Sorted by date Results 6362 - 6386 of 7956
The 2011 Zak!Charity Open, held July 24-25 raised more than $435,000 to benefit the Rypien Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County, bringing the total amount raised in the tournament's 12-year history to more than $3 million. The Open helps these organizations help children battling cancer, and often the economic conditions associated with their struggle. “The fact that we were able to surpass this milestone in a year where many people and businesses are still struggling to recover from the tough economic times w...
By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter A father fishing with his two sons complained to a resort manager at West Medical Lake of a man fishing naked on the lake's west bank. Police arrested Dean H. Meginniss, 54, around 2:15 p.m. Aug. 14 on a felony charge of indecent exposure. After receiving a call from the father about the man, saying he stood up as their boat moved down the lake, resort employees came down and asked Meginnis to put on clothing. By the time officers arrived at the scene he had donned a pair of shorts and was fishing... Full story
Passage would raise up to $15 million to help replace current 40-year-old, non-expandable shelter located in the Spokane Valley In a split vote (2-1) at Tuesday afternoon's regularly scheduled meeting, the Spokane County Board of Commissioners approved putting a levy on the Nov. 8 General Election ballot that would provide the necessary funds to replace the Spokane Regional Animal Protection Shelter. Spokane County Proposition No. 1 would increase the county's regular property tax levy by less than $12 per year for the owner...
By BECKY THOMAS Staff Reporter It seems like the rodeo happened just yesterday, but it's already time to crown a new Miss Cheney Rodeo. The 2012 Miss Cheney Rodeo pageant is just around the corner, and young women are invited to compete for the crown. “It's really a yearlong commitment, but it is a blast. You get to meet so many great people,” queen coordinator Heidi Monter said. Young women ages 17 through 25 are invited to apply for the pageant, which will be held Sept. 23-24. The deadline to apply is Sept. 5. The Miss Che... Full story
By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter Two sisters charged with taking money from their grandmother pled not guilty during their arraignment at the Spokane County Courthouse. Jamee and Jackee Stearns, both 23, both gave their pleas. A court omnibus is set for Oct. 10, and were both assigned an Oct. 31 trial date. The sisters gave the not guilty plea for each of their two charges: residential burglary (domestic violence) and third-degree theft (domestic violence). According to the statement by the arresting officer, the sisters visited...
By JOHN McCALLUM Editor Former Cheney resident Edward P. Herres pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree child molestation in Spokane Superior Court on July 1 and was sentenced Aug. 3 by Judge Harold D. Clarke III to 33 days in jail, with credit given for the 33 days already served. Clark suspended the initial 68 months to life sentence pursuant to specifications under the Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative (SSOSA) Act. Herres was placed in community custody of the Department of Corrections for life, and was... Full story
By BECKY THOMAS Staff Reporter Sometimes it takes a hard lesson to turn your life around. For Gary Short, a stroke last fall left him partially paralyzed and unable to do what he loves. Through months of frustrating rehabilitation and lifestyle changes, the local tattoo artist has regained much of his dexterity and is back practicing his art. Short, owner of Cheney's Body Language Tattoo, is a tall, heavily tattooed 50-year-old. He says he used to play up the “tough guy” lifestyle, staying up late, drinking and partying. He... Full story
Photo by Becky Thomas Heavy equipment recently began moving earth across Betz Road in preparation for construction of new practice fields for the Cheney School District. The work includes razing Crunk's Hill, site of one of the first schools in the county. Soil removed from the hill was transferred across Betz Road and deposited at the future home of the city's 50-acre park, show here....
Attendance for July's Feed Medical Lake showed that the program is attracting a following of community members and helping stretch food budgets. Aided by local volunteers, Medical Lake resident Joanna Williams served 89 meals at the first event in June. Although final numbers weren't available, she guessed that volunteers served around 100 burgers with soup at the July 11 program. “Everybody loved the strawberry soup. One of the teenagers said that it tasted like strawberry yogurt,” Williams said. Of the 89 receiving meals in...
By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter The Airway Heights City Council approved a six-year transportation improvement plan at its July 18 meeting, which will improve over 7.5 miles of roads in the city. Running from 2012 to 2017, the only projects set to be planned and in motion are 14th Avenue, between Lawson Street and Lundstrom Street, and another one between Lawson Street and Campbell Street. Crews will reconstruct the roadway to be 24 feet wide, and will install new storm drain systems and swales to capture runoff water. Highway 2... Full story
Cheney July 11 A vehicle was keyed on the 2700 block of First Street. Indecent liberties was reported on the 1400 block of Gary Street. The incident was under investigation. A dark blue bicycle was found on the zero hundred block of North Third Street. Burglary was reported on the 1400 block of First Street. Storage lockers were broken into but nothing was taken. July 12 A plastic bed liner was reported stolen from a vehicle on the 200 block of Walker Drive. Spencer D. Sullivan, 30, was arrested on the 2300 block of... Full story
By BECKY THOMAS Staff Reporter It's easy to forget the Future Business Leaders of America club at Cheney High School is only four years old. In that short time, the club has ballooned to more than 50 members, and a few weeks ago two teams brought national trophies home to Cheney. Nine Cheney students brought their skills and projects to the national FBLA convention in Orlando, Fla., held June 28-July 1. The team of Eric Barrio and Michelle Frantilla placed fifth in computer game and simulation programming for a computer game... Full story
By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter Clear Lake will serve nearly 30 to 40 participants in Ski Fest, a program for the physically challenged. Sponsored by St. Luke's Rehabilitation Institute in Spokane, the event features adaptive water skiing, jet skiing and swimming. Although the water serves as the main attraction, socializing with those facing a similar situation is the most helpful part of the event, according to program coordinator Candice Belcourt. “It's just a good interaction throughout, which is the biggest component,” she...
By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter A delayed spring and heavy snow runoff has extended the high flows at the Medical Lake's wastewater treatment plant. Parallel to the wet ground and swollen rivers, the plant has seen higher than normal flows for an extended period. “It's not been excessively higher, but it has been higher,” plant supervisor Steve Cooper said. The wastewater plant takes anything flushed down the city's drains, separates the clear water, removes the nutrients or anything environmentally harmful and distributes the...
By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter The Jensen Memorial Youth Ranch dedicated a large sign in front of the property in memory of two brothers and a friend who died in the Vietnam War. Made by Jensen family members, the sign includes the names of Dana and John Jensen as well as their friend Dannie Turnbull. The brothers died three days apart from each other in the war in 1969. Evolving over nearly eight months, the sign was part of the initial announcement of the ranch's creation three years ago. Carl Grub, the current owner of the...
By BECKY THOMAS Staff Reporter If there was a time to speed in Cheney, that time was the first half of 2011. Traffic enforcement is on the rise after police contacts with drivers sunk to less than 150 per month this spring. According to the Cheney Police Department's monthly accountability review, officers made 215 stops in May and 208 in June following lower-than-average numbers earlier this year. Traffic enforcement is still down for the year, with 36 percent fewer contacts and 47 percent fewer citations through June...
By BECKY THOMAS Staff Reporter Cheney Mayor Tom Trulove is part of a new task force with a big task: fix state funding for transportation. Gov. Chris Gregoire earlier this month announced appointments for the Connecting Washington Task Force, a group charged with developing a 10-year funding plan for the state's transportation system. Trulove, who is also chair of the Economics department at Eastern Washington University, said he's looking forward to tackling the problem of transportation funding in the state. “If we're succe...
By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter Thanks to a couple of Eagles Scout candidates the Washington State Veterans Cemetery near Medical Lake recently received some new amenities. Christopher and Zachary Taylor, of Boy Scout Troop 340, each took on separate projects that helped finish some uncompleted areas at the cemetery. Christopher worked on the Honor Guard Walkway, and Zachary helped to further the Scattering Garden's development by introducing foliage. The walkway allows volunteer Honor Guard and Rifle Team members to make their... Full story
Expansion plans for both eastern and western boundaries, impacts to other jurisdictions reviewed By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter The Airway Heights Planning Commission focused on annexation to the east and west of the city at its July 11 meeting. Annexation to the east of the city will add approximately 405 acres through a new interlocal approach. “It allows for jurisdictions to annex certain areas that are under the service area of a fire district,” assistant planner Derrick Braaten said. The district in question is Fire Dis...
By AMY MEYER Staff Intern The Historic Preservation Commission met on July 7 in the Cheney City Council Chambers. The commission was informed it was awarded a federal grant marked for Certified Local Governments to use to hire a consultant to create detailed reports of eight parks within Cheney and their historical aspects. Those parks have an age of 50 years or more and include Sutton, Pugh and Webb parks. The grant will “really nail down the research and help tell the stories,” commission secretary Susan Beeman said. The...
By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter The annual 24-hour Tennis-a-thon is set to invade the tennis courts of Medical Lake High School July 20 and 21. Lessons are one-hour segments, with times for different age groups throughout the day. Organizer for the past 13 years, Medical Lake High School boys' tennis coach Leroy Lemaster has contributed donations from the event to local charities. “The people in Medical Lake have really done well to support our program over the years, as well as the communities of Airway Heights and Cheney,” he...
By AMY MEYER Staff Intern A poor economy and a difficult location are both contributing to the closure of Cabin Fever and the Pottery Shed Sept. 30. Leslie Johnston opened Cabin Fever and the Pottery Shed at the end of June 2008. She had been working at Spokane Stainless Products, but they laid her off. “I just thought that Cheney doesn't really have any antique shops or they only had a part-time thrift store,” Johnston said. “They don't have it here. I don't know why they don't have it here, but they should have it here....
CHENEY July 5 A 13-year-old male was arrested for stealing a bicycle trailer on the 200 block of Lincoln Street. A black bicycle was found on the 200 block of G Street. July 6 A 16-year-old male was arrested for a Spokane County felony warrant on the 25000 S. Carmen Road. Theft was reported on the 300 block of North Fifth Street. A broken sign and graffiti were reported on the 200 block of First Street. A two-vehicle, non-injury collision occurred on the 2800 block of Al Ogden Way. July 7 Jason E. Clough, 39, was arrested in...
