Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 28
OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee this morning extended his coronavirus lockdown measures until 11:59 p.m. Jan. 11, “unless otherwise extended.” Jan. 11 is the opening day of the upcoming legislative session, and Democrats Sen. Andy Billig of Spokane and Laurie Jinkins of Tacoma have said there won't be public access to government buildings. Billig is the Senate majority leader and Jinkins is the House majority leader. They are two of the so-called "four corners" of leadership in the Legislature. The remaining two "corners" are R...
While the coronavirus and its devastating effects on people and economies worldwide were unfortunately the top 2020 stories, the massive impact of western wildfires can't be ignored. It was catastrophic. The National Interagency Fire Center's western states tally shows a record 8.6 million acres were incinerated in 2020 compared with 4.6 million acres in 2019. In Washington just over 700,000 acres were burned; however, California and Oregon were not as fortunate. By...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS-When Gov. Jay Inslee's updated mandates shut down indoor dining in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and its rising totals in November, Justin and Jessica Davis, owners of Wolffy's Breakfast Burgers and Brew, knew it would be difficult to sustain a restaurant being solely reliant on takeout orders. So, they decided to get creative. During the first round of shutdowns, Wolffy's was shut down for about three months. Indoor dining, with heavy restrictions, was then all...
MEDICAL LAKE—Two-time individual state champion Ethan Davis, a senior who has grown up here his whole life, is heading to the Bay Area to wrestle collegiately for the San Francisco State University Gators. Davis announced the signing on National Signing Day, Dec. 15. Davis, a 17-year-old senior this year, won the individual 1A state title for the 170-lb weight class his freshman year in 2018 and his junior year in 2020. He said he’s most proud of his second state title, which...
A bull moose takes a rest at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge near Cheney last week....
CHENEY-If Eastern Washington University manages to fulfill all Eagle fans' ultimate dream and win two national championships in the same calendar year, it will have played over 20 games in the year 2021. EWU unveiled its 11-game regular season fall 2021 schedule, as the Big Sky Conference prepares for a hopeful spring schedule that would begin in late February. Notably, EWU won't have a chance at the rival Montana Grizzlies next fall, but will host conference foes Portland...
SPOKANE VALLEY — Despite 447 coronavirus-related complaints about businesses in Spokane Valley between Oct. 1 and Dec. 15, at least one local entrepreneur is keeping his doors open for inside eating and drinking. The Black Diamond owner Brandon Fenton said his decision was the right move, despite threats from the state Liquor and Cannabis Board The tavern at 9614 E. Sprague Ave. is among several statewide that have reopened in defiance of Gov. Jay Inslee’s shutdown orders. “We’re open and it’s been busy every day and night...
COLFAX — A Pullman man being held in the Whitman County Jail on charges of kidnapping, attempted murder and three counts of assault committed suicide Saturday afternoon, Dec. 26. Jose Chagollan-Flores, 35, was found hanging from a bed sheet attached to the upper bunk of his cell at 5:33 p.m., according to the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office. Correctional officers, deputies and EMTs tried to revive him, performing CPR and attempting other lifesaving measures, officials said. He was transported to Whitman Hospital, where he...
STARBUCK — The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking information on the shooting of a bald eagle and a golden eagle. The first bird was found near Payne Hollow, close to the Columbia-Walla Walla county line two weeks ago, officials said. A radiograph scan revealed that the bird had been shot, probably five to seven days before being found. The bird was alive, but so badly injured that it had to be euthanized, officials said. A second eagle was found a day later in the Tucannon Habitat Management Unit downriver o...
MEDICAL LAKE—The board approved the district’s 2019-2020 report card and disbursed board roles for 2021 in a quick meeting Dec. 22 that was over in 15 minutes before everyone wished each other a “Merry Christmas” and headed to a much-needed vacation. Board president Rod Von Lehe will retain his role in 2021. Departed board member Peggy Schweikhardt was vice president. The board nominated and approved Leo Spilker to fill the role next year. Laura Parsons will act as legislative representative. New board member Wendy William...
SPOKANE — Hunters reporting their 2020 black bear, deer, elk or turkey results by Jan. 10 will have the opportunity to win one of nine deer and elk incentive permits for fall 2021. State Department of Fish and Wildlife Game Division Manager Anis Aoude said the agency is offering the special permits, which will be awarded through a drawing this spring, as an incentive to encourage hunters to report results as soon as possible. Special hunts include five deer permits and four elk permits in various areas. To qualify for the d...
Steptoe Butte improvements coming in early 2021 OAKESDALE — Steptoe Butte State Park will close for 12-16 weeks later this winter for improvements. Washington State Parks officials said the entire park will be closed beginning in February or March to allow for major road and parking improvements. The start date and completion depend on the weather, officials said. State updating mining rules OLYMPIA — The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking comment on its proposed rules for mineral prospecting that may affect fis...
COLVILLE--The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced in late October that it would be removing endangered species protections for wolves in the lower 48 states, essentially turning management of the predator fully to the state. The federal agency had listed wolves as endangered in much of Western Washington until the Oct. 29 announcement. As the state Department of Fish and Wildlife assumes the totality of the responsibility for wolves, with many of its action items seeming to focus on removing cattle instead of wolf...
OAKESDALE — An elderly resident is dead and his wife hospitalized following an apparent murder-suicide attempt at 1:04 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 26. The 82-year-old man was found dead inside his East Bartlett Street home, according to Whitman County Sheriff’s Office records. His 83-year-old wife was found alive in the front entryway of their home. Even though next of kin has been notified and 48 hours had elapsed prior to press time, the names of the victim and deceased had yet to be released. The Whitman County Coroner’s Offic...
I don’t often write notes to the editor, but feel compelled to do so this week. The residents of Cheney should be congratulated for going above and beyond with their Christmas decorations and lights this year. There are so many homes and businesses that have done an amazing job of making our city a little more joyful to end a difficult year. I wish I could call out what I’ve seen, but would suggest a drive around the city neighborhoods is worthwhile for you and your family. You might be just as amazed as I was and find joy...
Yesterday, my 13-year-old son asked me about the election, and the fraud charges leveled by President Trump and his supporters. I thought about my answer for a bit, then used the O.J. Simpson trial, and that jury verdict, as an example of how humans who want to believe something badly can be convinced that an enormous “preponderance of evidence” should be ignored. In the O.J. case, the evidence, both physical and circumstantial, was overwhelming. He was obviously guilty. Sadly, a jury predisposed to mistrust police and sup...
On Dec. 18, 1917, Congress proposed the 18th Amendment, which would later make it illegal to make, buy, sell or drink alcohol. Two years later, after ratification Jan. 16, 1919, prohibition became the law of the land. For nearly 14 years, Americans who wanted to have an adult beverage were forced underground. They danced, dined, drank and gambled in what became known as a “speakeasy.” Law enforcement and other public employees often knew about their clandestine watering hol...
MEDICAL LAKE — Gerri Johnson from Medical Lake’s Farm Salvation business traces her retail roots back to the time when her family operated a small business Spokane. And she’s translated that experience to today as she tries to steer both her business, and lend whatever assistance that background provides to others in the community amidst the fallout from COVID-19. Johnson’s step-dad, a military vet, operated a business known as Current Outdoor Power Equipment (C.O.P....
CHENEY — Among the hats that Doug LaBar wears, along with that of owner of Mason Jar, is captain — well president — of the Cheney Merchants Association. While LaBar has his finger directly on the pulse of his own business, he’s also observing from a distance, those in Cheney. While he offered no specifics, one can speculate based on Mason Jar’s performance. If they mirror the challenges he’s faced, and many do, business is down. In LaBar’s case that number is 30%, which on...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS—Council approved the final 2021 budget in its last meeting of the year, a Dec. 21 legislative session. The final budget includes several amendments from the original proposed 2021 budget, in both revenues and expenditures. The current expense fund had many of the budget amendments. Original proposed revenues were $11,339,381.87, while original fund expenditures were $10,954,801.65. Because proposed revenues dropped to $10,774,409.28, a 5% decrease, fund expenditures were dropped to $10,774,409.28, a 1.6% d...
CHENEY — A rash of vehicle prowls at local apartment complexes has police urging residents to lock up their vehicles. Vehicle prowls were reported Dec. 25, 26 and 27, according to police records. “There were five with items stolen out of the car,” Sgt. Nate Conley said Monday, Dec. 28. “Looks like they hit apartment complexes.” The vehicle prowls occurred at The Grove on Cheney-Spangle Road and Eagle Point on Betz Road, records show. Vehicles at The Grove were hit Dec. 25 and 26, records show. Shoes, a Bluetooth adapter,...
CHENEY — Gov. Jay Inslee’s so-called “snitch list” shows dozens of complaints have been filed against West Plains businesses and government agencies for allegedly violating coronavirus mandates between Oct. 1 and Dec. 15. Some were accused multiple times, according to the list obtained from the Washington Department of the Military, the agency the governor has ordered to maintain the complaint list. During that timeframe, 18,616 complaints were filed statewide. Here are the names of the West Plains businesses that individ...
CHENEY-A lack of Eastern Washington University students on campus due to pandemic restrictions and online classes took a chunk out of the city's economy. Now, it has played a part in claiming Alliance Tire Pros, which permanently closed Dec. 21. "We couldn't bank on students coming back...when they announced next quarter will be (mostly) virtual," owner Jared Posey said. He noted the absence of volume the business would normally get from students took away the profit margins f...
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