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Update at 6:04 p.m. -- In a message to parents and staff, Cheney Public Schools Superintendent Rob Roettger said a decision on whether or not school will resume will be made Thursday morning after officials assess the power situation. Snowdon and Windsor elementary schools along with Westwood Middle School still are without power. All three schools are in the area of Hallett, Grove and Thomas Mallen roads, which has been impacted by a major power line break (see below).... Full story
OLYMPIA -- The Washington National Guard and the Washington State Patrol took up positions around the Capitol today in advance of the opening of the legislative session. Their deployment came as two protests took place in the city. The only damage reported was a broken window smashed when some Black Lives Matter protesters broke off from the main protest downtown and marched to the Capitol campus, where state troopers awaited them. After the window damage, the group retreated...
CHENEY – Legendary Eastern Washington University miler Bob Maplestone — a member of multiple halls of fame — passed away Saturday, Jan. 2. University Athletics Department officials said he was 74 and at the time of his death lived in the Edgewood, Wash., near Tacoma. A sub four-minute miler originally from Cardiff, Wales, he was the first Briton to run a mile indoors in under four minutes (3:59.5) in 1972 and went on to have a time of 3:58.5 outdoors in 1973. His event...
WEST PLAINS – Local first responders and selected health care workers have begun receiving vaccinations of one of the COVID-19 vaccines — with plans being discussed on how to more widely distribute doses once those become available to the general public. According to a Spokane Regional Health District news release, the district began administering the Moderna two-dose vaccine on Monday, Jan. 4, to first responders at a drive-thru clinic at the Spokane Fire Training Center. The district is coordinating with Spokane County EMS...
PINE CITY — Here are the single-score results from the Jan. 3 Malden-Pine City Gun Club trap shoot. The event was the start of an eight-week trap shoot league, officials said. Men 25 — Mike Deife, 25 24 — David McDowell and Dave Carroll 23 — Mike Koppel, Randy Scmick, Neal Robertson, Conr Hergert and Brad Bowman 22 — Cory Hornvedt, Luke Guin and Daniel Broeckel 21 — Dave Kjack and Jeff Wood 20 — Don McDowell, Dale Birchell, Brad Hergert and Eric McDonald 19 — Jon Sutter and Sean Amestoy 17 — Ed Hayes 16 — Brad Hodges Ladies...
CHENEY — Few teams in college basketball appear to have been as affected by COVID-19 as the Eastern Washington men’s basketball team. Having already had several players sidelined due to positive tests and contact tracing protocols earlier in the season, another positive test within the program forced the cancellation of two games against the Portland State Vikings over New Year’s weekend. EWU then announced that it was shutting down its program through at least Jan. 10, which will also result in previously scheduled games...
CHENEY – Eastern Washington University football signed 17 high school seniors to letters of intent during the national signing period last Wednesday, Dec. 16. The list includes 16 who have signed national letters of intent and one who is an invited walk-on who has been admitted and confirmed attendance at EWU. Three wide receivers and five defensive backs topped the list as the Eagles placed a particular emphasis on the Tri-Cities. The Eagles signed three players from K...
PORTLAND - Two wins may not seem like much, but the Eastern Washington women's basketball team's pair of victories at Portland Stat Dec. 31 and Jan. 2 to open Big Sky Conference road play will surely be a confidence booster for a young team with just one senior that only managed three conference wins all last season. EWU won 73-71 in the first game and 73-67 in the second game. Eastern improved to 2-2 in conference and 3-6 overall with the two victories, and in both games...
CHENEY Dec. 28 Taking motor vehicle without owner’s permission was reported on the 500 block of 2nd Street. A silver 1997 Chevy Camaro was reported stolen. Robert K. Shaner, 29, was arrested on a Kootenai County, Idaho, felony warrant on the 2300 block of 1st Street. Fourth-degree assault was reported on the 2300 block of 1st Street. Suspicious circumstances were reported on the 600 block of West 1st Street. A vehicle was hit by a snowball. No damage reported. Dec. 29 Domestic violence/verbal abuse was reported on the 100 b...
Cheney Congregational Church We have made the decision to suspend in-person Sunday morning worship for the time being. This is a difficult decision, and we make it with the whole Cheney community in mind. We will continue to host live Sunday morning services on Zoom at 10 a.m. You can request a Zoom link through our website, www.cheneycongregational.org. You can find copies of the sermons on our website. We are also hosting outdoor “Fireside Chats” with groups of five to create social connection and combat the isolation of th...
Ringing in the New Year is filled with resolutions that usually involve dieting and exercise. Gardening is a great way to help accomplish those two resolutions, while also improving your mood, reducing blood pressure, managing anger, maintaining flexibility and much more. So, gather anyone that shares in your gardening efforts and landscape projects. Grab a calendar and make some gardening plans for the year ahead. Consider including a monthly project that you all can share and one that moves you closer to your long-term gard...
Patricia Ann Tresko Patricia Ann (Cowell) Tresko passed away on Dec. 30, 2020 in Spokane, Wash. surrounded by her loved ones. She was born in Lincoln, Neb. on July 4, 1959, to Ron and Mary Cowell. She is survived by her four daughters; Katie, Laura, Amanda, and Monica, their father John Tresko, grandson John, and her two brothers, a sister and their families. Patty obtained her initial education degree from Gonzaga University and completed two masters’ degrees through E... Full story
I am writing in support of efforts being made by “Stronger Together Coalition Spokane” to reopen our state’s fitness centers and coach-led fitness facilities. They are not the problem in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, but a weapon in the fight against it. They are safe. Time and again, science has shown that fitness facilities of all kinds have one of the lowest rates of transmission (less than 1%). They are committed. They have done their best to pivot their businesses and operate under state-mandated closu...
Feed Medical Lake says “Thank You” to all who supported our free meal program throughout a very difficult year. To our supporters and patrons, we wish for you a better 2021. May God bless every second of it for you. Not familiar with Feed Medical Lake? Check out our Facebook page or visit our web site at feedmedicallake.org or call me at 509-714-1150. Joanna Williams Feed Medical Lake Director...
As a small follow-up to Don Brunell’s thoughtful column about the Wreaths Across America program in the Dec. 24 Cheney Free Press, I’d like to commend the efforts of Gerri Johnson and the Re*Imagine Medical Lake group for remembering the many veterans buried at our own Medical Lake Community Cemetery with wreaths this holiday season. While it may not be a veteran’s cemetery, per se, the remains of soldiers from every conflict since the Civil War can be found there. Thank you, RIML, and thank you as well to the Medical Lake...
The end of the COVID-19 pandemic is finally in sight. Both Pfizer and Moderna have received emergency FDA authorization to distribute tens of millions of doses of their vaccines across the country. This is fantastic news. Unfortunately, the scientific community can’t rest on its laurels. An even worse pandemic is already looming. And this time, developing treatments will prove much more challenging. This coming pandemic may not stem from a virus, but from drug-resistant bacteria and fungi known as “superbugs.” These micro...
Now that vaccines are available, we hope our lives will return to the way they were before the coronavirus pandemic blanketed the globe. That is not likely to occur. Last March our booming economy was clobbered by COVID-19. A worldwide pandemic ensued. There was no vaccine to counter it and even though vaccines were developed at “warp speed” lots of things changed and have become imbedded in our daily lives. Futurist Bernard Marr, columnist in Forbes, believes employers qui...
OLYMPIA — As of Jan. 1, low-wage earners and some salaried employees are being paid more for their efforts on the job. Across Eastern Washington and some areas west of the Cascades, the minimum wage increased 19 cents per hour, from $13.50 to $13,69, according to the state Department of Labor and Industries. The minimum wage in the cities of Seattle and SeaTac increased to $16.69 per hour and $16.57, respectively, the agency said, noting those minimum wages are set by city o...
ROSALIA — Washington State Parks will open bids Jan. 21 for a project to repair the historic train trestle here after incidents in recent years of small pieces of concrete falling to the Old State Highway 271-Rosalia Road below. The project will include removal of loose concrete, debris containment and temporary sediment and erosion controls, state officials said. Concrete pieces from a half-inch to 2 inches have been seen on the road. The 1915 trestle, a former railroad b...
MEDICAL LAKE—A popular sentiment after the shutdowns and hardships of 2020 may be for residents to plead for everything to “get back to normal.” However, simply hoping for things to get back to the way they were may not always be the right mindset, City Administrator Doug Ross and Mayor Shirley Maike said when discussing the city’s outlook for 2021. “It’s been nine months now,” Ross said. “I don’t like when people say ‘life returns as normal.’ Maybe this is normal.” He noted that the city functions nearly the same as befo...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS — James “Sonny” Weathers is in the last of his initial four-year term as a city council member, elected in 2017. He’s also now in his first year as mayor, taking over for Kevin Richey, who resigned at the end of 2020. He plans to run for re-election after his term expires. Weathers, whose main career is a full-time member of the Washington Air National Guard, has been married to his wife, Angela, since 2002. They have three children ages 13, 11 and six. The family enjoys being involved in their local church,...
CHENEY — Area restaurants, bars and gyms may be able to reopen indoor services as soon as Jan. 11 under another coronavirus-related plan release by Gov. Jay Inslee during a press conference Tuesday. Under the plan, the state will be divided into eight regions based on proximity to health care services. Spokane County will be grouped in the East Region that includes Ferry, Stevens, Pend O’reille, Lincoln, Whitman, Adams, Garfield and Asotin counties. All regions will be des...
SPOKANE - Extortion, blackmail and harassment. That's what the more than 50 area restaurant and tavern owners and their supporters called Liquor and Cannabis Board officers' threats of fines, license revocation and criminal charges during a protest at lunchtime Monday, Jan. 4. The protesters turned out to board's Spokane office at 1303 W. Broadway Ave. to object to the "illegal" tactics being used by the employees in their efforts to shutdown indoor table service at eateries a...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS — The domino effect of former Mayor Kevin Richey’s resignation, former Councilman Steve Lawrence’s resignation and Councilwoman Jennifer Morton’s approved extended absence for several months due to deployment reared its head when the time came for council to select a deputy mayor at its first legislative session of the year Jan. 4. Former Deputy Mayor Sonny Weathers was named Richey’s mayoral replacement through the end of his term in 2021 and was heading up his first meeting as mayor/council chair. That left...
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