Ever wanted to see a live cockroach race? Or perhaps petting a tarantula is more your style? Well your day has come! The Insect Expo is coming to WSU on Saturday, April 20th.

The event is sponsored by Washington State University’s Entomology Graduate Student Association. Palouse area families can join in on insect themed crafts, face painting and displays all geared toward learning more about the world of insects.

"It’s great to see children abandon some of their preconceptions about insects in order to hold a hissing cockroach or pet a tarantula,” said Rebecca Schmidt, event coordinator and EGSA president. "It’s especially rewarding to watch the parents overcome their fears in order to set an example for their children.”

Facing a debilitating disease and a Christmas season with three kids – including a newborn – a Coeur d'Alene artist did something extremely rare: He decided to focus on helping others.

Jason Sanchez had the idea to help Children's Village in Coeur d'Alene this Christmas because he knew he "had to do something out of the goodness out of the heart." So he contacted the charity and told them he had a plan to help by building a gingerbread replica to raise donations.

"My first reaction was to burst out laughing," Janie Givas, development director for Children's Village, said. "People have grand ideas all the time, until they realize what it will take to actually complete the project."

But when Sanchez came in with "a beautiful board already drawn of this great gingerbread house I knew he was for real," Givas said.

Sanchez had spoken with Sarah Colbert of Tom Addis Lake City Ford, who OK'd funding – about $500 – the project, and he was all set to start creating.

During the summer months the Valley Mission Pool is full of children laughing, now all you'll hear are screams!

This weekend, the Valley Mission Pool and locker rooms will be transformed into a spooky haunted house.  The haunted house will feature a zombie graveyard, tarp tunnel of terror and clown chaos.  If you bring a can of food to donate it's just $2 to get in.

Here are the details:

October 26th and 27th

7:30pm-10:00pm

11123 E. Mission Ave.

For more information, 509-720-5408 or jpapich@spokanevalley.org.