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CHENEY—When EWU wheelchair basketball head coach David Evjen was hired in January, one of his first tasks as the leader of the fledgling program was to assemble a roster. Seven months later, he has found the minimum number of players needed to field a team: five. Now, amidst a global pandemic and uncertainty clouding when the team can see its first ever game action, the players and Evjen are honing their skills and growing team chemistry, hoping they can compete soon. “We are...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS--Both eastbound lanes and one westbound lane on Highway 2 at milepost 276 near Rambo Road by Fairchild Air Force Base are blocked after an accident between a hay truck and car around 9:30 a.m. this morning. Expect delays. The car reportedly pulled out on front of the hay truck, which swerved, clipped the car and rolled over, sending hay tumbling onto the side of the highway. The driver of the car was partially ejected and was transported to the hospital with...
The first day of school on Monday for Medical Lake kindergartners carried all of the usual uncertainties – plus some new ones. Masks were the norm for those leaving their parents for the first time, as were temperature checks, such as the one performed on a youngster by Hallett Elementary School Principal Kristin Kuster (left). Staff said 40 new students attended school on Monday....
AIRWAY HEIGHTS--City mayor Kevin Richey will resign from his position effective Dec. 31, 2020, he announced at council's study session tonight. Richey, currently a sergeant with the Spokane Valley Police Department, recently accepted a new job as assistant chief with the same department. He cited an increasing amount of responsibilities with this position as his reasoning for resignation. Richey has one year left on his term after 2020. More information will be in this week's edition of the Cheney Free Pre...
SPOKANE--A scheduled debate between candidates for the 6th Legislative District House Pos. 1, featuring twice-incumbent Republican Mike Volz and challenger Zack Zappone, a Democrat, has been postponed after Volz fell ill earlier this week. Volz began quarantining Monday and got tested for COVID-19 after showing symptoms, he said in an email. He said his test results came back negative today. He added that he hopes to reschedule the debate for next week. The debate, hosted by KSPS, was to be pre-taped during the afternoon of...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS — Facing a $1.9 million city budget gap largely brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, council approved ordinance C-943 to amend certain parts of the budget at its Oct. 5 meeting. According to meeting documentation, proposed revenue is down $399,268.92, from its original plan. The $40,370,725.90 decline to $39,971,456.98 is a 1% drop. The biggest revenue difference is in the casino impact reserve fund, which will drop to $62,046.18 to $88,737.80, a $373,308.38 difference. Another big drop comes to the park reserv...
Correction from Oct. 1 issue In an article in the Oct. 1 issue titled “In-person learning to slowly return in Medical Lake,” the writer incorrectly wrote that “populations studying from home include special needs students” due to a mistype. Those populations are studying in-person. MEDICAL LAKE—The district unveiled its plan for an Oct. 12 return to in-person learning Monday, roughly two weeks after its initial announcement that some students could return to the model. The district’s plan falls into two phases. The first p...
DISTRICT 6 — Running a political campaign isn’t free, but some running for office tend to spend more than others. Last week, the Cheney Free Press reported on campaign contributions for the four candidates running for the House of Representatives: Incumbent Mike Volz and challenger Zack Zappone for Position 1, and incumbent Jenny Graham and challenger Tom McGarry for Position 2. After press time last week, the PDC reported a $75,000-each contribution to the campaigns of Zappone and McGarry from the House Democratic Cam...
RENTON—More tweaks have come to the benchmarks for playing high school sports, as the WIAA updated its return-to-play guidelines Oct. 6 following new guidance given by Gov. Jay Inslee. Sports have been grouped into three categories based on the “risk level” they provide in regard to possible transmission of COVID-19: low-risk, moderate-risk and high-risk. Various sports can return based on their risk level compared to COVID-19 transmission within their community. Local COVID-19 activity will also be measured in three categori...
MEDICAL LAKE--The school board officially approved the district's plan to slowly return to in-person learning at a special meeting Thursday, Oct. 1. Preschoolers and kindergartners will return Oct. 12. They'll be followed by first and second graders, but the district has yet to provide a specific date for when they can return. Superintendent Tim Ames said he hopes first and second graders can return at the same time, but that's presuming that the re-opening with preschoolers and kindergartners go well. Following will be...
CHENEY — Incumbent Republicans are up for re-election against Democrat challengers in the race for both Position 1 and 2 in the House of Representatives in District 6, which covers the West Plains and portions of Spokane outside downtown. Twice-incumbent Mike Volz is being challenged by first-time politician and middle school teacher Zack Zappone for Pos. 1, while incumbent Jenny Graham is facing Spokane attorney Tom McGarry for Pos. 2. Following is a breakdown of the campaign donation totals each candidate has received since...
MEDICAL LAKE - After over a month of most students studying from home, the school district will be following many other Spokane County districts in beginning a slow and steady return to in-person learning, the district announced Sept. 25 on its Facebook page. In-person learning, beginning with preschool and kindergarten, will begin to phase in Oct. 12, pending approval of the district's re-opening plan by the board. A special board meeting to approve the plan will be held...
MEDICAL LAKE—Those planning to head to Medical Lake this weekend may want to plan an alternate route to avoid construction occurring at the State Route 902/Medical Lake interchange off Interstate 90. The eastbound off-ramp at Exit 272 off I-90 will close Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. through Oct. 5 at 5 a.m. Additionally, a single lane of I-90 will close Oct. 3 from 3:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., according to a press release provided by Beth Bousley of the Washington State Department of T...
REARDAN - A crowd of around 50 people gathered at the Mann family ranch off Highway 231 north of town Friday, Sept. 18 for a dedication of a historical marker recognizing Medal of Honor recipient and Reardan native Joe Mann, who died at 22 after jumping on a grenade to protect his comrades in World War II. The event began with a welcome message by Rae Anna Victor of the Jonas Babcock chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. A presentation of colors by the Fairchild...
MEDICAL LAKE — Small businesses who experienced negative financial situations directly attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic can now apply for coronavirus relief funding (CRF) grants through an application process available on the city website. The city received $225,225 in virus relief fund allocation from the state as part of the federal CARES act. Council agreed with city administration’s plan to allocate $120,000 of those funds for small business grants, and city adm...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS—Revitalizing and developing the downtown area of the city has been a hot topic for years. Now, council and the planning committee are anxious to start making practical steps toward downtown development, a sentiment discussed during council’s study session Sept. 29 that included a joint workshop with the planning committee. The city received a $50,000 grant from the Department of Commerce to prepare a downtown plan in spring 2020 and is partnering with SCJ Alliance Consulting Services to develop that plan, whi...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS-Residents needing farming, sporting and agricultural goods may be anticipating the arrival of the 95,000 square foot, 16-acre North 40 Outfitters location just east of the city limits off Highway 2 and Deer Heights Road. Construction began on the popular farm, ranch and outdoor company going in just north of Spokane International Airport at the end of August. "Full lines of feed, tack, animal health, fencing, hardware, tools, plumbing, electrical and automotive...
MEDICAL LAKE — Most unusual criminal activity in town for August boiled down to the Aug. 27 shooting on Howard Street, where one man was left in critical condition and two others were questioned and detained, Undersheriff Rob Sherar of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office reported to council at its Sept. 15 meeting. The council packet included the sheriff’s office’s monthly statistical crime review for August. The investigation regarding the shooting is still ongoing, but Sherar reported that the incident contributed to aggrav...
MEDICAL LAKE — Gov. Jay Inslee handed out more coronavirus relief funds (CRF) obtained by the CARES Act to state municipalities Aug. 31, and the city was the recipient of an additional $75,075 as a result, bringing its total allotment to $225,225. City Administrator Doug Ross informed Mayor Shirley Maike and received consensus from council regarding his proposal for how to divide the funds at council’s Sept. 15 meeting. He stressed at the meeting that the money is not a check handed out to the city by the state, but is rec...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS — The two families that lost homes in the Bartholomew and Christensen road fires Aug. 27 and Sept. 7, respectively will soon be getting some assistance from the community. Wolffy’s Burgers partnered with Heights Church to host a spaghetti feed Saturday, Sept. 19, with 100% of proceeds benefitting those fire victims. The fundraiser brought in around $5,300, well exceeding the original goal of $2,000. “The community really showed up and showed tremendous suppo...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS—Council approved a letter to be sent by Mayor Kevin Richey to the Kalispel tribe concerning mitigation payments the tribe has reportedly withheld at its Sept. 8 legislative session. According to city documents provided in the meeting agenda, the city entered into a Memorandum of Understanding in 1996 and an Intergovernmental Agreement in 2006 with the tribe. “The Kalispel Tribe agreed to make payments to the City for impacts of Class III gaming services and for the provision of City services including uti...
The pandemic may have put an axe in many sporting activities this fall, but nothing is stopping hunters in Eastern Washington from enjoying the outdoors and trekking down some wildlife as the season gets underway. Some hunting seasons have already begun, while others kick off soon. Below runs a guide to each season by animal and weapon type, with an emphasis on opportunities for youth. Information is obtained from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife relative to Spokane District 2, which include Game Management Unit...
CHENEY—A chlorine leak in a room within the Archer-Daniels Midland facility at the 600 block of 1st St forced haz-mat response and an employee evacuation before the chlorine dissipated Sept. 9. Within that room lies a 150-pound chlorine tank that is swapped out daily, according to Cheney Fire Department Chief Tom Jenkins. “They do this almost 200 times a year,” Jenkins said. Employees went to close the tank during this routine, thinking it was empty. “Based on their log and based on the gauge, (which) read zero, they thought...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS—Two fires near the city that began to burn on Labor Day are 100% contained over a week later. A fire that burned off North Old Trails Road northeast of Northern Quest Casino, now known as the Euclid Track Fire, is 100% contained and 100% trailed after burning through 260 acres, according to D.J. Green of the Department of Natural Resources. “We will continue to send resources out there for the next several days to monitor it and check on it, and basically check for any heat,” Green said. Six structures were...
CHENEY—Jay Day spent the early 1990’s trying to shut down opposing receivers on the Eastern Washington University football team as a defensive back. Nearly 30 years later, he’s taking over for retiring EWU Police Department Chief Tim Walters. But being a cop wasn’t even on his radar coming out of college. “It was just kind of one of those lucks of the draw,” Day said. “I didn’t even know, at the time, that it would grab hold of me like it did.” Day originally enrolled at EWU in 1991, where he quickly met his now wife, Esp...
