Articles from the April 9, 2015 edition


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  • The numbers just don't add up in STA ballot request

    PAUL DELANEY, Staff Reporter|Updated Apr 27, 2015

    Just three-tenths of one percent, that’s all the Spokane Transit Authority is asking you to say “yes” to in an April 28 special election. At the same time many county voters will be asked to support various school measures along with funding a juvenile detention facility. STA’s Moving Forward plan literature tells us that money raised over the next 10 years — $270-300 million depending on the source — will be split in two ways. About 45 percent of the money will maintain se...

  • Betz Elementary School evacuated after bomb threat

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Apr 9, 2015

    A bomb threat last Tuesday afternoon, March 31, led to the evacuation of students at Cheney’s Betz Elementary School. Cheney Police Chief John Hensley said at 1:04 p.m. a woman contacted 911, telling the operator “I have a bomb in my car and a detonator and I am driving around Betz school right now and I will set the bomb off.” Hensley said Cheney Police contacted school district staff at Betz, and after arrival locked down the school. The students were removed from the school and taken to the Cheney High School gym next...

  • What's Happening on the West Plains

    Updated Apr 9, 2015

    City of Cheney • April 10, Baby Play and Learn Storytime (ages 0 – 18 months), community library, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. • April 10, Free AARP Tax-Aide, community library, noon – 5 p.m. • April 11, Free AARP Tax-Aide, community library, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. • April 13, Planning Commission Meeting, City Hall Council Chambers, 6 p.m. • April 13, Dance Class, Wren Pierson Community Center, 7:15 – 8:15 p.m. • April 14, Senior Light Fitness, Wren Pierson Community Center, 9 – 10 a.m. • April 14, Lego Club, community library, 4 – 5 p.m. ...

  • West Plains Police News

    Updated Apr 9, 2015

    CHENEY March 30 Jewelry was found on the 200 block of Washington Street. A 16-year-old was arrested at Cheney High School for possession of a controlled substance. March 31 A bike rack was found on the 600 block of West Fifth Street. A bomb threat was reported on the 300 block of North Seventh Street. Suspicious circumstances were reported on the 1500 block of West First Street. Residential burglary was reported on the 1100 block of First Street. The Cheney Police Department assisted Child Protective Services on a case on...

  • Thank you from Cheney Kiwanis Club

    Updated Apr 9, 2015

    Thank you to all the families who came out to participate in the 2015 Egg Hunt April 4 at Salnave Park. Cheney Kiwanis also thanks the following groups for their assistance in providing this free family activity: Omega Delta Phi fraternity and Kappa Delta Chi sorority (both at Eastern Washington University) for providing several prize baskets and helping with setup and clean up; Cheney Assisted Living residents for placing candies into approximately 5,000 plastic eggs; Cheney Fire Department for bringing a fire truck to the...

  • Vote to support Cheney School District

    Updated Apr 9, 2015

    We are writing to support the Cheney School District’s high school bond measure in the April 28 election. As retired educators from Cheney School District and Eastern Washington University, we are so proud of our growing school district, and this bond continues our investment in our students and schools. We were very disappointed with the Free Press editorial on March 26. Anyone who has been in Cheney High School knows the immediate need for relief for our kids, who are trying to learn in portables, who are eating lunch in h...

  • West Plains Briefs

    Updated Apr 9, 2015

    Feed Medical Lake meal Feed Medical Lake is serving chicken casserole with rice and peas, salad, and haystacks at its monthly meal, Monday, April 13 from 5-6 p.m. Free groceries and door prizes are available. For more information contact Joanna Williams 714-1150. Gardeners of Cheney The Gardeners of Cheney will meet Monday, April 13, at the Sessions Community Center at 6:30 p.m. The speaker, Gina Erickson, will discuss old soil vs. new soil. Visitors are welcome....

  • It's time for new rules after Germanwings tragedy

    Updated Apr 9, 2015

    Trust. It’s something that is paramount in our personal relationships. At work trust is a two-way street between management and employees — and visa-versa. In day-to-day life we all put implicit trust in so many areas it is difficult to quantify them. But sometimes, when you least expect it, that trust is shattered in the most outlandish manner, as was the case March 24 when an obscure German, Andreas Lubitz, became the center of conversations in nations across the globe. It was the 27-year-old Lubitz, the co-pilot of a Ger...

  • "Remembering Generations" seminar

    Updated Apr 9, 2015

    The annual genealogical research seminar “Remembering Generations: A Family Discovery Day” is taking place Saturday, April 18, from 8:40 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 10405 W. Melville Road. Registration is now open for the seminar, which features 25 classes designed to help individuals research and explore their family history. Lunch will be provided. Registration is available online at rememberinggenerations.com. For more information call (509) 838-6489....

  • Train and rail traffic meeting at United Church of Christ

    Updated Apr 9, 2015

    A meeting of citizens concerned about increased rail traffic through Cheney will be held Thursday, April 16 at 7 p.m. at the United Church of Christ in Cheney. For information contact Nancy Street at 235-5458....

  • Barry to present at Whitman Conference

    Updated Apr 9, 2015

    Lucas Barry, a 2012 graduate of Cheney High School and currently a junior at Whitman College, is one of a number of students sharing research and creative projects in the 17th annual Whitman Undergraduate Conference. The projects are a result of the students’ work in their courses, senior theses, summer internships and study abroad. To view the conference program with a full description of their project, visit: http://www.whitman.edu/academics/whitman-undergraduate-conference. Founded in 1882, Whitman College is a s...

  • Hallett Elementary honors PACE students

    Updated Apr 9, 2015

    Hallett Elementary announced the Partners Advancing Character Education (PACE) award winners for March. March’s PACE trait is diligence. PACE award — Garrett Huston, Allison Appel, Jordyn Stein, Owen Beal, Owen Decker, Joshua Goodman, Ashton Kidd, Elizabeth Gies, Ava Supita, Lake James, Colton Kjelland, Keandra Bell, Samuel Russell, Denise Raymond, Rylie Jo Garrison, Kelsey Braswell, Erin Cooper, Sydney Lundberg and Jeriko Hagel. Bug — Connor Charette, Blake Harp, Ayden Reed, Eduard Dederer, Skyla Barringer, Henry Kelm, Abbig...

  • Hopkins to speak at Book Club meeting

    Updated Apr 9, 2015

    Local author Vern Hopkins will discuss his book “It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time” at the April 13 Medical Lake Book Club meeting. The meeting begins with refreshments and a social at 12:30 p.m. “It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time” is a collection of short stories that will have readers smiling with each chapter as they follow along with Hopkins on his remarkable and colorful ranching, horse racing and rodeo life that started in 1934. Everyone is welcome. The Book Club meets in the Medical Lake Library at 321 E....

  • Halls visits Medical Lake

    AL STOVER|Updated Apr 9, 2015

    Local author Kelly Milner Halls (left) signs one of her books for a student. Halls was the guest author at the 16th annual Medical Lake Reading Festival, April 2....

  • Cheney alum wins Bradfield scholarship

    Updated Apr 9, 2015

    Quindry Murphy, a 2012 graduate of Cheney High School, has been awarded a Bradfield Family Scholarship for the current academic year at Eastern Washington University. The award is given to outstanding students majoring in music or geography. Murphy, who won a $500 scholarship, is a member of the EWU marching band as well as the EWU Concert Jazz Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble and Steel Drum Ensemble. At Cheney High, he was part of the all-state percussion ensemble. Murphy teaches, produces and composes music, which is his...

  • Hallett students gear up for Bloomsday

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated Apr 9, 2015

    Ever wanted to run through the hallways of an elementary school without getting into trouble? A group of students participating in Hallett Elementary's Fit For Bloomsday after-school program got to experience that during one of their early spring workouts. Because of weather conditions and soccer practicing in the gym, Cheryl Spilker, a fifth-grade teacher and one of the two coaches for Hallett's program along with counselor Tami Earthman, chose to have the students run laps,...

  • Circuit Breakers finish 16th at FIRST robotics districts

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated Apr 9, 2015

    The Medical Lake High School Circuit Breakers' season concluded April 4 at the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Pacific Northwest District Championships robotics competition at Eastern Washington University. The Circuit Breakers, who were competing in the district championships for the first time, finished 16th out of 64 teams. Prior to districts, the Circuit Breakers competed at regional events at West Valley High School where they finished...

  • West Plains Easter Egg Hunts

    Updated Apr 9, 2015

  • Components of an electrical rate increase

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Apr 9, 2015

    If you think there is something fishy about Cheney's upcoming 6 percent power rate increase, you'd be correct. The City Council recently approved the increase, the first in 14 years, in order to replenish Light Department coffers that have been steadily dwindling due not only to infrastructure requirements but increases in wholesale power costs from the city's supplier, the Bonneville Power Administration. One of the factors behind BPA's increases stems from a 2008 settlement...

  • Family barbecue planned April 19

    Updated Apr 9, 2015

    The first annual Giving Trees Family Barbecue presented by 3 Green Thumbs will take place Sunday, April 19 from 1-4:30 p.m. at Sutton Park in Cheney. Organizers plan to have food, music, prizes and games. Neighbors are invited to bring their favorite dish to share or if wanting to help volunteer or sponsor. Contact Mike Waggoner at 509-235-9240 or email us at [email protected]....

  • Grease Monkey opens new building in Airway Heights

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated Apr 9, 2015

    Airway Heights residents or travelers who frequently drive along Highway 2 near 14th Avenue may have noticed the change in recent months. What used to be J&J Lube Station, at 13023 W. 14th Ave., is now a Grease Monkey Oil Change station. According to its website, Grease Monkey is the country's largest independent franchisor of automotive fast lube centers, serving more than 2 million customers each year. The company, founded in 1978, has more than 290 centers operating in the...

  • Airway Heights approves request to promote festival, car show

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated Apr 9, 2015

    It was business as usual for the Airway Heights City Council as they waltzed through a quick agenda at its April 6 meeting. In action items, the council approved a funding request from the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee for $13,250 for marketing and promotion of the 2015 Airway Heights Festival and Car Show, which takes place in August. At its March 16 meeting, the council passed a resolution for the Parks and Recreation Department to submit a grant application to the committe...

  • Grinding Gears

    Updated Apr 9, 2015

    Competitors at Thursday's competition in the Pacific Northwest FIRST Robotics district championships staged at Eastern Washington University were intense. Medical Lake High School's Circuit Breakers finished 16th in the event. See story on page 2....

  • Cheney High School announces tours

    Updated Apr 9, 2015

    The public is invited to tour Cheney High School to learn more about the district’s $44.88 million construction bond. The dates available for the tour are Thursday, April 16 and Monday, April 20. All tours begin at 8:15 a.m. Please RSVP by contacting CHS Principal Troy Heuett at [email protected]. Plan to convene at the main office and participate in a guided tour. If you would like to tour the high school but the above dates and/or times will not work for you, please contact Huett to make arrangements for a separate t...

  • Medical Lake City Council talks public safety

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated Apr 9, 2015

    It was a light agenda at the Medical Lake April 7 City Council meeting. During the public safety report, the council approved a permit for a TNT Fireworks stand to operate in the Denny’s Harvest Foods parking lot, at E. 215 SR 902. The permit is valid from July 1-4 and all requirements set forth by the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office will be observed during this period. The Medical Lake Fire Department and Spokane County Sheriff’s Office will also be enforcing state laws and local ordinances during that time. Accor...

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