Articles written by matthew o. stephens


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  • Airway Heights wins Smart Vision planning award

    Matthew O. Stephens, Reporter|Updated Oct 14, 2021

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The city has won an award for comprehensive and downtown sub-area development planning. The Smart Communities Awards program annually recognizes local governments and partners for working to effectively install the state’s Growth Management Act to manage growth, a sustainable economy and an increased quality of life, officials said. “These award winners model best practices that can easily be adapted by other communities,” state Commerce Director Lisa Brown said. “Their work demonstrates how thoughtfu...

  • School Board approves grants, moves multiple policies forward

    MATTHEW O. STEPHENS, Reporter|Updated Oct 7, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE – The School Board approved several annual grants including Title I, Title II, Title IV, and funding for the Learning Assistance Program along with moving several policies forward on September 28. Hallett Elementary School is directly affected by the Title I grant, and the allotment of $262,093 was approved with most expenses going to staffing payroll. This grant will also cover other benefits and professional learning costs associated with Title I. The Learning Assistance Program funding was also approved w...

  • Local man turns crafting into a career

    Matthew O. Stephens, Reporter|Updated Oct 7, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE – Steve Clough has turned his passion and crafting skills into his livelihood. The local businessman recycles used bullet casings and builds functional items for the home or office. He builds a variety of items including refrigerator magnets, pizza cutters, ice cream scoops, letter openers, outdoor camping tools and more. The 51-year-old craftsman said he started his business "Boolits And Brew" as an Etsy store in 2019 as a way to bring in some extra income and i...

  • Tankers set record at Fairchild

    Matthew O. Stephens, Reporter|Updated Oct 7, 2021

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS – Fairchild Airforce Base made history Sept. 29 when they successfully completed a minimal interval take-off exercise with 20 KC-135 Stratotankers. Each refueler weighs more than 98,000 pounds when empty and nearly 300,000 pounds at max capacity, officials said The 92nd Air Refueling Wing completed the exercise, and the planes were prepped and inspected by airmen from the 92nd Maintenance Group, officials said. The planes lined up in a formation called the ...

  • City recognizes Wolffy's owners

    Matthew O. Stephens, Reporter|Updated Oct 7, 2021

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The owners of a local restaurant were recognized Sept. 24 for their outstanding service in the community. Justin and Jessica Davis of Colbert have been running Wolffy’s Breakfast, Burgers, and Brew for five years, and were recognized for their efforts. Police Chief Brad Richmond and Fire Chief Mitch Metzger awarded the local restaurant owners with the plaque recognizing the hard work and community outreach the duo have helped organize. “They are always quick...

  • Cardinals cross country teams best opponents

    Matthew O. Stephens, Reporter|Updated Oct 7, 2021

    SPOKANE – The Medical Lake cross country boys and girls teams ran to victory over Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) and Riverside (Chattaroy) in the first league meet of the season for the Cardinals. "Our boys defeated Lakeside, 26-29," Coach Gene Blankenship said. "But to be fair, Lakeside was missing two of their Top 5 five runners. He said the Cardinal boys varsity boys team also defeated Riverside, 25-31, although the overall winner in the boys race was Jamal Distel of R...

  • Man hospitalized after being shot in chest

    Matthew O. Stephens, Reporter|Updated Sep 30, 2021

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS – A woman is being held in the Spokane County Jail on $250,000 bail after allegedly shooting a man and leaving him alongside the road Sept. 24. Katey Kaczar, 29, hometown not released, was booked into the jail the evening of the shooting. She is facing charges of first-degree assault with a firearm and first-degree armed robbery, jail records show. According to a Spokane County Sheriff’s Office report, deputies responded to a reported shooting near the intersection of U.S. Highway 2 and South Stroup Road, jus...

  • Infrastructure a focal point for budget projects

    Matthew O. Stephens, Reporter|Updated Sep 30, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE –City council members were focused on maintaining equipment, streets and sidewalks and allocation of money for parks projects during a 2022 budget meeting Sept. 21. Council members were called to introduce budget suggestions and many of the proposals were relevant to general infrastructure maintenance, including fixing stretches of damaged sidewalk, fixing, or replacing the city’s troubled street sweeper, and the possible purchase and installation of additional aerators. Some of the projects are dependent on a f...

  • City Council allocates money for eviction assistance

    Matthew O. Stephens, Reporter|Updated Sep 30, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE – During a Sept. 21 meeting, the City Council approved a $50,000 grant to help with rental assistance as the current eviction moratorium was extended and is set to expire at the end of October. City Administrator Doug Ross presented the topic as an action item and said this is the first expenditure the city has made with funding it received via the American Rescue Plan Act. The city was approved to receive close to $1.4 million in rescue plan funding and has received half of that total. The remainder will sit in...

  • Medical Lake baseball program looking ahead to next spring

    Matthew O. Stephens, Staff Reporter|Updated Sep 30, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE – Medical Lake Baseball Head Coach Austin Sharp was awarded coach of the year and the end of last season, with the team taking a lot of awards as well. With this being his fifth year as coach, Sharp said he has been helping rebuild the team over that span. "Every season I've been with the team, these kids have worked hard and doubled the amount of wins they brought home year to year," Sharp said. "We have a very strong team with the potential to reach state (...

  • Medical Lake runners win Division 3 in Portland

    Matthew O. Stephens, Reporter|Updated Sep 30, 2021

    PORTLAND – Medical Lake varsity girls and boys cross country teams continue to run strong as both teams won first place in Division 3 during the Sept. 25 Nike Portland XC 2021 races. The varsity girls race had a total of 134 runners between 18 teams, and the team placed first in part due to an incredible grouping as the team finished, according to Head Coach Gene Blankenship. He said the 1:11 span between the and the fifth team finishers is an excellent spread to finish w...

  • Airway Heights adds Hayford/U.S. 2 road modifications

    Matthew O. Stephens, Staff Reporter|Updated Sep 23, 2021

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS – Road crews will begin improving the intersection of Hayford Road and U.S. Highway 2 on Sept. 20 causing multiple lane closures and detours through Oct. 15. Drivers can expect some sections of Hayford to remain closed from through at least Oct. 1, Airway Heights City Engineer Mark Bergam said. Project leaders allocated four weeks for the project, but hope the work will be finished between in 2-3 weeks. The goal is to have two southbound left-turn lanes between Numerica and Wal-Mart, Bergam said. There is o...

  • Eastern State Hospital CEO Steps Down

    MATTHEW O. STEPHENS, Reporter|Updated Sep 23, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE - Eastern State Hospital Chief Executive Officer Mark Kettner resigned effective Tuesday, September 14 amid backlash about his administration’s mishandling of previous complaints about a nurse that is now accused of murder. With the resignation Kettner’s personal investigation closes, and the Interim CEO Tony Bowie will temporarily step into the position until a more permanent candidate is chosen. The investigation was regarding the way his administration handled previous allegations regarding former nurse Jos...

  • Chronic Wasting Disease a concern as hunting season begins

    Matthew O. Stephens, Reporter|Updated Sep 23, 2021

    CHENEY – The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is conducting an intensive surveillance program to monitor possible cases of Chronic Wasting Disease in regional populations of deer, elk, moose, etc. The monitoring program comes as hunting season gets underway. It is legislatively funded and being implemented after multiple case were found less than 200 miles away in Libby, Mont. “Chronic Wasting Disease is a definite risk to the area being as close as Libby,” Spokane District Wildlife Biologist Michael Atamian said. Atami...

  • Losh to lead West Plains chamber

    Matthew O. Stephens, Reporter|Updated Sep 16, 2021

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The West Plains Chamber of Commerce has a new executive director. Mark Losh recently joined the chamber as the new executive director. "I am very excited about this opportunity and challenge," Losh said. Losh comes into the position with more than four decades of business management experience, he said. He is also currently the director of membership for the Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce, a title he has effectively worked for more than three years. Losh sa...

  • Victory is Medical Lake's first since 2018

    Matthew O. Stephens, Cheney Free Press|Updated Sep 9, 2021

    PRIEST RIVER, Idaho – The Medical Lake boys football team opened the season strong Sept. 3, winning 28-0 against the Priest River Spartans. The team relied heavily on the rushing game to carry the club to victory. The win marks the first grid iron victory for the Cardinals since Sept. 28, 2018, when they edged Class 1A rival the Freeman Scotties, 16-14, at home. Due to illness and multiple injuries, the Cardinals' lineup had to be modified, Coach Jeremy Bahr said. Sophomore t...

  • Shoot-out

    Matthew O. Stephens|Updated Sep 9, 2021

    Medical Lake Forward Hailey Cross attempts a penalty kick against Freeman High School in the Cardinals’ first game of the season....

  • Medical Lake Cemetery Association prepares for fall work day

    Matthew O. Stephens, Cheney Free Press|Updated Sep 9, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE – The Medical Lake Cemetery Association is planning a community work day for Saturday, Sept. 25. Volunteers with the organization will be cleaning up the grounds for the old Medical Lake Cemetery at 21419 Thorpe Road. The group will be out with community volunteers doing some general maintenance, grounds keeping, etc., between 9 a.m. and noon. Organizers suggest volunteers bring gloves and yard-work tools. “Medical Lake Cemetery is not a perpetual care ent...

  • A firm grip

    Matthew O. Stephens, Cheney Free Press|Updated Aug 26, 2021

    Medical Lake football players hope early practice leads to catching some winning vibes this season. Football practice opened up for area high school and college teams, who are looking at their first fall season in two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic....

  • ML City Council OKS new speed radar trailers

    MATTHEW O. STEPHENS, Staff Reporter|Updated Aug 26, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE — The City Council recently held a meeting via Zoom, and discussed several issues present in the community. The choice to stay with Zoom meetings came as a result of recent news regarding in person meetings. The council discussed changes to their law enforcement department, announced the upcoming budget discussion, talked about water issues, and gave all the pertinent department reports. Medical Lake will be putting some new law enforcement additions to work in the near future. The city was awarded $20,000 to u...

  • Scottie Dog fire contained

    Matthew O. Stephens, Cheney Free Press|Updated Aug 19, 2021

    Cheney-area crews contained a blaze to about 140 acres late Monday afternoon. The incident started about 3 p.m. as a barn fire and spread to dry timber, prompting evacuation notices for residents in the area of Scottie Dog Lane and Pine Meadows Lane. Four Fire Bosses and two helitack units helped local crews suppress the blaze. One cottage and seven outbuilding were destroyed....