North Notes
Spokane-North Rotary Club Bulletin
October 17, 2022
Calendar:
Oct. 24: Noon lunch, at the Bark. Spokane County Commission candidates: Kim Plese and Chris Jordan.
Oct. 31: Noon lunch, at the Bark. Rotary District 5080 Gov. Linda Kay Bauer.
Nov. 7: Noon lunch at the Bark. Speaker: Thomas Squires, Spokane Veterans Court.
Nov. 14: Noon lunch at the Bark. Speaker: Tom Jarrad, USERRA claims.
Happy Bucks:
Responding to questions, Ron Noble confirmed that indeed it was his case of breast cancer he dealt with. He also said the club’s Tom’s Turkey Drive support was not going to work out this year and asked members to think about another possible project.
Bill Simer was happy for our first charitable contribution for the club, with a fund-raising target of $15,000 this year.
Steve Boharski was happy for the warm, sunny fall weather.
Colin Prestesater proudly announced that for he and his wife’s expecting child “it will be a girl.”
John Mailiard celebrated the more than 400 pumpkins provided by a Moses Lake-area farmer, enough for every Holmes Elementary student. (See story and photos attached.) John and son, Steven, coordinated the pumpkin drive and also raised $650 in one Saturday, then matched by the farmer, all for the Coats for Kids campaign. Simer, noting all the grand gourds, said: “So there is a Great Pumpkin!”
Welcome to the club!
Megan West of the local Boy Scouts of America chapter will join our club, President Michelle Fossum announced.
West was accompanied by BSA executive Anthony Escobar, who spoke to the club several weeks ago. BSA board president Terry Fossum had introduced Anthony at the earlier meeting.
County Commission Dist. 1 candidates scheduled
Candidates for the Spokane County Commission District 1 will visit during Oct. 24.
Prior to the luncheon program, club members are invited to send e-mails or offer questions on notecards for the candidates to respond.
Kim Plese and Chris Jordan will discuss their race for District 1, with Chuck Rehberg moderating.
Holmes Kids & Their Pumpkins
A local farm with figurative and literal roots in Moses Lake is gaining notoriety for its charitable persona. Spearheaded by Joshua Loera and his father, Javier Loera, the Great Pumpkinfest involves a number of donations of hundreds to thousands of pumpkins to schools, restaurants and non-profits, mostly in Spokane.
For the 3rd annual Great Pumpkinfest in 2022, the Loera's already donated pumpkins to Holmes Elementary School in Spokane.
Thanks to John Mailliard and his son who helped make this happen for Holmes!!!
Prosecuting Attorneys debate the issues
Distinctive differences were apparent as candidates for Spokane Prosecuting Attorney discussed issues at the Oct. 17 club luncheon.
Moderator Brian Hipperson and timer-keeper Bill Simer kept the answers quick as a number of issues were raised.
Larry Haskell, the current Prosecuting Attorney since 2014, cited his degree from the University of Washington and law degree from Seattle University. Haskell, 68, served in the Air National Guard and was elected to the Airway Heights Council and Cheney School Board prior to his work with the courts.
Deb Conklin has a degree in philosophy and a law degree from the UW. Conklin also has a degree in ministry from the Vancouver School of Theology. Conklin, 69, worked as a deputy prosecuting attorney in Clallam County and now serves as pastor at Liberty Park and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.
Asked about pretrial release practices, Haskell said, “we are a bail state” and judges get involved with setting bail, not prosecutors. However, he said “the system is fair and works pretty well.”
Conklin agreed that “the current law is pretty good but said many who are not dangerous could be used electric monitoring to alleviate jail over-crowding. “Many of those could be out of jail,” she said.
Asked about allegations that the prosecuting attorney’s office over charges on crimes, Conklin said, “the office does over-charge and that resolves in a domino effect when some people, especially the poor, can’t make bail and lose their jobs.”
Haskell responded that “we only charge what is right.” He said Spokane is much better than Clallam County and many of the inmates do not have jobs. He added that “there is no crime when those inmates are not out (of jail).”
Visitor Anthony Escobar said there have been a number of break-ins recently at the BSA office, which may relate to homelessness.
Haskell said, “we don’t charge a crime because of homelessness,” adding that those prosecuted often are released despite the charges.
Conklin said, “there is a connection between crime and homelessness and laws like ‘sit and lie’ promotes homelessness.” She said if Camp Hope is removed, many of the homeless will relocate “under every viaduct.”
Asked about building a new jail, Conklin said “there is a significant likeliness that we should have a new jail, but first we need to talk about what size of jail we need.” She said other methods could be used to reduce the jail population.
Haskell said there have been blueprints for a jail for the past 10 years and programs in Multnomah County, Ore., were studied to see alternatives. He said the drug war continues and there may be treatment centers, but some jail time will be needed.
Bulletin editors: Chuck Rehberg and Sandy Fink