Spokane, Wash. — The Manito Masonic Temple, home to Lodge No. 246 at 28th and Grand on the city’s South Hill, has seen an increase in discarded needles and other waste left in the alley behind the building.

Worshipful Master Dainon Setzler says the problem has shifted from occasional retail theft remnants to newer drug‑related items, including used syringes. “The drug stuff seems to be newer from what we’ve noticed,” he explained.

While the lodge is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., there are often days between events when the alley is unattended. During those times, members have found tin‑foil, retail items and used needles scattered in the dirt.

Setzler and other members have taken it upon themselves to clean the area, sometimes with the help of a lodge member who works as a plumber and is familiar with handling hazardous materials. “One of the guys will grab gloves, try to exercise care, clean it up,” Setzler said. When the plumber is unavailable, other members step in.

The volunteers acknowledge the difficulty of the task. “It’s just someone like me trying to do what I think is careful,” Setzler said, adding that the lodge lacks clear guidance on how to properly handle and report the waste. “We don’t know what to do. It’s not easy to find the right guidance on how you’re supposed to handle it, how you’re supposed to report it, if you are responsible for it,” he added.

City and health officials respond

NonStop Local contacted the city for information on any existing cleanup teams. The Spokane Regional Health District replied that it offers guidance on syringe handling and disposal, and that the information has been forwarded to the Neighborhood Resource Officer for the South Hill. Residents are encouraged to report incidents to Spokane 311, which will begin taking non‑emergency calls related to the issue next week.

The health district also provides a FAQ sheet outlining how to pick up sharps, store them safely, and transport them to approved transfer facilities.

Setzler admits the prospect of cleaning up the needles can be unsettling. “It gets scary because you never know what you’re handling,” he said. Nevertheless, the lodge remains committed to keeping the area clean for the neighborhood while seeking longer‑term solutions to prevent future access.

Original reporting: KHQ Spokane (news) — read the source article.