Blogger signing off... for now
After blogging the Valley for six weeks, I've made quite a few observations and reached a few conclusions about Tuesday's incorporation vote.
Conclusion 1: The ``Vote Yes'' campaign is better organized.
Conclusion 2: The best reason to favor incorporation is that the Valley feels like a city. It's got commercial areas, industrial areas, older, established neighborhoods, brand new subdivisions and a distinct lifestyle.
Conclusion 3: The best reason to oppose incorporation is the fear that big-money, pro-development backers will try to take control of the Valley.
Conclusion 4: Whether the Valley is governed by the county or a new city, the social, economic, political and environmental issues will be the same. And it's likely to be a bumpy ride for whoever's in the driver's seat.
Conclusion 5: If incorporation does pass this time, it's likely because people are terrified at the possibility of being annexed by Spokane.
Final conclusion: Many people just don't care. This election will have more local impact than any presidential election, yet the actual votes cast likely will be just a fraction of the number of adults in the proposed city.

A flag, a junker car and a cup of maggots
I spent three hours roaming the Valley on Tuesday, counting the number of incorporation campaign signs. I covered 50 miles, and counted 51 pro-incorporation signs (plus two large billboards), and 20 anti-incorporation signs. I made several other observations:
--American flags outnumber incorporation signs about 10 to 1. (If you haven't been to Mission and Flora lately, check out the flag and patriotic message painted on the roof of a house there.)
--Inoperable cars far outnumber flags in the older Valley neighborhoods. (I saw two Corvairs, a Gremlin, four rusty El Caminos, a 1927 Chevy 1-ton pickup and many, many others.)
--In the newer, seemingly antiseptic subdivisions, I saw no incorporation signs, very few flags and no inoperable cars. (In the Turtle Creek subdivision there's an aptly named street called ''Beige.'')
--You can buy live fishing bait from a vending machine at Barker and Appleway. (One cup of maggots is a mere $2.)
--There's a house that's been turned into a whimsical, metallic castle on Vercler just north of Broadway.
Just thought you should know.

I wonder what the dog calls Ed
I stopped in Greenacres and talked with Ed Garnett and his dog Snootface (''What else you gonna call a dawg with a big ol' snout like that?'') Mention incorporation, and Garnett gets cranky. ''I'm for whatever moves about half the people out of here,'' he said. ''Thirty-five years ago we had a nice town and then we exploited everything.'' He figures he'll probably vote against incorporation, although ''no matter which way it goes, things aren't going to be any different.''

Pro-incorporation enclave
Why all the incorporation signs on the North 2100 block of Marguerite? Harvey Shaw has passed them out to like-minded neighbors. Shaw says he went to high school with attorney Howard Herman, who headed a previous incorporation campaign. ''We've got some smart people backing it this time. That's the disadvantage Howard had last time.''

A vote for... consolidation?
Mark Ployhar of Greenacres builds and repairs tactical weapons for law enforcement agencies around the country. He says he's worked with consolidated government agencies in Florida and California and wishes Spokane County had just one metro government. ''We're going in the wrong direction,'' he said. ''There's going to be fighting between the city government and the Valley government and the county government.'' Ployhar said he recently repaired sniper rifles for the Spokane Police Department. ''I cut 'em a really good deal because they don't have the money,'' he said. ''And in case one of my friends or family members is in a bank that's being robbed, I want the police to have the best equipment.''

What to make of all this?
I've had hundreds of conversations with Valley residents in the past six weeks, either in person or by e-mail. About a third of the people I've interviewed don't have a clue about incorporation and probably won't vote. Another third of the people say they're going to vote for incorporation. The main reason? To keep the city of Spokane from annexing the Valley. The final third are opposed to incorporation. Most say they are satisfied now and don't want more government. The one recurring theme is that everyone thinks the Spokane City Council is chock full o' nuts.

Scare tactic seems to be working
The fear of the Valley being annexed by Spokane is, in some ways, irrational. The city of Spokane can't annex anything unless the residents vote for it or the Legislature changes the rules. The city has coveted the commercial land in Yardley since at least 1946 and can't manage to annex there. Plus, the city wouldn't want to annex residential areas of the Valley because it typically costs a city more to provide services to residential neighborhoods than it would receive in taxes from those areas.

What readers have to say...
Here are some excerpts from e-mail I received Monday from readers:

''Most of the benefits to be realized by the incorporation are largely dependent upon the people who are elected to operate the new city and there is no clue as to their competence.'' Don Dewar, Opportunity.

''Eugster for commissioner? To steal a favorite line from your colleague Dave Oliveria - AAAHAHAHAHA!'' Gary Smith, Spokane.

''Don't vote against the new city because you may be afraid of new taxes, and don't use this tactic to scare either.'' Todd Whipple, Veradale.

''The issue will be decided by whether people of the Valley feel they will get more service and better roads, parks, and infrastructure with or without an incorporated Valley area.'' Daniel Mork, Spokane.

Maybe the Valley can annex the city
No one was home when I knocked on the door of a house on Upriver Drive, well within Spokane city limits, that sports a Valley incorporation ''Yes'' sign. I wanted to ask why the resident supports a ballot proposal he or she can't vote on. What does a city resident have to gain if the Valley incorporates? Any thoughts? I probably won't try knocking at the house again because of the other prominent sign: ''Beware of dog.''

Taking the pulse of the Valley?
The YMCA at Mirabeau always seems busy. So I went there this morning hoping to get a good cross-section of opinion from Valley residents about incorporation. Here are the demographics of the first 12 people I approached:
1. Newman Lake resident, not affected.
2. Edgecliff neighborhood resident, but has no opinion.
3. A Ponderosa resident who thinks incorporation ''might be OK.''
4. Liberty Lake resident who favors incorporation anyway.
5. Mirabeau-area resident who hasn't thought about incorporation.
6. Another Mirabeau-area resident who doesn't plan to vote.
7. An Idaho resident.
8. A Central Valley resident who supports incorporation.
9. A Newman Lake resident who supports incorporation anyway.
10. A downtown Spokane resident.
11. A South Hill resident.
12. A West Valley resident who's already mailed in her absentee ballot in favor of incorporation.

I didn't learn much new about incorporation, but was impressed by the fact that the YMCA seems to draw members from such a large area. Y Director Steve Jurich told me about one couple who drive from Davenport every day just to use the pool. It appears that the Valley Y really is a regional facility and not just a Valley neighborhood gathering spot.

If nominated, I will not serve?
Floyd Braaten e-mailed these suggestions for Mayor of the Valley: ''I do not know if any of these folks are interested in that kind of a headache, but I would vote for Kate McCaslin, Ed Mertens or Cecil Cleveland.''
Or this, from Dru Powers: ''How about Bernard Daines? He seems to be a good business man and just might be able to get this all organized.''
Daines, I'm told, does not live within the boundaries of the proposed city.
Other ideas? Let me know.

Winston and Emery oppose incorporation
I interviewed two llamas who were in a field on Progress between Third and Fourth. They've lived there for 5 years and were ''grandfathered in'' under zoning laws because the previous land owners always kept large animals there. Winston (the one with the white strip under his chin) and Emery disapprove of incorporation, according to a translation provided by their owner, Stacie Degeest, because they ''don't know how it couldn't cost us more money in the long run.'' By the way, I hand-fed them some grain. They have incredibly soft mouths and are very gentle.

Hold yer horses
Winston and Emery were very persuasive in their anti-incorporation arguments. But like a good journalist, I immediately sought out opposing opinions elsewhere in the animal kingdom. I found two pro-incorporation horses behind a fence on Dishman-Mica. They were clear in their support, but wouldn't tell me their names.

Beware of hidden agendas
Dan Vollmer, who lives on Valleyway, has made his own anti-incorporation signs, including one that tells people to ''Beware of Hidden Agendas.'' He says the Valley already has good services, but that wealthy developers want to get control over planning and zoning so they can make more money with their ''overdevelopment'' of the Valley. Vollmer also points out that he wouldn't want to be on a City Council serving a city in which almost 50 percent of the people ''wish I would go away.''

Creating a monster?
Rebecca Morris explains how she came up with the name of her East Trent business, Grand Theft Auto: ''We were all sitting around drinking one night and we came up with that. My husband and son tried to talk me out of it later, but that was it.'' These days, Morris is angry about the disruptive utility work on East Trent. ''They need to jerk their heads out of where ever they've got 'em planted,'' she said. Morris lives in Millwood, but thinks incorporation of the Valley ''is a very sad thing. They can do what they want -- they're creating a monster.''

Utility work ahead?
It's just a coincidence that the large pro-incorporation sign outside of Bert Shields Auto Supply on East Trent sits next to an orange road sign that says ''Utility work ahead.'' Now, if the sign had said ''Utility taxes ahead...'' Cities, you see, have the ability to tax utilities. Those taxes don't exist in the Valley now. Some of the people fighting incorporation would have you believe utility taxes are inevitable. I don't have any idea what would happen. I just like the way the two signs were positioned. Some of us are easily amused.

Roskelley for mayor?
Linda White of the Valley is opposed to incorporation. However, she wrote in an e-mail to me this morning: ''I think John Roskelley would make a good mayor if the Valley passes.'' There's only one problem with that: Roskelley lives in the Foothills area, north of the proposed city. He'd have to move to the Valley to become mayor. He'd also have to give up his good-paying county commissioner job.

Mayor McCaslin?
Bob McCaslin has served in the state Senate from the Valley since 1980 and keeps getting re-elected because, ''I've never voted for a major tax.'' That might be a good attribute for a mayor if the city of Spokane Valley is formed. It seems that simply being named McCaslin might be enough to win any election in the Valley. Spokane County Commissioner Kate McCaslin, Bob's ex-wife, keeps getting elected. She might make a good mayor, too, but she'd have to give up a good-paying job as commissioner. Hmm. How about Brooklyn Nicole McCaslin for mayor? I found her name in a search of our newspaper archives. The only problem is she's not quite a year old. But she's undoubtedly got a bright political future, if she chooses.

Informal survey of mall-walkers
I talked with 10 Valley residents at the Valley Mall who were eating breakfast or walking the halls before most shops opened. Four were against incorporation, three were in favor and three were undecided.
''Incorporation? What's that?'' said Danae Starling, 16. When told the meaning, she was against it.
Debbie Stolz said incorporation is a good idea because it would mean lower taxes.
Ivan Crnkovich said he has ''lots of questions'' about incorporation and remains undecided.
Al Springer moved to the Valley 12 years ago because he likes ''country living.'' He favors incorporation.
''Mrs X.'' and ''Mrs Y.'' have lived in the Valley for 47 and 49 years, and they oppose incorporation. ''God bless America, you can still voice an opinion here. Put that in the paper,'' said Mrs. Y, who, like Mrs. X, was nonetheless too afraid to tell me her real name.

What school was like in the '20s and '30s
Tony Danelo couldn't speak English his kindergarten year, so he simply sat next to his teacher at Yardley School. The school had two teachers for six grades, and maybe 50 students total. There was no running water, and the ''privy'' was outside. He attended the school for six years before it closed. He still keeps in touch with some of his classmates. The brick building at 1015 N. Yardley St. has been beautifully remodeled (with indoor toilets, no less) and now is home to Environmental West Exploration. Business owner Josh Burrows says that when he was a kid, he used to shoot BB's at the white ball atop the flagpole. Now, he says, it shakes like a maraca. His grandfather bought the building about 50 years ago.

Now there's a different idea
I've talked with hundreds of Valley residents in person, by e-mail and over the phone. Danelo is the first one who mentioned city-county consolidation as a better solution than incorporation for the Valley. ''I'd like to see one, central government,'' he said. ''Whether you live in the city or the Valley or Millwood, everybody depends on everybody else.''
Stop it, Tony! That idea makes way too much sense for it to actually work.

Taking the pulse of Edgecliff
Art Gemmrig of Art's Corner Market (eggs: 99 cents, bread: 99 cents) says the Valley generates ''vast sums of money that are not necessarily used in the Valley'' and that's one reason he supports incorporation. In fact, he said, ''I haven't heard anybody this time who's against it.''

Maybe Art doesn't get out to Pines much
Notorious curmudgeon Bill Bean, who owns a gun shop on Pines near Broadway, advertises his dislike of incorporation. ''We need more government like we need a hole in the head,'' said Bean, whose arsenal is capable of putting holes in almost anything.
At that point in our conversation, a customer chimed in with this: ''How can you build a city hall when you can't fix the streets?''
''Good question, sir. And what is your name?''
''I ain't gonna give you my name,'' he said with a chortle.
I wasn't going to press the issue. He had a rifle in his hands at the time.

Anonymity is contagious
I stopped for lunch at a bagel store on East Sprague and asked the 20-ish woman behind the counter what she thought about incorporation. ''I don't know anything about it,'' she said, adding that she certainly won't vote. Why? ''It's not worth my time,'' she said. I can understand why she didn't want to give her name -- her high school civics teacher would hunt her down and rap her knuckles.

Not voting is contagious, too
Laura Haines, bartender at Mike's Tavern, has lived for five years in Greenacres. This is her take on incorporation: ''I've been seeing the signs everywhere, and I've wondered, 'What is that all about?' ''
For the record, Haines never has voted.
Three gentlemen sitting at the bar at 10 a.m. were more than happy to share their opinions. John Kottke, who says he's second-cousin to semi-famous guitarist Leo Kottke, is convinced a new city would be more expensive. But he's going to vote for it anyway, he says, ''Cuz I don't wanna be annexed to the city of Spokane.''
Bill Schuster said this: ''I'd like to put a full-page ad in the paper saying 'What percentage of No don't you understand?' ''
Down at the other end of the bar, a man identified only as ''K.T.'' said incorporation would hurt homeowners. But he also doesn't want ''the damn city to get our tax money any more,'' either. He's not sure he'll even be able to vote on incorporation ''because of this whole DUI thing hanging over my head.''

Pete digs incorporation
Pete Bina does yard work with a tractor that looks as old as he is. Both of them seem to be running just fine. Bina called up the incorporation boosters and asked for a campaign sign to be placed in his front yard on North University. ''If we don't do it, Spokane will eat us up,'' he said.

Not sure how to vote
I stopped to talk to a woman who was doing yard work at Progress and Valleyway because I saw anti-incorporation signs in the yards of her neighbors. How will she vote? ''I don't know until I get to the polls,'' she said. ''But I might vote 'Yes' just because of the signs next door.'' For the sake of neighborhood harmony, she shall remain nameless.

Snake hunter alive and well
I just got off the phone with Stan Rhodes, who confirms that he is still living in the Valley but no longer hunts snakes. He's in his sixth year of retirement from the Central Valley School District.
In an unrelated Dishman Hills snake development, my office mate Fern Christenson tells me she saw a rattlesnake two summers ago when she was walking with her husband and two young daughters just a couple of minutes from a trailhead on the northeast end of the Dishman Hills.
Have you seen a rattlesnake recently in the Dishman Hills? Let me know. How about other wildlife? Apparently there's a herd of elk roaming from the Dishman Hills south to Tower Mountain.

Today's zinger:
''I sure wish the people who keep pushing for a city, year after year, would get a hobby or do some worthwhile volunteer work,'' George Ragland, of Veradale, wrote on our Valley incorporation forum. Anyone care to respond?

Wild animals, Part 1
I'm thinking the cougar would be a good mascot for a new Valley city. The late Tom Rogers, who fought to preserve the Dishman Hills, would be happy to know cougars are roaming the area. I used to live near 16th and Dishman-Mica, and was shocked to see a sign there warning people to ''use precautions with children and pets.'' Alan Douglas, who lives in Painted Hills, says one of his neighbors watched a cougar kill a deer in his front yard awhile back.

Wild animals, Part 2
Then again, the rattlesnake might make a good mascot. Back in the Jurassic period, my wife attended Blake Elementary. She says her sixth-grade teacher, Louis ''Stan'' Rhodes, talked about hunting rattlesnakes with a shovel in the Dishman Hills when he was a teenager. Using a slide rule and an abacus, we calculated this alleged snake-hunting probably took place in the 1950s. I tried to locate Stan, with no success. Stan, are you out there?

Ready, willing and able
Hey, if no one else wants the job, James Turner will be mayor of the new city in the Valley. I asked if he knew of anyone who'd make a good mayor. ''No. No one,'' he said while buying strawberries at the fruit stand near Argonne and Sprague. ''Wait a minute. I think I'm running for it. But you probably have to be old to be mayor, huh? Kind of like being president?
Nope. You don't have to be old to run for office. That's a fact.

Unanimous support, sort of...
First the good news. All 10 people I talked with this afternoon in the Valley favor incorporation. The bad news? Only two are eligible to vote. Of the eight Valley Fire employees I talked with, only one lives within the boundaries of the proposed city. Cooper Kennett, who's lived in the Valley since 1965, echoed the sentiments of his seven co-workers. He's worried the city of Spokane will try to annex parts of the Valley. Of the other seven firefighters, three live in the city of Spokane, two live near Liberty Lake, one lives in Otis Orchards and one lives in Northwood.

More good news for incorporation
Rob Phillips, 19, who manages the Farm Fresh Fruit stand near Argonne and Sprague for his father Rick, said he thinks incorporation will mean lower taxes for the Valley. That's a message the incorporation proponents have been trying to get across. Darn it, though. Rob lives on the South Hill, and doesn't get to vote.

OK, so I'm no Ansel Adams
I was driving north on Dishman-Mica, approaching Sprague, when I saw the Valley Yes sign, with the old truck in the background advertising a hauling business. No, it doesn't have much to do with incorporation, but it says something about the character of the Valley, don't you think?

Common themes
Today's reason why incorporation might pass, according to ''Bob'' who posted this on our forum: ''The only reason I would be in favor of incorporating the Valley is to prevent myself from becoming part of the city of Spokane. More specifically, to prevent myself from falling under the moronic policies and personalities of the Spokane City Council. Anything to prevent that!''

Today's reason why incorporation might fail, according to Dan Lueck, who e-mailed me this message: ''I've lived in the Valley for my whole life, and I cannot see how incorporation would be better for us. What's wrong with the way things are right now? If it ain't broke, don't fix it!''

See, I'm not the only smart aleck
Reader Bill McCrory agrees that jock-strap impressario Rick Lloyd might make a good mayor of the Valley. ''He'd certainly have a lot of 'support,' particularly if he were to campaign on a 'Bike.' ''

Mayoral candidate, or parole candidate?
Robert Cannata submitted this mayoral candidate: ''I would nominate Kevin Coe -- at least we would know upfront what he is going to do to us!''
Ouch!
I think the infamous South Hill Rapist has as much chance of being elected mayor as he does of getting early parole -- none.

Sugar Daddy?
Roger Gibbs, who lives in the Edgecliff neighborhood, favors incorporation. He also really admires Bernard Daines, the Valley computer tycoon who donated $20,000 to the incorporation campaign. ''I'm not looking at him like a Sugar Daddy or anything, but at least he's thinking,'' said Gibbs, as he was standing outside Wayne's Shoe Repair on East Sprague Friday afternoon. Like everyone else I've talked with in the Valley, Gibbs drew a blank when I asked who would make a good mayor of the Spokane Valley. Sugar Daddy, apparently, is not an elected position.)



These folks know how to have a good time
I stopped by the ``Vote Yes'' office Friday and met Ed Mertens, the affable retiree who's behind the incorporation effort. He had a print-out of one of those e-mail chain-letter jokes. (''You got a minute? You've gotta hear this.'') The joke was about how the federal government couldn't simply hire a night watchman, it had to hire a dozen or so employees to oversee the night watchman project. The punchline? The project was over budget, so the feds laid off the watchman. ''Oh, Ed, you're such a corn dog,'' said fellow campaigner Annette Remshard with a friendly chuckle.

Who says kids are apathetic?
I talked to a dozen or so U-Hi students at ''Smoker's Corner'' Friday after school. They all had opinions about incorporation, although some were less than well-informed. (''Chief Joseph? That's a lame name for a city,'' said one.)
Summer Meyers said a new city would fix the streets. ''Broadway between University and Park is SO bad.''
Autumn Worley agreed that it would be nice to ''fix the potholes.''
Pansy McGlasson was even more emphatic about incorporation. ''Heck, yeah! Downtown is way different than the Valley. It should be stated that way on the map so we feel special.''
Can't argue with that.

Incorporation, annexation, what's the difference?
Judging from my recent visits to the Spokane Valley, resident Karri Franzese is not alone when she says she's ''completely confused'' about what will happen if incorporation passes. Franzese sent me an e-mail message pleading for an impartial opinion. ``There are many, many unclear agendas,'' she wrote.
I haven't the foggiest notion of what will happen if the Valley incorporates. It could be good, it could be bad. Things might not change much at all. The thing that struck me in random interviews conducted in recent weeks around the Valley is how many people were completely confused when I asked them about incorporation. Here are some interview excerpts:
--''I'm happy with the way things are _ I don't care to be annexed into Spokane,'' said the owner of an East Sprague business.
--''Incorporation? Oh yeah. I heard something about that,'' said a tattoo shop owner. ''Did you guys have something in the paper on that?''
--''You mean we're not in the city of Spokane?'' asked an employee of a business located at Pines and Sprague.

Incorporation pro-con
Why incorporation might fail, according to one longtime Valley resident: ''People in the Valley tend to be contrary. If they passed a law saying everyone had to eat at least one meal a day, there are people out here who would starve.''
Why incorporation might pass, according to Stephanie, who was hanging around the Hollywood Erotique Boutique on East Sprague on Tuesday: The Valley is ''too big'' to not be its own city. ''The size of it alone...''

Thinking ahead
Jay Bischoff lives at the corner of 24th and Sullivan. Where did he get those anti-incorporation signs? ''They're left over from last time they tried to incorporate the Valley. I kept 'em because I figured sooner or later we'd need 'em again.'' Bischoff has lived in the Valley for 25 years and thinks the county commissioners are doing a fine job.

Did you just say ''antique jock strap?''
While wandering around the Valley today, I met Rick Lloyd of Veradale, who says he makes a living going to estate sales and then re-selling his discoveries on eBay. Right now, he's selling a men's athletic supporter from the 1940s, and ''it's still in the original box.'' Today, he was at a Greenacres car lot looking for a 1965 Ford Galaxie, similar to the one his wife had in high school. (Don't tell her, it's supposed to be a surprise.) Lloyd says he's against incorporation because he's suspicious of big-money businessmen and developers. He's also worried about a lack of potential leaders in the Valley. (Click here to hear his comments.)
I'm thinking that anyone who can sell an antique jock strap probably could run a city...


A free opinion to go with that $6 buzz cut
Ron Chimenti of Ron's Barber Shop in Greenacres says he's against incorporation. ''The vote's going to be real close, though, based on who I've talked to here,'' he said, while trimming Harvey Day's hair.
Day supports incorporation, in part because Otis Orchards, where he lives, ''is a dog-eat-dog world.'' That area needs ``somebody or something to stick up for the people.''



You want it where?
I talked to about 15 people today, and not a single person had a single suggestion as to who would be a good mayor of the Spokane Valley. Most people I interviewed also had no idea where a city hall should be located. Where is the center of the Valley? Some said it's somewhere around Pines or Sullivan. A few people mentioned University City. In fact, the guys in Ron's Barber shop were pretty adamant that a city hall should go around U-City rather than in the ''high-rent'' Sullivan corridor.

Our first official nomination
I received an e-mail message from John and Kathy Curtis nominating ''Bozo T. Clowne'' to be the first mayor of the city of the Spokane Valley. Let me throw out a couple of other possibilities: Ron, of Ron's Drive-In; Dave, of Dave's Bar & Grill; Mel, of Mel's Bakery. These Valley icons need only one name to be identified (sort of like Madonna or Prince, two other quality candidates who don't actually live in the Valley). I'm still accepting nominees for who should be mayor. Send me your top choices...



Setting the bar pretty low, isn't it?
''I'm committed to the idea of our own city,'' writes Terry Lynch. ''We can't possibly do as bad as the city of Spokane.''

Then again...
--''My supreme worry is regarding who will step forward to run this dog and pony show,'' writes C.K. Crigger.
--''My biggest concern is that we will have a bunch of dolts running things like the group in Liberty Lake or an inept tag-team like Powers and Eugster in Spokane,'' writes Danny Shea.
--''There are no compelling issues that would make me vote for Clark (Hager) and his friends for anything, let alone to run a city. They can't even run a campaign,'' writes J.S Pardee.

How about the mayor of Yardley?
From what I gathered in my recent trip to Yardley, at least three people might make a good mayor: Larry, who lives next door to the shuttered Yardley Tavern; Shorty, who's in the hospital having a pacemaker installed; and the fellow in the accompanying picture. This is no ordinary Yardley resident. He runs a successful manufacturing business out of his home. Send me an e-mail to guess the identity of the Mystery Mayor. To hear his take on incorporation, click here.

Tell me where to go
As I mentioned yesterday, I plan to explore the soft underbelly of the Spokane Valley. Got any good suggestions on where I should go? Are there any businesses that frighten you? Are there any places you won't go after dark? Let me know.

So much for the unanimous ''Yes'' vote
You knew it had to happen sooner or later. Like the first daffodils of spring, the anti-incorporation signs have begun sprouting. This sign was spotted at the southeast corner of 24th and Sullivan. I wonder who made the sign. Is there an organized ''No'' campaign?

The city of Yardley?
Here's a revolutionary thought: if the Yardley area is so ``tax-rich'' that the city of Spokane and the proposed city of Spokane Valley are fighting over it, maybe Yardley itself should incorporate.There are only a couple of hundred, mostly low-income people living in Yardley proper, but the city of Yardley would include Costco and Home Depot and millions of dollars in sales tax revenue.Imagine the potential perks for living in the tax-rich city of Yardley: no residential property taxes; free residential water and sewer services; free residential trash pickup; maybe even Alaska-style, sales-tax royalty payments to residents.


Where is Yardley?
Anyway, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about, so I went in search of Yardley. First, I tried an Internet search for ``Yardley, Washington.'' (I found repeated references to writer Jonathan Yardley, Washington Post.) As far as I can tell, the only other place named Yardley is in Pennsylvania. (``You can get it in Yardley!'' proclaims one promotional Web site.) To find out more about Yardley's swingin' night life, e-mail partyanimal@yardleysingles.org, or casinogirl@yardleysingles.org.
Or not.


So much fun it should be illegal
I did find a reference to Yardley, Wash., on ``The Funnel Railfan Guide'' Web site, which says that Yardley is ``a good spot to hang out and watch the action.'' (Yes, they're talking about trains.) Railroad groupies can be found in Yardley most Saturday nights, according to the Web site. ``Sitting in the gravel lots on either side of the tracks on the east side of Havana Street will keep you out of trouble with the BNSF's special agents, and with the aid of a scanner, allow you to get a feel for how the trains are moving.''

Quite possibly the longest five hours in history
Because my Internet search didn't turn up much, I tried our newspaper library's files. There are only 16 clippings in our Yardley files prior to 1994. Here are the highlights:
--The first reported ``stormy opposition'' to an attempt to annex Yardley into the city of Spokane was in 1946.
--In 1949, a group of Yardley residents complained that no one in Spokane seemed to know where Yardley was located. ``A woman from the east spent five hours before she found Yardley. She stopped at service stations, but none of the attendants could help her find Yardley. A lady from Minnesota spent two hours riding in a taxi to find Yardley.''
Do you have an interesting bit of Yardley history? Let me know.



So where, exactly, is Yardley?
Yardley proper is south of Railroad Avenue, west of Thierman Road, north of Broadway Avenue and east of Havana Street. But The Greater Yardley Area has been expanded to include the tax-rich Sprague Avenue commercial corridor.

Yes, no or maybe?
Should the Valley incorporate? Here are some comments submitted to our Web site forum:
-- ``I do not believe that a city in the Valley will help any average citizen in any way,'' -- George Ragland, Veradale.
--``I think that now is the time to incorporate the Valley. In years past it has been too small to really make a
difference,'' -- Pmiller, Spokane.
--``Control? Yes. Expensive? Oh, yeah. Anyone who says that incorporation will not raise taxes is severely short-sighted,''-- Mgibson72,
Spokane Valley.
--``Want more for less? Don't believe the myth that another layer of government will save $$$,'' Cjay, Spokane.
To submit your comments, go here and click on Valley incorporation forums.

Let's pick the mayor BEFORE the vote

I'm now accepting nominations for who ought to be mayor of Spokane Valley if incorporation passes. No sense waiting until May 21 to start talking about it. My top two candidates, Steve Hasson and Tim Eyman, are disqualified only because they don't live in the Valley. But don't let the facts get in the way of your imagination. Send me your nominations.

''Cleanest restrooms on Sprague''
E-mail me with your guess as to which Spokane Valley restaurant had that comment posted on its sign on Thursday.