Outpost -

You are probably aware that the fire district needs to renew our Emergency Medical Services (EMS) levy this year. The current levy was approved by the voters in 2006 and expires at the end of the...

Dear Neighbors, I recall from my youth that the time span between September and June was painfully long. As an adult, that same time span has become whiplash fast. I am not sure where all of the time goes, but it certainly does so quickly. I am...

Dear Neighbors, Although it took three sessions to get it done (a special session in December, the regular session, and another special session that ended in mid April), the state legislature finally completed its work and passed an operating...

The community members of the Deer Park and Riverside school districts have voted on important financial issues related to the education of their children. After a laborious campaign this last...

Our kids: Our business believes strongly that ALL children deserve every opportunity for success. As our community’s response to Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Our kids: Our business group kicked off the month of April with our annual event....

Local residents will have one more chance to vote on the Deer Park School District’s request to renew their expiring Maintenance and Operation (M&O) levy during the upcoming special election on...

So here it is; amongst my large pile of weekly mail, a letter from who else, (drum roll please,) Deer Park School District’s Superintendent, Mrs. Becky Cooke. The first couple of paragraphs of this letter state, as you may know, the levy failed....

For the past four years I have been actively pursuing grant funds to install infrastructure in the Industrial Area of Deer Park in order to attract businesses that pay good family wage jobs. The quality of schools is a prime criterion of business...

As parents in the Deer Park School District we are in full support of the levy. This levy is crucial to the continued quality operation of the school district. The levy is 30% of the district’s operating budget. Unfortunately, the state (and the...

At NorthEast Washington ESD 101, my colleagues and I have the distinct privilege to serve and support 59 public school districts across 7 counties, and as superintendent I am personally fortunate to have the opportunity to spend significant time in,...

I am writing today to urge readers to vote “YES” on the Deer Park Schools Replacement Levy. I am a concerned parent, community member and an advocate of improving our schools. We have been impressed with the learning environments to which our...

FIRE COMMISSIONER KENNETH WILSON RESIGNS: In a letter dated January 18th, Fire Commissioner Kenneth Wilson submitted a letter of resignation to Stevens County Fire District #1 Board of Commissioners....

LAKESIDE HIGH SCHOOL “Even though I am not at Lakeside next year, I am glad the levy passed because if I were an underclassmen I would want the same chances that I have been given.” Kyle P., 12th grade “The levy passing ensures me that our...

Dear Neighbors, Although it will not be validated until the 28th of February, it appears that voters have approved the Replacement of the Expiring Educational Programs, Maintenance and Operations Levy for the Nine Mile Falls School District. As both...

One of the challenging aspects of my job is to ensure that I have communicated effectively and efficiently with all stakeholders of the Nine Mile Falls School District. When this doesn’t occur, it is not uncommon that a perceived truth begins to...

As you may know, the Nine Mile Falls School levy passed by a very narrow margin. The final count passed the levy with a 51.44% YES vote. I am sure the recent increase in property taxes and the ever de...

Editor’s Note: The letter below is in support of the school levy. Unfortunately it was caught by an e-mail spam filter and was not found in time to be published prior to the election, although we were able to post it on our website. However, given...

A survey was taken in March of 2010 by the Lake Spokane Parks & Recreation District Commissioners to identify the direction, needs, and desires of the community concerning the future of our newly created park district. Several pertinent questions...

I would like to give another perspective about the school levy. I am a parent and grandparent to kids in the Nine Mile Falls school district. The following are actual figures from my property taxes. First are figures of my regular tax- county tax= $4...

In 2008, the Lake Spokane community overwhelmingly approved the formation of the Lake Spokane Parks & Recreation District (nearly 71%). The ensuing three & a half years of research, meetings, travel and hundreds of volunteer hours resulted in...

Somewhere buried in that pile of unopened mail from the past week is a ballot for the Nine Mile Falls school levy. Well, it is time now to dig it out, mark your ballot, stamp it and make sure to mail...

In the mail this last week, many community members received a political postcard advertisement against the Nine Mile Falls School levy. The problem with this advertisement isn’t the fact that it is...

As the superintendent of the Nine Mile Falls School District, I work diligently to provide the constituents of this school district and community with factual information at all times. I recently received a phone call from a patron of the district...

Representative Ross Hunter (D-Medina) briefed Eastern Washington School Board Members and Superintendents on his proposal to increase property taxes to pay for schools and remove levy taxes. I attended his presentation, and he wants to increase...

It’s school levy time again, and many school districts in our area―including Nine Mile Falls and Deer Park, as well as 12 others in Spokane County― will have levies on the February 14 ballot. To those people who are not familiar with how...

One of the challenging aspects of my job is to ensure that I have communicated effectively and efficiently with all stakeholders of the Nine Mile Falls School District. When this doesn’t occur, it is not uncommon that a perceived truth begins to...

Kim Elkins analyzes the school menu on a weekly basis to ensure her “customers,” as she calls the kids enrolled in the Nine Mile Falls school district, reach their weekly caloric recommendation....

Dear Neighbors, On or around January 26th, registered voters within the Nine Mile Falls School District will receive a ballot in the mail. The only measure on this ballot is the school district’s Replacement of Expiring Educational Programs,...

It is time again to vote on the school Levy. For those of us with children in the school district, checking the “approve” box on the ballot comes naturally. For those without children in the...

Greater Spokane Incorporated’s Executive Committee recently voted on behalf of the Board of Trustees to support all of the local school districts with a levy measure on the Feb. 14 ballot. GSI believes that a well-equipped education system is not...

As a parent of three kids in the Nine Mile Falls School District, our family specifically moved to Nine Mile for what it offered: a great education provided by excellent teachers and staff. Coming from a large school I wanted our kids to be on a...

Our family firmly supports the Nine Mile Falls School District Replacement Levy. We have three children in the school district, all of whom are actively involved in many academic and extra-curricular activities. The school district and its...

Our great community is reflected by the success of our great and amazing students. Due to past community support, our students maintain high achievement with continued improvement on test scores. The District continues to increase the number of...

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for giving me the incredible opportunity to serve as a Director for the Nine Mile Falls School District. I have been truly blessed working with staff and the amazing kids in our community. I have oft...

In 2008, the Lake Spokane community overwhelmingly approved the formation of the Lake Spokane Parks & Recreation District (nearly 71%). The ensuing three & a half years of research, meetings, travel and hundreds of volunteer hours resulted in...

My family (son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren) and I are new to the Nine Mile Falls area. We are originally from the state of Nevada, where schools have been underfunded for years. Our primary reason for moving to WA and particularly Nine Mile...

Nine Mile Falls School District is subject to state teaching requirements and mandates; our legislators feel it is their responsibility to mandate to the schools the program curriculum, class size, teach challenged students ETC. The state may or may...

As a public school teacher working in the Nine Mile Falls School District I’ve gained… - A group of teaching partners that care and support each other and their students. - A strong support group for achieving my National Board Teaching Certifica...

As the superintendent of the Nine Mile Falls School District, I can assume that each reader understands my position and support for the current school district levy measure. I have had several people contact me with questions regarding the upcoming...

The primary issues facing the Nine Mile Falls School District, and thus, current and newly-elected school directors, will include a continued focus on teaching and learning, addressing budgetary concerns, and bond planning for Lakeside High School....

After listening to the sheriff's comments at the meeting last Wednesday at the middle school, I'm solidly in favor to the proposed 3/10 % sales tax increase to benefit law enforcement in Stevens County. We cannot afford to reduce the number of...

Despite the flyers and notifications of the public meeting regarding critical levies up for vote next month, little more than 40 Stevens County residents attended. Even though their numbers were small, those in attendance asked great questions, and...

The Deer Park School District is a thriving district of roughly 2,400 students in pre-school through grade twelve. Our challenges over the next few years are twofold: helping every child reach high standards, and a lack of steady funding. First, our...

The last time the county had a meeting in our area on the road signs very few people attended, and the when the signs were installed there was a lot of complaining. The impact on Stevens County and the Nine Mile School District due to budget cuts...

Date: THURSDAY - MARCH 31, 2011 Time 6:30 p.m. Location: Lake Spokane Middle School Auditorium All are invited to attend for a brief presentation describing: • APPOINTMENT OF NEW OFFICERS • PARK PROGRESS TO DATE • THE SIGNING OF THE DNR LAND...

Last August when Fire Commissioner Dean Westerman announced his retirement, the Board of Fire Commissioners requesting applications from interested parties to fill the vacated position of fire...

SEARCH FOR NEW FIRE CHIEF ALMOST COMPLETED: Twenty Five prospective Fire Chiefs from all over the country responded to our nationwide search. Nine of ten responded positively to an invitation to visit Stevens County for initial interviews. Of those,...

The Lake Spokane Parks and Recreational District Commissioners held a landmark meeting with the public at Lakeside Middle school auditorium on February 25. Chairman, Commissioner Phil Aune introduced...

In late 2006, in an effort to consolidate its assets and improve returns on its trust lands, Washington State Department of Natural Resources proposed to swap, sell its holdings in the Suncrest area. A group of local citizens, fearing the impending...

The Lake Spokane Parks and Recreation District was formed with the general election of 2008 and encompasses the Stevens County portion of the Nine Mile Falls School District. The Commissioners of the Park District will host an  important public meet...