Articles written by james eik


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  • Cheney holds its own against Deer Park

    James Eik, Staff Reporter|Updated Jan 17, 2013

    Facing one of the most potent lineups in the Great Northern League, Cheney wrestlers held their own against Deer Park last Wednesday, Jan. 9. Although Deer Park started off with eight straight wins, Cheney was able to recoup some of its losses. Against a league-leading team like Deer Park, the effort proved to be a strong performance for Cheney. Deer Park ended up winning 46-27. “I really thought we wrestled fairly well against them,” head coach Wade Schlotter said in an email. After a struggling start, Schlotter said Che...

  • Keeping resolutions throughout the new year

    James Eik|Updated Jan 17, 2013

    bNew Year’s resolutions are a lot like the lotto: you have to play if you want to win. We all know people who make them, both the serious ones and the funny. It’s either about losing weight, becoming more organized, better money management or the attempt to not hear the campy song “Christmas in the Northwest” for the fifth year in a row. Yes, the latter is one of mine for this year. Proactive Change noted that about 40 to 45 percent of Americans make resolutions for the new year. And how many people keep them? Well, around...

  • Cleone’s Closet helps domestic violence victims

    James Eik, Staff Reporter|Updated Jan 17, 2013

    Purchasing affordable clothes and helping victims of domestic violence go hand in hand at one new Airway Heights store. After searching across numerous locations in Spokane for their thrift store over the past couple of years, the Women’s Healing and Empowerment Network selected Airway Heights as its home for Cleone’s Closet, located at 13514 W. Sunset Highway. The store, which opened Monday, Jan. 14, sells low-priced, gently used clothing for adults and kids and other hou...

  • Medical Lake crime drops in 2012

    James Eik, Staff Reporter|Updated Jan 17, 2013

    Overall crime went down in 2012 for Medical Lake, according to Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich at the Tuesday, Jan. 15 Medical Lake City Council meeting. The city saw 604 total responses last year, down from 633 in 2011. Knezovich did have a concern with the amount of violent crimes taking place in the city. “The only part that has me a little concerned about the report I’m giving tonight is that yes, crime is down. But Medical Lake seems to have a little more of the violent crime side of the coin,” he said. A large...

  • After JLUS: Airway Heights comp plan review continues

    James Eik, Staff Reporter|Updated Jan 17, 2013

    Following its approval of the Joint Land Use Study, the Airway Heights Planning Commission was back to its regularly scheduled agenda for its Monday, Jan. 14 meeting. This year will largely consist of updating the city’s comprehensive plan, which will take place from 2013 to 2016, depending on other issues that may arise throughout that time. This month, commissioners looked at some final changes to chapter three, which focuses on issues facing Airway Heights and the city’s vision statement for many of its larger dep...

  • Grant will fund AH sidewalk improvements

    James Eik, Staff Reporter|Updated Jan 10, 2013

    The year started quietly for the Airway Heights City Council in its first meeting of 2013, with only two action items on the Monday, Jan. 7 agenda. Airway Heights was recently awarded grand funding from the Transportation Improvement Board for pedestrian sidewalk improvements along Highway 2 from Garfield Road to Deer Heights Road. City Manager Albert Tripp said the city was eligible to receive both urban and rural funding through a number of grants. In addition to the sidewalk improvement grant, it submitted applications to...

  • Fully rested, wrestlers perform well at Cheney Invitational

    James Eik, Staff Reporter|Updated Jan 10, 2013

    Coming off of its winter break, the Cheney wrestling team took third place out of 15 teams at the Cheney Invitational Saturday, Jan. 5 at Cheney High School. Overall, six wrestlers placed at the event, marking one of the more successful performances of the team thus far in the season. Head coach Wade Schlotter said the team wrestled well on their own turf, with 22 Blackhawks taking part in the tournament. “One of the things I really like about hosting our own tourney is b...

  • Free monthly meal in Medical Lake is a consistent success

    James Eik, Staff Reporter|Updated Jan 10, 2013

    Feed Medical Lake continued to enjoy success throughout 2012, providing a free meal every second Monday of the month. The program, which has been running for a year and a half, has seen a regular attendance of around 55 to 60 diners at each meal. Last year, 644 meals were served to members of the community. There is no cost for the meal, and anyone from the public is welcome to take part. “December is always a big meal,” organizer Joanna Williams said. Last year was no exception to the rule, and proved to be the mos...

  • Talented trombonist Eubanks to perform with EWU jazz ensemble

    James Eik, Staff Reporter|Updated Jan 10, 2013

    Considered the premiere jazz trombonist of his generation, Robin Eubanks will entertain Spokane audiences Saturday, Jan. 12 at The Fox. Eubanks won’t be alone, and will perform with the Eastern Washington University Concert Jazz Ensemble, along with featured guests Tito Carillo on trumpet, Jeff Davis on drums and jazz vocalist Kate Reid. Music has been a constant force in Eubanks’ family, and became a stronger passion during his teenage years. Early on, his influences inc...

  • A time of transition: Newberry takes over at Fairchild Fairchild

    JAMES EIK, Staff Reporter|Updated Jan 4, 2013

    The last two weeks have been extremely active at Fairchild Air Force Base, with the change of command taking place Monday, Aug. 6. Former commander of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing Col. Paul Guemmer departed for Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, while Col. Brian Newberry assumed command. Newberry was the former commander of the 376th Expeditionary Operations Group at the Transit Center in Manas, Kyrgyz Republic. Prior to his departure, Guemmer met with members of the media to...

  • Open houses tried to explain JLUS impact

    JAMES EIK, Staff Reporter|Updated Jan 4, 2013

    The latest draft of Spokane County’s Joint Land Use Study received mixed reactions when presented to the public at a series of open houses this past March. At the time JLUS was entering the last stage of its drafting process, the document is set for discussion in Medical Lake and Airway Heights in the coming months. Formed around three Military Influence Areas (MIA), areas of Spokane County, Medical Lake and Airway Heights are affected on the West Plains. MIA Two follows a five-mile radius around Fairchild Air Force Base w...

  • Massive turnout for both sides of STEP project discussion

    JAMES EIK, Staff Reporter|Updated Jan 4, 2013

    Hundreds of people in support and opposition for the proposed Spokane Tribe Economic Project gathered at Sunset Elementary in Airway Heights Monday, March 26 to voice their opinion to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Around 60 members of the public from all walks of life commented on the development. Topics brought up throughout the night included the dwindling income from the Spokane Tribe’s other casinos, possible encroachment on Fairchild Air Force Base, job creation and some social difficulties within the Spokane Tribe. A 45...

  • Colville takes easy 66-18 GNL wrestling win over Cheney

    James Eik, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 28, 2012

    By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter After a bright start, Cheney’s Wednesday, Dec. 19 wrestling match against Colville took a turn for the worst. Cheney began strong, winning with three straight pins. Cameron Schlotter (195 pounds) pinned Colville’s Brock Vanquekelbert in 1:39, followed by Zach Corean (220) pinning Keegan Somers in 3:34 and Noah Ziemann (285) pinning Jedidiah Keating in 1:31. “We started off pretty well,” head coach Wade Schlotter said. “Then it kind of fell apart for us.” After those first three Cheney pins, Colvill...

  • Beaten, bloodied and fried, Seattle Mariners fans remain the best

    James Eik, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 28, 2012

    I’m not really allowed on the sports pages of the paper too often, and for good reason. But, I do have one sports passion in this world: baseball. I’m no statistician, or sabermetrics genius, but I do follow players’ stats pretty closely. And, despite their seemingly continuous struggles since 2003, I’m still an ardent Mariners fan. The team has put together signs of hope in recent years, but none of it panned out. 2007 was a fluke, as was 2009. But, despite a losing record last year, it truly looks like the ship is back on c...

  • Policy allows staff to use personal devices

    James Eik, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 28, 2012

    Teachers in the Medical Lake School District are now approved to bring their own personal electronic devices for use on the district’s Internet servers. At the school board meeting, Tuesday, Dec. 18, Superintendent Pam Veltri noted that this was just part of the changing of the times. “That’s the main change we were talking about, with staff,” she said. The district’s technology department would need to make sure the personal device is up to date with antivirus software before use in the school. Part of the Science, Technolog...

  • Supporting the community is priority for chaplains

    James Eik, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 28, 2012

    In an emergency, police and fire departments are the first things that come to mind. But, like many cities, Airway Heights has a group of chaplains who can provide help in emergencies, offering an extended arm of support for fellow residents. The city’s chaplains are on call for any situation that may arise from the city’s police or fire department. They are there to help provide support for victims and work with them to develop a plan for contacting family or other emergency contacts. In addition, Airway Heights’ chapl...

  • Deja vu: Medical Lake lives within its means

    James Eik, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 28, 2012

    By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter With another year’s budget placed in the books, Medical Lake can rest easy for a while. As has been the case for a number of years, the city has put together a balanced budget with revenues remaining, for the large part, somewhat stagnant. Next year’s general fund expenditures come in at $2,903,148, a drop of over $100,000 from this year’s $3.071 million budget. Revenues from the state have decreased, and contracts for work performed in the city, like road maintenance and utility work, aren’t becom...

  • JLUS moves step closer to reality

    James Eik, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 28, 2012

    Community leaders gathered last Wednesday, Dec. 19, to announce the implementation of Airway Heights’ Joint Land Use Study (JLUS), which sets development standards within the city. The document, which passed the City Council earlier in the week, establishes a set of protective measures for Fairchild Air Force Base in order to ensure the surrounding land use is compatible with the base’s mission. Col. Brian Newberry, Commander of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing said one of the first things he heard about when starting his job fou...

  • Cheney wrestlers struggle at Tri-State

    James Eik, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 21, 2012

    The Tri-State Tournament at North Idaho College proved to be a tough arena for the Cheney wrestling team this past weekend. Falling among the lower-placing teams, Cheney earned 28 points, with one wrestler in eighth place. Only a handful of wrestlers took part in the tournament, head coach Wade Schlotter said. “Overall it was an OK showing. I didn’t think it was a good showing by us,” he said. Zach Corean (220) ended up placing eighth in his weight class, and marked one of th...

  • Airway Heights approves JLUS

    James Eik, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 21, 2012

    The Airway Heights City Council approved its version of the Joint Land Use Study at its Monday, Dec. 17 meeting. The land use document intended to provide additional protection to Fairchild Air Force Base passed with a unanimous vote. “We have JLUS,” Mayor Patrick Rushing said. Airway Heights has been working on the document with surrounding jurisdictions for several months now, in an attempt to make the document more urban-friendly. City Planner Derrick Braaten frequently iterated that the version passed by the city of Spo...

  • STEP meeting draws criticism

    JAMES EIK, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 21, 2012

    The Spokane Tribe Economic Project discussion returned to the West Plains last week, but not without controversy. New Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn was in the Spokane region for two days to visit with numerous parties involved in the STEP project and to learn firsthand more about the project. Among those he visited included the Kalispel Tribe, Spokane Tribe and Airway Heights City Council. “You all, as elected officials, have particular standing to give us community input,” Washburn said. In-...

  • Dec. 7-8 matches give good results for Cheney wrestling

    James Eik, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 13, 2012

    By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter Now that its first two matches in the books, the Cheney High School wrestling team has made some great strides in establishing its senior leadership. The team traveled to Aberdeen for a Dec. 1-2 tourney against a large number of regional teams, and walked away with a several first-place wins and close finishes. Out of the 18 on the trip, 16 took part in the tournament. Taking first place in their weight class were Vern Sanderson at 145 pounds, and Zac Corean at 220 pounds. Second-place wrestlers...

  • Remodeled Care and Share opens to the public

    James Eik, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 13, 2012

    After a long stretch of nips and tucks, the Medical Lake Care and Share thrift store is back open for business. The store first went under the knife Monday, Oct. 15 and reopened to the public last Saturday, Dec. 8. Prior to the remodeling, the store was cramped into one part of the Dora Burt Center on 211 N. Lefevre St. Now, it has some room to stretch out into proper departments, giving it a proper store environment. The Care and Share used to share half of the building with...

  • Wreaths ceremony honors veterans, educates students

    James Eik, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 13, 2012

    Honoring veterans during the holidays returns for a third year at the Veterans Cemetery. The state cemetery is once again the site of the Spokane area Wreaths Across America program Saturday, Dec. 15 at noon. The event’s organizer, Julie Pittmann, said around 140,000 wreaths will be placed at veterans’ headstones at 800 cemeteries in 50 states and other territories. Of those, 500 will be placed by volunteers at headstones at the Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake. Wreaths are a...

  • JLUS moves to AH council

    James Eik, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 13, 2012

    Airway Heights’ version of the Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) is on its way to the City Council, following a unanimous recommendation by the Planning Commission. At its Monday, Dec. 10 meeting, City Planner Derrick Braaten said the current version of JLUS was built for the city, after extensive discussions between surrounding jurisdictions. The city has been involved with the JLUS process since the original report was released in 2009. Most of the work, however, has taken place in the last 12 to 18 months. “It’s a living docum...

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