Looking Back

10 Years Ago

July 10, 2008

The Cheney Planning Commission held a public hearing for a proposed 38-acre development subdivision on Betz Road, west of Murphy Road to be called Harvest Bluff.

Leslie Johnson opened a new antique mall in Cheney, called Cabin Fever Antiques at 208 First St. The former location was Rose of Sharon.

Medical Lake High School got a passing grade from the National Study of School Evaluation. The district finished a 14-month accreditation process all-regional schools have to complete every six years.

20 Years Ago

July 16, 1998

When Eastern Washington University students return to John F. Kennedy Library, they would find that order and quiet has been replaced by the maze of temporary wooden walls and sounds of hammering and drilling. After three years and $22.5 million, Eastern had a 21st century library – bathed in natural light and jammed packed with bells and whistles.

After 12 years of helping guide growth and development in Cheney, Steve Worthington stepped down from his post as director of the city’s community development department to take a similar job in Western Washington.

Cheney was about to become the center of the Washington state sports universe for a month. The Seattle Seahawks coaches and players arrived in town to begin the four-week summer training camp that was expected to draw more than 50,000 visitors to their EWU practice site.

30 Years Ago

July 14, 1988

The Cheney Planning Commission voted to approve a conditional use request that would allow Spokane County Fire District No. 3 to build a new headquarters building on Presley Drive just off State Route 904.

There would be plenty of attention focused on the U.S. Cycling Trials, which came to the greater Spokane area later in the month, and Cheney leaders were making sure the city represented itself well when cycling competition shifted to Cheney for a four-day run.

Tray Rederick was settling into her job as business/finance administrator for the Medical Lake School District, a newly created position.

40 Years Ago

July 13, 1978

The Spokane County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt a countywide District Court system that would eliminate small courts in Cheney, Millwood and Deer Park.

The Cheney Care Center Association was on the stretch run of its nearly three-year effort to raise enough money for a down payment on a $930,000 loan expected to be approved as a “firm” commitment by the U.S. Deptartment of Housing and Urban Development.

Medical Lake’s Town Council gave their approval for the park and recreation department to apply for a grant to make some improvements to Waterfront Park.

50 Years Ago

July 11, 1968

A Spokane man pled guilty in Cheney Police Court to a pair of traffic violations. He told the judge he had never had a driver’s license because he could not afford contact lenses and without the licenses he couldn’t see well enough to pass a driver’s exam.

The Federal Trade Commission and Department of Health, Education and Welfare recommended that cigarette advertising be required to include a statement that would read, “Cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health and may cause death from cancer.”