Opinion

By BECKY THOMAS Staff Reporter Sometimes it's difficult to focus on the positives, especially in the news business. Maybe it's election fatigue, but I can't seem to get fired up about arguing an opinion lately. Despite my naïve hopes to retain my mental health, I've been following the presidential campaign. This week Republicans talk about why they're right, and next week the Democrats will talk about why they're right. Meanwhile, I keep wishing one of them will stop and think, “Hey, maybe I should start doing things that ar...

By Eve Rutherford Board member, Washington Dental Service Foundation As a dentist and mother of young children, I get lots of questions from parents about how to take care of baby teeth. This tells me that parents are increasingly aware that oral health is an important part of their child's overall health. In the past baby teeth were often ignored because they fall out and are replaced by more permanent teeth. But, baby teeth need to be protected. They are important to a young child who is just learning to eat and speak, and...

It's been 12 years since I first sat behind a desk at the Cheney Free Press. I've covered a lot of issues, events and people since and thinking back, some things stick out. One of those was a conversation I had once with former Cheney boys basketball head coach Dave Baird. The Blackhawks boys and girls teams had traveled to play Mount Spokane and as the boys were in the stands watching the girls' game some of them were reading copies of the latest Free Press issue they had brought along. Several Wildcat players joined them...

Flowers in downtown Cheney bring some color to the streets Cheney's downtown is in bloom. The kiosks on Main Street welcome travelers with a panoply of flowers in the hanging baskets and barrel planters that surround sturdy iron benches inviting sojourners and residents alike to stop and sit a spell. To add to the welcoming sentiments, 10 blocks of striking new welcome banners are displayed from poles leaving no doubt that Cheney is a hospitable town and a good place to stop. The hanging baskets and kiosk planters are...

By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter Could you spend $600 each day to feed lunch to hungry children in town? That's the fee Angela Prattis will face every day she feeds lunch to hungry children in the Chester Township in Pennsylvania. Prattis has been doing this for a number of years, receiving meals from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to help around 60 children in town. She provides the meals in a gazebo on her property, free of charge. Prattis receives some additional funding from the state's Department of Education, and meals are... Full story

With most of the vote tabulating done it appears Washington's primary election turnout is going to fall far short of Secretary of State Sam Reed's projection of 46 percent. And that's too bad. As of Monday, Aug. 13, 36.08 percent of registered Washington voters had cast a ballot in the Aug. 7 primary. Spokane County's count was just ahead of the state, with 38.41 percent voting as of Aug. 13. Jefferson County voters topped all counties with a 57.03 percent turnout while Cowlitz County brought up the rear at 28.32 percent. Gra...

By Paul Guppy Washington Policy Center Amid the swirl and controversy of the recall election in Wisconsin, the underlying policies the state Legislature enacted more than a year ago by passing Act 10 have been steadily implemented. Now that the dust has settled, it's a good time to review the changes Wisconsin enacted, and whether they offer practical ways our own lawmakers can improve public education for Washington's children. The issue is especially pressing because our state Supreme Court ruled in the McCleary decision... Full story

By Roger Simon Columnist A thrill is going up my leg. The hairs are standing up on the back of my neck. My palms are sweaty; my eyes are glazed. I am the Republican base. And Paul Ryan has come to save me. He is everything we could have dreamed of and hoped for. He is — as the young people like to say — groovy. Paul Ryan believes in the deserving rich. He believes that the Lord gave us two hands to grab everything we can with them. Ayn Rand, the philosopher, was Paul Ryan's inspiration. “The reason I got involved in public se...

By John McCallum Editor I think I have found the answer to the greatest question of the meaning of life, the universe and everything. And it's something very real. No it's not a number. Numbers aren't real things. Numbers describe something else. You can't go pick up and hold 42, but you can pick up and hold, say, 42 marbles, or 42 Wheat Thins, if you feel so inclined. Nope, the secret is more concrete, down to earth, solid and real. The secret is, drum roll please – chicken. Yes, chicken. I know that sounds weird, p...

Thanks for making 2012 Tennis-A-Thon another success I would like to thank the 24-Hour Tennis-A-Thon committee for their dedication to this activity, they really did an outstanding job this year. The committee members are Sharon LeMaster, Glenda Haugen, Dawn Eliassen, Ashlee King, Max Nelson, Justin Blyane, and Teresa Raby. A special thanks to all our High School boys and girls tennis team for giving about 50 kids free lessons. Thanks to Dave Perry for the use of his shade tents, Mike and Tammi Tareski for the use of their...

By BECKY THOMAS Staff Reporter How much responsibility should a government have for informing its constituents? It's a complex question that covers some complex topics. Public records issues in our fine state come to mind. But the question is also pertinent this week as Washington voters sit down to fill out their ballots. This year, the state of Washington has not printed a voter's guide for next week's primary election. I've heard some complaints about using the online voters' guide, and others about the extra step it...

Good schools, public safety support and smooth roads all help make a community a desirable place to call home. Cheney voters have strongly affirmed their support of schools recently with bond approval for new school construction. And more recently they said yes to the renewal of a levy that buys many of the nuts and bolts that help hold the educational system together. By midnight next Tuesday, Aug. 7, city officials hope Cheney voters will have continued their support of tax measures that address both public safety and roads... Full story

By CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS 5th District Representative Sometimes it takes just a single moment to remind us of why we love home. Just last week, I was reminded, yet again, of why Eastern Washington remains in my heart even when I'm 3,000 miles away walking through the halls of the United States Congress. Last weekend, Eastern Washington was hit with such severe thunder and rain storms that Governor Gregoire declared a state of emergency in 16 of our counties. Roads were closed, power lines were thwarted, and homes were...

By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter Going to the movies is an interesting part of life. They have the power to inspire, to influence change but most of all, the power to entertain. A movie has the ability to provide escape from difficult situations, even if it's for only an hour or two. While many are just run-of-the-mill productions, churned out by the Hollywood elite, an occasional few stand the test of time. Even rarer, a trilogy of films help define a generation. This last weekend, “The Dark Knight Rises” completed one of tho... Full story

Where should business experience go on a presidential candidate's résumé? Front and center, at the bottom or not even mentioned? Mitt Romney has used his business experience as a major selling point for his candidacy, even suggesting in May that there should be a Constitutional amendment adding business work experience to the qualifications for president. That might be extreme, but it's not be a bad idea. President Barack Obama doesn't have business experience, and it's showing. Just a couple of weeks ago he angered many b...

Thanks from the McKeehan family in a time of difficulty The McKeehan Family would like to thank the Cheney community for their outpouring of support during our most difficult time. My father loved living in Cheney. He would have been so happy with the number of people who attended his memorial service and how the community has been there for us. We will be forever grateful to all the people who have called, brought food, flowers and stopped by. We will never be the same but the whole family feels better knowing that Judy...

By John McCallum Editor The world has once again lost another great musician. Jon Lord, keyboardist and founding member of the rock band Deep Purple passed away due to complications from pancreatic cancer July 16. For those who thought I was going to say singer Kitty Wells that also is a tragedy given her legacy and the impact she had on country music, especially female performers in the genre. Wells was 92, and country music was not as much of an influence on my musical tastes and, yes, my formative years as Lord and his... Full story

Compromise in politics is a rarely-traveled two-way street Compromise? Who's drinking the Kool-Aid? A recent opinion letter (Cheney Free Press July 12) from someone that is a teacher? Higher Education? Hopefully that person doesn't teach American history. Our founding fathers sure didn't have compromise with the king from the history I learned in school. But the jest of the opinion letter is that conservatives should compromise. We have the best political system in the world bar one exception. We have no political...

Take a drive anywhere today and you'll notice a large number of motorcycles. The number of those taking to the streets on the two-wheeled vehicles has increased dramatically over the last few years. Unfortunately, as the amount of motorcyclists increases, so do the number of accidents. Reasons for choosing motorcycles over regular vehicles vary from person to person, but right at the top is likely fuel efficiency. As long as gas prices are high and cost of living continues to increase, expect the rising trend of... Full story

Ruts in Cheney's brick crosswalks cause damage to cars I am writing this letter to address the issue of the brick crosswalks in downtown Cheney. Is it going to take someone having an accident before someone notices? I have driven over those many times and worried about damaging my car. That was the worst idea any one has ever had in this town. What were they thinking? We have plows and ice heaves in Cheney. I wish someone would please address this before something bad happens. Patricia Cox Cheney Compromise doesn't exist in... Full story

When considering qualifications of candidates for elected office, how much weight should be put on personal matters not directly related to the job? It's a question many voters are asked and sometimes told to consider virtually every election cycle and at least when national or state offices are up for grabs. And there are plenty of examples of campaigns and outside interest groups using aspects of candidates personal lives to cast doubt on their qualifications for office. One personal attribute that seems to always raise...

By BECKY THOMAS Staff Reporter Last week I was up to my eyeballs in Cheney Rodeo and Cheney Jubilee. This being my “beat,” as we say in the biz, I was tasked with bringing together our annual Rodeo Weekend special section, and boy is it a big one. It was pretty hectic for me and the rest of the staff to come up with stories, gather all the information, write and design all the pages on this weekend's activities. Hopefully our work will pay off and you, dear reader, will be informed and entertained beyond belief. I was fee...

By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter We all enjoy fireworks on the Fourth of July. After all, without them it's a pretty quiet night. They're big, loud and the good ones cause a good thump in your chest. Sure you're basically setting fire to a big pile of money, but that pile of money isn't going to explode in a brilliant display of colors in the sky. As a child, I enjoyed the couple of Fourth of July trips my family made to the West coast to see relatives. I still have fond memories of sitting with neighbors, their families and the... Full story

Keller will serve as builder, mentor and leader in 6th District When Larry Keller told me he planned to become a candidate for state representative for the 6th District, my response was “Why would you want to become involved in politics?” Larry responded by saying “I think I can make a difference.” The truth is Larry has been making a difference his entire life. During the Gulf War Larry made a difference, and for his leadership he earned and was awarded the Bronze Star and Air Medal as a combat Veteran. Every organiz... Full story

Reprinted from The St. Louis Post-Dispatch Woe is the Pentagon. How is the nation supposed to defend itself on a lousy $470 billion a year? Never mind that it's more than the combined total spent on defense by the next 14 nations combined. But $470 billion will be the Pentagon's pauper pittance unless Congress somehow manages to pass a long-term debt reduction deal before Jan. 2 of next year. That's the magical date that the “sequester” goes into effect, a product of a congressional “supercommittee's” botched handlin... Full story