News

By BECKY THOMAS Staff Reporter Josh and Matt Horsley grew up on a fruit farm in the Yakima Valley, surrounded by the best Mother Nature had to offer. From their early days, they helped their father harvest hundreds of thousands of pounds of fruit every year. While they were raised among delicious fresh fruit, the twin brothers soon learned not everyone knew what fresh, tree-ripened fruit tasted like. They moved to Cheney to attend Eastern Washington University, and a couple years later Josh's new wife Marisa did the...

First ‘Appleseed shoot' held in Medical Lake draws families intent on learning from U.S. forefathers By RYAN LANCASTER Staff Reporter For the typical American, being able to accurately shoot a rifle probably ranks low on a list of essential skills these days, as does having a working knowledge of the Revolutionary War. But for the thousands of people across the country who take part in Project Appleseed each year, learning these things is a way to preserve a critical piece of our nation's past while imparting a stronger s...

After several years in storage, historical artifacts and pictures will be on display at local branch By RYAN LANCASTER Staff Reporter For years much of Medical Lake's history has been shuffled around in cardboard boxes, most recently from a closet at City Hall into the garages of local historians Judy Abbott and Joyce Calloway. The two longtime city residents have for some time sought a place to exhibit this one-of-a-kind collection of artifacts, photographs and other items chronicling the town's colorful past. There are stac...

Photo by Paul Delaney April snow showers brought lots of grumbles to Cheney April 29....

Eastern Washington University Friends of the Library invites the Cheney community to combine culinary talents with literary tastes by participating in the Books2Eat event on Wednesday, May 25, at the JFK Library. Every spring, the FOL puts on this free event as a means to bring people from the community together with the university community at the library and just have a good time together. Those who wish to create a confection based upon a favorite book—“Winnie the Pooh,” “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold,” the “Twilight...

West Plains chicken keepers offer advice on how to raise feathered fowl for food, profit and pleasure By RYAN LANCASTER Staff Reporter Jennifer Oxrieder calls chickens “gateway livestock,” birds so simple to care for that their owners are tempted to bring other critters into the mix. For the past three years, she and her husband Jacob have been raising chickens in the backyard of their suburban Cheney home. So far the couple has managed to contain their habit to chickens, bees and rabbits, but she said it's only a matter of t...

By BECKY THOMAS Staff Reporter For Scott and Marissa Myers, there's nothing better than a delicious dessert. Unless it's a delicious dessert at a discount, that is. That's the idea behind Dessert Pals, a business the couple opened in Cheney this month. “It's a dessert club,” Scott Myers said. “Our customers go to our website, print out the membership card and then they come on down and get discounts on gourmet desserts.” Dessert Pals is located inside the Picture Perfect framing and art gallery at 1831 First St. The Myers'...

Practice put in place after change to council-manager form of government seen by some as time consuming and financially costly By RYAN LANCASTER Staff Reporter Airway Heights City Council meetings could soon start a half hour earlier if the council passes an ordinance to do away with their scheduled pre-session agenda workshops. At their April 18 meeting the council heard a first reading of an ordinance amending the city's municipal code to eliminate the agenda workshop and change the meeting time from 6 to 5:30 p.m. The...

By RYAN LANCASTER Staff Reporter In their April 20 meeting the Spokane Transit Authority board of directors unanimously voted to adopt bus service reductions as recommended by STA staff, changes that are scheduled to take effect in September. The plan is estimated to save nearly $3 million a year through route efficiencies and eliminations throughout the service area, according to the agency. STA communications manager Molly Meyers said while making cuts is never easy they were deemed necessary to make up for falling sales...

CHENEY April 11 Theft was reported on the 100 block of Washington Street. Identity theft was reported on the 800 block of West First Street. Theft was reported on the 700 block of West First Street. Violation of a court-issued protection order occurred on the 2600 block of First Street. The report was sent to the attorney for review. Harassment was reported on the 2200 block of First Street. Rape was reported in the 300 block of Erie Street. The incident was being investigated. A two-car non-injury collision occurred on the 1...

Come learn what Eastern Washington University is doing to become more sustainable, at the start something Green Earth Day Fair. This special event will promote the school's recycling efforts, and will include exhibits, music and a tree planting ceremony. Sponsored by the EWU Recycling Department, the fair will take place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, April 22 (Earth Day), on the campus mall. Organizers will emphasize the various recycling efforts on campus, display what Eastern does to promote eco-friendly practices and share...

Eastern Washington University sophomore Dakotta Williams, a government major from Goldendale, Wash., is one of nine students from five different states chosen for the George Nethercutt Foundation's 2011 Fellowship Program. With the honor, she will be part of the foundation's academic, experience and service program. The non-profit Foundation was created in 2008, and is chaired by former 5th District U.S. Congressman George Nethercutt, Jr. “Being awarded this fellowship is one of the highest achievements I can boast a...

Saturday, May 7, Cheney compost customers can load up their “black gold” between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the city's wastewater treatment plant, 119 Anderson Road. EcoGreen is a nutrient-rich material created using the solid residues from the treatment of wastewater, mixed and composted with yard wastes (leaves, grass clippings) and wood products. EcoGreen is a stable organic material that when added to a lawn, garden or flower bed enhances the soil by re-introducing nutrients and texture. EcoGreen is sold for $12 per cubic yar...

Green grass, young flowers, runners training for Bloomsday – signs of spring are here and P.E.A.C.H. Community Farm is ready to celebrate with their second annual country fair on Saturday, April 30. “Last year was a rollicking good time and this year will be much bigger,” P.E.A.C.H founder Brightspirit Hendrix said in a press release. The country fair will include organic gardening workshops, kids' games, cheese making, baby goat petting, chicken keeping, a wild edible plant walk, a raw foods demonstration, green smoot...

The Ice Age Floods Institute, Cheney-Spokane Chapter, is sponsoring a free public lecture Thursday, April 28. “Cheney-Palouse Scabland Tract From Top to Bottom,” will take place at 7 p.m., Room 135 at the Science Building on Eastern Washington University's Cheney campus. The lecture will include an overview of the Cheney-Palouse Scabland from its beginning south of the West Plains to its termination south of Palouse Falls at the confluence of the Palouse and Snake Rivers. Important geologic concepts that help understand the...

‘Mommy and Me' seeks to provide assistance by arranging a variety of activities for families By RYAN LANCASTER Staff Reporter Every day dozens of moms around the Spokane area meet up with kids in tow, maintaining a network of support formed five years ago by one woman and an internet connection. Thi Streeter started the group after she and her husband moved to the Spokane Valley from New York. While living there she had been part of a collective of mothers that arranged play dates and other activities via Meetup.com, a w...

By BECKY THOMAS Staff Reporter Cheney Mayor Tom Trulove has worn several different hats through the years. At last week's Cheney City Council meeting, he donned one he doesn't usually wear: he was taken aback, bowled over, at a loss for words as city staff told him he was the recipient of the Paul J. Raver Community Service Award from the Northwest Public Power Association. The award is given to an individual or a group that has worked toward the betterment of cities, states or regions, and Trulove said he feels unworthy to...