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  • Blackhawk boys edge Ferris in track and field

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated May 13, 2021

    CHENEY – The Blackhawks boys and girls track and field teams wrapped up their first regular season in the Greater Spokane League at Ferris High School in Spokane last Thursday. The boys downed the host Saxons 76-69 while the girls just missed an upset, losing 80-70. The boys won eight of 10 events on the track, including 1-2 finishes in five of them. Senior Ryan Rieckmann won both the 100 and 200-meter dashes with times of 11:36 seconds and 22.96 while junior Braxton Hinton was right behind in second with times of 11.83 a...

  • Law enforcement, bias and racial justice

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated May 13, 2021

    SPOKANE — Bias and racial justice, especially when these become intermixed with law enforcement, are two of many hot button issues of our times — topics that require more than just one setting to adequately discuss. To that extent, the People for Effective Government (PEG) are providing two community forums addressing both — with the first through insights provided by a pair of experts and the other through discussion from a community panel of individuals dealing directly with each topic. “It is an understatement to say that...

  • Sixth District legislators lead missed votes list

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated May 13, 2021

    Family matters, illnesses led to Holy, Volz missing Senate and House roll calls By JOHN McCALLUM Managing Editor CHENEY — Our world is made up of lists, and of all those lists, probably one of the ones you would prefer not to be on is one compiled by WashigntonVotes.com — especially if you’re an elected official. Nevertheless, two 6th District state legislators are atop the website’s annual “Missed Votes Report” for the recently concluded 105-day legislative session. Sixth District Sen. Jeff Holy (R-Cheney) leads the way in...

  • Former EWU president Mary Cullinan dies

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated May 7, 2021

    CHENEY - Eastern Washington University officials announced on Monday, May 3, that the university's 26th president and first woman to serve in the position Dr. Mary Cullinan had passed away at age 72. Details of her passing have not been disclosed, and the family has asked for privacy. The news was a heavy blow to many in the campus, Cheney and Spokane region. "I have some sad news to share with you. I have recently learned of he passing of Dr. Mary Cullinan," May wrote in an... Full story

  • We've got your back

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated May 7, 2021

    CHENEY — City Council members hope they have sent a strong message to Eastern Washington University interim president David May and the Board of Trustees that when it comes to the pending decision on the status of athletics, the council is 100 % in support of remaining in Division 1 and the Big Sky Conference. So much so that at least on council member wished to confirm the vote tally of resolution E-911 at the April 27 meeting. “Can I confirm that was unanimous so we can say that it was a unanimous decision?” Councilwoman Te...

  • Blackhawks softball on four-game skid

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated May 6, 2021

    CHENEY – After winning their first four games, the Blackhawks softball team has done the reverse – lost their last four games in this year’s shortened Greater Spokane League season. The three latest setbacks came last week, a 9-4 loss at home to Central Valley April 27, then a pair of losses to Gonzaga Prep, 7-2 at home April 29 and 1-0 on the road the following day. The latter may have been the toughest as the Bullpups and Blackhawks engaged in an old-fashioned pitcher’s duel, with Cheney’s Isabella King giving up no runs w...

  • Blackhawks earn close wins over University

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated May 6, 2021

    CHENEY – On paper, last Saturday’s track and field matchup between the Blackhawks and visiting University Titans boys was a 72-all tie. That’s on paper. On the track and in the field, a tie is settled with places. “A couple no heights (by Cheney) in high jump and pole vault gave them enough to tie,” head coach Derek Slaughter said. “But it is broken by fourth-places and we have more of those. So we win by tie breaker.” The girls meet was much more straightforward, with the Blackhawks earning their first win of the season by...

  • Blackhawk boys battle on the courts against larger teams

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated May 6, 2021

    CHENEY – The Blackhawks boys tennis team is still looking for some success in its first season in the Greater Spokane League 3A/4A classification. First-year head coach Dan Estock attributes part of that to the size of Cheney’s team. “We have six boys total and going up against teams that have 3-6 times that in numbers,” he said. “We have yet to win a contest, but they are continuing to battle and improve.” The Blackhawks missed entering the win column in three matches last week, losing by 7-0 scores to Central Valley, Mea...

  • Cheney soccer upsets Mead for second GSL win

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated May 6, 2021

    CHENEY — The Blackhawks soccer team returned to the win column, notching a victory over visiting Mead on Monday, May 3. The baseball team is still searching for that elusive break, losing three games including two to Greater Spokane League leading Gonzaga Prep. Baseball The good news for Cheney is it managed to score against the Bullpups. The Blackhawks Jamel Taudin-Chabot had two hits, including a double as Cheney three runs on eight hits in the 13-3 loss on April 30 at G-Prep on April 30. At home on April 29, the B...

  • Well 6 to remain offline into summer

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated May 6, 2021

    CHENEY — Uncertainty over how best to repair a downed pump could leave the city without the use of one of its main reserve irrigation wells at a key point in time as the weather begins to warm and an unusually dry spring continues. At its April 27 meeting, the City Council deferred a decision on a nearly $29,538 change order to a contract with Specialty Pump of Spokane to replace the existing pump and motor at the city’s Well 6, which is located just off State Route 904 towards Tyler. The city had originally entered into a s...

  • Covid outbreak moves Cheney High to Level 2

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated May 6, 2021

    CHENEY -- An increase in positive COVID-19 cases has led to school district officials moving Cheney High School into a "level 2" status beginning today, May 3. While the school remains open, additional testing and quarantine measures will be required under certain circumstances and when there are additional cases within a two-week period. All other schools in the district remain at "level 1" status and will continue to operate as they have in recent weeks, Superintendent Rob Roettger said in an email to the community. All... Full story

  • Former EWU president Mary Cullinan passes away

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated May 3, 2021

    CHENEY -- Former Eastern Washington University President Dr. Mary Cullinan has passed away. Interim President David May made the announcement in an email to the university community today, May 3. "I have some sad news to share with you. I recently learned of the passing of Dr. Mary Cullinan," May's email read. "I don’t have any details to share, but it is a shock. It is the wishes of her family that no one reach out to them at this time, and the university will be r... Full story

  • A compromise better than nothing

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Apr 29, 2021

    WEST PLAINS — It may not be everything, but at least it’s something. That’s likely how area municipal and agency officials feel about the compromise $6.3 billion capital budget agreement passed April 23 by the House and Senate and now awaiting Gov. Jay Inslee’s signature. The budget includes $14.955 million in funding for the city of Airway Height’s proposed water well, and $11.05 million for the city of Cheney’s proposed water reclamation “Purple Pipe” project. While not as much as the House’s $16.05 million for Airwa...

  • Blackhawks drop meets at Mt. Spokane

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Apr 29, 2021

    MEAD – The Blackhawks boys continue to show competitive form, albeit in a losing cause last Saturday at Mt. Spokane. Cheney lost a close meet, 75.5 – 64.5, to the Wildcats, with the girls falling 108-42. Ryan Rieckmann was pretty much “Mr. Everything” for the boys. The senior set a new personal record of 191 feet to win the javelin by a mile — actually 24 feet, 8 inches over Mt. Spokane’s Tyson Degenhart — and elevate him into second in the state overall in the event. Rieckmann also won the 200-meter dash with a time of 23....

  • Council authorizes search for cheaper power

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Apr 29, 2021

    CHENEY — The best time to buy is when the price is right, and Cheney’s Light Department believes that time is right now. Or more specifically April 16 — the date department Director Steve Marx told City Council at its April 13 meeting he was looking at to make a purchase of Tier 2 power for the city. Tier 2 power is energy purchased in addition to the city’s regular supply from the Bonneville Power Administration and is usually power produced by other utilities or energy companies and marketed through agreements with Northwes...

  • Blackhawk boys edge Bullpups in track and field action

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Apr 22, 2021

    CHENEY — Blackhawks track and field head coach Derek Slaughter has always had confidence in the skills and abilities of his athletes and has never expressed apprehension about facing teams from larger schools. That includes Cheney’s first foray in its return to the Greater Spokane League as a 3A school. That took place April 16, with the Blackhawk boys edging 4A Gonzaga Prep 73-71 in action at Tom Oswald Field. While losing 94.5 – 46.5 to the Bullpups, Cheney’s young girls team was competitive despite missing a number...

  • Blackhawks cross country ends season at GSL championships

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Apr 22, 2021

    SPOKANE VALLEY – Cheney High School’s men’s and women’s cross country teams wrapped up their first year as a 3A member of the revamped 4A/3A/2A Greater Spokane League with the Culminating Varsity Championships April 3 at Central Valley High School. The Blackhawk men finished seventh overall out of eight schools in 4A/3A with 172 points while the women were sixth out of eight with 156 points. Sophomore Samantha Habegger led Cheney with a 19th-place finish in 20 minutes, 50.60 seconds on the 5,000-meter course. Senior Marion...

  • Blackhawks dive into spring sports action

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Apr 22, 2021

    CHENEY — No sooner has one sports season ended than a second has begun as Blackhawks traditional spring sports teams swung into action last week. Baseball The Blackhawks (0-2) are looking for their first win in their return to the Greater Spokane League as a 3A school — but then they haven’t played at home yet either, as of press time, April 20. Cheney dropped its first two games of the season, 10-7 at Ferris, April 15 and 9-3 at Lewis and Clark, April 16. Isaac Nesbitt led Ch...

  • Parks Board reschedules April meeting

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Apr 22, 2021

    Cheney — A lack of a quorum at the April 14 meeting has led to the Park Board calling a special meeting on May 12. In an email, Recreation Director Kelly McGinley Ashe said the meeting was canceled due to several members not being able to attend. The board is also looking for two new members to serve, a topic to be discussed at the May 12 meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. via Zoom. Also at the meeting will be presentation of information on possible park mitigation fees for a dog park, field use fees, the summer programs b...

  • Commission moves bonus density forward

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Apr 22, 2021

    CHENEY — Planning Commission members unanimously approved a motion on April 12 directing city staff to bring back an ordinance at the commission’s June meeting that would modify development densities and the number of units allowed in certain circumstances in R-3/multifamily zones. The proposed ordinance would allow developers to build three units on lot sizes of 5,000 square feet if those units were one-bedroom/one-bathroom units only. Currently, developers are only allowed 14 units per acre, but the proposal presented to...

  • Watching you, watching me

    John McCallum|Updated Apr 22, 2021

    A female moose takes a break from grazing last Friday evening near the end of the auto loop at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. With warming temperatures, more and more animals are beginning to come out at the Refuge....

  • Small wildland fires break out in and near Cheney

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Apr 22, 2021

    CHENEY — Area firefighters were kept buys last weekend by a pair of small wildfires that broke out Saturday and Sunday. The first took place early Saturday afternoon, April 17, when Cheney Fire Department crews responded to a small fire on the 100 block of Terra Vista Lane near Cheney-Plaza Road. Crews were able to knock the fire down quickly, containing it to low-lying brush. No other details were available at press time. Public safety officials haven’t determined a cause of the fire, but suspect a group of juveniles spo...

  • Bang for the public safety buck

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Apr 22, 2021

    CHENEY — City staff will be putting out a request for quotes from consultants to conduct an evaluation of Cheney’s public safety agencies — an evaluation that includes organizational structure, equipment and whether or not proper funding mechanisms are in place to support maintenance of police and fire services. At the City Council’s April 13 meeting, City Administrator Mark Schuller presented an outline of what such a request would look like and what the city hoped to learn. The evaluation, which was discussed and approve...

  • Eastern Washington names presidential search committee

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Apr 22, 2021

    CHENEY — Eastern Washington University’s search for its next president has officially begun. At a special meeting on Monday, April 19, the university’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the formation of an 18-member Presidential Search Advisory Committee (PSAC) that will review candidate application materials and provide input to the board on the strengths and weaknesses of candidates meeting the job qualifications. The board also authorized the issuing of a reque...

  • Two arrested in Grove shooting

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Apr 15, 2021

    CHENEY — Two Spokane residents have been arrested after they were involved in a drive-by shooting incident at The Grove apartment complex last Wednesday evening. According to police, officers responded to a report of shots at the complex at just after midnight April 7. According to witnesses, a male and female suspect later identified as 24-year-old Damian C. Dunigan and 21-year-old Alisa R. Boston were together at a small party in one of the units but were asked to leave. After leaving, Dunigan stood in the parking lot o...

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