Sorted by date Results 226 - 250 of 264
CHENEY – Democratic incumbent Vicky Dalton is ahead with 51.9%, or 73,031 votes after the first round of counting in the Nov. 8 general election. Republican challenger Bob McCaslin is trailing with 47.9%, or 67,307 votes. Dalton, a certified public accountant and government finance manager, has been Spokane County auditor since 1999. McCaslin, a public school teacher and volunteer, and has served in the state Legislature, where he was also a co-sponsor for the 51st state m... Full story
CHENEY – Spokane County Commissioner Al French is leading Maggie Yates with 50.83%, or 15,225 votes in the Nov. 8 general election. Yates is currently behind with 49.02%, or 14,683 votes after the first round of ballot-counting. French, a Republican incumbent, was elected as county commissioner for District No. 3 in 2011. Previously, he had served as Spokane city councilman and council president, pro-tempore, from 2001-09. French received a bachelor's degree in architecture with business finance minor from University of I... Full story
CHENEY – Non-partisan challenger Deb Conklin trails incumbent Larry Haskell with 43.91%, or 59,667 votes. Haskell is in the lead with 55.67%, or 75,658 votes. Conklin, a former senior criminal deputy prosecutor, hoped to "stop the revolving door" in the criminal justice system, saying on election night that "The results tonight were disappointing. We had hoped to do better. I really thought that Spokane county was ready to really embrace justice and fairness." Conklin went on to say that "We thought the city was ready to a... Full story
CHENEY – Sergeant Chad Eastep has been on administrative leave from the Cheney police department, as the result of an investigation, since June 2021. City administrator Mark Schuller confirmed this, saying "Yes, he is on administrative leave because he is under investigation." When asked if the city made any personnel changes to cover sergeant Eastep's absence, Schuller replied "We've made some organizational changes at the police department to ensure proper supervision of p...
CHENEY – In a public hearing for the 2023 tax levy, finance director Cindy Niemeier proposed changes to levy lift. Oct. 25. “The tax levy, as a whole, is a property tax levy and its how government in general is funded.” Niemeier said. “There was a state law passed a few years ago that limited how much a resident’s property taxes can increase. From 2021 to now, the tax payer’s property values went up 36% on average. That doesn’t mean that property taxes go up by the same amount, because of that state law limit.” Resid...
CHENEY – An electrical rate study, performed by FCS Solutions, was presented to the council and contained projections on electrical energy costs and plan options. Oct. 25 “The rate study was a required study that helps us acquire the necessary data to set rates appropriately.” City administrator Mark Schuller said. “We have to make sure we have enough revenue to maintain the electrical system.” Schuller said. Currently, council is entertaining two separate proposals; the substation bypass project and the Cheney substation reb...
CHENEY - Overnight snowfall across the county leaves many stranded on the road or confined to their homes. As per usual in the first snow, bus schedules are disturbed and commuters run late as residents try to navigate the terrain in town and on the highway. Reports indicate that as many as three STA buses were temporarily stuck on 1st street and near the Cheney high school. Additionally, the slush immobilized several vehicles parked on Salnave road, 3rd street, and "H"...
CHENEY – Students at Kappa Sigma fraternity house party report being given an unknown substance in a drinking cup, Wednesday night. Nov. 2. The fraternity house at which the event allegedly occurred is in Cheney, not on EWU campus. “That makes it a Cheney police job.” Interim police chief Rick Bechtel said. “Somebody allegedly saw a post on TikTok about somebody giving out these drugs and reported it to the Cheney police and it is now under investigation.” Bechtel said that he then reported the investigation to Chief Jew...
CHENEY - In the Walker street area, Cheney residents and their kids enjoy the decorations and candy. These three youths traversed the town as a set and parents dutifully chaperoned....
CHENEY – Tim Steiner traveled with the Inland Northwest Honor Flight as a guardian with a Cheney veteran and several others. Oct. 17. With the honor flight were 2 World War II veterans, 7 Korean War veterans, and over 90 Vietnam veterans. Over 60 guardians were present on this year's honor flight. This honor flight is a chartered trip hosted by INHF for veterans. The purpose of this trip is to give veterans of the inland northwest the opportunity to visit the major combat m...
MEDICAL LAKE – Jaime Clark, owner of Rusty Truck Ranch, commented on the proposed changes to the Medical Lake urban growth area. Oct. 27 Medical Lake planning commission opened a public hearing for proposed changes to the urban growth area. The proposal modifies the size and the location of the growth area, and several residents who could be affected were present. “This would be devastating to us.” Clark said. “If we are re-zoned, or annexed to the city, it would certain...
CHENEY – Todd Ableman brings a revised ordinance (Ordinance Y-27) to the council regarding shipping containers as residences. Oct. 25. This revised ordinance proposed several changes to the city building code that outline how shipping containers can and cannot be used by residents. There is still a moratorium in effect that prohibits residents of Cheney from applying for permits to use shipping containers on their property. The revised ordinance recommends changes to the c...
MEDICAL LAKE – Erin D. Dascher, PhD, of the EWU Geo-sciences department, gave a presentation on the importance of wetlands and of conservation in Medical Lake. Oct. 27. Dascher’s presentation highlighted the effects which humans have on water systems in general, and focused also on Medical Lake’s specific ecosystem. “Ecosystem services” Dascher said “are the benefits which ecosystems provide to the surrounding communities as a matter of their basic nature.” “Medical Lake...
CHENEY – Art History 300 class completes project on writing and art from "prehistory-17th century," on display at the JFK Library on campus. Oct. 27 Annie Cunningham, lecturer in painting and art history, directed and participated in the project. She said "The whole process was fascinating. The best part of the project was really that it was the first time anybody had done that." Referring to the scope of the project itself. "Getting out of our comfort zones and getting a...
CHENEY – City Administrator Mark Schuller noted at council meeting on Oct. 25 that the city library entryway needs to be replaced. Ongoing maintenance to this structure has helped to keep it in working order for over ten years. Now this regular maintenance can no longer sustain the electronic and mechanical components. The city administrative budget indicates that approximately $39,000 is allocated to the library for various reasons. However, Jane Baker, Communication & D...
CHENEY – During the Sept. 28 School Board meeting, Superintendent Ben Ferney reported that the Student Access and Safety Program at Cheney High School is going well. The program is meant to foster student engagement with staff and build a safer and more positive environment. Its team consists of several specialists and two Airway Heights Youth Engagement Specialist police officers. The team was in attendance during the Sept. 28 meeting. The goal of the program is “building relationships and addressing the culture of the sch...
CHENEY – The resolution to increase the contract amount to repair reservoir one from $60,000 to $310,000, will be deferred to November meeting. Oct. 25 The company contracted to survey the integrity of reservoir one proposed a $250,000 roof design for the aging structure. This amount was factored in to an amendment to the resolution which had budgeted $60,000 for the structural survey. “The original contract was for assessment only. We only spent $13,500 of that.” Todd Ableman, City Planning Chair, said. “Now we have to desig...
CHENEY – The Finance Committee’s budget report for 2023 prompted councilman Mark Posthuma to comment. “We elected to spend $30,000 on a vaccine subsidy, and only $15,000 on local businesses.” He said. “I think we should be spending more on small businesses. I think this budget communicates that we may not care about those businesses.” In response, mayor Chris Grover said “There are certainly a number of other projects that have been undertaken in behalf of our residents.” Citing the lamp-post signs and Rejuvenate Chen...
CHENEY – Former Cheney police captain Rick Beghtol fills interim police chief position, Oct. 17. “We aren’t sure how long he will be here, but we are actively looking for someone to permanently fill the position.” City Administrator Mark Schuller said. “Rick has over 40 years of experience as a professional, and served the city of Cheney as captain up until 2021.” When asked why the Mayor decided to bring him out of retirement for this temporary position, Schuller said “His knowledge and his ability to oversee patrol and in...
CHENEY - Now located at 614 3rd St. in the Wren Pierson building, the Cheney Museum can be difficult to find. Oct. 21. "We moved here during the pandemic, and it was really out of necessity." Joan Mamanakis, a volunteer at the museum, said. "The building is part of the contribution that the city makes to the museum." Approximately half of the space in the building is actually dedicated to historical panoramas and other relics. "The other half is storage for items that need to...
CHENEY – Eastern's Adaptive Athletics program hosted a tournament against the University of Arizona wheelchair basket ball team. Oct. 21. The tournament also included Team St. Luke's and Parasport Spokane. Bob Hunt, a founding member of the EWU team, said that "This is our first collegiate game. I helped start the team, in fact, and I couldn't be more proud." "All the same rules apply; the only difference is that we get to touch our wheels twice before we have to dribble." H...
CHENEY - EWU Adaptive Athletes take on Parasport Spokane at Reese Court this afternoon. Oct. 21. At 6:00p.m., the Adaptive Athletes will be playing against the University of Arizona at Reese court. This will be the first competitive collegiate game for the Adaptive team....
CHENEY – Former police chief John D. Hensley tendered his resignation, which took immediate effect, on Oct. 11. The letter indicates that his resignation was at the request of Mayor Chris Grover. As an “at will” non-contracted employee, Hensley’s employment was subject to the pleasure of the mayor. Public records and correspondences between Hensley and the mayor gave no direct indication of the mayor’s motivation to ask Hensley to resign. However, in an August 2022 interdepartmental email, Hensley indicated his intent to...
Eastern Washington University's Homecoming pep rally and bon fire took place at the corner of 2nd Street and G Street in downtown Cheney. Oct. 13. Fire Marshall Tim Steiner said "I'm happy we were able to make the bonfire happen this year. I've lit the fire for the past fifteen years." The bed races took place on 1st Street about an hour after the pep rally. In attendance were faculty and students from the university....
CHENEY - Scott Rautio is restarting his mobile small engine repair business after 18 months. Once located at 16 W. First St., Rautio's engine repair business is now completely mobile. "I will come to your house and repair the equipment right there. You don't need to go anywhere." Rautio specializes in repairing yard-care equipment; everything from lawn mowers, riding tractors, weed eaters, chain saws, rototillers, snow blowers and more. "The pandemic was difficult for me,...
