Current News in the Foothills
Christmas Arts & Crafts Show
Come support your neighborhood crafters at Custer’s 46th annual Christmas Arts & Crafts Show November 18-20 at Spokane Fair and Expo Center. Karla Lautenbach’s paper mosaics and Cheryl Britton’s art are a must-see!
John Cannon - Visitation & Funeral
Longtime FRA Board Member and Foothills resident John Cannon recently passed away at the age of 76. John was a great friend of the Foothills and served our community including being a part of the scholarship committee. Please see the following link for information on visitation and funeral details.
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/spokane-wa/john-cannon-10891504
Annual Bigelow Gluch updates
5/2/2022 - As usual, this spring brings updates on the status of the Bigelow Gulch corridor construction project. I'm sure most residents of the Foothills already know much of this information but always good to pass along the information.
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/may/02/getting-there-pedestrian-underpass-will-link-east-/
Antoine Peak gets a new Trailhead
11/17/2021 - A new trailhead will soon open in the Antoine Peak Conservation Area.
The Trentwood Trailhead is located on the north edge of the City of Spokane Valley near East Wellesley Avenue. It is fully paved and features 20 parking stalls, native landscaping and connecting pathways to a recently expanded trail system.
The new trailhead will also feature dedicated parking for trucks and horse trailers.
With the trailhead opening, the community will be able to access the 231-acre “Etter Ranch addition” and approximately 2.4 miles of new trail constructed by
volunteers from the Washington Trails Association and Evergreen East Mountain Bike Alliance.
https://www.kxly.com/new-trailhead-to-open-in-antoine-peak-conservation-area/
Those Numbers Matter
4/15/2021 - from the FRA Newsletter
By Mark Friendshuh, Spokane County Fire District 9
If you have a fire or medical emergency at your home, you want the fire department there as fast as possible. Unfortunately, even in the age of GPS, it can be hard to find a home if the address
is not clearly marked at the end of the driveway. Not only is this a good idea, it is actually required by Spokane County Code.
Take a look at the end of your driveway - would your address number be clear to someone driving by, even at night or in a storm? The firefighters of Spokane County Fire District 9 want to help!
The fire district will install, free of charge, a highly visible reflective address number post for your address. These posts are white with 4-inch-tall reflective numbers and are easy for
emergency service personnel to see, day or night.
It is easy to get an address post installed at your address. Simply contact District 9 Administration at (509) 466-4602 and leave a message with your name, address, and telephone number. A
district employee will contact you to confirm the information, and then they will have a post manufactured and installed in a visible location at your address.
Don't leave the fire department searching for your home when you need them most; contact them for a free hi-vis address post today!
3/11/2021 - Video of the current and upcoming work on the Bigelow Gulch-Forker Road corridor project.
Photos of the Bigelow Gulch Roadwork
8/25/2020 - Some recent photos of the Bigelow/Forker road construction from the Spokane County public works page. The project manager Mick Flugel also indicated that paving work will begin on 9/14/2020 for a couple of days, and that final expected opening of the road is anticipated to be the end of September. He indicated that a couple of problems cropped up around the William's Gas Pipeline and some AT&T fiber optic that created short term delays on the project timeline.
https://www.spokanecounty.org/4525/Bigelow-Gulch-Road-Project-5
Summer Road Construction - Continued
2/21/2020 - Updates from the Spokesman-Review on the construction this summer:
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/apr/20/getting-there-county-pushes-forward-with-work-on-b/
Summer Road Construction 2020
2/18/2020 - Forker Road from the new intersection at Bigelow, south to the base of the hill (Progress), will be constructed this year, according to Mick Flugel at the County Engineers Office. He stated that there would be closures due to the constrictive canyon and lack of nearby bypasses.
Mr. Flugel stated that the final connection from the base of the hill to the intersection of
Wellesley at Sullivan is funded and scheduled for next year (2021). The intersection will be signalized.
The final remaining segment of Bigelow from west of Palmer Road, east to west of
Argonne will be constructed next year as well.
From the Spokane County Public Works Page
Bigelow Gulch Road Project 5
Project No: CRP-2990
Project Manager: Mick Flugel
Project timeline: Construction will begin in mid-April 2020 and will be completed around mid-August 2020.
Project Description: Replacing the existing 2 lane road (which has narrow lanes, no shoulders, and multiple vertical curves) with a 4 lane road (with a 12’ turn lane or center median, 8’ shoulders and 12’ climbing lanes where needed).
Project Update: Add date is January 8th, 2020. Bidding is on January 29th, 2020 and construction will start soon after.
https://www.spokanecounty.org/4525/Bigelow-Gulch-Road-Project-5
More Bigelow/Forker Closures
4/10/19 - Looks like more work on the intersection of Forker & Bigelow Gulch next week as the underpass is going to be closed again from 4/13 - 4/25. As anyone knows who has utilized the underpass, that section didn't survive the winter well and the temporary work there will be replaced with a much better pavement project. Here's keeping our fingers crossed.
Also of note, it appears that the early stages of Bigelow Gluch west of the Forker interchange are beginning to take shape, with survey markers, phone pole relocation and construction equipment arriving on site. The Spokane County public works site doesn't have any additional updates on this at this time.
Antoine Peak gets additional acreage
3/3/2019 - According to the Spokesman Review, Spokane County has purchased an additional 231 acres adjacent to the Antoine Peak conservation area for trails and habitat preservation. The sale is expected to close on May 24, 2019.
Forker Road/Bigelow Gulch Updates
Latest update from the Spokane County department of Public Works:
The Forker Hill (between Pleasant Prairie and Progress) has reopened for traffic. At the bottom of the hill, motorists are traveling on a “temporary alignment” and the speed limit is 25 MPH. The actual realignment of Forker Road will not be completed until late October/early November, depending on weather conditions. PLEASE – slow down, put down your cell phone, and be alert for workers near the roadway.
Van Jacobson Update
Dear Foothills Friends,
We wanted to take the opportunity to thank each and every person who has been praying and/or financially helped us with the medical bills during Dad's recovery. He is doing very good considering this horrendous ordeal. You are priceless and we appreciate each and every soul contributing towards his healing!
Uff da (as my Norwegian grandfather would say)! There are still eight areas on his lower legs that need fixing. He will be heading over to Harborview for his sixth surgery, which is scheduled for September 21st. The Lord is continuing to keep infection at bay as we clean and cover these areas once a day. He is out walking to stretch and strengthen the muscles and skin. He was even seen taking a little ride around the wheat field with our wonderful local farmers Kevin and Cindy Kaelin. Bless their hearts! He made it up those combine stairs!! Once a farmer, always a farmer!
Please watch the gofundme site (https://www.gofundme.com/van-bonjac-burn-survivor) for news of our upcoming bbq. We are inviting those who have contributed in any way to his recovery (as a thank you) and for an opportunity to see him and encourage him in person as he continues to heal. Some time in October, pending his latest surgical recovery.
Thank you again from our family to yours and God bless you always
The Jacobson Family