The Liberty Lake Deep Dive

Learn the backstory into what goes on in creating the Friends of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library's semi-annual book sales, as well as the group's Summer Soiree. Sue Hamblet and Marsha Binder from Friends of the Library go through all the inside information on these two fundraisers. We even find out about donated items that are worth a lot more than the price of a typical used book, and...

It's grown into a very big and very popular Saturday tradition in Liberty Lake. Holli Parker and Paul Puhek of the Liberty Lake Farmers Market's Board of Directors take to the microphone and sort through all the essential details about the Farmers Market, including how it came to be ... how it is organized each year ... what people can expect when visiting ... and what it's like to be...

Get to know a couple of your city staff members as they share their appreciations and personal anecdotes about the Star Wars saga! The Star Wars words come from City Hall administrative assistant Tait Garcia and payroll technician Jacob Nauretz as they cover all the important topics about the films and related projects! (Oh, and they talk about their jobs at City Hall, too.)

A city swimming pool? A dog park? A disc golf course? A community center? It's countdown time, as city administrator Mark McAvoy goes through the items on the city's current "Unfunded Projects List" and -- from #1 to #13 -- reveals how area residents prioritized those projects during a survey that was conducted last fall. And, we get insights on what might happen next with some o...

It's the first anniversary show of "The Liberty Lake Deep Dive" -- and we're celebrating the occasion by having Mayor Cris Kaminskas join the podcast! Cris shares the stories of how she came to Liberty Lake, how she became a member of the City Council, and why she decided to run for mayor. She also recalls her favorite activities in the roles she's had in local public service...

This is paws-itively our most entertaining and most different podcast episode ever! Here's the full story about the loud meowing cat that interrupted a Liberty Lake City Council meeting in February of 2023. It's a meandering tale about a meowing maurader whose intrusive antics not only led to a reunion via social media ... but also some national fame through media exposure that went nation...

He grew up in Liberty Lake and, after less than a year with the department, he's the Liberty Lake Police Department's Officer of the Year for 2023. Meet Jordan Tuttle in wide-ranging Q&A about his work with the local police and how he got interested in law enforcement. And ... just how many people named "Jordan" are on the LLPD anyway?

Get to know some of your city's employees better during some fun conversations about the Fab Four in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Beatles' British Invasion of America. Our guests: Planning and engineering technician Megan Edwards, city administrator Mark McAvoy, and librarian Mikayla Kittilstved along with some input from communications person David Goehner. Among the topic...

Get the details about some of the new and expanded services and programs are coming to Liberty Lake during 2024. This episode is the first to two installments that take a look into what's being funded under the city's 2024 budget. In this part, finance director Kyle Dixon, Police Chief Damon Simmons, and Operations & Maintenance director Jen Camp explain what the new Transportation Ben...

It's part 2 of our look ahead at the new and expanded programs and services that are coming to the city's residents during 2024. In this installment, city administrator Mark McAvoy, library directory Jandy Humble, and planning and engineering director Lisa Key provide the details about enhancements to Trailhead Golf Course, the new Public Works Department, the design work for the new libra...

Get to know Mikayla Kittilstved, who oversees the Teen and Adult Services at the Liberty Lake Municipal Library, in the 3rd part of our mini-series in which we introduce you to some of the city's staff through conversations about their favorite games they enjoy playing around the dining table at home. Plus for this one: Mikayla gives details about the new collection of tabletop games that were...

Get to know Georgette Rogers of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library in the 2nd part of our mini-series in which we introduce you to members of the city's staff as they talk about their favorite indoor games to play during the wintertime. Georgette has some entertaining recollections about familiar classics you know such as Battleship, Monopoly Life, Pay Day, Tri-Ominos, and Scrabble. Plus: How...

For the season of the winter holidays, we're bringing you a fun 3-part series in our podcast in which you'll get to know a few of Liberty Lake's city employees as they talk about ... board games! Player Number One for this episode is Human Resources manager Heidi Workman, as she rolls out some family tales about playing Pictionary.

The Winter Glow Spectacular at Liberty Lake's Orchard Park is one of THE most amazing-to-the-eyes Christmas light displays in the entire region, and can be seen during Nov. 18-Jan. 1 for its 5th season this year. For this episode, Mark Saba of the Winter Glow Committee delves into the details on how this attraction is set up every year, what goes on in funding it, the work of the volunteers wh...

Adult and Teen Services librarian Mikayla Kittilstved is back for the final chapter of our 4-part look at the most popular checked-out books at the Liberty Lake Municipal Library during 2022. This episode offers you her countdown of the top 10 adult fiction novels from that year. With commentary about each book, maybe you'll hear about something you might want to check out for yourself during...

Grab your rakes and large-sized bags! Jeremy Jenkins, the environmental manager with the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District, is here with all of the "when", "what", and "where" information you need to know about the annual leaf and beach drop-off program that is offered for local residents each fall. Plus, Jeremy will explain WHY this program exists and how it help...

Here's the presentation of Mayor Cris Kaminskas' 2024 Budget Report, as recorded during the City Council meeting of Oct. 17, 2023. In this annual presentation, the mayor provides an overview of the highlight accomplishments by the city's government during 2023, and offers up a preview of the projects and goals planned for the coming year. Plus, the mayor comes to our podcast microphone...

Here's your "campus tour" of the Liberty Lake City Academy with your guide, city administrator Mark McAvoy! Mark shares the details about this free series that was first offered for Liberty Lake residents in the spring of 2023 and again for 8 weeks during the following fall. Learn about the topics and interactive format through which this series helps people learn more about what goe...

Liberty Lake's landmark Trailhead Golf Course gained a new look for its 50th anniversary with the completion and opening of its new clubhouse facility. Chris Johnston, Trailhead's head PGA professional, provides an audio tour of the new building, with details on the newly added simulation bays, expanded pro shop, and main floor meeting room. Plus, he covers the process that led to the new...

The topic is City Ordinance 115c, which was passed by the Liberty Lake City Council in June of 2023 to address "unlawful camping and storage of personal property on public property." Two members of the committee that helped draft that ordinance -- Police Chief Damon Simmons and city resident Dg Garcia -- offer details into what that new ordinance is and is not, as well as their insights...

The Spokane Symphony Orchestra's annual visit to Pavillion Park is one of THE major community events at Liberty Lake each summer. And, there's no one who is better qualified to talk all about that event and its musicians than the guest on this installment of our podcast: James Lowe, who has been the orchestra's conductor and music director since 2019. What's even more special about...

Liberty Lake Municipal Library director Jandy Humble comes back to reveal and discuss the library's most checked-out chapter books for kids 6-12 years during 2022. Among some of the familiar names you'll hear her mention: The Baby-Sitters Club, Captain Underpants, and well-known writer (and Oregon native) Beverly Cleary. Lots of graphic novels on this list!

The biggest all-ages community event in Liberty Lake each summer is Barefoot in the Park, which happens in 2023 on Saturday, August 5, at Pavillion Park. Jen Camp returns to the podcast to share the details on how Barefoot in the Park came to be, and to recognize the numerous community partners that have helped shape it together for this year. She's joined by community volunteer Mark Saba -- a...

You'll notice a lot of people driving golf carts in Liberty Lake ... because it's one of Washington's few cities that allow people to drive those vehicles in some places beyond just one of the local golf courses. Lt. Darin Morgan of the Liberty Lake Police Department answers all the questions you've probably wondered about regarding what is allowed ... and what is not allowed ... w...

People have been enjoying coming to the summertime movies at Liberty Lake's parks for 25 years. In this episode, Tim Olsen not only discusses all 8 films coming to the local parks during 2023, but also takes you behind the scenes into what the Liberty Lake Kiwanis Club does to bring those outdoor film experiences at Pavillion Park each summer. Shuttle ahead to about the 12:30 mark if you just...