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By JOHN McCALLUM Editor Devry Bursch, Charlie Buckner and Alexxis Bowes answered in unison when asked if they were ready to get into the adult world of work and budgeting - "No!" Understandable, since all three girls are eighth-graders at Westwood Middle School. But unlike most of their fellow students, the three feel more equipped to deal with the adult world, thanks to their participation in Junior Achievement and a recent JA Financial Park sponsored by Boeing Employees...
Westwood Middle School students got the opportunity to spend several hours on Dec. 9 feeling what is like to be an adult with financial planning responsibilities at Junior Achievement's mobile Financial Park, held at the Spokane Shriner's Event Center in Geiger Heights. Students were given iPads with information about their assumed adult identities, and then with the help of financial professionals, spent time at 16 interactive kiosks that provided a variety of household... Full story
CHENEY Dec. 11 Third-degree theft was reported on the 300 block of Oak Street. A U.S. flag was taken. Dec. 13 Nicholas L. Evans, 22, was arrested for third-degree theft on the 100 block of West First Street. He was shoplifting. John N. Osborne, 22, was arrested for third-degree theft on the 100 block of First Street. Suspicious circumstances were reported on the 2400 block of University Lane. A mailbox was possibly broken into. Dec. 15 Incorrigible youth was reported on the 1000 block of Salnave Road. There was disrupting of...
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office is offering two introductory women’s self-defense courses on Jan. 14, 2017. The first session runs from 8 a.m. – noon and the second is from 1-5 p.m. Both classes are at the Sheriff’s Office training center located at 6011 North Chase Road, Newman Lake. The course teaches basic women’s self-defense tactics including deterrents, avoidance and detection of personal attack. Students will also learn basic defense maneuvers. The courses will be led by Sheriff’s Office defensive tactics ins...
Washington State Patrol troopers responded to a pair of accidents on Interstate 90 near Medical Lake last Saturday. At approximately 2:41 a.m., troopers responded to a single-vehicle accident near milepost 265 about five miles south of Medical Lake. According to the State Patrol collision memo, a 2012 Freightliner semi-truck driven by Tilek Sarbashov, 28, was eastbound on I-90 when he lost control of the vehicle in icy conditions, struck the guardrail and then jackknifed in the roadway. Sarbashov was not injured. The patrol...
Feed Cheney serving holiday dinner Dec. 26 The December Feed Cheney meal will be the day after Christmas, with a hot dinner served family style and groceries to take home. This month there will also be new jackets available, and the clothing bank will be open from 5–7 p.m. Feed Cheney is free to anyone who attends, and is typically held the last Monday of the month at the Wren Pierson Community Center at 615 Fourth St. at 5:30 p.m. For more information or to volunteer, visit the Feed Cheney web site at www.feedcheney.com o...
Cheney Community Church Cheney Community Church will hold a Christmas Eve candlelight service, Saturday, Dec. 24 at 5 p.m. The public is cordially invited to attend. Our Sunday worship service will be at its regular time, 10 a.m., Christmas Day, Dec. 25. Most ministry groups are postponed for the week following Christmas, but will resume in January. We extend warm wishes to everyone for a Merry Christmas, and fulfilling New Year, 2017. “And the angel said to the shepherds: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of g...
Bill Crippen, 76, of Cheney, joined his mother and father Lelah and Lloyd Crippen, his wife Jody Crippen and son Richard Allen Crippen in heaven on Dec. 9, 2016. He had a long battle with dementia. He is survived by his two sons, William (Willie) Crippen Jr. and Shawn Crippen both of Cheney, his three sisters and brother-in-law Donna Kilgore, Judy Prestguard and Georgie Rist and John Reitmeier. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Rashelle (and Chris) Spring, Rebekka... Full story
All events are free unless posted otherwise. To get your event or meeting in the weekly What’s Happening section send an email with date, time, location and event to jmac@cheneyfreepress.com. Cheney • Dec. 23, Light Fitness Hour (adults 50+), Wren Pierson Community Center, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. • Dec. 23, Baby Play & Learn Storytime (ages 0–18 months), 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. • Dec. 23, Texas Hold’em (adults 50+), Wren Pierson Community Center, 1 – 3 p.m. • Dec. 26, Country Quilters (adults 50+), Wren Pierson Community Center, 1... Full story
1 Years Ago Dec. 21, 2006 Students at Michael Anderson Elementary School organized a clothing and food drive at the school to spread some holiday cheer to the less fortunate in the community. Sixty children were chosen to take part in the “Fantasy Flight,” bringing the North Pole to life for kids. Mitch Eggett brought home a Blackhawk title in wrestling, winning the 171-pound bracket with a 9-0 decision over his Mariner High School opponent at the Sundome Mat Classic in Yakima. 20 Years Ago Dec. 26, 1996 Connie Dakes, a grad...
Ethel Laird (left) holds a teddy bear she received from Connie Provoncha (right) on Dec. 16 at a Medical Lake Food Bank giveaway. Laird was also given a quilt to take home. Provoncha, along with Sally Bactchel, Judy Gross and other members of the St. Anne's quilting group make children's quilts and donate them to the Food Bank, St. Margaret's Shelter, Sacred Heart Hospital and the Catholic Charities of Spokane....
The article “Airway heights gets $2.3 million transportation grant,” (CFP 12/08/16) seems benign enough, but a more substance discussion of state money lies behind it. In this divisive political time, it can be rather difficult to have an actual discussion on the merits of any infrastructure plan. Do we raise money via a gas tax and increase tab fees, do we let private companies take control and create tolls on all our roads, or do we just scrap improvements altogether? It is apparent that this loop project for our area needs...
Note: This column contains sensitive information about the existence of Santa Claus. Adults should silently read this piece in the presence of young children. In the last couple of weeks, some parents have probably had their children ask them that one question that is difficult to answer. No, not “where do babies come from?” This question pertains to the holidays, specifically one of its most famous icons. “Is Santa Claus real?” During Christmas time, the image of Santa Claus is everywhere. He’s on food labels, toy packaging...
For years at about this time of year, the Cheney Free Press has encouraged readers to make sure to do what they can to help those in the West Plains community who might be in search of food, gifts for Christmas and any number of other needs. There are always many more in need than the available resources can serve. Recently, a number of staff members have led by example by working with different programs such as Cheney Outreach and Toys for Tots; just two of untold numbers of examples of those who try to lend a helping hand....
Eastern Washington University's Downtown Student Galley will kick off 2017 with Jake Prendez's "Churro Know My Life" exhibit, which runs from Jan. 9 to Feb. 13. Prendez is an advocate for youth empowerment and the power of positive reinforcement. As a youth he was placed in special education classes due to undiagnosed dyslexia. He became involved in gang culture but turned his life around after meeting some positive role models. Prendez received his bachelor's degree in...
Long time Cheney insurance business owner John Boots said the time was right to retire. Tom Benzel from Airway Heights with Buck West and Affiliates will pick up where Boots left off. For Boots, it will be a move on to other chores and lists. “There’s lots of things that have been put off over the years,” he said. “You keep thinking, ‘Well I’m going to get to that, ‘boy I should probably get that done,’” the 69-year-old Boots added. “Now I don’t have any excuse.” Boots, who c...
A long chapter in the life of Noreen Pederson closed Nov. 30 when Airway Heights' venerable and iconic restaurant, The Buckhorn Inn, changed hands in a sale. The matriarch of the family, who owned the eatery along U.S. Highway 2 since 1981 with her husband Gary, and who worked in every imaginable part of the establishment since 1974, chose to have her son, Matthew Pederson, speak on their behalf over parting ways with a place that meant so much in her life. "Mom began working...
By AL STOVER Staff Reporter The Medical Lake school board closed 2016 at its Dec. 13 meeting with a few housekeeping items. In the reorganization of the board, Rod Von Lehe was re-elected school board president. Peggy Schweikhardt will remain vice president, Ron Cooper continues as the board’s Washington Interscholastic Activities Association liaison and Felicia Jensen was appointed as the legislative liaison. In other items, the board held the first readings of policies “Homeless Students Enrollment Rights and Ser...
The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) officers at Cheney High School received $1,500 from Spokane Teachers Credit Union's Hundred Dollar Project for coordinating, raising money and awareness for a local charity. According to a news release, the Cheney students coordinated a school-wide dodgeball tournament to raise $697 and awareness for the March of Dimes. STCU's Hundred Dollar Project encourages teens to "start a movement, launch an innovation, brighten a life or...
One of Caitlin Butcher's passions is theater. Butcher, who is 11 years old and attends Medical Lake Middle School, saw her first show, "Annie," when she was seven. She loves to watch dramas and occasionally performs with Spokane's Christian Youth Theater. In fact, she is getting ready to audition for the theater's adaptation of "The Lion King Jr." in January. In August, Butcher and her family traveled to New York to watch a Broadway production of "Wicked" and she had the...
The Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake held its Wreaths Across America ceremony, Dec. 19 - rescheduled from Dec. 17 because of weather conditions. Hundreds of veterans, families and volunteers were on hand to lay wreaths across gravestones and honor those who served and sacrificed. Right: John Davis lays the wreath that represents the over 83,000 servicemen and servicewomen who are prisoners of war or missing in action. Top: Noah Moureaux and his grandmother...
Cheney, ML food banks receive Avista assistance Non-profits in Avista’s service areas in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Alaska will be able to help more families in need this holiday season with over $500,000 in seasonal contributions made by Avista Corporation and the Avista Foundation. The support announced Dec. 15 will help fund programs, including food banks, energy assistance, shelter and clothing and holiday meals. According to a news release, $43,351 went to regional food banks. That included $400 donations t...
It may not be readily obvious to residents, but the city of Cheney has a good bit of vacant land on its hands. That is according to information from the Spokane County Assessor’s Office, and presented to the Cheney Planning Commission at its Dec. 12 meeting as part of its look at the city’s comprehensive plan. The assessor puts Cheney’s vacant land at 33 percent, but it comes with a caveat, senior planner Brett Lucas told the commission. “That doesn’t mean that land is developable,” Lucas said, noting that assessment...
One of Ivanna Lomas’ duties as the Medical Lake Parks and Recreation coordinator is to organize the city’s youth sports program. This includes getting equipment ready, managing the registration and finding volunteer coaches for teams. That last part can be a little difficult as the department is always looking for volunteer coaches. To boost numbers in 2017, the department will allow a parent who coaches a sports team to waive their child’s $40 activity fee. During a Dec. 6 City Council meeting, Councilwoman Jessica Rober...
The Cheney City Council made quick work of a long list of agenda items at its Dec. 13 meeting, including final passage of the city’s 2017 budget. The council has held two workshops and three public hearings on the $26,345,400 budget since Sept. 19. In presenting the budget to the council for final passage, Finance Director Cindy Niemeier said her office had received no additional comments from citizens. Before the council moves into 2017, there were some remaining items to be addressed from this year, beginning with the purch...
