Articles from the June 3, 2021 edition


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  • John Wayne riders arrive in Tekoa

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Jun 7, 2021

    TEKOA - The John Wayne Trail Riders have reached their final destination. Riders have been arriving here all day today, June 3, following a trek along the 285-mile John Wayne Pioneer Trail, now called the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail. Their ride began May 20 in Easton and concludes tomorrow with a 12-mile round-trip journey from Tekoa into Idaho and back. That ride is expected to depart from the trail adjacent to the Iron Horse Arena between 8-9 a.m., officials said....

  • Avista customers in Spangle to experience planned power outage

    From staff and news sources, Cheney Free Press|Updated Jun 4, 2021

    SPOKANE — Approximately 244 Avista electric customers in Spangle and the surrounding area will experience a planned power outage on Thursday, June 10. The planned outage will begin at 10 p.m. on Thursday and end at 6 a.m. on Friday, June 11. No road closures are expected during this outage. During this time, Avista crews will perform maintenance to their Spangle substation. The routine maintenance will increase reliability and reduce future outages in the area. “We appreciate our customer’s patience and understanding as we...

  • Fewer south county residents vaccinated

    ROGER HARNACK, Publisher|Updated Jun 3, 2021

    SPOKANE COUNTY — Fewer residents in southern Spokane County are getting vaccinated against the coronavirus than their neighbors further north. According to the tentative figures released by Spokane Regional Health District this week, only about a third of Cheney, Medical Lake and Spangle residents older than 16 have started a vaccine regimen. And fewer than that are seeking vaccinations in Airway Heights, Latah and Fairfield. At least two of the available coronavirus v...

  • Updated Jun 3, 2021

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  • Big shoes needing filling

    PAUL DELANEY, Contributor|Updated Jun 3, 2021

    CHENEY - Dave Cook, Eastern Washington University's long-time sports information director, announced through a personal email message on Tuesday, June 1 that he will retire effective July 1. Cook, who has served as the SID since July 1990, but also had an earlier stint in Cheney in 1985 in an interim role, said in his statement, he was exiting into retirement "earlier than expected," falling behind in the ever-changing technology race that drives his job. "I basically just...

  • Cheney High teams enter Season 3 competition

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Jun 3, 2021

    CHENEY — It may seem strange to be reading about basketball, wrestling and gymnastics when it’s 80 degrees and sunny outside rather than 20 degrees and snowy, but such is the high school sports world of Covid-19. With that, Blackhawks winter sports teams finally got into their Season 3 action on May 18, opening their inaugural Greater Spokane League competition with varying degrees of success. Boys basketball The Blackhawks are still in search of their first win as of June 1. Cheney opened with an 85-63 loss to Central Val...

  • Sports Brief

    Updated Jun 3, 2021

    Fossen advances to NCAA championships in pole vault For the first time since 2014, a female athlete will be competing for Eastern Washington University at the finals of the NCAA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore. Senior Morgan Fossen capped a season of improvement by clearing 13 feet, 8 1/4 inches in the pole vault at the West Regional in College Station, Texas, which was good enough to advance her to the finals in Eugene, Ore. A 2016 graduate of North Medford (Ore.) High School, she will be among the field of 24...

  • Medical Lake girls have 2-2 week

    PAUL DELANEY, Contributor|Updated Jun 3, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE — Wins at the beginning and end of the week gave the Medical Lake girls’ basketball team a split in a very busy stretch of Northeast A League games. The Cardinals began with a 49-39 victory at Lakeside May 24, followed that with losses May 26 and 27 at Deer Park (42-29) and at Freeman (52-29) before a home win 47-27 vs. Newport. Amblessed Okemgbo and Charde Luat each had 12 points in the Lakeside win while Emma Maxwell added 11. Against the Stags the Cardinals had...

  • Medical Lake boys win 3 of 4

    PAUL DELANEY, Contributor|Updated Jun 3, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE — The Medical Lake boys completed their week with a 3-1 record in Northeast A League play with road wins 57-50 over Lakeside, May 24, Deer Park 53-52, May 26 and May 29 at home against Newport, 63-61. Medical Lake lost to Freeman 73-41 on May 27. Medical Lake was able to hold off Lakeside’s rally, featuring an 18-8 fourth quarter edge behind Oran Rhimer’s 14 points. Oscar Harris scored 19 points as the Cardinals had a second-half rally from a 32-22 halftime defic...

  • Defending Lilac champ in field

    PAUL DELANEY, Contributor|Updated Jun 3, 2021

    CHENEY - Defending champion Jamie Hall from Jefferson Park Golf Course in Seattle is returning to defend his Lilac City Invitational title at the Fairways Golf Course, perhaps with the idea of doubling his payday as an incentive? COVID-19 made the 2020 Lilac a moving target just to play with shifting dates and it also hindered the pursuit of sponsorships which cut the purse Hall won in half to $5,000. He topped Brad Marek by shooting a 6-under 66 and escaped with a one-shot...

  • West Plains Police News

    Updated Jun 3, 2021

    CHENEY May 24 Suspicious circumstances were reported on the 100 block of North 6th Street. An unauthorized Washington adult driver’s license was reported ordered. Identification theft/attempted debit card fraud was reported on the 800 block of 2nd Street. The sudden death of a 63-year-old male was reported on the 500 block of West 6th Street. Domestic violence/verbal dispute was reported on the 300 block of Erie Street. The sudden death of an 83-year-old male was reported on the 2200 block of North 6th Street. May 25 T...

  • Churches

    Updated Jun 3, 2021

    Cheney Congregational Church Greetings from Cheney Congregational. We welcome you to join us on Sunday mornings for in-person worship at 10 a.m. Masks are required. In June we are beginning a new sermon series, “Four Greek Words Every Christian Should Know.” Join us to see how knowing the ancient Greek language can help illuminate scripture in fresh ways. Kids will have their own “Discovery Team Time” during the service. Also, you’re invited to join us for our “Church in the Park” events on June 20, July 18 and Aug. 29. Partn...

  • Lentz, Schumacher wed

    Updated Jun 3, 2021

    Ashley Lentz of Medical Lake, Wash., and Preston Schumacher of Spokane, Wash., celebrated their nuptials Saturday, May 29, 2021, at Commellini Estate, 14715 N. Dartford Drive. The bride works at Community Colleges of Spokane and is the daughter of Michael Lentz of Spokane Valley and Sonya Marlton-Sievers of Spangle. The groom works at Franz Bakery and is the son of Joe Schumacher of Spokane and Lisa Bice of Spokane Valley. Following their wedding and honeymoon, the couple...

  • United We Stand celebration June 12

    Updated Jun 3, 2021

    SPOKANE — United We Stand (an Asian American Pacific Islander organization) is holding a celebration on Saturday, June 12, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. for AAPI Heritage Month at the city of Spokane Valley Centerplace’s West Lawn Plaza, 2426 N. Discovery Place. The community is invited to come enjoy, learn and have fun, experience art, cultural performances and the hidden history of Asians in Spokane, along with authentic food and a chance to meet your neighbors....

  • Garden-fresh vegetables help fight cancer

    MELINDA MYERS, Contributor|Updated Jun 3, 2021

    Cancer prevention starts on your dinner plate; actually, it starts in the garden. Growing your own nutrient-rich cancer fighting vegetables allows you to grow pesticide-free vegetables, harvest them at their peak, and use them right away, ensuring the highest nutrient value and best flavor. Be sure to include some broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, and turnip greens. These cruciferous vegetables release cancer fighting substances that help fend off lung, breast, liver, colon, and prostate cancer. Three...

  • Legislature failed to help small business, but some good things happened

    JASON MERCIER AND LUNELL HAIGHT, Contributors|Updated Jun 3, 2021

    Washington Policy Center and League of Women Voters of Washington want to thank the Washington State House and Senate’s bipartisan leadership for the remote testimony processes established in the challenging legislative session that just ended. That session was historic in its approach to conducting meetings—the COVID pandemic and need for distancing caused the Legislature to build on the prior remote testimony process and add new virtual participation options, with great benefits to both legislators and the public. While thi...

  • In the fight against climate change, don't overlook biotech

    MICHELLE McMURRY-HEATH AND MICHAEL MIILLIE, Contributors|Updated Jun 3, 2021

    President Biden has already laid out an ambitious climate change agenda. With a series of early executive orders, he set the stage for a ban on oil and gas drilling on federal land, an end to fossil fuel subsidies, and a transition to electric engines in government vehicles. But more is needed. President Biden and his administration need to take concerted actions to advance an area of research that could prove decisive in battling climate change: biotechnology. In recent years, scientists have found a host of surprising and i...

  • Interchange work moves from SR 902 to Geiger Boulevard

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Jun 3, 2021

    SPOKANE COUNTY — Construction along Interstate 90 recently shifted a bit more towards the city of Spokane as crews wrapped up work at the I-90/Medical Lake interchange and began reconstruction earlier this spring of the I-90/Geiger Boulevard interchange. Work on the $6.15 million project at exit 276 began April 12, and includes construction of three roundabouts along with revised on/off ramps, better illumination and erosion control, pavement markings, permanent signage and traffic control. The three roundabouts will be b...

  • New irrigation station and more in the pipe

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Jun 3, 2021

    WARDEN - A new pump station seven miles northeast of the city will provide irrigation water to nearly 10,500 acres of farmland. The EL 47.5 station was dedicated Thursday afternoon, May 27. About 50 people attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, was among several state lawmakers who helped secure funding for the $20.8 million project. Dye represents the 9th Legislative district, which includes Adams, Asotin, Franklin, Garfield, Whitman and part of...

  • Fire District 10 receives UTV from Avista

    PAUL DELANEY|Updated Jun 3, 2021

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS - An aging Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) that had come to the end of its useful life with Avista Utilities will find new purpose with Spokane County Fire District No. 10 in Airway Heights. A handover of the keys on May 27 at FD 10 headquarters was the final step in a process that began about eight months ago, Assist. Fire Chief Don Malone explained. In regular day-to-day conversations between the two organizations, the UTV usefulness topic came up. Avista uses...

  • CHS Baccalaureate takes place June 6

    Updated Jun 3, 2021

    If ever there was a year when graduating seniors need our support and blessing this is the year. Baccalaureate for Cheney High School and Three Springs High School will be Sunday, June 6, at 7:30 p.m. in the CHS auditorium. Baccalaureate is a non-denominational service led by graduating seniors with blessings from area clergy. All are welcome at the service which will include music, scripture and testimony from 2021 graduates. Please join us in support of these students....

  • Summer projects on tap for ML schools

    PAUL DELANEY, Contributor|Updated Jun 3, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE - As students depart for their summer break and downtime, the maintenance department in the Medical Lake School District gears up for one of its busiest times of the year. "It'll be a fast 45-day whirlwind between the end of school and the beginning of school," Chad Moss, the district's finance director who is the project liaison, said in a report at the May 25 school board meeting. As usual the punch-list for summer is varied with both outdoor and inside...

  • Final resting place realized at Vets Cemetery for Uncle Gordon

    PAUL DELANEY, Contributor|Updated Jun 3, 2021

    How loved ones depart this Earthly world for wherever they are destined is a journey as varied as the person itself. Travel across the world, pick a belief. "Historically the purpose of most religious funerals was to aid the deceased in their passage to the next life, and this remains an important factor for many," wrote Jennifer Uzell of the University of Durham in the United Kingdom. There are no universally agreed death or funeral rites for Buddhists. In some Orthodox...

  • A sure sign of summer

    Carlene Hardt, Contributor|Updated Jun 3, 2021

    Contributed by / Cheney Free Press Last week, the lilacs were in full bloom at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge and it drew beautiful Swallowtail butterflies and bees in for nectar nourishment....

  • Eight-vehicle pileup blocks Interstate 90

    ROGER HARNACK, Publisher|Updated Jun 3, 2021

    SPOKANE – Interstate 90 was closed to traffic for a short time Tuesday evening, May 25, following a crash involving eight vehicles. According to the Washington State Patrol, the crash occurred about 5:11 p.m. near Milepost 281, at the Division Street interchange. Camilla A. Zachary, 33, of Spokane, was eastbound in her 200 Ford Explorer on the interstate when she struck the Jersey barrier, pushing it into the westbound lands, the patrol said. She was not wearing a seatbelt. Za...