Sorted by date Results 6213 - 6237 of 7956
By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter Upgrades at Spoko Fuel are nearly complete, with a new Arby's restaurant set for its grand opening and a remodeled convenience store interior ready for use. Since last month, the restaurant has been operating under a soft opening. Spoko Fuel operations manager Dale Spencer described the opening as a test run for the restaurant, where there was almost no advertising. This way, the staff could train and garner experience in a low-pressure environment. A grand opening is scheduled for Friday, April 13... Full story
Local contract store operators stay in the business and hope to compete with bigger stores come June By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter When June 1 arrives, numerous liquor sales licenses will take effect. Several West Plains retailers have applied for a license following the passage of I-1183 last November, which allows for some private stores to sell liquor. In Cheney, Bi-Mart, Safeway and the existing contract store have all applied for liquor sales licenses, as of data available Monday, April 9. Both Bi-Mart and Safeway's...
By BECKY THOMAS Staff Reporter Cheney native Kahla Noel has been busy lately. Not only has she relocated her massage and esthetics business from Zen Hair Studio to a storefront in the complex at First and Cocolalla streets, she's also growing a new business angle: equine massage. The former Miss Cheney Rodeo had horses growing up and has always loved the animals, so when she got into massage therapy, she found an avenue to reconnect with them. “It's a way for me to spend time with horses without all the expense of owning o...
By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter Progress on Airway Heights' 70-acre park moved forward last week, with a second meeting to hear what residents want its uses to be. The city's park board and those in attendance expanded on ideas that were proposed at the first meeting last month. Most of those ideas, according to parks and recreation director J.C. Kennedy, focused on passive, open areas that could be adapted for sports like soccer and rugby. In addition to requests for a dog park, many placed a high importance on versatility.... Full story
Aircraft Solutions, formerly XN Air, seeks to be a one-stop shop for private and commercial pilots By BECKY THOMAS Staff Reporter It's the perfect location for an airplane maintenance shop: right off the runway of Spokane International Airport, the shop's 10,000 square foot hangar bay holds at least half a dozen small planes at once. That's why the shop—at 8125 W. Pilot Dr.—succeeded for six years as part of XN Air. And it's also part of the reason Matt Brown and Bill Ifft decided to purchase the business when it went up for...
Photo Essay By BECKY THOMAS Staff Reporter Cheney's wastewater treatment plant was built in 1972 with a goal of reusing all the byproducts of wastewater disposal. A series of wetlands for natural filtration back into the environment came first, and in 1994, Cheney was one of the first cities in the region to start its own compost facility. Eight years later, many area residents are probably planning to pick up a load for their gardens tomorrow. But how many know what goes into that load of compost? Go down to the plant...
Local jurisdictions can now modify, accept or shelve the document By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter The effects on land owners from Spokane County's Joint Land Use Study proposal were placed on the table last week at a public hearing at a joint meeting of the Board of County Commissioners and the county's planning commission. Better known as JLUS, the document seeks to address non-compatible land uses in areas surrounding Fairchild Air Force Base, which could cause concern for encroachment. The county created a draft document,...
Mixes part of current zoning code with draft proposal By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter The city of Airway Heights took its first step in the Joint Land Use Study implementation process by choosing to meld parts of its current zoning regulations with the latest draft of Spokane County's document. The Airway Heights City Council voted to send a letter to the city of Spokane and Spokane County informing them of their decision. Airway Heights would use a mix of the Air Installation Compatibility Use Zone (AICUZ), which it has... Full story
CHENEY March 12 A 10-year-old male was arrested for malicious mischief at Betz Elementary School after he threw eggs and wrote on doors at the school. March 13 Residential burglary was reported on the 300 block of F Street. March 14 Domestic violence was reported on the 200 block of South Cheney-Spangle Road—verbal only. Kaneshia S. Brooks, 22, was arrested for shoplifting at Cheney Trading Company. Theft of street barricades was reported on the 200 block of Elm Street. A 10-year-old male was arrested for fourth-degree assaul...
By SCOTT PANITZ WNPA Olympia News Bureau As the 2012 supplemental operating budget negotiations froze nearing adjournment of the 2012 session, March 8, the Washington state Legislature did reach agreement on a different major spending plan: the Transportation budget. A bipartisan transportation supplemental budget that overwhelmingly passed in both chambers raises $57 million in new revenue over the remainder of the 2011-2013 biennium with various fee increases. The new money would primarily go toward debt service on a...
By RAECHEL DAWSON WNPA Olympia News Bureau Gov. Christine Gregoire signed into law March 7 legislation that would give financially distressed biomass processing facilities and pulp and paper mills a break from compliance rules dealing with the expensive process of clean-energy conversion. Sen. Brian Hatfield, D-Raymond, was prime sponsor of Senate bill 5575, which calls for a change in the 2006 voter-approved Energy Independence Act (Initiative 937) to further define what biomass-elements may constitute renewable resources....
By MAIDA SUJEVIC WNPA Olympia News Bureau An education savings account program intended to help low-wage workers gain training and work skills earned the governor's signature of approval. Gov. Chris Gregoire signed Engrossed Senate Bill 6141 on March 7. The measure establishes the Lifelong Learning Program that allows workers to create and own education savings accounts. Employers who choose to participate in the program match, to a determined limit, what their employees invest. Workers can use the savings to fund... Full story
By RAECHEL DAWSON WNPA Olympia News Bureau Washington's tribal communities earned autonomous recognition from the Legislature on the final day of the session March 8 that, upon the governor's approval, could become effective as early as June. Civil and criminal jurisdiction over tribal members could be returned to the tribal councils in all areas, but control over sexually violent predators, so long as the governor and federal government officials agree on the requested retrocession, remain with the state. The three-step...
New art center seeks to educate, showcase area students and artists By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter Creating a painting or portrait takes time and skill, but Art Jacobs and the West Plains Art Center are seeking to break down barriers and help make art accessible to area residents. There, students and anyone with a passing interest in art can come to hone their skills and discover their abilities. “My hope is for them to come in and have fun. It's a non-threatening environment,” Jacobs, the center's owner said. Opening a studio a... Full story
By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter Following a series of open houses last month, the Medical Lake City Council discussed the potential impact of implementing Spokane County's Joint Land Use Study document. The City Council will take action at its April 3 meeting on the JLUS document, which seeks to set standards for the region to protect Fairchild Air Force Base from non-compatible land uses that may endanger its current or future mission. A final push is being stressed in an effort to finalize the document before the decision for...
By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter The Airway Heights Planning Commission passed a recommendation to the City Council to approve an annexation to the western part of the city, for land owned by the Spokane Tribe of Indians. The property is located on 145 acres of mostly vacant land west of Craig Road, on the northern side of Highway 2. The tribe owns the property, which includes Spoko Fuel, Arby's and one residence. Part of the property would be the location of the tribe's proposed Spokane Tribe Economic Project. Zoned as Tribal Lan...
In partnership with the IRS, the AARP Free Taxaide service is once again open at the Cheney Library. This year over 10 volunteers have been certified with IRS to assist taxpayers with their taxes. The Internal Revenue Service sponsors the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. The mission of these programs is to provide free basic tax return preparation for low-to-moderate income and elderly taxpayers. This also includes taxpayers with disabilities, limited English...
Tickets are now on sale for the Rick Bass and Stellarondo reading and performance at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 15, as part of Eastern Washington University's annual Get Lit! Festival. Rick Bass is a nationally acclaimed author best known for his detailed portrayals of the western wilderness and man's relationship with nature, for which he has been called a modern-day Thoreau. He has published 23 books of fiction and nonfiction, including “The Lives of Rocks,” which was a finalist for the Story Prize in 2006, and his aut... Full story
CHENEY March 5 An ongoing domestic violence dispute was reported to the Cheney Police Department. An abandoned small boat and trailer first reported in November were impounded on the 800 block of Chestnut Street. A two-vehicle non-injury collision occurred on the 1100 block of Golden Hills Drive. A two-vehicle non-injury collision occurred on the 100 block of Pineview Place. March 6 Domestic violence — verbal only — was reported on the 1300 block of Third Street. Ronald L. Ricci, Jr., 21, was arrested for driving while lic...
By BECKY THOMAS Staff Reporter The newest full-time firefighter at the Cheney Fire Department has been working there for more than five years. Mukilteo native Chris Munoz began his career in Cheney as a resident firefighter in 2006, graduated from Eastern Washington University and continued working as a volunteer until he was selected from a group of 21 applicants to fill the open firefighter position last month. “My wrestling coach told me, the harder you work the luckier you get,” he said. “I put in a lot of time here...
CHENEY Feb. 20 A suspicious vehicle was reported on the 500 block of Hampton Street. Domestic violence — verbal only — was reported on the 1300 block of Gary Street. Craig A. Hrivnak-Pate, 22, was arrested on the 200 block of K Street for forgery, fraud, organized retail theft and sale of stolen property. Dashawn A. Horne, 20, was arrested for shoplifting on the 100 block of West First Street. Cash and a debit card were reported stolen on the 2700 block of First Street. Feb. 21 Rape was reported on the 200 block of South Che... Full story
Washington state Republicans are holding their presidential caucus this Saturday, March 3, beginning at 10 a.m., with Spokane-area GOP meetings taking place at numerous locations. West Plains' caucus locations are as follows: precincts 7006, 7009, 7100, 7101 and 7200 will meet at the Airway Heights Community Center, 13120 W. 13th Ave. Precinct 7010 will meet at 2003 S. Brooks Road in Medical Lake. In Cheney precincts 9004, 9007, 9010, 9012 and 9200 will caucus at the Cheney Community Library 601 First St. while precincts...
State Fish and Wildlife Commission to take public testimony at Moses Lake meetings March 8-9 The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will accept final public comments on proposed hunting rules for the 2012-14 seasons at a pair of meetings March 9-10 in Moses Lake. The meetings take place at the Moses Lake Civic Center, 401 S. Balsam St. beginning at 8 a.m. each day. Hunting is scheduled for Friday's agenda, with more than a dozen changes in state hunting rules to be considered ranging from allowing waterfowl hunters to...
