News

By PAUL DELANEY Staff Reporter The Wagon Wheel is ready to roll again. The longtime Medical Lake tavern recently re-opened under the operation of partners Amber Duell and Steve Herndon. The pair is first purchasing the business and later plans to buy the building. It's an odd-couple of sorts that is working to keep the watering hole going. Duell comes from a restaurant/bar background while Herndon had a previous career in the auto body business. He was laid off and saw he was not going anywhere in his chosen career path.... Full story

By DAVID TELLER Staff Reporter The Cheney City Council and the Cheney Planning Commission held a joint meeting on June 10 to delegate responsibilities and discuss laying the foundation for rewriting the comprehensive plan. Rewriting the comp plan involves input not only from the two major bodies of city government, but also from a citizen advisory group and topic groups formed from outreach efforts of the Community Development Department and will consist of volunteer, non-elected city residents. During the joint meeting,... Full story

Severe storms last Friday eroded part of Salnave Road. Spokane County Division of Engineering and Roads said they are not aware of any other wash outs caused by the storm.... Full story

CHENEY June 15 Second-degree theft was reported on the 400 block of North Fourth Street. Identification, an iPod, cell phone and a digital camera were taken from a vehicle. June 14 Matthew H. Anderson, 28, was arrested on the zero hundred block of Sixth Street for fourth-degree assault/domestic violence. A report was taken about a fourth-degree assault that was reported on May 13. The victim in that incident changed their mind about whether they wanted to prosecute the assailant. A 16-year-old male was arrested on the 2600 bl...

Cheney, Medical Lake included in maps designed to get people out and active ##M:[Read more here] Walks around Cheney and Medical Lake are featured in a new fold-out walking map offered by the Spokane Regional Health District to encourage people to be more active by trying out area routes. The routes were chosen for features such as fitness level, restrooms along the path, safety, and historical points of interest. Lack of physical activity is linked to an increased risk for chronic diseases, such as diabetes, high blood... Full story

Phillip Heuschkel gives an enthusiastic handshake to Daniel Issa as the two graduates walk in during the Cheney High School graduation ceremony at Reese Court on the Eastern Washington University campus on June 5... Full story

Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna's office is sounding the siren on marketing firms' accused of using deceptive advertising and prize promotions to steer consumers to buy cars. The state announced two new lawsuits on June 1 as part of an ongoing effort to enforce fair marketing practices. “We've warned dealers and ad firms that they need to make sure their promotions comply with state laws,” assistant attorney general Mary Lobdell said. “Now we've set up a roadblock to stop those businesses that continue to drive... Full story

By DAVID TELLER Staff Reporter The maxim “loose lips, sink ships” held true as the Cheney Police Department busted a large drinking party on May 30 in Cheney, making 35 arrests, according to the May Monthly Accountability Review (MAR). Cmdr. Rick Campbell said the department discovered the party being advertised on the Internet social networking website, Facebook. Once investigators confirmed the address, which was listed as being on the 100 block of Fourth Street, that the advertisement was true and that the party actually w...

CHENEY June 7 Suspicious circumstances were reported on the zero hundred block of North Eighth Street; possible attempted burglary. Third-degree theft was reported on the 2600 block of First Street when a credit card was stolen at Fish Lake and used in Cheney. Discharge of a weapon in city limits was reported on the 400 block of Simpson Parkway. Second-degree theft was reported on the 200 block of south Cheney-Spangle Road when a bicycle was stolen, which was later recovered. Second-degree theft was reported on the 400 block...

West Plains Pet Sitting has in-home TLC for pets at a reasonable rate By CARA LORELLO Staff Reporter As someone who likes animals, and a person with extra time on his hands, thanks to retirement, local resident Charles Carver came up with the idea to combine both into a business. West Plains Pet Sitting is an in-home pet care service with affordable rates available to area residents seeking an alternative to kennel boarding their dog or cat while on vacation. The 12-year Medical Lake resident said he'd done some research,...

By MIKE HUFFMAN Managing Editor Spokane Valley News Herald With a goal of cutting expenses without resorting to unnecessary future layoffs, Spokane County commissioners gave a lesson in “Budgeting 101” to county employees on Monday night, June 1. The 150 or so in attendance were told by board chairman Todd Mielke that a $10 million budget shortfall was more than likely in 2010 – and that “no decisions have been made.” Payroll and benefits fall into one of the areas that the commissioners have some discretion in closing the ri... Full story

By CARA LORELLO Staff Reporter Regional coordinators for the national-nonprofit education organization PAX (Program of Academic Excellence) recently appointed Ronald Morrison, Medical Lake resident and a former high school math teacher, the community coordinator for the region. Morrison will be in charge of interviewing families on the West Plains interested in becoming host families. Foreign exchange students come from about 35 different countries, in Eastern Europe, Asia, South American and Africa. Headquartered in Port...

By DAVID TELLER Staff Reporter A new tree was planted in Sutton Park on Friday, May 29, by a group of Reid Elementary fourth-graders as Cheney takes its first steps to becoming a Tree City U.S.A. The program, which has been a goal for Mayor Allen Gainer, is not only to plant more trees, but also take care of the ones the city currently has. “We're finally getting it kicked off,” he said, adding that other projects have delayed initiating the program which was first introduced early last year. Tree City U.S.A. is endorsed by...

CHENEY May 31 Billie J. Rentz, 27, was arrested on the 2200 block of First Street for violation of a court order. Investigation is continuing on a possible case of making a false report to the police on the 800 block of Fourth Street. Third-degree theft was reported on the 400 block of North Sixth Street when prescription drugs were taken from a residence. A black bicycle was found on the 1400 block of Fourth Street. A non-force rape was reported on the 300 block of F Street. Charges are pending investigation. Third-degree...

By DAVID TELLER Staff Reporter On its maiden voyage, the 22-passenger shuttle bus that the Cheney City Council approved the purchase of on March 24 for the Parks and Recreation Department has been temporarily disabled due to a wayward turkey. Parks director Paul Simmons was driving the bus, which has the driver's compartment of a van, back to Cheney on May 21 after a day-long trip with a group of senior citizens to the San Juan Islands. It was about 4:30 p.m. He had just taken his foot off the accelerator on the Cheney-Tyler...

By CARA LORELLO Staff Reporter In April, Gov. Christine Gregoire certified 71 transportation projects throughout Washington state eligible for a total of $70.7 million in federal stimulus funding. The list encompasses four state highway projects, 55 local projects and 12 transit projects. Certification means that projects have undergone all required legal reviews and represent an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars as specified in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Included among the local state highway projects is... Full story

Jazzercise, the world's leading dance fitness program, recently completed “Jazz it off 2009.” Jazzercise instructors from around the world aided and rewarded their customers in making healthy eating and exercise a way of life for reaching 2009 weight loss goals. “Jazz it off” participants at Cheney City Hall Auditorium lost a cumulative 44 pounds and 34 ¾ inches. From Feb. 9 through May 2, individuals at Cheney Jazzercise worked toward their 2009 weight loss goals. In addition to taking Jazzercise classes that combine... Full story

By JOHN McCALLUM Editor Don't like the way your elected officials make decisions about city finances, growth, or school district policy? Think you can do better? If so, your chance to prove it is fast approaching. Area individuals interested in running for public office will be able to file their candidacy beginning June 1 and running through June 5. Filing information is available through the Spokane County Elections Department, either online or at their offices located at 1033 W. Gardner Ave. in Spokane. Five city governmen...

By DAVID TELLER Staff Reporter The inaugural season for Cheney's Friday Farmers' Market as an independent organization kicks off Friday, May 29 at 10 a.m. Farmers' market manager Fred Pollard said this is the first year the market is operated by the Friday Farmers' Market Association, but customers will not likely notice any difference in what they see or the products available to them. “It's business as usual,” Pollard said. “It's the same people that have been coming together for years.” Pollard added that he is expecti...

By CARA LORELLO Staff Reporter Washington Gov. Christine Greogire has decided not to call a special legislative session as previously planned with regard to the possibility of reducing the state's levy equalization funds, 9th District Rep. Joe Schmick said in a May 11 statement. Reductions in the state's biennial budget indicated a $66 million shortfall for fully funded and voter approved levy equalization funds. The legislative session ended late last month with some budgetary bills still on the table. Among them was House...

Roger Hagenbuch, owner of Copy Junction is raffling a 2005, 3-liter bottle of Bogle Petite Sirah, which he won in a drawing held by the West Plains Chamber of Commerce and is donating the proceeds of the raffle to charity. “We didn't have any celebration or reason to drink that much wine,” Hagenbuch said. Tickets are for sale in his store for $2 each, 6 for $11 or 12 for $20 and the drawing for the winner will be June 1 at noon.... Full story