Klinkenberg fighting childhood hunger

CHENEY – Chef L.J. Klinkenberg isn't your ordinary school district food director.

A long-time culinary veteran who's created certified culinary schools in the Midwest, produced food television on the Food Network and ran fine dining establishments, the 46-year-old left all that behind for a much simpler calling – feeding the children in his community.

Klinkenberg is the executive chef and director of the Cheney School District's food services. He started a program that allows more than 5,000 students to eat lunch for free.

In the month of October, the district served 54,668 lunches (2,733 dail...