Archive - 2012 - News Article
August 7th
Traffic in Deer Park does not appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
According to a traffic count conducted by Director of Community Affairs Roger Krieger, vehicle numbers have stayed consistent on the city’s main thoroughfares as compared to the 2011 study.
The count looked at city road traffic on 18 city streets for two weeks.
South Main Street continues to be Deer Park’s busiest street with an average of about 7,200 cars a day. The count was 6,820 in 2011 and 7,290 in 2010.
The Washington State Auditor’s Office has found no discrepancies in a pair of audits conducted on the city of Deer Park’s financial records.
The office’s accountability audit for Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2011, looked at various city internal controls and audit procedures for various areas, including contracts/agreements, general disbursements, utility billing/revenue, payroll and open public meetings/records laws.
July 18th
The city of Deer Park’s offer of free swimming at the municipal pool this summer has made a big splash with area youngsters (and their parents).
The 70-year-old facility, which came close to being shut down this summer because of budget concerns, has attracted scores of youngsters over the past two weeks as temperatures easily topped 90 degrees during the day.
The pool averaged well over a 100 patrons a day during the recent heat wave. On July 12, the number of pool patrons hovered near 200.
July 12th
The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced today an elevated fire danger rating and burn restrictions on DNR-protected lands in Spokane County and the area encompassed by Stevens County Fire Districts No. 1 and 2.
The fire danger rating will increase from “moderate” to “high.”
Pend Oreille County and Stevens County, outside Fire Districts 1 and 2, will remain at “low.”
July 11th
Deer Park School District officials have decided to swap elementary school administrators for the upcoming school year.
Deer Park Elementary School Principal Michele Miller will now take over the same duties at Arcadia Elementary School. Arcadia Principal Bonnie Remington will move to DPES.
Remington has worked at Arcadia for 17 years and Miller at DPES for 14 years.
Superintendent Becky Cooke said it is unusual for principals to stay at one school for that long a period.
The switch will give the pair a “fresh start,” Cooke added.
July 5th
Blessed with sunny and mild temperatures, many Deer Park area residents took in the annual evening "As American As Apple Pie" concert at the First Baptist Church and the fireworks show at Deer Park High School.
June 30th
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has confirmed another wolf pack and a wolf attack on sheep in northeast Washington.
Using remote video cameras, biologists documented at least five gray wolf pups this week in southern Stevens County. In reference to nearby Huckleberry Mountain, the pack has been named the Huckleberry pack.
The new pack is Washington’s seventh confirmed wolf pack, including the recently documented Nc’icn pack on the Colville Confederated Tribes reservation. An additional five packs are also suspected in the state.
June 26th
Area youngsters received a free gift from the city of Deer Park this summer.
City officials have waived the $1.50 daily fee to use the municipal swimming pool this summer. Swimming lesson fees will remain in effect.
The plan, authored by City Clerk Deby Cragun and supported by Mayor Robert Whisman, is in response to a shortened swim season this year and to see if free use will increase pool attendance.
The city does not expect to open the pool until after July 1.
Spokane County Investigative Task Force detectives are asking for the public's assistance in identifying a residential burglar. On June 8, homeowners near the 3100 block of East Deer Park-Milan Road returned home from an eight-day vacation and found their house had been burglarized. The burglars made entry through a back door to the residence and were recorded on the homeowner's game camera.
June 21st
Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Northway, who was shot four times during a traffic stop in north Spokane on June 19, grew up in the Deer Park area.
The 42-year-old Northway graduated from Deer Park High School in 1988. He joined the police Sheriff’s Department in 1996 as a corrections officer. He went on patrol duty three years later.
A high school friend, who wished to remain anonymous, said Northway’s goal while growing up was to be a police officer.
Fellow deputy Matt Spink, who joined the department in 1999, was also shot during the traffic stop.
