Looking Back

10 Years Ago

July 5, 2007

Cheney firefighters and EMT personnel had to help an unlucky driver after their vehicle left the road and struck a light pole, toppling it, near the stoplight at the intersection of State Route 904 and Betz Road.

A State Farm Insurance grant helped the Cheney Fire Department buy four new adult CPR mannequins and four infant mannequins for teaching life-saving techniques.

The West Plains All-Star Little League teams were hitting the fields in Cheney and Medical Lake for their upcoming tournaments.

20 Years Ago

July 10, 1997

Medical Lake City Council voted to approve the six-year transportation improvement plan at its regular meeting.

After an 11-year absence from Cheney city politics, former mayor Tom Trulove confirmed rumors that he would seek another term as mayor.

Athletes from Eastern Washington University and North Idaho vied for top-five positions at the Inland Northwest Track and Field Championships, held at EWU’s Woodward Stadium, earning them a berth in the upcoming Region XII Junior Olympics to be held in Eugene, Ore.

30 Years Ago

July 9, 1987

The Cheney/Medical Lake Rotary Club broke new ground, installing Jane Kavanaugh as the group’s newest member. What makes it “new” is that Kavanaugh is the first female to join the ranks of the local club.

According to official figures received by City Hall, Cheney’s population was at 7,640, which was an increase of 10 people from the previous year.

Incidents within Cheney schools hurt the district and its taxpayers to the tune of more than $7,600 during the year. Annual crime/vandalism reports showed the biggest portion of total expense stemmed from an unsolved theft of computer equipment from the middle school, resulting in a loss of $5,000.

40 Years Ago

July 7, 1977

The city of Cheney used federal education funds to begin an energy conservation and solid waste management plan. Cheney was the only small city in Washington that rejected Washington Public Power Supply System’s proposal to provide nuclear/coal-generated electricity and planned to use the grant to pursue alternatives. Major objectives include creating an efficient energy conservation and recycling program for the city.

A new “cook house” was being built at the Cheney Rodeo Grounds in preparation for the annual rodeo. The building was built completely by volunteer labor and replaces a smaller facility used in the past.

Thirty offices would open for election on the West Plains, including mayor’s posts in Cheney, Medical Lake and Airway Heights. At the time, Gerald Blakely, Fritz Gilbreth and Lorrain Horton were serving.

50 Years Ago

July 6, 1967

The possibility of Cheney’s City Park being sold for a medical center stirred considerable opposition, especially from the Tilicum Club, whose story was intertwined with that of the park. The City Park was in the center of Cheney. Northern Pacific railroad and the city set the aside land 65 years prior, with the intention that it would always be a park.

Albert Betz, 95, the last of the five Betz brothers passed away. He arrived in Cheney with his homesteading family in 1882.