Looking Back

10 years ago

December 29, 2011

2011 was big year for building in Cheney

A train derailed on the Eastern Washington Gateway Railroad track, spilling up to 700 gallons of diesel fuel just south of the track's intersection with Cheney-spokane Road in Cheney Dec. 29. Railroad investigations later revealed a train operator failed to prepare the locomotive for switching tracks. The spill was cleaned up and the Department of Ecology said it did not leak into ground water. Youth involved the Civil Air Patrol and Naval Sea Cadet Corps participated in winter survival training at Camp Comia, located just north of Cheney.

The kids learned to build shelters, cook food and stay safe in the elements. A group called the Prosser Hill Neighborhood Coalition appealed a county decision to approve a private airstrip proposed by property owner Denny Reed less than two miles northeast of Cheney. The issue was set to be decided in Spokane County Superior Court. At it's first meeting of the year, the Cheney Planning Commission discussed the possibility of hiring a hearing examiner to decide quasi-judicial land use issues for the city.

Cheney mother-son duo to compete at world championships

Cheney will have some representation at a world championship competition coming up this January in France. Cheney High School foreign language teacher Kathy Brainard and her 17-year old son, Robbie Cook will be traveling as members of U.S. national teams to Nantes, France to compete in the International Table Soccer Federation combined World Championships and World Cup Tournaments, Jan. 5-8.

According to a press release from the U. S. Table Soccer Federation, some 500 of the world's most elite table soccer players from up to 40 countries will be competing in the culminating event of the year long, 50 tournament World Pro Tour. Cook joins the four member USA National Junior Team along with Tyler Stewart of Utah Paul Smith of St. Louis, Mo. And Clint Hill, Jr. Of North Carolina, all 18 or under. The team will be competing against teams from 12 countries including Germany, France, Austria, Denmark, and Iran.

20 years ago

December 26, 1996

Library work on budget and on time for mid-Feb. Reopening

Those extra windows in the new library addition couldn't be any more welcome as things just keep looking brighter for the county library. "There haven't been any surprises we haven't been able to handle," said Ellen Miller, North Regional Manager for the Spokane County Library District.

The multi-million dollar expansion project currently underway at Cheney's branch will allow the library to have more references, books, and everything else that goes along with a library-as well as allowing it to serve as the regional library for the West Plains. The money for the expansion came from a bond issue passed a year ago. And so far, the cost of the remodel and expansion has been right on track, Miller said. "We just went into it with our eyes open," she said. That, combined with an excellent team of planners, managers and contractors, have made everything go so well. As passers-by can see, the outside walls are up and the addition has a roof over its head as the snow continues to fall.

Experience follows new director

You could say she has given her life to helping other people. In fact, when this veteran of the social work industry landed back in Cheney after 13 years, she had traveled the world in order to help people-that's just how she is. So it just seemed right that Carol Beason take over the role of director of Cheney Outreach after Mike Sawicki left the end of November. "I think whenever you come into a new agency, you have to step back and see how things are working," Beason said.

That's what she has been doing-watching and learning, but now it's time for her to put a little of her style into the Outreach. With plans of increasing public education, volunteers and publicity, Beason said she would like to see the Outreach come up with more funding to help more people. When Cheney Outreach began in 1990, 173 families were helped with everything from electrical payments to bus passes. This year, through the end of November, Cheney Outreach has helped 1,097 families-totaling 2,1010 individuals.

December 30, 1971

Prekeges Resigns from Park Board

Expressed opposition to the City Council's budgetary treatment of the Park Board and the city's budgeted use of fees paid by participants in park and recreation activities for purposes other than recreation have led to the resignation of D.P. Jim Prekeges from the Cheney Park Board. Prekeges, who is also on the Cheney School District Board of Directors and an avid worker with youngsters in the community, made his resignation known through a letter addressed to Mayor George Fisher and read at Tuesday's City Council meeting. At the meeting, councilmen approved the 1972 operating budget. In that budget, Prekeges noted, there was an estimate of $2,300 revenue gained through fees paid by activities participants but the budget showed only $2000 of that amount allocated for support of those activities. He also was disturbed about other budget discrepancies. During the meeting, Prekeges saw opportunity to criticize the city council for not allowing a Parks and Recreation Director to manage a $100,000 budget. The $9,600 annual salary investment would more than cover the penalties the city is paying for delayed applications on such things as the Salnave Park matching funds postponed a year ago because of a lack of a complete application which cost the city about $15,000 in addition to stalling the park development, he said.

Beehive Closing Effective Jan. 1

Effective January, 1, 1972, the Beehive Restaurant in Cheney will be under new management, it has been announced by W. L. (Bill) Kidd, president of Beehive Inc. Kidd, the owner of the restaurant at the corner of First and "G" streets in Cheney until the first of the year, said the business has been sold to Mrs. Catherine Campdore of Spokane. The widow woman with children will live in an apartment above the restaurant. The restaurant, which hosts Tuesday luncheon meetings of the Cheney Rotary Club, will continue to be managed by Dennis Sierts, who managed the facility under Kidd. The restaurant also features the Honeycomb Room and the Queen Room. Kidd will move to Spokane and could possibly open another business in the Cheney area, he said.