Looking Back

10 Years Ago

March 23, 2006

Both Cheney and Medical Lake voters overwhelmingly approved school district maintenance and operation levies. Cheney voters approved by a 67 percent margin, a three-year measure providing nearly $18 million. Medical Lake also approved a three-year deal with a 71 percent yes vote.

The Cheney Planning Commission was hearing testimony over plans to build a Bi-Mart store in the city.

Cheney rolled over Rogers 8-0 and Shadle Park 7-0 to improve to 2-0 in Greater Spokane League soccer play with Mitch Weller and Devin Merrill leading the way with multiple-goal games.

20 Years Ago

March 21, 1996

The city of Cheney was grappling with what direction the community might expand if projections that 3,000 new residents would come to town in the next 20 years proved true.

The Phi Gamma Delta fraternity was the latest addition to a group of fraternities and sororities that will call Eastern Washington University home in 1996.

Two members of the Cheney Blackhawks’ football team, Bart Olson and Richard DeMulling, were named to the East All-State football team that will play the West in Everett, June 28.

30 Years Ago

March 27, 1986

The Cheney City Council made an abrupt about-face and joined other councils on the West Plains in supporting a variety of measures of the Coalition of Cities, including urging Spokane County Commissioners to protect the aquifer.

Medical Lake was in the focus of television cameras from KXLY which brought its “Four Listens” series to the city to interview Mayor George Ramsey.

The Cheney boys’ and girls’ track teams each finished second in meets, losing to North Central but defeating Lewis and Clark of the Greater Spokane League. Jolene Lunke and Cathy Van Kuren each had a pair of event wins for the girls, while Jeff VanHorne won twice for the boys.

40 Years Ago

March 23, 1976

Twenty-four cars of a 153-car Burlington Northern freight train derailed one mile south of Cheney causing an estimated $100,000 worth of damage, but no injuries.

The Eastern Washington State College Board of Trustees’ position that former college president Emerson Shuck’s departure was “not a firing” was met with skepticism at the group’s monthly meeting. The repeated insistence from chairman Jerome Page that Shuck took voluntary vacation and leave was met with laughter from many of the 100 faculty members in attendance.

The EWSC basketball team was ranked No. 1 in the Evergreen Conference in final offensive statistics averaging 85 points a game. Ron Cox led the league in scoring with 20.5 points per game and Jeff McAlister was No. 10 with a 12.4 average.

50 Years Ago

March 16, 1966

Six seniors and one junior were among the contestants for float queen in Medical Lake and included: Mary Crossman, Sue Daffern, Diana Douglass, Christine Johnson, Lee Nichols, Dixie Oliver and Linda Von Lehe.