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SPOKANE – Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels officially welcomed three new deputies during a swearing-in ceremony on Dec. 30, at the Spokane County Public Safety Building. Among them was Deputy Kody Vaughn, a Central Valley High School graduate, along with Deputies Elijah Belcourt and Guadalupe Gonzales. Deputy Vaughn, 23, grew up in Spokane and graduated from Central Valley High School in 2020. Before joining the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, Vaughn gained law e...
SPOKANE VALLY – A fatal shooting left one man dead and led to the detention of two suspects on Monday afternoon. The shooting was the result of a heated confrontation between two groups. Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a reported shooting on East 4th Avenue, west of South University Road, at approximately 12:18 p.m. When they arrived, they found a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Deputies and Spokane Valley Firefighters attempted life-saving measures, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. I...
SPOKANE VALLEY – The City Council unanimously approved 10 new police officer positions on Jan. 7 to address public safety concerns and community support for enhanced law enforcement. Deputy City Manager Erik Lamb detailed the roles, which include four patrol officers, two patrol lieutenants, one traffic officer, one homeless outreach officer, and three positions for an investigative unit—two officers and a sergeant. These roles will focus on improving response times, targeting high-crime areas, and addressing issues like dru...
SPOKANE VALLEY – A man was killed in a fatal pedestrian crash in Spokane Valley after being hit by a car on North Tschirley Road near East Dalton Avenue on Jan. 5. The crash happened at approximately 5:30 p.m. when the pedestrian, who had parked his Kia on the east side of the road, was returning to his car after completing a delivery. A northbound Subaru struck him in the roadway. Deputies were notified that Spokane Regional Communications Officers were providing instructions to the caller, and CPR was in progress. The drive...
SPOKANE VALLEY – The City Council approved a slate of board appointments during its recent meeting on Tuesday night, sparking criticism from Councilman Al Merkel. Merkel argued that he was unfairly excluded from the process. Mayor Pam Haley said that her intention was to maintain continuity by keeping most appointees in their current roles. “Several boards reached out to me and said they’d like to keep the people the same,” she explained. “There’s some benefit to having longevity on a particular board because you know what’s...
SPOKANE VALLEY – The City Council unanimously approved a slate of committee appointments, filling important volunteer roles across multiple boards at its Jan. 7 meeting. The new appointees will serve on the Planning Commission, Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) Spokane Housing Authority Board, and more. Councilman Al Merkel confirmed that Mayor Pam Haley conducted interviews with candidates and verified their job histories. Haley affirmed that the council reviewed applications, conducted interviews, and verified c...
Woman dies in NYE collision SPOKANE VALLEY – A fatal auto-pedestrian collision occurred on East Appleway Avenue near North Michigan Road on Dec. 31, claiming the life of a woman in her 60s. Around 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, Spokane Valley deputies responded to the crash near North Michigan Road, east of Barker Road, after receiving reports of the incident. The woman was crossing Appleway from north to south when she was struck by a 2000 Honda heading east. The vehicle’s driver, a woman in her 70s, remained on-site and coope...
SPOKANE – A suspected impaired driver was arrested after a near head-on crash on North Argonne Road near Doak Road on Jan. 5. The accident left a teenage passenger in the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Deputies say the driver, 56-yaer-old Raymond G. Jones, caused the collision and was booked into Spokane County Jail for vehicular assault. Witnesses reported Jones driving erratically in a white Ford F150, swerving across lanes and crossing the c...
SPOKANE VALLEY – During the Tuesday night City Council meeting, members approved the 2025 lodging tax allocations, following a detailed presentation by Sarah Farr, the city’s Accountant and Budget Analyst. Farr outlined the expected revenue from two lodging taxes: $920,000 from a 2% hotel/motel tax and $790,000 from a 1.3% tax implemented in 2015. Both funds are restricted to tourism-related projects, with specific allocations for capital projects under a 1.5% subset of the tax. The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) rev...
SPOKANE VALLEY – As 2024 comes to a close, the community reflects on the events that have shaped life in Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake. From local crime to local politics, these stories have defined our year. Mother charged with murder of infant Amlyann Harry was initially arrested for assaulting her five-month-old baby, who later died of severe injuries. The charge was upgraded to first-degree murder. Major Crimes Detectives continue investigating the July 21 incident in S...
COLFAX — A local lawmaker is co-sponsoring a pair of bills that would give some workers in Washington state a reprieve from the long-term care tax. Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, is co-sponsoring the bills with Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia. The bills would reopen a limited opt-out period for WA Cares and let individuals who have paid into the program transfer benefits to a spouse. WA Cares deducts 58 cents per $100 earned for every worker to fund a limited lifetime benefit – up to $36,000 – for long-term care costs. Befor...
SPOKANE VALLEY – Two people were injured in a car accident on North Pines Road and East Trent Avenue in Spokane Valley on Christmas morning. The crash prompted an investigation by Washington State Patrol. One driver has been charged with vehicular assault for driving under the influence during the collision. According to officials, Robert A. Garcia, 39, was driving a 2006 Ford 250 northbound on SR27 when he crossed the centerline and collided with a southbound 2009 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Tia M. Rosetti, 61. Both d...
OLYMPIA — With a new year just around the corner, a host of new statewide laws will soon impact Washingtonians’ wallets beginning Jan. 1. Here are some of them. Minimum wage The state’s minimum wage – already the highest state-level minimum wage in the nation – will increase 38 cents. According to the state Department of Labor & Industries, the minimum wage will rise to $16.66 an hour next year, a 2.35% increase over the current minimum wage of $16.28. The increase applies to workers age 16 and older. Employers may pay 85% o...
City Council holds meeting SPOKANE VALLEY – On Tuesday, Jan. 7, the City Council will be holding a regular meeting in the City Hall Council Chambers at 10210 East Sprague Avenue. The public is invited to join in person or at the regularly scheduled zoom meeting at 6:00 p.m. Interested residents can find the agendas, minutes and videos at spokanevalleywa.gov. Members of the public may provide comments at all regular meetings, and, unless specified, after most action items. Attendees can give in-person comments at the time s...
SPOKANE – A Spokane man accused of causing a six-hour SWAT standoff in the Hillyard neighborhood appeared before a judge on Christmas Eve. Kyle Fergesen, 36, was charged after police say he entered the rec room at Silvan Place Apartments with a kitchen knife and threatened to kill everyone present. The incident led to a tense, drawn out standoff with police last Monday night. Fergesen is currently undergoing a mental health evaluation and has been held on a $100,000 bond. He is scheduled to return to court next m...
Detective Roman Maier receives the 2024 Partners in Justice Award for his outstanding service and dedication to victims, survivors, and the community. Maier is praised by Lutheran Community Services Northwest for his empathy and commitment when working with families at the Child Advocacy Center. Pictured with the award, Maier stands alongside representatives from the Victim Advocacy team, who expressed their gratitude for his contributions....
MultiCare's Inland Northwest Foundation has appointed Korin Michielli as its new executive director. Michielli, who began her role on Dec. 2, will oversee philanthropic efforts to support MultiCare's healthcare initiatives in the Inland Northwest region. As executive director, Michielli will lead the foundation's fundraising efforts in alignment with MultiCare's healthcare priorities. Her responsibilities include developing comprehensive plans to meet annual and long-term...
SPOKANE VALLEY – A local woman is in custody after allegedly attacking her neighbor with a two-foot sword in an unprovoked and violent incident. The assault occurred on Dec. 20 at an apartment complex in the 200 block of South Adams Road around 7:50 a.m. Deputies arrived quickly to find the suspect, 43-year-old Elizabeth S. Ptacek, struggling with her neighbor over the sword on a narrow second-floor walkway. Two teenagers were nearby, unable to escape the danger. A deputy d...
While this article summarizes the important details from the hearing examiner's decision and Councilman Merkel's response, further reporting will look into additional details and opinions from involved parties to provide a broader account of the situation. SPOKANE VALLEY – An investigation into City Councilman Al Merkel's conduct has led the City Council to unanimously censure him at a special meeting on Dec. 19. The investigation, confirmed by a third-party hearing e...
LIBERTY LAKE – A hit-and-run incident on Dec. 21 escalated into an officer-involved shooting near Wellesley and Malvern Road. Liberty Lake Police responded around 1 p.m. to reports of a driver who had struck vehicles and damaged property with rocks. When officers found the suspect, he tried to enter another vehicle. When law enforcement ordered him to stop, a confrontation occurred, leading to the officer discharging their weapon. The male suspect was shot, restrained, and transported to a hospital, where he remains in s...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The Spokane International Airport Rail-Truck Transload Center has achieved a significant milestone by being designated as a Certified Site by Burlington Northern Santa Fee Railway, as announced Dec. 17. This certification is part of railroad’s Site Certification Program, which identifies prime rail-served locations and evaluates them against ten economic development criteria to ensure readiness and minimize risks for potential customers. Ezra Eckhardt, Chair of the Spokane Airport Board, expressed gratitude f...
Local teen reported missing SPOKANE VALLEY – The Spokane Valley Police Department and Spokane County Sheriff's Office are asking the public to assist in locating 14-year-old Lydia S. Decker. Decker is a runaway that has been deemed at-risk due to her mental health history and behavior. Decker's family reported her missing and expressed concerns about her safety. They mentioned that she has a history of crisis treatment, threats of self-harm, and assaultive behavior. A...
SPOKANE VALLEY – Councilwoman Laura Padden presented Spokane Valley’s request to clarify document recording fee distribution at the Dec. 17 meeting. These fees support housing and homelessness programs, with a portion returned to cities and counties. “30% of that revenue is then returned back to the county, where the fees are generated,” said Padden. “Unless a city within that area takes on the responsibility for the housing and homeless programs within their boundaries.” Padden explained that a 2023 legislative change crea...
SPOKANE VALLEY – Councilman Ben Wick stressed the need for improvements at the Barker Road/Interstate 90 interchange during the Dec. 17 special legislative agenda council meeting. The city is asking for $1 million in state funding for design work. Wick noted the significant congestion at the interchange, especially during rush hour. “There’s tremendous growth in residential and commercial areas, and traffic is often at a dead standstill,” he said. He noted that regional factors like Liberty Lake and the other neighbo...
SPOKANE COUNTY – The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and Spokane Valley Police Department received a grant valued at $19,647 to improve officer safety, officials announced in a press release on Dec. 16. The grant, awarded by the Spirit of Blue Foundation, provides 131 Guardian Angel Elite Series LED safety lights. These high-powered, hands-free lights offer 360-degree visibility and can be seen from over five miles away. According to officials, these lights will make deputies and K9s safer, particularly in rural, low...
