Articles from the April 25, 2019 edition


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  • A dream now becoming reality

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Apr 25, 2019

    What started as a desperate dream of salvation over five years ago is fast approaching a reality for Cheney residents and others seeking to preserve the former Northern Pacific Railroad depot. In an April 18 interview, new Cheney Depot Society president John Taves said the pieces necessary for moving the 92-year-old train station are beginning to fall into place. Those include overtures from the building’s current owner, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, that if completed, could l...

  • LOOKING BACK WITH THE CHENEY HISTORICAL MUSEUM

    Updated Apr 25, 2019

    Twenty-five years ago in 1994, a new chapter, IQ, of the PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization) was organized, 75 years after the original chapter was established in Cheney. This year, PEO chapters celebrate their 100th anniversary.Learn more about our area’s history at www.cheneymuseum.org....

  • 'Savannah Sipping Society' opens on Friday April 26

    Updated Apr 25, 2019

    It’s opening weekend of StageWest Community Theatre’s “The Savannah Sipping Society,” written by Jessie James, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten and the ladies from Savannah are waiting Happy Hour just for you. Come see how many mischievous things these ladies get themselves into and the fun, companionship and love they find. Opening night is Friday at 7 p.m. followed by performances on Saturday at 7 p.m. and again on Sunday at 3 p.m. All performances will be held at 639 Elm St. in Cheney, enter to the lower level at the ent...

  • West Plains Briefs

    Updated Apr 25, 2019

    ML Dollars for Scholars yard sale approaches Great things are coming your way! The annual Medical Lake Dollars for Scholars “Super Yard Sale” will be on Friday, May 3 from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday May 4 from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Denny’s Harvest Food parking lot. Lots of great pickings and deals to be made. Help us support our student scholarships. Watch for flyers around town. We really need some volunteers to help transfer goods from storage to Denny’s parking lot, and to help set things out on the tables. Contact Dan...

  • Churches

    Updated Apr 25, 2019

    Cheney Congregational Church We would like to invite you to join our worship service this Sunday. During Pastor David Krueger-Duncan’s absence, Dr. Michael Folsom will deliver the message. Plan to stay for coffee and refreshments in the fellowship hall following the service. Our church welcomes everyone no matter where they may be on their faith journey. Thursday, April 25, our church will serve lunch to the kids at Crosswalk. This month Judy Chapman-Griffin and Linda Early will be preparing the meal. The Crosswalk monthly m...

  • An Army of One

    Lee Hughes, Staff Reporter|Updated Apr 25, 2019

    It’s a cool, overcast day at Spokane Valley Archery, tucked in the foothills beneath Mica Peak. Rain looks likely. Medical Lake Army veteran Larry McAdams sits somewhat impatiently inside the archery shop tossing off random one-liners at anyone within range. His friend, Don Wilhelm of Airway Heights, stands patiently some distance away. Nearby — and out of McAdams’s range — Kristie Townsend, another Army veteran, is doing wheelies in her pink wheelchair with a sense of anti...

  • Basic science on carbon dioxide cannot be denied

    Updated Apr 25, 2019

    Carbon dioxide is the thermostat of earth’s atmosphere. That was demonstrated by John Tyndall, a British physicist, in experiments done in his laboratory in the 1850s. Using a relatively simple apparatus he showed infrared radiation (heat) passes through oxygen and nitrogen gases unimpeded, whereas carbon dioxide, even in low concentrations, absorbs heat. Light energy from the sun (a spectrum of wavelengths) passes to the earth’s surface with little absorption, bringing the energy that is transformed into heat at the ear...

  • The Mueller Report - Guilty!

    MEL GURTOV, Contributor|Updated Apr 25, 2019

    My moniker for this president is Desperate Donald. Now the Mueller report shows the moniker is a good one: It tells us that Trump went bonkers, fearing Mueller’s appointment spelled “the end of my presidency.” In June 2017 Trump told the White House counsel, Don McGahn, to fire Mueller. McGahn refused. Other attempts by Trump to get subordinates to undermine Mueller’s work also failed, the report shows. Publicly, Trump sought to debunk the Russia investigation on an almost daily basis; 1,100 times, to be exact (accord...

  • Schools must evolve for the 21st century

    ANDREW MEYERS and TOM VANDER ARK|Updated Apr 25, 2019

    By ANDREW MEYERS and TOM VANDER ARK Contributors Lyft recently announced that it would be going public. Uber isn’t far behind. In little more than a decade, the two companies have upended the transportation sector -- and transformed how we think about both transportation and work. If only we could bring that sort of innovation to our nation’s education sector. American schools have scarcely evolved since the days of the horse and buggy. Our educational system incentivizes memorization and rote learning in the age of Goo...

  • Changing daylight savings a bad move - set clocks to standard time

    FRANK WATSON, Contributor|Updated Apr 25, 2019

    Our state Legislature has accomplished all their goals. They have outlawed eyeball tattoos, enacted the biggest budget increase in history, raised the price of gasoline, and enabled the worst school funding debacle since statehood. Having done all this with time to spare, they recently voted to change the amount of available daylight. As I understand the logic, too many people get confused during the change from daylight savings to standard time, so we should quit changing. Making daylight savings time permanent would give us...

  • Of gracious professionalism and selfish needs

    Lee Hughes, Staff Reporter|Updated Apr 25, 2019

    I’d like to offer a contrast of ideals and character for your consideration. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing several Medical Lake High School students, members of the Circuit Breakers robotics team. I went into the interview not knowing what to expect, having never spoken with a teenager involved with robotics. I guess I expected some serious nerdiness. What a pleasant surprise it was. The kids I spoke with were polite, intelligent, engaging, enthusiastic and d...

  • The joy a bunny can bring

    SHANNEN TALBOT|Updated Apr 25, 2019

    Airway Heights’ annual Easter egg hunt was a resounding success despite the drizzle, with children of all age groups turning out in droves to collect their share of brightly colored eggs. The hunt began at exactly 9 a.m. and was done by 9:04 a.m. Above, a child shrieks with excitement after being presented with an egg by the Easter bunny....

  • Golden score

    Lee Hughes|Updated Apr 25, 2019

    Three’s a charm as these erstwhile egg hunters show off their golden eggs at Waterfront Park in Medical Lake Saturday, April 20. The annual event was hosted by the Medical Lake Kiwanis Club....

  • One dead in early Saturday morning crash on South Gardner Road

    Updated Apr 25, 2019

    Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a single vehicle crash on South Gardner Road south of Cheney-Spokane Road and east of Marshal that left the adult male driver and only occupant of the vehicle dead at the scene. In a news release, Spokane County Deputy Mark Gregory said that on April 20, at approximately 5:45 a.m., Sheriff’s deputies responded to the report of a single vehicle crash in the 11900 block of South Gardner Road. The caller reported a one vehicle rollover crash and the driver did not appear to be ali...

  • Cheney NAPA store to attempt world record carwash

    MARCO VARGAS, Staff Intern|Updated Apr 25, 2019

    NAPA Auto Parts has a chance to break the Guinness World Record for “most cars washed in an eight-hour period” when the Cheney store and many others around the country begin the exciting event Saturday, April 27. The current record holder is the Repco gas company in Australia with 6,277 cars washed. Marty Walker, NAPA retail business development manager, said he is very excited for the event and would love to break the world record with everyone’s help. He also said that the purpose for the event is to partner with the commu...

  • TALK 2 hosts drug take-back at Cheney CHAS this Saturday

    Updated Apr 25, 2019

    TALK 2 Healthy Choices will be hosting a prescription drug take-back event on April 27, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., at the Cheney Chas Health Center, 1720 2nd St. This event is for the public to dispose of unused or expired prescription medication in a safe and easy way, and is being run in conjunction with Cheney’s annual “Clean Sweep.” Prescription and over-the-counter medications will be accepted at CHAS during the take back. Medications can remain in their original containers and labels do not need to be removed. Medicat...

  • Spokane mayor speaks at West Plains meeting

    SHANNEN TALBOT, Staff Reporter|Updated Apr 25, 2019

    The focus at the West Plains Chamber of Commerce’s April 17 membership breakfast was ironically not the West Plains — instead, attendees heard from Spokane Mayor David Condon, who briefed visitors on the nearby city’s current projects and recent achievements. “The city of Spokane is a driving force in our region,” Chamber of Commerce executive director Toby Brommeling said. “That partnership is so important.” Condon shared advice for West Plains elected officials and business leaders and explained upcoming city goals, includ...

  • Shiny and new

    SHANNEN TALBOT|Updated Apr 25, 2019

    Cheney High School’s new wing was officially turned over for use last Monday, and students and teachers spent the week getting comfortable in the updated space. Project manager Todd Smith said the reception to the wing’s new look has been overwhelmingly positive, despite some concern from tile installers about what the students would think of the bold diamond floor design....

  • Cheney announces new assistant superintendent

    SHANNEN TALBOT, Staff Reporter|Updated Apr 25, 2019

    With the July 1 departure of Cheney Assistant Superintendent Sean Dotson to Tumwater School District looming in the distance, local school officials have been working overtime to secure a replacement in time for the next school year. That search is over now, with Cheney Public Schools announcing Tuesday the selection of Tom Arlt as the next assistant superintendent. Arlt has a long history in education in several capacities, according to a Cheney Public Schools press release. For the last four years, he has served at...

  • Cheney Middle School honor roll concluded

    Updated Apr 25, 2019

    Cheney Middle School has released its honor for the third quarter of the 2018-2019 school year. Part one was run in the April 18 issue of the Cheney Free Press. Part two is featured below. 4.0 Emma K. Allington, Mia J. Ashcroft, Tyler T. Ashcroft, Joy Clara E. Assonken, Emily K. Axtell, Mia J. Baldwin, Elliana G. Barden, Lillian M. Barlow, Amelia G. Batty, Lillyanna A. Bocook, Macy L. Brown, Silas M. Brown, Keira L. Buck, Ryley J. Buckner, Colin Chen, Rylee R. Church, Chloe M. Clarkson, Sophia J. Coffin, Brenna N....

  • Cheney board approves lunch price increase

    SHANNEN TALBOT, Staff Reporter|Updated Apr 25, 2019

    The Cheney School Board filled the library of Salnave Elementary School thanks to an action-packed agenda that included several staff reports and nearly half a dozen school board policy revisions. To kick off the evening, Salnave students told board members about the benefits of "morning meetings," in which the students gather to greet one another by name, share information about themselves and participate in a group activity. These meetings, typically introduced in a 20-minut...

  • Just that fast

    John McCallum|Updated Apr 25, 2019

    Five and six year olds exploded from behind restraining ropes to gather Easter eggs at the Kiwanis Club’s annual hunt last Saturday at Salnave Park. Club members and volunteers helped prepare 6,000 candy-filled eggs -- all of which were scooped up within 3-4 minutes Saturday morning....

  • Medical Lake holds public Comp Plan update meeting

    Lee Hughes, Staff Reporter|Updated Apr 25, 2019

    What is Medical Lake's identity? That seems the primary question that needs answering by the small West Plains community, at least according to some in attendance at an open house intended to inform citizens about the city's current Comprehensive Plan, or Comp Plan, efforts. A smattering of people milled about the City Council chambers on Thursday, April 11, talking, reading and placing Post-It note comments on five presentation boards that outlined the city Planning...

  • ML council discusses financial audits, paving

    Updated Apr 25, 2019

    By LEE HUGHES Staff Reporter The Medical Lake City Council discussed a number of items at its regular meeting Tuesday, April 16. Topics included a completed financial audit, a vacancy on the Planning Commission and it’s ongoing comprehensive plan efforts, and seasonal maintenance issues. Councilwoman Laura Parsons, finance committee chair, reported to the council on the results of $22,000 audit by the Office of the Washington State Auditor. She said the audit “went really well.” City Financial Director Karen Langford noted...

  • Straight into the ground

    Updated Apr 25, 2019

    By JOHN McCALLUM Managing Editor Cheney typically averages about 700 gallons per minute in water usage from October to about mid-May, an amount easily produced by the city's two oldest wells located next to the Pence Union Building on the Eastern Washington University campus. So when water department personnel began seeing other pumps kick on in late December/early January in order to meet demand, they knew they had some problems somewhere in the system. Public Works Director...

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