Articles from the March 23, 2023 edition


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  • Medical Lake city council hears groundwater presentation

    Lucas Walsh, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 23, 2023

    MEDICAL LAKE — The council heard a preliminary west plains groundwater modeling presentation at their regular meeting on March 21. The presentation was conducted by Chad Prichard of Eastern Washington University, and Erin Toulou, and covered per-and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances trends in the west plains water supply. The presentation was given before the council made a decision on an action item to distribute grant funds to Eastern Washington University to conduct the s...

  • Updated Mar 23, 2023

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  • Mayors and administrators of the West Plains talk progress

    Lucas Walsh, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 23, 2023

    CHENEY — The West Plains Chamber of Commerce hosted mayors and city administrators from Cheney, Airway Heights, and Medical Lake at its annual meeting at the Holiday Inn Express at 111 Betz Road on March 14. Cheney Mayor Chris Grover, Airway Heights Administrator Albert Tripp, and Medical Lake Administrator Sonny Weathers gave comments on the economic and social obstacles facing their various cities and how to overcome them. Guest speakers also included Ben Hawley from the e...

  • New Birrieria Tijuana to open in Cheney

    Lucas Walsh, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 23, 2023

    CHENEY – Sometime in early March of this year, Cheney will be home to a Birrieria Tijuana, a classic Mexican establishment, at 1204 1st St. This restaurant will be the tenth location for this Washington franchise, owned by founder Fredy Zavala. Birrieria Tijuana began as a single operation in Kent Washington, according to Zavala, a little over four years ago. Zavala said he was just selling his food on the sidewalk. "I started this brand with three of my best friends." Z...

  • Water main construction on Clay Street

    Lucas Walsh, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 23, 2023

    CHENEY - Installation of new water main pipes and infrastructure has begun on Clay Street and is scheduled to be completed toward the end of April, 2023. After the water main is installed, the team will move on to Elm Street, between North Sixth and Fifth Street, according to Public Works Department Director Todd Ableman. "We try to have annual water main projects, but winter started early last year and hit hard, so this project was delayed." Ableman said. The Community...

  • Man claims city didn't return email request

    Drew Lawson, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 23, 2023

    SPRAGUE—A Langley man is alleging that the city didn’t respond to a public records request he filed in September. Eric Hood filed a civil suit against the city Thursday, March 16, claiming the city didn’t respond to an email request for records regarding a previous lawsuit Hood filed. According to court filings, Hood emailed the city Wednesday, Sept. 14 asking for records of “all costs, including attorney invoices related to the lawsuit Eric Hood v. City of Sprague.” After not repeating the response, he repeated his reque...

  • Cheney and Airway Heights reapply for grant

    Lucas Walsh, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 23, 2023

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS — In partnership with the Cheney Police Department, the city announced on March 21 that it will apply for a continuation grant for two full-time behavioral health co-responders. This grant funding will run out in June of this year, and the joint application for continuing funds will be submitted in the coming weeks. “We want to combine our resources and benefit our communities that way. One of the first things we want to do is provide for response to mental heal...

  • Locals contribute to car give-away

    Lucas Walsh, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 23, 2023

    CHENEY – Local woman receives refurbished car, courtesy of Cheney business owners and private donors. Sabrina Meyer, the recipient of the vehicle, was given the keys on March 15. Steve Burke, of Burke's Repair, 107 H. Street, first acquired the used car from a former client who was planning to move out of state. This client agreed to sell the car to Burke at a reduced price under the condition that it be donated to a member of the community. "I put a post on the Cheney N...

  • Writers Workshop

    Updated Mar 23, 2023

    What Makes You Happy Venus Bratsveen 02/22/2023 The list of things that make me happy is longer and greater than the list that doesn’t. That in itself makes me happy. Yes, I have tales of past woes just like everyone else. Regrets? Sure, plenty. Darn proud of them too. I believe that if you don’t have regrets, can you really say that you’ve lived? Are you pretending you don’t have regrets to save face? Or do you, like me, believe that regrettable actions lead to a greater understanding? Having regrets just means that you’ve l...

  • Community Briefs

    Updated Mar 23, 2023

    National farm workers awareness week By Lucas Walsh Cheney Free Press CHENEY — Eastern Washington University will be hosting the annual farm workers awareness week, taking place between March 24 and April 7. Donation bins will be located on the second floor of the PUB on the university campus and will be accessible to the public between 10a.m. and 3p.m. Additionally, the Cesar Chavez Blood Drive will be in operation during this time on the first floor of the PUB in the NCR room. Cheney Congregational continues series By L...

  • Cheney High School Honor Roll

    Updated Mar 23, 2023

    Audey Abbey Patrick E. Abendroth Claire Abraham Lotte Abrahamsen Thayne E. Acedo Kian D. Achziger Josephine V. Adams Kadence M. Adams Safiyyah F. Al-Amin Nicholas J. Alderson Sariah E. Anderson Ayden M. Armitage Emma G. Armstrong Joy C. Assonken Emily K. Axtell Camilla P. Ayers Emma J. Ayers Rachel S. Bae Braylen R. Bagnall Alexander T. Balcom Charice V. Ballard Olivia Bang Elliana G. Barden Lily J. Bare Lillian M. Barlow Layla M. Barnhart Claire A. Barre’ Lea A. Barrios Owen T. Barry Jada N. Bascom Jon-Thomas D. B...

  • Skilled Worker Shortage Could Derail "Electrify Everything"

    Don C. Brunell|Updated Mar 23, 2023

    In the race to “Electrify Everything” there are glitches which may derail the plan over the next 20 years. One is a shortage of skilled electrical workers needed to rewire homes, make grid modifications, and install new electrical capacity. President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, signed in August, contains billions of dollars to help Americans electrify their homes, buy electric vehicles, replace natural gas stoves, and install solar panels. “The problem is most ho...

  • Protect local pharmacies

    Sen. Shelly Short|Updated Mar 23, 2023

    In small communities across Eastern Washington, the local pharmacy is a business you rely on. Often it is the only outlet for miles around where you can get your prescriptions filled and find a well-stocked selection of over-the-counter medications. Imagine what you would do if it closed. This is the troubling prospect facing many independent pharmacy owners today, due to a convoluted business model that has put them at the mercy of a handful of firms that process benefits for health insurers. Known as pharmacy benefits...

  • Public safety needs more than just a step in the right direction

    Sen. Judy Warnick|Updated Mar 23, 2023

    Law enforcement in our region continue to serve the people with professionalism, dedication and compassion. The brave men and women behind the badge are an integral part of our communities and are doing everything they can to keep our communities safe despite the unfortunate restrictions placed on them and the shortage of needed resources and staffing. We are fortunate that on our side of the mountains that the types of crime and spikes in violent offenses haven’t quite reached the extreme levels seen in western Washington. H...

  • Ellen Annette Holland

    Updated Mar 23, 2023

    Oct. 23, 1971 – March 12, 2023 Ellen Annette Holland, age 51, passed away on March 12, 2023 after her long battle with cancer. She was surrounded by 12 members of her family. Ellen was born on Oct. 23, 1971 to Bastiaan Eertink and Eronia Somer in Lochem, Netherlands. She moved to The States and attended North Idaho Community College, and Montana State University. She later earned her degree in Mathematics from Eastern Washington University. In 1993, Ellen married Kurt Holland...

  • This Week in History

    Updated Mar 23, 2023

    March 26 1948 Cheney Free Press Cheney High Wins County Boxing Title Cheney, Mead, Deer Park, and Riverside high schools competed in a county boxing tournament on March 20, 1948, and Cheney came out on top with a total of 58 points. Riverside scored 9 points, Deer Park 15, and Mead 41. The trophy, given to the Cheney team at the close of the tournament, was placed in the display window of Hansen’s Men’s Store, which was once located at 404 First Street. It was stipulated at the time that Cheney High would have to win an addit...

  • Celebration of Life

    Updated Mar 23, 2023

    Celebration of Life for Cavin Firestone will be on April 1, 2023, 1:00pm – 3:00pm at Windsor Grange, 4417 S. Assembly Rd., Spokane WA. Please bring your stories of Cavin to share, food catered by Wild Bill’s. A continued celebration will follow at Wild Bill’s Long Bar, Cheney....

  • Gardening by Osmosis

    Margaret A. Swenson|Updated Mar 23, 2023

    We should bee proud! Washington State is a forerunner in developing legislation for protecting pollinators. May 12, 2021, Governor Inslee signed SB 5253 to provide funding to, among other pollinator health concerns, help to ensure protection for over 400 different species of native bees in Washington. Other native pollinators such as butterflies, moths, wasps, beetles, flies and hummingbirds that help pollenate our agricultural well-being are also included in the Pollinator Health Bill. Awareness is the most effective tool....

  • West Plains Police News

    Updated Mar 23, 2023

    Cheney The following incidents were reported by Cheney police between March 13-19 March. 13 Third-degree theft-from vehicle. 500 Block 4th St. Stolen: license plate Fourth-degree assault. 0 Block N. 7th St. Abandoned Auto. 300 Block Clay St. Impounded: maroon 2002 Nissan Quest Possible Child Abuse/Neglect (CPS referral). 700 Block W. 1st St. March 14 Abandoned Auto. 500 Block Patterson St. Impounded: silver 2002 Buick Regal Residential Burglary domestic violation of court order. 2400 Block University Ln. Arrested: Edward J....

  • Cheney boys' tennis continues to rebuild

    Paul Delaney, Contributor|Updated Mar 23, 2023

    If Dan Estock can transfer his passion for the game of tennis into what happens on the courts for the Cheney High School boys’ team the Greater Spokane League might watch out. In his third year guiding the program after taking over for long-time coach Jessie Erickson, Estock is working trying to build things back after the toll COVID-19 took on his program. And Erickson has been there every step it seems. “He’s a pretty fantastic guy to have on your side,” Estock said. ...

  • Oklahoma State end Eastern's season in NIT

    staff and news service sources|Updated Mar 23, 2023

    In their National Invitational Tournament second-round battle with the Oklahoma State, Eastern Washington ran out of bullets. Playing at home in Stillwater, March 19, the Cowboys shot the ball well while the Eagles did not and claimed a 71-60 win at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Eastern advanced to this second-round game following its 81-74 win over Washington State on March 14 in Pullman. The Eagles, who regularly shot at or near 50 percent from the field in most of their games, were...

  • High School Sports Briefs

    Updated Mar 23, 2023

    BASEBALL: Medical Lake opens tossing no-hitter Medical Lake’s first time on the field in 2023 will forever be memorable as Luke Dickey and Griffin Marshall combined to throw a 12-1 no hit win on the road against the Connell Eagles, March 14. Medical Lake lost the second game of the doubleheader 6-5 in a contest called after five innings. The Cardinals finished the week with 9-8 loss at Greater Spokane League Ridgeline, March 17 and 12-2 the following day at Ferris. “(Marshall) kind of came out of nowhere throwing pretty har...

  • Continuity is plus for Cheney girls tennis

    Paul Delaney, Contributor|Updated Mar 23, 2023

    The learning curve was a bit rough in 2022 for then first-year Cheney girls’ tennis coach Linnea Love. With victories that could be counted on one hand, Love, who played in the Greater Spokane League at Lewis and Clark — later in college before returning home — knows the scales tilt towards Spokane. “It’s been challenging because the teams we play are a lot more competitive,” Love said. That’s mainly a matter of resources such as numbers and facilities. “There’s more...

  • EWU Sports Briefs

    Updated Mar 23, 2023

    TRACK: Eastern vaulter wins Big Sky AOW honor Eastern Washington pole vaulter Hally Ruff was named the Big Sky Women’s Field Athlete of the Week as the conference announced its weekly Outdoor Track and Field honors on March 20. At the Oregon Preview in Eugene on March 18, Ruff cleared 4.05m (13’ 3.5”) to start her outdoor season off on the right foot, setting the top mark in the Big Sky and the 10th best in the NCAA. Ruff didn’t skip a beat transitioning outside after winning bronze at the 2023 Big Sky Indoor Track and Fie...