Articles written by Roger Harnac


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  • Ditch the cellphones, celebrate Thanksgiving

    Roger Harnack, Valley News Herald|Updated Nov 26, 2024

    Ah, Thanksgiving. Turkey, cranberries, pumpkin pie and family. It’s a time to give thanks and celebrate family traditions. But that can’t happen if you’re glued to a cellphone. As adults, it’s time to set an example and put those devices away. Spend time with your family partaking in longstanding traditions or creating new ones. There’s no need to be spending the day surfing social media. Instead, enjoy real social media with family and friends. Talk together, eat together, en...

  • Ditch the cellphones, celebrate Thanksgiving

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Nov 26, 2024

    Ah, Thanksgiving. Turkey, cranberries, pumpkin pie and family. It’s a time to give thanks and celebrate family traditions. But that can’t happen if you’re glued to a cellphone. As adults, it’s time to set an example and put those devices away. Spend time with your family partaking in longstanding traditions or creating new ones. There’s no need to be spending the day surfing social media. Instead, enjoy real social media with family and friends. Talk together, eat together, enjoy each other’s company. You have a lot to be tha...

  • Pullman teen killed in crash

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Nov 20, 2024

    ROSALIA — A Pullman teenager was killed Saturday morning, Nov. 16, in a five-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 195. Zion M. Bischoff, 13, was transported from the scene of the crash about 3 miles north of Rosalia to Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, where he was pronounced dead, the Washington State Patrol reported. Stephen A. Bischoff, 44, also of Pullman, was also transported to the hospital, where he was treated and released. Nobody else was injured in the crash. The crash investigation prompted closure of the highway, and tra...

  • Freeman, Liberty earn state 2B berths

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Nov 14, 2024

    CHENEY – Local volleyball fans were treated to small-school excitement on Nov. 7, with state berths on the line. Playing the finals rounds of the District 6 Northeast 2B tournament in Cheney High School, Freeman topped Liberty (Spangle) in the championship to earn state berths. And in the consolation round, Colfax bounced back to spike Davenport for the final two state berths. State volleyball got underway Wednesday morning in the Yakima SunDome. The No. 3-ranked Freeman S...

  • Fall respite

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Nov 13, 2024

    A bull moose takes a break on a knoll at a wetland area along Cheney-Spangle Road. This time of year, the moose is known to frequent this area, prompting motorists to stop for a photograph....

  • Spangle Trunk-or-Treat

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Nov 11, 2024

    The Spangle community hosted its annual Trunk-or-Treat Halloween celebration on Thursday, Oct. 31. Dozens of rural youth turned out to take in spooky fun and treats offered by residents and businesses in the parking lot of Spangle Foods and Fuel, 315 W. Jennings Road....

  • Scotties hold off Broncos in 'mudbowl'

    Roger Harnack, Valley News Herald|Updated Nov 7, 2024

    RITZVILLE - The Bronco boys football team kept pace with the No. 4-ranked Freeman Scotties on Friday night, Nov. 1, but they just couldn't get points on the board. The Scotties won, 20-0, on a wet, muddy Jimmy Snider Field. "If wish we could find a way to break through," Broncos Coach Brandan Bermea said. "But I'm really proud of our guys." Freeman Coach Mike McKeown also praised the Broncos for a great game. It was a fun way to end our season, coming into a different...

  • Serrano trailing in AG race

    Roger Harnack, Valley News Herald|Updated Nov 7, 2024

    PASCO — State Attorney General candidate Pete Serrano is keeping his spirits high as he watches ballots return over the next several days in the Nov. 5 general election. Early returns Tuesday night, showed Serrano trailing Nick Brown; the two are vying to replace Bob Ferguson, who is running for governor. The unofficial early tally showed Brown with 1,412,902 votes (56.47%) and Serrano with 1,087,107 (43.45%). Brown was leading in 10 counties; Serrano in 28, including 19 of the 20 in Eastern Washington. At press time, C...

  • Endorsement of the initiatives

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Nov 2, 2024

    Four measures on the Nov. 5 general election could make a difference in your lifestyle and your wallet. Here’s what you need to keep in mind when you cast your ballot: Initiative 2066 This initiative would repeal regulations that attack your ability to use nature gas use dryers, stoves, heating systems and more in your home and business. It would also restrict government agencies from implementing policies and programs that promote the use of electric appliances over n...

  • Kodiaks maul Cardinals, 42-14

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Oct 31, 2024

    MEDICAL LAKE - It was a Homecoming game to forget, as the visiting Cascade Kodiaks from Leavenworth mauled the Cardinals, 42-14, on Friday, Oct. 18. The Kodiaks (4-2) opened scoring on their first possession of the game, when senior quarterback Will Biebesheimer called his own number, broke off tackle and raced into the end zone. Cascade tacked on the extra point to take a 7-0 lead. But while that opening salvo set the stage for the night, it was the Kodiaks' next two...

  • Homecoming Salute

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Oct 31, 2024

    MEDICAL LAKE - Medical Lake High School's Homecoming halftime celebration on Friday night, Oct. 18, featured a special saber salute by the school's ROTC, honoring the Homecoming Court in front of an excited crowd. Senior fullback Cylas Huzycki proudly escorted senior Adasha Gardner through the arch of raised sabers during the ceremony. The evening was filled with school spirit, despite the Cardinals' tough loss to Cascade....

  • Medical Lake celebrates homecoming

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Oct 31, 2024

    MEDICAL LAKE – Despite the chilly October night, Medical Lake's Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 18, was filled with school spirit and smiling faces. The halftime show brought the crowd to life, with Homecoming royalty, performances, and a unique Candyland theme adding to the atmosphere. Senior King Tysan Newman and Queen Madison Spring were crowned in front of a cheering audience, while classic cars chauffeured the Homecoming Court to and from the football field. Princesses a...

  • Three Yeses and a No

    Roger Harnack, Valley News Herald|Updated Oct 31, 2024

    Four measures on the Nov. 5 general election could make a difference in your lifestyle and your wallet. Here’s what you need to keep in mind when you cast your ballot: Initiative 2066 This initiative would repeal regulations that attack your ability to use nature gas use dryers, stoves, heating systems and more in your home and business. It would also restrict government agencies from implementing policies and programs that promote the use of electric appliances over n...

  • Pink Night in Rosalia

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Oct 18, 2024

    Rosalia High School senior Briley Smith bumps a pass as her Tekoa teammate Clare Wilkins assists in the Timberwolves' 3-0 loss to Oakesdale on Thursday, Oct. 10....

  • Aurora Borealis over Tekoa

    Roger Harnack, Valley News Herald|Updated Oct 17, 2024

    A house and hill in Tekoa are silhouetted against bright pink and green lights of the Aurora Borealis....

  • State license plate shortage literally highway robbery

    Roger Harnack, Valley News Herald|Updated Oct 17, 2024

    Motorists in Washington state are sometimes handing over hundreds of dollars for licensing of their vehicle, but only receiving paper plates in return. According to an Aug. 28 legislative report, the state is had a backlog of at least 230,000 standard license plate orders, 10,000 specialty orders and 5,000 personal vanity orders. More than 20 counties (30 counties now) statewide are out of or nearly out of license plates. Still, the state is collecting money for plates it cannot provide as of yet. For the money, many...

  • Hearing on new voter rule set

    Roger Harnack, Valley News Herald|Updated Oct 17, 2024

    PASCO — With less than 30 days to go in the Nov. 5 general election, a county auditor and state representative want to intervene in an effort to sweep away the constitutional residency requirement to vote. Franklin County Auditor Matt Beaton of Pasco and 19th Legislative District Rep. Jim Walsh of Aberdeen, both Republicans, are seeking to require to state elections officials to follow the state Constitution or go about a legal change to the constitution. At issue is the unilateral decision by Secretary of State Steve Hobbs,...

  • Aurora Borealis over Tekoa

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Oct 17, 2024

    A stunning view of the Aurora Borealis on Thursday night, Oct. 10, 2024, with vibrant pink and green lights illuminating the sky....

  • State license plate shortage literally highway robbery

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Oct 17, 2024

    Motorists in Washington state are sometimes handing over hundreds of dollars for licensing of their vehicle, but only receiving paper plates in return. According to an Aug. 28 legislative report, the state is had a backlog of at least 230,000 standard license plate orders, 10,000 specialty orders and 5,000 personal vanity orders. More than 20 counties (30 counties now) statewide are out of or nearly out of license plates. Still, the state is collecting money for plates it...

  • Hearing on new voter rule set

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Oct 17, 2024

    PASCO — With less than 30 days to go in the Nov. 5 general election, a county auditor and state representative want to intervene in an effort to sweep away the constitutional residency requirement to vote. Franklin County Auditor Matt Beaton of Pasco and 19th Legislative District Rep. Jim Walsh of Aberdeen, both Republicans, are seeking to require to state elections officials to follow the state Constitution or go about a legal change to the constitution. At issue is the unilateral decision by Secretary of State Steve Hobbs,...

  • There's no doubt community newspapers still matter

    Roger Harnack, Valley News Herald|Updated Oct 14, 2024

    Sure, big city media printing the same diatribe you see on television is declining. (That's because the city media moguls have forgotten their place in society.) And sure, with the Googles of the world, cellphones and social media have impacted our advertising, which, by the way is how we pay our bills. But in our community newspapers, we haven't forgotten our place. Our reporters shop in the same stores, eat in the same restaurants and attend the same community functions as...

  • Demand direct access to elected officials

    Roger Harnack, The Journal|Updated Oct 14, 2024

    There’s a disturbing trend among tax-payer funded agencies that needs to be nipped in the bud. If you haven’t noticed, public agencies like hospital and utility districts, school boards, city councils, and others have been taking steps to insulate — dare I say isolate — elected board members from the public. Have a concern about something in your local school district? Don’t like a utility rate increase? Want to know if your local public hospital is making a profit? Have ques...

  • Man killed in Sprague-area crash

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Oct 9, 2024

    SPRAGUE — A Spokane Valley man was killed in an early morning crash Saturday, Sept. 28, on Interstate 90. Craig E. Richardt, 61, of Spokane Valley, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash at 4:42 a.m. near Milepost 236. According to the Washington State Patrol, the crash occurred about 11 miles west of Sprague, near the south end of Sprague Lake in Adams County. Lloyd O. Arbaugh, 89, of Moses Lake, was westbound in a 1999 Dodge Ram pickup when he struck Richardt’s westbound 2009 Toyota Corolla, the patrol reported, not...

  • There's no doubt community newspapers still matter

    Roger Harnack|Updated Oct 9, 2024

    Sure, big city media printing the same diatribe you see on television is declining. (That’s because the city media moguls have forgotten their place in society.) And sure, with the Googles of the world, cellphones and social media have impacted our advertising, which, by the way is how we pay our bills. But in our community newspapers, we haven’t forgotten our place. Our reporters shop in the same stores, eat in the same restaurants and attend the same community functions as y...

  • Free Press dominates photo awards

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Oct 9, 2024

    OLYMPIA — Free Press Publishing staffers and contributors dominated the photography category for newspapers its size in the annual state Better Newspaper Contest. In addition, graphic designers and reporters won multiple awards for their work over the year spanning April 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024. The awards were presented Saturday evening, Oct. 5, at Indian Summer Golf and Country Club during the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association annual gala and meeting. During the awards banquet, Free Press photos stole t...

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