"Remembering Former Mayor Shane Brickner" - with Brian Asmus (Episode 75: 3/10/2026)
The Liberty Lake Deep DiveShow Notes
Shane Brickner served as Liberty Lake's mayor throughout 2020 -- which was his personal highlight among his community contributions that also involved several years as a volunteer officer with the LLPD as well as two full terms on the City Council. For this episode, retired chief Brian Asmus of the Liberty Lake Police Department sits at the microphone to share some of his professional and personal recollections of the city's former mayor, who passed away in November of 2025 at the age of 50. And, we close this show with Mayor Brickner's opening comments after being sworn in at the City Council meeting of Jan. 5, 2020.
More from The Liberty Lake Deep Dive
“What will Liberty Lake be like in ten years?” First grade kids at Liberty Lake Elementary School gave their answers to that question on sheets that were included in the city’s time capsule that was buried back in 2011. Now, Recreation coordinator Mickael Stevens joins David Goehner in reading some of the inventive predictions and often funny perspectives that were written by those local little kids who eventually became the graduating class of 2022. Get ready for a lot of smile-inducing moments on this one!
The youngest-ever guest on this podcast, 11-year-old Ruth Cory, takes us through the tale of her goal she initiated as a Girl Scout project to bring a bicycle repair station to the bike path near the Spokane Centennial Trail. Also along for this very freewheeling visit: Ruth's mom (and Girl Scout troop leader) Angela Cory as well as program manager Chris Marzetta of Liberty Lake's Altek Inc. manufacturing company. This is a FUN episode about persistence, setting goals, and helping out young people!
How did you find out about the Sept. 11 attacks? And what do you remember from that time? For the 25th anniversary of that event in U.S. history, we ask those questions to the staff in Liberty Lake City Hall. Sharing their memories are: Lance Mueller, Jasmine Roper, Jacob Nauretz, Jason Thoren, Mayor Cris Kaminskas, Sue Rau, Heidi Workman, Mark McAvoy, Kathy Cummings, City Council member Dan Dunne, Luke Michels, Kyle Dixon, David Goehner, and Tait Garcia.
Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the City of Liberty Lake's official incorporation, we have more stories from first mayor Steve Peterson about some of the major projects that were developed during the city's early years. You'll find out about the creation of Liberty Lake's pedestrian bridge over I-90, the city's purchase of Trailhead Golf Course and the current City Hall property, the creation of the city's first library, some details on the development of the River District, and the purchase of the city's ballfields.
Recreation coordinator Mickael Stevens and show host David Goehner take an improvisational plunge into what was put into the city's time capsule that was buried during Liberty Lake's 10th anniversary commemorations back in 2011. Join in as Mickael and David learn about -- and frequently laugh about -- every item that was placed in that container 15 years ago. There's some fun with local newspaper articles from 2011, an examination of a few odd items that were put into the collection, and readthrough of some of the "Future of Liberty Lake" predictions that were written by local 1st graders from 2011. It's an archival romp that's worth (most) every minute of this extra-long installment!