Circus worker Daniel Green laces up the big tent Monday in the parking lot of the Spokane Valley Mall. The Shrine Circus, in its 59th year in Spokane, opens today. SR photo/Colin Mulvany

We've got some great stuff for you in today's Valley Voice. Fans of Rusty's Produce on East Sprague take note: Rusty is back. He's something of a Spokane Valley institution, having run his fruit stand since 1984. When his tent didn't go up last year, customers wondered what had happened. Now Rusty Keele is back under the tent after being treated for cancer last year.

Reporter Lisa Leinberger has a story on a tent of a different sort - a circus tent. The El Katif Shriners are bringing the Zerbini Family Circus to the Spokane Valley Mall this week. Circus performances have already begun and will continue through Sunday. Check her story for times. The performances include tigers, horses, elephants, clowns and acrobatic acts.

Lisa also has a story on the Eagle for a Day program at West Valley High School. Students at the school spend a day hosting eighth graders from Centennial Middle School and West Valley City School. The program gives middle schoolers a chance to get a first look at the school before they arrive for classes.

This week the Spokane Valley City Council discussed plans to expand Balfour Park and build a Spokane County Library District branch on land across from the old University City Mall. There is a public meeting scheduled to get input on what people want to see in the new park on Monday.

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