Today’s highlights

Mountain View Middle School fitness and health teacher Cathy Inouye high-fives student Brendan Schuller as the last bus leaves on the last day of school on Friday in Newman Lake. The school is closing after 32 years. SR photo/Dan Pelle
Wecome to another rainy Thursday. I think the sunshine we had the last couple days was all just an illusion. But that's okay, because we have plenty of stories in today's Valley Voice to keep you busy. Reporter Lisa Leinberger has two great stories on the cover today. The first is about the last day of school at East Valley's Mountain View Middle School, which has closed for good. It was an emotional day for students and teachers alike. They tried to have a happy last day, but tears flowed when it came time to say goodbye and get on the buses for the last time.
In the second story she talks to new Contract Based Education graduate Johnny Martinez, whose controversial artwork was vandalized during the school's graduation celebration. Some pieces were completely destroyed while others were only slightly damaged. One piece is missing.
Today we also have the full story on the new scenic byway between Rockford and Tekoa. The Liberty Lake City Council met this week and voted not to change its invocation policy and not to put the city manager form of government on the November ballot.