Looking Back

10 Years Ago

Feb. 28, 2008

Bill Bresko, 80, of Medical Lake, snagged a prize for being the “Oldest Plunger” at the Polar Bear Plunge at Waterfront Park. Bresko was one of many who turned out for the Medical Lake Police Department’s second-annual fundraiser supporting Special Olympics of Washington.

The city of Cheney was taking steps to become a Tree City U.S.A. One of the requirements was to provide funding for planting and trimming of its trees.

Coming soon to Medical Lake’s fire department was a large-size delivery from Duvall, Wash.’s Fire District 45, a 1992 Seagrave TB50 Class A pumper fire engine. It seated six people and held up to 750 gallons of water.

20 Years Ago

March 5, 1998

Maj. Michael Anderson spent a day in the Cheney School District. He returned to his hometown for a day to tell his story about orbiting the Earth for more than a week aboard the space shuttle Endeavor.

Members of the Cheney Tillicum Club were plenty busy planning for the spring opening of the Cheney Historic Museum, which the organization operates.

The Cheney High School’s Science Olympiad team made state by coming in fifth at regional competition at Eastern Washington University.

30 Years Ago

March 4, 1988

It was entirely appropriate that a great day for Cheney was greeted by unseasonably warm temperatures. But it wasn’t the 60-degree weather that attracted hundreds of people to downtown; that honor went to the formal groundbreaking ceremony for the new library.

The president of four area institutions, including EWU, agreed to establish an Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute (SIRTI).

Jim VanMatre, assistant superintendent for the Medical Lake School District, accepted an offer to move into the district’s top job at the end of the school year.

40 Years Ago

March 2, 1978

Regardless of who won the American Federation of Teacher’s local chapter’s lawsuit against EWU board of trustees, an appeal to a higher court was likely.

Councilman John Ham resigned his post with the Medical Lake Town Council, due to a change of residence, which took him outside the city limits.

In spite of students’ protests, the EWU board of trustees recommended that athletic scholarships be given out of the students’ service and activity fees on the basis of ability, rather than financial need.

50 Years Ago

Feb. 29, 1968

Mayor Al Denton and Mr. Gunderson spent their day in Olympia presenting the plan for the Medical Lake Waterfront Park to the Intra Agency Commission of the Federal Bureau of Recreation.

Cheney’s oldest continuous business firm, Holmes Hometown Hardware, quit business and closed its doors. It was the latest version of the store, which went back more than 60 years.

The Medical Lake School Board accepted the resignation of Wesley Huff, who was the superintendent of schools for 14 years.