Woman leaves job in show of solidarity for sister battling cancer

Monday, June 17th, 2013, 6:24pm

A Spokane woman who shaved her head as a show of solidarity for her sister who has cancer quit her job at Northern Quest Resort and Casino after she was made to feel embarrassed for shaving her head.

Friends and family members who shave their heads in support of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy are sometimes told to cover up because their look is offensive. In this case, Melanie Strandberg wouldn't stand for it, and her stand has sparked a firestorm of support from the worldwide cancer community.

Melanie's sister Marissa has cancer. First it was ovarian but now cancer has shown up in her sister's colon.

"She's amazing; she's the most amazing person I know," Strandberg said.

Marissa's chemotherapy treatment starts this Thursday, so, two weeks ago, to show her support for her sister, Strandberg shaved her head.

"It's great. It's very uplifting, believe it or not," she said.

But her world of hope and sisterly solidarity shattered when Strandberg said managers at the salon at Northern Quest, where she was a hair stylist, did not approve of her new look.

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Local Man Finalist for MLB Tribute to Heroes

Submitted by Camille Troxel on Monday, June 17th, 4:29 pm

A Cheney man is one of 90 finalists for Major League Baseball and People Magazine's Tribute to Heroes Campaign. One finalist from each baseball club will be honored for their service during All-Star Week in July.

Phil Kiver is an Eastern Washington University graduate who served with the National Guard while in school. After graduation he served the army as a combat photographer, in Public Relations and in Psychological Operations. He has completed multiple tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Kiver currently works for the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce. He has written several books about his experiences serving in the Army and he volunteers with the VA Hospital with suicide awareness and prevention. Kiver is also an active member with the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

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5K Adds Color to Race Experience

Submitted by Camille Troxel on Monday, June 17th, 12:14 pm

Themed races are all the rage these days and after joining in on the Color Me Rad 5K on Saturday I understand why. Running while people throw color at you is way better than normal running!

Color Me Rad blasts you with color as you pass through color stations along the route. Volunteers douse you in dyed corn starch so that by the time racers cross the finish line they are covered from head to foot in hues of orange, purple, pink, green, yellow and blue.

My friends and I aren't the most athletic people you'll ever meet, which worked out because the majority of participants walked the course and it's not timed. Rather than focusing on speed, Color Me Rad is all about how much you resemble a rainbow when you finish and having a blast along the way.

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Happy Father's Day!

Submitted by Colleen O'Brien, Weekend Anchor / Reporter

Sunday, June 16th, 2013, 2:57pm

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10,500 mile bike ride benefits cochlear implant candidates

Submitted by Melissa Escalante on Friday, June 14th, 2:45 pm

Jacob Landis, a 24- year- old who was once deaf, received a cochlear implant at the age of ten that changed his life completely. Now, he is determined to raise 1 million dollars to benefit children who need cochlear implants and cannot afford it.

In order to accomplish this number, Landis is combining his passion for cycling, baseball and his desire to help others. He is making a 10,000+ mile bike ride all around the country this baseball season, stopping at all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums.

Jacob is biking through Spokane very soon, around Friday June, 14th, on his way from Target Field in Minnesota to his 16th ball park, Safeco Field in Seattle. Jacob is stopping in at the police station in Lewistown where Chief Birdwell will be holding much needed packages from home.

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Fathers Day forecast - My gift to Dads

Submitted by Mark Peterson, Anchor on Good Morning Northwest

Friday, June 14th, 2013, 10:24am

Some clouds hanging out today then clearing tonight.

Saturday we have a ridge of high pressure that lasts through the weekend and then weekens into Monday.

Next week another cool and vigorous system moves in with showers and cooler temps.

Enjoy Father's day.

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Spoko Fuel mix-up puts diesel, not unleaded in driver's tanks

Submitted by KXLY Web Staff

Tuesday, June 11th, 2013, 11:47pm

Diesel fuel was inadvertently pumped into tanks meant to hold unleaded gasoline at Spoko Fuel in Airway Heights, shutting down the gas station and damaging cars who fueled up there Tuesday.

KXLY sources confirm that diesel fuel was pumped into the underground tanks. It's not known when the tanks were filled with diesel or how many drivers had their vehicles damaged by the fuel mix-up.

Lee Wilkerson filled up his car around 10 a.m. and a few minutes later his car broke down in the middle of an intersection.

"I made it about half way to Airway Heights and the car started sputtering and it sounded like it was going to flame out like," Lee Wilkerson said.

Wilkerson then called his mechanic in Davenport for help.��

Mick Tareski, of Mick's Auto in Davenport, said he drained gas tanks on four cars Tuesday.� The cost to repair each car ranged between $200 and $250.

Richard Betts put $20 worth of gas in his van at Spoko Fuel, but couldn't even make it out onto the highway.

"I couldn't figure out what was wrong with it to be honest with you but now this makes sense," Richard Betts said.

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