Looking Back

10 Years Ago

July 15, 2004

An increase in property taxes was the Cheney City Council’s answer to counter tax slashing Initiative 864. When that measure failed to get on the ballot the council decided to rescind the tax increase.

A variety of park construction projects, including those at Coney Island and Shepard Field were expected to go into limbo while Medical Lake officials waited to find out from where funding might come.

Tyler Barnes from Prineville, Ore. scored an 80 point ride on his horse, Jubilee and edged Cheney’s Ryan Gray for the bareback title at the Cheney Rodeo.

20 Years Ago

July 14, 1994

Cheney businesses were about to receive their retail report card from the Cheney Chamber of Commerce and find out how things have changed over the past decade.

Policeman, Cpl. Karl Morrison, was named as the head of Cheney’s D.A.R.E. program.

Winners at the 1994 Cheney Rodeo included Lucky Rowland and Ron Halverson (bull riding), Chance Dixon (saddle bronc), Matt Weishoff (bareback), Lisa Mainey (barrel racing), Mike Beers and Dee Pickett (team roping), Ron Shelton (steer wrestling) and Trent Walls (calf roping).

The Cheney II Junior American Legion baseball team improved its league record to 13-1 but they still trailed undefeated (14-0) Mead.

30 Years Ago

July 12, 1984

A street dance behind Seattle First National Bank in downtown Cheney was just one of the events scheduled to be part of activities associated with the 17th annual Cheney Rodeo.

Six entrants, including JoAnn Konis, Sandra Turnbow, Marianne Lee Waggoner, Marsha Goodwin, Mary Shannon Steele and Michelle Guhlke were all vying to become queen of the Cheney Rodeo.

The Seattle Seahawks, along with new head coach Chuck Knox, were set to arrive July 14 to begin their summer training camp at Eastern Washington University.

40 Years Ago

July 18, 1974

Cheney residents could expect rate increases averaging about 80 cents per bill for water and sewer services to cover rising maintenance costs.

EWU’s director of college relations, John Lothspeich, announced he would seek a seat in the Washington state House of Representatives being vacated by Jerry Kopet.

The entry list had grown to over 100 teams for the world’s first racquet ball championships being sponsored by EWU and staged at the Spokane Elks Club.

50 Years Ago

July 10, 1964

William Riggs, 34, was hired as the new Superintendent of Cheney Schools, replacing Richard Langston who had recently resigned to accept a position at Pacific Lutheran University. Riggs would earn $14,500 yearly.

Gary Ableman and Chris Langton each had three hits while Neal Hicks pitched the Cheney AAA baseball team to a 6-5 win over Medical Lake and took over first place in the league.