Looking Back

10 Years Ago

June 10, 2004

Former Washington State Patrol investigator Jeff Sale was selected to become the new police chief for the city of Cheney but would not assume those responsibilities until Nov. 30 when his current tour of duty with WSP concluded.

A ruptured gas main on Oakland Street near North Third, punctured when crews were digging to replace a water pipe, forced the evacuation of residents along a two-block area in Cheney.

Longtime Medical Lake football coach John Giannandrea announced he would retire after 24 seasons and 230 games at the school, compiling a 124-102-2 record.

20 Years Ago

June 9, 1994

Mike Hartman, manager of the Willow Springs Restaurant, hoped to bring back the Cheney community float that was last seen in area parades in 1987.

Ella Frost, 79, the former owner and publisher of the Cheney Free Press passed away recently. Frost worked at the paper starting in 1940 until she sold the publication to Jerry Jantz in 1970.

Cheney's American Legion baseball team scored 26 runs – evenly split in wins of 13-3 and 13-12 over Pasco in a nonleague doubleheader – led by the power hitting of Chris Abel, Lance Hattemer and Brian Maley who all hit home runs.

30 Years Ago

June 7, 1984

A group of 220 Cheney High School graduates got the message of "Our past is a wonderful one," from valedictorian Kari Harder who spoke at the 76th commencement at the school.

Clare Boothe Luce, the former U.S. Ambassador to Italy, member of Congress, journalist, author and playwright was selected to give the commencement address for 2,067 EWU undergrad and graduate students June 8 at the special events pavilion.

40 Years Ago

June 13, 1974

A standing-room-only crowd gathered in the International Amphitheater at Expo '74 for Cheney Festival Day to listen to entertainment provided by the Cheney Youngtimers and Cheney High School Ambassadors.

50 Years Ago

June 5, 1964

Cheney's new $150,000 public swimming pool was set to open Saturday, June 6, completing a project that began a year ago following voters approving by an overwhelming margin a bond issue to fund the project.

An overflow crowd of 1,100 attended graduation exercises for 83 graduates of Medical Lake High School recently. The largest class in school history heard valedictorian Donald Taylor speak.