Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 29
CHENEY – In a symphony of success, 19 vocal virtuosos from Cheney High School are tuning up for the state championship, and choir director Annie Knight couldn’t be more thrilled. “It’s amazing. We’re the only school on the east side with double digits at the state championship. This is amazing to have this many kids at state,” said Knight. Sight-reading is the choir’s secret weapon. “It’s probably the hardest to do accurately, especially on the spot. That’s a tough one for singers,” Knight shared, hinting at the prowess that...
MEDICAL LAKE – Medical Lake has unveiled a new Capital Improvement Plan which will cost in total $2,227,000. Approximately $1,831,000 will be funded through federal and state grants, City Administrator Sonny Weathers said during the Nov. 7 City Council meeting.. Weathers said the plan encompasses three main categories – transportation, parks and public facilities, and public works. The transportation proposal includes $750,000 in small-city preservation projects, such as the r...
CHENEY - On the brisk Thanksgiving Day morning, hundreds of eager participants from Cheney, Medical Lake, Sprague, Davenport and beyond took to the streets for the annual Turkey Trot, a lively 5K run that has become a beloved community tradition. The Turkey Trot, which kicked off at 9 a.m. from Cheney High School, served as a unifying force for the region, bringing together residents from various communities to celebrate the holiday with a healthy dose of exercise and...
Winter sports have started for Spokane Valley schools, and the first wrestling competition for several schools took place at Central Valley High School on Nov. 29. Competing schools were Central Valley High School, East Valley High School, West Valley High School, and University High School. Results weren't yet available by time of publication....
MEDICAL LAKE – Residents can expect to see an increase in service rates, including a 12% hike in garbage fees and a $2 increase in wastewater (sewer) rates. Water rates are expected to see changes to accommodate upgrades to the Water Treatment Plant. “We need to get to the point where it’s not losing funds, it currently uses reserves to cover the costs,” city Finance Director Koss Ronholt said during a recent City Council meeting. “What I’m proposing is common practice wi...
TYLER – Two weeks after a missing hunter was found safe along the Columbia Plateau Trail, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office documents are painting a picture of the rescue effort. While hunting Tuesday, Nov. 14, Robert D. Alexander, 53, of Winthrop, became lost in the Ballinger Lake area and called emergency dispatchers for help about 4:50 p.m. He was found at 8:48 p.m. and declined medical assistance, records show. During his initial call, Alexander told dispatchers that he had...
Airway Heights Police AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The following individuals were arrested by Airway Heights Police Department from Nov. 9-20: Nov. 9 Kallie L. Thomas was arrested for criminal trespassing in the 1200 block of South Hayford Road. Nov. 14 Ali Al Zaki was arrested for criminal trespassing in the 14300 block of West U.S. Highway 2. Nov. 15 Ivan P. Cross was arrested for reckless driving in the 2400 block of South Lawson Street. Nov. 17 Zachary J Hemingway was arrested on the 14300 block West of Highway 2 for Possession of a...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – In the face of a gradual increase in assessed values, the city council decided to table the discussed item/ordinance, with a 5 to 1 vote in favor. City Finance Director Stanley Schubert discussed property taxes with the City Council during a meeting Monday, Nov. 20. Schubert emphasized the significance of revenues, labeling them as the bedrock of the city’s budget. “Sixty percent of our revenue comes in through taxes: property tax, sales tax, utility tax,” he...
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE – Fairchild Air Force Base, situated near Spokane, is addressing housing concerns head-on, as highlighted by recent communications from U.S. Senator Patty Murray and Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers. The focus centers on homes managed by Balfour Beatty Communities (BBC). Captain Teri L. Bunce, the Public Affairs Chief at Fairchild AFB, provided insights into the situation. U.S. Senator Patty Murray, D-Shoreline, and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R...
‘BIG WIRES’ Act provides power benefits The Building Integrated Grids With Inter-Regional Energy Supply (BIG WIRES) Act is a promising bipartisan bill in Congress that offers a wide range of benefits: reducing the risk of electrical power outages, lowering carbon emissions and energy costs, and increasing national security. The recent gas pipeline rupture in our region gave many of us a taste of how a blackout in winter would feel. Extreme weather events damaging power stations and overloading the grid are on the rise. The bi...
The turkey’s’ been carved The gravy’s’ all gone And the soup on the stove wafts on Extra chairs at the table Talks of times good and bad Memory making events abound Pumpkin spice just a hint Football games won and lost Kids play hide and seek in the house Choosing a tree At the Christmas Tree Farm The cold biting fingers and toes Young chefs in the kitchen Make pancakes and eggs And grownups make plans for the day Too soon Hugs and Kisses And sad fare-thee-wells As dear ones all drive away The house now is empty No laughte...
There is, perhaps, an interesting yet purely accidental experiment taking place this winter sports season on the West Plains. Anecdotally speaking and come February, we might see if focusing largely on one sport or stocking a roster with a diverse array of multi-sport athletes delivers more wins? A show of hands when the Cheney boys’ basketball team went through a Q&A Nov. 18 at the school’s media day indicated most, if not all, played the game year-round with a club. Con...
CHENEY – As if the pure idea of trying to navigate the first season as a head coach in charge of a struggling program was not enough in itself, Travis Peevey had another obstacle drop in his path last season. While taking the necessary steps to improve upon the 4-15 record the Blackhawks had during the 2021-22 season, along comes news that one of the key cogs would miss the league season with an injury. Not long after Cheney surpassed the previous season's win total topping We...
MEDICAL LAKE – Consider the off-season for Medical Lake girls' basketball to have been not unlike a game of musical chairs. When the Cardinal's boys coach, Jordan Starr, packed up and left for his childhood home and a job at Selah High, athletics director Dawn Eliassen found replacements close at hand. Girls head coach Brett Ward moved to the boy's bench and a veteran assistant, Yeta Holloway, was put in Ward's spot. For Holloway, who had served on the boy's staff in v...
CHENEY – When Ken Ryan made the decision to jump from the girls’ basketball head coaching job to the athletics director’s chair at Cheney High School, he did not have to go far to find a replacement. It came from the same team bench with his assistant coach Meredith Richards. She has 18 years coaching in various roles ranging from youth to high school. “I’m excited for this year,” Richards said at the Nov. 18 media day at CHS. “We’ve got a bunch of really good people, good hu...
Bob Hunt, a 33-year-old Eastern Washington University student has returned home from five days of competition in Santiago, Chile at the Parapan American Games with a pair of medals. The Spokane resident raced in 100 and 400-meter T53 Wheelchair races. He earned a silver medal in the 100, plus a bronze and personal record in the 400. Aside from wheelchair racing, Bob is also a EWU wheelchair basketball player, a junior wheelchair racing coach and the coach of the ParaSport...
SPRAGUE—One man was killed and a woman was injured in a car crash at the westbound Sprague Lake rest area the day before Thanksgiving Wednesday, Nov. 22. Sam B. Moore, 82, Spokane Valley, was pronounced deceased at Sacred Heart Medical Center after being airlifted by Life Flight. His passenger, Pamela J. Brisboies, 76, Spokane County, was injured and transported to Sacred Heart, according to a State Patrol release. Moore was driving a blue 2010 Honda CRV westbound on Interstate 90 and took the exit to the Sprague Lake rest a...
SPOKANE VALLEY - Spokane Valley Deputies successfully apprehended a domestic violence (DV) suspect after a tense standoff that involved the SWAT Team, Crisis Negotiators, and a K9 Unit. The events unfolded on November 21, 2023, at approximately 7:45 am, when deputies received information that 50-year-old Travis C. Torman Sr., a DV suspect with a felony charge for Malicious Mischief 2nd Degree, was located at a residence in the 300 block of S. McDonald Road. With previous...
SPOKANE VALLEY – In a heart-pounding pursuit through the streets of Spokane Valley, a reckless U-Haul driver, identified as 18-year-old Devontaye I. Lyghts, led deputies on a high-speed chase that finally concluded in his arrest. The chaotic incident unfolded on the night of November 18, 2023, when Spokane Valley Deputy R. Lederle attempted to stop Lyghts on E. Sprague Avenue at Pines Road. Lyghts, driving a U-Haul truck, exhibited erratic behavior, crossing lanes without s...
Spokane Valley- Stephen H. Yohler 21, was found guilty on multiple charges by jury on November 21st. Charged with the counts of aggravated murder first degree, murder first degree with aggravating circumstances. Yohler was also charged with conspiracy to commit murder first degree, with a firearm enhancement found, and tampering with a witness. According to reports on March 29, 2021, Yohler asked Daisy Redthunder who was 17, to lure Preston Grzogorek who was 15 at the time, out of the Village apartments in the 9700 block of...
The Spokane Valley Council is in the final stages of discussion on the 2024 budget, with recent talks shedding light on key concerns and proposed allocations. One prominent issue raised during the council meeting was the surge in community calls about traffic-related problems, particularly speeding. Council member Ben Wick highlighted the need for increased attention to this issue, stating, “We’ve been getting a lot more calls about traffic, people speeding, and we only nee...
MEDICAL LAKE – To say that new Cardinal boys head basketball coach Brett Ward has some challenges ahead might certainly be an understatement. Not only is he moving benches from leading the Cardinal girls last season, but he inherits a team that won but one game in 2022-23. Ward relapsed Jordan Starr who accepted a similar job in his hometown of Selah, Wash. “Same role, just different team and pretty excited about it,” Ward said. While he will miss the opportunity to have...
Spokane Valley- Deputies P. Nelson and C. Horton stopped a woman from trying to take her life in the back of a van. The woman’s friend reported her as seeming depressed and worried for her well-being thinking she might try and take her own life. Deputy Nelson was on the phone with the caller and began identifying the person in crisis location or possible address. With Deputy Horton assisting they found a possible location. Both Deputies saw a van and after checking the license plate, realizing it was the woman’s van they imm...
By As soon as the turkey, stuffing and sweet potatoes are put away on Thanksgiving, it’s officially time to turn the holiday calendar to Christmas. Notice I didn’t mention mashed potatoes in the list of Thanksgiving foods. That’s because mashed potatoes are the worst dish served in a classic Thanksgiving meal. Think that’s a controversial opinion? Good. That was just a setup for this column that leans into the Christmas spirit by sharing the 10 best and 10 worst Christmas songs. You may think I, a true Christmas lover, took t...
We had a great crop of apples this year and more pumpkins than we could give away. Blackberries from the Westside and home canned cherries from early summer and have we got our pies! America is a land of plenty and we love to eat at ball games, movie theaters and other community gatherings. For some, this lifestyle is catching up to us and we’re dealing with extra pounds, which is leading to health problems. We have to find a way to help people stay healthy and avoid terrible chronic diseases associated with obesity. I...
