News briefs

Ice Age Floods hikes offered

The Ice Age Floods Institute, Cheney-Spokane Chapter is sponsoring a pair of hikes Oct. 7 and 8 to look at the geology of the upper Grand Coulee.

Saturday, Oct. 7, is a hike to the Castle Lake Basin, located near the east end of the massive Great Cataract Group. The hike is about 3.5 miles round trip, and features a plunge pool lake and the potholed bench above Deep Lake reached by an overland walk and descent across the Castle Lake cataract via two, sturdy iron ladders built during the Columbia Basin irrigation Project. This hike will be led by former Eastern Washington University geology professor Dr. Eugene Kiver.

The second hike on Sunday, Oct. 8, is to the Giant Cave Arch, a rock shelter cave located in a remote canyon on the west side of the upper Grand Coulee. The hike is about three miles long and includes discussion and observation of Steamboat Rock and deltas that formed in former Glacial Lake Columbia. It will be led by former Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratory senior research scientist Bruce Bjornstad.

Both hikes take place from 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., and are limited to 30 people. Overnight camping is available at Sun Lakes or Steamboat Rock state parks and motels are also available in nearby Grand Coulee or Soap Lake. A Discover Pass is required for all parked vehicles.

For more information or to register, contact Jim Fox at [email protected] or (509) 456-0869.

County, some state burn bans rescinded

The forecast for a potential major fire is returning to “normal” or “minimal” levels, therefore the burn restrictions that went into effect on July 7 are officially rescinded within the unincorporated areas of Spokane County as of Sept. 25.

In a news release, county officials stated residents may resume outdoor burning activities and the use of outdoor recreational fire pits, campfire rings/bowls and portable outdoor fire places. The cities of Spokane and Spokane Valley are also rescinding their burn restrictions for this coordinated effort.

Officials noted that future burning may be temporarily restricted by Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency due to increasing fine particle (smoke) levels and air stagnation.

In a Sept. 19 news release, officials at the state Department of Natural Resources also lifted statewide restrictions on recreational burning, citing rain and cooler temperatures. The easing of restrictions, which went into effect Sept. 20, allow campfires in approved fire pits in designated campgrounds Washington lands protected by DNR

In a Sept. 26 news release, however, DNR noted that outdoor burning was still prohibited in six Northeast Washington counties including Spokane and Lincoln.

Recycling poster contest now open

Spokane County officials are inviting students grades K-8 and who live within the Spokane County Regional Solid Waste System to enter the 2017 Spokane County Recycles Poster Contest. The theme of the 18th annual event is “I Recycle Because…”

Finalists will have their work displayed in River Park Square from Oct. 27 through Nov. 20 as part of America Recycles Day, a national celebration that takes place Nov. 15. Thirteen of the finalists’ work also will be used to illustrate a 2018 calendar with hints on how to reduce waste, and student artists will be recognized at the Nov. 7 meeting of the Spokane Board of County Commissioners.

Entries must be received by Friday, Oct. 13. Posters must be on letter-sized paper, oriented horizontally, and done in colored pencils, markers or crayons; no 3-D collages accepted. A complete list of participating school districts, other rules and a registration form can be obtained at http://www.spokanecountysolidwaste.org, or by calling (509) 625-6580.

EWU students, faculty, staff ‘Eagle UP’

Eastern Washington University faculty, staff and students - many of them new to campus - started the 2017 academic year by giving back to the community on Tuesday, Sept. 19, during the annual Eagle UP volunteer effort.

In all, more than 120 volunteers from Eastern provided a total of 366 hours cleaning, planting and organizing, equaling nearly $11,000 worth of services.

Various projects included offering services to local parks, community centers and shelters in Cheney and the greater Spokane area. Volunteers also assisted seniors at Cheney Care Center, helped with gardening and cleaning at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, and provided assistance at Spokane’s East Central Community Center and Catholic Charities Furniture Bank.

Eagle UP is part of the EWU Office of Community Engagement’s Eagle Volunteers! Program for students, which strives to produce transformative experiences and cultivate leaders who are engaged in their communities.

Other volunteer efforts this school year will include Harvest Fest, the MLK Day of Service and JustSERVE Alternative Spring Break.