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CHENEY – Sarah Davies, an 8th grade language arts teacher at Cheney Middle School, introduced the “Voices” program to the Cheney School Board on Dec. 11, making clear its focus on student expression. She explained that the program is divided into three sections: “Voices of CMS,” a monthly newsletter (including student-made comics and school lunch reviews); “Voices of Change,” student-led problem-solving initiatives; and “Voices of Excellence,” showcasing student achievements beyond test scores, like a short story or a piece...
CHENEY – As 2024 comes to a close, our community reflects on the events that have shaped life on the West Plains. From natural disasters to political milestones, these stories have defined our year. Tyler fire devastates community On July 26, the Tyler Fire scorched 252 acres, destroying several homes and threatening the town. Crews from the Washington Department of Natural Resources, Spokane County Fire Districts 3 and 10, and regional partners worked tirelessly, aided by h...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – A local man has been charged with three additional crimes on a long and chequered history of running afoul of the law at his arraignment on Dec. 24. Joshua M. Lamb, 39, was arrested after a series of serious incidents, including a police chase, in Airway Heights on Dec. 11, according to the Spokane County Jail roster and Airway Heights Police Department reports. Lamb has recently been charged with trying to run from the police, unlawfully imprisoning someone, endangering others, and resisting arrest, a...
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE — An elderly pedestrian on U.S. Highway 2 near the entrance of Fairchild Air Force Base was struck and killed by a car Dec. 28. Roberta L. Isaacson, 75, of Medical Lake, was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the Washington State Patrol, the fatal incident occurred at the intersection of South Dover Road and U.S. Highway 2, just west of the base entrance at about 6:41 p.m. Isaacson entered the roadway, where she was struck by a 2004 Buick Century, driven by William L. Collins, 68, of M...
SPOKANE COUNTY – A serious car accident near Spokane on Christmas Eve afternoon resulted in injuries to two people and is currently under investigation. The collision took place at 12:49 p.m. on I-90 eastbound at milepost 277, near the Garden Springs exit. Kenneth R. Gottschalk, 76, lost control of his Toyota Tundra, and veered off the road, hitting a tree and rock wall before rolling over and catching fire. Gottschalk and his passenger, Suzette M. Gottschalk, 73, were both injured and transported to Sacred Heart Medical C...
COLFAX — A local lawmaker is co-sponsoring a pair of bills that would give some workers in Washington state a reprieve from the long-term care tax. Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, is co-sponsoring the bills with Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia. The bills would reopen a limited opt-out period for WA Cares and let individuals who have paid into the program transfer benefits to a spouse. WA Cares deducts 58 cents per $100 earned for every worker to fund a limited lifetime benefit – up to $36,000 – for long-term care costs. Befor...
CHENEY – The Cheney Police Department announced the arrest of a fugitive wanted for a violent assault in Cheney in December 2023 on Sunday. The suspect, 45-year-old Andrew Brady, was accused of hitting a man in the head with a hammer near West 1st and K Street before punching and kicking him while he was on the ground. Brady fled the scene and avoided capture by traveling through Nevada and Oregon. Cheney detectives collaborated with the U.S. Marshals Service and the Spokane Police Department to locate Brady. Their i...
Airway Heights AIRWAY HEIGHTS — The Police Department reported the following arrests from Dec. 13-22:: Dec. 13 Christopher D. Murphy was arrested for first-degree criminal trespassing on the 1200 block of South Hayford Road. Bradley J. Luiten was arrested for first-degree criminal trespassing on te 1200 block of South Hayford Road. Joshua M. Lamb was arrested for attempting to elude police, unlawful imprisonment, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, and obstructing law enforcement on West Highway 2 and South Brooks Road....
CHENEY – Early Saturday morning, Cheney police responded to a robbery at the Conoco gas station that resulted in an arrest. The robbery occurred at the Conoco station in Cheney around 12:30 a.m. Surveillance footabge and community tips helped officers identify 20-year-old Jaylon Roy as the suspect. Police tracked Roy to his residence and established a secure perimeter to protect public safety. Officers were joined by the West Plains Crisis Response Team and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office K9 unit to apprehend him wit...
County democrats elect 2025 leaders SPOKANE — The Spokane County Democratic Central Committee elected new leadership for 2025. In a Dec. 19 release, Democrats nammed Naida Spencer as chairwoman, Kris Neely as vice chairwoman, Bettie Kibala as deputy vice chairwoman, and Bernadine Bank and Schade Maghan as state committee members. “I believe in uniting the diverse perspectives within our party and empowering committees to drive decision-making,” Spencer said in the announcement. “Together, we will champion core Democra...
CHENEY – Shane Ableman, Cheney’s director of transportation, outlined the district’s operations and challenges during the Dec. 11 school board meeting. Cheney’s buses cover around 5,000 miles daily across 43 routes and 9 activity routes. Currently, there are 44 drivers for the district. Ridership has steadily increased this fall, with 4,318 riders recorded on Sept. 13, 4,231 in October, and 4,486 on Nov. 4. When asked how ridership is tracked, Ableman explained that bus drivers use clickers to count students. He also describ...
CHENEY – After narrowly missing the mark in February, Cheney School District’s Proposition 1 bond passed in the November election with 62.22% support, as certified by the Spokane County Elections office on Nov. 26. Superintendent Ben Ferney and Finance Director Jamie Reed discussed the success and the district’s next steps during the Dec. 11 school board meeting. The bond had failed earlier in the year with only 54.4% support. Ferney credited clearer messaging and partnerships for the turnaround. “This has been a team ef...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The Airway Heights Police Department has received a $545,464 grant from the Washington State Attorney General’s Office to expand services for victims of gun violence and domestic violence. City officials announced the award, the largest given to any law enforcement agency in Washington, on Dec. 16. “This is a phenomenal opportunity,” said Police Chief Bradley Richmond. “This will allow us to serve people victimized in our community, getting them the services they deserve and trying to provide them with opport...
ROSALIA - Residents packed the main gymnasium at Rosalia High School on Dec. 18 for the 2024 Winter Concert. The hour-long performance kicked off with youngsters singing Christmas songs and culminated with the high school band performing for the first time in two years. Teacher Payton Ritchy directed the program featuring students from all grade levels. The youngest students sang "Snowman Can't March" and "Snowman Jump," while first- and second-graders sang "Dancer and...
CHENEY – A tragic wrong-way collision on Interstate 90 near the Amazon warehouse resulted in one fatality and two injuries late Monday night, Dec. 18. The Washington State Patrol reported that Carol G. Johnson, 81, of Medical Lake, was driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of the freeway when her 2007 Chevrolet Aveo collided head-on with a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado. The Silverado was being driven by Sherman J. Reese, 68, of Deer Park. Reese was with Stacy A. Reese, 57, as she was a passenger in the Silverado. The crash o...
CHENEY – A new bill introduced by Sen. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney, seeks to boost public safety by increasing the number of police officers across Washington. Holy's proposal, Senate Bill 5060, asks for $100 million to create a grant program, to help local and tribal governments hire police officers. The funding would come from the state general fund. "Crime is a growing problem in our state," said Holy. "Washington ranks among the worst states in several categories, including m...
SPOKANE COUNTY – Spokane County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Detectives are investigating a shooting tied to a vehicle theft on Dec. 13. At around 8:40 p.m., deputies responded to a reported stolen Jeep near West Charles Road and North Dover Road. The armed Jeep owner began chasing the suspect in another vehicle. Minutes later, gunshots were reported near West Four Mount Road, east of North Landt Farms Lane. The owner told deputies he shot at the suspect, who abandoned the Jeep in a ditch. Blood was found inside the vehicle, but...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – Two people lost their lives in an accident on Highway 2 east of Airway Heights early morning, Dec. 18. A tree fell across the highway, striking their eastbound box truck and causing it to veer off the road. The Washington State Patrol reported that the incident occurred at 6:27 a.m. Both the driver and passenger were pronounced dead at the scene. Preliminary investigations suggest the tree, located on airport property, may have fallen due to severe weather conditions. The National Weather Service had i...
CHENEY – The City of Cheney is reminding residents of parking regulations during snow periods to ensure efficient snow removal and safer streets for all. When two or more inches of snow accumulate on city streets, and until the snow is cleared, vehicles may not be parked on any street or city right-of-way between midnight and 6 a.m. In the central business district, the restricted hours are between 3 and 6 a.m. Mayor Chris Grover emphasized the importance of planning ahead, especially during the holiday season, saying, ...
Medical Lake MEDICAL LAKE — The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office responded to the following calls for service from Nov. XX-XX: Dec. 11 9:33 a.m. – Medical Call on 1451 W Maple St. 9:43 a.m. – Suspicious Vehicle on 320 E. Norma Lee Ave. 12:46 p.m. – Medical Call on 420 E. Jim Darby Dr. 3:02 p.m. – Reckless driving on 1010 E. Lake St. 3:51 p.m. – Vehicle Blocking on N. Minnie St./W. Brooks Rd. 9:11 p.m. – Medical Call on 124 N. Hallett St. Dec. 12 8:22 a.m. – SCOPE needed on 124 S. LeFevre St. 8:43 a.m. – Wellfare check on 1...
CHENEY – On Dec. 9, the city hosted an open house for its 2017-2037 Comprehensive Plan Update, an initiative mandated by Washington State’s Growth Management Act. This act requires cities to craft long-term plans to manage population growth, shaping their 20-year vision with goals, policies, and actionable steps. This plan serves as a guiding document for local officials and staff, influencing daily decision-making processes. A key aspect of the update process is incorporating community input to refine the city’s futur...
CHENEY – The Cheney School Board unanimously approved a two-year administrative agreement on Dec. 11 that will provide salary increases and benefits aimed at retaining and attracting top leadership. The agreement, effective July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026, includes an average 6.1% pay increase in the first year and 7% in the second year. Contracts starting this past July will also see retroactive adjustments, resulting in year-end payouts. “This agreement keeps us competitive with comparable districts like East Val...
City considers updated code enforcement rules AIRWAY HEIGHTS – City Manager Albert Tripp presented proposed updates to city’s code enforcement regulations during the recent council meeting last Monday. Tripp described the new measures as a “toolbox” for encouraging compliance in residential and commercial areas. The updates aim to provide city staff with a clearer framework for addressing violations, potentially including incentives for property owners to meet municipal standards. The updated regulations would provide...
CHENEY – At their Dec. 10 meeting, city council approved the city’s final budget for 2025, totaling $81.526 million. The meeting also addressed several pressing issues, including funding for a water hydrant flushing program aimed at tackling the city’s long-standing rusty water problem. After a 25-minute discussion, the council approved $150,000 for a 14-week water flushing program. However, council members expressed concerns about its success, as similar initiatives have been attempted before. “Cheney has had the rusty w...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – City council adopted its 2025 legislative priorities during the Dec. 2 meeting, focusing on public safety, clean water access, and transportation infrastructure improvements. The motion passed unanimously. The city seeks $1.5 million in state capital funding to renovate a portion of its Public Safety Campus to house municipal court and administrative services. The campus, which also serves regional partners such as the Spokane Tribe, Kalispel Tribe, Fairchild Air Force Base, and Cheney Public School D...
