Looking Back

10 Years Ago

Jan. 21, 2010

Cheney School District banked on future enrollment growth and a promise of no new taxes to convince voters to pass a $79 million capital bond. Taxes would actually go down due to the expiration of another levy.

A $2.6 million budget gap had Gov. Christine Gregoire threatening to close Pine Lodge Correctional Center for Women, despite a bill passed by the Legislature that specifically stated no closures were to occur unless specified in a final facility closures report.

20 Years Ago

Jan. 20, 2000

Larceny was to blame for an 8 percent year-over-year increase in crime in Cheney, according to Police Chief Greg Lopes. Arrests were up as well.

The city of Cheney benefited from inmate labor through a labor agreement with the Geiger Correctional Facility that provided for 17,000 of labor. In return, the city paid Geiger a dollar for every hour inmates worked.

30 Years Ago

Jan. 25, 1990

The Medical Lake City Council defeated by a 4-2 margin a proposed comprehensive plan amendment, known as the Graham Road annexation. Councilman Dave Seagrave cited a lack of plans and strong opposition from constituents for his decision to vote against the change.

Following local and national trends, the city of Cheney adopted recommendations related to future wastewater disposal that included a ban on phosphates, a water-contaminating chemical commonly found in powder laundry detergents. Spokane and Coeur d’Alene had already done so, and Spokane County was also considering a similar ban.

40 Years Ago

Jan. 24, 1980

President Jimmy Carter gave his approval for construction of the 1,500-mile Northern Tier Pipeline project by the Trans Mountain Oil Pipe Line Corp. The pipeline would extend from Low Point, Wash. to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Spokane County cattlemen were urged to vote for a nationwide Beef Research and Information program, also known as a "beeferendum," a cattle industry effort to win approval of a uniform collection plan that would promote beef research, consumer information, promotion and foreign market development.

A boneless beef chuck roast sold for $1.89 per pound, an 18-ounce jar of Skippy peanut butter for $1.19.