Sorted by date Results 134 - 158 of 503
MEDICAL LAKE - Multiple fires exploded Friday afternoon across both Spokane and Whitman Counties, leaving at least one person dead and burning thousands of acres. Evacuation notices were issued for Medical Lake, Cheney, Four Lakes, Elk, Winona and other places. The larger fires were reported in Medical Lake and Elk, both in Spokane County, and Winona, in central Whitman County. At least one person died and multiple homes were destroyed in the Gray Fire, which broke out about...
OLYMPIA – It took only a minute Friday, Aug. 11, for the state Fish and Wildlife Commission to reject a petition to resume spring bear hunting in 2024. The commission’s almost-immediate, unanimous rejection of spring bear hunting followed a very short presentation by state Department of Fish and Wildlife Game Division Manager Anis Aoude. “From our position as a department … we’re recommending you deny this petition,” he said. “There really isn’t a reason to revisit.” The state’s presentation and commissioner’s fast...
The National Weather Service predicts we will see the hottest temperatures of the summer this week. It’s even gone so far as to declare an “excessive heat warning” until 11 p.m. today. Granted, 100 degrees is hot. But in our neck of the high-plains desert, that’s not excessive. Even if we hit 105 degrees, it’s not excessive here. Eastern Washington has a track record of hot daytime highs in June, July and August. The hottest day on record for most of our readership area was...
FOUR LAKES – An Interstate 90 crash Monday evening, Aug. 7, has left an Idaho woman dead. Suzanne M. Twete, 77, of Post Falls, Idaho, was killed in the 5:30 p.m. crash near Milepost 268 south of Four Lakes. According to the Washington State Patrol, Twete was a passenger in a 2021 Toyota Rav4 being driven by Tamra Callaway, 53, of Lake Stevens. Callaway was injured in the crash; her condition was not reported. Callaway’s vehicle was westbound in the passing lane of the highway when it veered into the median, the patrol rep...
CHENEY – It’s not your everyday rodeo. But Jaripeo Rodeo and Dance will feature a whole lotta of Western action Sunday, July 30, in the 14310 S. State Highway 904 arena north of the city. Jaripeo is a traditional Mexican rodeo, with a tradition that dates back to the 16th Century. The name is derived from the Spanish word “jaripear,” which means to lasso. “This is something different that you don’t see in Spokane and Cheney,” Jaripeo spokeswoman Claudia Delgado said of the eve...
PATEROS -- A Cheney man was the man to beat in the annual Apple Pie Jamboree watercross races Friday and Saturday, July 15-16. Only nobody could beat him. On a hot weekend on Columbia River, Curtis Pitman, an Eastern Washington University student who moved her from Lake Stevens, won three classes in rounds 4-5 of the Pacific Northwest watercross tour. Watercross racing is like motocross, but is more difficult with the closed course's ever-changing water conditions. In weekend...
FISHTRAP – Fire crews from Adams, Lincoln, Whitman and Spokane counties have contained the Fishtrap Lake fire to about 500 acres. The blaze burned mostly in Lincoln County, but breached the Spokane County line Monday afternoon, July 17. The fire broke out at 1:59 p.m. near Interstate 90. Winds whipped up the flames and blew heavy smoke over the roadway, prompting the state Department of Transportation to close the interstate at 2:44 p.m. Winds slowed enough for the state to r...
Wearing a hat that's too big, Wyatt Pierson of Cheney takes in Cheney Rodeo action during the Friday night, July 7, performance. The youngster was among many who got an up-close-and-personal look at agricultural athletics....
FISHTRAP – Smoke from multiple wildfires is creating near-whiteout conditions along portions of Interstate 90, prompting the state Department to of Transportation to close the highway. Fires erupted earlier this afternoon at multiple locations along the highway. "Brush fire smoke over road, on I-90 eastbound at Milepost 218," an alert issued by the agency said, announcing the interstate closure west of Ritzville. The fire started about 2:26 p.m., the state reported. "It's l...
CHENEY – An Odessa-area cowboy was named All-Around Cowboy at the Cheney Rodeo. Caleb McMillan won the title and with it, $2,193 for his performance in bull riding, tie-down roping and steer wrestling. McMillan was the top bull rider, scoring 80.5 points atop Day Time Crime. He was the only bull ride with a qualifying time. So, he took home a $6,748 purse. McMillan was eighth overall in steer wrestling with a time of 6.3 seconds, which earned him an additional $168 and he d...
The southeast Spokane County town of Fairfield celebrated the Independence Day Holiday with a community barbecue, children's games and fireworks on Saturday, July 1. At right kids show their pride as they ride in Liberty Lake's Golf-Cart Parade on July 4....
PASCO - An elderly Cheney couple was killed in a crash on U.S. Highway 395 north of the city Tuesday, June 27. Jerry L. Bowes, 73, and wife Debora L. Bowes, 66, both of Cheney, were pronounced dead at the scene at 2:57 p.m. about 4 miles north of the city, the Washington State Patrol reported. The couple was southbound near Milepost 30 in a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado towing a 2016 travel trailer at the time of the crash, the patrol reported. Jerry Bowes, the driver, attempted...
Like most Americans, I enjoy watching – and lighting – fireworks on Independence Day. America’s “birthday” should stand out among all national holidays. And the colorful, aerial explosions showcase the freedom and independence for which the U.S. stands. But why then do only tribes have the ability to sell the “good” fireworks – you know: firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles, mortars and more. There’s nothing magical about the imaginary line on a map suggesting firewo...
A short three years ago, motorists in Eastern Washington could buy regular unleaded gasoline for as little as $1.97 per gallon in several areas – George, Pasco, Quincy, to name a few. Diesel didn’t cost much more. Farmers could afford to fill their fuel tanks and shipping companies could keep their trucks moving at a reasonable price. And you and I could afford to drive personal vehicles – a necessity when you live and work in Eastern Washington. As a result, rural resid...
PASCO – An elderly Cheney couple was killed in a crash on U.S. Highway 395 north of the city Tuesday, June 27. Jerry L. Bowes, 73, and wife Debora L. Bowes, 66, both of Cheney, were pronounced dead at the scene. The crash happened at 2:57 p.m. about 4 miles north of the city, the Washington State Patrol reported. The couple was southbound near Milepost 30 in a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado towing a 2016 travel trailer at the time of the crash, the patrol reported. Jerry Bowes, t...
OTHELLO – An illegal alien who shot and killed his son here using a firearm stolen from Spokane Valley has been sentenced in U.S. District Court. Felipe Tapia-Perez, 29, of Othello, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison by U.S. District Court Senior Judge William Fremming Nielsen on June 14 in Spokane. The sentence stems from conviction of possession of a stolen firearm and unlawful alien possession of a firearm, records show. He will serve the sentence concurrently w...
Cheney Free Press...
Hundreds of classic car and truck aficionados spent Saturday in Rosalia, taking in the community's annual car show and pin-up girl contest, and enjoying a shrimp boil. The show featured a number of American muscle cars as well as rat rods. Pictured, the car show and town clock are reflected in the chrome bumper of a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air owned by Bob Mather....
ROSALIA – The 13 members of the Rosalia High School Class of 2023 graduated Saturday, June 10, with advice to stay positive. Keynote speaker Terry Boxleitner and Valedictoria Riley Daniel Gehring both offered that advice before a packed gymnasium at the school, 916 S. Josephine Ave. Before receiving the words of wisdom on attitude, Salutatorian Erik Xavier Lazcano and Principal Matt McLain welcomed commencement-goers. "It's been a long 13 years," Lazcano said, with McLain foll...
From cars to bigfoot to high-speed sprint boats, you don’t have to look very far to find something to do this weekend. But dad won’t care if you take him somewhere or just spend time with him. For dad, Father’s Day isn’t about spending money, it’s about time – time to connect, reflect and enjoy each other’s company. Dads spend a lifetime taking care of the needs of their children. Through their children’s formative years into college, fathers bring structure, discipline, log...
LIND – The city roars to life Friday and Saturday, June 9 and 10, as the 34th annual Combine Demolition Derby Days brings thousands of residents and visitors out for weekend of smashing fun. The highlight of the event is the Lions Club Combine Demolition Derby, in which area farmers, fans and others put their fortified combines to the test in a demolition contest, with the last combine running crowned the victor. And like last year, Cheney area residents will be p...
Thunderstorms brought colorful rainbows and vibrant skies to Northeast Washington last week. Pictured, a State Processor facility in Tekoa sits beneath one of those evening rainbows....
SPOKANE – An Airway Heights was killed in a late-night crash Sunday, May 14. At press time, the 26-year-old man’s name was being withheld pending notification of kin. The crash occurred at 11:48 p.m. on State Highway 291, near Seven Mile Road, the Washington State Patrol reported. The driver was northbound on the highway in a 2017 Dodge Charger at a “high rate of speed” when he failed to negotiate a curve, the patrol said. His vehicle went off the roadway and hit a tree. Both the driver and his passenger, Serjay J. Firsov,...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The Spokane County Coroner’s Office has released the identities of two people found dead after being hit by a pickup truck at about 11:45 p.m., April 29, near the intersection of West Trails and North Flight roads. Desmond Miller, 25, and his fiancee Kady McFeron, 33, died from blunt force injuries to the head, neck, torso and extremities, the Coroner’s Office reported. Megan C. Skillingstad, 29, is being held on $1,000,000 bail in the Spokane County Jail...
RITZVILLE – Sen. Mark Schoesler and other state lawmakers will return to the Capitol for a special session beginning May 16. “After returning home to Ritzville early last week following the end of this year’s legislative session, I was not planning to return to Olympia for at least a few months,” the 9th Legislative District senator said. “Turns out, my fellow legislators and I may be back at the Capitol little more than a week from now.” Gov. Jay Inslee called the special...
