Articles from the May 14, 2015 edition


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  • Cheney Hydroponics underway

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated May 14, 2015

    Cheney's first marijuana production and processing facility is now open for business. Cheney Hydroponics co-owner Bill Youngs updated the City Council about the status of the growing and processing operation located in the city's Commerce and Industrial Park during the information portion of Tuesday's council meeting. Youngs thanked numerous city staff and council members for their assistance in helping the at one time controversial business get off the ground. "Personally, I...

  • Looking back with the Cheney Historical Museum

    Updated May 14, 2015

    One hundred years ago on May 8, 1915, the fifth annual May Day Festival was celebrated with a parade of many floats and bands, games, and a dance. Miss Mary Houck was crowned May Day Queen. Learn more about our area’s history at www.cheneymuseum.org....

  • Looking Back

    Updated May 14, 2015

    1 Years Ago May 12, 2005 A sudden spring storm dumped nearly an inch of rain on Cheney, forcing storm drains to clog and water to pool on area streets. A packed room of over 40 people showed up in City Council chambers to discuss the pros and cons of the recently announced expansion of the Urban Growth Area in Medical Lake. Cheney scored the game’s final three goals in a 3-1 Greater Spokane League soccer match versus the Ferris Saxons, the first-ever for the Blackhawks over the Spokane school as Jesse Ratan, Mitch Weller a...

  • Grow your best tomato yet

    MELINDA MYERS, Contributor|Updated May 14, 2015

    Nothing beats the flavor of fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes. Make this your biggest and tastiest tomato harvest yet with proper planting and care. Reduce pest problems and increase the harvest by growing your tomatoes in a sunny location with well-drained soil, or in a quality potting mix for container gardens. Improve your garden soil by adding several inches of organic matter to the top 8 – 12 inches of soil prior to planting. Compost, aged manure and other organic materials...

  • Brunell's endorsement of fossil fuels is irresponsible

    RICHARD BADALAMENTE, Contributor|Updated May 14, 2015

    Don Brunell’s ‘Guest Commentary’ on fossil fuels happened to appear in the Cheney Free Press on my son’s birthday, March 26, 2015. The chronological milestone — he turned 50 — made me consider just how irresponsible Mr. Brunell’s commentary was. My son, as old as he is, will still live to see the day when the folly of man’s stubborn refusal to address climate change will have dire consequences effecting everything from agriculture to zoology. Why would Mr. Brunell, who at last count, had 14 grandchildren, promote fossil...

  • This 'war on police officers' needs to stop

    Updated May 14, 2015

    We all walk out the door every day and never know what lies ahead, but rarely do we ask ourselves, “will we come home?” That might ring differently for members of the law enforcement community as it seems police officers have proven to be noteworthy targets lately. The deaths of four police officers at the hands of criminals with guns in the month of May have brought the problem into the national spotlight and conversation. And what is generally something that only happens someplace else hit close to home May 5 when Coeur d’A...

  • To understand science and history, learn to read the dirt

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated May 14, 2015

    This is a fact: You can’t walk around Eldon Pueblo without stepping on a piece of history. For those who don’t know, Eldon Pueblo is an ancient Native American ruin about a mile east of Flagstaff in Northern Arizona, which is where I spent most of my spring break vacation. It was the home of a people known as the Sinagua, as are the cliff dwellings in the nearby Walnut Canyon and Wupatki national monuments. Actually, Northern Arizona is an archeologists dream when it comes to ruins with societies that were thriving over 800 ...

  • West Plains Briefs

    Updated May 14, 2015

    Feed Cheney May meal Feed Cheney will be a week early this month because of Memorial Day. The free hot dinner served family style by volunteers, groceries and entertainment will take place Monday, May 18, at Wren Pierson Community Center, 615 Fourth St. from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. All are welcome and no paperwork is required. Feed Cheney is a coalition of Women and Children’s Free Restaurant, 2nd Harvest Food Bank, several Cheney churches and Cheney Parks and Recreation. For more information, or to volunteer, visit fee...

  • West Plains residents make EWU dean's list

    Updated May 14, 2015

    Several West Plains and Spangle residents made the Eastern Washington University dean’s list for the 2015 winter quarter Airway Heights — Ericka Rickards. Cheney — Holiel Alboraik, Abdullah Alqasem, Mahmood Alshengeete, Fletcher Aukerman, Samantha Ayotte, Cody Bafus, Joshua Baker, Pedro, Barros Torreao Gaiao, Sydney Barrow, Kyle Barsness, Brooke Berdis, McKenzie Bissell, Yuriy Borisyuk, Julia Boyd, Destiny Braesch, Aaron Brenton, Baylie Bunke, Jeena Bushnell, Grant Callant, Stephanie Campbell, Kayleen Campbell, Manuel Case, N...

  • Lion's Club honors Medical Lake students

    Updated May 14, 2015

    The Medical Lake Lion’s Club honored 33 students from all district schools at the annual Youth Appreciation Night, May 6, at Medical Lake High School. Hallett Elementary: Eugene Haas, Connor Palmen and Gracelynn Stimson. Michael Anderson Elementary: Chase Kriger and Cameron Comer. Medical Lake Middle School: Jonah Lindsey, Madison Munden, Ashton Hamilton-Becker, Chloe Braswell, Paxton McKee, Emily Munson, Rebekah Straka, Kaiden Lizana, Jenazieze Brant, Saraz Abounornejad, Megan Geortz and Zachary Lewis. Medical Lake High S...

  • Fairways Golf Course hosts Blackhawk Scramble

    Updated May 14, 2015

    How’s your golf game? Whether it’s in top form or needs improvement, come out to the Fairways Golf Course Saturday, June 13, and take part in the annual Blackhawk Scramble. The scramble is a 9 a.m. shotgun start, and the $70 entry fee includes a round of golf, cart, a door prize and dinner afterwards. There will be a 50/50 putting, longest drive and closest to the pin contests, tons of other prizes and an auction. Proceeds benefit Cheney High School athletics and Kiwanis Club scholarships. For information on how to enter con...

  • CMS and Westwood bands perform together

    Mike Huffman, Spokane Valley News Herald|Updated May 14, 2015

    The bands from both Cheney School District middle schools, Cheney and Westwood, combined to perform at last Saturday's Junior Lilac Parade in Spokane....

  • Medical Lake School District to begin late start on Fridays in September

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated May 14, 2015

    The Medical Lake School District is taking steps to help teachers address new district initiatives, as well as federal and state educational standards — one of them being additional prep time. At its April 28 meeting, the Medical Lake school board approved an agreement to provide release time for staff — a one-hour late start on Friday mornings — beginning in September of the 2015-16 school year. Under the agreement, teachers will arrive at their buildings 30 minutes early and work for an hour. Principals and admin...

  • Family completes latest journey with college degrees

    PAUL DELANEY, Staff Reporter|Updated May 14, 2015

    The family that stays together, well, ummm...graduates together? That seems to be the way of life for a trio of Eastern Washington University students who receive their diplomas Saturday, June 13 at Roos Field. Two generations of the Beals family will walk one last time through campus, ending what is at least an initial journey of both miles and time that will see them earn undergraduate degrees. Led by mom, Jana Beals and her two daughters, Sharon Chapin and Olivia Beals,...

  • Hare named new Cheney High athletic director

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated May 14, 2015

    Gregg Hare has been named the new athletic director and assistant principal at Cheney High School. Hare replaces current athletic director and assistant principal Jim Missel, who is retiring at the end of June after 33 years in education, 14 years of which were at Cheney High School. According to a Cheney School District news release May 7, Hare is currently a social studies teacher and athletic director at the Mead School District’s Mountainside Middle School. He is a 2007 graduate of Whitworth University, a 2009 graduate w...

  • Airway Heights patrol car damaged in accident

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated May 14, 2015

    At approximately 8:40 p.m., on May 5 an inattentive driver unintentionally hit an Airway Heights police car in the parking lot of Northern Quest Casino. According to Sgt. Robert Swan, the vehicle damaged the front passenger side of the patrol car. “He did about $2,100 worth of damage to our vehicle,” Swan said. “He just wasn’t paying attention. Accidents happen.” No drugs or alcohol were involved in the collision. Swan confirmed that the Washington State Patrol investigated the collision. Swan confirmed that no one was injur...

  • Medical Lake discusses law enforcement bill from Spokane County Sheriff's Office

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated May 14, 2015

    The Medical Lake City Council breezed through a quick agenda at its May 5 meeting. Major John Higgins informed City Council that the city received an increase to the monthly bill from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office for policing services. City Administrator Ross explained that the city’s contract with the Sheriff’s Office includes a “settle and adjust” clause. If the Sheriff’s Office did not bill the city the correct amount in 2014, it can add the amount it didn’t charge to the bill in the first four months of the new yea...

  • Cheney Fire Department invites public to open house May 16

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated May 14, 2015

    Cheney Fire Department Lt. Tim Steiner thinks the last time the department held an open house, the city's emergency medical services six-year levy was up for renewal. That would have been Aug. 7, 2012, and the levy passed with 80.74 percent of the vote. Regardless of when it was, the department is holding another open house this Saturday, May 16, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The public will get a chance to tour the station, see some demonstrations and check out the department's e...

  • Twenty local offices on the November election slate

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated May 14, 2015

    The filing period for individuals wishing to run for public office opened Monday, May 11, at the Spokane County Elections office, and with it the potential for a busy election season on the West Plains. Prospective candidates have until tomorrow, May 15, to file the paperwork and appropriate filing fee for the office they intend to seek. On the West Plains, there are 20 positions up for election between the city councils of Cheney, Medical Lake and Airway Heights along with the Cheney and Medical Lake school districts and...

  • Oxigen, attack!

    AL STOVER|Updated May 14, 2015

    Staff Sgt. Melissa Schmalhorst, 92nd Security Forces Squadron (right), tries to fend off Oxigen (left). Schmalhorst acted as a target during a military working dog demonstration May 11 at Fairchild Air Force Base. The demonstration was one of several activities for Police Week....

  • Commission OKs comp plan public process

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated May 14, 2015

    At it’s regular meeting Monday night, May 11, the Cheney Planning Commission approved a draft of the city’s public participation plan for the upcoming, 18-month-long comprehensive plan update process. According to the plan, public participation will be encouraged through a dedicated page on the city’s website, ongoing notifications to interested parties, public commission work sessions and one or more public hearings before the commission. A 9 – 11 member focus group will also be created consisting of one member each from Ea...

  • Cheney man is one of two victims in Spokane River plane crash

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated May 14, 2015

    A Cheney man perished in the crash of a light plane that appeared to experience engine problems prior to striking the Spokane River just above Upriver Dam and sinking last Thursday. Richard Runyon was one of two men aboard a 1996 Piper Malibu that took off from Felts Field just before 4 p.m., May 7. According to a news release from the Spokane Fire Department, Felts Field Air Traffic Control Tower staff contacted Spokane police and fire departments at 3:54 p.m. reporting that the aircraft had contacted the tower and declared...

  • Medical Lake council considers fireworks ban

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated May 14, 2015

    At its May 5 meeting, the Medical Lake City Council voiced their concerns about fireworks and discussed a possible emergency ban on lighting them in city limits. Medical Lake, along with Airway Heights, currently allows fireworks to be set off in the city. The city has discussed banning fireworks within city limits, in 2008 and in 2013. Some residents were in favor of the ban because of the noise and mess that comes from lighting them, while others see them as an instrumental...

  • Banner Day

    Mike Huffman, Spokane Valley News Herald|Updated May 14, 2015

    Westwood Middle School student Kiearra O'Neal and the rest of her color guard and band members for Cheney and Westwood middle schools performed under perfect weather conditions at last Saturday's Spokane Junior Lilac Parade....

  • Getting heard

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated May 14, 2015

    Airway Heights’ efforts to reach out to residents and improve the community have not gone unnoticed. In a press release, city officials announced that Airway Heights is one of three finalists for the 2015 Voice of the People Transformation award in the Community Engagement category. The “Voice of the People” award is an honor given to local government based on the opinion of residents and conferred jointly by the National Research Center Institute, Inc., and the International City/County Management Association (IMCA) that...

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