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Eastern Washington University mascot Swoop exchanges greetings with a young attendee at last Friday’s Holiday Hoopla celebration in downtown Cheney. See more photos off the community’s tree-lighting festival on page 10....
CHENEY – It was the last thing Linda Alvarado expected to see in the cold, frosty air of a Tuesday, Dec. 10 morning. While walking her dogs a little after 7, the Garden Manor Apartment resident rounded the corner onto Buena Vista Street and saw an ugly scene. A silver, Subaru Outback sat on the street with the front and back windshields smashed along with drawings of male genitalia covering the exterior. But it was what was spray-painted on two spots on the vehicle that left Alvarado breathless. “The biggest shocker was the ...
MEDICAL LAKE — The City Council formally adopted its new 2020 budget, a 3 percent across-the-board pay increase and a new union contract with its employees for the next two years at its regular Dec. 3 meeting. Without discussion the council approved on a 5-1 vote a $2.648 million general fund expense budget for the 2020 fiscal year that begins Jan. 1, 2020. Councilman Don Kennedy voted in opposition to the budget. Councilman Tony Harbolt was absent for medical reasons. The n...
CHENEY – Police have arrested two individuals suspected of damaging at least 14 vehicles in the city overnight on Dec. 9-10. In a Dec.12 news release, Police Chief John Hensley said the pair, 19-year-old Joseph M. Porter and a 17-year-old male, both of Cheney, were arrested while exiting a townhouse on Blackhawk Lane late Wednesday night. The pair admitted to damaging the vehicles, including one near Garden Manor Apartments that was also spray-painted with apparent racist language. Hensley said no hate crime charges would b... Full story
Last weekend I had the distinct joy of attending StageWest’s production of “Miracle on 34th Street” performed in live radio readers theatre style. Along with several seasoned StageWest actors, there were two actors making their live theatre debuts — and all of them gave stunning performances. StageWest has been around Cheney for many years now, yet too many West Plains residents don’t seem to be aware of them. It’s community theatre, which means they’re all volunteers — they do this because they love doing it. But it’s ev...
Back in 2003, in a top-secret international phone call, former President George W. Bush urged French President Jacques Chirac to join America in invading Iraq on grounds that Christian nations must thwart the Satanic forces of Gog and Magog. Chirac was baffled by such crack-pottery. A few French newspapers wrote derisive sneers about the born-again U.S. leader. Today, it’s déjà vu all over again. Religious kooks in high office are an absurd facet of the Republican Trump administration. Vice President Mike Pence is a hero of t...
It seems life imitates art. In the big screen adaptation of the seminal Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien there is a scene where a council of the various inhabitants of Middle Earth — elves, dwarves, men and hobbits — are debating what to do with the troublesome One Ring of Power. Meanwhile, a former ally, the powerful White Wizard Saruman, has jumped ship and taken up with the evil Dark Lord Sauron, who is intent upon getting his ring back, taking over Middle Ear...
I read an essay not too long ago that claimed income disparity as the biggest danger to our democracy. The author could just have easily said that the gap between the very rich and very poor is a near and present danger. I thought about that for a few weeks and decided that the author was misguided. The difference between the wealthy and the not so wealthy is not a bad thing. It is a normal, healthy part of a society based on capitalism. I had a discussion with a very smart young teenager the other day. I usually find it...
Cheney’s annual Holiday Hoopla last Friday was a huge success, with hundreds of people taking part in a variety of events and activities....
CHENEY – The Firefighters Local 1919 is holding their annual Candy Cane Ride through the streets of Cheney this Saturday, Dec. 14, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Santa and others will join Cheney firefighters in handing out candy canes and holiday cheer throughout the city, while also collecting food donations for the Cheney Food Bank. The map at left shows the route and the approximate times the firefighters carivan will be in your area, so keep a watchful eye out and ears open f...
CHENEY – Alan Shore, a representative of Chosen People Ministries, will be speaking at Westside Chapel on Sunday, Dec. 15, at the 10:30 a.m. worship service. Chosen People Ministries is an over 100-year-old mission founded in 1894 by Leopold Cohn, a Hungarian rabbi who came to believe that Jesus was the Messiah of Israel. Shore’s topic for the morning is “Hanukkah — the Light of Christmas. It explains how the events that the holiday Hanukkah springs from are of importance to the whole world, not just Judaism. Westsid...
This event has nothing to do with Cheney history, but 125 years ago the Hershey chocolate bar was introduced. Sweet dreams. Learn more about our area’s history at www.cheneymuseum.org....
Christmas Gala benefit Dec. 14 The West Plains Angels organization is holding its annual “Christmas Gala” on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Cheney Community Church, 1307 3rd St. Doors open at 4 p.m., with dinner catered by Bene’s from 5 – 6 p.m. and live auction and music, featuring the men’s group “His Song” taking place from 6 – 7:30p.m. A silent auction will also be taking place throughout the evening. Proceeds will equally benefit Feed Cheney, Eastern Washington University Food Pantry and Feed Medical Lake. Tickets are $20... Full story
1 Years Ago Dec. 10, 2009 Cheney opted to begin collecting its own garbage starting January 2010 after rejecting a contract extension with Sunshine Disposal and Recycling. Spokane County Commissioners approved a 10-square-mile annexation near the Spokane International Airport during a special joint session that included the Airway Heights City Council. Inland Power and Light received a $4.2 million federal grant to expand the nation’s smart grid on the West Plains. 20 Years Ago Dec. 9, 1999 A joint Medical Lake City Council...
Cheney Congregational Church Please join us in worship this joyous Advent season. Joy is the word pastor Matt Goodale will examine this Sunday in his continuing series, “The Language of Advent,” its current daily use and its meanings in the Scriptures. Children’s Church is available during services for those who would like to attend. There is also a children’s area in the sanctuary. There will be a short congregational meeting after services. The ecumenical youth group will not be meeting this Sunday, Dec, 15. This month i...
MEDICAL LAKE — Re*Imagine Medical Lake’s Winter Festival event is weekend, complete with bevy of contests and activities. The festivities kick off tonight, Thursday, Dec. 12, with a 6 p.m. free special showing of the movie “Breakthrough” at the Medical Lake High School auditorium. The movie dramatizes a Missouri boy, John Smith, who falls through pond ice in 2015 and drowned — and returned to life after his mother’s fervent bedside prayers in an incident some call a miracle....
CHENEY – The local Kiwanis Club and the Gardeners of Cheney are sponsoring the second-annual Christmas lights contest to recognize the city’s best residential holiday lighting display. Nominations are being sought for the home with the best holiday decorations in Cheney, with the winner receiving a $25 gift certificate from Jarms Ace Hardware. As with both organizations spring through fall “Yard of the Month” contest, the home awarded best decorated isn’t subject to any specific rules other than each individual’s sense of wh...
CHENEY – Eastern Washington University's three-year old project to alleviate food issues among its students took a big step forward last Thursday, Dec. 5, with the opening of its larger walk-in food pantry at Tawanka Commons. "The special thing about this location is it has refrigeration," EWU community food security coordinator Libby Vigil said while watching several students look through a nearby refrigerator stocked with fresh dairy products. The main room at Tawanka 1...
OLYMPIA – The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking applicants to serve on the agency’s Waterfowl Advisory Group. The board advises the department on waterfowl management issues. Director Kelly Susewind will appoint members to the Waterfowl Advisory Group for three-year terms beginning Feb.1. Members meet at least one day annually. “We’re looking for several new candidates, with diverse backgrounds, who can effectively present their views on waterfowl management to WDFW and the public,” agency Waterfowl Section Man...
MEDICAL LAKE — The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office is warning people to keep their vehicles locked. According to a Monday press release, the Sheriff’s Office acknowledge recent reports of vehicle prowls in and around the city of Medical Lake, and asked citizens to report suspicious activity and to ensure their vehicles are locked after all valuables have been removed. “Almost all of the reported thefts in the last few weeks occurred on vehicles that were unlocked,” Spokesman...
CHENEY – The City Council voted unanimously to enter into a contract to lease some of their dark fiber optic lines, hold a hearing on the vacation of property along 1st Street and approved the first reading of the 2020 budget as action items at their Nov. 26 meeting. The council reviewed the fiber optic contract with Ptera at their Nov. 12 meeting, but held off on voting on the document until staff could clarify some conditions and agree to changes with the Liberty L...
Westwood Middle School has released its list of students making the first-term honor roll. The list is by grade level, alphabetical and with grade point average. The eighth-grade list appeared in the Dec. 5 Cheney Free Press, and the following includes only seventh and sixth-graders. Seventh-graders Patrick E. Abendroth 3.2, Kadence M. Adams 3.5, Luciano A. Adrian J 3.0, Emmett N. Allen 3.5, Anna C. Aneti 3.0, Ayden M. Armitage 3.3, Brayden A. Bahme 3.3, Lily J. Bare 4.0, Owen T. Barry 3.8, Jada N. Bascom 3.2, Oscar S. Basey...
Hallett Elementary School announced its Partners Advancing Character Education (PACE), and other awards for the month of November. This month’s character trait: Citizenship. PACE: Citizenship awards Kindergarten Mason Griffis Aeris Stolp Georgia Pierson Isaiah Gilbert First Grade Clifford Gilbert Elliot Gleich Landen Craft Rebecca Turnbough Second Grade Olivia Long Mercy Underwood Maeve Halme Mason Gleich Third Grade Urijah O’Grady Brayden Dixon Kyler Wren Fourth Grade Elise French Ewan Merrick Jaxx Hammer Austin Shepard Fif...
MEDICAL LAKE — The City Council received an overview of city crime statistics from Spokane County Undersheriff Dave Ellis at its Dec. 3 council meeting. “This should give you guys more information about what is going on in Medical Lake,” Ellis said. A report, developed by the Sheriff’s Regional Intelligence Group 9, included a variety of year-over-year crime data, plus three-year averages. The statistics included 14 different crimes against people, society and propert...
CHENEY – Progress continues to be made on moving the historic Northern Pacific Railroad Depot from its current location along Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks east of downtown to a new home about a quarter mile south along 1st Street. Historic Preservation Commission administrative assistant Sue Beeman told commissioners at their Dec. 5 meeting that Walker Construction crews have been onsite at the new location for the past three weeks getting the final existing s...
