Right at the start of 2007, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced this new thing called the iPHONE, Beyoncé told a certain someone not to think he's "IRREPLACEABLE" and Rihanna kindly offered to share her "UMBRELLA." Movies like JUNO and THERE WILL BE BLOOD moved us, and others, like SUPERBAD, well... they introduced us to characters like McLovin. And mourners from around the Pacific Northwest laid to rest daredevil EVEL KNIEVEL, who died at 69.
FULL SPECTRUM
At the start of 2007, we started publishing in FULL COLOR on every page, every issue. Publisher Ted S. McGregor Jr. announced the change in a column in the first January issue of the year, where he thanked readers and reminisced on the paper that had grown from the business plan he made in college to the thriving weekly on stands around the Inland Northwest. All the growth had come despite painful industry cuts that were only set to get worse nationwide.
"If you're an Inlander reader — an Inlander if you will — you're participating, you're creating a sense of togetherness, of common experience and, hopefully, of fun," he wrote.
PAYING FOR ABUSE
Early in the year, the Catholic Diocese of Spokane announced a $48 million settlement to be divided among more than 140 victims of clergy sex abuse and meant to resolve a bankruptcy filing on the part of the diocese. It'd take years for the case to finally wrap up, after the diocese had issues with its law firm over this 2007 settlement agreement.
WHAT A FOX!
The massive restoration of the Fox Theater was completed by November, with millions of dollars spent and countless hours' worth of structural and aesthetic work completed to restore the building to its full art-deco splendor. From paintings, to gold leaf, to carpet, the theater received a complete overhaul and quickly started booking shows.
PEOPLE WE MET
In September, we met five residents of the OTIS HOTEL who were soon to be evicted, and represented the diverse mix of people living there: Some struggled with mental health, some were sex offenders and others were simply living in poverty. One day earlier in the summer, we met CHRYSTAL ALDERMAN as she touched base with homeless individuals who'd missed appointments, helping them stay connected with services. And we met LEONID BERGOLTSEV, a world-class photojournalist during his time in the U.S.S.R., who moved to Spokane in the '90s and turned his lens on his new home.
