Looking Back

10 Years Ago

March 24, 2005

Pathways to Progress executive director Charlie Dotson met with the Cheney Planning Commission and outlined a new proposal to market the community to business and potential new residents.

Medical Lake Superintendent of Schools Pam Veltri outlined items in the planned May 17 bond issue that would fund building a new elementary school.

Medical Lake boy’s tennis coach Leroy Lemaster reported 29 players turned out in an attempt to make the team that won the 2004 State 2A championship. Zak Nelson, the current No. 1 singles player was one of the top returnees.

20 Years Ago

March 23, 1995

Eastern Washington University faculty members voted 187-87 in an advisory ballot in favor of a new collective bargaining agreement. The matter will now be taken under consideration by the school’s board of trustees.

Susan Mattoon, a first grade teacher at Windsor Elementary School, was named as the KHQ/Eastern Washington University School of Education “Teacher of the Month.” Mattoon was honored in an assembly and presented with an award by news anchor Randy Shaw.

Cheney High School wrestlers Phil Nickle, Josh Gilbert, Tom Jud, Joel Stewart, Johnny Williams, Jacinto Shamp, Chung Wei Kuo and Kris Cameron were all honored with season awards.

30 Years Ago

March 28, 1985

There is every possibility that Cheney schoolteachers would take part in a one-day walkout April 17 to protest Gov. Booth Gardner’s spending freeze. “Gardner led us to believe this would be the year of education,” Cheney Education President Arlene Helsing said. “Now we find that was strictly lip service.”

EWU’s board of trustees reaffirmed their commitment to raising faculty pay, which currently lagged about 5 percent behind the University of Washington.

Randy Hartman scored three goals while Mark Kiver added another pair as the Cheney Blackhawks earned a 6-2 soccer victory over East Valley.

40 Years Ago

March 27, 1975

A special committee was established by the Eastern Washington State College Board of Trustees to determine the fate of the Memorial Fieldhouse, a building that was to be vacated following the opening of the Phase III Special Events Building.

Two straight losses, 75-72 to Mark Morris and 51-35 to Washington of Tacoma, dropped Medical Lake into a sixth place finish at the state 2A basketball championships at the University of Puget Sound. The Cardinals’ Charlie Yankus set a tournament record with 26 rebounds in the Mark Morris game.

50 Years Ago

March 26, 1965

Residents voiced their concerns to the Cheney City Council over the proposed Job Corps Conservation Center at Turnbull Wildlife Refuge. Those testifying were wondering how a group of some 200 “underprivileged, undereducated and of all races,” would fit into the local community.

A meeting to present information on the formation of a Cheney public library was being planned for City Hall according to publicity agent Louise Stearns.

Some 200 swimmers participated in an AAU meet at the EWSC Fieldhouse pool with diver Tom Stone being the lone local winner from the Eastern Washington Recreation swim team.