Looking Back

10 Years Ago

March 5, 2009

Cheney student Matt Cooper and the rest of his eight-piece ska band won a recording session in a local music competition. The session was set to take place a well-known Seattle recording studio.

The West Plains Chamber of Commerce moved to a new location along Interstate 90 due to the leaky roof and inefficient windows at its existing building, meant to improve visibility for prospective businesses.

A donor-supported “compassion fund” at Medical Lake Veterinary Clinic saved more than 30 stray cats in 2008, many of which were later adopted by clinic clients.

20 Years Ago

Feb. 18, 1999

The directors of the Medical Lake Chamber of Commerce prepared to disband the organization by disposing of its assets in the coming months.

Eastern Washington University expanded its annual Founder’s Day celebration from a one-day event to a three-day inauguration of Stephen M. Jordan as its new college president.

Four Medical Lake wrestlers headed to state, representing a young team composed of three juniors and one senior.

30 Years Ago

March 2, 1989

The February student elections at Eastern Washington University were declared “a total mess” amid charges of questionable campaign tactics and unethical interference by faculty members. The Associated Students of EWU decided to follow the recommendation of its election board and invalidated the election results, rescheduling a new vote for the following week.

Eastern Washington University’s School of Business was looking forward to having its probationary status lifted following concerns about the school’s insufficient doctoral coverage, scholarly output and faculty resources. With several of those issues addressed, university officials expected the school to be re-accredited by mid-April.

Ninth-grader Aamer Ikramuddin was selected as Cheney Junior High School’s “Student of the Month” for his high grade point average and conscientious demeanor.

40 Years Ago

March 1, 1979

The Antonian School in Cheney, which housed “severely emotionally disturbed” children, reported shaky finances and staff resignations when the facility was awarded fewer state funds than requested.

The Cheney Police Department recorded 138 animal complaints in the first 52 days of 1979 — a figure almost 2.5 times that of the same period in 1978.

The Cheney Free Press partnered with Chet’s Flowers for the annual “buttercup contest,” awarding $10 to the first person to walk through Free Press Publishing’s doors with a fresh, wild buttercup.

50 Years Ago

March 6, 1969

A warrant was issued for an Eastern Washington University tudent for making annoying, harassing, threatening or obscene phone calls.

The U.S. Office of Education awarded $74,007 in federal aid to the Cheney School District due to its location in a “federally impacted” area.

Several female Cheney High School students entered a sewing contest for high school girls sponsored by the Federation of Woman’s Clubs. Second and third prize were cash, while first prize was a new sewing machine.