Looking Back

10 Years Ago

Nov. 20, 1997

The combination of above-average employee salaries and an above-average number of employees in Cheney is slowly dragging the city's general fund to a pit of red ink.

The 1998 preliminary budget shows the city plans to spend $2,217,400, or about 53 percent of its total general fund budget on salaries next year.

The wheels of democracy have begun to turn as Cheney citizen Jo Jameson has started the referendum process intended to repeal the City Council's adoption of the utility tax-setting ordinance R-24.

Council passed the ordinance to increases taxes on water by 5 percent, sewer by 11 percent and garbage by 7 percent by a 4-3 vote.

The 1997 football season, remembered for its six Frontier League wins and an undisputed championship, came to an end for the Cheney Blackhawsk when second-best Mid-Valley team Moses Lake won out over the best the Frontier had to offer in a 26-7 victory over the Hawks in a final game at EWU's Woodward Stadium.

20 Years Ago

Nov. 19, 1987

George Fisher, a respected and recognized member of the Cheney community for more than half a century, passed away on Nov. 14. During his 54 years in the area, Fisher made his mark on many fronts, not the least of which was Cheney School District where he served as a teacher, coach and 24-year principal until his retirement in 1969.

Cheney residents will be paying more for basic city services after the first of next year assuming the city's 1988 operating budget goes together as planned.

Council is currently grappling on details to formulate the document to raise needed revenues through increases fees for sewer, water and garbage collection services.

Cheney High School's volleyball squad earned the state tourney berth as one of 16 teams after the state title.

Cheney will be going as the Frontier's second seed as the Blackhakws were defeated in an earlier match by Deer Park, which claimed the top spot for the tourney.

30 Years Ago

Nov. 24, 1977

Cheney School District will work without a contract rather than submit to a two year agreement as recommended by the state public Employees Relations Commission fact-finder's report, and insisted on by the district's board of directors.

The fact finder report also includes a provision for a two-year contract rather than a one-year agreement.

There may be some changes in Cheney's plan for residential development this summer following recent success with a city water project in the western region.

A total of 34 new homes and 80 more following will be the first installment of over 150 new homes expected to be developed in annexed preliminary plats on North Salnave that will eventually extend to Presley Drive to near Fairview Cemetery between now and 1980.

Six state AA veterans of Cheney's 1976-1977 third place wrestling team will return to form a solid core for this year's Blackhawks mat team, however competition will be made harder because of an all-round stronger league and many veterans starting in higher wrestling classes they're unaccustomed too.