Articles from the June 29, 2017 edition


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  • Increasing living space density

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated Jun 29, 2017

    More units will be added to the Northern Heights apartment complex project. During a special June 21 meeting, the Airway Heights Planning Commission approved a planned unit development (PUD) overlay request to increase the Northern Heights apartment complex from 216 middle-income rental units to 232. The apartment complex will be located on 10.85 acres of property designated multi-family, on the southwest corner of Sixth Avenue and Garfield Street. The project's developer,...

  • What's Happening On The West Plains

    Updated Jun 29, 2017

    All events are free unless posted otherwise. To get your event or meeting in the weekly What’s Happening section send an email with date, time, location and event to [email protected]. Cheney • June 30, Light Fitness Hour (adults 50+), Wren Pierson Community Center, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Airway Heights • June 30, Free Summer Meals Program, Airway Heights Community Center 13120 W. 13th Ave., Breakfast: 8 – 8:30 a.m. Lunch: 11:30 a.m. – noon. Medical Lake • July 1, Medical Lake Pinochle Group, City Hall, 12:30 – 4 p.m....

  • Donation goes a long way for local kids

    Updated Jun 29, 2017

    Thank you to the Cheney Free Press staff for their kind donation to the C.A.R.E.S. (Citizens Associated for Recreation, Education, & Sports) Youth Scholarship Program. That donation will go towards helping kids in the Airway Heights community participate in activities that they might not otherwise be involved in, by reducing recreation fees for qualifying families. It is contributions such as these that help C.A.R.E.S. carry out its mission to promote and support programs, activities and opportunities that: expose residents...

  • McMorris Rodgers takes contradictory positions

    Updated Jun 29, 2017

    Is it window dressing, bait and switch, or kabuki theatre? Our representative for the 5th District in Congress, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, is sponsoring legislation to provide three more years of funding teaching health centers to draw medical students to complete residencies in isolated or underserved rural and urban hospitals. She has voted against Obamacare (ACA) more than 50 times and then voted for Trumpcare (AHCA) which will basically cut Medicaid to many rural residents so people will not be able to afford their medical...

  • There's good news from Washington's boatyards

    DON C. BRUNELL, Contributor|Updated Jun 29, 2017

    We can all use a dose of good news these days and there is some flowing from our state’s boatyards. When we think of maritime industries, we often focus on the mammoth ocean-going ships loaded with containers docking in Seattle, Tacoma and Portland; or, the U.S. Navy shipyard in Bremerton. While Vigor’s Seattle and Portland dockyards repair Navy and Coast Guard vessels, our warships primarily are built on the East Coast. Giant oceangoing freighters are constructed, and mos...

  • It takes three to keep your local newspaper going

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Jun 29, 2017

    The times, they are a changin.’ Yeah, I know. Pretty original lead John — not. If you had a $1 for every story that used that as an intro to a discussion of changes, you’d be able to retire in comfort on an island in the Pacific — preferably not Gilligan’s Island. But things are changing here at the Cheney Free Press. Those changes will be expounded upon in upcoming columns, but suffice it to say, without some financial concessions from employees, Cheney, Medical Lake, Airway Heights and the rest of the West Plains would be...

  • It's time to light a fire under state Legislature

    Updated Jun 29, 2017

    Here we are — again — with the threat of a state government shut down hanging over our heads. Almost seems like it’s as regular as the change from spring to summer when the members of the Washington state Legislature find it impossible to get their work finished on time. For the third time in as many 105-day biennial budget sessions in Olympia, members of the Republican-controlled Senate, and the Democrat-led House have not been able to come to agreement on how much fiscal fuel the state needs to keep the engine runni...

  • Golden Service

    AL STOVER|Updated Jun 29, 2017

    Linda Haladyna (left) received the 2017 Golden Service Award from Hallett Elementary School Principal Cindy McSmith during the school's June 15 talent show. Haladyna was honored for helping at the school this year....

  • MLHS graduates rewarded with scholarships and honors

    Updated Jun 29, 2017

    The following 2017 Medical Lake High School graduates were awarded scholarships and honors. Wallace Barnes — Drama Department Award. Brayden Bruess — JROTC Certificate of Completion (four years), Norwich University Dean’s Scholarship, Norwich University Grant, Medical Lake Dollars for Scholars Howard Jorgenson Memorial Scholarship and Medical Lake Kiwanis Club ROTC Scholarship. Jared Bergeron —Officer’s Spouses Club Fairchild Air Force Base Scholarship. Serenity Bremer — Medical Lake Dollars for Scholars Scholarship...

  • Clarke named EWU vice president of diversity and inclusion

    Updated Jun 29, 2017

    In a June 21 news release, Eastern Washington University President Dr. Mary Cullinan has named Dr. Shari Clarke, as the vice president for diversity and inclusion at EWU. "Dr. Clarke will be an excellent addition to Eastern's leadership team," Cullinan said in the release. "In all her roles, she has focused on creating diverse and inclusive learning communities and has worked collaboratively to advance diversity initiatives and expand opportunities for all students." Clarke...

  • Education briefs

    Staff and News Reports|Updated Jun 29, 2017

    Moore earns degree from Stephen F. Austin Kelsey Moore of Fairchild Air Force Base received a bachelor of science in human sciences from Stephen F. Austin State University, in Nacogdoches, Texas, during commencement exercises in May. Simonsen graduates from George Fox University, Pendelton makes dean’s list Cheney High School alumna Kelly Simonsen recently graduated from George Fox University with a bachelor of arts in history. She was one of 900 undergraduate, adult degree and graduate-level students who received diplomas in...

  • Hallett Elementary School announces May and June award winners

    Updated Jun 29, 2017

    Hallett Elementary School announced its May and June award winners. Pride — Colton Green, Eli Griffey, Seth Whitcher, Jared Sammons, Mason Hecker, Jackson Richards, Cilleecia Dimick, Kearstyn Passinetti, Forrest Haynes, Lacey Graham, Taylor Oberhauser, Ezra Rail, Liliana Shcherbina, Margaret Moody, Olivia Mars, Vincent Gassner, Zane Reninger, Hailey Dorcheus, Hector Gomez, Mason Holt, Riley Seigerman, Emmeline Bergner, Addison Shaffer, Calder Diluciano, Kellen Tyson, Alex Urrea Denton, Elise French, Isabella Giles, Sarah T...

  • Calvert accepts Air Force Academy appointment

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Jun 29, 2017

    Cheney High School 2017 graduate Bridget Calvert has accepted an appointment to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Calvert began the process last year, applying to and receiving a nomination from the office of 5th District Congressional Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers in December 2016. She was subsequently offered the appointment in January 2017. Calvert said she visited the academy campus in June 2016 as part of a week-long seminar to get an idea of...

  • Harbick to attend Western Washington University

    Updated Jun 29, 2017

    Jennifer Harbick lived in Tigard, Ore. until she moved to Cheney in fifth grade. She plans on going to college after graduation, most likely at Western Washington University. Her goal has been to be a valedictorian since third-grade where she first learned about what the position was. She does not currently know what her goals are for the future, but she wants to major in theater at college while also having an interest in computer science. The Cheney High School Drama Club...

  • ML instruction meeting state health standards

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated Jun 29, 2017

    Medical Lake School District won’t be changing its structure or course materials when it comes to its health education curriculum for K-12 students for the 2017-18 school year. That was the conclusion staff came up with after spending several months last year researching how its curriculum aligns with the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s (OSPI) health education standards. “As a committee, we reviewed the outcomes and felt we were addressing them adequately to meet state expectations,” Kim Headrick, direc...

  • Means named Yard of the Month

    John McCallum|Updated Jun 29, 2017

    Paul and Sue Means, 902 Summit Drive, have been named the Cheney Kiwanis and Cheney Garden Club's Yard of the Month. Pictured above are left to right: Paul and Sue Means, Cheney Kiwanis representative Pat Isbell and Cheney Garden Club representative Betty Ray....

  • Correction made to AAA story

    Updated Jun 29, 2017

    Due to a reporter’s error in a June 15 Cheney Free Press story, the AAA Inn on Columbia Street in Cheney was referred to as the AAA Motel and it’s general manager, Ryan Delaney as owner. The business is co-owned by Delaney and his sister, Ashley Wickward....

  • Minimum wage impacts sought

    Updated Jun 29, 2017

    Recent studies conducted on the Jan. 1 increase of the minimum wage in the state of Washington tell vastly different stories of success and disaster. After six months of being the law, what kind of effect has this measure had on businesses across the West Plains? If you have a story or thoughts to share, please contact reporter Paul Delaney either via email at [email protected] or phone, (509) 235-6184....

  • ML asks residents to be safe on July 4

    Updated Jun 29, 2017

    The Medical Lake Fire Department is asking citizens to be safe this Fourth of July. Medical Lake is currently one of the only cities in Spokane County that allows people to set off fireworks on private property within city limits. Fireworks that are legal to use on July 4 in Washington state include cylindrical and cone fountains, sparklers, smoke devices, Roman candles, parachutes, wheel, ground spinners, reloadable mortars, novelties and dipped sticks. Illegal fireworks consist of sky rockets and missiles, chasers, fire...

  • Normal summer is in Eastern Washington's forecast

    PAUL DELANEY, Staff Reporter|Updated Jun 29, 2017

    Finally the word "normal," appears in the weather forecast for the weeks ahead. After eight months of off-the-charts wet weather the new season that snuck by at about 9:25 p.m. June 20 promises to be what we've come to know. "Summer will be very normal," retired Eastern Washington University geography and meteorology professor Dr. Bob Quinn said. That means hot and dry. "I'm not looking for an excruciatingly hot summer," he added. But expect some sudden bouts of moisture,...

  • Ben James is Cheney police 2016 Dispatcher of the Year

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Jun 29, 2017

    For Cheney Police Department's Ben James, being a dispatcher is just another way of helping people, something he's always felt called to do. James went into financing to help people with their finances. He went into mental health counseling to help people facing those issues. "Anyone who calls 911 is having a crisis, and emergency," James said. "It's (dispatching) rewarding in that aspect. I enjoy helping people in that short term." Because of that approach, and his...

  • Fund set up for Cheney man injured in accident

    Updated Jun 29, 2017

    On June 17, Cheney resident Brad Rasmussen was seriously injured after he was hit by a car while riding his bike. Rasmussen has deep roots in Cheney, as he is a teacher at Cheney High School and the head wrestling coach. Since the accident, Rasmussen has been admitted into the St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Center and will be in a body brace for the next coming weeks. The community has started a Go Fund Me account for the family to help with medical costs. So far, almost $20,000 has been donated with the account having a goal o...

  • Medical Lake receives TIB grant funding

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated Jun 29, 2017

    The city of Medical Lake received some additional funds to help with its summer street patching. During its June 20 meeting, City Council approved the state Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) fuel tax grant distribution agreement for the $23,274 the city received from the board’s 2017 Emergency Repair Program. The money can only go toward fixing the streets that were damaged from the moisture in winter and spring. City Administrator Doug Ross said staff will be renting the equipment and repairing the streets in early J...

  • A rainbow of talents

    John McCallum|Updated Jun 29, 2017

    Clara Silver puts the closing touches on her talent, using sign language to perform the 1939 classic from Wizard of Oz "Over the Rainbow" at the annual Betz Elementary School talent show June 15. Twenty-two students in teacher Cindy Tilque's class showed off abilities in everything from singing to comedy to gymnastics....

  • Golden Hills dog attack investigated

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Jun 29, 2017

    Cheney police and Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Services, SCRAPS, officers aren’t certain if two stray dogs were what killed a cat in the Golden Hills area last Wednesday evening, but are advising the public to keep an eye out for them nonetheless. In an email late on June 22, Kellie Yates said two “large, block dogs” had entered her home on Sunrise Drive by forcing open a heavy sliding glass door. She wrote that they chased her two cats through the house before “killing one of them at 7:44 this evening...

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