Looking Back

10 Years Ago

Sept. 3, 2009

Cheney United Church of Christ held a “Blessing of the Animals” in which congregants could bring their pets to be blessed and share how their animals were a blessing in their lives. Rev. Debi Hasdorf blessed two cats, more than a dozen dogs and a parrot named Emma over the course of the day.

The agreement allowing Medical Lake to contract with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office for police services remained under review by the county. The contract would cost the city $650,000 per year, a savings of about $200,000.

A three-week Eastern Washington University food drive netted seven tons of food and more than $8,200 in cash thanks to the efforts and contributions of more than 300 people.

20 Years Ago

Aug. 26, 1999

More than 100 workers scrambled to complete a major expansion and renovation at Medical Lake High School before the start of school.

After 12 years of hoping, saving and seeking the funds, Medical Lake was finally able to send out bids for a new fire truck.

The contractor for the Lake Street water main project through the heart of Medical Lake ran into solid rock — rock that ultimately required an extension on the project. Blasting could not be done because the vibrations could loosen or sever the joints on the city’s water pipes; instead, workers had to resort to using a hydraulic hammer.

30 Years Ago

Aug. 31, 1989

The Cheney School District hired nine new teachers, including a new band director for the high school and junior high.

Opponents of a proposed waste-to-energy facility in Cheney announced that “the time of being nice is over,” deciding to formally request a reduction in their tax burden on the grounds that government action ruined the value of their property.

The Cheney Chamber of Commerce planned to construct and install an informational sign just inside the northern city limits. The sign was set to be 11 feet by 5 feet and cost $5, 600.

40 Years Ago

Aug. 27, 1979

Spokane County Fire District 3 firefighters suspected that four of the seven fires they put out in one day were started by a “fire bug” — a person driving through the district setting fires — and sought help from the community in identifying them.

Cheney won the American Automobile Association’s “Award of Merit” in the 40th annual pedestrian safety inventory.

According to local doctors, Washington hospitals were seeing “an epidemic” of wasp stings in adults and children.

50 Years Ago

Aug. 28, 1969

Two local residents were killed in an automobile-train accident at a railroad crossing.

Several Cheney businesses were undergoing remodeling, including the Cheney Newsstand.

Medical Lake planned a cystic fibrosis fundraiser to go from Sept. 10 – 19.