Sorted by date Results 76 - 100 of 3077
CHENEY – They city of Cheney sent notice to residents on March 2 that potentially harmful chemicals known as polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were found in Well No. 5. The well is a seasonal water source located on Presley Drive used to compensate for additional water use during the summer months. According to the notice, the city's water division collected PFAS samples from the well on Oct. 7, 2021. A second set of samples taken on Dec. 6 confirmed the initial test r...
CHENEY – Patrol officers with the Cheney Police Department will be sporting body cameras come March 21. The news of the addition to their apparel was announced during a city briefing on Tuesday, March 8. "The implementation of body-worn cameras is an example of the police department's commitment to being transparent with our community," Chief John Hensley said. Additionally, the officers of the Cheney Police Department have overwhelmingly embraced the use of the cameras and u...
CHENEY – The city of Cheney is the recipient of a $3.49 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant. The government funding intends to help communities of all sizes across the country get back on their feet following the economic devastation left in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ARPA fund provides relief for cities, towns, and communities in the United States through State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLRF). Communities with over 50,000 people receive direct funding. Smaller communities, considered n...
CHENEY – Former Eastern defensive line coach Jeff Copp is taking on the defensive coordinator role for the Eagles. Copp has taught every defensive position on the field during his tenured career and is familiar with the Big-Sky Conference competition, having spent time coaching with UC Davis, Northern Arizona, and Idaho State before coming to Eastern in 2020. “I’ve coached every position on defense at some point in my career,” Copp said. “Coming to Eastern Washington and coaching the defensive line again, which I hadn’t do...
CHENEY – Washington state aims to increase the penalties for thieves looking to rob their local pot shops. Senate Bill 5927, sponsored by Sen. Jim Honeyford (R-Sunnyside), would increase the sentence of those convicted by a full year if the bill becomes a law. Pot shop robberies have been an issue since mid-2014 when recreational cannabis sales became available to the public. MJBIZDAILY, which has provided cannabis business information since 2011, sites Uncle Ike’s i502 Robbery Tractor listing 60 robberies since January of...
The Lancer faithful celebrate the Liberty boys basketball state championship win over Brewster. See story in Sports....
CHENEY – Major staff shakeups continue to play out at the Cheney School District (CSD). In addition to looking for a principal and superintendent and hiring a new spokesman, the District is now looking for a head coach for the boys’ basketball team after coach Tierre Warren resigned. “His vision and the vision the school had weren’t on the same page,” said Cheney High School Athletic Director Tim Kennedy. “When different levels are operating on different plans it’s hard to mesh.” Kennedy said CSD will begin its search for...
CHENEY – The historic Cheney Depot is transitioning to an eatery that will include a restaurant, outside dining area and coffee bar. City Senior Planner Brett Lucas said the most prominent exterior alterations include adding new French doors to the existing sliding doors and putting them in the baggage and freight rooms. They will also be removing the loading dock to make room to raise the existing freight room floor. According to City Building Inspector Terry Mourning, i...
CHENEY – Last Tuesday, March 1, six cars in Cheney were damaged. The string of incidents, Cheney Police Captain Nate Conley said, could be related. “There’s a high probability they’re related based on relation of location and time,” he said. Most of the damage happened between 900 block of Second Street and the 1400 block of Third Street. Vehicle window damage was also located on the 200 block of Elm Street. Two vehicles had their tires slashed, three had window damage and a door was damaged on one other vechile. “We have...
RALSTON – Two Washington State Parks representatives will be in Ralston on Tuesday, March 15, to discuss opening a new trailhead for the Palouse to Cascade Trail. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., ranger Travis Gabriel and manager Audra Sims will be at Ralston Grange No. 943, on state Highway 261, to discuss development of the trailhead. Trailhead areas typically provide parking, signage and access to the trail, officials said. Development of a new trailhead would come as the state wraps up other improvements along the John Wayne Pione...
OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee is considering a measure that would make it illegal to sell, manufacture and distribution so-called “high-capacity” magazines for firearms in Washington state. Senate Bill 5078 passed the House, 55-42, last Friday, March 5, advancing the measure to the governor’s desk. The bill makes it a gross misdemeanor in the state to sell, distribute or manufacture magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. It does not make it illegal to own such magazines. “This policy will save lives and make...
CHENEY – School Board President Mitch Swenson ended the in-person board meeting Feb. 23 when resident Ivan Khala refused to follow coronavirus mandates. "Unfortunately, we had to go to virtual and call the police because he refused to," a visibly frustrated Swenson said. "I don't know what to say." Khala, however, downplayed the disruption. "That's how you do it," Khala said. Khala said he believes the School Board should do everything in its power to end mask mandates. He d...
CHENEY – Mitchel Palmquist, Cheney School District's new communications director, comes to his new position with years of experience working with schools in Spokane County. Palmquist was the communications director for the Catholic Diocese of Spokane for five years, where he oversaw a communications program for the large religious institution, including 13 elementary schools, according to a Feb. 23 press release. "The chances where I got to share positive stories and e...
CHENEY – Shari McMahan is the new president of Eastern Washington University. The board of trustees announced the news in a Feb. 24 press release. McMahan is the 27th president of the university and the second woman president in the institution’s history. McMahan was one of the four finalists out of 60 applicants. She is currently the provost and vice president for academic affairs at California State University in San Bernardino. McMahan beat out interim president David May for the job and Monroe Gorden Jr., vice pre...
CHENEY – Washington’s redistricting commission has finally settled on its new congressional and legislative district maps putting Cheney and the West Plains in the fifth congressional district. The West Plains will be in the sixth and ninth legislative districts. Cheney and most of south-eastern Washington will be in the ninth legislative district, while Medical Lake, Fairchild Air force Base, and Airway Heights reside in the sixth district. Current senators like Mark Schoesler will continue representing the new bou...
CHENEY – Cheney High School is officially searching for a new principal as of Feb.15. This search includes input from middle school and high school students from around the district via a Google survey that is available from the school district until March 3. “It is common practice, especially at the secondary level, to include students as part of the interview process for new administrators and teachers,”Kelly Niccolls, teaching and learning assistant director said in an email to the Cheney Free Press. “Students are the cen...
CHENEY – The Eastern Washington University football team has brought on a new coach to tutor their wide receivers, according to an Eagles Feb. 28 press release. Greg Hardin makes his way to Cheney via Oregon State University, where he spent time as the Beavers graduate assistant. He also helped coach the wide receivers, cobbled together scouting reports, worked on passing game concepts, ran the scout defenses and even helped the Beavers recruit. Hardin spent time coaching receivers at Robert Morris University, where he h...
OLYMPIA – The Super Bowl’s most valuable player, an Eastern Washington native, was celebrated in a Senate resolution this week. Cooper Kupp, a Yakima native and former Eastern Washington University football standout, was celebrated in a resolution for his career, work ethic and humility. The resolution recognizing Kupp was sponsored by 6th District Sen. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney, and 14th District Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima. “Let’s talk about being a role model,” Sen. Holy said during a floor speech on the resolution. “Cooper K...
CHENEY – A Feb. 16 post on the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the cause and manner of death of Loghan Starbuck, a 25-year-old Cheney woman who went missing on Dec. 18, 2021. But that information is not being released to the public at this time. On Jan. 10 of this year, authorities pulled her body from the Spokane River. While police cannot release any information during an ongoing investigation, Plan B Forensics LLC, a local forensic and expert witness service in criminal investigations, was heavily inv...
CHENEY – Stephanie Olsen was raised in Cheney, pursued her entire legal career in Spokane County, and is running to be its next prosecutor. She challenges incumbent Larry Haskell in a race that features two Republican representatives. Olsen thinks she’ll be a good fit for the position. “I’ve run a business before, I’m a good communicator, I’m a good listener, and that has been part of the problem (with the current prosecutor),” Olsen said. “I will go to the meetings — I wi...
CHENEY – Keith Fauerso, long-time director of the Cheney Care Center, is retiring at the end of March. Fauerso has been at the helm of the facility since 1988. "We're kind of unique as we are the only not-for-profit skilled facility in the state of Washington that was founded through community effort," Fauerso said. The original care center was located where the El Rodeo Mexican restaurant is. The Washington Department of Social and Health Services closed that facility in t...
CHENEY – Winter sports officially wrapped with the swim and wrestling teams representing well at the state tournaments. The Blackhawks sent three wrestlers to the Mat Classic in Tacoma this past weekend, Feb. 18 and 19. Junior Joe Showalter competed in the 132-pound weight class, Junior Dalton Taylor wrestled at 152, and senior Ezra Anderson competed 182 pounds. "All three of these guys really peaked at the right time of year and their hard work during the season and out of se...
Cheney Police Reports Reports from 2-15 to 2-21 By Jonathan Olsen-Koziol Cheney Free Press Feb. 15 1994 Black Honda Civic abandoned on the 700 block of Chestnut Street. Harassment reported on the 2300 block of University Place. Jeffrey W. Pontier, 54-year-old male was arrested on felony harassment on the 200 block of North Eleventh Street. Tools and clothing stolen from garage on the 1000 block of Betz Road. Feb. 16 Stuffed animals and pillows stolen from the 500 block of Buena Vista Street. Feb. 17 Vehicle window broken on...
CHENEY – The Cheney City Council is as tired of the discussion revolving around vaccine mandates as you are. Once again, the subject of requiring vaccinations for employees of the city of Cheney reared its divisive head during the regularly scheduled council meeting on Feb 8. Resolution E-993 was the latest document regarding vaccine mandates for future city employees and a vaccine incentive for all employees. This resolution states that vaccinated employees would receive a monthly reimbursement of $50, going back to January...
CHENEY – The Schoolhouse Lofts is one of the most unique buildings in Cheney. The structure, built in 1931, was the original Cheney junior high school until 1967. In 2017, it was retrofit into a residential apartment building that houses many of today’s Eastern Washington University students. The Lofts stands as one of the best examples of how to take an old building and retrofit it into something that has utility in modern-day society. “That was a particularly well-done prese...
