Issuu

SEPTEMBER

THE

LIBERTY LAKE

PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Permit #010 ZIP CODE 99019

2026

FREE COMMUNITY NEWSMAGAZINE

New city hall takes shape page 12

THOSE BEHIND PARAGRAPHS AND PAGES PAGE 2

FALCONS CROSS COUNTY SUCCESS PAGE 20

IN MEMORY OF KELLI SCHNEIDMILLER PAGE 27

2 • SEPTEMBER 2026

The Splash

DOCKSIDE Getting to know the people behind Paragraphs and Pages - Liberty Lakes

newest bookstore

By Nina Culver Splash contributor

Among the many businesses to open in new buildings in the NoLL development at Harvard Road and Indiana Avenue is a small bookstore full of shelves of colorful books and a few comfy chairs ready for people to sit down and flip open some pages. Paragraphs and Pages is the creation of Nathan and Stephanie Hanson, who both have harbored a love of books for decades and read dozens of books a year. Nathan Hanson quit his job at the Post Falls Library to run the bookstore while his wife has reduced her hours working at a local bank so she can help as much as possible.

three years, romantasy wasn’t even a thing,” he said. “Now it is.” Paragraphs and Pages opened to the public in mid-June and was immediately popular. Crowds filled the store on opening day while others waited on the sidewalk. More than 500 people came, causing the Hansons to scramble to replace their depleted inventory. “Having that many people on opening day, I wasn’t expecting that,” Stephanie Hanson said. “It was a crazy day, a crazy good day,” her husband said. The store carries more than 8,000 books and the couple say they’re still refining the books they carry based on what people are buying. “It’s just something you have to continually look at,” Nathan Hanson said. “The more experience we get with it, the more we’ll get into the inventory flow.” The bookstore doesn’t just sell books. They also sell gift items like cards, bookmarks, journals, soaps, candles and other small gifts. They

are purchased from local vendors and artists when possible and some are customized for the bookstore. “We try our best to make sure we use local artisans, but sometimes we have to branch out a bit,” he said. The Hansons are also doing their best to create a literary community centered on their bookstore. They’ve already hosted quite a few author signing events and have launched two book clubs, one for fiction books and one for non-fiction. They’re also hosting bookbinding classes. While the bookstore can host small events, they are utilizing the new meeting space above New Love Coffee across the street for their larger events. “We’re trying to leverage the resources we have wisely,” Nathan Hanson said. The non-fiction book club meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. and the fiction book club meets on the fourth Wednesday at 6 p.m. Nathan Hanson said there’s no expectation that people need to attend

Efforts are made to pick compelling non-fiction reads that will be of interest to a range of people, he said. For example, the non-fiction reading group recently met to discuss “American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed” by Isaac Fitzgerald, a historical memoir that is also part travelogue. In October the group will read “Exhumed: Unearthing the History of the American Vampire” by Aaron Mahnke. If a customer is looking for a particular book that isn’t in stock, the store can usually order it, he said. He has even gone as far as sending a customer to another bookstore to find an out of print book that was lingering on the shelf. “As long as it’s still published and in print, we can usually get that,” he said. “That’s part of the beauty of a small, independent bookstore. We don’t have shareholders to worry about.”

Q: What made you want to open a bookstore? A. Stephanie: Books have been in my life for as long as I can remember. I have found comfort, joy, escapism, and growth in books. I think people are looking for meaningful connections and a bookstore is a great place for that.

“We have a really large horror section compared to our square footage and that’s because of Steph,” Nathan Hanson said.

The romantasy genre is evidence of how the literary world, along with people’s tastes, change over time, Nathan Hanson said. “If you go back

“The topic areas will change as we get into different seasons,” he said.

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The store will be open late during an upcoming block party set to run from 5 to 8:30 on September 26. All businesses will be open and there will be live music and an outdoor movie.

Their literary taste can be seen on the shelves of the bookstore, which offers everything from children’s books to non-fiction. Literary fiction is the number one genre, with an oversized area devoted to horror, which Stephanie Hanson loves.

The store also has a decently sized romantasy section. “I just started reading romantasy late last year,” Stephanie Hanson said. “It’s just basically romance and fantasy mixed together.”

each meeting, which will feature a different book each month. People can come and go as they please, he said.

Photo by Nina Culver Nathan and Stephanie Hanson the owners of Paragraphs and Pages the bookstore that recently opened on Indiana Ave just west of Harvard and north of New Love Coffee in NoLL.

Nathan: I honestly thought I would work until retirement at the library. I felt so strongly about it that I put it down in writing in a pandemic project book I wrote about what someone who was looking at changing careers into working for a public library would need to know. See HANSON, Page 5

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 3

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4 • SEPTEMBER 2026

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Safer Schools, Stronger Opportunities... Your local levy dollars at work Local levy dollars are making a visible difference across the district— strengthening school safety, while sustaining programs that help students discover their interests and prepare for the future. This fall, students and staff returned to five more schools with completed secure entryways: Adams, McDonald, South Pines and University elementary schools, along with Bowdish Middle School. These projects are part of the Capital Safety, Facilities and Technology Improvements Levy, approved by

voters in 2024. Five additional entryways were completed in 2025 at Broadway, Liberty Lake and Progress elementary schools, Summit School and Greenacres Middle School, bringing all 10 projects to completion—delivering on our levy promises five years ahead of schedule. The new safer entryways add a layer of protection by directing visitors through a controlled entrance and into the school office before they access the building. Accelerating the work through a creative financial loan plan, allowed the district to deliver these improvements sooner, while avoiding constructioncost increases over the next five years. At Bowdish, local support extends far beyond the front doors. Levysupported educational programs and

staffing help students participate in hands-on Career and Technical Education (CTE) experiences, including engineering, design, tools and 3-D printing. These classes connect classroom learning to real-world problem-solving and introduce students to pathways they may pursue in high school, college or a career. Greater Spokane Valley Chamber President Jessica

Together, these investments Laughery and the Bowdish Middle School Rocket show the complementary roles Astronaut cut the ribbon to celebrate the new entryway of the community’s support of local levies: capital dollars improve facilities, safety and Thank you, Central Valley community, for technology, while Educational investing in safe schools and student Programs and Operations opportunities. (EP&O) levy dollars help sustain the opportunities that Learn more at: bring learning to life. www.CVSD.org/MakingSchoolsSafer

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NEWS

HANSON

Continued from page 2 I loved serving my community and being a helper. I love book people. But the only constant is change, and I felt like I needed a new challenge. So, I married my previous careers, a retail operations manager and working for the library, and Stephanie and I made a baby bookstore. Q: Why did you pick Liberty Lake for your new store? A. Stephanie: We didn’t want to have our store close to any other bookstore in the area. When we researched places to have it, we didn’t find any news about upcoming plans for any bookstores in the area. Plus, the new construction of NoLL with nearby neighborhoods in a waking community made sense to choose Liberty Lake. Nathan: We waited a long time for our space to be ready. We considered others, but what Greenstone is attempting to do—creating a walkable neighborhood that focuses on community—is in line with what we want our bookstore to be about. We want people to find connection to their community through literature, it’s a goal not unlike that of the public library.

and our mission is to help build and support the literary community. We can’t fulfill that mission if we aren’t helping people connect together, and book signings, author talks, book clubs, and other literary oriented events, like bookbinding classes, are important tools used to move our mission forward. Q: How has business been going since you opened? A. Nathan: The first few weeks were beyond our wildest expectations. We had over 530 people on our first day. It was busy to the point it was almost unmanageable. Getting inventory in to backfill a couple of weeks of sales like that was a big challenge for us. It has leveled off and sales are about where we expected when we made our initial estimations. It’s getting closer to sustainability and we’re confident that we’re going to be there soon. There’s still a lot of people who come in not knowing we were here. There’s also a lot of people who are bringing in friends, family, and neighbors. We have regular repeat customers (hi Dominic, Kathy, Lisa, Traci, Hannah, Joe, Steve, Mary, Jessica, Monica, Emily, Sandra and so

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 5

many others). We’re slowly becoming the bookstore for book people. A lot of librarians and other booksellers in the area have started to come here to find stuff they can’t easily get elsewhere. That means a lot to me. We’ve worked very hard to curate a collection where we have something for everyone while still having gems in the store for people to find. While as of this morning we had over 8,500 books on our shelves, we don’t have the luxury of having everything we want to because of space limitations. It takes more work to curate rather than just buy everything, put it out and hope for the best. We’re finding that balance more and more each day. Q: Do you have a favorite book or author? A. Stephanie: It’s difficult to name a fav book or author. I have a different answer for different times in my life. But horror is my favorite genre - Grady Hendrix, Tananarive Due, Chuck Tingle, and Jennifer McMahon (to name a few) will always be on my list. Nathan: Asking any book person

their favorite is a really tough question. Not every book is for every person, and when you’ve spent a while helping people find the right book for them, you know there is so much nuance that goes into a good book. Favorites change with time, new understandings, where someone is emotionally—there are a lot of factors. So, I’ll leave you with the books I’ve gifted the most often. Siddhartha by Herman Hesse; The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy; The Dao De Jing translated by Roger Ames and David Hall; Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman; Tom Lake by Ann Patchett; Meditations by Marcus Aurelius translated by Gregory Hays; Start With Why by Simon Sinek; and Shop Class as Soulcraft by Matthew Crawford. Q: Where is your favorite place to read? A. Stephanie: My favorite place to read is in the backyard of my home by the pond with my dog. Nathan: I like by the pond with Stephanie—the dog wants me to split my attention.

The longer it took for the space to be ready, the more nervous I got about another bookstore coming into the area. We announced it well in advance, but we knew the area needed a bookstore and it was only a matter of time. I was checking business registrations weekly. I was keeping my fingers crossed that we were going to be the first to open. Q: Why do you think it’s important to host book signings and other events? A. Stephanie: We have had so many people say to us that they are happy we are bringing authors to Liberty Lake. There are so many local authors people weren’t aware of and having these events help those authors get noticed. It also brings readers together who have the same reading interests l. I’ve seen multiple times people talking to each about how they love the author who is having an event. It’s about making those meaningful connections. Nathan: I used to do “Local Author Sound Off’s” and adult and teen writing workshops for the library. Events bring a community together,

Photo by Nina Culver Stephanie and Nathan Hanson the owners of Paragraphs and Pages have over 8,500 books on the shelves and enjoy featuring as many of the local authors as possible throughout the year in order to help bring the community together.

6 • SEPTEMBER 2026

City Council looks for way to approve replacement of Neighborhood Sign By Nina Culver

Splash contributor

The Liberty Lake City Council held a discussion during their first meeting in August about what to do about a “Gardens” sign at Settler Drive and Liberty Lake Road that was made nonconforming after recent repairs. The issue was first brought up in July, when the council agreed to stop enforcement action, which could have included removal of the sign, while the city considered what to do. Tisha Goodman of Rockwood Property Management spoke to the council at the start of the meeting, pointing out that the sign was installed 26 years ago and followed Spokane County sign code rules at the time. “The sign was crumbling and in need of repair,” she said. She said the city told them a permit was needed and they applied for one after the fact. One of the issues is that the sign is within the road right of way even though it sits well back from the road. “The right of way is excessively large,” she said. Community Development Director Amy Mullerleile said city staff was not able to approve the retroactive permit for the sign because the updated sign does not meet the design code and is no longer grandfathered in because the changes were too significant. The sign was already non-conforming and the non-conformity cannot be increased, she said. City code states that if a sign repair costs more than 50 percent of the replacement cost, it can only be repaired by becoming a conforming design. The sign used to be more like a landscaped wall with the word “Gardens” on it but now sits above the ground and is mounted on poles. City code prohibits free standing signs with unconcealed poles, Mullerleile said. There is also no required landscaping around the sign. The city offered a sign easement on a different parcel 13 feet away but the suggestion didn’t go anywhere, Mullerleile said. “That didn’t really

NEWS

get very much traction,” she said.

Mullerleile said the options are to either explore that new sign easement or to make the existing repaired sign conforming by concealing the poles and adding landscaping around the base. “I appreciate you wanting to work with these guys,” said city council member Hugh Severs. Council member Linda Ball said that she believes the plan was to put in new landscaping at the base of the sign based on the community meetings she attended where it was discussed. “That would allow it in the same location,” Mullerleile said. Council member Rick Klingler said he’d like to see the city work with the HOA to fix the sign, but he believes it’s important that design codes be followed. “We don’t want to set precedence,” he said. “I think we should continue to look for a way of working with the HOA.” The council agreed that city staff should focus on having the legs of the sign concealed and landscaping added beneath the sign. Finance Director Kyle Dixon gave a brief second quarter financial report, stating that the city’s sales tax revenue is on track with staff estimates. Revenue from the city’s golf course is also up and the city is able to fully fund the bond payments using that revenue, he said. The city took out a bond to fund an expansion and upgrade to the club house at the golf course. The council approved up to $15,500 in funding to pay to design improvements to the Liberty Lake Library. Ball questioned the expense since the city does eventually want to build a new library. Library Director Jandy Humble said the library needs minor improvements such as new wall paint, some ceiling tiles and carpet. The library hasn’t been repainted or updated since it opened in 2009, Humble said. The council also unanimously approved an emergency ordinance at the August 4 meeting to allow Bretz RV and Marine to use 40 acres of vacant land they own to house people living in RV’s who have lost their homes in the Spokane Complex fires that swept through north Spokane and Spokane County on Aug. 1. “Our zoning does not currently allow that,” said Mayor Cris Kaminskas. The ordinance will temporarily

suspend those rules, Kaminskas said. “It will be good for a certain amount of time,” she said. “It will expire.” City Manager Mark McAvoy said the city will work with Bretz RV to set up guidelines that must be followed. “Thank you to Bretz RV and Marine,” said Severs. “It’s very nice of them to step up.” During the August 18 meeting, Public Works Director Ben Turner spoke about issues the city has been having when doing repairs on Molter Road. “We’ve learned a lot about Molter this summer,” he said. The city has been doing patches and repairs on Molter between Mission Avenue and Pavillion Park. The road’s Pavement Condition Index (PCI) is in the “poor” range, Turner said. “It’s in pretty rough shape,” he said. “A PCI of 50, that’s a failing road.” The road is supposed to be four inches of asphalt on top of seven inches of compacted rock, but city crews instead found thinner layers of materials and multiple layers in some places. “It was hard to get it out,” he said. “We didn’t really have the proper equipment.” Ben said there was one large section in the southbound lanes of Molter between Maxwell and Boone avenues, just past the Post Office, that presented additional problems. The patch was so large that the city didn’t have the equipment to repave the section correctly and had to rip out the first repair and redo it, Turner said. “You need to have a paver to do that,” he said. “We learned that the hard way.” The patches are temporary, Turner said. Molter Road is due for a full grind and overlay in three phases beginning in 2027 with the portion from Appleway to Mission. The section from Mission to Country Vista is scheduled for 2029 and the final section between Country Vista and Sprague Avenue is set for 2031. Nancy Hill, chair of the Liberty Lake Parks and Arts Commission, spoke about the group’s 2027 budget discussions. Maintaining public art is the group’s number one priority, Hill said. The second priority is programming. “That’s growing and that will grow even more when the Parks Department takes over City Hall,” she said. The commission also wants to focus on small beautification projects. “They’re not big dollar categories, but they’re important,” she said. The commission recently unveiled two carousel animal statues in

The Splash Pavillion Park on July 4 and plans to have the artist create two more a year for several more years. “We hope that’s the first of 10 pieces,” she said. The commission has also recently finished or is in the midst of several other projects, including murals in two parks. It also paid to have five benches put in near the tennis courts in Orchard Park this year. The council also discussed having city staff create a resolution in regards to records management requirements detailed in RCW 42.56.070. The state law, which has been in place for decades, requires cities and agencies to either have a printed index of all public documents available for public inspection or to pass a resolution stating that the requirements is “unduly burdensome,” said McAvoy. “I’m not sure if this got past us in some way, but we are not in compliance with this particular statute,” he said. McAvoy said all other cities in the area have passed a resolution identifying the requirement as unduly burdensome and he recommends the council do the same. Such a large task would exceed the staff’s capacity and someone would have to be hired just to create and maintain the index, he said. “It’s not just producing the index, it’s managing it as records evolve,” he said. The council also received a report on the ongoing Comprehensive Plan update, which happens every 10 years. The staff has been working with SCJ Alliance to update the city’s plan and the planning commission has been meeting regularly to approve sections of the plan. They will consider a final version at the September 9 planning commission meeting, which will then be sent to the Washington State Department of Commerce for a required 60 day review. The changes to the plan are being made to bring it into compliance with state laws that have been passed since the last Comprehensive Plan update. Most changes to the plan have been centered around increasing access to housing, including by lifting some restrictions on accessory dwelling units. In other business, the council approved a contract with Design West Architects to renovate the Parks and Recreation Facility, a contract with CTI to install A/V equipment in the new City Hall, and an interlocal agreement with the Central Valley School District for a school resource officer.

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 7

The Splash

The Lookout

September 2026

in Liberty Lake started among those who have been in It’s the 25th anniversary of Liberty concerts in 2001, with Lud Kramer being the audience each year for every as being instrumental in concert. Bob also served as the Lake’s Spokane Symphony concerts! credited bringing that first performance to program’s emcee for several years.

The Spokane Symphony concerts in Liberty Lake are reaching a silvery musical milestone this Labor Day weekend as the orchestra cues up to perform for local audiences for the 25th time on Saturday, Sept. 5. The 2026 edition of the annual Lud Kramer Memorial Concert with the Spokane Symphony will draw hundreds of longtime fans as well as first-timers to the Pavillion Park stage for a free concert that will begin that evening at 6 p.m. The orchestra’s program of more than a dozen selections is slated to include several symphonic classics. Plus, listeners will get to appreciate more contemporary songs that will preview some of what’s in store for the Spokane Symphony’s 2026-27 concert schedule, including music from Star Wars, Star Trek, and even Dolly Parton.

the straight classics, but we’ve also got some movie music in there, some show music. It’s nice for us to showcase the range of this orchestra.”

In that same interview, Lowe called the group’s annual Liberty Lake appearance “one of the most important dates in our season” because it’s the first time the orchestra musicians have performed together since the summer, when the audition process takes place for its newest members. The annual Spokane Symphony

Pavillion Park. Kramer had served as Washington’s secretary state for 10 years beginning in 1965, and lived the last nine years of his life at Liberty Lake. The concert was renamed in his honor after he passed away in 2004. “He was always highly regarded in the state of Washington for what he gave to government and what he gave to the people of Washington,” said Sue Schneidmiller during an interview about the concerts on “The Liberty Lake Deep Dive” last year. Sue and her husband, Bob, are

Over the past 25 years, the only time without a Spokane Symphony appearance in Liberty Lake was 2020. And there was only one year when the event had to be switched indoors to a local school, due to rain. The Labor Day weekend concerts are now sponsored by the City of Liberty Lake and the Greenstone Foundation.

“The program we play at Liberty Lake is actually a little bit like a trailer for our upcoming year,” Spokane Symphony music director James Lowe said during a 2023 interview on “The Liberty Lake Deep Dive” podcast. “We do have

“Starting the season in Liberty Lake is always such a fun gig,” Lowe said during the 2023 podcast interview. “I love looking out and seeking all the golf carts along the top of the hill.”

Sept. 24 town hall will focus on city’s sidewalks

Cops, Cars & Cruisers coming to Pavillion Park for 2026 event

Liberty Lake area residents and business owners are invited to an interactive community town hall on Thursday, Sept. 24, that will cover current issues and next steps in sidewalk repair throughout the city. This town hall at the Trailhead Golf building’s Rotary Room is scheduled to run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. This session will include a presentation examining current sidewalk conditions as well as the challenges involved in how neighborhood sidewalks are prioritized for repair. Attendees will also have opportunities to ask questions and to provide

That first concert in 2001 included an opportunity for attendees to sign up for a Holiday Bowl fundraiser that winter so money could be raised to bring the Spokane Symphony back to Liberty Lake in 2002. Those annual Holiday Bowls at Spokane’s Davenport Hotel – as well as the volunteer efforts of the Friends of Pavillion Park group – helped ensure the continuation of the free concerts at Liberty Lake throughout the initial years.

The biggest car show in Liberty Lake is driving onto a new location for 2026. The annual Cops, Cars & Cruisers event will be lining up its vehicles on the grass of Pavillion Park (727 NB. Molter Road) for a full day of activities from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12.

comments about their views on Sidewalk Plan: Background The free public car show is staged how repairs to Master sidewalks should each year by the Liberty Lake the City of Liberty Lakewill conducted an be funded.In summer Light2025, refreshments assessment of public sidewalks, identifying approximately Police Department as a benefit for also be available. 7,800 locations with distress or damage. local Special Olympics through Information from this town hall its proceeds from registrations, We Want Your Input will be used to help shape the new auctions, and personal donations Sidewalk Master is being Funding and Plan resourcesthat for sidewalk repair are limited, and the collected during the day. The day is now gathering developedCity for the city.public input to help guide decisions. will include a noontime tribute to

https://www.facebook.com/libertylakewa Your feedback will help the City prioritize repair approaches and determine the most preferred funding methods to address infrastructure needs.

Please scroll to the bottom of the site to take the sidewalk

•

first responders and the military, a food court, kids activities, and demonstrations. This year’s show will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Liberty Lake Police Department. Plus, as a new activity being added to the post-event fun, the 2026 show is introducing a burnout contest at the Stateline Speedway, where participants will head at 4 p.m. as part of the annual drive known as “Cruising with the Cops.” An award will be given to the vehicle operator with the best controlled burnout. The LLPD has hosted the event since 2011, when it was called Cops-n-Kids & Rodders-n-more. Further information and updates about this year’s show can be found at the Facebook site for Liberty Lake Police Cops, Cars & Cruisers.

www.libertylakewa.gov

8 • SEPTEMBER 2026

The Splash

Introducing the

Safety Awareness Channel LLPD Crime Analysis

LLPD Crime Analysis

Property Crimes Calls for Service: 34

Traﬃc Stops: 260 / Citations Issued: 18

Cavalier Rd was broken into and various small items were stolen. Theft:

Police Report - July 2026 Splash news sources

Significant Cases Malicious Mischief: On 7/6, the tennis court coin machine at Ridgeline HS was damaged. During the week of 7/8, campaign signs near Country Vista Apts were cut up or spray painted by unknown individuals. On 7/19, a complainant’s vehicle was keyed down both sides while parked at Legacy

Villa Apts. Late July, graffiti was spray painted in the skate park at Pavillion Park. Vehicle Prowl: On 7/3, multiple vehicles were burglarized on N Knudson Ct, E Broadway Ave, and E Boone Ave. The suspects were identified and their vehicle was seized and searched. On 7/6, victim vehicle parked in their driveway on N Malvern Rd was broken into and their work bag was stolen. On 7/6, victim vehicle parked in their driveway on N

On 7/17, a bike valued at approximately $3500 was stolen from outside Walgreens while the owner was in the store. Surveillance is available. On 7/24, a wallet was accidentally left behind in a Safeway shopping cart, it was not turned in and possibly stolen. On 7/28, male and female suspects pried open a donation bin in the Safeway parking lot. ARRESTS – LLPD made 7 arrests in July 2026-88006955 – On 7/27, officers responded to a domestic violence call on

S Greenridge Dr involving a 16-year-old female, her mother, and 9-year-old brother. The incident escalated to a medical emergency when the juvenile female ingested a large quantity of pills. Charges were forwarded to the juvenile prosecutor. 2026-88006321 – On 7/9, a traffic stop was conducted in the parking lot of Cosign Furniture & Jewelry, after a vehicle was observed with a non-functioning driver’s-side headlight. During the stop, a male who approached the vehicle on foot who was found to have an active felony warrant out of Spokane County Superior Court. He was arrested and booked at Spokane County Jail. 2026-88006574 – 7/16, a traffic stop

On was

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conducted after observing the driver operating a dirt bike with no plates and failing to yield to emergency lights and siren. Upon stop, the driver was found to be carrying a firearm in his waistband. He was cited and released; his motorcycle was impounded. 2026-88006621 – On 7/18, officers responded to a reported argument on E Nora Ave. Upon arrival, officers contacted subjects and determined the incident was a verbal dispute between known domestic partners. No assault or crime was reported by either party or a third witness. The male was subsequently arrested on two active bench warrants and booked at Spokane County Jail. 2026-88006717 – On 7/21, a male was arrested at the STA Park and Ride for Criminal Trespass 2D after returning to the property following a formal trespass notice. 2026-88006179 – On 7/5, officers responded to a domestic violence call on E Boone Ave involving a married couple. The male was arrested for Felony Harassment (DV) after a voice recording captured him threatening to drown his wife in a hot tub. He was medically cleared at Spokane Valley Hospital before being booked into Spokane County Jail due to significant health concerns. 2026-88007003 – On 7/28, an on-view traffic stop was conducted after observing reckless driving behavior. The driver was arrested for DUI following multiple observed signs of impairment and his own admissions. He submitted to a breath test with results well above the legal limit. The Liberty Lake Police Department has had an increase in speeding violators and are proactively enforcing those high traffic areas. Remember to secure your belongings inside your residence and out of your vehicles to prevent vehicle prowlers as the summer months tend to invite more prowling activity. Stay well and be safe!

LLPD Crime Analysis

SAFETY CHANNEL

Total Calls for Service: 1046

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 9

10 • SEPTEMBER 2026

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A FAMILIAR FACE, A NEW ROLE DR. WHITE • DR. LUNA

COVER STORY

12 • SEPTEMBER 2026

Construction at Former Legacy Church Building as transformation into new City Hall continues

The Splash

By Nina Culver

Splash contributor

The gutted interior of the former church located next door to the Liberty Lake Police Department is taking shape into the new City Hall as construction moves toward completion. When people come in the main entrance on the west side of the building they’ll move into a large lobby area. Just off the lobby are a large and a small conference room available for public use, plus City Council chambers that can accommodate 120 people. The number of visitor chairs that can be crammed into the current City Council chambers number closer to two dozen. “Our lobby is an actual lobby now,” said Public Works Director Ben Turner during a recent tour of the building. “This will be a place for gathering.” A reception desk and permit counter will stretch along one wall of the lobby, with a low half wall allowing staff working behind the counter to see people who come inside the building. The existing City Hall does not have a permit counter. Planning employees are called up to the front counter when needed. The change to the former Legacy Church building at 23129 E. Mission Avenue has been extensive. The roof, which was about 25 years old, was replaced. The interior was gutted and new windows were cut into the walls to add natural light. “It was a big space with windows only on one side,” Turner said. Windows were added to what will become the council chambers as well as along the back wall where the executive offices are. “We needed to open up the space a little bit for the people who work back

Photo by Nina Culver Construction continues on the former Legacy Church building destined to be the new home for Liberty Lake City Hall. The space shown will be the new council chambers where future city council meetings will be held once complete. here,” he said. The city’s communication director will get a sound insulated office where podcasts can be recorded. “He’s basically using a closet right now,” he said. Though the interior was torn out, the city did take some steps to save money where possible. “We tried to save as many of the existing ceiling tiles as possible,” Turner said. “They’re in pretty good shape.” The interior walls of the two conference rooms are made of class so the natural light can come into the lobby as well. The lobby will have seating and will also be able to host events. The interior of the building that will be restricted public access will include small conference rooms for staff as well as an antechamber off the main council chamber that can be used for executive sessions. There will be separate bathrooms for staff and the public, which the current City Hall does not have.

The new City Hall will also include a secure storage room for city records. “The city does not have secure file storage,” Turner said. “The city actually contracts out storage space right now. There’s a lot of public records that need to be maintained.” Another new edition is a space for sorting and distributing mail. “We’ll actually have a place for our mail,” Turner said. “Right now it just sits in the hallway when it comes.” The new City Hall doesn’t just include enough offices and workspace for current city employees, there’s also room to grow. The plans call for three “hotel” offices that can be used by guests. “As we grow, someone may move into them,” he said. There’s also currently a large seating area outside the executive offices that can be used instead for cubicles in the future as the city grows. “It really allows staff to grow as the city grows,” he said.

The additional space cannot come soon enough, said Mayor Cris Kaminskas. The city staff has already been squeezed to fit into the existing City Hall and hiring new staff requires juggling. “We are at capacity,” she said. “When we hired the IT guy, he was actually in my office for a while. We have been putting people wherever we can find to put them.” When the city was planning the new City Hall, department managers were asked to estimate how many staff they would need in the future as the city grows. “That’s what drove the design,” she said. It was not originally the plan to turn the former church into a City Hall. The plan when the city first bought the building two years ago was to turn it into a library. However, the city council realized that the 14,500 square foot building was simply not big enough, Kaminskas said. The recommended size of a new library is 19,000 square feet.

The Splash

COVER STORY

Kaminskas said the council didn’t think it was appropriate to move the library into the building only to have to move it again in a few years.

final look of the lobby and public areas once the art is installed. “It’s just exciting to be a part of the process,” she said.

going to be a rush to renovate,” she said. “It might be a mess inside for a while. It won’t be a public facing building for a while.”

Kaminskas said she likes that the new City Hall will be able to accommodate larger crowds at council meetings as well as have a permit counter. “It’s going to be much more functional,” she said. “It will be much more customer friendly.”

The city’s construction project is $3.9 million, which includes a contingency amount and sales tax. If everything from the design process to furniture is added on, the cost rises to about $5.4 million.

Turner said he’ll be happy to move out of the old City Hall and into the new one. “That building has served the city well, but it’s tired,” he said. “It’s too small.”

She also likes that city staff will be grouped together instead of clustered at two different ends of the current City Hall with the council chambers in the middle. “We’re kind of split,” she said. “It’ll be good to have everyone on the same side of the building.” The city’s Parks and Arts Commission, headed by Nancy Hill, is making preparations for installing art in the new City Hall. The group put out a call to artists in two categories: commissioned work such as sculptures or mixed media pieces and portable works such as photographs, paintings and drawings. Artists were asked to consider the theme of “Past, Present and Future: The Story of Liberty Lake.” So far the selection committee has narrowed down the field of artists for the “wow factor” commissioned piece to four artists, Hill said. All four have toured the new building and will be interviewed by the committee. The top candidates will then be asked to submit a concept design before the committee makes the final selection.

Construction is expected to be complete around the end of the year and then the city will put in equipment and furniture. “We expect to be in sometime in March, if everything goes according to plan,” Turner said. “This is a 30, 40, 50 years space for us.” Once the new City Hall is up and running, the Parks and Recreation Department will move out of the “little house” next to the existing City Hall into the old City Hall building. The plan is to eventually renovate part of the existing City Hall to create more public spaces so classes and other events can be held there. “That was part of the plan to move City Hall,” Kaminskas said. “The intent is to have some public meeting space.” However, Kaminskas doesn’t anticipate any renovations happening until 2028. “It’s not

As the city prepares to move into a new City Hall, it has also been working to refresh the city logo that has been in use since the city incorporated 25 years ago. Several months ago, community members were surveyed to see what elements they would like to see included in a new logo. Responses included trees, mountains and a lake. In July, three new logo options were presented to the City Council. The first includes a rising sun behind mountains with a lake in front and the second includes a group of green trees above several blue, wavy lines meant to represent a lake. The third option is very similar to the second, but includes the outline of a mountain behind the trees. The city recently closed a survey asking for public input on the three options, which is still being tabulated. City Administrator Mark McAvoy said he hopes to have a final design before the council for approval in September.

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The commission plans to spend $60,000 on the project, which includes framing for all the hangable art pieces. Hill said she recently took a tour of the building and knowing information about the layout will help with planning the art.

Hill said she’s excited to see the

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While one artist will be selected for the commissioned work, the committee will likely select several different artists to provide paintings and photographs. “We are looking for a variety of artists,” she said. “The theme is pretty broad. We’re excited to see what people come up with.”

“There’s not as much wall space as I thought there would be,” she said. “We may not need our entire budget.”

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 13

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Photo by Nina Culver, Public Works Director Ben Turner explaining the layout of the new City Hall building which has two larger conference rooms just inside the main entrance and before going into the Council chambers which will have two sets of double doors into the room.

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Student of the Month

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East Valley High School senior Eva Adolfson brings energy, curiosity and leadership to nearly every corner of school life. With a 3.6 GPA, she balances strong academics with an impressive list of activities, including tennis, Tri-M, Vice President of the Key Club, D&D and Magic Club, Knowledge Bowl, History Bowl and Link Crew. On the tennis court, Eva has grown from doubles player to varsity singles competitor and hopes to step into a captain role this spring. In music, she shines as a violinist in Strolling Strings, Encore Orchestra and the Spokane Youth Philharmonic, while also preparing for a future in music education at Washington State University. Eva’s passion for helping others shows through her work with younger students and her plans to become a mentor. Whether performing, competing, leading or supporting her sisters, Eva approaches each opportunity with enthusiasm and heart, making her a standout student and a positive presence in her community.

Ridgeline High School junior James Henderson brings the same steady drive to every part of his life. A starter at slot receiver and free safety, Henderson has played football since third grade and continues to sharpen his skills through Pro Vision Academy’s 7-on-7 program in addition to play for the Falcons. That work has taken him to tournaments in Las Vegas, Seattle and Oregon, including a national event where his team placed fourth. He also earned Pro Vision’s Impact Award for strong play, sportsmanship and composure. Henderson is just as focused in the classroom, carrying a 3.96 GPA, earning a 5 on the AP U.S. History exam last year and joining National Honor Society. He also competes in track, participates in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, plans to try DECA and volunteers in the community. After high school James hopes to play football in college at Ohio State University and study to become either a History professor or major in business.

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Falcon girls rely on teamwork to build cross country success By John McCallum Splash contributor

To the casual observer, cross country competition may seem like just an individual sport. Seasoned pros will tell you, however, it’s very team oriented — just ask the Ridgeline High School girls squad who cleared a big hurdle for the five-year-old Liberty Lake school by becoming the first Falcons to compete as a team at the 3A state meet in Pasco last November. “You need a team more than you need yourself,” incoming senior Myranda Evans said after finishing the 2026 squad’s second official practice on Aug. 25. Evans and fellow teammates Kayla Jensen, Emery Sevy and Maeve Barrera all agreed success in cross country comes down to not only what the individual puts into themselves. It also relies heavily on teamwork — or as the program’s concepts and beliefs statement puts it: “Together Everyone Achieves More Work.”

University. Heading into District 6 championships at Wandermere Golf Course, Ridgeline was ranked sixth in the state in the Washington State Cross Country Coaches Association’s Oct. 20 3A girls poll. University was fifth and Mt. Spokane was third. At districts the Falcons turned a time gap between their first and fifth scoring runners of just under 2 minutes to easily out-point Walla Walla for third place and earn a trip to state. Ridgeline repeated the performance at Pasco’s Sun Willows Golf Course, placing seventh out of 20 3A teams. All this took place with a varsity team whose seven members consisted of four freshmen: Sevy, Kalia Blanchard, Mary Pollman and Erika Bell. For Bell, not only was she a freshman but it was also her first year competing in cross country. “She just decided she wanted to run,” Graham said. The only senior on last year’s varsity squad was Gretchyn Carter, who finished 14th in districts and 37th in state. Sevy and Blanchard were third and fourth respectively

at districts — finishes that earned them first-team all-league honors — and 14th and 23rd respectively at Pasco. At districts Evans was 23rd and Pollman was 26th to complete Ridgeline’s scoring, with junior — now senior — Jensen 29th and Bell 34th. At Pasco, Bell was 75th and Evans 115th, with Jensen 119th and Pollman 149th. Putting in the off season work This year, the Falcons are still a young team, Graham said, with 17 girls turning out, including several freshmen coming out of the middle school programs at Greenacres and Selkirk. Many of the girls participated in Graham’s Monday – Friday summer camps that started a couple days after school ended in late-June and concluded July 30-31 with the team’s 12-hour fundraising run where they ran a mile every hour between 7 p.m. – 7 a.m. While putting in the miles is important, team members also worked on other physical aspects of running. Evans said she did a lot of upper body weightlifting to create a better balance between arms and legs.

Jensen put in the miles as well, and when the wildland fire smoke settled into the area in August, she took her running inside, doing 35-40 minutes on a treadmill daily. “It’s much nicer when we’re running together,” she added. Sevy traveled a lot this summer so wasn’t able to do team running. She ran when she could, doing a little bit each day to put in around 20 miles a week, but focused more on quality in running than distance. Graham said the off-season work has shown in practice, with the entire varsity returning “healthy and ready to go.” “They’re really motivated and excited to build on last year,” Graham said. Creating family tradition A big part of that is continuing to build the family-oriented atmosphere the Falcons have so far produced. For Sevy, it was the key to their success in 2025. “Last year helped us bond,” she said. “We were the best knit group of any of the other teams.” It’s that close-knit aspect that led Barrera to decided to jump from playing soccer to cross country. The freshman said she had always been a runner but was encouraged by a close friend to try something new with the Falcons, taking part in the summer camps. “I did it and loved the group and the vibe,” she said. “Cross country is just more my thing.”

“They’re going to lift you up when you’re struggling, they’re going to be there to give you a push,” Falcons head coach Heather Graham said.

Besides being physically healthy, Graham also strives for good mental health as well. The Falcons are working on team goals, and Graham also has them journal individually to set personal goals — doing it the old-fashioned way with a notebook and pen.

Taking steps forward The Ridgeline program has been pushing steadily each season. Last year the Falcon girls wrapped up the Greater Spokane League portion of their schedule with a 5-4 overall record, bettering 2024’s 3-6 mark. They finished fifth overall and third among 3A schools, trailing Mt. Spokane and second-place

“I wanted to give my arms a little love,” she said.

Photo by John McCallum Falcons cross country head coach Heather Graham encourages her runners during practice.

For seniors Jensen and Evans, those goals actually go beyond their time on the squad. Jensen said they want to continue to build on the team culture, encouraging

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 21

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Photo by John McCallum Seniors Myranda Evans (front left) and Kayla Jensen (front right) lead a group of Falcon runners through laps around the high school on Aug. 25. teammates to put in the work, help each other out and focus on another of the team’s concepts and beliefs of teamwork that “Everyone is each other’s teammate.” “We have a good bond with each other, and we want to keep that going for next year,” Jensen said.

“We just need to push to be the best we can be and put in the work,” Evans added. With a young, healthy and close knit team, both Graham and her assistant coach Jarriq White believe last year’s team trip to state may be just the beginning for the program. Competing in a strong cross country

Photo by John McCallum Sophomore Emery Sevy reacts to a teammates comment during drills Aug. 25. league like the GSL is a challenge they and the girls are looking forward to. “These girls are going to be really good, this year and years to come.” White said. “I love coaching these girls,”

Graham added. “They do it because it’s hard.” Ridgeline opens the cross country season Sept. 12 at the Barbero Border Clash at Spokane Valley’s The Course. The Falcons open the GSL season at home on Sept. 23 against Ferris, Mead and Cheney.

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24 • SEPTEMBER 2026

With Community Support Partners INW steps up to Support Fire Victims By Ben Wick

Current Publisher

As the Spokane Complex Fires’ evacuations grew, the leadership team at Partners Inland Northwest (formerly Spokane Valley Partners) immediately recognized that they could help and stepped up. Unfortunately, the fires came to close for CEO Cal Coblentz as he and his family were one of the many families that got the evacuation notice and had to leave their home for the first week of the fires. However, that didn’t phase the team at Partners. Sarah Henderson, Director of Development, Justin Carlile, Director of Operations, and Seth Dow Director of Finance came together to figure out what the organization could do to help the community.

at the first food distribution.

NEWS

However the media efforts intended to connect fire victims with Partners INW’s support unexpectedly sparked what Coblentz described as a “tsunami” of community generosity. Beginning Monday after the fire began Partners organized their team of volunteers to setup a drive through donation acceptance line. “I thought it would be just a few donations coming in so I stayed open late by myself but quickly had to call my husband, kids, and family to come in and help me,” noted Henderson. “The drive through donation line was bumper to bumper the first Monday through Thursday from 8:30am to 6:30pm.” “The community was grieving” noted Coblentz who shared that the organization pivot to focusing on receiving donations and community support while supporting the victims when they were ready. Over the first two weeks after the fire Coblentz and Henderson estimate that the organization received over 100,000 lbs. of donations mostly consisting of clothing. “That’s

approximately the equivalent of five semi-trailer loads not palletized nor boxed or sorted,” shared Coblentz. Henderson shared stories of people coming forward through the donation lines. “One guy shared that he had lost his home in a previous fire and really wanted to help those who are going through the same thing he did.” With the media coverage going nationwide the team at Partners also started getting calls from across the country with people who wanted to help. Henderson shared that she was so grateful for the whole Partners team between Seth Dow, Justin Carlile, and Kate Byus who had recently joined the Patners team back in March. “People wanted to help and donate somewhere that was going to directly support those who were victims of the fire,” said Henderson. After three weeks of accepting donations, Partners recently paused accepting drop-in donations to allow the organization to catch up. “The team took it well, they worked together, made decisions, but everyone was exhausted,” noted

The Splash Coblentz. “It really validated the work they do to help families.” However it wasn’t just donations of items and money that was received at Partners, a surge of over 300 additional volunteers also stepped up to help the organization sort through the donations that were coming in. While Partners hasn’t moved into the building on Sprague yet, they were sure glad they had it shared Henderson “A lot of the donations were being sorted and stored at the location and we now have a group of people that only know Partners from being at that location” Partners INW is primarily a volunteer powered organization with an average of 40 volunteers per day keeping the programs going and doors open. Henderson shared that the additional volunteers were amazing. “On two different occasions we had 160 volunteers come in on the same day to help sort clothes,” shared Henderson, “but we still need more.” As of the end of August Partners still had 150, 4 foot by 4 foot by 4 See PARTNERS INW, Page 26

“We decided we would just help the families the normal way we help families,” said Henderson. Sharing that the team went down to the Spokane Convention Center the first day the center opened in an effort to get the word out about Partners INW, who they are, and that they had food, clothing, and diapers for families in need. With the fires primarily impacting families who lived on the northside of town and might not be as familiar with Partners nor our facility shared Henderson. “We wanted to get the word out that we are here and available to help.” While the team instinctively organized a mobile food distribution during the first week of the fire to help those displaced, not many showed up. “We were at one of the support centers thinking we would connect with those who were displaced, but they had so much going on and were getting so much information from so many sources it was hard to take it all in” shared Henderson as to why they thought not many people showed up

Contributed Photo Large volunteer day where 160 volunteers show up to help sort donations received by Partners INW at their Sprague location after back to back days of bumper to bumper traffic through the drive through donation drive to support those that were displaced from the Spokane Complex Fires.

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 25

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foot pallets of clothing needing to be sorted (the organization typically receives 25 pallets of clothing each week) and 55 pallets of donations from different community drives that are still waiting to get sorted. For anyone or any group that is interested in volunteering at Partners to help sort clothing, food, or hygiene products, you are encouraged to sign up by clicking on the volunteer button on their website at partnersinw.org During the 2nd week of the fires, Partners INW partnered with 2nd Harvest for three distribution days where the agencies were able to setup two lines, one for people to get food support (furnished by 2nd Harvest) and another to give clothes, hygiene YOU LOVE products, and diapers if needed (supplied by Partners INW).

community

“We had one mom come through with her two children looking for help as the mom was normally living on her own but with her two children and their families being impacted by the fires, she found herself quickly trying to figure out how to support a household of 9” shared Henderson who went on to share that the mom paused and then started to cry as if she was just starting to process what is happening.

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For anyone who has lost their home, been displaced by the fires, or omes in Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Post Falls & Coeur d’Alene. are supporting anyone who has been, Tate Law Office • Central Valley School District you are encouraged to reach out to John L. Scott • Liberty Lake Kiwanis • HUB Sports Center Partners INW to get support. greenstonehomes.com

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HUB Sports Center

Simonds Dental Group

Broadway Court Estates

Intelligent Balance Spinal Care

Spokane County Fair

Central Valley School District

John L Scott - Pam Fredrick

Spokane Transit Authority

CenturyLink

Liberty Lake EyeCare Center

Spokane Valley Heritage Museum 11

City of Liberty Lake

Liberty Lake Sewer & Water District

Cline’s Heating and Air

Liberty Lake Smile Source

Eagle Rock Storage

Preston McCollam

Spokane Valley Senior Center

Tate Law Office

Valleyfest

Of note: This thank you message was produced by The Splash’s advertising team, which works its tail off on behalf of partner businesses, helping them share their messages through advertisements. This is an independent function from The Splash’s editorial team, which has its own evaluation process to determine the community news stories and features it pursues. For more information about a win-win partnership that expertly markets your business to thousands of readers (while making this home-grown community newspaper possible), email advertise@libertylakesplash.com. With story ideas, contact editor@libertylakesplash.com.

Coblentz shared that while they have paused the drop-in donations, the biggest need they have is for food and the organization is planning to start accepting drop-in food donations beginning on September 1st.

LIBERTY LAKE

COMMUNITY NEWSMAGAZINE

Ben Wick

EDITOR/PUBLISHER

ben@libertylakesplash.com

Danica Wick

CO OWNER

danica@libertylakesplash.com CONTRIBUTORS

Nina Culver, John McCallum Ross Schneidmiller The Liberty Lake Splash P.O. Box 363 Liberty Lake, WA 99019 Phone: 509-242-7752 www.libertylakesplash.com The Splash is published monthly by or before the first of each month. It is distributed free of charge to every business and home in the greater Liberty Lake area. Additional copies are located at drop-off locations in Liberty Lake and Otis Orchards.

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Announcements, obituaries, letters to the editor and story ideas are encouraged. Submit them in writing to editor@libertylakesplash.com. Submissions should be received by the 15th of the month for best chance of publication in the following month’s Splash. Subscriptions Liberty Lake residents receive a complimentary copy each month. Subscriptions for U.S. postal addresses outside of the 99019 ZIP code cost $20 for 12 issues. Send a check and subscription address to P.O. Box 363, Liberty Lake, WA 99019. Subscriptions must be

received by the 15th of the month in order for the subscription to begin with the issue printed the end of that month. Correction policy The Splash strives for accuracy in all content. Errors should be reported immediately to 509-242-7752 or by email to editor@libertylakesplash.com. Confirmed

While the Spokane Complex fires are over and families are starting to begin the process of rebuilding, Coblentz shares another worry. “We were already in a housing shortage, now we lost another 600 to 700 homes. Where are those people going to go, and how will that impact the housing supply for lower-income families this winter.”

factual errors will be corrected on this page in the is-

“Each week things continue to evolve, we get new challenges, and we continue to do what we do, which is helping the families of our community” added Coblentz.

to advertise@libertylakesplash.com. The Splash is not

sue following their discovery. Advertising information Display ad copy and camera-ready ads are due by 5 p.m. on the 15th of the month for the following month’s issue. Call 509-242-7752 for more information. Advertising integrity Inaccurate or deceptive advertising is never knowingly accepted. Complaints about advertisers should be made in writing to the Better Business Bureau and

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 27

The Splash

In Loving Memory of

Kelli Schneidmiller, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, teacher, friend, and faithful follower of Jesus, went home to be with the Lord on August 3, 2026, just one day after her 65th birthday.

Kelli Jo Schneidmiller

Kelli was born on August 2, 1961 to Ronald and Linda Knudsen. She was the eldest of four children, with three younger brothers. She grew up in Liberty Lake, Washington, a community she held close to her heart, where she built lifelong friendships, fell in love, raised her family, served faithfully and created countless memories. She lit up when telling stories of growing up around the lake. Tales of time spent at her grandparents’ SIG’S resort—sneaking in orders for the grill, counting change and eagerly awaiting the day her arms were long enough to scoop ice cream for customers. Or the times spent skiing behind her family’s Bell Boy on the Connelly ski, she and her brothers purchased by pooling her babysitting money with their lawn mowing earnings. Her stories often began with, "I just have to laugh," followed by a memory that captured the delight and character of her childhood—like occasionally rounding up a cow before school or how her lifelong habit of volunteering in school offices began in first grade, when she answered incoming calls at Greenacres Elementary.

were needed—no role was too big or too small. She often left behind detailed “how to” manuals to make things easier for whoever came next. She preferred serving quietly, behind the scenes and out of the spotlight. An avid quilter, Kelli poured her love into everything she made. Making quilts for others was something she treasured, often quilting bible verses into the fabric of her creations. She had a way of making people feel truly known and appreciated, whether she had loved them for years or had only just met them. Her life was a beautiful testimony of what it looks like to love like Jesus. Kelli was preceded in death by her father, Ron. She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Ross, her daughters and their families, Jasmine and Taylor Hall, Cora, Ellis; Jordana and Steve Rees, Caden; Janae and Alex Sankey, Grayson, Miller, Piper; her mother, Linda, her three younger brothers, Ron Jr. (Jolene), Jack (Kari) and Eric and numerous nieces and nephews.

her favorite dance partner. Both being from Liberty Lake, their roots were deep in the community and together they built a life around faith, family, service, laughter, and love. They were blessed with three daughters: Jasmine, Jordana, It was her request that the day of and Janae. Being a wife, mother and her last breath to be known as her grandmother were her greatest joys. heavenly birthday—not a day of sorrow, but a day of celebration. We Kelli was a master of organization with invite you to celebrate her life with us a gift of making order out of chaos. on Friday, September 18th at 2:00pm One of the most cherished chapters Whether it was planning a parade, an at Valley Real Life Church. 1831 S of Kelli’s life began when she married auction or simply editing a paper, she Barker Rd., Spokane Valley, WA 99016 Ross, whom she often referred to as offered her abilities wherever they She graduated from Central Valley High School and continued her education at Eastern Washington University. She earned her teaching degree and went on to be a reading specialist. As a student she was involved in an array of activities: tennis, leadership and taking stats for the basketball team to name a few. She was also gifted musically, singing and playing the piano and guitar.

28 • SEPTEMBER 2026

The Splash

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