Wash.— After more than five decades helping families explore the open road Bretz RV & Marine is making its long-awaited debut in Washington State — and they’re throwing a celebration as big as the adventures they sell which opened its sixth and newest location in Liberty Lake in 2024 The dealership is Bretz RV’s first in Washington and brings the company’s signature blend of large-scale inventory and small-town values to the Inland Northwest “Opening in Liberty Lake feels like coming home,” said Brandon Bretz “We’ve built this store from the ground up with the same care and energy that’s guided us for nearly 60 years We’re excited to serve the outdoor-loving families of Washington.” Once slated to become an Amazon Distribution Center the 40-acre parcel that’s now home to Bretz RV & Marine boasts nearly 80,000 square feet of building space that includes modern showrooms and a state-of-the-art service center with the area’s most advanced full downdraft paint booth “From the time we closed on the property to building completion it was like running a marathon at sprint speed,” said Vice President of Operations Dustin Bretz “This project could not have happened without the support of the Liberty Lake community and the leadership in their municipality.” Employing over 60 people and projecting future economic growth the grand opening is a celebration for both Bretz and key local partners Liberty Lake Community Development Director with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2:30 p.m. followed by a private VIP Night for customers who have made a purchase from the Liberty Lake store within the past year The evening will include special recognition of the “100 Club,” honoring the store’s first 100 buyers the event opens to the public with an all-day festival designed for the whole family In partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Northwest the dealership will also highlight the organization’s Big Match initiative during the event The goal: to connect 40 children currently waiting for mentors with caring adult role models Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the program “We believe a great RV or boat can help families make unforgettable memories,” said Brandon “But just as important is building up the communities we’re part of Supporting youth mentorship is one way we can do that right here in Liberty Lake.” Bretz RV began as a small service station in Montana A customer’s simple question — “Why not sell travel trailers?” — launched what would become one of the region’s largest recreational dealerships Still owned and operated by the Bretz family the company now spans six locations across Washington Bretz RV & Marine is the largest RV and boat dealership in the Pacific Northwest With deep roots in Montana and a legacy built on family values and customer service Bretz has grown into a trusted name for recreational enthusiasts across the region For more information, visit: www.bretzrv.com © 2023 G&G Media Group LLC Speeders leaving Washington for Idaho will get a friendly reminder in the mail to slow down Temporary traffic cameras over Interstate 90 in Liberty Lake will track eastbound speeding vehicles and their license plates as part of a pilot program beginning Thursday from the Washington State Department of Transportation Registered owners of speeding vehicles will receive courtesy notices but no tickets or fines The speed limit through the zone is 70 mph The Legislature launched the Highway Speed Camera Pilot Program with $1 million in funding to reduce speed-related crashes The program is a partnership between WSDOT the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and Washington State Patrol Safety commission spokesman Mark McKechnie said the program is not issuing tickets because the Legislature did not authorize it to do so Cameras will also be tested on southbound Interstate 5 between Cook and Bow Hill roads in Skagit County The locations were chosen because speed was a factor in serious collisions there and they have enough space between ramps to obtain accurate data Courtesy notices will focus on safety and inform drivers of the potential cost of a ticket for the speed they were traveling nor does it affect driving records or insurance Drivers and passengers will not be photographed Digital images will only be used for courtesy notices and will not be stored or used for other purposes statistical data will track traffic patterns the range of speeds and vehicles that speed repeatedly through the area After the pilot concludes at the end of June the cameras will be removed and WSDOT will analyze the data WSDOT is taking feedback about the program on its website Cameras will track speeds using the “average speed method.” This involves placing multiple cameras at two locations and tracking the time it takes a vehicle to travel between the two points to determine the average speed The cameras face both directions to capture more data The cameras hover 19 feet over the roadway from trailers placed on the side of the road with one just past the Liberty Lake Road overpass and the second just before the Stateline exit the cameras themselves act as a reminder for drivers to slow down it causes the rest of traffic to slow down as well “Hopefully there is an impact on drivers reminding them it is safer to drive the speed limit,” McKechnie said This program is different from the Work Zone Speed Camera Program mobile cameras will move through various construction zones around the state and tickets will be issued after the first infraction James Hanlon's reporting for The Spokesman-Review is funded in part by Report for America and by members of the Spokane community. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper’s managing editor. Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible Get breaking news delivered to your inbox as it happens TDS Telecommunications continues expanding its high-speed all-fiber internet network into more Spokane-area neighborhoods © Copyright 2025, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy Spokane-area shoppers who buy in bulk apparently will not be getting a new option in Liberty Lake which signed a purchase agreement for a large tract of land in Liberty Lake for what reportedly was a new Costco location meaning the retail giant won’t be expanding in the area anytime soon vice president for development and acquisition for Cowles Real Estate Company Centennial owns the roughly 38 acres south of Interstate 90 It’s situated north of East Country Vista Drive and west of North Kramer Parkway and just northeast of Ridgeline High School Yost said he could not identify the retailer as Costco, under agreement with the third-party company, but plans filed with Liberty Lake called for a 167,000-square-foot building and 24-refueling stations which is nearly the same size as the Costco built in 2018 at 12020 N The third-party company had sought a zoning variance that would have expanded the fueling stations but it was rejected by Liberty Lake planners “I don’t think that was the deciding factor in them not moving forward,” Yost said president and CEO of the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce said that site would work wonderfully for an anchor retailer that could have generated enough sales tax revenue for Liberty Lake to tackle any number of ongoing needs “It’s disappointing to hear the retailer is stepping away from the process at this time,” Beck said “I guess on some level I remain hopeful” that the company could return to the table “It’s still the right place for growth in this region.” has marketed property adjacent to the Centennial site and said it remains highly sought for development “It was a surprise to me,” Daines said of learning about the Costco decision but other people will come in and scoop pieces of it up Unless (Centennial Properties officials) want to hold out for a big box retailer there are lots of smaller groups who will want to scoop that up.” Yost confirmed Daines’ assessment about discussions with other potential buyers “I’ve already received a lot of interest,” Yost said “There was a lot of interest when it was under contract its going to be a really nice attribute to that area.” While he was not part of the discussions or decision to pull back Yost said the price of development appeared to play a part “I think the main reason was just the cost of construction has gone way up in the state of Washington That coupled with the tax base and trying to make everything work created a situation where it increased their costs,” he said The contract for the land was terminated near the end of October Asked if he believed the company was looking at a different site for a Costco elsewhere “It was more of a take a step back and re-evaluate,” he said said he hopes that means the door remains open for the third company to return to the table “You are never there with a development until the building is up and the doors are open,” he said “and you are never fully away until something else is built.” Beck noted that the property remains one of the few large undeveloped parcels along the Interstate 90 corridor The Costco “would have been a tremendous win and an incredible project for the community of Liberty Lake,” Beck said “You always want to see property go to the highest and best use “I’m confident in their team that they will come up with the best fit.” Costco’s representatives reportedly also looked at property in Post Falls without making a deal “There is not perfect ground on the other side of the border so we remain an attractive option to them,” Beck said “I don’t think we’ve heard the last of what is going to be transpiring” at the Liberty Lake site Liberty Lake police shot a male after he intentionally drove into other vehicles Saturday in Otis Orchards according to the Liberty Lake Police Department to the area of North Malvern Road and East Wellesley Avenue to assist in a call for service for a hit-and-run and road rage Officers determined the suspect involved in the collision intentionally struck vehicles with his vehicle He also reportedly got out of his vehicle and threw rocks and struck vehicles with random objects Police located the suspect in the area and an “altercation ensued,” leading to police firing and striking the suspect The suspect was transported for medical care The Spokane Independent Investigative Response Team will investigate the shooting Law enforcement had at least two scenes secured with crime scene tape Saturday afternoon and evening One was at Wellesley Avenue and Kildea Road where a pickup truck appeared to be roped off The other was a couple of blocks away near the intersection of Kildea and Glenarvon Road Police plan to release more details Sunday A person was injured early Friday morning when the pickup they were driving crashed and burst into flames on Interstate 90 near the Liberty Lake exit on I-90 approaching Harvard Road when the F250 Ford pickup they were driving veered into a cable barrier in the median the Washington State Patrol reported in a news release The driver was thrown from the pickup as it landed in the westbound side of I-90 and caught fire was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center WSP suspects alcohol or drugs may have played a role John Haldi had early-stage Alzheimer’s disease when he began a local Aduhelm drug study in June 2020 he no longer met the criteria to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease Beta-amyloid are protein pieces that gradually clump together and form plaques a hallmark sign of the disease that for many leads to a slippery slope into memory care and death Nearly 7 million Americans have Alzheimer’s “I truly believe that he was one of the lucky ones,” Greeley said of Haldi “I’ll put a big caveat in here that not everyone did this well on this study.” Aduhelm never received the Food and Drug Administration’s nod to enter the market said the agency recently approved two similar antibody intravenous infusion drugs that remove beta-amyloid from the brain: Leqembi and Kisunla The newer drugs carry risks and possible side effects but they’re considered “disease-modifying” for people who qualify dancing and playing trombone in the Project Joy Orchestra he still struggles with short-term memory loss but can be left alone safely in his Liberty Lake home She said he’s shown slow but noticeable changes in his memory and cognitive function when she couldn’t remember a new bankcard pin number to get out cash she shared her frustration with him when returning to the car John Haldi also has gone back to fixing items around the house They have trips planned to Mexico and for an Alaskan cruise later Pat Haldi said their story may offer some hope although only a small number of people improved on the drug “When we went first to an Alzheimer’s support group in 2015 you should now start making rounds to see where you want to put your person in memory care because it will be just in a few years before you’ll need to make those changes,’ ” she said I’m thinking about $10,000 a month for care.” John Haldi had been diagnosed with early brain atrophy dementia we’re not going to have to look at that,” she added I just write him a note about where I’m going he went to orchestra practice when a friend drove him He called me up and told me he didn’t have the key and that he’d forgotten it There’s another stark difference from eight years ago Their support group started with almost 50 members and that included Alzheimer’s patients and their spouses It’s now mostly dissolved because a majority of those with the disease have since died or gone into memory care John Haldi spent part of the day with an orchestra friend who drives them both and then to the Haldis’ house to play some duets because Alzheimer’s is on his medical records and for safety “She doesn’t let me drive,” John Haldi quipped she said he’s been pointing out to her directions to their destinations They also often go dancing and to a balloon badminton activity He still can play tunes by memory and reads music “We practice orchestra on Tuesday mornings every week,” he said “We go into different retirement facilities to play I’ve been playing trombone since fifth grade.” he graduated from Rogers High School in 1957 After getting a master’s degree from Washington State University John Haldi worked at schools in the Seattle area before moving back to Spokane where he mainly taught at Spokane Community College Luke’s Rehabilitation for 25 years as a certified diabetic expert and rehab nurse Greeley said his Northwest Neurological practice offers a new blood test for Alzheimer’s diagnosis that costs about $250 and is not covered by insurance Two other diagnostic procedures are a lumbar puncture for a sample of fluid from the spine or an amyloid PET scan But he recently took a 30-question memory test called the mini-mental to check for cognitive impairment and scored near the top he would be much worse without an intervention “There is no way he could have lived to today if we hadn’t done anything,” he said because he fit all the criteria to be in the study I can’t even describe to you enough about how amazing that is is playing the trombone and doing all kinds of things Liberty Lake Police arrested a Spokane Valley woman outside a Tesla dealership over the weekend after she sped by protesters of company owner Elon Musk while flipping them off and ignoring officers’ sirens was taken into custody Saturday near Spokane County’s Tesla dealership and cited on suspicion of reckless driving and driving without a license Spokane County citizens were gathered outside the dealership to protest Musk who is President Donald Trump’s adviser behind the controversial Department of Government Efficiency government after Trump’s victory and made decisions to cut federal programs and jobs without congressional approval through DOGE Musk’s actions have angered a number of citizens spurring frequent anti-Tesla demonstrations across the nation known as “Tesla Takedowns.” In the last couple of months Spokane County has seen these protests outside the Tesla dealership at 1805 N Previous protests outside the local hub have remained peaceful according to coverage from The Spokesman-Review An officer stationed outside Saturday’s protest wrote of seeing Powell speeding through the Tesla parking lot in a blue Volkswagen Beetle The officer started following Powell until she entered another parking lot across the street at a high speed The officer turned on his lights and sirens in an attempt to stop her but said she entered the main roadway without slowing down A separate officer documented Powell speeding and weaving in and out of the roadway yelling out the window and flipping off protesters She made a sharp right turn onto North Bitterroot Street and then a wide which “nearly caused what would have been a significant accident,” according to the police report she was allegedly driving towards the sidewalk swerving towards the center lane at a high speed and still making gestures at the protesters Liberty Lake Police Chief Damon Simmons was traveling south in his patrol car and tried to intercept Powell with his emergency lights on Powell initially tried to drive around him she was asked to exit her car and placed under arrest pictured during her arrest wearing a top emblazoned with Trump’s “You’re Fired” slogan She was taken to the Spokane County Jail for booking but jail staff advised they could not take her due to a medical issue Her Volkswagen Beetle was also towed and impounded for blocking the roadway “I am certainly glad that no one was hurt and that the Liberty Lake police were present and able to take her into custody Thanks to the Liberty Lake police for taking our safety seriously,” a Facebook post from an anti-Tesla group said “… Her behavior is reckless and could have seriously injured someone.” a man in Florida sped his car into an anti-Musk group protesting outside a Tesla dealership in Palm Beach and a counter protester was found brandishing a stun gun outside a Tesla showroom in California an anti-Musk protester was arrested in Meridian for allegedly hitting a pro-Trump counterprotester with his car The man was treated for non -life-threatening injuries and the protester was booked into jail on a felony charge of aggravated battery with use of a deadly weapon or instrument As Tesla protests grow and vandalism against Teslas have gained more traction in the last few weeks of a coordinated effort to fund the demonstrations He’s also taken to his social media platform to claim any vandalism against Teslas or its stores should be considered “an act of terrorism.” U.S Attorney General Pam Bondi, a longtime Trump ally, announced charges last week against three people from Oregon Colorado and South Carolina for allegedly setting Teslas or its charging ports on fire calling it a “wave of domestic terrorism.” Although there is no federal domestic terrorism law on the books prosecutors are able to use state law to attempt to convict a defendant Experts have long argued domestic terrorism in the U.S. like hate-based acts from far-right and white supremacist groups should be tracked and treated with the same concern as foreign terrorism especially after increasingly hostile race-based rhetoric following Trump’s first term Many were outraged in 2015 when former FBI Director James Comey refused to call the mass murder of nine Black South Carolina churchgoers an act of domestic terrorism because he said there was a lack of political motivation The government has shown no urgency around domestic terrorism committed by white supremacist groups in the past a former FBI special agent and fellow in the Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security Program “We need a smarter approach that ensures resources are directed toward the deadliest terrorist threats,” German and his colleague, Sara Robinson, wrote in 2018 “And we need to evaluate those threats based on objective evaluations of potential harm not political considerations that prioritize some communities over others.” local residents have shown unwavering commitment to peaceful protest by gathering in front of the Tesla Supercharger at 21728 E Despite frigid conditions—including a biting 14-degree day on February 11—the demonstrators have continued to voice their concerns over issues tied to Tesla CEO Elon Musk The movement began with sidewalk protests on February 11 and 18 drawing increasing support from the community Motorists passing by have joined in by offering affirming honks while the protestors’ signs—bearing messages such as “Get rid of your Swasticar,” “Honk to Deport Elon,” “Fire Musk,” and “Stop the steal of your personal information”—have captured public attention protest organizers have now expanded their schedule which are frequently referenced online as #TeslaTuesdays underscore a grassroots effort to hold powerful interests accountable the organizer behind the weekly demonstrations “I started #TeslaTuesdays to help raise public awareness of the threats we face as Elon Musk has taken control of our government systems and agencies remain respectful of neighboring businesses and their property we make it clear that we are NOT okay with the direction our country has taken We need to hit the oligarchs where it hurts: their wallets #TeslaTuesdays is about community standing together.” Schmidt’s passionate appeal emphasizes the protest’s commitment to peaceful assembly and respectful public discourse, even as it challenges what it views as an undue concentration of corporate power. For additional information on upcoming protest dates or to join the cause, interested parties can visit the Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573082801052 As Liberty Lake witnesses a surge in civic engagement these protests continue to spark debate and draw attention to local and national issues surrounding corporate influence and public accountability.