Articles written by staff


Sorted by date  Results 226 - 250 of 546

Page Up

  • Sullivan Family Farms grand opening Saturday

    From Staff and News Service Reports, Cheney Free Press|Updated Sep 10, 2020

    WILLIAMS LAKE, Wash. – Sullivan Family Farms is holding the grand opening of its farm stand this Saturday, Sept. 12, at 14411 W. Williams Lake Road. The grand opening takes place from 9 a.m. – noon, and will feature prizes such as T-shirts, sunflower bunches, locally made pop tarts, cookies and a grand prize spring subscription to customers who come early. According to a news release, the farm was founded by Louise Sullivan, her sons and their families. In her recovery process from a long-term abusive relationship, Sul...

  • Breezy conditions, cooler temperatures for the weekend

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Aug 27, 2020

    WEST PLAINS – Forecasters at the National Weather Service predict the week will continue to be dry with seasonally warm temperatures, although potentially strong incoming weather system is likely to bring windy conditions and cooler temperatures this weekend. Temperatures should be in the high 80s to start the weekend, but could drop into the 70s on Sunday. The biggest impact will be the wind, with gusts estimated between 20-30 miles per hour for most of the region, resulting in choppy lakes and increased risk of fire s...

  • Cooking classes offered

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Aug 27, 2020

    SPOKANE – The County Library District is again offering the popular meal preparation and Instant Pot cooking programs presented by Meegan Ware — but this time it’s online. The lineup is as follows: • Easy & Healthy Freezer Meals, Wednesday Sept. 9, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. • Instant Pot Basics & Recipes, Monday, Sept. 21, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. • Instant Pot Dessert Edition, Monday, Sept. 28, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. These classes are for adults. Registration is required and closes at 5pm the day before each program. You can learn more about...

  • EWU's 100 Women Strong program nationally recognized

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Aug 27, 2020

    CHENEY – Eastern Washington University’s College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics’ (CSTEM) 100 Women Strong program has been recognized as one of the “Inspiring Programs in STEM” for 2020 by Insight into Diversity magazine. Launched in October 2019, the 100 Women Strong program is dedicated to increasing representation of women in the fields of computer science and engineering by recruiting, retaining, and rewarding female students who pursue degrees in these areas. CSTEM will provide mentoring, scholarsh...

  • Perimeter established around Chapman Lake fire

    From Staff and News Service Reports|Updated Aug 20, 2020

    CHENEY -- Officials with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources are reporting that a fire which broke out this afternoon, Aug. 19, near Chapman Lake south of Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge now has a line around the entire perimeter of the 64-acre blaze. Crews will use the line to continue containment and mop-up operations. No evacuations orders were in place as of four hours ago. Chapman Lake is 13.2 miles south of Cheney and just east of the Cheney-Plaza Road. It is approximately 2.5 miles east of Badger...

  • State mobilization for fires near Badger Lake

    From Staff and News Service Reports|Updated Aug 17, 2020

    CHENEY -- State mobilization has been approved for a series of fires burning near Badger and Williams Lake. The fires broke out several hours ago and have led to evacuations of residents in the area. According to the Stare Fire Marshal's Office, the fire is burning over 200 acres in the area, with Department of Natural Resources, Spokane County Fire District 3 and other area resources onsite. Williams Lake Road is closed, and DNR officials have told media sources that some structures are threatened....

  • Hot weather coming this weekend

    From Staff and News Service Reports, Cheney Free Press|Updated Aug 14, 2020

    EASTERN WASHINGTON -- The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for the region, with residents warned to expect "dangerously hot" hot temperatures from Sunday -- Tuesday. Temperatures are expected to climb into the 90s and even low 100s before dropping back into the 80s and 90s by Wednesday. The extreme heat can lead to significant increases in heat-related illnesses, and residents are advised to stay hydrated and seek air conditioning inside or shade...

  • OPENTogether CARES grant funding reopened until Aug. 14

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Aug 12, 2020

    WEST PLAINS – Officials at the Chamber of Commerce have announced that applications for the OPENTogether Small Business and Non-profit Grant program have been reopened for a very short time. Applications for assistance for COVID-19 only expenses are being considered from now through 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14. The West Plains Chamber of Commerce has teamed with Greater Spokane Incorporated (GSI), the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce and other organizations to provide small businesses and non-profits access to funding f...

  • Red flag warning issued for Eastern Washington

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES, Cheney Free Press|Updated Aug 11, 2020

    SPOKANE -- Local weather forecasters have issued a red flag warning for much of Eastern Washington, including Spokane County and the West Plains. Dry, breezy conditions with wind gusts up to 35 mph have increased the fire danger. The winds are expected to continue into Wednesday, with gusts up to 25 mph. A cold front passing through on Thursday could result in some early morning frost in areas. Temperatures will heat back up this weekend, with forecasters expecting them to...

  • Volz, Graham, McGarry and Zappone advance to general election

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES, Cheney Free Press|Updated Aug 4, 2020

    SPOKANE -- Early primary election results Tuesday night, Aug. 4, indicate that incumbent Republican Rep. Jenny Graham should face Democrat challenger Tom McGarry in November's General Election in the race for the 6th District state Representative Position 2. At press time, Graham had 51.69 percent of ballots cast, 12,145, while McGarry was second with 30.47 percent, 7,159 votes. Third was Democrat Christian M. McLachlan with 17.69 percent of the vote, 4,157 ballots cast. In the other 6th District state House race, incumbent R... Full story

  • Multiple overnight closures coming to I-90 at SR 902/Medical Lake interchange

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES, Cheney Free Press|Updated Aug 3, 2020

    MEDICAL LAKE – Travelers who use Interstate 90 and the Medical Lake/SR 902 interchange will need to plan additional time to prevent delays. Crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will be closing different portions of Interstate 90 and the eastbound off-ramp as work continues on construction for the new overpass and roundabout at the southern intersection. Starting Monday, Aug. 3 through Wednesday, Aug. 5, crews will be closing one eastbound lane of I-90 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. to continue work on t... Full story

  • Skehan named Chief Nursing Officer at ESH

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES, Cheney Free Press|Updated Aug 3, 2020

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES MEDICAL LAKE – The Department of Social and Health Services has announced that Jayme Skehan, RN, MSN, DNP has accepted the position of Chief Nursing Officer at Eastern State Hospital. The announcement came in a July 24 news release from DSHS. Skehan is not new to Eastern. She came to the hospital in 2017 through a consulting firm as the Interim Quality Director. That year, she assisted the facility in maintaining its accreditation by the Joint C...

  • Trio arrested in Geiger Heights robbery

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Aug 3, 2020

    WEST PLAINS – Three suspects were arrested last Friday in connection with the armed robbery of a man in Geiger Heights. According to a Spokane County Sheriffs Office news release, deputies were contacted July 19 by the victim, who said he had arranged to meet an "escort" he had contacted via a website at a parking lot near Geiger Boulevard and Interstate 90. At the parking lot, the female got into the victim's vehicle and they drove to a different location and pulled over. While finalizing arrangements for their "date," t...

  • Barriere and Taylor named Big Sky All-Conference

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Jul 31, 2020

    CHENEY – A pair of seniors on the Eastern Washington University football team have been selected to the 2020 Big Sky Conference Preseason All-Conference Team as announced Friday, July 24, by the league as part of the Big Sky's Virtual Media Days. The selections were made by a committee of media members in the league. Quarterback Eric Barriere was selected as the preseason MVP of the Big Sky as he enters his senior season as a 2019 All-American and 2020 preseason A...

  • Red Flag warning issued for today

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES, Cheney Free Press|Updated Jul 28, 2020

    CHENEY — The National Weather Service says critical fire weather conditions will exist across most of Eastern Washington today. The agency issued a Red Flag Warning that continues through 8 p.m. The Northern Columbia basin can expect breezy conditions and low humidity. "Breezy to windy conditions will continue this afternoon with a second cold front reinforcing the winds," the Red Flag Warning said. "Rapid fire spread will be possible with any new or ongoing fires" in E...

  • Elderly Spokane Valley couple reported missing

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Jul 28, 2020

    Update: The couple was safely located Monday evening, July 28, around 10:38 p.m. SPOKANE VALLEY -- Police deputies are attempting to locate 79-year-old Maure L. Labonte and 77-year-old Ruth A. Labonte to check their welfare. They are possibly traveling in a white 2016 Subaru Outback with Washington license plates BHE7400. According to a July 27 news release, their daughter stated Maure and Ruth went to Colfax to visit family. When she tried to call her parents Sunday night, the phone was answered by the manager of a... Full story

  • NWS forecasts 'dangerous heat' this week

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Jul 27, 2020

    SPOKANE -- The National Weather Service is projecting temperatures to reach well into the high 90s and even low triple digits this week. According to a July 27news release, the high temperatures could be coupled with low humidity and breezy conditions -- a recipe that could lead to increased fire danger in central and eastern Washington. Temperatures in the Columbia Basin should exceed 100 degrees all week, with high 90s forecast for Eastern Washington and Spokane -- touching... Full story

  • Prison guard accused of smuggling drugs

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Jul 24, 2020

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS—Michael T. Mattern, a correctional officer at Airway Heights Corrections Center, is being held in Spokane County Jail after being arrested by federal agents July 20 on suspicion of smuggling methamphetamine and other drugs into the corrections center for prisoners. According to media reports, Mattern, 45, faces charges of possessing meth with intent to distribute, which carries a minimum five-year prison sentence. Mattern was arrested in a secure part of the corrections center after authorities found a t...

  • Eagles golf team receives national top-25 award

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Jul 23, 2020

    CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – Eastern Washington University’s womens golf team finished tied for 15th out of all Division I institutions to earn a Womens Golf Coaches Association all-Scholar Team GPA award. The award was announced Monday, July 20. The Eagles tied Rutgers University with a team GPA of 3.832, and are the only Big Sky Conference school to make the list, according to a July 20 news release. It’s Eastern’s first-ever All-Scholar award, going back to 2005 when the award was first presented. “This is a great honor. Th...

  • Online programs for adults offer variety

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Jul 23, 2020

    SPOKANE – The County Library District is offering online programs and events for adults this summer that are entertaining and educational. For entertainment, people can tune into the following: • Virtual Concert: Brett & Janet Dodd – all ages, Saturday, July 25, 2–3 p.m. • Virtual Trivia: Harry Potter & Hogwarts – all ages, Friday, July 31, 6:30–7:30 p.m. • Watermelon Salsa – all ages, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2–2:30 p.m. • Virtual Concert: Plaid Cat – all ages, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2–4:30 p.m. • Virtual Trivia: Gilmore Girls – adu...

  • Smith receives Concordia College music scholarship

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Jul 23, 2020

    MOORHEAD, MINN. – Officials at Concordia College have announced that Cheney High School graduate Jacob Smith has been awarded a Music Excellence scholarship at the liberal arts college. Smith was one of 17 students receiving Excellence or Presidential scholarships and the only student from Washington. Concordia College is a four-year liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America offering more than 50 majors, including 18 honors majors as well as 12 preprofessional programs....

  • Airway Heights correctional officer arrested on charges of smuggling drugs to prisoners

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Jul 21, 2020

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS—Michael T. Mattern, a correctional officer at Airway Heights Corrections Center, is being held in Spokane County Jail after being arrested by federal agents July 20 on suspicion of smuggling methamphetamine and other drugs into the corrections center for prisoners. According to media reports, Mattern, 45, faces charges of possessing meth with intent to distribute, which carries a minimum five-year prison sentence. Mattern was arrested in a secure part of the corrections center after authorities found a t...

  • One injured in I-90 rollover accident

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Jul 20, 2020

    Editor's Note: This story has been updated to note the driver passed away MEDICAL LAKE -- A single-car, rollover accident Saturday afternoon closed one Interstate 90 westbound lane for several hours and sent a Post Falls, Idaho man to the hospital. According to a Washington State Patrol press memo, a 2007 Chevy PT Cruiser driven by 41-year-old Zachary M. Hanford, Post Falls, was westbound on I-90 at approximately 12:36 when the vehicle began drifting to the right around mile post 266 -- halfway between the Four Lakes/Cheney...

  • Overnight closures coming to I-90 at SR 902/Medical Lake interchange

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Jul 19, 2020

    MEDICAL LAKE/FOUR LAKES -- Washington State Department of Transportation is alerting travelers using both directions of Interstate 90 near Exit 272 to be aware of overnight closures next week as work continues on the Medical Lake/State Route 902 interchange. Contractor crews working will be pouring concrete for the new bridge deck that spans over Interstate 90. According to a DOT news release, the eastbound I-90 lanes will be closed overnight Monday-Tuesday, July 20-21, from 9 p.m. -- 5 a.m. Westbound lanes will be closed... Full story

  • Airway Heights considers declaring emergency

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Jul 17, 2020

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS -- City officials announced in a press release today (July 16) that they are considering declaring a financial emergency in order to deal with a "sharp decline" in revenue. The city is anticipating a budget shortfall of $1.9 million, 19 percent of its budget, in 2020 due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The economic impacts have led to "uncertainty" in revenue sources for the city, putting in jeopardy the continuation of some programs and services provided for at the 2020 budget levels. "As a... Full story

Page Down