OTTO, the Spokane Indians Mascot, will be visiting two local elementary schools this spring as part of the Itron Champions Programs. Grant and Holmes Elementary Schools have been selected as this year's Champion Schools.

The blue mascot will lead cheers and laughter for each school at an assembly. In addition, Itron will provide each school with 250 Indians tickets to be given out to students as rewards for good attendance, hard work and achievement in the classroom.

"We love bringing the Itron Champions Program to schools and getting kids excited about learning," said Indian Senior Vice President, Otto Klein. "This is a great opportunity for the Indians to support our local schools and students."

OTTO will visit Grant Elementary on Friday, May 24th and Holmes Elementary on Thursday, June 6th. 

Gonzaga University has partnered with PODS of Spokane to give new life to unwanted items as students leave campus for the summer. 

ZAGiving encourages students to donated their unwanted apartment and dorm room items rather than throwing them out. PODS has provided containers for the students to drop off their clothing, household good and furniture around campus and the Logan neighborhood. 

Everything in the PODS will be donated to Catholic Charities of Spokane to help low-income and homeless families in the area.

"We make charitable work a priority at PODS and ZAGiving is a great way for college students to help give back," said David Henry, territory manager for PODS of Spokane. "We are honored to be providing our moving and storage services to help collect items for our community members who are less fortunate."

The PODS will be available May 8th-14th, just in time for graduation. Students who want to drop off goods should bag them up and and bring them to ZAGiving drop off spots marked with banners around campus.

The music room at Garfield Elementary was humming with the sound of recorders this afternoon as students prepared for the Link Up concert with the Spokane Symphony at the Fox Theater.

Link Up is national program from Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute that pairs orchestras with local schools for an interactive concert. The Spokane Symphony was invited to join the program last year and jumped at the opportunity.

“This enhances the whole community,” said Janet Napoles, Manager of Education Programs at the Spokane Symphony, “it's just a benefit no matter how you look at it.”