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CHENEY — Few teams in college basketball appear to have been as affected by COVID-19 as the Eastern Washington men’s basketball team. Having already had several players sidelined due to positive tests and contact tracing protocols earlier in the season, another positive test within the program forced the cancellation of two games against the Portland State Vikings over New Year’s weekend. EWU then announced that it was shutting down its program through at least Jan. 10, which will also result in previously scheduled games...
PORTLAND - Two wins may not seem like much, but the Eastern Washington women's basketball team's pair of victories at Portland Stat Dec. 31 and Jan. 2 to open Big Sky Conference road play will surely be a confidence booster for a young team with just one senior that only managed three conference wins all last season. EWU won 73-71 in the first game and 73-67 in the second game. Eastern improved to 2-2 in conference and 3-6 overall with the two victories, and in both games...
MEDICAL LAKE—A popular sentiment after the shutdowns and hardships of 2020 may be for residents to plead for everything to “get back to normal.” However, simply hoping for things to get back to the way they were may not always be the right mindset, City Administrator Doug Ross and Mayor Shirley Maike said when discussing the city’s outlook for 2021. “It’s been nine months now,” Ross said. “I don’t like when people say ‘life returns as normal.’ Maybe this is normal.” He noted that the city functions nearly the same as befo...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS-When Gov. Jay Inslee's updated mandates shut down indoor dining in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and its rising totals in November, Justin and Jessica Davis, owners of Wolffy's Breakfast Burgers and Brew, knew it would be difficult to sustain a restaurant being solely reliant on takeout orders. So, they decided to get creative. During the first round of shutdowns, Wolffy's was shut down for about three months. Indoor dining, with heavy restrictions, was then all...
MEDICAL LAKE—Two-time individual state champion Ethan Davis, a senior who has grown up here his whole life, is heading to the Bay Area to wrestle collegiately for the San Francisco State University Gators. Davis announced the signing on National Signing Day, Dec. 15. Davis, a 17-year-old senior this year, won the individual 1A state title for the 170-lb weight class his freshman year in 2018 and his junior year in 2020. He said he’s most proud of his second state title, which...
CHENEY-If Eastern Washington University manages to fulfill all Eagle fans' ultimate dream and win two national championships in the same calendar year, it will have played over 20 games in the year 2021. EWU unveiled its 11-game regular season fall 2021 schedule, as the Big Sky Conference prepares for a hopeful spring schedule that would begin in late February. Notably, EWU won't have a chance at the rival Montana Grizzlies next fall, but will host conference foes Portland...
MEDICAL LAKE—The board approved the district’s 2019-2020 report card and disbursed board roles for 2021 in a quick meeting Dec. 22 that was over in 15 minutes before everyone wished each other a “Merry Christmas” and headed to a much-needed vacation. Board president Rod Von Lehe will retain his role in 2021. Departed board member Peggy Schweikhardt was vice president. The board nominated and approved Leo Spilker to fill the role next year. Laura Parsons will act as legislative representative. New board member Wendy William...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS—Council approved the final 2021 budget in its last meeting of the year, a Dec. 21 legislative session. The final budget includes several amendments from the original proposed 2021 budget, in both revenues and expenditures. The current expense fund had many of the budget amendments. Original proposed revenues were $11,339,381.87, while original fund expenditures were $10,954,801.65. Because proposed revenues dropped to $10,774,409.28, a 5% decrease, fund expenditures were dropped to $10,774,409.28, a 1.6% d...
CHENEY-A lack of Eastern Washington University students on campus due to pandemic restrictions and online classes took a chunk out of the city's economy. Now, it has played a part in claiming Alliance Tire Pros, which permanently closed Dec. 21. "We couldn't bank on students coming back...when they announced next quarter will be (mostly) virtual," owner Jared Posey said. He noted the absence of volume the business would normally get from students took away the profit margins f...
Fireworks were one of the highlights of the city of Airway Heights winter festival last Saturday, Dec. 19....
AIRWAY HEIGHTS - A healthy assortment of city and local representatives, lawmakers and public servants gathered via Zoom as outgoing mayor Kevin Richey was recognized for his 12 years of service to the city at council's legislative session Dec. 21. Richey resigned in October after taking the deputy chief job with the Spokane Valley Police Department. Councilmember Steve Lawrence was also recognized, as he announced his resignation last month after 10 months on council. Senator...
FLAGSTAFF, AZ—If any Eastern Washington fans were reminded of last year’s Big Sky MVP, Mason Peatling, when watching junior Tanner Groves put up career-highs of 26 points and 13 rebounds in EWU’s 80-64 road win over the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks in the conference opener Dec. 19, they weren’t alone. Head coach Shantay Legans referenced Groves’ consistent practice performances against Peatling last year postgame. He’s got a lot more games like that in him,” Legans said. “I saw him go against Mason Peatling in practices and w...
Mason Jar owners and siblings Douglas and Danielle LaBar, Tina Santiago and her nephew, Andy, and niece, Sofia, and significant other Kyle Brown stand in front of gifts Santiago helped compile and donate to the Cheney Giving Tree. Founded by the LaBar family, who between them own Touchstone Real Estate, The Mason Jar and The Jar, the Giving Tree provides grocery gift cards, local restaurant vouchers and holiday gifts to community members in need. Douglas LaBar said Summit and...
MEDICAL LAKE—Council approved a lease agreement with Lokket after the city was contacted by the school district about an opportunity to provide Wi-Fi at no charge to families in need. The agreement was discussed and given the green light at council’s Dec. 15 meeting. According to meeting documentation and city administrator Doug Ross, Lokket, which markets itself as a free Wi-Fi company with headquarters in San Francisco, San Diego and Sydney, Australia, was going to put their equipment on school buildings. However, bet...
MEDICAL LAKE - Former Cardinals wrestling coach Mike Carr, who spent 25 years at the helm of a highly successful program and 38 years teaching world and United States history in the school district, is a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2021. Carr was inducted into the Washington State Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005. He was nominated for the national Hall last year, but didn't expect to make the cut. "I was shocked at first," Carr said. "All of a sudden...
CHENEY-When sophomore forward Jacob Groves thundered down the lane and threw down a one-handed dunk in traffic around several College of Idaho Coyotes, he opted not to perform the "Raise the Roof" celebration his brother Tanner famously did after a SportsCenter Top 10 dunk almost exactly a year prior against another Cascade Collegiate Conference NAIA opponent, Multnomah. There was plenty to celebrate, however, as Groves' dunk with 7:32 left in the first half gave him two of...
Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause – aka Ken and Terri Cooper – greet visitors to Re*Imagine Medical Lake’s Winterfest celebration last Saturday....
CHENEY—Dec. 14 marked the start of Audubon National Society’s 121st Annual Christmas Bird Count, when veteran and beginner bird-counters alike gather on a specified date to gather in their area and spend the day counting birds. The counting season runs to Jan. 5, as it does every year. The closest bird counts marked on Audubon’s website this year are in Cheney and Spokane. Cheney’s listed compiler is Sandy Schreven. She said the Cheney count is taking place Dec. 19. “It is a bit more challenging with COVID restricti...
CHENEY - The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed or completely shut down many businesses. Not so at Swenson's Trees, located off Sherman Road about 15 minutes east of town toward Spokane and Marshall, where owner Mitch Swenson says their Christmas tree business has actually increased this holiday season. "We typically sell between 150 and 200 trees (each Christmas)," Swenson said. "It looks like we'll be above that this year." Long wait times at other tree farms may be increasing...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS — Councilman Steve Lawrence announced his intentions to resign from his position due to a move out of city limits at council’s study session Dec. 14. His resignation becomes effective Dec. 31. Lawrence has lived in the city since 1974 and has been on council for 10 years, including a two-year stint as deputy mayor. He raised three children in the city. Lawrence became the second councilmember to announce his resignation this year. Mayor and council chair Kev...
Participants kicked up their heels and pace during the Santa Run at last Saturday's Winterfest, hosted by Re*Imagine Medical Lake....
AIRWAY HEIGHTS — The city’s population growth has a natural effect on public safety. Recognizing this, the Planning Commission approved a letter to go to council requesting a joint meeting about the impacts that growth has on public safety at its Dec. 9 meeting. The letter was written in close consultation with Fire Chief Mitch Metzger and Police Chief Brad Richmond, city planner Heather Trautman reported to the Planning Commission, as the commission had unanimously voted to do at its Nov. 12 meeting after a lengthy dis...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS — The COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the city’s population growth, appear to be major factors in contributing to an increase in domestic violence and assault cases, as well as rising crime numbers overall. Police Chief Brad Richmond informed City Council on Nov. 23 of the rise in these cases during his budget presentation and shared the facts: In 2019, there were 74 assault and 171 domestic violence calls for service through November. From January to early December of this year, that number has risen to 99 as...
MEDICAL LAKE—City residents can now expect much quicker emergency response times for medical and fire needs, according to Fire District No. 3 Chief Cody Rohrbach. District No. 3 opened Station #311 on Dec. 1. The station is adjacent to city hall and houses at least two firefighters around the clock. Rohrbach noted that calls for service within city limits and just outside the city can now be responded to from a station within the city. Previously, Fire District No. 3’s clo...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS — After some discussion and clarification work from mayor Kevin Richey and city attorney Stanley Schwartz to make sure everyone was on the same page, council unanimously approved Proposition No. 1, which sends a ballot measure to voters on Feb. 9, 2021 that would adjust how the city selects its mayor. It was part of a busy legislative session held Dec. 7 via Zoom. If approved by voters, the city will move from selecting its chair of council in Pos. 1, who is by default the ceremonial mayor, to allowing c...
