Looking Back

10 Years Ago

Sept. 18, 2003

Initial totals from a ballot measure that would restore funding to Cheney parks through an increase in utility taxes showed it to be passing by over 200 votes. As of Sept. 16, with 1,257 of Cheney’s voters casting ballots, the measure was passing 732-525.

Juvenile crime nearly doubled in Cheney according to a recent report from the Cheney Police Department with records showing 41 arrests as compared to 22 for the same time the previous year.

A 50-year-old New Hampshire man, whose identity was not released, stood in front of a train on tracks between Anderson Road and First Street in Cheney and was struck and killed in an apparent suicide.

Chris Hanson scored a crucial late touchdown to help deliver Medical Lake to a 21-12 nonleague football victory over the Quincy Jackrabbits at Holliday Field.

20 Years Ago

Sept. 16, 1993

Enrollment in the Cheney School District reached 3,486 according to figures released by officials. The number was an increase of 55 over the previous year.

Demolition and the remodeling at Cheney High School, which had begun in July, was proceeding on schedule with crew removing asbestos from the 100 Building. The entire project, which included a new gymnasium, was anticipated to be complete Nov. 1, 1994.

Only 20 percent of the registered voters in Spokane County went to the polls in the recent primary election where Joe Martella and Don Harmon were top vote getters for the Airway Heights mayor position. In Medical Lake’scouncil race, Ward Kaplan led all contenders for Council Position 1 with a 149-69 edge over John Higgins.

Adam Tait rushed for 76 yards on 17 carries, scoring both Cheney touchdowns in the Blackhawks’ 16-13 season-opening nonleague football victory over the Moscow Bears.

30 Years Ago

Sept. 15, 1983

Cheney Education Association and the Cheney School District administration drew closer with tentative agreement on six more items in dispute, but still remained apart on nearly a dozen others as the teachers’ strike entered its ninth day.

Fine fall weather made for a perfect way for the Medical Lake Community Church to celebrate its centennial as over 250 people attended a potluck.

John Bledsoe scored Cheney’s lone touchdown, one of two catches he made on the night, as the Blackhawks scored in the second half to defeat Connell 7-0 in a nonleague football game in Cheney.

John Holmes scored two times and rushed for 137 yards on 26 carries as Medical Lake defeated Riverside 23-16 in the season opening game for each team.

40 Years Ago

Sept. 13, 1973

Missing from our archives.

50 Years Ago

Sept. 13, 1963

Omer Pence, a longtime faculty member at Eastern Washington State College and a civic leader in Cheney, passed away at age 78 at Spokane’s Riverview Terrace retirement home. Pence, who retired in 1954 after 29 years at the school, was a Boy Scout leader for 40 years.

A motion to extend the contract of Cheney Schools Superintendent Dr. R.D. Langston was approved after lengthy discussion in a 3-2 vote by the school board at its regular meeting.

EWSC head coach Dave Holmes, and his assistants, Brent Wooten, Bob Anderson and graduate assistant Dave Crowell were busy putting as much as possible into the 11 practices that remained until the Savages were to meet Linfield College in a Sept. 21 night game at Woodward Field.