Looking Back

10 Years Ago

June 6, 2003

Citizens and Eastern Washington University students were prepared to have one more opportunity to testify on the proposed change in Cheney’s zoning code that would limit the number of non-related people who could occupy a home.

Discussion was to commence on whether the city of Medical Lake would help provide health care to low income individuals and families in the area.

Brian Levin-Stankevich was named as provost and vice president for academic affairs at EWU, a role that he previously served in an interim basis.

The Medical Lake doubles team of Brandon Vasquez and Matt Stevenson rallied from a 2-5 deficit in the first set to win 7-6 and then strung together 11 straight wins to win the state championship with a 6-0 victory over Connell.

20 Years Ago

June 3, 1993

Cheney police had few leads in the disappearance of 6-year-old Aaron Harthcock of Cheney who was reported missing May 27. Authorities were beginning to focus on a stranger abduction following reports of a boy matching Harthcock’s description getting into a white 1970s sedan.

As Fairchild Air Force Base supporters spoke to the base closure commission members regarding why the facility should remain open, it was confirmed that the Air Force was planning on making it one of three tanker-only bases with B-52s moving.

With EWU’s budget allocation for the 1993-95 binennium set at $103.9 million, administrators were planning how to deal with potential cuts. In order for the school to maintain its present levels of service it would require nearly $111 million.

For a second straight year Cheney High School’s 1,600-meter relay team of Joe White, Trace Dotson, Josh Johnson and Chris Gardea won a state title in the event.

30 Years Ago

May 26, 1983

Ground was broken at the corner of SR 904 and Cheney-Spokane Road for an addition to F&M Business Center that would include a restaurant, cosmetic shop and casual clothing.

Cheney’s Centennial Float was disqualified from competition at Spokane’s Lilac Festival after experiencing motor problems. Float officials had hoped to have the issue fixed in time to take it to Moses Lake.

Local residents, including the American Legion Post 72 and its Auxillary, took some time to clean Cheney’s Fairview Cemetery.

A record crowd estimated at over 65,000 attended Fairchild Air Force Base’s annual Aerospace Day open house that included displays of various military aircraft, plus a Northwest Orient Airlines’ Boeing 747 jumbo jet.

Cheney advanced 13 athletes to the state 2A track meet at Tacoma’s Lincoln High behind efforts by Chris Glenn’s discus throw of 162 feet, 2 inches and Carol Van Kuren’s 129-3 mark also in the discus, both were new school records.

40 Years Ago

May 31, 1973

Missing from the Free Press archives.

50 Years Ago

May 31, 1963

Fire destroyed the abandoned farm home of the estate of Harry Olson located near the Nike site two miles north of Medical Lake. ”The two story house was completely engulfed in flames by the time we arrived,” First District 3 Chief Art Bean said.

Two teenagers from Spokane suffered facial cuts when their sports car overturned on Marshall Road, four miles east of Cheney. The Washington State Patrol reported the 17-year-old driver, Michael Gahar, skidded broadside off a curve and ripped out several guardrail posts before rolling over. Gahar and Steven Black, also 17, were both taken to Deaconess Hospital for treatment.

Danny Ozark, manager of the Spokane Indians Triple-A baseball team, along with a pair of Pacific Coast League umpires, took part in a Little League baseball clinic in Medical Lake.

 

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