News

CHENEY POLICE Nov. 17 A report of domestic violence was made on the 2300 block of University Lane. Dispute was verbal only. Michael D. Romesburg, 22, was arrested on the 1400 block of Second Street for residential burglary. Second-degree malicious mischief was reported at the library on First Street. The door of a car was kicked and the mirror was broken Nov. 16 Third-degree malicious mischief was reported on the 100 block of North Ninth Street. Damage to a vehicle was discovered. A stolen vehicle was recovered on the 200...

Cheney Employee Benefits Fair is on Nov. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wren Pierson Building. This annual event is for city employees but is also open to the public as the Cheney Medical Center provides flu shots (for a fee). “Books are Fun,” an assortment of children's books and gifts and educational materials, will be present with books and gifts for sale. It's a “bonus” shopping event for citizens and they are welcome to attend. For more information call 498-9255. Also, all of the city's 457 vendors, local credit...

The Unitarian Universalist Church is sponsoring its annual Alternative Gift Fair on Sunday, Dec. 2 at the church, 4340 W. Ft. George Wright Drive, between services (10:15-11 a.m.) and from noon-2 p.m. This is an opportunity to get off the holiday consumer treadmill by giving life-enriching support to a choice of 20 local, national and international organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Heifer International, Hospice of Spokane and Catholic Relief Services. Donations to these organizations replace gifts of meaningless...

By CRAIG HOWARD Contributing Writer/Spokane Valey News Herald November may be National Diabetes Month, but for Grant Wasson, the disease is a year-round concern. Before he was diagnosed in 1995, Wasson didn't think much about diabetes, despite a family history of the condition. He was 51 when doctors told him that his blood sugar level was high enough to place him as a Type 2 diabetic. “I was heavy then,” said Wasson, now 63. “I was eating doughnuts and candy and it seemed like I was tired all the time.” About 90 percent...

By CARA LORELLO Staff Reporter A first violation gets a citizen a written warning. The second offense is a civil infraction with a fine of up to $250. The third offense counts as a misdemeanor, and could mean up to 90 days in jail, or a $1,000 fine. That's the order of penalties as determined by Medical Lake City Council members on Nov. 6 as part of a new city ordinance codifying previously voluntary water conservation measures. Council approved a first reading of Ordinance 981 that places restrictions on residential...

By DAVID TELLER Staff Reporter Police work has changed. With all of the advances in technology and communications, police officers know exactly what's going on, but only if it gets reported. Beginning the first of the year, Lt. Dave Mather of the Cheney Police Department is heading up a community policing program where the department will begin taking a proactive approach to connecting with Cheney residents and establishing a personal line of communication. “We're only as effective as the trust that the community has in t...

Cheney basketball plays for food The Cheney girls' basketball team is hosting a jamboree on Saturday, Nov. 24, and all it will cost to get in are a couple cans of food. The jamboree will include teams from North Central High School in Spokane and Deer Park High School. Action begins at 2 p.m. with games between rival freshmen squads, followed by the junior varsity action at 3 p.m. and varsity action at 4 p.m. The public is invited to bring a couple of cans of food and watch this year's Lady Hawks in action. All donations go... Full story

A third story on Cheney Mayor Allan Gainer's bid to replace Ninth District state Rep. David Buri was also cut short in the Nov. 8 issue of the Cheney Free Press. A selection of three candidates was made on Nov. 10 and Gainer was not among those picked. The top choice was Palouse Mayor Michael Echanove. Colfax-area farmer Joe Schmick, and LaCrosse-area farmer and teacher Tedd Nealy were also nominated. Commissioners from the six counties comprising the Ninth District will make the final determination as to who serves. Buri...

By DAVID TELLER Staff Reporter Annexation has been a common word used in the development projects around Cheney. With many of the developments being proposed in the Cheney area, it would seem the city has been remiss in dealing with expansion. The Community Development Department has tried to accommodate expansion and growth, but has encountered setbacks. With developments on the boundary between the city and Spokane County, a proposal was drafted byCheney officials to agree with the county over issues of control and...

By CARA LORELLO Staff Reporter Though the fiscal year isn't over and October's bills aren't yet posted, spending in Medical Lake's fire and emergency medical services budget for 2007 so far has been kept to a minimum, however officials may still pursue some high-cost but much-needed upgrades to the department in 2008. At the forefront of discussion is the department's aging apparatus, its oldest model a 1970 fire vehicle that's incurring a lot of repair expenses for the department. The department would have to raise about... Full story

Eastern Washington University is pleased to announce that Dr. Jerry Galm, professor of anthropology, has been named a 2008 Fulbright research scholar. Galm's nine-month appointment in Kazakhstan begins in December 2007 and ends in September 2008. Galm will be hosted by South Kazakhstan State University, in the city of Chimkent. He will be working with another Fulbright recipient, Dr. Michelle Glanz, from Colorado State University. As part of his Fulbright appointment, Galm and his colleague will team-teach within an...

Cheney commission holds Halo tourney The Cheney Youth Commission is putting on a Halo 3 tournament at the Wren Pierson Building on Friday Nov. 16 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The entry fee will be $8 per team of two players. Concessions will be sold at the event. There is still time for players to sign up and bring equipment. This is a fundraiser for the Cheney Youth Commission. Free presentation on lung cancer Nov. 21 Community Health Education and Resources will sponsor a free presentation about lung cancer on Wednesday, Nov. 21...

By DAVID TELLER Staff Reporter Everybody needs a place to stay, especially if they're going to school. For many students, housing is a real challenge, not only in affording it, but also finding it. Some of the housing concerns go beyond affordability and availability. Legality comes into play. Because of rising education costs, the way students are living pushes the limits of legality in terms of residential codes. Jeff Smick, the deputy code enforcement officer for the city of Cheney said the problem is growing. He said he i...

By DAVID TELLER Staff Reporter The Cheney Fire Department received a $70,052 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The funding comes under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) for operations and safety expenses. According to a press release on Friday from the Department of Homeland Security, $395,242 was awarded to five fire departments in Washington State for their operations and safety initiatives. Nationally, the fiscal year 2007 AFG awards, which will be di...

CHENEY POLICE Nov. 8 A report of second-degree burglary made on the 400 block of First Street involving the unauthorized us of a key. Salvador E. Galvin, 18, was arrested on the 2300 block of Lilac Court for possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance (marijuana), minor in possession of alcohol and unlawful possession of a firearm. Nov. 7 A cell phone was found on the 300 block of Fifth Street. Second-degree theft was reported on the 700 block of Clover. A Credit card was stolen. Nov. 6 Fred W.... Full story

CHENEY Nov. 2 A report of domestic violence was made on the 2700 block of Al Ogdon Way. Dispute was verbal only. Nov. 1 Nicole J. Dewitt, 21 was arrested for third-degree theft/shoplifting at Safeway for stealing a pregnancy test. A report of suspicious circumstances was made on the 100 block of Walker Drive. Forgery was reported at STCU on the 2700 block of First Street when fraudulent checks were drawn on an account. A Maroon 1993 Jeep was reported as abandoned on the 800 block of Second Street. The vehicle was impounded....

The Medical Lake Baseball/Softball Boosters Association is holding its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Medical Lake High School library....

If you can't take it with you, at least see it The Cheney High School drama department is presenting the Pulitzer Prize winning comedy “You Can't Take it with You,” in four performances, Nov. 9-10, and Nov. 16-17. Each performance begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Fisher Building auditorium. ##M[more]## St. Paul's to hold Christmas Bazaar Dec. 1 St. Paul's Episcopal Annual Christmas Bazaar will take place on Saturday, Dec. 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Paul's, 625 C Street, on the edge of the Eastern Washington University cam...

Eastern Washington University Recreation students have partnered with the city of Cheney as well as Cheney Parks and Recreation to provide the annual kids carnival for the city. The Super Hero Rock Festival will take place Nov. 15 between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. at Salnave Elementary School, 1015 Salnave Road, and is open to all local youth and their families. This is a free event with free prizes, free food, and free fun that you won't want to miss out on. Several local businesses have made this event possible through generous...