Articles from the February 9, 2023 edition


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  • Water supply forecast released

    Lucas Walsh, Cheney Free Press|Updated Feb 21, 2023

    SPOKANE – Forecasts from the Natural Resources Conservation Service shows a probability for above-normal precipitation and temperatures across Washington. This annual report opens with a general outlook, indicating among other things that much of Washington remains in a D0 status, which is abnormally dry. Most of Spokane county, however, is below D0 on the drought intensity scale. Spokane river basin snowpack was measured at 133% of the median, compared with last year's 1...

  • Hickey will step down as EWU AD

    Paul Delaney, Contributor|Updated Feb 9, 2023

    Eastern Washington University Athletics Director Lynn Hickey will retire when her contract expires April 30 following a 5-year tenure in Cheney and 50-years of involvement in education and intercollegiate athletics According to a university news release, Hickey cites a desire to be closer to family in the Texas-Oklahoma area, including her only daughter, as a key reason for her decision. "I would like to thank EWU and the Board of Trustees for the opportunity to serve the inst...

  • Cheney water park updates

    Lucas Walsh, Cheney Free Press|Updated Feb 9, 2023

    CHENEY – Representatives of NAC Architecture presented two options for the renovation of the Cheney pool facility, one priced at $11 million, and the second at $13 million. Following a Jan. 11 presentation to the Board of Park Commissioners, NAC completed the feasibility study and presented it to Council on Jan. 24. An initial assessment of the existing Cheney pool facility, which is over 60 years old, revealed that it would require significant repairs due to n...

  • Add more school days

    Alexandria Osborne, Washington State Journal|Updated Feb 9, 2023

    OLYMPIA — An East Wenatchee senator wants students to have a longer school year. Sen. Brad Hawkins, R-East Wenatchee, has introduced Senate Bill 5505 to add five days to the school calendar. “S.B. 5505 takes swift and decisive action to support learning recovery with a simple solution — providing our students with additional access to their teachers, their peers and to dedicated support staff,” Hawkins said. State law currently requires schools to offer a minimum of 180 classroom days for public school students. Hawkins...

  • Hawaiian Grill soon to open

    Lucas Walsh, Cheney Free Press|Updated Feb 9, 2023

    CHENEY – Ohana Hawaiian Grill will soon open on 1st St. at the former location of Inferno Wings. The owners, Alex and Derek Baziotis also owned Inferno Wings, and are nearly ready to open their new project as soon as they put the finishing touches on the interior. "We love Hawaiian food ourselves." Alex Baziotis said. "So, after we closed the previous restaurant, we took inventory of the dinner-life in Cheney; what's here and what isn't here." Baziotis said that she and D...

  • Vacancies on Historic Preservation Commission

    Todd Ableman|Updated Feb 9, 2023

    CHENEY - The City is accepting applications to fill two vacant positions on the Cheney Historic Preservation Commission. The Commission is the appointed body charged with identifying and encouraging conservation of the community’s cultural resources. Members of this board are appointed by the Mayor to three year terms. The current openings fill the remaining one year of a term that was vacated, and would be eligible for reappointment to a 3-year term in January 2024, and an open position which runs until January 2026. The m...

  • West Plains Police News

    Updated Feb 9, 2023

    The Cheney police reported the following incidents between Jan. 30 and Feb. 5 Jan. 30 Third degree theft-from vehicle. 2700 Block Al Ogdon Way. Stolen: radar detector, GPS unit, jewelry Fourth degree assault. 2600 Block 1st St. Verbal domestic violence. 300 Block Erie St. Verbal domestic violence. 500 Block 2nd St. Found property (small safe). 200 Block W. 5th St. Confiscated/Recovered Property (suspected fentanyl). 200 Block S. Cheney-Spangle Rd Fourth degree assault, domestic violence. 300 Block B St. Arrested: Gabriel C....

  • Rep. Schmick: 'Cap-and-trade' failing

    Cheney Free Press|Updated Feb 9, 2023

    OLYMPIA — When Gov. Jay Inslee’s cap-and-trade proposal passed the Legislature in 2021, he and many of the Democrat lawmakers who endorsed his plan assured the agriculture community that fuels used in the production and transport of agriculture products would be exempt. Even though no state Republican legislators voted for the bill, some are now saying it’s worse than anyone thought and the state should be on the hook for breaking its promise to farmers. “Emissions from fuels used for agricultural purposes are suppose...

  • Bill would exempt inmate search list from public records law

    Renee Diaz, Washington State Journal|Updated Feb 9, 2023

    OLYMPIA — Victims and witnesses who track perpetrators in prison to know when they are released will be able to keep their identities private, if a bill that passed the Senate with 49 votes becomes law. “This bill creates a safer environment for the victims and survivors, and they are not placed again in harm’s way because of a public records request,” T’wina Nobles, D-Fircrest,, said. The state Department of Corrections provides a tracking program for victims and witnesses so they can know when the person who victimize...

  • Time to halt benefits scam

    Don C. Brunell|Updated Feb 9, 2023

    Three years after crooks stole billions in unemployment insurance funds, federal and state officials are scrambling to retrieve the money which was directed to the jobless and plug leaks in their systems. According to a recent Wall Street Journal editorial, the General Accounting Office estimates taxpayers underwrote $60 billion in fraudulent payments from an “unprecedented infusion of federal Covid-19 relief funds into UI programs during the pandemic.” It gave villains and...

  • Capital gains tax not 'excise' tax

    Updated Feb 9, 2023

    Last week, the state Supreme Court heard oral arguments concerning the capital gains income tax. I attended the hearing in person. It is unclear when the court will issue its opinion. The capital gains income tax is first owed on April 18, 2023. There are three possible rulings the court could issue. One possible outcome is for the state Supreme Court to catch the Hail Mary pass thrown by income tax advocates and by judicial fiat now allow a graduated income tax without a constitutional amendment. This is the preferred...

  • Greenhouse gases (GHG)

    Simon Smith|Updated Feb 9, 2023

    We all need to understand climate science. Not just to make sense of the climate crisis but to avoid being misled by climate deniers. Knowledge is power. The climate fundamentals are simple: Sunshine warms the Earth, and the Earth radiates this heat back into space as infrared. Earth’s temperature results from how much radiant heat gets trapped by greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. GHGs are trace gases but have a disproportionate influence on temperatures. More than 99.9% of the gases in our air are not GHGs: n...

  • Norman Roloff

    Updated Feb 9, 2023

    Norman Roloff May 3, 1931 – Jan. 4, 2023 Norman Ervin Roloff, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away on Jan. 4, 2023, at home, with family by his side. He was 91. A resident of Cheney, Wash., Norman was born in Lind, Wash. on May 3, 1931 to Reinhold and Renetta Roloff. He leaves a daughter Kelly (John) Morgan of Renton, Wash., a daughter Jan (Jacques) Couture of Spokane, Wash., much loved grandchildren Michael and Olivia, and other cherished friends and caregivers. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you m...

  • John Phillip Cogley

    Updated Feb 9, 2023

    John Phillip Cogley Dec. 31, 2022 The Cogley family wants to share the passing of their beloved John Philip Cogley, affectionally known as Papa John and Johnny. He died suddenly at the age of seventy-seven on Sat., Dec. 31, 2022 while visiting family for the holidays. Johnny was a true Irishman who had a twinkle in his eye, an impish smile, and the gift of gab. As his oldest granddaughter said "he touched a lot of peoples' hearts by his funny personality." John was a...

  • Cavin Seth Firestone

    Updated Feb 9, 2023

    Cavin Seth Firestone May 25, 1995 – Jan. 21, 2023 It is with the deepest sadness we announce the death of our beloved son Cavin Seth Firestone of Cheney. Our cherished Cavin was taken in a tragic car accident on Jan. 21, 2023. He was in his Mom, Dad's and brother Tristan's thoughts at the very outset as he was conceived as a test tube baby at the University of Washington, Sept. 1994. He has been a coveted part of our lives and family since, having been born on May 25, 1995. H...

  • Churches

    Updated Feb 9, 2023

    Cheney Congregational Church Cheney Free Press CHENEY - Cheney Congregational Church invites the community to join them this Sunday as they continue their series titled “Baby Talk.” “We’re exploring what we can learn about God and being human from the experiences of a baby, this week seeing what we can learn about prayer from a baby’s attempts at learning to communicate. This Sunday, February 12, we will have a Souper Bowl potluck after church at 11am. All are welcome. We are starting a new Bible study on Thursdays from 1-2p...

  • Metamorphosis

    Lisa Conger|Updated Feb 9, 2023

    The sporty convertible darts in and out of traffic like a hummingbird. It’s green color shimmering iridescent in the sun. Then a cherry red vintage VW approaches, reminiscent of a ladybug flying her way home. And a truck’s lost retread— called an alligator for its resemblance to that creature— lies curled on the side of the road. Inanimate things suddenly alive and enormous— what if these imaginative fleets of fancy come true? Would it be a fantastical dream, or a nightmare? Only the dreamer knows....

  • EWU Black History Schedule of Events

    Updated Feb 9, 2023

    Feb. 16 (Thursday) | Divine 9 Panel | PUB NCR | Noon-1:30 p.m. There are nine historically Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs) that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Those organizations are Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity. Co-hosted by the Black Student Union Club, we are excited to bring the community...

  • February in the garden

    Margaret A. Swenson|Updated Feb 9, 2023

    February 2023 We may actually be able to be in the garden or close to it this month. Inside we can trim and fertilize herbs we wintered over. An application of half strength indoor plant food will regenerate healthy growth. After Valentine cards have been opened and the last chocolate in the box is gone it is time once again to survey jobs outside. The evidence of marcescens, the holding on of leaves this winter, may soon give way to the phenomenon known as abscission, the letting loose of leaves. If the ground is soggy...

  • Blackhawk girls end losing streak

    Paul Delaney, Contributor|Updated Feb 9, 2023

    The down elevator for Cheney girls’ basketball may have begun its climb back up? As the regular season comes to an end with no post-season possible, the Blackhawks have strung together a pair of victories last week That began with a 68-37 non-league contest over Rogers on Jan. 30 in the “Railroad Rumble” at Spokane Arena, followed on Feb. 3 with a 39-38 Greater Spokane League decision at North Central, Feb. 3. Cheney closed out the 2022-23 season with a GSL road game at Unive...

  • Eight wrestlers advance for Cheney

    Paul Delaney, Contributor|Updated Feb 9, 2023

    Cheney wrestlers will take one road trip to the west side this weekend in hopes of earning yet another more important one the next. Following district competition Feb. 3 and 4 at the Spokane Convention Center, the Blackhawks will send one champion and seven other wrestlers to regional competition at Jaunita High School in Kirkland, Wash. on Feb. 11. Their goal will be earning places in Mat Classic XXXIV State Wrestling, Feb. 17 and 18 at the Tacoma Dome. Cheney's Dalton...

  • North Central tops Cheney boys

    Paul Delaney, Contributor|Updated Feb 9, 2023

    The winning streak for the Cheney boys was short lived at one. Following last week’s 61-48 victory over Rogers in the “Railroad Rumble” rivalry game — a non-leaguer that ended a seven-game losing streak — the Blackhawks relapsed in a 63-56 loss to North Central as the team returned to Greater Spokane League play. Turning back the clock to the win, head coach Travis Peevey said that the energy of the Spokane Arena crowd played a part in his team’s win. “It’s always fun to p...

  • Cardinals send eight to regionals

    Paul Delaney, Contributor|Updated Feb 9, 2023

    Medical Lake will send eight wrestlers to regional competition in Deer Park, Feb. 11, including a pair who won their weight classes. Hudson Raulston, who competes at 113 pounds and Gavin Chaffee, a 285-pounder, both emerged from districts last week at Freeman with individual titles. Raulston won all of his matches, including a potential upset of No. 1 seed, Newport’s Preston Kremer with a 12-4 score. Chaffee had byes into the final where he won by a pin. Other Cardinal q...

  • ML boys struggles to help build base

    Paul Delaney, Contributor|Updated Feb 9, 2023

    Medical Lake’s 2022-23 boys’ basketball season might be looked at as dismal considering their 1-19 record. But following a pair of losses to Freeman 80-35 on Jan. 31 and 73-44 at Lakeside, Feb. 2, consider it, perhaps, a foundation for the future as many of life’s early struggles become. “Our program had growth despite our record,” head coach Jordan Starr explained in an email. “We have a young team that will be coming back next year with experience and understandi...

  • Cardinal girls qualify for playoffs

    Paul Delaney, Contributor|Updated Feb 9, 2023

    The Medical Lake girls will take the confidence they gained from their most recent outing against Colville into a venture into the post-season. The Cardinals and Crimson Hawks met Tuesday, Feb. 7 in Colville in the opening round of the playoffs in a loser-out game. While 0-2 against No. 3 seed Colville (7-5 NEA, 12-5 overall) in the Northeast A League season, No. 6 Medical Lake (4-8, 7-13) head coach Brett Ward has seen something he likes. “We play at Colville tomorrow (...

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