Looking Back

10 Years Ago

Sept. 4, 2003

The effort to bring a parks department back to Cheney will require both volunteers, and volunteers’ money, interested residents were told by members of the citizens group Save Parks and Recreation. SPAR was pushing a ballot measure on the issue.

Work was scheduled to begin on a SR 904 that included new striping and installation of rumble strips on both the shoulder and centerline. The work had a 20-day window and would be complete by the time school started at Eastern Washington University.

Pathways to Progress, a local organization designed to promote business in the area, was pushing the idea of developing Cheney’s close proximity to the unique channeled scablands as a tourism draw.

Long-time assistant coach April Arland was selected to be the head coach of the Cheney’s girls’ basketball team, replacing Marty Jessett, who left to take a boys’ coaching position at Spokane Valley’s University High.

20 Years Ago

Sept. 2, 1993

The Cheney School Board voted to approve a $38.9 million budget for the 1993-94 school year.

Cheney’s five water wells “have been doing their best to keep pumping year after year,” but there is still the need for additional supply the city’s Public Works Director, Paul Schmidt said.

A project by the city to light Woodward Field for night play was slightly behind schedule according to a memo from Cheney High athletic director Joe Richer. The project would be complete by Sept. 24 when Cheney played its first night game.

The 44th change in command in the history of the 92nd Bomb Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base took place this week as Col. William C. Brooks took over for departing Gen. James Richards who was reassigned to duty in Washington, D.C.

The Cheney Blackhawks were preparing for the Frontier League football season by hosting a four-team jamboree featuring Greater Spokane League teams Shadle Park and Lewis and Clark, as well as league opponent East Valley.

30 Years Ago

Sept. 1, 1983

The city of Spokane was looking to extend a new sewer/water line further into the West Plains following completion of the lines to Spokane International Airport.

Cheney was one of five communities statewide that the Farm Home Administration chose for construction of low income housing.

West Plains residents were voicing their concerns about increased traffic flow through a narrow former railroad underpass on Thorpe Road which was a result of a newly installed sewer/water line.

Cheney teachers had indicated they might not return to work Sept. 1 without a contract settlement, Nancy Arlington, the spokesperson for the Cheney Education Association said.

A successful spaghetti feed and dance helped raise over $6,000 needed to send the Bill’s Tavern softball team to a national tournament in Green Bay, Wis.

40 Years Ago

Aug. 31, 1973

Missing from our archives.

50 Years Ago

Aug. 30, 1963

Cheney Lanes changed ownership as Art and Jim Dyck, owners of Dyck Brothers Cheney Bowl, purchased the competing facility. “We have not yet decided what use will be made of the Cheney Lanes but it will not be operated as a bowling alley,” the brothers said.

While Virgil Huber was away from his service station for about 10 minutes earlier in the week, thieves made off with two batteries, a trouble light, two cans of oil additive and a carton of cigarettes.

Five new teachers were hired for the first day of school in 1963 in the Cheney School District. This compared to 20 new hires the previous year.

Cheney’s Richard Hagelin set a new meet record at a Pasco AAU meet, beating the old mark in the breaststoke for boy’s 15-17 age group by three minutes, 11.1 seconds. Hagelin was competing with the Eastern Washington Recreation Association team in the two-day meet.