Looking Back

10 Years Ago

Sept. 11, 2008

The Airway Heights Wal-Mart caught backlash from the community after it was revealed that they were selling merchandise featuring local high school logos without returning any profit to the schools.

The Cheney City Council approved more than $16,000 in extra costs incurred while remodeling City Hall.

A Medical Lake family trained dogs — mostly border collies and other herding breeds — for a flyball tournament.

20 Years Ago

Sept. 10, 1998

The idea of televised Cheney and Medical Lake City Council meetings was halted after officials ran into some technical difficulties.

BF Goodrich Aerospace broke ground on a carbon processing plan in the West Plains on Westbow Lane.

The Cheney School District installed a security system at Sunset Elementary in Airway Heights to thwart recent instances of property damage, vandalism and burglary.

30 Years Ago

Sept. 8, 1988

The first-ever D.A.R.E. golf tournament was planned to take place on Sept. 17 at the Fairways Golf Course.

Eastern Washington University began offering a new bachelor’s of science degree in medical engineering technology.

A Medical Lake man filed a $750,000 lawsuit against the city, claiming his back was injured when he was removed from a bar by police after refusing to leave.

40 Years Ago

Sept .7, 1978

A report by the Cheney Free Press found that 16 inmates had escaped from the Pine Lodge Correctional Center since its opening in spring of 1978. Of those 16 escapees, nine had been captured or turned themselves in and seven were still at large.

A $52,800 grant was given to Eastern Washington University’s Social Work and Human Services Department for an experimental graduate program meant to better mental health services in non-urban areas.

Medical Lake volleyball coach Trudy Weston said that this year she would be focusing on fundamentals and developing her team.

50 Years Ago

Sept. 5, 1968

The wheat harvest in the West Plains hit a 15-year low after an unusually rain, cold August.

Cheney School District enrollment increased by 115 students for the 1968-1969 school year, reaching 2,417 students.

Pastor James Sims spoke at a local church. This was notable given the recent civil rights movement and the fact that Sims, a black man, spoke at a predominantly white church.