Articles from the July 1, 2021 edition


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  • West Plains Police News

    Updated Jul 1, 2021

    CHENEY June 21 Fourth-degree assault/domestic violence was reported on the 300 block of College Avenue. Third-degree theft was reported on the 700 block of Villard Street. A package was stolen from a porch. Third-degree malicious mischief was reported on the 700 block of 2nd Street. Damage was done to an inflatable pool. A 27-year-old female, Ashley R. Doyle, was arrested for third-degree theft/shoplifting of grocery items on the 100 block of West 1st Street. June 22 Financial fraud/phone scam was reported on the 1500 block...

  • Curing a traffic headache

    RILEY KANKELBERG, Staff Intern|Updated Jul 1, 2021

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS — A traffic issue that has been on the city’s checklist for years is getting closer to completion. The city awarded a contract to Power City Electric that will add a second southbound left turn lane on the intersection between Hayford and US-2. Power City Electric, a Spokane-based contractor, was awarded the low bid of $443,609.30. This project hopes to solve the backup issues the intersection has been experiencing. Due to the high volume of traffic, the level of service for the intersection is decreasing. Thi...

  • Cheney school board enacts staggered start

    SCOTT DAVIS, Staff Reporter|Updated Jul 1, 2021

    CHENEY — Cheney school board members elected to commence a staggard start schedule for the 2021-2022 academic year at the June 23 board meeting. Because of lingering issues with the pandemic regarding staffing, logistics, and scheduling, for the first time, the Cheney School District will amend school start times based on education level. The primary motivation for the change, as listed by the school board, pertains to a lack of bus drivers, increasing student populations, athletics, childcare, and problems created by a dispe...

  • New year, new curriculum

    RILEY KANKELBERG, Staff Intern|Updated Jul 1, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE — The COVID-19 pandemic changed the landscape of public school and put several school board decisions on hold. When school returns to a semi-normal state in September, it will return with a new curriculum for the 2021-22 school year. One of these is the Great Minds, Wit and Wisdom K-5 ELA curriculum. This curriculum’s primary focus is on books instead of anthologies or worksheets. It pairs with the phonics curriculum already in place in the school district, which encourages young readers to associate sounds wit...

  • Area students on UW Dean's List

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Jul 1, 2021

    FROM SEATTLE — Students from the Cheney area have been named to the Dean’s List at the University of Washington for Winter 2021 Quarter, according to a June 16 news release. To qualify for the Dean’s List, a student must have completed at least 12 graded credits and have a grade point average of at least 3.50 (out of 4). Students are notified that they have achieved this distinction when they receive their grades for the quarter. Students are listed alphabetically. Students from Cheney making the list are: Kaden Charl...

  • Medical Lake school board looks to the new year

    RILEY KANKELBERG, Staff Intern|Updated Jul 1, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE — The school board celebrated the end of the 2020-21 school year at their June 22 meeting. Members reminisced about a successful last week of school and graduation ceremony in a year defined by the COVID-19 pandemic. In true pandemic fashion, the school received a half million sanitizing wipes that were supposed to arrive in October just in time for school to let out. The board heard two new policies for the first time. The first one applies to non-resident students and the lengthy appeals process that follows a...

  • Free meals start now for Medical Lake students

    RILEY KANKELBERG, Staff Intern|Updated Jul 1, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE — Students can eat breakfast and lunch for free starting June 28, but free meals are not ending with summer. Due to a decision from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), lunch will be free across the school district for the entire 2021-22 year. Summer lunches are not new to the district, although they have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The district normally provides a cafeteria service to ensure students have access to meals while school is out. Now, according to Nutrition Services Supervisor Jill...

  • Heat postpones Feed Medical Lake's anniversary celebration

    RILEY KANKELBERG, Staff Intern|Updated Jul 1, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE — The heatwave sweeping Washington is causing more than discomfort. The Feed Medical Lake 10th Anniversary Celebration, an event a decade in the making, was postponed on Monday when temperatures reached 106 degrees. Feed Medical Lake was founded 10 years ago this June. Run by founder and director Joanna Williams with the help of volunteers and funded by grants and donations, their goal is simple: feed anyone who needs it. On the second Monday of each month, they provide free groceries and dinner. Free lunch is s...

  • Our birthday card for celebrating independence

    JOHN McCALLUM, Managing Editor|Updated Jul 1, 2021

    If you’re trying to beat the excessive heat by staying indoors this Fourth of July weekend and you run out of things to do, let me offer a suggestion. Read the Declaration of Independence. At 1,338 words it’s actually a short read. I’m sure you could find it on Kindle, but instead of listening to someone else read it, you read it. We learn more when we engage our minds in the active exercise of reading versus the passive course of listening — although the latter is essential and needed more these days. Don’t worry about mem...

  • Biden's plan helps America compete in a digital world

    KIP EIDEBERG, Contributor|Updated Jul 1, 2021

    Even as Democrats and Republicans continue their negotiations, there is one aspect of infrastructure that still continues to enjoy broad support — and it also happens to be the most important part of the plan: billions of dollars in broadband infrastructure. This investment would ensure every single American has access to high-speed internet. For the sake of our country’s economic well-being, leaders in Washington must make broadband expansion a priority. Doing so will change millions of lives for the better. Expanding int...

  • Lost relief

    Scott Davis, Cheney Free Press|Updated Jul 1, 2021

    A busted pipe has shut down the Cheney Municipal Pool, sidelining a much-needed source of relief from the heat....

  • Celebration of Life

    Updated Jul 1, 2021

    Chester "Chet" Bettcher 12/2/1942 -12/2/20. Open House BBQ. 211 W. Paradise Rd. Spangle, WA. July 10, 2020 starts at noon.... Full story

  • Alynnah Jo Ele Craft

    Updated Jul 1, 2021

    Alynnah Jo Ele Craft Jan. 1, 2010 - June 21, 2021 On Monday morning, June 21, 2021, Alynnah Jo Ele Craft's faith became sight as her Lord brought her into His loving arms, surrounded by the presence, love, and comfort of her family. Alynnah blessed her parents, Tyler and Natalie Craft, when she danced into the world on Jan. 1, 2010 in Spokane, Wash. Happily homeschooled, Alynnah, along with her siblings, were active members of Classical Conversations of Goldsboro. At home,... Full story

  • Rituals

    CAROL BEASON, Contributor|Updated Jul 1, 2021

    I grew up with strong rituals, a set hour for bedtime and arising the next morning, three meals served much the same time each day, every day, home by 6:00 each evening. A day for laundry. A day for ironing, etc. Dependable, scheduled, ritualized. Raised in a Catholic Church and attending a parochial school further entrenched age old rituals that were engrained down through generations, becoming an integral part of one’s being. We are a ritualized society, ruled by the seasons, accomplishing tasks in a time of accepted n...

  • Cheney council accepts Covid relief funds

    SCOTT DAVIS, Staff Reporter|Updated Jul 1, 2021

    CHENEY — A resolution to accept $3,495,491 from the American Rescue Plan Act to relieve economic pressure produced by COVID-19 was unanimously approved at the June 22 City Council meeting. The city will receive an initial payment of $1,747,745 and the remainder of the balance will be collected one year later. The funds will help replenish lost revenue in the downturn and heal economic harm caused by the pandemic. The amount distributed is based on population and must be disbursed by Dec. 31, 2026. A lodging tax application t...

  • Churches

    Updated Jul 1, 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 July we are finishing a new sermon series, “Four Greek Words Every Christian Should Know.” Join us to see how learning the ancient Greek language can help illuminate scripture in fresh ways. At the end of July we will begin a series titled, “The Church and Mental Illness.” Kids have their own “Discovery Team Time” during our services with crafts and Bible l...

  • Cheney opens cooling center

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Jul 1, 2021

    CHENEY — Due to the extreme heat forecast for the next several days, city of Cheney officials have announced they are opening up the lobby and auditorium at City Hall as a cooling center. Anyone in need of relief from the heat is welcome to come cool off at City Hall between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. June 28 through July 2 Entry is through the main door at Cheney City Hall Located at 609 2nd St. Residents using the cooling center are asked to follow Covid-19 guidelines by keeping appropriate social distancing and u...

  • Cheney council approves Avista Edge Fiber agreement

    SCOTT DAVIS, Staff Reporter|Updated Jul 1, 2021

    CHENEY — A resolution to enter a three-year renewable Dark Fiber Leese agreement with Avista Edge, to provide broadband internet to the city, was unanimously approved at the City Council meeting on June 22. As stated in the resolution, the agreement will provide business and individuals within the city and surrounding areas enhanced telecommunication services. Cheney is one of two pilot programs currently operating with Avista Edge, “to explore internet solutions in rural communities through partnerships with public ele...

  • Avista power outage planned in Sprague, surrounding area

    JOHN McCALLUM, Managing Editor|Updated Jul 1, 2021

    SPOKANE — Approximately 460 Avista electric customers in Sprague and the surrounding area will experience a planned power outage on Thursday, July 8. The planned outage will begin at 10 p.m. and end at 4 a.m. on Friday, July 9. No road closures are expected during this outage. During this time, Avista crews will perform maintenance to their Sprague substation, located north of Interstate 90 on Doerschlag Road approximately nine miles west of Sprague. The routine maintenance will increase reliability and reduce future o...

  • Closed for the holiday

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Jul 1, 2021

    SPOKANE COUNTY — The following is a list of all closures for the upcoming Fourth of July Holiday. All city, county, state and federal offices will be closed on Monday, July 5. The Cheney Recycling Center will be closed on Saturday, July 3. All Spokane County Library District facilities will be closed on Monday, July 5, to observe Independence Day. Regular library hours resume Tuesday, July 6....

  • Thousands turn out for Freedom Rodeo

    ROGER HARNACK, Publisher|Updated Jul 1, 2021

    BASIN CITY — Thousands of rodeo fans turned out Friday and Saturday, June 25 and 26, to watch the second Freedom Rodeo. Temperatures neared 100 degrees at performance time Friday night and topped 105 at the start of Saturday’s rodeo. To keep cool, several fans put on canopies on the rim of the arena, while at least one family brought a toddler wading pool and filled it with water. The event got underway Friday morning with slack competition and a vendor area, compete with gia...

  • Cheney High alum and four-time state champion to compete in Paralympic Games

    JOHN McCALLUM, Managing Editor|Updated Jul 1, 2021

    MINNEAPOLIS, Minn — Former Cheney Blackhawk Isaiah Rigo is one of 61 athletes selected to represent the United States at the Paralympic Games this August in Tokyo, Japan. Rigo is one of three athletes from the Spokane area who was selected to the team after recently completing three days of trials. The other two are Hannah Dederick of Liberty Lake and Susannah Scaroni of Tekoa. Rigo is the first Cheney track and field athlete to compete in an Olympic Games. He is the second Ch...

  • Cheney well represented on All-GSL teams

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Jul 1, 2021

    SPOKANE — The following Cheney High School athletes were named to Greater Spokane League 3A/4A All-League teams for Season 2 (spring sports) and Season 3 (winter sports) Season 2 (spring) Fastpitch softball Bella King First Team Utility Parker Cagle First Team Infield Lindsay Hagreen Second Team Pyper Cagle Second Team Tatum Sloan Second Team Maddie McDowell Honorable Mention Soccer (boys) Dawson Heuett Second Team Carson Fisk Second Team Wesley Nicol Honorable Mention Tennis (Girls) Sarianne Winter First Team Track and F...

  • Eagles athletes extend GPA streak to 14 years

    STAFF AND NEWS REPORTS|Updated Jul 1, 2021

    CHENEY — Eastern Washington University student-athletes chalked up a cumulative spring quarter grade point average of 3.33 – extending a streak of consecutive quarters above 3.0 that stretches back 14 years. Concluding a year of online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic, 11 of EWU’s 12 programs had at least a 3.23 GPA in the spring quarter, including five with at least a 3.55. Women’s golf and cross country had the top GPAs at 3.86 and 3.79, respectively. The men’s sports were led by tennis at 3.58. Eastern’s 302 student...

  • Working on the railroad

    Riley Kankelberg, Cheney Free Press|Updated Jul 1, 2021

    Contractor crews working for the state Department of Transportation had State Route 902 blocked for several days last week as they performed work on the Washington Eastern Railway line through Medical Lake. The work was part of the Washington State Rural Rail Rehabilitation project, which is rehabilitating several rail lines around Eastern Washington....

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