Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 276
TYLER - A wind turbine corporation has been acquiring land leases across southern Spokane County from the Tyler area to Fairfield. Over the last five months, Cordelio Development Holdings LLC of Toronto, Canada, has acquired 20 leases across southern Spokane, northern Whitman and eastern Lincoln Counties. The purchases include parcels near Cheney, Fairfield, Latah, Waverly and Tyler, according to county records. Details of some of the purchased tracts have yet to be made...
CHENEY – A motorist is facing multiple charges following an April 4 pursuit and disposal of a firearm at a school. Jakob D. Petitto, 30, was arrested and booked into the Spokane County Jail on cahrges of attempting to elude, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, driving with a suspended license and being a fugitive from justice related to the out-of-state warrant. Petitto has five previous felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm, records s...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The Police Department has acquired multiple K9 units on behalf of the Washington State Department of Corrections. The acquisition, discussed April 18 at the Plains Safety Alliance meeting, marks an advancement in the department’s crisis response capabilities, officials said. “I want to highlight what makes this dog different,” co-responder Jenny Mandin said. “She’s there to be crisis response.” Unlike traditional German Shepherds commonly seen in law enforcement, crisis response dogs are selected and...
MEDICAL LAKE – During the April 16 City Council meeting, Finance Director Koss Ronhault presented a comprehensive budget report for the first quarter of the year. Ronhault provided insights into the financial report, emphasizing the meticulous process of reviewing financial statements and ensuring compliance. “We have controls in place, secondary reviews of journal entries, reconciliation procedures, a lot of practices that weren’t in place,” he said. Ronhault highlighted efforts to rectify deficiencies identified in the 2022...
CHENEY – City officials are calling the April 13 Medication Take Back Event a success. More than 70 pounds of unused, outdated medications were collected, officials said. The event proved to be a resounding success according to Jessica Deutsch, the Community Coalition Coordinator for Talk2HealthyChoices. The organization was among the participants, which also included local police, fire and other emergency responders. Hundreds of community members participated in the event, c...
CHENEY – Developments are underway at the Sigma Nu House on College Street at Eastern Washington University, as renovations kick off this weekend, including the installation of a brand-new roof. Supported by a strong network of over 600 alumni, the chapter recently launched a successful “Buy a Brick” campaign to raise funds for the remodeling and modernization of their fraternity house. These bricks, to be adorned along the front sidewalk, symbolize the enduring support and dedication of the chapter’s alumni communi...
CHENEY – Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge played host to a thriving Earth Day event April 20, drawing participants from across the region. The event ran from 9 a.m. to noon, and offered a range of activities aimed at conservation and environmental stewardship. Attendees banded together to engage in various tasks, including potting and planting native trees, removing restoration fencing and contributing to the development of a pollinator garden. One of the highlights of the da...
The No. 1 doubles team of Victoria Baycroft and Paige Lacey earned the lone win for Cheney in a Greater Spokane League tennis match loss to Ferris on April 18. The pair won 6-2, 6-2....
Cheney Blackhawk Miles Hoover dives into second base safely during a doubleheader against Ridgeline on April 19. Ridgeline swept the series, 6-2 in the opener and 12-9 in the nightcap. The Blackhaws (4-12, 3-11 in league) was scheduled to host Ferris on Tuesday night, then travel to Ferris on Thursday, April 25, before playing at North Central on Friday, April 26. Games start at 4 p.m....
CHENEY — Andy LaBolle, the owner of West Plains Roasters, made a generous gesture at the City Council meeting April 9 by presenting a donation totaling $18,500 to Cheney Cupboard. Expressing his fondness for the community, LaBolle shared, “My wife and I love Cheney.” He highlighted the support received from 53 sponsors, primarily local businesses spanning from Cheney and Airway Heights to Coeur d’Alene. The donation stemmed from a charity poker event hosted by West Plains Roasters on April 2 and 3, drawing in 65 attende...
CHENEY — The Cheney High School FFA club is gearing up for an evening of entertainment and community engagement as they host Bingo Night on Thursday, April 25. The 5 p.m. event aims to bring together students, families and community members for a fun-filled evening while supporting the club. Senior FFA membes Grace Klinkenberg, 18, and Lincoln Miller, 17, spoke about the efforts that have gone into making it a success. “We recently started an alumni group, to help donate to FFA,” Klinkenberg said. The idea stemmed from discu...
CHENEY — The Planning Commission met on Monday, April 8, to address the complexities surrounding construction and non-city-owned features in the right-of-way. City Administrator Mark Schuller led the presentation, highlighting the need for clarifying and simplifying regulations. Currently, these features are regulated under either a license or a permit, creating challenges for both applicants and city staff. “With five different chapters governing today, every project may have to obtain multiple permits for a scope of wor...
CHENEY – Brett Lucas took the lead at the Planning Commission Meeting on Monday, April 8, presenting the Capital Facilities Plan spanning 2024-29. The six-year plan aims to uphold the quality of life by identifying and addressing basic services over the next two decades, as mandated by the Growth Management Act. Lucas emphasized the significance of capital facilities, defining them as major, non-recurring expenditures with fixed assets costing $50,000 or more and possessing a useful life of at least 10 years. These f...
CHENEY — School District officials are expecting the growth in the student population to slow. During the April 10 School Board meeting, Finance Director Jamie Reed reported on the district’s financial status and enrollment trends. Reed noted that despite fluctuations in enrollment, the district is maintaining a consistent financial outlook. “We’re budgeting for flat enrollment,” Reed said, highlighting the stability amid shifting demographic patterns. A closer look at enrollment figures revealed that kindergarten and first...
The Valley Christian track team was among more than 20 that competed Saturday, April 13, at the Van Kuren Invitational in Cheney. The Panthers finished 23rd overall in boys standings and 26th in girls. The boys 4X100 Relay team of Jediah Kuhn, Kade Mariner, Jack Siderius and Trenton Lartz finished 13th in 49.17 seconds....
CHENEY – The School Board meeting April 10 featured a detailed analysis of the community response to a special election bond proposal. Jenna Larson took the stage to go over the survey findings. The bond proposal, which aimed to address infrastructure needs within the district, elicited community engagement, she said. With multiple modes of distribution, the proposal garnered responses from 395 individuals. Of the respondents, 161 voted to approve the bond, while 167 voted to reject it, she said. Additionally, 24 individuals...
SPOKANE VALLEY – Authorities are actively investigating an armed robbery that occurred at Crush Coffee on Sprague Avenue early in the morning of April 10. According to reports, employees of the coffee stand were confronted by a masked individual described as a white male wearing a dark hoodie. The suspect brandished a handgun and forcibly robbed the business, leaving the victims shaken and in shock. Deputies swiftly responded to the scene, while others combed the area in search of the perpetrator, who was last observed f...
SPOKANE VALLEY – A collision between a 2018 Dodge Ram 1500 and a 2017 Chevrolet Cruze on North Argonne Road resulted in the loss of one life and left another individual with serious injuries on April 12. Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies swiftly responded to the scene to conduct a thorough investigation. Eyewitness accounts and evidence collected at the site suggest that the Dodge Ram, driven by a man, was heading northbound, while the Chevrolet Cruze, operated by Amanda Fuller, 28, was traveling southbound on North Arg...
SPOKANE VALLEY – The City Council convened on April 16 to deliberate on significant infrastructure projects aimed at bolstering the city’s transportation network. Both an ordinance and an agreement with Yellowstone Pipe Line Company about relocating their pipeline on Pines Road were unanimously approved after brief deliberations. “In amending Yellowstone Pipe Line Company’s franchise, we’re taking a crucial step to accommodate the City’s Pines Road Grade Separation Project,” remarked Tony Beattie, Senior Deputy City Attorney...
SPOKANE VALLEY – In the early hours of April 10, 2024, a Spokane Valley Deputy noticed a figure dressed entirely in black, zipping through parking lots and streets on an electric scooter without a proper headlamp. What began as a routine attempt to address a safety concern quickly escalated into a chase and apprehension. Spotting the individual, later identified as 29-year-old Bradley J. Luiten, in the 9300 block of E. Montgomery, the Deputy activated his emergency lights to signal a stop. Despite the presence of the m...
A Valley Christian runner leads a Ridgeline competitor during the Van Kuren Invitational track meet Saturday, April 13, at Cheney High School....
SPOKANE VALLEY – Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies sprang into action on April 9, following an alert from Flock ALPR regarding a stolen vehicle reported missing the day prior. In the early hours of the morning, a Deputy spotted the reported stolen vehicle on E. Upriver Drive. Attempting to halt its progress, the Deputy activated emergency lights and siren as the vehicle approached N. Argonne Road. However, the suspect, later identified as 20-year-old James O. Dawson, disregarded the signals and accelerated, setting off a purs...
SPOKANE VALLEY – Two suspects, Shawn D. Cranford, 45, and Elissia M. York, 23, were apprehended on April 13 for their involvement in an armed robbery and auto theft at a parking lot on East Indiana Avenue at North Evergreen Road. Spokane Valley Deputies responded to the scene following a report from the female owner of a stolen black Chevrolet Tahoe and a male victim. They recounted arriving from Montana and leaving a nearby store when the incident occurred. The female victim was arranging items in the hatchback when the v...
SPOKANE – As spring blooms across the Inland Northwest, garden enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the annual gardening expo hosted by Inland Empire Gardeners. Scheduled for May 11, and located at Spokane Community College, this year’s event promises to be a celebration of all things green under the theme “Happy Everything!” Founded in 1994, Inland Empire Gardeners has become a large part of the local gardening community, offering a platform for garden nurseries, specialty products, local craftspeople, and horticulture service...
SPOKANE VALLEY – Spokane Valley deputies swiftly responded to a burglary in progress at the Spokane Valley Partners building, leading to the successful apprehension of a male suspect. The apprehended individual was identified as 42-year-old Justin W. Ingebritson, who exhibited signs of agitation upon discovery. This arrest comes in the wake of a previous burglary incident at the same nonprofit organization, suggesting a potential pattern of criminal behavior. The incident unfolded on April 16 around 3:00 am, when a...
