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AIRWAY HEIGHTS – A vehicle collision early Wednesday morning left two people dead and one person injured after a car failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with a truck and trailer. Washington State Patrol responded to the crash at 7:17 a.m. on Jan. 8 near Espanola Road and U.S. Highway 2, about six miles west of the city. Shayanne Cicherski, 18, of Fruitland, was southbound on Wood Road when she failed to stop at the intersection with Highway 2, the patrol said. Her vehicle slid under the trailer of a westbound truck d...
CHENEY – On Sunday afternoon, Cheney Police and Fire Department officers responded to a report of an unattended death in the 1000 block of Betz Road. The call came in around 1:45 p.m. , records show. When officers arrived, they discovered a deceased man at the location. Detectives and the medical examiner’s office were summoned to conduct a thorough investigation. Police stated the investigation is ongoing, and no further details can be released at this time. The medical examiner’s office will identify the individual and r...
CHENEY – By a 5-1 vote, the School Board approved a new gender-inclusive policy during its Jan. 8 meeting. Policy 3211 addresses issues like names, pronouns, student records, restroom use and staff training. Assistant Superintendent Tom Arlt clarified that the policy ensures compliance with state law, and reflects Cheney Public Schools’ commitment to creating a safe learning environment for all students. “It has nothing to do with trans kids in sports,” Arlt said. “It has to do with state law.” The meeting included st...
OLYMPIA – Governor-elect Bob Ferguson announced Jan. 9 the appointment of two interim leaders for Washington’s health care agencies. Jessica Todorovich will serve as Acting Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH), while MaryAnne Lindeblad will step in as Acting Director of the Health Care Authority (HCA). Both appointments begin Jan. 15. Ferguson said the changes aim to make health care more affordable and accessible. “I am thankful these experienced individuals are stepping into such critical roles while we condu...
Airway Heights AIRWAY HEIGHTS — The Police Department reported the following arrests from Jan. 7-9: Jan. 7 David D. McElroy was arrested for making a false statement to a public servant on West KOA Court and West Redding Drive. Joshua J. Abrahamson was arrested for domestic violence assault on the 12900 block of West 13th Avenue. James P. Dougherty was arrested for second-degree assault on the 12800 block of West 13th Avenue. Jan. 8 Heidi J. Friend was arrested for first-degree criminal trespassing on the 14300 block of W...
CHENEY – The School District’s instructional technology team showcased significant improvements during the Jan. 8 board meeting, highlighting advances in classroom tools, IT systems, and support services. Led by Technology Director Ryan Spencer, the presentation detailed the department’s growth and achievements over the past year. He explained that the IT department has worked hard to modernize and streamline IT services for staff and students. He introduced team members, including Assistant Tech Director Jonathan Skags...
Cheney schools seek advisory team applications CHENEY – Cheney Public Schools is forming a Bond Advisory Team to oversee the implementation of projects funded by the district’s $72 million bond. Community members are encouraged to apply by January 15, 2025. The advisory team will provide input and ensure that the bond funds are managed transparently and effectively. “We value community support and want residents involved in shaping these important improvements,” the district stated. To apply, residents can review the team ch...
MEDICAL LAKE – City Council approved its 2025 committee appointments at the Jan. 7 meeting, with Mayor Terri Cooper emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong relationships with regional partners. “It’s important we maintain a relationship with Fairchild Airforce Base,” said Cooper, thanking the council members for taking on their committee appointments. Committees include finance, parks and recreation, public safety, and general government, each comprising three councilmembers and relevant city department directors. Ap...
MEDICAL LAKE – The city has a new addition to its downtown charm. Kathleen Morse recently opened her boutique, The European Child, at 212 E. Lake St. The store offers unique clothing and accessories inspired by European fashion and from European makers. “The clothes here are unique. Nobody else in the Inland Northwest has them,” said Morse. Her boutique carries hand-picked items from France, Portugal, Austria, Sweden, and more. The boutique is housed in a 124-year-old building with a storied past, most recently as a veter...
1 Years Ago Jan. 15, 2015 The Cheney City Council voted to withdraw an offer to sell surplus power to Kootenai Electric Cooperative after pricing disagreements led to a projected $105,000 loss, opting instead to seek open-market sales. Medical Lake resident Rick Johnson remained hospitalized after a Jan. 4 hit-and-run near the I-90 Medical Lake exit left him with severe injuries, while deputies continued investigating with little evidence. The Medical Lake boys’ basketball team, riding the momentum of two dominant v...
OLYMPIA – Governor-elect Bob Ferguson revealed a budget plan aimed at tackling Washington's projected $12 billion shortfall while investing in key priorities. The plan features $4.4 billion in projected savings from reduced agency spending and $800 million in new investments. Ferguson's strategy includes reducing management positions by 10-25%, cutting travel budgets, and reassessing programs launched with COVID-19 funding. Ferguson stressed the importance of balancing s...
All city offices closed Monday CHENEY – All city offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 20, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Council meeting canceled AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The planned legislative session of the Airway Heights City Council meeting which should be on Monday, Jan. 20, is canceled due to the holiday. City Council meeting to be held MEDICAL LAKE – The Medical Lake City Council will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Agenda packets for the meeting will be poste...
SPOKANE – Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels officially welcomed three new deputies during a swearing-in ceremony on Dec. 30, at the Spokane County Public Safety Building. Among them was Deputy Kody Vaughn, a Central Valley High School graduate, along with Deputies Elijah Belcourt and Guadalupe Gonzales. Deputy Vaughn, 23, grew up in Spokane and graduated from Central Valley High School in 2020. Before joining the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, Vaughn gained law e...
SPOKANE VALLY – A fatal shooting left one man dead and led to the detention of two suspects on Monday afternoon. The shooting was the result of a heated confrontation between two groups. Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a reported shooting on East 4th Avenue, west of South University Road, at approximately 12:18 p.m. When they arrived, they found a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Deputies and Spokane Valley Firefighters attempted life-saving measures, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. I...
SPOKANE VALLEY – The City Council unanimously approved 10 new police officer positions on Jan. 7 to address public safety concerns and community support for enhanced law enforcement. Deputy City Manager Erik Lamb detailed the roles, which include four patrol officers, two patrol lieutenants, one traffic officer, one homeless outreach officer, and three positions for an investigative unit—two officers and a sergeant. These roles will focus on improving response times, targeting high-crime areas, and addressing issues like dru...
SPOKANE VALLEY – A man was killed in a fatal pedestrian crash in Spokane Valley after being hit by a car on North Tschirley Road near East Dalton Avenue on Jan. 5. The crash happened at approximately 5:30 p.m. when the pedestrian, who had parked his Kia on the east side of the road, was returning to his car after completing a delivery. A northbound Subaru struck him in the roadway. Deputies were notified that Spokane Regional Communications Officers were providing instructions to the caller, and CPR was in progress. The drive...
SPOKANE VALLEY – The City Council approved a slate of board appointments during its recent meeting on Tuesday night, sparking criticism from Councilman Al Merkel. Merkel argued that he was unfairly excluded from the process. Mayor Pam Haley said that her intention was to maintain continuity by keeping most appointees in their current roles. “Several boards reached out to me and said they’d like to keep the people the same,” she explained. “There’s some benefit to having longevity on a particular board because you know what’s...
SPOKANE VALLEY – The City Council unanimously approved a slate of committee appointments, filling important volunteer roles across multiple boards at its Jan. 7 meeting. The new appointees will serve on the Planning Commission, Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) Spokane Housing Authority Board, and more. Councilman Al Merkel confirmed that Mayor Pam Haley conducted interviews with candidates and verified their job histories. Haley affirmed that the council reviewed applications, conducted interviews, and verified c...
Woman dies in NYE collision SPOKANE VALLEY – A fatal auto-pedestrian collision occurred on East Appleway Avenue near North Michigan Road on Dec. 31, claiming the life of a woman in her 60s. Around 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, Spokane Valley deputies responded to the crash near North Michigan Road, east of Barker Road, after receiving reports of the incident. The woman was crossing Appleway from north to south when she was struck by a 2000 Honda heading east. The vehicle’s driver, a woman in her 70s, remained on-site and coope...
SPOKANE – A suspected impaired driver was arrested after a near head-on crash on North Argonne Road near Doak Road on Jan. 5. The accident left a teenage passenger in the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Deputies say the driver, 56-yaer-old Raymond G. Jones, caused the collision and was booked into Spokane County Jail for vehicular assault. Witnesses reported Jones driving erratically in a white Ford F150, swerving across lanes and crossing the c...
SPOKANE VALLEY – During the Tuesday night City Council meeting, members approved the 2025 lodging tax allocations, following a detailed presentation by Sarah Farr, the city’s Accountant and Budget Analyst. Farr outlined the expected revenue from two lodging taxes: $920,000 from a 2% hotel/motel tax and $790,000 from a 1.3% tax implemented in 2015. Both funds are restricted to tourism-related projects, with specific allocations for capital projects under a 1.5% subset of the tax. The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) rev...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) West Plains program is preparing to move into its new office at the Women’s Hope and Healing Center in January. The space, formerly known as the WHEN Warehouse, will also house victim advocacy services and provide resources such as clothing and food for participants. “This will allow us to serve our participants in a more comprehensive way,” said Alise Mnati, director of the West Plains Safety Alliance, during the Dec. 19 West Plains Safety Alliance meeting...
CHENEY – Director of Teaching and Learning, Kelly Niccolls, presented an update on the Schoolytics dashboard during the Cheney School Board meeting on Dec. 11. The platform will provide a comprehensive view of district data, aligning with the Cheney School District’s Strategic Plan. Features include attendance, demographic breakdowns, and academic performance metrics like NWEA, iReady, and Smarter Balanced Assessment (SCAC) data. She said that the current progress was that they are finalizing reports and communications bet...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – Alise Mnati, social worker and grant procurement specialist, presented a Community Impact report about recent grant awards at the recent city council meeting on Dec. 9. The report detailed how grant funding has helped bolster public safety and youth engagement initiatives in the city. Two officers received crisis negotiation training, and the city has secured significant grant funding through the West Plains Safety Alliance, a partnership Mnati helped launch in May 2020. Highlighting the work of the a...
1 Years Ago Jan. 8, 2015 Gas prices in Cheney hit $2.05 per gallon, the lowest in years, after Suki Poon rebranded the former Chevron as City Fuel. The drop coincided with oil prices falling below $50 per barrel for the first time since 2009. Matt Beal, a Cheney School District principal, was named a regional distinguished principal for Northeast Washington. Beal’s strong connections with students, staff, and the community made him a contender for the state award. The Cheney Lady Blackhawks basketball team secured wins o...
