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CHENEY – Tensions ran high at the August 21 Cheney Public Schools Board Meeting as teachers and community members voiced their concerns over what they believe are insufficient pay raises, last Wednesday. The protest, organized by the Cheney Educators Association, took place outside the meeting venue and gradually moved indoors as the evening progressed. Members of the teacher’s association gathered outside, holding signs and chanting slogans that called attention to their grievances. The protest was sparked by ongoing neg...
CHENEY — The Cheney Education Association ratified a contract with the School District on Monday, averting a strike. With the strike threat averted, students returned to campus for the start of the 2024-25 school year Tuesday. The new contract includes an 18% salary increase over the next three years for teachers. That includes a 7.2% raise in the first year, a 5% raise in the second year and a 5.8% raise in the third year. Initially, teachers threatened to strike if they didn’t receive a wage increase. The union initially pr...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS —A federal grand jury has indicted two women from Thurston County, Washington, on charges of bank fraud related to the unauthorized use of a bank account, recently. The bank account belongs to the Kalispel Tribe’s Northern Quest Resort & Casino. Kaydee Jean Baker and Beth Ann Hayes face ten counts of bank fraud, according to the indictment announced by Vanessa R. Waldref, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. The indictment alleges that Baker and Hayes ordered checks using a routing num...
MEDICAL LAKE — During the August 20 city council meeting, City Finance Director Koss Ronhault presented the 2024 second quarter budget report, offering insights into the city’s financial health and potential adjustments to be made as the year progresses. Ronhault shared that the general fund is performing as expected, with revenues at 53% and expenditures at 42% of the annual budget. “We’re seeing sales tax, gas tax, electric B&O, and building permits coming in above expectations,” Ronhault said. He noted that while eac...
Council votes to address public safety budget shortfall AIRWAY HEIGHTS — The City Council unanimously approved a reallocation of funds to address an emergent budget shortfall in the Public Safety department during its Aug. 19 meeting. Police Chief Brad Richmond requested the movement of grant indirect funds and savings from Spokane County Dispatch services into the Police Reserve Fund. The reallocation of $80,000 is intended to balance the department’s budget through November 2024. Chief Richmond emphasized that making the...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS—City Manager Albert Tripp discussed the upcoming bond measure for Cheney Public Schools at the Airway Heights City Council meeting on Monday. The bond measure, which will be on the November ballot, is part of a plan that aligns with the goals of Cheney Public Schools (CPS). During the meeting, Cheney Public Schools Superintendent Ben Ferney shared that the district previously ran three measures in February, including two levies and a bond, with only the bond failing to pass. “We did well with the process, but...
SPOKANE COUNTY — Spokane County Commissioner Al French has been reappointed to the state’s Transportation Improvement Board, where he will continue his work to enhance transportation safety across Washington. French was also recently elected to lead the Steering Committee of Elected Officials, a group that will play a critical role in shaping Spokane County’s growth over the next two decades. “I’m honored to have the opportunity to influence the future of our county, especially in areas like affordable housing, transport...
OLYMPIA — The Office of the Secretary of State certified the results of the August 6 Primary on Thursday and ordered a mandatory recount for the Commissioner of Public Lands race. The recount is expected to take about seven business days to complete. In the race, Democrat Dave Upthegrove secured second place with 396,300 votes, just 51 votes ahead of Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson, who received 396,249 votes. The narrow margin of 0.0064% triggered the recount. The candidate who finishes in second place after the recount w...
SUPERIOR, Mont.– The Mineral County Sheriff’s Office in Superior, Montana, reported Wednesday, Aug. 14 that 47-year-old Andrew T. Fortunati was found deceased. Authorities confirmed that Fortunati died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted wound. His disappearance was originally reported on August 8, when a family member reported Fortunati missing. His family stated that he was making concerning statements the following day, and that he had not been seen or heard since then. Andrew T. Fortunati was described as a whi...
CHENEY — Eastern Washington University has received a $975,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to help attract and keep more diverse faculty members in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The three-year grant will fund a new project called “Utilizing Practices to Leverage Institutional & Intersectional Formative Transformation,” or UPLIIFT. The project is led by Edwin Elias, an associate professor of Chicana/o/x studies at EWU Elias said the grant will allow his team to find better ways to re...
OLYMPIA —The Washington State Department of Ecology has implemented new water quality rules to protect aquatic life from toxic chemicals, marking an update to the state’s environmental standards, recently. These changes are based on the latest scientific research and recommendations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Tribal governments, and aim to safeguard species like fish and invertebrates from harmful pollutants. The updated criteria set limits for 42 chemicals in both marine and freshwater environmen...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS — Drivers using westbound US 2 through Airway Heights should expect lane shifts starting Friday evening as part of ongoing construction for a new roundabout at Lyons Road. Beginning after 7 pm on Friday, August 16, the two westbound lanes of US 2 will be shifted north to a new configuration along the northern edge of the roundabout construction site. The lane shift is expected to be completed before 5 am on Saturday, August 17. This project, led by the Kalispel Tribe and Garco Construction, has been underway s...
CHENEY —The Washington State Department of Ecology has renewed grant funding for the second year of the Public Participation project, a key initiative led by the West Plains Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Coalition, recently. The coalition, which launched in February 2023, has been actively addressing this type of contamination concerns in the region, with significant achievements recognized by state officials. The coalition’s early efforts focused on Fairchild Air Force Base, initially the only identified substances source in...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS — The Airway Heights City Council was briefed on the city’s preliminary 2025 State Legislative Agenda during its August 19 meeting. The presentation by consultants Briahna Murray and Emily Shay outlined key priorities and the political landscape leading up to the 2025 legislative session. With significant turnover expected in both the House and Senate, and a projected $500 million decrease in the state’s revenue for the current biennium, Shay said the city should plan to focus on a few top priorities. These...
CHENEY – Eastern Washington University (EWU) received two new members to its Board of Trustees, Carol Evans and Alexis Alexander, both alumni, who have been appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee to serve five-year terms until September 2029. Evans, a former chairwoman of the Spokane Tribal Business Council, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from EWU, earned in 1991, and received an honorary doctorate in June for her contributions to her tribe and community. She was the first woman to serve as tribal chair for the S...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – A local metal coating and engraving company has been fined $32,000. Spokane Galvanizing, was fined $32,000 by the state Department of Ecology for mishandling dangerous waste and contaminating soils. The company, known for galvanizing steel by cleaning and etching the metal with corrosive chemicals and acids before coating it in hot zinc, failed to manage waste properly, Ecology officials said. A June 2023 inspection revealed that Spokane Galvanizing had allowed corrosive waste to spill outside its facility, p...
CHENEY – At the council meeting on July 23, City Manager Mark Schuller provided an update on the new contract for Teamsters Union Local 690, covering the transition of former dispatchers to police support specialists for 2024-2026. This transition is part of the city’s integration into a regional dispatch system. “This is your first look at the draft agreement with the Teamsters,” said Schuller. “The Teamsters represent our former dispatchers, now transitioning to police report specialists.” The new roles for police supp...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – City officials presented the 90% design phase of the Sixth Avenue Extension Project, showcasing plans for a new route to enhance local access and promote sustainable urban development last Monday. Planning Director Heather Trautman led the presentation, highlighting the project’s role within the broader 6-12 Avenue Corridor Program. “This project aims to provide an alternative route for residents and businesses while incorporating multi-modal elements that reflect community input,” Trautman said. The design...
MEDICAL LAKE – Mayor Terri Cooper expressed strong opposition to proposals for turning the Pine Lodge Corrections center into either a jail or a homeless shelter, citing lack of resources and impracticality. She held a press conference on Sunday, August 4, which included State Representatives Jenny Graham and Mike Volz, State Senator Jeff Holy, and County Commissioner Al French, as well as Sheriff Nowels of Spokane County. The Pine Lodge Corrections Center, located across from...
CHENEY – Cheney Market opened its doors on Tuesday, July 30 this past week. The store was still being set up on Thursday, August 1, and there were boxes near the front counter, and at the cash register was Manjot Simgh, one of the co-owners of the convenience store. It is one of the only stores in Cheney that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. After allowing us to take a few photos of the interior, Simgh told the Free Press that he didn't have time for an interview. T...
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE – In response to a funding shortfall, the Innovia Foundation has launched a matching gift challenge to help send 175 military youth from Fairchild Air Force Base to YMCA’s Camp Reed in August. The summer program, known as Camp WANGY (Washington National Guard Youth), has traditionally been funded by the Air National Guard. However, recent changes in federal spending policy have led to a shortage of funds, leaving many children of military families without the opportunity to attend this year. For man...
In the race for District 9 House Position 1, Joe Schmick has taken an early lead with 15,094 votes. Pam Kohlmeier follows with 6,708 votes, while Arianna Arends trails with 1,389 votes. These results reflect the initial count on the first night of vote tallying. Vote counting in Washington State involves a meticulous process primarily conducted through mail-in ballots. Pam Kohlmeier, the Democratic candidate, resides in Spokane, Washington. Joe Schmick, representing the...
CHENEY – Cheney Public Schools is set to implement new K-2 literacy and secondary math curricula for the upcoming school year, following detailed presentations and unanimous board approval at the July 17 school board meeting. The new resources aim to enhance instructional quality and support both students and teachers in achieving academic success. Director Annie Wolfley, who presented the K-2 literacy curriculum, emphasized the district’s focus on foundational skills and teacher support. “We’re really looking at phonics...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The Airway Heights City Council approved a new two-year interlocal agreement Monday with the Cheney School District for the YES (Youth Education and Support) Officer program, marking a shift from the previous one-year contracts. Police Chief Brad Richmond presented the agreement, emphasizing the school district’s commitment to fully fund the officers’ salaries. “We are blessed to serve alongside the Cheney School District,” Richmond said. “Their support ensures that we can maintain a safe and positive en...
CHENEY — The Cheney School District is set to migrate to the Qmlativ system by July 2025, marking a significant upgrade in its data management capabilities. The district’s migration plan was detailed during the July 17 school board meeting by Kassidy Probert and Justin Minden, emphasizing the extensive preparations involved in the transition. Kassidy Probert outlined the timeline for the migration, which will see Cheney Schools moving to the new system alongside West Valley, East Valley, and Medical Lake school dis...
