Deer Park Tribune

09/11/2026

Here are photos of Robert Whaley beginning his 3,000-mile walk from Deer Park to the White House, to raise awareness and funds for a new veterans memorial.

Photos include a group at a van that has (left to right) Richard Hill, Vice Commander of the Legion, Frank CrescI, Spokane County Fire District 4, Robert Whaley, and Robert Watson, Spokane County Fire District 4. There were prayers for safe travels, a fire truck sent Robert off. The van for Robert's Walk is donated by Knights Construction. Robert also stopped to shake hands with Mykel Strickland.

(Photos by From Sandi Strickland.)

09/02/2026

Loose Wheel Strikes Pedestrian at Deer Park Coffee Stand

A Clayton woman was injured Tuesday morning after a wheel came off a vehicle traveling on Highway 395 and struck her at a coffee stand in Deer Park.

According to a Washington State Patrol press memo, the collision occurred at approximately 8:40 a.m. Sept. 1 on Highway 395 near Cleveland Road. A vehicle traveling southbound just north of Cleveland Road lost a wheel, which rolled across a parking lot and struck a pedestrian at a nearby coffee stand.

The pedestrian was identified as Hannah M. Petty, 34, of Clayton. Petty was injured and transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center for treatment. She is an employee of Rozy'z Hot Shotz.

The driver, Danyail K. Shellhouse, 35, of Chewelah, was driving a white 2005 Honda Pilot. The vehicle was damaged but was not towed from the scene.

Washington State Patrol listed mechanical failure as the cause of the collision. The memo states that drugs or alcohol were not involved. Shellhouse was listed as facing a charge of operating defective equipment.

08/26/2026

DEER PARK TRIBUNE ROUNDUP (Aug 26, 2026) 📰Here is a quick look at the top local stories making headlines in this week’s paper:

✏️ Back to school.

🏫 New Superintendent Hired: Valley School District welcomes Brent Osborn to lead the district.
🚒 Wildfire Response: Federal Interior Secretary Doug Burgum visited the Deer Park Airport to discuss aerial firefighting tactics and wildfire responses.
💰 $600K School Grant: Riverside School District secured a state grant to completely replace a failing chiller system at Riverside High School.
📈 Growth & Utilities: The City Council and Chamber of Commerce met to plan long-term city development, airport expansions, and water capacity.
⛽ Gas Prices Jump: Local pump prices are climbing toward $5.00 a gallon, with the state average hitting $5.26.
🤝 Business Networking: A brand new BNI business referral chapter is officially launching in Deer Park to support local business owners.
🗞️ Pick up your copy today for just 75¢ at local stands to read the full stories, resident interviews, and this week's local sports spotlight.

08/26/2026

Happy National Dog Day! 🐶🥳It’s officially the best day of the year, and we are celebrating our favorite four-legged friends! Today is all about extra treats, longer belly rubs, and showing off the pups who rule our hearts (and our couches).We want to meet your furry best friends! List your dog in the comments below and tell us their absolute favorite thing to do. Don't forget to drop a photo so we can see that beautiful face! 👇🐾

08/14/2026

DID YOU SEE IT? A bright fireball lit up the sky over Spokane, Northeast Washington and North Idaho early Friday morning, with reports coming in from across the region.

Makar Nakonechnyy, who saw it from Keller, described the sight on a KREM2 social media post: “It lit up the sky in Keller. It was like a blue flash followed by an orange glow.”

He added that the flash was so bright they initially thought a nearby electrical substation had exploded.

The American Meteor Society received dozens of reports of the fireball from across the Pacific Northwest.

Did you see it? Tell us where you were and what it looked like.

08/14/2026

A 43-year-old man was seriously injured in a single-vehicle rollover crash southwest of Deer Park on Aug. 10.

According to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, a Ford F-250 left Cleveland Road, crashed through a wire fence and entered a field shortly before 9 p.m. Deputies said they observed alcohol containers near the vehicle and believe impairment may have been a factor.

Spokane County Fire District 4 and AMR arrived and began life-saving measures on the 43-year-old adult male.

The driver, who was the only person in the vehicle, was taken to a hospital in serious but stable condition.

The crash remains under investigation.

08/14/2026

STABBING SUSPECT ARRESTED: A 38-year-old man wanted in connection with a July 25 stabbing in Chattaroy was arrested Aug. 10 at Liberty Park in Spokane.

Donald L. Smiley was taken into custody following a roughly three-week search involving Spokane County Major Crimes detectives, Spokane Valley Police, the U.S. Marshals Service and sheriff’s K9 units.

Smiley was wanted on a first-degree assault warrant as well as a state Department of Corrections warrant related to community custody following a previous murder conviction. He was booked into the Spokane County Jail on those warrants and an unrelated misdemeanor warrant.

U.S. Marshals Service Assists Major Crimes Detectives with Arrest of Stabbing Suspect

On August 10, 2026, at approximately 3:45 pm, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Detectives, U.S. Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force (PNVOTF), Spokane Valley Police Investigative Unit (SVIU), and Spokane County Sheriff’s Office K9 Units located and arrested wanted stabbing suspect 38-year-old Donald L. Smiley, a convicted felon, at Liberty Park in Spokane, Washington.

Smiley was wanted on a Spokane County Superior Court felony warrant for First-Degree Assault stemming from a stabbing that occurred on July 25, 2026, in Chattaroy, Washington. He was also wanted on a felony Washington State Department of Corrections warrant for violating the terms and conditions of his community custody following a murder conviction.

Over approximately three weeks, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Detectives, Spokane Valley Police Investigative Unit, and U.S. Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force worked collaboratively to locate and apprehend Smiley.

The investigation culminated when investigators located Smiley at Liberty Park in Spokane. Spokane County Sheriff’s Office K9 units assisted with his arrest.

Smiley was booked into the Spokane County Jail for Assault 1st Degree, a Washington State Department of Corrections Felony Warrant, and an unrelated misdemeanor warrant for Making False Statements.

# # #

Initial Release sent on July 25, 2026:

Major Crimes Detectives Investigate Stabbing
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Detectives are investigating a stabbing that occurred at a property located in the 22900 block of Elk Chattaroy Road. The adult male victim sustained potential life-threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital.

# # #

On July 25, 2026, at approximately 7:25 am, Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the report of a stabbing near N. Elk Chattaroy Road and N. Newport Hwy., said to be the result of a road rage incident.

Deputies arrived and began gathering information as Major Crimes Detectives responded.

Information at this early stage of the investigation indicates the stabbing occurred at a nearby property where several people live. It appears a disagreement escalated and the suspect stabbed the victim and then fled the location.

As this appears to be an isolated incident and not random road rage, there is no known ongoing threat to the public.

A possible suspect has been identified but has not been located at this time.

This remains an active investigation, and no further information is available.

# # #

08/11/2026

Deer and elk hunters who bought a Washington multi-season application this year will have a chance to buy one of 3,137 remaining multi-season deer tags and 187 remaining multi-season elk tags in August.

Remaining multi-season elk tags will go on sale at 10 a.m. Aug. 25 and will be sold first come, first served. Surplus multi-season elk tags will only be available in-person at Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife offices and authorized license dealers.

https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonFishWildlife/posts/pfbid0k4aWbjTCu4Cwt7VZ2dCgnuCpQKKrjvLb2YLbxLtVbEM3Hm6JJEj7BmFenvhZNyAxl

08/11/2026

The Zips in Suncrest has been quietly supporting firefighting efforts in the area without accolades, but here is a shout-out: