Sorted by date Results 501 - 525 of 3077
CHENEY – Another summer event has fallen victim to the coronavirus. In a letter to the community released May 23, Cheney Events Association officials announced that this year’s Cheney Rodeo and Rodeo Parade had been canceled. Officials noted that the decision came after “much discussion and deliberation” but in the end the conclusion was the health requirements needing to be followed to stage the rodeo and parade wouldn’t allow either to be conducted. “We discussed at length trying to make it work, but just felt due to many...
CHENEY – While a lot of uncertainty remains surrounding impacts from the coronavirus pandemic, city civic and business leaders are optimistic it remains posed to continue the growth it saw before the outbreak shutdown businesses and economies. Even with the possibility of double-digit reductions in revenue, Cheney City Administrator Mark Schuller officials told almost 100 participants of a West Plains Chamber of Commerce “zoom call” on development last Wednesday that projects put off due to restrictions imposed to combat the...
CHENEY – One never knows what a citizen comment will do to public officials. For instance, at the May 26 Cheney City Council meeting, a lone comment expressing frustration with parking in the city got members debating the pros and cons of suspending paid parking in light of the situation with coronavirus restrictions. The comment from Robert Simpson expressed a desire to see parking become free throughout Cheney, including around Eastern Washington University where most meters are located. Simpson was apparently unhappy t...
CHENEY – Two people were injured – one critically – in a single-car accident just south of the Fish Lake Park entrance on Cheney-Spokane Road early Sunday morning. According to Spokane County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Cpl. Mark Gregory, a Chevy Impala driven by 19-year-old Brandon Bird of Spokane was southbound on Cheney-Spokane Road at just after midnight, May 31. Bird was traveling at a high-rate of speed, approaching 100 miles per hour when he lost control of the vehicle, went down an embankment and rolled, coming...
CHENEY – The Community Clothing Exchange has reopened for business — at least temporarily. In a May 27 news release, Clothing Exchange Director Connie Oakes said they will be opening on two separate Wednesdays this month, June 3 and June 17. The release was too late for publication in the May 29 Cheney Free Press. Oakes said they will continue to be open every other week through the summer months, although volunteers will be there likely on a weekly basis to keep the Exchange stocked and cleaned. “I’ll have our hours posted...
CHENEY – Eastern Washington University’s Board of Trustees got a glimpse into the financial future of the institution at its May 29 meeting — and it’s not exactly very bright. Vice President for Business and Finance Mary Voves told the trustees via a virtual meeting that the university will be looking at revenue reductions in a number of areas, mostly because of impacts from the coronavirus pandemic. The first comes from declining enrollment – with operating fee revenue from this source estimated at $12 million. The unive...
CHENEY – The Community Clothing Exchange has reopening for business — at least temporarily. In a May 27 news release, Clothing Exchange Director Connie Oakes said they will be opening on two separate Wednesdays, June 3 and June 17. The Clothing Exchange will be observing social distancing protocols regarding limiting any spread of the coronavirus by restricting entry to no more than three customers at a time, unless customers are in the same household. All customers must wear masks, as will volunteers. “We have set up the c... Full story
CHENEY – Commencement exercises for the class of 2020 will be a five-day affair, culminating in a video to be run on June 12 - the original date for Cheney High School's ceremony. At its May 27 meeting, Superintendent Rob Roettger gave school board members an overview of items to honor seniors, whose normal final year activities have been denied due to restrictions surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. The main part of the plan begins June 1, as seniors and up to five m...
CHENEY – A major aspect of the coronavirus pandemic is that people age 60 and over are among the most vulnerable to contracting the disease it carries, COVID-19. According to Washington Department of Health statistics, this population only accounts for 31 percent of the cases of the disease, but over 90 percent of the deaths, while in Spokane County, those percentages are 39 and 90 as well. Unfortunately for many non-profit agencies, it’s this age range that makes up most of...
MEDICAL LAKE – A local veterans group has submitted a proposal to rename State Route 902 through Medical Lake as the "Gold Star Memorial Highway." The Eastern Washington Veterans Task Force has submitted the proposal to rename the 12.36-mile route that runs from Interstate 90 exit 272 through Medical Lake and returns to I-90 at exit 264 to the Washington State Transportation Commission. The commission is schedule to take up the proposal once it reconvenes as COVID-19 phase r...
Despite not being able to hold a traditional ceremony this year, the Washington State Veterans Cemetery northwest of Medical Lake was still visited by a number of people Monday who paid their respects to servicemembers no longer with us on Memorial Day....
CHENEY – The Public Schools Board of Directors approved an application at its May 13 meeting to apply for an emergency request waiving the number of school days and hours required set forth by the state to be met in order to determine the minimum level of basic education. The resolution approved the adoption of the district’s continuous learning plan that was implemented in response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s closure of K-12 public schools on March 13 due to the spread of the coronavirus and subsequent extension of that closu...
CHENEY – A financial fraud apparently launched in Africa has found its way to the West Plains. According to police, as of May 25 at least 22 incidents have been reported of an unemployment scam authorities are calling very sophisticated, immense and seemly targeted at Washington state, although other states have also been impacted. While fraud, Cheney is classifying the incidents as identity theft. “We chose to classify them as identity theft because the victims’ names and social security numbers were used in an attem...
CAMP MURRAY, WASH. – A report released late Tuesday evening, May 26, indicates that transmission of the coronavirus and the disease it carries, COVID-19, is trending upwards in counties east of the Cascade Mountains. The report also indicates trends in the spread of the disease are slowing in Western Washington. The report findings are based on what is referred to as “the effective reproductive number,” a measure of how many new infections derive from a single case of COVID-19. A reproductive number below one means the number... Full story
SPOKANE – Regional Health District officials announced today another 23 confirmed new positive cases of the novel coronavirus and the disease it carries, COVID-19. The new cases bring the county total so far during the pandemic to 526, with 31 deaths. The 23 new cases are the highest daily total since the first three cases of the disease were confirmed back on March 14, according to Spokane Regional Health District statistics. The county has recorded 20 or more cases three other times during the pandemic, 21 on March 25 and M...
WEST PLAINS – Like many other things in life right now, Memorial Day is going to look different this year. All three cemeteries on the West Plains have canceled their respective observances due to prohibitions on large gatherings as part of measures enacted to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Two are hoping to provide other options for individuals and families who wish to mark the day with remembrances of those who have given their lives in service of their country. Cheney Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 11326 was e...
Monday is Memorial Day. By tradition, it’s the 152nd anniversary of the day set aside to remember those who lost their lives serving our country. I say by tradition because the first incarnation of this observance, Decoration Day, started on May 30, 1868. According to History.com, there were other, smaller observances prior, many marking the end of the Civil War. There are three days we have set aside as official days to commemorate and recognize those who have served, and are now serving in our armed forces. Memorial Day, V...
CHENEY – Cheney Care Center recreation director Kris Bahr wanted to do something to cheer up the residents who have been prevented from going outside the care facility since early March due to coronavirus restrictions. She eventually hit upon an idea she thinks will do the trick and put a smile on everyone’s face — puppies. Bahr is staging a “Cheney Care Center Puppy Parade” on June 10, beginning at 2 p.m. She is asking anyone in the community with a well-behaved dog, puppy or older, to come by the Care Center and parade ar...
RITZVILLE — Flags will be put up to honor veterans in observance of Memorial Day at 10 a.m. Friday at the Ritzville Memorial Cemetery, followed by placement of flags at the Lutheran Cemetery, according to Jeff Kissler of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Kissler said Monday morning, the flag will be flown at half-staff until noon, when the flag will be raised to full-staff until sunset, in accordance with the tradition of honoring the nation's battle heroes. Kissler will play t...
By JOHN McCALLUM Managing Editor Monday is Memorial Day. By tradition, it’s the 152nd anniversary of the day set aside to remember those who lost their lives serving our country. I say by tradition because the first incarnation of this observance, Decoration Day, started on May 30, 1868. According to History.com, there were other, smaller observances prior, many marking the end of the Civil War. There are three days we have set aside as official days to commemorate and recognize those who have served, and are now serving i...
CHENEY – A dining favorite in the city has shut its doors permanently. Lenny's American and Italian Fine Cuisine on 1st Street has officially closed. While a post on the businesses Facebook page March 28 noted they were closing their doors due to restrictions imposed by measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Jennifer Matika, wife of owner John Matika, said today (May 14) they had made the closure permanent. "It's very devastating for us to have to close down" she s... Full story
CHENEY – The City Council found its way to doing some non-coronavirus related business last Tuesday night, passing resolutions approving project engineering services, building a wall on a Light Department building, entering into a medical equipment services agreement and providing data collection for the Kalispel Tribe of Indians Police Department. The latter is a 36-month extension of an existing agreement between the Kalispel’s and Cheney’s Police Department to provide data collection, storage and sharing services. The n...
Sunday, May 18, 1980 was a warm, cloudless day in the Inland Northwest. For Tom Trulove, that meant mowing the lawn. Pushing the mower in his front yard, the Eastern Washington University economics assistant professor and recently minted Cheney Mayor noticed a dark, ominous cloud along the western horizon about midday. Sensing the approach of a thunderstorm, he picked up the grass-cutting pace. Not far away and fearing the same outcome from the advancing cloud, Jay Martin did...
CHENEY – High school officials are hoping a plan they have submitted for holding commencement will receive official state approval. At the Wednesday, May 13, school board meeting, Superintendent Rob Roettger said they had submitted a plan to Gov. Jay Inslee's office to hold a commencement ceremony for this year's graduating class. Large gatherings of more than 10 people have been banned as one of the measures enacted in late March to slow the spread of the coronavirus, w...
WEST PLAINS – Even under normal circumstances, municipal budget experts are cautious about their revenue projections — often preferencing statements with “We think” or “We hope.” A global pandemic is certainly not a normal circumstance, leading budget writers on the West Plains to preface their statements with “We don’t really know yet” when asked about potential local fallout from a near shutdown of the various economies. Airway Heights City Manager Albert Tripp looks at potential impacts from the lens of the Great Recessi...
