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CAMP MURRAY, WASH. – A report released late Tuesday evening, May 26, indicates that transmission of the coronavirus and the disease it carries, COVID-19, is trending upwards in counties east of the Cascade Mountains. The report also indicates trends in the spread of the disease are slowing in Western Washington. The report findings are based on what is referred to as “the effective reproductive number,” a measure of how many new infections derive from a single case of COVID-19. A reproductive number below one means the number... Full story
OKANOGAN — A lawsuit filed Friday in Douglas County against Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay-at-home order was continued to 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 29, in Okanogan County Superior Court this morning. The case was moved to Okanogan County because Douglas County commissioners are among the plaintiffs in the suit. Assistant Attorney General Zachary Jones contended Inslee’s stay-at-home order was issued in Thurston County and therefore should be heard in a Thurston County courtroom. Jones...
CHENEY – A financial fraud apparently launched in Africa has found its way to the West Plains. According to police, so far at least 18 incidents have been reported of an unemployment scam authorities are calling very sophisticated, immense and seemly targeted at Washington state, although other states have also been impacted. While fraud, Cheney is classifying the incidents as identity theft. “We chose to classify them as identity theft because the victims’ names and social security numbers were used in an attempt to obtai... Full story
CAMP MURRAY -- Spokane County has received approval of its variance application to move to Phase 2 of the state's reopening plan from restrictions imposed to battle the spread of coronavirus. Other counties eligible for the variance and receiving approval today are Adams, Grays Harbor and Lewis. A total of 14 counties have now been approved to move to Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee's Safe Start plan. In a news release, Secretary of Health John Wiesman noted that Kittitas County's application is on pause until Tuesday, May 26 due... Full story
Cheney Congregational Church We hope this message finds you well and in good health. This Sunday we are beginning a new sermon series based on Barbara Brown Taylor's book, “An Altar in the World.” In this series we'll explore what it looks like to experience God's presence and grace in ordinary ways, such as waking and sleeping, taking walks, encountering others, saying no, feeling pain and paying attention. God's presence is not limited to a church building, and we encounter God even and especially in the ordinary, oft...
WEST PLAINS – Like many other things in life right now, Memorial Day is going to look different this year. All three cemeteries on the West Plains have canceled their respective observances due to prohibitions on large gatherings as part of measures enacted to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Two are hoping to provide other options for individuals and families who wish to mark the day with remembrances of those who have given their lives in service of their country. Cheney Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 11326 was e...
Monday is Memorial Day. By tradition, it’s the 152nd anniversary of the day set aside to remember those who lost their lives serving our country. I say by tradition because the first incarnation of this observance, Decoration Day, started on May 30, 1868. According to History.com, there were other, smaller observances prior, many marking the end of the Civil War. There are three days we have set aside as official days to commemorate and recognize those who have served, and are now serving in our armed forces. Memorial Day, V...
SPOKANE – The Spokane County Library District is hosting an online trivia contest that could determine just how strong the Force is within you. “Virtual Trivia: ‘Star Wars’” is fun for the whole family involving everything Star Wars. Share knowledge about all three trilogies, the spin-off shows, movies, and animated series, the toys, books and other merchandise, and of course, the new Disney attraction at Hollywood Studios. Participants are invited to wear a costume or a favorite Star Wars T-shirt during this virtual e...
WEST PLAINS – Government offices in Airway Heights, Cheney and Medical Lake will be closed Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. Additionally, garbage and recycling collections will be delayed. In Cheney, residential cart service will be delayed one day, with commercial service catching up through the week. The city’s recycling center will open on Tuesday at 8 a.m. In Medical Lake, garbage will be collected on Thursday, May 28, rather than Wednesday, May 27. All county offices will also be closed on Monday, inc... Full story
West Plains resident Wesley Willand took his grandson Race Cantagallo by Snowdon Elementary School on Hallett Road Saturday where the youngster couldn’t resist demonstrating his disappointment that the playground apparatus was still closed due to COVID-19 restrictions....
Reading the May 7 Cheney Free Press, I see that publisher Roger Harnack has arrived. By that I mean he’s earned “certification” and his first scolding from serial letter writer Richard Badalamente. I call it the “Badalamente Badge.” And in 12 years as a staff member at the CFP, I proudly lay claim to earning at least a half-dozen such citations from Richard for improper thoughts laid to paper. It is of course interesting — and ironic — that Badalamente points out Harnack’s failing in his story to have cited “statistics on...
SPOKANE -- The Spokane County Sheriff's Office Property Crimes Task Force is asking for the public's help to find the following wanted fugitive. Douglas J. Farmer is wanted for possession of a stolen motor vehicle, attempting to elude and Department of Corrections escape. Farmer is a white male, 30 years old, is 5-feet-9-inches tall, weighs 157 pounds and has hazel eyes and brown hair. Persons with information regarding the whereabouts of this fugitive should call the Crime...
CHENEY – Cheney Care Center recreation director Kris Bahr wanted to do something to cheer up the residents who have been prevented from going outside the care facility since early March due to coronavirus restrictions. She eventually hit upon an idea she thinks will do the trick and put a smile on everyone’s face — puppies. Bahr is staging a “Cheney Care Center Puppy Parade” on June 10, beginning at 2 p.m. She is asking anyone in the community with a well-behaved dog, puppy or older, to come by the Care Center and parade ar...
Cheney Community Church pastor Todd Luce accepts the congratulations and well-wished of congregants who formed staged a parade last Saturday to honor his promotion to colonel in the U.S. Air Force. Luce’s wife Susan took to the cellphone to record the moment, which began with assembling in the church’s parking lot to parade past the couple’s home in Harvest Bluff....
AIRWAY HEIGHTS — The Airway Heights city council voted unanimously earlier this month to accept a $50,000 grant from the state of Washington. Minutes later, the council voted to apply the grant as a payment to an existing project. The grant was authorized by the Washington State Legislature as part of a program that provides funding of up to $50,000 to small cities to increase opportunities for housing. City planner Heather Trautman presented the grant to the council and requested that it accept it. “No matching of funds in...
CHENEY May 11 Residential burglary was reported on the zero hundred block of Erie Street. A wallet and its contents and a video game system were taken and recovered on May 16 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho by CDA police. An incorrigible juvenile was reported on the 1000 block of Betz Road. May 12 Financial fraud/online eBay scam was reported on the 1000 block of Betz Road. Residential burglary was reported on the zero hundred block of North 8th Street. A computer, camera, handgun, credit cards and personal items were taken. Rape w...
Mariann L Donley, born in Elk River, California Feb. 14, 1938, to Jacob and Louise Lorensen, passed peacefully May 12, 2020, in Spokane, Washington. Mariann was born into a rural household, the last of a generation to attend a one-room schoolhouse. Her strong desire to be a part of education started early as she wandered across the road to the Elk River School at four years old. She got to stay, and by fifth-grade, she was assisting the teacher with educating younger... Full story
Wayne Norman Just passed away peacefully April 30, 2020 at his mountain cabin, his loving wife Tracy by his side. Wayne was born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on Nov. 13, 1950 to the late Harry and Retha Just. They moved to Cheney, Washington when he was five years old. He attended Cheney Schools and was a gifted athlete that excelled at baseball, basketball and football. After graduating from high school, Wayne attended Eastern Washington State College before being drafted into... Full story
In the mid-1980s I had great health care for my young family. I worked in construction and as long as there was work, I had wonderful healthcare because I was in a strong union. During a slow period when work dried up, I used COBRA to buy health care by the month but it seemed very expensive and I eventually had to stop making payments and lost our insurance. Luckily, we had no major health needs during this period but I was worried. Now with lots of people losing their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic I imagine lots of...
By JOHN McCALLUM Managing Editor Monday is Memorial Day. By tradition, it’s the 152nd anniversary of the day set aside to remember those who lost their lives serving our country. I say by tradition because the first incarnation of this observance, Decoration Day, started on May 30, 1868. According to History.com, there were other, smaller observances prior, many marking the end of the Civil War. There are three days we have set aside as official days to commemorate and recognize those who have served, and are now serving i...
SPOKANE — Spokane County is one of 10 counties that can now apply to move on to Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s plan to reopen Washington’s economy. The new criteria allow counties to apply to reopen if they have fewer than 10 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents over a 14-day period. Currently, Spokane County meets that criteria. The new criteria makes larger counties eligible to apply for a variance for the first time. Until now, a county had to have a population of fewer than 70,000 people and no new cases in three weeks... Full story
CHENEY – A dining favorite in the city has shut its doors permanently. Lenny's American and Italian Fine Cuisine on 1st Street has officially closed. While a post on the businesses Facebook page March 28 noted they were closing their doors due to restrictions imposed by measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Jennifer Matika, wife of owner John Matika, said today (May 14) they had made the closure permanent. "It's very devastating for us to have to close down" she s... Full story
CHENEY – It’s not everyday someone starts a new medical job in the middle of a pandemic. So, it’s understandable that when new Lincoln Hospital Nursing Director Bonnie E. DesJardin, a Cheney resident, was asked how life at Lincoln Hospital compared to other jobs, she couldn’t answer. “I don’t know what the normal is here,” DesJardin said, noting she’s been on the job here only three weeks. “I’ve been told some things, but I really haven’t experienced it yet ... I expected to come out here and start by really just seeing ho...
CHENEY – The City Council found its way to doing some non-coronavirus related business last Tuesday night, passing resolutions approving project engineering services, building a wall on a Light Department building, entering into a medical equipment services agreement and providing data collection for the Kalispel Tribe of Indians Police Department. The latter is a 36-month extension of an existing agreement between the Kalispel’s and Cheney’s Police Department to provide data collection, storage and sharing services. The n...
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