Looking Back

10 Years Ago

May 1, 2008

The first week of fishing season took place at West Medical Lake, drawing early morning anglers. State Department of Fish and Wildlife reported slightly lower catch rates for the opener.

The city of Spokane planned to construct a 36-inch water transmission main at Craig Road and State Highway 902. This was to provide water to service areas as far as Fairchild Air Force Base's east gate, with requests from city officials of both Medical Lake and Four Lakes to install water interties at the location.

Two blue spruce trees found a new home at Medical Lake Cemetery, courtesy of Avista Utilities.

20 Years Ago

May 7, 1998

Due to growth in the area, PTI Communications announced that there would be a new telephone prefix available for the Cheney area. The new number, 559, would be assigned to future customers only and nobody's current phone number changed.

After 28 years of hauling garbage around Cheney and the West Plains, Jack Kile came home with some award hardware. Kile, who worked for Western Refuse, was named the National Small Company Residential Garbage Truck Driver of the Year by Waste Age magazine.

The Medical Lake Cardinals soccer team won 3-1 over Chewelah, giving the Cardinals the No. 3 spot just before the playoffs.

30 Years Ago

May 5, 1988

Enrollment figures for the Cheney School District, which offered a bit of much-needed optimism a few months back, took a noticeable turn for the worse. The school year began with a total of enrollment of 3,205, but the figure slipped to 3,146.

EWU President Alexander Schilt offered university trustees a detailed report on Eastern's role in the recently approved Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute.

The process of coming up with Cheney's 1988 Junior Miss came to a conclusion, as Jonna Uibel was the judges' selection. Carrie Richey and Katrina Hanke were picked as princesses.

40 Years Ago

May 4, 1978

The Cheney City Council opted to sell $75,000 in federal obligation bonds for the renovation of the Wren Pierson Building and development of a recycling center at that site.

The fate of the Cheney School District's special levy request was in the hands of 11 absentee ballots.

The EWU baseball team routed College of Southern Oregon 29-6 to claim the Evergreen Conference championship.

50 Years Ago

May 3, 1968

Cheney gained 344 people during 1967 according to tentative census figures presented by city clerk Roy Foss. Census takers this year accounted 4,800 people.

"Shibui," a 40-foot float built by the people of Medical Lake, won the Community Division sweepstakes at the Apple Blossom Parade in Wenatchee.