Articles from the April 29, 2021 edition


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  • 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....

  • Bison rally to roll over Eagles 42-20

    PAUL DELANEY, Contributor|Updated Apr 29, 2021

    FARGO, N.D. - For the better part of a quarter at least, the North Dakota State Bison remained quite docile. But for the final three quarters of their Football Championship Subdivision playoff game against Eastern Washington, they ran wild, literally stampeding past the Eagles 42-20 in the Fargodome on April 24. The Eagles bolted out of the gate taking early leads of 14-0 and 20-7, but the Bison scored the final 35 unanswered points and rolled over Eastern on the ground,...

  • Cardinals boys tennis remains unbeaten

    PAUL DELANEY, Contributor|Updated Apr 29, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE — Medical Lake boys’ tennis kept its record unblemished following a pair of Northeast A League wins last week, both by 4-1 scores vs. Newport (April 19) and Deer Park (April 21). The Cardinals (4-0) swept singles play with Tristan Francis winning 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1 and Josh Burt cruising 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2. “Josh used this as an opportunity to work on serving and play strategies he’s trying to develop,” his coach, Brian Tellez wrote in an email. Ryen Gibby and Jonah...

  • Big bats power Medical Lake baseball

    PAUL DELANEY, Contributor|Updated Apr 29, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE - The big bats came out both for and against the Medical Lake High School baseball team last week as the Cardinals won two, lost one and had no decision in another contest. Medical Lake swept a Northeast A League doubleheader on the road at Riverside 14-7 and 13-8 April 17 and lost a slugfest 20-12 at home to Deer Park. A second game was cancelled due to rain with ML leading 3-1 and will not be made up. In the loss to Deer Park the Cardinals jumped out to a 9-0...

  • Blackhawks soccer gets first win, softball first loss

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Apr 29, 2021

    CHENEY — Blackhawks squads continue to work their way into Greater Spokane League competition. The soccer team edged University for its first win of the season while the Lady Blackhawks softball team suffered its first loss at the hands of Central Valley. Baseball The Blackhawks are still searching for their first win of the season. Mead pitching limited Cheney to just three hits in a 12-0 win April 20. Van Vega, Gabe Gerber and James Whiteley each had a single, with the defense giving up a couple errors. Thursday, April 2...

  • Medical Lake boys second in state 'Virtual CC'

    PAUL DELANEY, Contributor|Updated Apr 29, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE — However delivered, Gene Blankenship will gladly add his team’s recent finish to a long line of success in the recently completed Washington State Cross Country Coaches Association virtual state meet. The 2020 state cross country meet crashed by Covid-19 this past November, but as with other things dealing with the coronavirus, out of the chaos there emerged much innovation. Run at school tracks on April 13 for girls and the boys, April 14, the individual finishe...

  • Rear end collision kills Seven Bays man

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Apr 29, 2021

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS – A Seven Bays, Wash. man was killed in a two-vehicle collision last Wednesday afternoon just west of the city. According to a Washington State Patrol press memo, at approximately 12:17 p.m., a black 2002 Harley Davidson FLSTC motorcycle driven by 67-year-old Cataldo A. Condosta of Seven Bays and a white 2002 Honda CRV driven by 41-year-old Brandy N. Trego of Medical Lake were both eastbound in the left lane on U.S. Highway 2. At milepost 227 near Spoko Fuel, Trego moved into the left turn lane where her v...

  • West Plains Police News

    Updated Apr 29, 2021

    CHENEY April 19 Police assisted Child Protective Services with a referral on the 100 block of Walker Drive. Christopher A. Cervantes, 24, was arrested for fourth-degree assault/domestic violence on the 700 block of 3rd Street. April 20 Marijuana, paraphernalia, a vaping device and alcohol were confiscated on the 700 block of Betz Road. April 21 A mental health issue was reported on the 700 block of Betz Road. Subject was voluntarily committed. The sudden death of a 61-year-old male was reported on the 2200 block of 1st...

  • USDA offering loans to underserved farmers, ranchers

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Apr 29, 2021

    SPOKANE VALLEY — Underserved or beginning farmers and ranchers who cannot obtain commercial credit from a bank have a resource to turn to — the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). FSA is offering two types of direct and guaranteed loans: farm ownership loans and farm operating loans. Repayment terms for the latter are scheduled from 1 – 7 years while financing for the former cannot exceed 40 years, with interest rates for direct loans set by the government’s cost of borrowing and rates for guarantee...

  • Blackhawks FBLA land four state champions

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Apr 29, 2021

    CHENEY - The high school Future Business Leaders of America wrapped up its 2021 virtual State Business Leadership Conferences last weekend, with 16 of its 17 attending members placing in the top 10. As a team, members placed 22 times in the competition including four state championships. According to a news release, sophomore Jason Hatfield won two state championship in Introduction to Information Technology and Cyber Security while qualifying for nationals in all four of his...

  • Bonnie J. Presnell

    Updated Apr 29, 2021

    Bonnie J. Presnell 1929-2021 Bonnie Presnell, 91, passed away Sunday, April 18, 2021 in Post Falls, Idaho. Her story began on July 16, 1929 in Spokane, Wash., the daughter of Rilla and Herbert Walden and eldest sister to Mary (Neighbors), Phyllis (Harris) and Priscilla (Bowen). Bonnie graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1947. She married Robert Harris in 1950 and had two sons Richard (Dick) and Robert (Jeff). After the death of her first husband in 1959, she... Full story

  • Churches

    Updated Apr 29, 2021

    Cheney Community Church Cheney Community Church welcomes you to attend worship with us. We are open for in-person worship, Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. Masks are required and social distancing practiced to be in compliance with the state’s order. The children meet for worship during the main service, and nursery care is available. For those who cannot attend, the service can be viewed on Face book. Pastor Trevor Jensen is presenting a series of messages from the New Testament book of Colossians Come join us. Youth Group m...

  • Salvation Army has food, needs volunteers

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Apr 29, 2021

    SPOKANE — The Salvation Army still has plenty of food for vulnerable families on a first-come, first-serve basis. In an April 26 news release, Salvation Army Director of Development and Communications Brian Pickering said the Salvation Army of Spokane’s Food Pantry has been “blessed with a lot of food donations, but the food needs to go to vulnerable families in a timely fashion.” Currently, families that are in need of food can stop by the pantry from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. weekdays and receive several weeks of groceries on a firs...

  • Legalizing the world's oldest profession

    GREG JAMES, Contributor|Updated Apr 29, 2021

    In 2012, state voters decided to go where no other state ever had — they legalized adult-use marijuana, reversing 70 years of policy that by most measures was a waste of time and money. The prohibition against marijuana consumption had virtually no effect on its price, availability or use. And yet, in that same time period, we taxpayers had to foot the bill for enforcement and incarceration. For many — like me — the vote to legalize marijuana was not a vote to endorse its use. It was a vote to act in a pragmatic manne...

  • It's time to start rethinking natural gas bans

    DON C. BRUNELL, Contributor|Updated Apr 29, 2021

    Sometimes being first isn’t good. Such is the case with legislation making Washington the only state to ban natural gas in new homes and commercial buildings. Thankfully, the legislators ended their session in Olympia and left that bad idea on the table. However, it is destined to come back next year. The issue is complicated and expensive. Earlier this year, Gov. Jay Inslee (D) unveiled it as part of a package to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It included a phase out of nat...

  • Rose Skin Studio: a transforming place for beauty

    KARLEE VAN DE VENTER, Staff Intern|Updated Apr 29, 2021

    CHENEY — Master esthetician Liz Deck opened Rose Skin Studio in January 2021, intending to help Cheney residents feel more confident and beautiful in their own skin. Deck got married straight out of high school, subsequently moving to various states for her husband’s work. She would find a job wherever they moved, but had no direction or life path, and ended up getting divorced. After that, she moved to Spokane and started searching for a passion. Deck briefly considered bec...

  • Property tax penalty and fee reduction bill passes

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Apr 29, 2021

    SPOKANE — County Treasurer Michael Baumgartner applauded the passage of Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1410 (ESHB 1410) which significantly reduces the amount of penalty and interest paid on delinquent property taxes. The legislation sponsored by 6th District Rep. Mike Volz, who also serves as Chief Deputy Treasurer, passed the House of Representatives unanimously April 22 and with Gov. Jay Inslee’s signature will take effect Jan. 1, 2022. Under current state law, a delinquent property tax bill is charged an annual 23% pen...

  • Cheney High School March Students of the April

    Updated Apr 29, 2021

    CHENEY — Cheney High School officials have released the names of the PACE (Partners in Advancing Character Education) Students of the Month for April. The PACE month character trait for February is trustworthiness. The students are Sierra Peone, Ben Moran, Ahmed Aljassem, Shaunta Elliott, Hannah Pieratt, Chase Richards, Macy Rains, Zachary Cox, Rhiannon Moser, Jackson Schaefer, Jesse Kohn, Parker Cagle, Evan Wavada, Brady Zapf, Annika Hecker, Abilgail Fleskes, Cody Killin, Jeanessa Muentes, Siri Tripp, Michael Walsh, Mika C...

  • West Plains students on SFCC winter quarter honor roll

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Apr 29, 2021

    SPOKANE — Spokane Falls Community College lists 1,082 students on its honor roll for winter quarter 2021, which ended in March. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or above to be listed on the honor roll. Airway Heights Gabrielle Archuleta, Jordan DeCoteau, Kimberly Dove, Patrick Farnworth, Kathleen Gier, Uluwehi Jamison, Savreen Pamma, Veronica Peters, Mason Sibrel, Jordan Stanger, Kassandra Sweet, Alan Tripp and Katherine Witherspoon. Cheney Kawthar Al Obid, Sahar Aneed, Rosemarie Arabo Zachary Aris, Hayley Barr...

  • Cheney, Medical Lake students named Spokane Scholars

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Apr 29, 2021

    WEST PLAINS — The Spokane Scholars Foundation honored 156 area students as Spokane Scholars at the organization’s 29th annual awards banquet, held virtually April 19. Of those 156, 24 were awarded a total of $60,000, with four selected award recipients in six categories: English, Fine Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and World Languages. While not financial award recipients, 12 West Plains students were selected to be Spokane Scholars, and are listed below. The Spo...

  • Governor gives tenants protections, reduces help for landlords

    SYDNEY BROWN, Washington State Journal|Updated Apr 29, 2021

    Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law an automatic right for tenants to have an attorney, though it came with a catch — Inslee sent back two parts of the bill regarding landlord rental assistance. In a memo after the April 22 bill signing, Inslee said the measure lacked guidance for how landlords could qualify for the rental assistance. “It creates an entitlement for landlords to receive rent assistance without a sufficient framework to prioritize resources to those landlords who have the greatest need,” Inslee wrote in the relea...

  • Clean Sweep

    Jill Weiszmann|Updated Apr 29, 2021

    Top: Volunteers Bonnie Eccles and Sue Beeman clean up debris at the Cheney Depot site last Saturday during the city's annual Clean Sweep. Bottom: Volunteers set up the prescription medication take back location outside of Cheney Library....

  • Airway PD traffic school is proposed

    PAUL DELANEY, Contributor|Updated Apr 29, 2021

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS — On a night where a large part of the agenda was devoted to a review of all things public safety in Airway Heights, city council heard a presentation on a possible new track for drivers. Officers Matt Keetch and Mikeal Suniga of the city’s police department offered the initial glimpse of a proposed new program they would like to launch called a traffic school at the April 26 study session. Just what is a traffic school? They are designed, among other thi...

  • 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...

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