Looking Back

10 Years Ago

Nov. 27, 2008

The Airway Heights City Council was updated on the first phase of the city’s $4.45 million water reclamation facility.

Career criminal Eddie Ray Hall was once again on the loose and headed for Spokane County. The Cheney Free Press estimated at the time that more than $1 million in taxpayer dollars were spent to arrest, try, convict and confine Hall over the span of 25 years.

Eastern Washington University claimed the Big Sky volleyball title after a drawn-out match against Sacramento State.

20 Years Ago

Nov. 26, 1998

A proposed parking tax aimed at Eastern Washington University students was rejected as Cheney officials sought to fund future projects after spending more than $270,000 to fund the SR-904 corridor. .

Construction on the wastewater treatment facility in Medical Lake continued briskly due to good weather.

The city of Medical Lake purchased an automatic external defibrillator with grant money from the state Department of Health.

30 Years Ago

Dec. 1, 1988

A team of city employees spent the day going up and down First Street in Cheney putting up giant Christmas decorations.

The process to demolish the old library building in Cheney got underway when no one stepped forward to purchase it. Located on First Street, the library was on the city’s list of “dangerous” buildings due to structural deficiencies.

Eastern Washington University criminology professor Robert Morgenstern created a computer program to help witnesses of crimes create a computer-generated composite sketch of suspects.

40 Years Ago

Nov. 16, 1978

The Medical Lake Girl Scouts planned a two-week tour of Mexico.

Medical Lake city employees challenged school district teachers to a game of “freezeball,” flag football played in the snow in less than 18 degrees.

The annual Eastern Washington University Turkey Shoot was held at the Cadet Hall Rifle Range. Winners stood to earn 10-12 pound turkeys. The event was open to the public and cost only 50 cents per try.

50 Years Ago

Nov. 28, 1968

The 14th annual Convention of Washington Wheat Growers was held in Spokane. Event officials said they expected “more than 500 wheat growers and their wives” to attend.

The Cheney Boy Scouts began their annual Christmas tree sale in the Gibson’s Thrift Store parking lot, selling about 700 of what their Scout Leader called “choice trees.”

Cheney celebrated its fifth “Eastern Days,” a Christmas elebration for Eastern Washington State College students, faculty and families.