Articles from the March 21, 2019 edition


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  • Eloyse Grace Casselman Longcore

    Updated Mar 21, 2019

    Eloyse Grace Casselman Longcore Eloyse Grace Casselman Longcore passed away on March 1, 2019. She is preceded in death by her husband William and a son Donald. She leaves a daughter, Dona, of Cheney, Wash. along with grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She graduated from Cheney High School in 1938 and from University of Southern California in 1944. She worked as a CPA for 23 years and retired in 1973. Her travel adventures began after retirement a...

  • Airway Heights police share position on I-1639

    SHANNEN TALBOT, Staff Reporter|Updated Mar 21, 2019

    In November 2018, nearly 60 percent of Washington voters approved Initiative-1639, one of the strictest pieces of gun safety legislation in the country. Since then, sheriffs and police chiefs across the state have said they will not enforce the new law. Not so in Airway Heights. Airway Heights Police Chief Lee Bennett said he’s “a strong supporter of the Second Amendment,” but those feelings will not influence how he tackles the added gun control rules when they kick in later this year. “I believe that if the voters voted it...

  • Don't let sports get in the way of academics or civics

    Lee Hughes, Staff Reporter|Updated Mar 21, 2019

    So, I was cruising the Internet and came across a 2013 article from The Atlantic magazine, “The case against high school sports.” Search for it, it’s a valuable read. We are regularly told that sports are good for young people. It teaches things like resilience, sportsmanship; it toughens kids to the realities of the world beyond high school. Or so the argument goes anyway. Prep sports are huge, bigger than I was aware until I started covering it as a reporter. The sheer...

  • Blackhawks sweep Ephrata in season opener

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Mar 21, 2019

    Sometimes, desperate times call for desperate measures. Not that local high schools’ sports teams are experiencing desperate times, but with snow blanketing most playing surfaces, unusual measures have been required to get some competition going. Such was the case for Cheney High School’s baseball team. The Blackhawks have had games at Sunnyside and Quincy — two schools that can get in early March competition thanks to being in typically drier climates — postponed due to field conditions, and a home contest with Medical Lake...

  • Eagle men fall in Big Sky title game

    Updated Mar 21, 2019

    The run by the Eagles ran out of magic. The Eastern Washington University men’s basketball team fell short its bid to advance to the NCAA Tournament by falling to Montana 68-62 on Saturday, March 16, in the championship game of the Big Sky Conference basketball tournament at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho. In a rematch of last year’s title game won by the Grizzlies, Montana out-shot Eastern 62.5 percent to 39.4 percent in the second half on its way to a second-straight tour...

  • Medical Lake residents fear cat shot, call 911

    Lee Hughes, Staff Reporter|Updated Mar 21, 2019

    A neighbor on East Jim Darby Drive in Medical Lake called law enforcement on Tuesday afternoon, March 12, to report they feared a cat had been shot, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. The person, who told deputies that the sound of target shooting was common in the area, said they had heard a two shots and “feared” a cat that had wandered in the direction of the shooting had been shot, according to public information officer Deputy Mark Gregory. The cat did not...

  • Churches

    Updated Mar 21, 2019

    Cheney Congregational Church Our Sunday, March 24, 10 a.m. worship service is open to everyone. Pastor Dave Krueger-Duncan will deliver his sermon, “My garden for the Lord,” this week. Everyone is invited to enjoy coffee and conversation in the fellowship hall following the service. The men’s breakfast will be held Sunday, March 24, 7:45 a.m. at the Marketplace Bakery & Eatery, at 1011 1st St. in downtown Cheney. Feed Cheney is Monday, March 25, 5:30 p.m. this month at the Wren Pierson Building. “Things I learned somewhe...

  • West Plains Briefs

    Updated Mar 21, 2019

    EWU holds memorial service for Dr. Mutschler Eastern Washington University is holding a memorial service at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 23 at Showalter Auditorium (second floor) for university archivist and interim library dean Dr. Charles Mutschler. Dr. Mutschler was killed in a March 10 car crash in Four Lakes on State Route 904. Cheney book club meets on March 26 in library On March 26 the Friends of the Library Book Discussion Group will meet in the Cheney public library at 6:30 p.m. Sue Grover will lead the group...

  • What's happening on the West Plains

    Updated Mar 21, 2019

    Cheney • March 19, Roger Ralston’s exhibit “Field Research ,” EWU Gallery of Art, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. • March 21, Jamison Sampson Live, The Mason Jar, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. • March 23, Cheney High School’s “Cinderella,” CHS Little Theater, $10, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. • March 26, Cheney City Council meeting, City Hall, 6 p.m. • March 27, CHS Band/Orchestra Concert, Cheney High School gym, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. • March 28, Atomic Frequency, the Mason Jar, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Airway Heights • March 23, Pokemon Tournament, Ghost Quarter Games, 4 p.m. - 9 p...

  • Looking Back

    Updated Mar 21, 2019

    1 Years Ago March 19, 2009 The principal of Medical Lake’s Michael Anderson Elementary, Mandi Poindexter, entered a charity marathon in honor of student and leukemia survivor Michael Lumbreras. A local family gave the Tyler Store a new lease on life, reopening the building after nearly 30 years of standing vacant. Female offenders at Pine Lodge Corrections Center for Women presented several checks totaling more than $5,000 to local children and family charities. 20 Years Ago March 18, 1999 The Legal Defender Unit at E...

  • Former Medical Lake fire chief honored

    Lee Hughes, Staff Reporter|Updated Mar 21, 2019

    Current and past Medical Lake firefighters and former chiefs came together on Saturday at the Medical Lake City Hall to honor former Medical Lake Fire Chief Gino Palomino with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his 16 years of service with the Medical Lake Fire Department. “It’s definitely a well-deserved award,” current Fire Chief Jason Mayfield said. Palomino was chief for eight years, and served on the Medical Lake Fire Department for 16 years, from 1992 to his depar...

  • Changing times: today's 'extreme' Democratic policies once mainstream

    Updated Mar 21, 2019

    How times have changed! Current Democratic presidential candidates’ proposed policies labeled “extreme” by Republicans today were actively mainstream when I was young. Examples: 70 percent income tax on the highest bracket. It was over 90 percent throughout Republican President Eisenhower’s 1953-1961 term in office and at least 70 percent from 1936 through 1980. Free college education: Close to reality at public institutions well before and after I went in 1954. Medicare for All: Just a year after the U.S. passed Medicar...

  • Oil companies betting on electric technology

    DON C. BRUNELL, Contributor|Updated Mar 21, 2019

    Across the pond, London-based BP and Netherlands-headquartered Shell are looking to invest in innovative electric technology, which is very good news. The two international oil giants, both of which have oil refineries in northwest Washington, recognize the growth in battery storage capacity. Their investments should bring down costs for consumers and bring ground-breaking technology to market quicker. Making electric cars and new batteries for homes and power grids is a...

  • Contrary to column, human-influenced climate change has been long-established

    Updated Mar 21, 2019

    James Ebisch’s guest commentary on climate change (CFP, March 7, 2019) is rife with misinformation. Given the lack of climate understanding he demonstrates in his commentary, his tone is particularly unfortunate, detracting from his message and making him look foolish in the process. What Ebisch, a geologist, and president of Wyoming Mines, wants readers to believe is that climate change is a natural phenomenon not influenced by human activities. His are a repetition of debunked arguments employed by climate change deniers u...

  • Despite excess labor, universal living wage right around the corner

    FRANK WATSON, Contributor|Updated Mar 21, 2019

    Homelessness has been cussed and discussed with no solution in sight. With no viable plan, most government officials wring their hands and hope the problem will go away. The latest suggestion is to pay the homeless a living wage. Thus, the unfortunate street people could afford the requisite training to find jobs. I guess this is possible. The evening news interviewed an ex-homeless lady who received money from a private charity and was eventually able to open a coffee shop, thus, becoming a local success story. We sometimes...

  • When getting a pet, be prepared for long haul

    SHANNEN TALBOT, Staff Reporter|Updated Mar 21, 2019

    When writing this column, I generally try to think about what’s happening on a local, regional or national scale. I like to talk about topics with far-reaching consequences that require diverse perspectives and affect a variety of people. But not today. Today, perhaps selfishly, I can only think about yesterday morning — when I discovered yet another mistreated dog on my front porch. My husband and I have made an accidental habit of being “rescuers.” We keep a bag with treats and a leash in the car for the stray dogs we inev...

  • Medical Lake draft Water System Plan meeting scheduled April 4

    Updated Mar 21, 2019

    The city of Medical is holding an informational meeting at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 4, at the Medical Lake Maintenance Building, 801 S. Lefevre St. to discuss elements of the city’s Draft Water System Plan. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the city’s Draft Water System Plan, its Water Use Efficiency Program (WUE) and Goal and related SEPA checklist and Determination of Non-Significance, according to a press release. The public and consumers are invited to attend and offer input or comments to the draft plan, WUE and...

  • Sean Dotson accepts superintendent position in Tumwater

    SHANNEN TALBOT, Staff Reporter|Updated Mar 21, 2019

    At the Cheney School Board’s March 13 meeting, Superintendent Rob Roettger announced the departure of Assistant Superintendent Sean Dotson, who has accepted a superintendent position with the Tumwater district on the west side of the state. Roettger said that on Feb. 28 the Tumwater School District board of directors unanimously selected Dotson for the position. He will officially begin his duties July 1, but may spend some time in the district prior to that start date. “It so...

  • Medical Lake's Hallett Elementary School students receive awards

    Updated Mar 21, 2019

    Hallett Elementary School announced its Partners Advancing Character Education (PACE), and other awards for the month of February. PACE: Honesty awards Kindergarten Elijah Gromlich Mason Chapman Joseph Zuber Allegra Petrin First Grade Kendall Dunlop Selena Wasickanin Monroe Smylie Avery Lust Second Grade Evelyn Hurst Gage McGowan Harper Bahr Aidan Hanson Third Grade Skylar Hobbs Kye Hall Mason Debolt Jacob Knapp Fourth Grade Justin Harrison Ashtyn Butterfield Madison Griffis Fifth Grade James McHenry Vincent Gassner Anna...

  • Cheney High School February Students of the Month

    Updated Mar 21, 2019

    Cheney High School's February Students of the Month are pictured above. Front row right to left: Trenaty Dunlap, Marisity Jagim-Kern and Violet Turner. Middle row right to left: Jimmy Gutierrez, Allison Ottosen, Gabrielle Nguyen and Destiny Otoupalik. Back row right to left: Quinsie Goodloe, Evan Fleskes, Jackson Rowley, Wyatt Douglas and Andrew Rushing. Not pictured: Nathan Koohns....

  • Water contracts top Cheney City Council's agenda

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Mar 21, 2019

    Public Works Department business dominated the Cheney City Council's March 12 agenda. Three of the nine resolutions brought forward by Public Works Director Todd Ableman involved Cheney's water supply - beginning with a final contract for construction of the city's Well 3. Council approved a $558,600 contract with Spokane-based Wesslen Construction for installing the pumping operation of the well the city has already spent almost $829,000 on in the hopes it will help with...

  • Cheney school board considers property purchase timeline

    SHANNEN TALBOT, Staff Reporter|Updated Mar 21, 2019

    The Cheney School Board covered a variety of topics at its March 13 meeting, recognizing the classified employee of the year and discussing the pressing need for additional school site property. The board first recognized Windsor Elementary paraeducator Kathy Larson as the district’s classified employee of the year. Superintendent Rob Roettger called Larson “very, very deserving” and shared a note from her colleagues who said they “would fall apart without her.” Teachers from Three Springs High School also shared a video wit...

  • Don't build it and they won't come

    Lee Hughes, Staff Reporter|Updated Mar 21, 2019

    Is there room for growth in Medical Lake? Opinions vary depending on who one speaks with. But one thing is becoming increasingly clear: the West Plains is growing economically, and with that growth comes the need for more housing and businesses to support it all. Gerri Johnson, owner of Medical Lake’s Farm Salvation store and president of Re*Imagine Medical Lake, a quasi-chamber of commerce organization, thinks Medical Lake has plenty of potential as a “gem” of Spokane count...

  • Field prep

    John McCallum|Updated Mar 21, 2019

    Cheney High School pole vault coach Tom Stralser uses a snowblower to clear the white stuff from the Blackhawks football field Tuesday afternoon. Many area spring sports teams have seen early-season meets, matches and games postponed due to lingering amounts of snow on playing surfaces....

  • Cheney to consider traffic fees

    Updated Mar 21, 2019

    By JOHN McCALLUM Managing Editor Cheney’s Planning Commission got a closer look at its March 11 meeting at how proposed transportation impact fees might be imposed on development in the city — but not before doing a bit of housecleaning business. The commission found itself needing to elect new officers with the appointment of former commission chair Vince Barthels to fill a seat on City Council. To that end, the members unanimously elected Commissioner Rick Mount to the position, with Commissioner Vara Lyn Conrath con...

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