Sorted by date Results 1 - 23 of 23
By PAUL DELANEY Staff Reporter Some people got what they wanted with the possibility of more. Others didn't hear what they wanted at the July 16 meeting of the Medical Lake City Council. While one citizen, Jim Johnson, asked and received approval to have land vacated by the city to assist in the remodeling work planned for the old Masonic Hall as it's converted to a community center, another, Sandy Staples failed to get the result she had hoped when it came to the city's police department. The council was meeting for their on...
City hopes to raise $6 million for new park facility along Betz Road By DAVID TELLER Staff Reporter The Cheney City Council approved Parks and Recreation Department director Paul Simmons' request to begin preparing ballot language for a $6 million bond to be voted on in November to pay for a new facility that would be built during the first phase of construction of the proposed 50-acre park on Betz Road. If approved, the bond would increase property taxes by about $10 a month per $150,000 of assessed value. Simmons said it's... Full story
Dispute over former police officer Mike Taylor's law enforcement certification brings legal action By DAVID TELLER Staff Reporter Just as Cheney gets one lawsuit resolved, another one has surfaced. Former Cheney Police Officer Mike Taylor has filed a wrongful job dismissal lawsuit after he was let go when city officials said the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Academy, the state law enforcement certification agency, informed them that Taylor's credentials were invalid. The case was referred to the...
1 Years Ago June 24, 1999 As Cheney's Pathways Progress organization continues to move along in the planning stages, the recently created Cheney Downtown Business Association has come up with ideas of its own to spruce up the central business district. Next up – repairing the rickety awning that runs along the west side of First Street. Medical Lake's City Council approved a job description and pay scale for the supervisor position at the city's soon to be completed wastewater treatment facility. Despite the approval, i...
Four races, including mayoral competition in both cities, to appear on August primary ballot By JOHN McCALLUM Editor The 2009 election season could be a busy one for residents on the West Plains, with many key offices up for grabs. Thirty-six candidates have filed to run for 18 open positions ranging from state legislator to fire district commissioner, with several positions being contested by three people or more and thus appearing on the Aug. 18 primary ballot. Both Cheney and Medical Lake will have contested mayoral races...
The Spokane Regional Health District is urging people to check their refrigerators and to throw out any Nestle Toll House prepackaged, refrigerated cookie dough. The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are warning consumers not to eat any varieties of prepackaged Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough due to the risk of contamination with E. coli O157:H7 (a bacterium that causes food borne illness). Cooking the dough is not recommended because consumers... Full story
Only 75 years ago, on June 18, 1934, the U.S. Congress passed the Wheeler-Howard Act finally recognizing the right to self determination for Native Americans and tribes. For more information about our area's history go to www.cheneymuseum.org...
Lawrence Francis Gildea was born on July 7, 1933 in Medford, Ore. He lived the first six years of his life on a family farm in southwest Oregon, located on the Applegate River near the unincorporated town of Ruch. After the beginning of World War II, the family relocated to Long Beach, Calif. where Lawrence's father found work in the military shipyards that fueled the war effort. Lawrence graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School in 1951, an A student and varsity letterman in tennis. He studied for several years at... Full story
Emmanuel Lutheran Church Emmanuel Lutheran Church invites everyone to gather for Sunday worship at 10:30 a.m. Interim Pastor Paul Anderson will preside. Fellowship follows directly after worship in the fellowship hall with cookies, coffee, punch and conversation. Nursery care is provided for children infant to age three. Mark your calendars for our annual Vacation Bible School beginning Monday, July 27, through Friday, July 31. Emmanuel will again join St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church to teach our communities' children at... Full story
Bird watching provides a gardening break By LaVERLE McCANLESS Contributor “Never give up listening to the sounds of birds.” John James Audubon Granddad would listen to the robins and predict the weather from their sounds. It is still the same today as it was ages ago, the robins do have a different sound according to the weather as it is and if there is a change in the weather to come. Take time to listen and the challenge is to remember the sounds as the day progresses. Oh yes, they also have a warning to each other whe...
Jim Scroggie's family figures prominently in Spokane County history By LUELLA DOW Contributor From all over the world, settlers came in the 1800s to explore the wilderness of this northwest part of the United States. This part of the country, which we so easily take for granted with its paved roads, shopping malls and provisions for every need and want, had a different flavor then. Josiah Graves, in 1869, was the first white man to find a spring and claim his ownership of land in the wide area known as Amber. Township 22 was...
By DAVID TELLER Staff Reporter Sometimes a good story does more than entertain, it also educates and enlightens. Local author Vern Hopkins has re-released his first book, “It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time,” which is a biography, “kind of.” Along with his other book, “Rope Burns and Roses,” the two are compilations of life stories he wrote. The life stories are from his childhood growing up in the Spokane Valley, during the Great Depression and Word War II, from working on a ranch in Montana, to working at Playfair to ca... Full story
By DAVID TELLER Staff Reporter For anyone fixing up an old hot rod or just replacing sun-damaged interior for their boat, Cheney has a man for the job. Jim Smith, owner TopStitch Upholstery and Kustom at 114 First St., opened his doors on May 5 and brings a wealth of quality experience in a business where critical eyes are unforgiving of mistakes. Born and raised in Western Washington to a family of car lovers, Smith said he got into cars at a young age. “We've always been into hot rods,” Smith said. His father, a truck dri...
CHENEY June 18 A cell phone was found on the 300 block of North Seventh Street. A possible case of mental illness was reported on the 100 block of North Seventh Street. The subject was involuntarily transported to Sacred heart Medical Center. A maroon bicycle was found on the 400 block of Annie Place. Third-degree malicious mischief was reported on the 2400 block of University Lane. Phillip W. Davis, 35, was taken into custody at Cheney Municipal Court stemming from a third-degree driving while license suspended (DWLS)...
Founder's Day a success for Medical Lake To our new friends in Medical Lake, thank you for a wonderful weekend. What a wonderful parade, very well organized, with so many great neighbors turning out in celebration. Your town could not have been more inviting and hospitable! More importantly, it was so heart warming to see that traditional small town values are alive and well in Medical Lake. A Founder's Day weekend is more then just a great car show, fun athletic competition, or a dynamite barbeque; it's a chance for people... Full story
The wheels are turning – literally – for a potential new identity for Cheney. Let's make that the entire West Plains for that matter. Lakes, fishing and similar recreational pursuits are what much of the West Plains have hung their hats on over the years. They've kind of been the area's recreational identity. On the business side, Cheney still strongly identifies with Eastern Washington University; Medical Lake with various state facilities and Fairchild Air Force Base with Airway Heights. The Cheney Free Press editorial boa... Full story
Cheney Middle School has released the seventh and eighth grade honor roll for fourth quarter. 7th Grade 4.0 GPA – Amy Anderson, Shelby Beedle, Tristan Bennett, Mckenzie Bissell, Hope Caruthers, Steffinie Cunningham, Justine Drewel, Christina Frantilla, Marlena Hamilton, Tessora Heiydt, Aimee Jenkins, Bailey Jungwirth, Manrit Kaur, Svetlana Kushnerchuk, Amanda Lomas, Kaylynn Maya, Anastasiya Mayerchuk, Cassandra Morden, Shyann Morton, Dallin Olson, Kailien Parker, Kinsey Pease, Samantha Peterson, Matthew Riddle, Jenna R... Full story
An ecstatic Jeff Butler, left, reacts as his calculus class presented him a replica jersey of baseball legend Ted Williams on June 12 after classes were let out for the summer. The Cheney High School calculus teacher, who is an avid sports fan, taught the same group of students for two years. Their reason for the gift was simple, “Because we love him,” Missy Gill said....
By DAVID TELLER Staff Reporter Cheney High School teacher Steve Arensmeyer doesn't teach for accolades or awards, but he got a good one this year as the students selected him as Teacher of the Year. The unpretentious language arts and history teacher was shocked during the senior recognition assembly by the recognition and cannot explain what he did to set him apart from the rest of the high school faculty. “I don't know,” Arensmeyer said. “I've been humbled by the whole thing.” He is quick to deflect praise onto his colleag... Full story
Cheney High School held its annual “A Time to Honor” awards ceremony for the 2009 graduating class Wednesday, June 3, at the school's Little Theater. Seniors received awards and honors in numerous categories. The following is the remainder of the list of award winners. Kelsey Schultz – State Solo & Ensemble, CBC Jazz Festival, Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, Mead Jazz Festival Outstanding Musicianship, Music Fest Northwest Western Washington University Academic Achievement Scholarship, College of Idaho Academic Achie... Full story
