Sorted by date Results 176 - 200 of 264
CHENEY/AIRWAY HEIGHTS – Multiple vehicle prowling incidents were reported by Airway Heights and Cheney police departments between Dec. 19-31. Cheney Police Chief Rick Bechtel said “The holidays provide a density of opportunity for vehicle prowlers, and we usually see an ebb and flow of increased activity during these times.” Lieutenant J. Keith of Airway Heights police also commented, saying of the prowls “There’s no evidence that they are in any way related or connected in an organized way.” “It’s unfortunate,” B...
6 was a year of change and growth for the members of the Cheney Free Press. Reporters, interns, employees, came and went. Every member of our team left an important mark on the press and on our community. Here we take a brief look at some of the ups and downs of 2022 in the press. January Presents with a Purpose serves 80 Cheney students this year By Sarah Stephens Sarah wrote this piece on Cheney resident Andrew Graham, a 26 year old real estate agent who started Presents With a Purpose. “His organization began three y...
CHENEY – Eastern Washington University Police placed Jarell Davis in Spokane county jail on Dec. 21 on four outstanding warrants for first and second degree trespassing. Davis (19) was booked into Spokane county detention center on Dec. 21 and charged with two counts of first-degree criminal trespass and two counts of second-degree criminal trespass. Sergeant Nick Gerard of the EWU police said “A staff member recognized Davis and reported him for trespassing inside Dryden Hall on Dec. 21. We arrested him on criminal tre...
MEDICAL LAKE - City Administrator, Sonny Weathers, commented on the fatal shooting that occurred on Dec. 23, 2022. "We want to thank both the members of the Spokane Country sheriff's office and fire district 3 for responding so rapidly to the situation and restoring safety to our community." The incident involved victim Colin Bastow, and suspect Cynthia B. Metsker. "The investigation is ongoing, but it is clear that this incident stemmed from a domestic violence situation."...
OLYMPIA – A Spokane County Superior Court has halted all of its previous coronavirus pandemic orders. In a Dec. 20 ruling, the court ruled its Emergency Order No. 17 and all previously issued coronavirus emergency mandates in the county were rescinded. Spokane County Superior Court issued 16 COVID-related emergency orders from Feb. 29, 2020, to October of 2022. “While I’m glad that the Spokane County Superior Court has rescinded its COVID-19 emergency, frankly I think this...
MEDICAL LAKE – A local woman is facing several criminal charges following a fatal shooting here on Friday, Dec. 23. Cynthia B. Metsker, 24, is being held in the Spokane County Jail on $700,000 bond after being arrested Dec. 23 in connection with the slaying of Colin Bastow. She was booked into the on charges of second-degree murder (intent to kill), first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, fourth-degree assault, theft-city, third-degree malicious mischief-domestic v...
As the dawn of a new year approaches, it is important to pause and take stock of ourselves, and of the many mercies and comforts we enjoy. After all, “Gratitude,” Cicero said, “is not the greatest of the virtues, it is the parent of them all.” Of course, much has been lost in our society, and even more has been changed by the passage of these last few years. But not all that undergoes a sea-change in the wake of a storm is unsalvageable; in fact, some of the most preciou...
CHENEY – Inferno wings, on 401 1st St., closed its doors on Dec. 2 due to rising food costs and other issues. Derek Baziotis, owner of the establishment, will soon open a new restaurant in the same location. “With the way that the economy is working right now, especially in food service, costs increasing, labor, we had to make the difficult choice.” Baziotis said. The restaurant officially opened in its current location in May of 2022, after having operated out of anoth...
CHENEY – Council votes unanimously to approve 2023 budget on Tuesday Dec. 13. The third and final public hearing and reading took place at the meeting, as well as a reading of the amendments to the budget. Approved discretionary requests for the police department included two new patrol cars, the drone equipment and training program, and a digital fingerprint scanning system. Parks & Recreation received approval for a replacement deicer unit and a new director for the d...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS - Spokane county prosecutor's office has filed a warrant which charges Aleksander Kurmoyarov and Mandie R. Miller with unlawful imprisonment, first degree criminal mistreatment, and second degree murder. According to the Mitchell, SD police department, Kurmoyarov (28) and Miller (33) were arrested on Dec. 15 after the Davison county coroner informed them that the pair were traveling through the city from Airway Heights with the body of their deceased daughter...
SR 904 sidewalks being attended to on December 12 in response to recent snowfall....
Fire Chief Tom Jenkins presents volunteer firefighter Brandon Tillman with the firefighter of the year award....
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – Cleone’s Closet, a food pantry on Sunset Highway, is partnering with the Rec center and municipal court to run a food and toy drive from Dec. 1-16. The toys will be distributed through the facility at their main location at 13114 W Sunset Highway from 12p.m. to 2p.m. on Dec. 21. The food accumulated from the drive will be added to the general supply and distributed at the main facility Mondays and Fridays from 12p.m. to 2p.m. Cleone’s Closet was started as a...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS - City council votes to reduce fire, EMS, and police services in two areas owned or held in trust by the Kalispel tribe. City administrator Albert Tripp said “The Kalispel tribe failed to pay on two separate contracts for service from the city, so we are reducing service proportional to that lack of payment.” One of these contracts, established in 1996, between the city and the Kalispel tribe, was paid annually until 2019. The second contract is a 3-party contra...
CHENEY – Council voted 4 to 3 in favor of Resolution F-092, to apply for an Urban Growth Area land swap of 10 acres from the south of Cheney to the north. Prior to discussion and voting, a presentation was given by representatives of a local developer, Cheney Cohousing, regarding the potential for developing the area. Councilman Vincent Barthels commented on a request received by council that he recuse himself from participating in the voting on this resolution due to an a...
CHENEY – Donna Mann, Dean of the College of Health Science and Public Health at Eastern Washington University, has approved funding for a pilot EMT program partnership between the college and the Cheney fire department. Students can now enroll in a 10-credit class, the first of which will begin on Jan. 9 2023, which Battalion Chief Jeff Anderson and EWU instructor Nate Lawton will teach. The partnership also includes an agreement with with Fire District 3 which entails the u...
CHENEY – Changes to parks and recreations programs follow the school district recommendations. Several programs which are hosted by the parks and recreations department were canceled Nov. 30 due to inclement weather. These cancellations were made in conjunction with the Cheney school district’s own winter advisories. Kellie McGinleyAshe, director of Parks and Recreation, said “We follow the school district’s recommendations concerning weather. So, if they close, we close our programs, or if there’s delay, we have a matching...
CHENEY - City planning commission recommends resolution to change boundaries of urban growth area. This recommendation was made to council on Nov. 22, but due to the absence of two council members, voting was deferred to the next council meeting. Brett Lucas, Senior Planner, said "Spokane County board of commissioners makes the ultimate decision, but we recommended that city council adopt a resolution of support which directs staff to make the application." "We would be...
CHENEY – Holiday hoopla began at the public library at 5:30p.m. on Dec. 2. The event included such activities and amenities as crafts and ornament making for kids, group story time in the children's section, hot chocolate, and the tree lighting. Also in attendance were members of the Cheney Centennial Lions Club, who were hosting and helping with the Christmas card making program. The cards made at this event will go to the residents of the Cheney Care Center. The Mayor g...
MEDICAL LAKE – Spokane county’s policing contract with the city expires Dec. 31. The contract states that Spokane county will continue to police the city for a maximum of two years, and in that time the city will develop a new plan for services. The contract was originally due to be automatically renewed by Dec. 31 unless either party, the city or Spokane county, gave notice of a desire to terminate services and initiate a transition plan. “I asked council in October to allow...
CHENEY – Washington State patrol dispatch reported that a 2015 Toyota Corolla impacted an active snow plow on Sunday Dec. 4, inflicting minor injuries to both drivers. The incident occurred approximately two miles east of Cheney. The driver of the Corolla was arrested afterward on charges of driving under the influence and the vehicle was impounded. The department of ecology was called in to clean up a small fuel leak that was caused by the accident....
MEDICAL LAKE – The winter festival, in collaboration with Re*imagine Medical Lake, begins at 10a.m. on Dec. 10 at Medical Lake high school with a breakfast with Santa event, and ends at Coney Island park with fireworks. “Winterfest was really intended to create a taste of small-town America.” Mayor Terri Cooper said. “We want everyone to feel like they are walking into a Hallmark movie.” A few events, such as the reindeer petting zoo, will be held outdoors, but others wi...
SPOKANE - A representative at the national weather service office reported that their records indicate that Nov. 30 was the 32nd snowiest day of any 24 hour period recorded to date. Additionally, Spokane international airport measured 7.5 inches, which breaks the previous record of 6.1 inches, set in 1975. November total snowfall in Spokane county was 18.5 inches. The 30 year average for November is 6.2 inches. The following measurements were given for areas around the...
CHENEY – What defines community? The character of a town is surely a collection of things, some of which have to do with entertainment, food, and residents. But I would say that community is a state of being; it is the relationship between all the people in the area and the overall atmosphere of how they engage with each other. So, as you read about your local police department’s chaplain in our community section, or view the Dow Excavation company’s Christmas decorations on t...
CHENEY – Chaplain David Flowerdew tells us about serving his community as a chaplain with the Cheney police department. “I’ve been doing this since about 2010 for Cheney PD. Originally, I went down there because there were some children in the church that started a program called “Adopt a Cop.” They wrote letters to the police officers and I went down there to talk about it. Well, then they said they needed a chaplain. So here I am.” The press asked Flowerdew if there were...
