Sorted by date Results 351 - 375 of 673
POMEROY – Two Eastern Washington lawmakers are irate that Gov. Jay Inslee is pushing wind and solar farms on the region without providing for local input. Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, and Rep. Mark Klicker, R-Walla Walla, said Monday, March 28, that it’s unconscionable the governor vetoed portions of House Bill 1812 that would give local leaders and opportunity to challenge wind and solar farm placement. The governor vetoed sections 19-22 of the bill establishing an ind...
CHENEY-Cheney opened season play with a loss and a win in nonleague action. The Blackhawks dropped a 5-2 match at West Valley on March 15 and then beat Shadle Park by the identical 5-2 score at home on March 17 to even their record at 1–1. "Both contests were very closely contested. Our boys narrowly came up shy on a few close games against West Valley, including five tie-breakers. Unfortunately, we only won two of the five, but the outcome of those tie-breakers could have e...
A Ford pickup truck came to rest on its roof after overturning in front of Latah Motors, 126 W. Market St., Latah, on March 11. The driver left a note on the pickup's tailgate saying a tow truck was on its way and apologizing for the "mess." No other information was available....
ROSALIA – Rosalia is celebrating its 150th anniversary with the return of Battle Days and the All Class Reunion after a two-year absence. Lori Furman moved to Rosalia three years ago and immediately joined the Battle Days committee. She dedicated much of her time to the event. Furman took on the roles of secretary and treasurer for the board of directors. Battle Days have been a long-running event and is marking its 51st annual event in 2022 on June 4. “We are finally goi...
OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee said Thursday that he’ll drop the statewide coronavirus-mask mandate March 21. Inslee said that’s the day when he believes it’ll be safe to remove mask mandates and not overwhelm hospitals. “It would not be safe to do this today,” he said. “We will be removing the mask mandate in our schools and public indoor spaces as of Monday, March 21.” Students may still be required to wear masks on buses. The governor added that he will not end his emergency proclamation at that time, declining to offer a date...
SPOKANE VALLEY – Following the lead of the Kettle Falls and Richland school boards, superintendents from across Northeast Washington sent a letter late Tuesday night, Feb. 15, to Gov. Jay Inslee requesting an end to mask mandates for students, staff and visitors. The letter was also sent to Dr. Umar Shaw of the state Department of Health and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal. “We are writing on behalf of districts in the NEWESD (Northeast Washington Educational Service District) 101 region to encourage...
CHENEY – Veteran journalist Bob Kirkpatrick has joined the Cheney Free Press to reinvigorate the newsroom and help bring a new look to the newspapers. Kirkpatrick came to the media industry later in his life. It had always been a passion of his. But he couldn't pursue it until his kids were grown and out of the house. "Growing up in the '60s, I developed a watchdog mentality of what's happening around me and felt there was a need for accountability," Kirkpatrick said. K...
Palouse Falls has long been one of my favorite places to hike. Over the years, I’ve hiked the mile or so trek to the top of the main falls on numerous occasions. I’ve hiked it by myself, with friends and even my daughter when she was very young. I’ve meandered along the Palouse River to the upper falls and descended the basalt rim to the pool at the base of the falls about 189 feet below. For those of us who grew up in Eastern Washington, hiking Palouse Falls trails has long b...
The Sprague Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual banquet and fundraiser Monday night. The event included the installation of officers. From left, they are President Tim Wilken, Secretary Carol Lowe, board member Gary Lowe and Treasurer Candy Knowles. Vice President Chris Day and board members Jill Scheffels and Pat Busby were not present for the photograph. Trace DeGarmo performed the installation of officers and Scooter Dearing was the emcee. The organization also announced...
The last year ended with a bang. Well, more accurately, 2021 ended in smoke, at least here at the newspaper. That smoke came from the meltdown of our labeling system. And as a result, your newspaper was likely late. And for that we apologize. I want to assure you we are already in the process of resolving the issue. Hopefully, this edition of the newspaper reaches you on time, a sign that the labeling system problem has been resolved. Who would have thought that just getting...
FOUR LAKES - A fatal New Year's Eve crash on Friday, Dec. 31, blocked traffic in the high-speed lanes of Interstate 90 Angela Kondratyuk, 28, of Kennewick, died of injuries she sustained in the crash near Milepost 274, the Washington State Patrol reported. Kondratyuk lost control of her eastbound 2004 Toyota Avalon and was struck by a 2021 Freightliner truck and trailer, the patrol said, noting the truck was also eastbound. Kondratyuk's car spun 360 degrees and the driver of t...
CHENEY – The National Weather Service is warning residents and travelers that an Arctic air mass will continue to bring frigid temperatures to the regional through the first half of the New Year's weekend. "Dangerously cold temperatures will impact Eastern Washington and North Idaho through the remainder of the workweek," the agency reported in a special weather statement released Tuesday. "High temperatures will only warm into the single digits and teens." Overnight lows are...
COLFAX - Serveral rural roads are currently blocked due to drifting snow. State Highways 26, 127 and 194, were among those blocked due to snowdrifts on the highway. Many other rural roads were closed, too, including some where vehicles were stuck in drifts on the roadway, officials said. A Tekoa School District vehicle was among those reportedly stuck and abandoned on Warner Road. A fire truck was also stuck on Mullen Road, which connects Dry Creek Road to Hume Road. Plow crews are working on clearing the drifts, officials sa...
New year weather forecast...
SPOKANE VALLEY -- Two Blackhawks boys brought home bronze medals Dec. 23 from the Tri-County Classic wrestling tournament. Trevor Caldwell at 113 and Black Gross at 170 were Cheney's only medalists at the tournament that attracted more than 400 grapplers. Caldwell, wrestling at 113lbs, won 7-4 and scored a total of 20.0 team points for the Blackhawks. Caldwell won his first two matches, topping Gavin McCloy (Pullman) by a 6-4 decision and pinning Diego Esparza (Gonzaga Prep)...
CHENEY – The widespread and ever changing pandemic has Americans eager to leave home. For Christmas and New Year’s Day, AAA estimates that 109 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles or more to celebrate holidays. Facilitating travel plans and organizing itineraries for the upcoming New Year’s weekend may be stressful and with the recent strong winds and freezing temperatures, travelers can expect more flight cancellations and closed interstates, the organ...
SPOKANE VALLEY – Five Liberty (Spangle) wrestlers brought home medals Thursday, Dec. 23, from the Tri-County Classic. Kariyah Strobel brought home gold in the girls 145 pound class as teammates Owen Prince at 132, Ashton Strobel at 152 and Jeshua Cwik at 182 each won silver medals in the boys division. Aaron Roberts captured bronze at boys 195. Undefeated Kariyah Strobel opened the tournament by pinning Paisley Hall of Hanford in 45 seconds. In the second round of the t...
Merry Christmas! There. I said it. Not happy holidays, but Merry Christmas. It’s Christmas time here and around the world. Throughout our region, families are shopping for festive meals and gifts, decorating, and anxiously awaiting the moment they see “long-lost” family and friends. It’s a time where children and adults express wishes, not just for gifts from Santa Claus, but also for happiness and prosperity for friends, family, and sometimes even mankind. And while Christm...
SPOKANE – Spokane County commissioners have joined the no income tax bandwagon. During their meeting Tuesday, Dec. 14, commissioners unanimously approved a resolution opposing any local income tax. Spokane County joined Franklin and Yakima Counties and a host of cities opposing a local income tax. “Such a tax would be in direct conflict with the high value Spokane County places on promoting economic development through the attraction and expansion of financially healthy, fam...
OLYMPIA – A Ritzville lawmaker has pre-filed a bill that would require the state to study the private long-term care market before implementing a new tax set to begin Jan. 1. Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, introduced Senate Bill 5503 to create a committee to study financial opportunities that could replace the long-term care tax that will be taken out of the paychecks of anyone working in Washington state after the first of the year. “It’s time for the Legislature to creat...
RITZVILLE -- Following Friday’s national inflation news that shows prices are 6.8% higher than a year ago, Sen. Mark Schoesler called on the state elected officials to provide tax relief for Washingtonians. Schoesler, R-Ritzville, noted the inflation increase reported is the highest since 1982. He wants Gov. Jay Inslee and Democrats in the state House and Senate to help offset the inflation. “Consumers throughout the U.S. have had to pay higher prices on many items over the...
MEAD – Two Cheney boys brought home gold from the Joe Ridlington Freshman Invite wrestling tournament Saturday, Dec. 11. Trenton Moore won all of his bouts at 182 pounds and Gauge Seubert topped the 200-pound class. Trenton Moore took gold by pinning Parker Neff of Coeur d’Alenne in 1:22 and then defeating Tyler Wells of Mead by a technical fall in 5:22. Moore won his final bout by pinning Blakey Hayes of Coeur d’Alene in 1:28. Seubert received a bye in the first round of th...
CHENEY – The Blackhawks girls basketball team won its first game of the season Wednesday, Dec. 8, with a 41-33 victory over the Shadle Park Highlanders. The win came between losses to University High School and and Joel E. Ferris High School. The Blackhawks girls lost 66-29 to University on Tuesday, Dec. 7, and to Ferris, 57-27, on Dec. 10. Individual statistics were not reported. This week, the local girls are scheduled to take on Lewis and Clark, Central Valley (Spokane V...
A one-vehicle crash Monday, Dec. 13, ended when car slammed into a tree on the side of Cheney-Spangle Road, near Turnbull Wildlife Refuge. The vehicle was northbound toward Cheney, cross the roadway, overturned and ended up on its side against the tree. Further information was not available at press time....
Tekoa-Rosalia’s Morgun Martin is fouled during a layup against Upper Columbia Academy. The Timberwolves boys have won four straight games....
