Looking Back

10 Years Ago

June 21, 2001

A move by the state of Washington to conform with a federal judge's injunction could send a Department of Corrections program, the minimum security Work Ethic Camp currently located at McNeil Island, to Pine Lodge's Pre-Release Corrections Center.

Airway Heights businessman Claude Hicks was accused by the city's code enforcement officer Bill Bailey of having committed an assault. The charge was levied while the Hicks' hardware store property was being inspected by Bailey.

A solid waste study commissioned by the city of Cheney showed the city's best hope at keeping garbage rates low was to team with Medical Lake and form their own garbage hauling service.

Former Eastern Washington University defensive lineman Dario Romero signed a free agent contract with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League.

20 Years Ago

June 20, 1991

Two candidates to fill the vacant position of superintendent of Cheney Schools had distanced themselves from the field of four to replace Dr. James Jungers who resigned from the job. Those two were Oak Harbor's Rick Schulte and Walt Rulffes from Spokane. A decision was expected shortly.

The city of Cheney was awarded $6.5 million in funding of the estimated cost of $8.6 million needed to construct a new sewage treatment plant. The plant was expected to be operational by 1994.

The former home of Cenex farm equipment, a long vacant building south of Cheney on SR-904, was expected to have a new tenant. Ceramic arts equipment manufacturer Northstar was given a conditional use permit for the building.

30 Years Ago

June 18, 1981

A group of student from William Wynd's marketing class at EWU conducted a survey to determine the shopping trends of Cheney. One of their main discoveries was that the city had yet to develop services for the public similar to other communities of Cheney's size.

The chairman of the board of the Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation, Cornell Maier, delivered the commencement address for the 99th class at Eastern Washington University. Maier told the crowd that gathered at the Pavilion that graduates need to become involved and “preserve the values that have served us so long and so well,” in this country.

The Medical Lake Founders Day parade grew to 24 units with the first place award going to Spokane's Percussion-Nauts drum and bugle corps marching unit.

Ed Chissus completed his 26th and final season as coach for the EWU baseball team on a winning note compiling a 32-20 record.

40 Years Ago

June 17, 1971

Some 500 students first listened to an address by president Dr. Emerson Shuck and then received their diplomas at commencement exercises for Eastern Washington State College held at Woodward Field.

A team of federal, county and city law enforcement officers combined to intercept a shipment of illegal drugs from China and bound for Cheney. Acting Cheney Police Chief Wayne Fifield, along with Spokane County Sheriff William J. Reilly jointly announced the arrest of Robert James Benn and confiscated one-quarter pound of keif, a highly refined form of marijuana.

A new $79,000 driver training range located at Cheney High School was dedicated in time to host the nationally known Institute for Advanced Technology in Traffic Safety. The facility was equipped with 10 1971 automobiles that could be controlled by FM radio and one instructor, Eldon Engle.