Articles from the December 12, 2013 edition


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  • Cheney park might get I-502 applicant

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Dec 12, 2013

    Cheney may soon have its first tenant for the city’s Commerce and Industrial Park – but it’s not who the city was expecting to see. In a staff report to the Cheney Planning Commission Monday night, Public Works Director Todd Ableman informed the commission the city has received a conditional use application from Cheney Hydroponics, a business seeking to receive a marijuana processing license from the state and build a facility in the business park located in south Cheney. The City Council passed an interim zoning ordin...

  • Studio Tour – 'Win-Win Situation and Winners'

    Updated Dec 12, 2013

    Sometimes you can’t help but feel like you hit the jackpot. The “Slightly West of Spokane Artists Studio Tour” members feel exactly that way after our fourth annual tour on Nov. 30. We certainly feel lucky that Mother Nature cooperated with “no snow” for this time year. We also feel more than fortunate that we live in an area that supports the arts. A solid turnout with enthusiastic attendees was a win-win situation for the artists and those taking the tour. Speaking of winning – our two raffle winners, Marsha Hein (Spang...

  • We'll help you do your Christmas shopping

    Updated Dec 12, 2013

    No time to shop? Don’t know what kids these days like? Christmas Gifts for Cheney Kids has dedicated shoppers who will do the shopping for you. Send a check (clearly marked Christmas Gifts for Kids) to Cheney Outreach, P.O. Box 444, Cheney WA 99004 right away, or drop off a check Tues. morning or Wed. morning at Cheney Outreach, 616 3rd Street, and Santa’s helpers will do the shopping on Dec.19. Parents whose kids have been registered by noon Dec. 18 will attend the distribution on Dec.20 and select gifts for their chi...

  • Society doesn't value backing words with associated actions

    LAURA FINLEY PhD, Contributor|Updated Dec 12, 2013

    Authenticity “And what sort of lives do these people, who pose as being moral, lead themselves? My dear fellow, you forget that we are in the native land of the hypocrite.” Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray Authenticity is one of the most important qualities to teach young people. To be truly who you are, to be comfortable in your own skin and to walk your talk, is essential to not just personal happiness but is also requisite for building a better, more just and humane world. Unfortunately, teaching authenticity is...

  • More should adopt Patrol's whole 'person approach'

    Updated Dec 12, 2013

    On Dec. 3 the Washington State Patrol announced it was taking a new direction in the way it screened applicants for employment. In the past, applicants might have been eliminated if it were found they had received a teenage drinking violation, smoked marijuana in the past three years or accidentally got caught using prescription drugs that were prescribed for someone else. Now, in order to have a larger pool of applicants for the 223 positions projected to become open over the next four years, the State Patrol is relaxing tho...

  • West Plains Police News

    Updated Dec 12, 2013

    POLICE REPORTS 12/12/13 Cheney Dec. 2 Domestic violence – verbal dispute – was reported on the 2200 block of Lilac court. Second-degree theft was reported on the 700 block of Chestnut Street. Cash was taken. Prescription medications were lost on the 900 block of Fourth Street. A two-car, non-injury collision occurred on the 100 block of West Sixth Street. Dec. 3 A 17-year-old male was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia on the 500 block of Annie Place. Third-degree theft was rep...

  • Gary Fitzner

    Updated Dec 12, 2013

    Gary Fitzner In loving memory of Gary Fitzner Sept. 1, 1938- Dec. 7, 2013 Gary was a loving husband, father, grandpa, great grandpa, brother and best friend. He touched everyone's life in some way, young and old. Gray "Pop" will be greatly missed. A celebration of Gary's life will be held Saturday Dec. 14 at 5 p.m. 11309 W. Fitzner Lane in Cheney....

  • What's Happening on the West Plains

    Updated Dec 12, 2013

    City of Cheney • Dec. 18, Toddler Play and Learn Storytime (ages 1 1/2-3), Cheney Comunnity Library, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. • Dec. 19, Preschool Play and Learn Storytime (ages 3-5), Cheney Community Library, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. • Dec. 20, Baby Play and Learn Storytime (ages 0-18 months) Cheney Community Library, 10: a.m.-11:30p.m. City of Medical Lake • Dec. 18, Play and Learn Storytime (ages 2-5) Medical Lake Library, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. City of Airway Heights • Dec. 19, Preschool Play and Learn Storytime (ages 3-5), Air... Full story

  • Cheney Junior Rodeo and Time of Remembrance team up for Saturday's fundraiser at Fairway's GC

    KELSEY LAVELLE, Staff Intern|Updated Dec 12, 2013

    Between the constant bustle and inevitable stress the holidays can bring it can be easy to let the bells of the Salvation Army become background noise and the need for those less fortunate to fall on occupied ears, the Cheney Junior Rodeo Association however remains determined. Since June of this year the Junior Rodeo has partnered with the Time of Remembrance group- who support the families of our fallen heroes, to raise awareness and funds that are split between the two groups. “We try to help the vets out as a group,” She...

  • Do your blood vessels do the twist?

    Dr SCOTT BORGHOLTHAUS, Contributor|Updated Dec 12, 2013

    Ret and Ina were out for a leisurely stroll through the jungle (the back yard). Ret was looking at the twisty branches of the willow trees, when he noticed one was a bit off color. Just as he reached out to get a closer look, Ina shouted, “Stop! That branch slithered.” For years it’s been known that twisty blood vessels in the skin, on the back of one’s leg, was a dreaded sign of aging. When seen in the eye, it’s also been a sign of high blood pressure. For years when I saw these twisty ocular blood vessels, 90 percent o...

  • Looking Back

    Updated Dec 12, 2013

    1 Years Ago Dec. 17, 2003 The inability of public power providers such as the city of Cheney and its light department to negotiate a deal for wholesale electrical rates means residents will not get a proposed 10 percent rate rollback. The familiar Smokey Bear located on the Department of Natural Resources fire danger warning sign at the outskirts of Cheney on SR 904 was recently found to be missing officials reported. With junior Steven Wesley notching a double-double off of 16 points and 10 rebounds, Medical Lake scored a...

  • Mary Lee Adamson

    Updated Dec 12, 2013

    It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Mary Lee Adamson, age 81 On Dec. 8, 2013 in Redmond, Wash. Mary was born in Sprague, Wash. on Nov. 25, 1932, to Mary Iva (Billie) and Ernest (Babe) Melville. She is survived by her daughters, Dianna (Larry) Kadeg, Redmond, Wash; Sharon (Wayne) Logan, Redding, Calif; son, Brian Adamson, Seattle, Wash; sister-in-law Anne Schmidt, Cerratos, Calif; sisters Amy Jo Sooy-Tollefson, Spokane; Erna Jean Bauer, Cheney; brother, Richard (Diane) Melville, Cheney; nine granddaughters and... Full story

  • Michael Sam Hammack

    Updated Dec 12, 2013

    Michael Sam Hammack was born April 2, 1955, in Seattle, Wash., to Sam and Ruth Hammack. He passed away on Nov. 29, 2013. Mike graduated from Queen Anne High School. He entered the Navy in 1973. He served as a diesel engineer, E-3. After the Navy, Mike attended South Seattle Community College in diesel mechanics. In 1987, Mike and his parents moved to Cheney. Mike was preceded in death by his father, Sam Hammack. He is survived by his mother, Ruth Hammack; his siblings Patti...

  • Churches

    Updated Dec 12, 2013

    Emmanuel Lutheran Church All are welcome to worship at Emmanuel Lutheran Church this Sunday, Dec. 15, at 10:30 a.m. for the third Sunday of Advent. Christian Education begins at 9 a.m. Fellowship follows the worship service. Emmanuel invites you to attend our weekly midweek Advent soup and bread supper followed by worship on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Soup supper is served at 6 p.m. followed by Holden Evening Prayer at 6:30. Please plan to join us for our traditional candlelight worship service on Christmas Eve at 10 p.m. St. Paul’s...

  • One cruise led to many for the Van Kurens

    Luella Dow, Contributor|Updated Dec 12, 2013

    Once upon a time there was a husband who said to his wife, "I want to buy you a hot tub." His wife said, "I want a cruise." It was their 25th wedding anniversary. Ruth Van Kuren packed her suitcase. Lawson Van Kuren packed his suitcase. They enjoyed the cruise and began to plan for another. Ruth Van Kuren said, "We went every other year. We started going on 61 day cruises." Their plans and dreams began to grow. They studied Singapore, Malaysia, Cape Town, and Casablanca in...

  • West Plains Briefs

    Updated Dec 12, 2013

    Post office contest underway The Cheney Post Office’s annual Christmas coloring contest is underway, and children ages 3-12 are invited to participate for a chance to win a Christmas stocking full of goodies. To do so, stop by the post office and pick up a picture, color it and return it by Dec. 18. Winners will be contacted immediately thereafter, with stockings handed out Dec. 20 and a chance to have their pictures published in the Cheney Free Press. STCU blood drive Dec. 27 The Spokane Teachers Credit Union’s Cheney bra...

  • Cheney Outreach receives STCU contribution

    Updated Dec 12, 2013

    As part of a “season of giving” marking the start of the holiday season, Spokane Teachers Credit Uunion asked staff at each branch location to choose a non-profit organization to receive a $1,000 contribution from the credit union. Staff at the STCU Cheney branch selected Cheney Outreach Center, which provides emergency assistance for those in need. Operating out of the Wren Pierson Community Center, Cheney Outreach Center can provide gas vouchers, bus tokens, energy assistance and more during times of crisis. “Fa...

  • Bitter cold was Mother Nature's curveball

    PAUL DELANEY, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 12, 2013

    The record bitter cold the Eastern Washington football team played in, and over 6,100 fans endured last Saturday at Roos Field was the kind the area has not seen in nearly two years. Game time temperatures were hovering at 12 degrees – the coldest EWU has ever played – and dipped to single digits according to some local thermometers not long after the finish. And according to EWU meteorology professor and noted long-term weather forecaster, Bob Quinn, the Arctic outbreak whi...

  • EWU engineering students help local senior residents

    Updated Dec 12, 2013

    Students from Eastern Washington University's Mechanical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Technology student club took time out of their busy finals schedule to solve a need for the senior citizens of the Cheney Care Center and Cheney Assisted Living. The Care Center approached the students to design and build playing cardholders. Some residents had a hard time playing cards because they had trouble holding cards and or had limited hand dexterity. The 16 card holding...

  • New Eastern trustee has family legacy with university

    STAFF AND NEWS SERVICE REPORTS|Updated Dec 12, 2013

    Uriel Iñiguez, one of six siblings to graduate from Eastern Washington University and the father of a current EWU student, has been appointed the university’s Board of Trustees by Gov. Jay Inslee, effective Jan. 1, 2014. Iñiguez is the oldest of 11 children, all of whom were first-generation college students – a dream come true for a family whose parents came to this country from Mexico with no formal education. Uriel holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus on human resources from Eastern and he...

  • EWU trustees vote to stick with quarter system

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Dec 12, 2013

    Eastern Washington University’s exploration of changing from quarters to the semester system appears to be over – at least for now. The university’s board of trustees unanimously adopted a resolution at its Dec. 3 meeting stating it believes “it is currently in the best interest of the university to remain on the quarter system.” As part of the resolution, the board did instruct EWU President Dr. Rodolfo Arévalo to work with the faculty senate, associated students and staff to determine if there were university programs that...

  • Cheney's Chet's Flowers named one of top 1,000 florists in nation

    KELSEY LAVELLE, Staff Intern|Updated Dec 12, 2013

    A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, perhaps even a bit sweeter when they come from the recently honored Chet's Flowers of Cheney. A month ago a package arrived at the door of this local shop containing an award from the international flower delivery service FTD, Chet's had been selected as one of the top 1,000 florists out of the over 40,000 national florists and floral shops that partner with FTD. "We'd been having a rough day," said Becky Jeffries who runs the...

  • Medical Lake City Council tackles budget, salary items

    Updated Dec 12, 2013

    The Tuesday, Dec. 3 Medical Lake City Council meeting saw the second hearing on the 2014 budget and the first reading of a salary ordinance. The city is proposing spending $9.29 million in 2014, an increase of about $200,00 over 2013 budge. The current expense fund is set to increase from $2,930,148 to $3,230,629 in 2014. Property and excise taxes are the largest sources of revenue for the general fund. According to an email from City Administrator Doug Ross, the council called for the first reading of ordinance 1033 which...

  • Lamp light's glow

    Updated Dec 12, 2013

    Frigid temperatures didn't keep a nice crowd of over 100 Cheney children and adults from enjoying singing carols and lighting the city's Christmas tree at the annual tree lighting event last Thursday. Members of the Cheney Youth Commission stood by to serve hot cocoa, coffee and cookies at the Cheney Library....

  • Contracts approved by council

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Dec 12, 2013

    Monetary issues past and present topped the agenda at the Cheney City Council’s Dec. 10 meeting. The council approved a resolution authorizing Mayor Tom Trulove to sign a new four-year contract with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The contract gives a 1.5 pay increase to the city’s electrical crew in 2014, 2 percent in 2015, 2.5 percent in 2016 and 2.75 percent in the final year of the agreement. The contract also changes some of the language in the former agreement the city considered “pr...

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