanistan These days, Cheney native Matt Duvall shows up at work without a full military security detail. But just months ago, convoys, bombs, and insurgents were all part of a day's work as a United States Department of Agriculture representative in Afghanistan. Duvall spent seven months in one of the most dangerous parts of Afghanistan, Paktika Province, working with g...
Under the guise of water conservation, the state Department of Ecology is once again moving to take water rights from farmers, ranchers and other private holders. Last month, the agency announced plans to fund creation of local “water banks,” in addition to the state “water bank” already in existence. The agency says the program helps municipalities buy water rights from private owners. It has set $14 million aside for the program. The goal, agency spokesman Jimmy Norris...
RITZVILLE – A political activist has been arrested in connection with an assault on Sen. Mark Schoesler. Glen R. Stockwell, 71, of Ritzville, a former candidate for various elected offices, was arrested Monday morning, Oct. 11. At press time, he was being held in the Adams County Jail on possible charges of fourth-degree assault, harassment and disorderly conduct, records show. The 64-year-old Schoesler, R-Ritzville, was assaulted in the city, officials said. According to p...
MEDICAL LAKE – The Medical Lake Cemetery Association is planning a community work day for Saturday, Sept. 25. Volunteers with the organization will be cleaning up the grounds for the old Medical Lake Cemetery at 21419 Thorpe Road. The group will be out with community volunteers doing some general maintenance, grounds keeping, etc., between 9 a.m. and noon. Organizers suggest volunteers bring gloves and yard-work tools. “Medical Lake Cemetery is not a perpetual care ent...
SPOKANE VALLEY — The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is closing the Newman Lake Access Area from Sept. 12-14 for milfoil treatment. A contractor hired by Spokane County and the Newman Lake Flood Control Zone District will apply a herbicide to approximately 55 acres on the south shoreline and 4 acres on the west side of the lake Sept. 13, officials said. The treatment day is dependent on lake and weather conditions. The lake access is being closed to reduce "wave action from boats," which dilutes herbicides used to k...
CHENEY – The city’s Purple Pipe Project was among the recipients of a $312 million award from the Washington State Department of Ecology in conjunction with ongoing water quality projects in the state. The loan to Cheney totals $21.8 million and will aid in upgrading the Wastewater Treatment Reclamation Plant (WTRP) and the water distribution system to emit reclaimed water on “turf grass and landscape irrigation at City parks, athletic fields, and school grounds.” The intent behind employing recycled water is to limit w...
