Looking Back

10 Years Ago

Dec. 3, 2003

The Cheney City Council reached a compromise as it worked to reform the parks and recreation program, opting not to fund a department head as some wished but rather a recreation coordinator, saving the city about $10,000 in salary.

Cheney city officials presented residents with a capital budget of $19 million, an amount that included necessary improvements to the wastewater treatment plant.

It was announced that Little League baseball was coming to the West Plains in 2004 as groups from Cheney and Medical Lake were combining efforts to establish the program.

20 Years Ago

Dec. 2, 1993

Washington State Department of Ecology personnel were warning Clear Lake residents about new dangers of pollution after tests showed higher than average nutrient levels.

Six months after six-year-old Aaron Harthcock was abducted by his mother while he rode his bike to his father’s home from kindergarten at Salnave Elementary School, Shirlynn Harthcock was charged with custodial interference. The mother took the boy to the island of Kauai where he was found and returned to his father David, in Cheney.

The Cheney City Council approved the 1994 budget of $4.1 million.

Following head coach Dick Zornes stepping down after 15 years on the job, assistant Mike Kramer was named as EWU’s newest football coach.

30 Years Ago

Dec. 1, 1983

Cheney City Council tabled the matter to their Dec. 27 meeting of whether or not to follow Spokane County and drop the sales tax rate from 7.8 to 7.3 percent.

An anonymous donor presented the Cheney Fire Department’s rescue unit with a defibrillator/monitor.

Cheney High School volleyball player, Laurie Hattemer, was named at the Frontier League’s most valuable player.

40 Years Ago

Nov. 29, 1973

Missing from our archives.

50 Years Ago

Nov. 29, 1963

Just like much of the rest of the nation, Cheney residents were in shock over the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Nov. 22. Streets became very empty, banks closed the following Monday and naturally, flags flew at half staff throughout the town. “It was just very sad. There aren’t many words to express my grief,” Mrs. Robert P. Anderson of Cheney said.

Two members of the Eastern Washington State College football team, Mike Hess and Doug Cox were chosen to the all-opponent team as selected by 10th ranked Evergreen Conference champion Central Washington.