Stay Informed With Spokane County Library Newsletter

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September is National Library Card Sign-up Month

September is national library card sign-up month.

Here are good reasons to sign up!

 

DON'T DELAY ~~ SIGN UP TODAY!

Veteran's Needs, Local Services, and Supporters: Part 2 -Community-based Vet Centers

The Department Of Veterans Affairs community-based Vet Centers are located nationwide with services available to War Veterans from all eras. Their family members are also eligible for services. 

 

Spokane Vet Center is located at 13109 E Mirabeau Parkway, Spokane, WA, 99216. Guide to Key Staff.

Phone: 509-444-8387 Or 877-927-8387

Fax: 509-444-8388

 

Normal working hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. In an effort to better serve the veteran and family members, upon request Vet Centers will provide services after normal work hours and/or on weekends.

• Services provided include:
• Individual and group counseling for Veterans and their families Family counseling for military related issues Bereavement counseling for families who experience an active duty death Military sexual trauma counseling and referral Outreach and education including PDHRA, community events, etc.
• Substance abuse assessment and referral Employment assessment & referral VBA benefits explanation and referral Screening & referral for medical issues including TBI, depression, etc.

*Stated on their site, upon request, their services are available after hours.

 

Vet Center Locator.

Veteran's Needs, Local Services, and Supporters - Part One

This is the beginning of an ongoing series about veterans needs, the services available to them in our area, and supporters. It begins with a three-part series provided by Michael Lovas, Communications Director of Spokane Veterans Forum. 

Motorcycle Clubs Step Up for Veterans
(Part One)
By Michael Lovas

Spokane Veterans Forum
In a practical sense, the people we consider heroes are those who take action to bring life to their values – without the expectation of a tangible reward. One organization filled with such people is the Spokane Veterans Forum. It is a national model for all other Veterans Courts and Forums.

This is an all-volunteer organization that supports the Spokane Veterans Court, which is part of the Spokane Country District Court and the Spokane Municipal Court.

The Forum is funded exclusively by donations. Those donations come in the form of funds, food, equipment and services. Members of the Forum are primarily military veterans and surviving family members.

Their job is to mentor other veterans who suffer from PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, Military Sexual Trauma, or are in other serious ways finding the transition from military to civilian insurmountable or at least difficult.

As happens to veterans world-over, such obstacles often invite behaviors that run contra to the law. When veterans commit such offenses, and the offenses are misdemeanors, they usually qualify to be tried in the Veterans Court. In addition to fines and fees, the defendants receive sentences that include a two-year probation, appropriate therapies, an on-going relationship with a Forum mentor and six Forum meetings.

These Forum meetings include a sit-down meal and classes taught by notable professors, psychologists, counselors and therapists. All the topics are chosen based on: 1) their relevance to this highly military-oriented audience, and 2) the practicality of applying the lessons learned in real life.

All the Mentors are volunteers. They receive on-going training in how to help their mentees receive community resources and get help from the Veterans Administration. Often, the mentees have no idea such help is even available. Mentors are also trained in how to ask questions, build rapport and trust and nurture the relationships with their mentees. For many of the mentees, this is the first time they’ve received help that actually works. The key is the relationships with the Mentors.

This year, the "Run Whatcha Brung" event in Old Town, Washington, donated 100% of the proceeds to the Spokane Veterans Forum. Visit here for  more information on the Forum. (Also, Check Gallery\Events and scroll to pictures.)

 Mike Lovas, Communication Director

Spokane Veterans Forum
(509) 465-5599
michael@aboutpeople.com



 

Eric Petersen's book review of the mystery novel "The Trojan Colt" by Mike Resnick, is published at Internet Review of Books.

Congratulations to Edith Parzefall! Her book, "Strays of Rio" placed 3rd and won the Bronze Medal in the thriller category of Dan Poynter's 2013 Global Ebook Awards.
 

Do you see your news here? ... TOWNS

No College Tuition Increases Bill Passed

For the first time in 27 years: no college tuition increases!

            (Provided by State Senator Mark Schoesler)

 

We all knew the new state budget would include a whole lot more money for basic education. What makes the new budget a real winner in my book is what it means for our state-run higher-education institutions – the community and technical colleges and Washington’s six public baccalaureate institutions.

            Our Senate majority showed it would be possible to reduce tuition by 3 percent and still have a good, sustainable budget. The House majority and governor wanted to keep the tuition-increase trend going and had pushed for increases of up to 10 percent. I’d still have liked to see a drop in tuition, but I can live just fine with the final outcome, which is: tuition will not increase at state-run colleges and universities for the first time since 1986.

            To put this in perspective, here’s what the world looked like the last time there was no tuition increase at these state higher-ed institutions. My son, who is married and became a father just before this session began, was all of 28 days old. My daughter, who is married and the mother of a 3-year-old, was not quite 6 years old.

            My mom and dad turned 50 (gee, that seemed old then!); Halley's Comet returned for the first time since 1910; the town of Carmel, Calif., elected Clint Eastwood as mayor; the Chernobyl nuclear disaster occurred; the space shuttle Challenger exploded; the movie “Top Gun” premiered; and a gallon of gas cost 89 cents.

            Reaction to the new no-tuition-increase budget (which is also a no-new-general-taxes budget) was quick and positive. Elson Floyd, Washington State University president and a voice of reason when it came to the debate over higher-ed funding, said the new spending plan had been “worth the wait.” Here’s part of his response:

“There are many positive aspects to the higher education budget for the next two years. By far, the most encouraging part is the recognition that we cannot continue to fund higher education on the backs of our students. Moving into the biennium with absolutely no increase in student tuition – and just as importantly, replacing the revenue that an increase would have generated with state dollars – marks a renewed commitment to keeping higher education affordable and accessible. It provides welcomed relief to students and their families.”

            President Floyd also announced the WSU regents would meet Monday to rescind the 2 percent tuition hike that had already been authorized for the 2013-14 academic year – and that the university would “seek no further increase in tuition funding at this time.”

            Marty Brown, the former state budget-office director who is now executive director of our state’s community and technical colleges, offered this praise:

“The Legislature took a great step forward for Washington’s economy by protecting students from tuition increases through investments in public colleges and universities. Our 34 community and technical colleges will pay back this investment many times over by providing the real-world training and education students need and employers demand. As the economy continues to rebound, we urge lawmakers to continue this positive momentum. All Washingtonians benefit when graduates bring their skills and purchasing power to our shared economy.”

            Back in 2007 I’d managed to get the Legislature to agree on a 7 percent cap on tuition increases. That felt pretty good, so naturally it stung when the next Legislature jettisoned the cap in 2009, enabling big double-digit jumps in tuition. The fact that this Legislature held the line on tuition costs, at the insistence of those of us in the Senate majority, has put things right again.

New budget good for education, bad for those wanting big tax hikes

            Just days before the 2012 legislative session began, the state Supreme Court ruled – in the case of McCleary v. State of Washington -- that state government wasn’t upholding its constitutional duty to provide for our public-school system. Because the state budgets cover two years at a time, last year’s Legislature was in no position to suddenly pour more money into K-12 education, so it was clear the task of responding to the McCleary decision would fall to lawmakers in 2013.

            Sure enough, our Senate majority responded. The new operating budget I helped negotiate over many weeks (and helped pass Friday) includes a billion dollars extra for K-12 education, just to address the McCleary ruling. Even better, it didn’t take some corresponding billion-dollar tax increase to do that – contrary to what the House majority and governor had argued.

            Here, then are the final numbers:

·                  $15.2 billion: Total state K-12 investment level in 2013-15 budget

·                   $1.6 billion: Increase in state K-12 funding over 2011-13 biennium

·                  $1 billion: New investments in K-12 directly applicable to McCleary decision

·                  11%: Increase in state K-12 support over current budget

            The fact that we could boost K-12 funding without big tax increases is something to keep in mind in coming years, should anyone ever try to claim this or that proposed tax increase is “for the kids.” If providing for basic education is the state’s top priority under Washington’s constitution (and it is) then there should never be reason to hitch education funding to a tax hike.

 

Spokane County Candidates Filed for 2013 Election in Cities and Towns on the Palouse

TOWN OF FAIRFIELD	Spokane
MAYOR Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
KayDee Gilkey	PO Box 464 Fairfield WA 99012	(509) 283-2252 kaydee.gilkey@gmail.com	5/15/2013 2:47:00 PM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 1 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Emily Thomas	203 W Carlton Ave Fairfield WA 99012	(360) 259-8067 hai08002@byui.edu	5/15/2013 7:41:00 AM
Harry Gibbons	PO Box 326 Fairfield WA 99012	(509) 283-2181 barbsoy@gmail.com	5/17/2013 9:37:00 AM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 2 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Alene Felgenhauer	PO Box 482 Fairfield WA 99012	(509) 283-2582 alenefelgenhauer@hotmail.com	5/17/2013 8:47:00 AM
John Jesseph	PO Box 64 Fairfield WA 99012	(509) 475-1246 inlandtree@frontier.com	5/17/2013 10:31:00 AM

TOWN OF LATAH	Spokane
MAYOR Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Charisma (Chari) Conklin	340 E Mill St Latah WA 99018	(509) 286-3007 charij33@gmail.com	5/15/2013 9:00:00 PM
Douglas Arnold	240 S Melvin St Latah WA 99018	(509) 286-3250 ddarnold@hotmail.com	5/16/2013 9:25:00 PM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 1 Nonpartisan Office 4-year short and full term
Patricia Neumann	PO Box 74 Latah WA 99018	(509) 286-4001 plneumann@gmail.com	5/15/2013 10:47:00 AM
Melanie Meagher	306 N. Main Street Latah WA 99018	(509) 286-3030 melaniemeagher@yahoo.com	5/16/2013 5:27:00 PM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 2 Nonpartisan Office 2-year unexpired term
Teresa Galvin	337 E. Mill Latah WA 99018	(509) 286-3120 latahz4@hotmail.com	5/16/2013 5:37:00 PM
Larry La Bolle	PO Box 77 Latah WA 99018	(509) 286-3047 larrylabolle@yahoo.com	5/17/2013 10:10:00 AM
Dan Keller	508 E Mill St Latah WA 99018	(509) 286-3730 latahdawg@yahoo.com	5/17/2013 11:25:00 AM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 3 Nonpartisan Office 2-year unexpired term
Yvonne Warren	720 N Melvin St Latah WA 99018	(509) 286-3809 sisymw1958@gmail.com	5/13/2013 11:38:00 AM
Garry Greenwalt	110 N Gifford Latah WA 99018	(509) 385-3636 wildcountrygs@aol.com	5/17/2013 4:01:00 PM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 4 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Steven (Steve) Leitz	428 E. Mill Latah WA 99018	(509) 286-3602 2flipleitzon@spocom.com	5/15/2013 7:18:00 AM

TOWN OF ROCKFORD	Spokane
MAYOR Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Micki L Harnois	PO Box 101 Rockford WA 99030	(509) 291-3621 mickiharnois@gmail.com	5/13/2013 5:03:00 PM
Steve Meyer	550 E B St Rockford WA 99030	(509) 291-3203	5/16/2013 11:08:00 AM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 1 Nonpartisan Office 4-year short and full term
David Thompson	PO Box 315 Rockford WA 99030	(509) 291-3229 wolfsong6971@yahoo.com	5/14/2013 11:22:00 AM
Steven Lyle Christman	24 S Maple St Rockford WA 99030	(509) 291-3803 schris5378@aol.com	5/17/2013 12:08:00 PM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 2 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Carrie Roecks	205 S Weaver St Rockford WA 99030	(509) 291-3329 karerockscda@yahoo.com	5/14/2013 3:37:00 PM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 5 Nonpartisan Office 2-year unexpired term
Larry Van Every	PO Box 316 Rockford WA 99030	(509) 291-3111 lvevery@gmail.com	5/16/2013 2:11:00 PM
Chuck Collison	PO Box 182 Rockford WA 99030	(509) 291-3733 CCollison@frontier.com	5/17/2013 1:13:00 PM
Robert Tollefson	PO Box 258 Rockford WA 99030	(509) 291-3000 rmmmanager@yahoo.com	5/17/2013 2:39:00 PM

TOWN OF SPANGLE	Spokane
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 2 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Ralph Sunwold	PO Box 193 Spangle WA 99031	(509) 999-2706 sunwold@cougarwireless.net	5/16/2013 10:33:00 AM

TOWN OF WAVERLY	Spokane
MAYOR Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
William Tensfeld	PO Box 21 Waverly WA 99039	(509) 283-2206 waverlytown@palousenet.com	5/13/2013 8:04:00 PM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 1 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Kimberly Billington	PO Box 43 Waverly WA 99039	(509) 283-4102 dougandkim@hotmail.com	5/13/2013 8:08:00 PM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 2 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Joel Martensen	PO Box 23 Waverly WA 99039	(509) 283-2275 waverlytown@palousenet.com	5/13/2013 8:02:00 PM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 4 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
David M Stark	PO Box 6 Waverly WA 99039	(509) 283-2575 DMSTWAVE@HOTMAIL.COM	5/13/2013 8:06:00 PM

FREEMAN SD 358	Spokane
DIRECTOR DIST. #2 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Edward A Cashmere	14308 E Drumheller Rd Valleyford WA 99036	(509) 291-3175 ed.cashmere@gmail.com	5/13/2013 3:54:00 PM
DIRECTOR DIST. #4 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Neil J Fuchs Jr.	PO Box 344 Valleyford WA 99036	(509) 928-1019 tfuchs6@gmail.com	5/13/2013 3:46:00 PM

LIBERTY SD 362	Spokane
DIRECTOR DIST. #2 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Marci Green	12111 E Rattlers Run Fairfield WA 99012	(509) 795-4823 lonmarci@gmail.com	5/15/2013 12:25:00 PM
DIRECTOR DIST. #3 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
R. Chad Cornmesser	26409 S Philleo Lake Rd Spangle WA 99031	(509) 245-3303 chadcornmesser@centurytel.net	5/13/2013 7:13:00 PM
Janet Johnson	6308 E Spangle Waverly Rd Spangle WA 99031	(509) 245-3186 jsuejohnson@gmail.com	5/17/2013 1:19:00 PM
DIRECTOR DIST. #4 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Scott Simmons	13201 S. Upper Meadow Lane Spokane WA 99224	(509) 209-4737 Ssimmons@paynewest.com	5/13/2013 9:03:00 PM

ROSALIA SD 410	Spokane, Whitman
Director District 5 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Heather Smith	PO BOX 215 MALDEN WA 99149

ST JOHN SD 401	Spokane, Whitman
Director District 3 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Janet Leifer	1102 ENDICOTT-ST JOHN RD ST JOHN WA 99171	(509) 648-3873 leifer@stjohncable.com	5/13/2013 10:26:00 AM
Position 4 at large Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Jim Rogers	13854 STATE ROAD 23 ST JOHN WA 99171	(509) 648-3309 mgkhnds@msn.com	5/17/2013 4:50:00 PM
Position 5 at large Nonpartisan Office 2-year term
Kelly R Lundberg	304 S MAIN ST ST JOHN WA 99171	(509) 648-3313 lundberg8@stjohncable.com	5/16/2013 8:50:00 AM

TEKOA SD 80	Spokane, Whitman
Director District 2 Nonpartisan Office 2-year term
Duane Groom	PO BOX 554 TEKOA WA 99033	(509) 284-2246 debbiegroom@hotmail.com	5/17/2013 4:10:00 PM
Director District 5 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Shane Monroy	1902 BANCROFT RD TEKOA WA 99033	(509) 998-0113	5/13/2013 9:18:00 AM
Nicole (Nikki) Lehn	PO BOX 736 TEKOA WA 99033	(509) 284-3444 skqqks@hotmail.com	5/16/2013 12:10:00 PM

FD11 COMMISSIONER POSITION NO. 1 Nonpartisan Office 6-year term
Brian LaShaw	24245 E Rockford Idaho Rd Rockford WA 99030	(509) 291-6322 darlenelashaw@hotmail.com	5/15/2013 7:55:00 AM

 Write in candidates can file up to 18 days before the election.

2013 South East Spokane County Fair Queen and Princesses

Left to right: Princess Alysha Thomas (Liberty HS), Queen Jami Pratt (Freeman HS) and Princess Kirsten Fuchs (Freeman HS)

2013 South East Spokane County Fair Royalty

 

Photograph taken at the Royalty Progran held at the McIntosh Grange last Sunday at Rockford, Washington. Courtesy of popular regional photographer, Richard Slover of Valleyford, Washington.

The entrants included:

• Kirsten, sponsored by Rockford Historical Society
• Alysha, sponsored by Rockford V.F.W, Ladies
• Melaney, sponsored ty Rockford Firebells
• Kelsey, sponsored by McIntosh Grange
• Jamie, sponsored by Rockford Lions Club
• Shelby, sponsored by Hangman Creek Chamber of Commerce
• Natalie, sponsored by Rockford Women's Club
• Kati, sponsored by McIntosh Grance
• Alexis, sponsored by V.F.W. Post

Judges were: Amy Mercer, Owner of Capello Salon in Liberty Lake, Bobbi Whitehead, Human Resources Consultant for the Washington Department of Transportatin, and Caroline McRoberts, Executive Assistant to the Superinendant of Central Valley School District.

Don Henderson was Master of Ceremonies and Kris Pttibone and Amanda Miller were the Royalty Committee. Contest sponsors were Bank of Fairfield and St. John Hardware of Fairfield, Washington. McIntosh Grange provided use of their facility and 20 contributors were recognized on the Program attendees received. Northwest Images and Shepherd Photos were also recognized for the portraits of the Royalty.

Spokane County Library District's Fun Place for Kids

Reading is fundamental and it is never to early to begin, and  Spokane County Library District  provides a wonderful place for kids.

City and Town Council Meeting Minutes and Agendas on the Palouse

Council minutes and agendas are available on several Palouse town websites, including Palouse, Garfield, Oakesdale and now Fairfield, which is the latest town on the Palouse to add Town Council minutes and agendas to their website where readers can view them here.  Oakesdale also publishes a monthly newsletter  and nearly all Palouse towns with websites include links to information relative to their town.

John Goyle, who is in charge of Rockford, Washington's maintenence, said his job description now includes clerical duties, following the retirement of Darlene LaShaw as town Clerk, and that the town plans to publish the town council minutes and agendas on Rockford's website as soon as arrangements are made.

 

Marine Moms-Bethesda Prepares First 2013 Luncheon For Wounded Wariors

Marine Moms-Bethesda is gearing up for our first luncheon of 2013!

 

Katie has taken the lead this month and has a great menu planned with the help of the January Crew! They’ll be on the 4th floor this coming Sunday, January 27th with a menu fit for a RAVEN’S WIN! Or will it be a 49er’s win??? We’ll have to wait a little longer to find out...

 

Please join us in supporting our combat wounded, injured and ill Warriors by sending a note of support and encouragement for us to give them while we are there. Emailed notes can be sent to Notes4Bethesda@MarineMoms-Bethesda.org.

 

Terri will format all of the notes we receive into a word document and we’ll print them out to distribute on your behalf. Deadline for January’s notes is Wednesday evening, January 24th. Thanks so much for letting them know they are not forgotten!

 

More information about our Notes4Bethesda campaign is here:

http://www.marinemoms-bethesda.org/2012/notes4bethesda/