Freeman Elementary kindergarten teacher Angie Smith greets new students and their parents during the open house and kindergarten orientation, Sept. 1. SR photo/J. Bart Rayniak

In today's Valley Voice we visit with Freeman Elementary students, who are attending classes in a newly renovated school. Reporter Lisa Leinberger talked to parents and the principal about the new building. A new multipurpose building is also complete, but the new gym won't be done until November.

Residents in the Green Haven neighborhood are finding that remnants of the past are slowing down plans for the future. Sewer construction has hit a bump in the road in the form of giant boulders washed in during a long ago flood event and huge concrete siphons that were part of the Valley's old irrigation system. Other sewer projects, however, are going well and are either essentially complete or will be by mid-October.

The Spokane Valley City Council discussed the proposed 2012 budget this week. A couple of council members were talking about cutting proposed pay increases for non-union staff. No vote has happened yet, though. There are still two public hearings to be held before the budget moves forward.

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