Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 31
OLYMPIA -- Gov. Jay Inslee has extended his "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order until May 4. The order, issued to slow the spread of the severe acute respiratory disease COVID-19, was set to expire on Wednesday, April 8. The order has banned all gatherings and temporarily shuttered non-essential businesses. Public gatherings remain banned and non-essential businesses may reopen May 5. If gatherings are held in violation of the order, individuals are encouraged to notify their local police department. Do not call 911. All grocery... Full story
Updated April 5, 5:39 p.m. -- Spokane County Department of Emergency Management officials have announced the number of cases of COVID-19 have risen. As of Sunday, April 5, the number of cases in the county is 219 individuals. The death toll has also risen and now stands at 11. SPOKANE -- COVID19 cases in Spokane County have topped 200, with the death toll from the severe acute respiratory disease rising as well. In an April 4 news release, Spokane County Department of Emergency Management officials said the total number of...
LIND -- A Kettle Falls woman was killed Sunday morning when her pickup overturned. Kristen K. Icenogle, 52, was pronounced dead at the scene near Milepost 70 on southbound U.S. Highway 395, the Washington State Patrol reported. Her next of kin was notified of the 10:17 a.m. fatal crash; notification was completed by Chaplain Robert "Bob" Purdy and trooper Conner S. Bruchman, the patrol said. A preliminary report says Icenogle's Ford F150 was southbound when it left the...
RITZVILLE -- Adams County health officials Saturday evening reported that a total of 23 coronavirus cases have been confirmed. Of those cases, 19 are in Othello, with 10 connected to a single family, officials said. There are two cases each in Lind and Ritzville. Of the Lind-Ritzville cases, three are connected to a single family, officials said. Overall, 159 county residents have been tested, officials said, noting results from 31 tests are still pending and 101 have returned negative.... Full story
OTHELLO -- The number of Wuhan coronavirus cases is rising, with almost half of the cases connected to a single family. As of Sunday afternoon, Adams County health officials were reporting 23 cases in the city, 11 of which were in one family. There are only four other cases in Adams County, three of which are within a family that has members in Ritzville and Lind. Total, there are 27 cases county wide, with two cases in each Ritzville and Lind, officials said, noting a total of 161 people have been tested. One infected... Full story
AIRWAY HEIGHTS --The Kalispel Tribe of Indians, its economic authority and the Northern Quest Resort & Casino have filed a $21.27 million lawsuit against companies including 3M and Tyco Fire Products along with the United States government over chemicals used in firefighting foam that have contaminated drinking water sources in Airway Heights, including tribal lands. The lawsuit filed Monday, March 30, in federal court in Washington joins other lawsuits around the country dealing with alleged harmful effects of... Full story
By JOHN McCALLUM Managing Editor CHENEY – The City Council gave its official blessing at its March 24 meeting to measures already implemented to combat the spread of the severe acute respiratory disease COVID-19. City officials have taken action to close playgrounds and most city facilities following Spokane Regional Health District, state and federal directives. City Administrator Mark Schuller told the council that passage of the state of emergency resolution would allow the city to apply for reimbursement from the F...
RITZVILLE - Area seamstresses have been sewing fast and furiously to get cloth masks donated to area hospitals, medical facilities, senior centers and other organizations. Their work has also been provided to the Adams County Sheriff's Office, gas stations, U.S. Postal Service and grocery stores for use during the coronavirus pandemic. Dorcey Hunt, an East Adams Rural Healthcare physical therapist, said she saw a Facebook post by Odessa's Kelsey Scrupps asking for help...
SPOKANE COUNTY – Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels is in need of coolers, ice packs and volunteers to bring meals to over 1,000 participants — many who are over age 60. In a March 30 press release, GSC Meals on Wheels said the closure of their 12 Silver Cafes — where mobile seniors come and enjoy a fresh-cooked meal — due to COVID-19 restrictions has reduced nutrition options for those seniors. One of those cafes was at the Cheney Care Center's Sessions Village Commons. GSC Meals on Wheels say they have subsequ... Full story
CHENEY -- A resident at the Cheney Care Center has tested positive for the severe acute respiratory disease COVID-19. According to news reports, the resident was transferred to a local hospital on March 30 and tested positive for the disease on April 1. The resident is in quarantine at the hospital, and Care Center officials say there are no other confirmed or suspected cases at the facility. John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].... Full story
RITZVILLE - Senate Minority Leader Mark Schoesler doesn't agree with extending the statewide quarantine until May 4 due to the coronavirus outbreak. Responding to Bainbridge Island Democrat Gov. Jay Inslee's order last night to extend his "stay home" order until May 4, Schoesler, R-Ritzville, said there has to be some flexibility for the state's rural and other areas. "We're not out of the woods, yet," Gov. Inslee said. "This order is not only necessary, it's morally...
LIND — Nearly $42 million worth of construction costs in building permits were issued for Adams County between Feb. 1 and March 25. The bulk of the permits were issued March 24-25 for work contracted by Blattner Energy Inc. for the Rattlesnake Flat Wind Project. Permits include construction of 23 wind turbines valued at $1,645,467each, for a total of $37,845,730. Fourteen of the wind turbines will be located at 350 S. Marcellus Road, another one at 47 N. Seivers Road, two along East Providence Road, three at 76 S. Dewald R...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS -- The City Council moved five items out of last Monday's study session for passage consideration at its next meeting April 6 -- one of which dealt with what to do once the Air Force releases its analysis of options to deal with contaminated groundwater in the area. Council will consider a $27,500 appropriation to hire consultant to perform a hydrogeological assessment of the contamination, allegedly created when firefighting foam used at Fairchild Air Force Base leaked into the aquafer over a number of years....
MEDICAL LAKE – Years in the making, Medical Lake’s water intertie with the city of Spokane moved an important step closer to fruition recently. The low bid $651,692.45 from General Industries, Inc. from Spokane was accepted, but when the final steps are completed remains somewhat clouded by COVID-19. Contractors are idled by decree from Gov. Jay Inslee over in an effort to contain the so-called coronavirus and that has made Mayor Shirley Maike’s signing of the contract not a p...
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and shutdown of businesses and activities, Free Press Publishing is having to cut back page count and staff hours, hopefully just temporarily. It’s not a decision we made lightly; it’s a decision out of necessity. Newspaper companies are already shutting down around the nation, including multiple papers in the Puget Sound region, in the Columbia River Gorge and elsewhere. But we’re here to stay. Please bear with us a few weeks as we ride out this economic tidal wave. We’ll be back be...
MEDICAL LAKE – Feed Medical Lake officials have announced they will be providing weekly “grab-and-go” sack lunches/dinners as originally planned. The meals will take place every Monday, beginning March 30, at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 223 S. Hallett St. Feed Medical Lake organizers had hoped to provide these meals along with groceries, but after Gov. Jay Inslee’s March 16 proclamation ordering Washingtonians to “stay home, stay safe,” as part of efforts to slow the spread of the severe acute respiratory d...
CHENEY March 23 A vehicle prowling was reported on the zero hundred block of West 3rd Street. Vehicle was rummaged through but nothing was apparently taken. A vehicle prowling was reported on the 200 block of Betz Road. Vehicle was rummaged through but nothing was apparently taken. March 24 Suspicious circumstances/medical call was reported on the 200 block of South Cheney-Spangle Road. Third-degree malicious mischief was reported on the 400 block of Betz Road. A vehicle was damaged while syphoning gas. Police assisted...
Some years back, in the biggest town in a small county outside our 9th District, there was a clothing store. Upstairs was the office of the area’s weekly newspaper. Week after week, year after year, the clothing store published the same advertisement in the newspaper, displaying its name, address and a drawing of a coat rack, to signal what people could buy there. No brand names, no sale prices, nothing else. The message this ad sent was clear and reassuring: “We’re still here.” It’s a complete understatement to say the f...
Cheney High School's Bas Holland has signed a letter of intent to run cross country for the University of Wyoming Cowboys. A four-year letter winner, Holland capped his high school career with a fourth-place finish at the 2A state meet in November, leading the Blackhawk boys to seventh-place team finish at Pasco. Wyoming finished 12th in the final U.S. Track and Field Cross Country Association 2019 poll this past season, behind fellow Mountain West schools Boise State (10th)...
Cheney Congregational Church Praise God that the church is not confined to four walls and a steeple. We are the church, and during this strange and anxious season, we will continue to be the church, even though we cannot gather. We are still able to stand with one another and support each other as needs arise. One of the primary ways we care for one another right now is by staying home. This is a burden we are not eager to take on, but it is the one we are called to bear in order to love our neighbors who are more vulnerable...
Cheney High School Students of the Month for February are pictured above as follows: Front row left to right Arianna Craig, Lorelei Johnson-Harboe, Kylie Mitchell and Kennady Ose. Back row left to right are Bing Chavez, Matai Jarms-Odood, Dylan Ocheltree, Rhosewen Caskey and Alivia Birkland....
MEDICAL LAKE – There are many casualties of COVID-19, aside from the actual virus victims themselves. And one of those was an effort to assist Medical Lake residents tackle the every decade chore of completing the U.S. Census. The Innovia Foundation awarded a $10,000 grant to a variety of community entities to assist those who may not be computer savvy or have internet access. The money paid for a laptop computer at City Hall that allowed residents to do an online entry and a...
CHENEY – Most changes involved in slowing the spread of the COVID-19 disease have been announced publicly. One, however, was done almost quietly in the dead of night. Gov. Jay Inslee signed a proclamation March 24 amending his state of emergency declaration by suspending aspects of the Open Public Meetings and Open Public Records acts that involve public contact. The proclamation noted the suspension of these requirements runs to midnight April 23; however ,the Inslee’s office has indicated it is considering extending lim...
The setting sun is captured last Tuesday by Rhonda Madison from the deck of her home near the West Terrace developments....
PDF