Articles from the May 21, 2015 edition


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  • Looking Back

    Updated May 21, 2015

    1 Years Ago May 19, 2005 Groundbreaking for Cheney’s new Holiday Inn Express was scheduled for July according to developers Randall Gillingham, Dick Vandervert, Steve Emtman and Brian Anderson. An arsonist set fire to the police car of an off-duty officer and a boat as law enforcement and fire officials chased after a series of blazes in Medical Lake. Medical Lake captured its 13th Northeast A League boys’ tennis championship in the last 14 years under head coach Leroy Lemaster. 20 Years Ago May 18, 1995 The Cheney Free Pres...

  • What's Happening on the West Plains

    Updated May 21, 2015

    City of Cheney • May 22, Baby Play and Learn Storytime (ages 0 — 18 months), community library, 10:30 — 11:30 a.m. • May 25, Memorial Day — All city offices closed. Garbage pickup one day late. • May 25, Memorial Day Observance Ceremony, Fairview Cemetery, 11 a.m. • May 26, Book Discussion Group Meeting, “I am Malala,” community library, 7 — 8 p.m. • May 27, Toddler Play and Learn Storytime (ages 1 1/2 — 3), community library, 10:30 — 11:30 a.m. • May 26, Spokane County Library Board of Trustees Meeting, community library,... Full story

  • House sitting turns complicated in StageWest's 'Bedside Manners'

    Updated May 21, 2015

    StageWest Community Theatre proudly presents "Bedside Manners" by Derek Benfield, produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. and directed by Chris Booth. When Ferris reluctantly agreed to look after his sister's seedy country inn while she's on vacation, he did not anticipate all the wild comings-and-goings involving her affairs. Over the course of his house sitting, Ferris becomes engulfed in lies, confusions and bewilderments as he tries to prevent the...

  • Medical Lake seniors showcase artwork

    LUELLA DOW AND LEA SIMPSON, Contributors|Updated May 21, 2015

    On a quiet, residential street in the little town of Medical Lake is an art gallery. It was the scene of a real live art exhibit this past Saturday afternoon. The gallery belongs to Dennis Smith, a local ceramic artist who kindly offered his studio to Madilyn Lewan, the friendly and outgoing organizer of the exhibit. Lewan, along with two senior classmates at Medical Lake High School, chose to make their senior final project a showcase of their work. Lewan made it happen,...

  • Thank you, Cheney Care Center for luncheon

    Updated May 21, 2015

    I would like to comment on the Mother’s Day Luncheon at the Cheney Care Center on Sunday, May 10. I was invited to attend with my mom, as a guest and was amazed at how pleasant the whole event was. Everyone was made to feel special by the wonderful staff. The residents enjoyed being seated, as they would have been with reservations in a nice restaurant. The staff prepared an amazing meal that was enjoyed by all. Cheney is so fortunate to have a Care Center that is so personal for everyone. The staff is professional, f...

  • Youth sports is more than just about winning, it's about growth

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated May 21, 2015

    If you’re a sports fan and are looking for something to take your mind off the bad news that’s happening in athletics, look no further than in your neighborhood — and I’m not referring to the college students throwing flying discs in the street. Teams and individual athletes from both Cheney and Medical Lake high schools have had successful seasons this year, including several district and state championships. With spring sports winding down, we’ll soon be seeing summer clubs hit the pool, soccer pitch or field, including...

  • Love is displayed when we help those in need of it

    Updated May 21, 2015

    In the May 7 edition of the Cheney Free Press Mr. Norm Luther states that Jesus never talked about homosexuality. Mr. Luther may be right, to my knowledge Jesus never used the word homosexual. Mr. Luther uses this detail as justification for his feeling that the Supreme Court of the U.S. should allow same sex marriages. Unfortunately for Mr. Luther, Jesus does describe what a marriage is in Mark, chapter 10. Please read it. There is no misunderstanding that Jesus is talking about marriage as a union between a man and a...

  • EWU player departure needs better perspective

    Updated May 21, 2015

    Quick — somebody get the name of the bus that just ran over Eastern Washington University women’s basketball head coach Wendy Schuller and her program. And get the names of those individuals who tossed her under that careening, out-of-control coach. Wait, we have those — Cece Pearl, Marly Anderson, Haley Saner, Kiana Brown and Jade Redmon. Schuller’s coaching style was implicated as the reason, or part of the reason, these five players chose to leave the Eagles program en masse in a story published May 14 in the Spokesm...

  • West Plains Briefs

    Updated May 21, 2015

    ML Memorial Day service The Medical Lake Cemetery Association invites the community to a Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 25 at 9:30 a.m.. The cemetery is located at 21419 West Thorpe Road, off of Brooks Road. Contact Janice Radmer at 299-5269 for more information. Veterans Cemetery ceremony The community is cordially invited to attend the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs Memorial Day Ceremony at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery on Monday, May 25. A musical prelude will begin at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony... Full story

  • Cheney School District provides summer feeding program

    Updated May 21, 2015

    The Cheney School District is once again sponsoring the Seamless Summer Feeding Program for Children. The program provides meals for children 18 years of age and younger at no charge. All meals are available without regard to race, color, national origin, sex or disability. Meals will be available at the following locations and times. Cheney High School, 406 North Sixth St., will serve meals from June 23 through July 28, with the exception of Friday, July 3 when the school will be closed. Breakfasts will be served from 8 – 9...

  • Kenady creates healthy Hobbit House for Books2Eat

    PAUL DELANEY, Staff Reporter|Updated May 21, 2015

    Homeschooler Bradley Kenady of Medical Lake didn't end up having the winning entry in this year's Eastern Washington University Books2Eat competition but it certainly was interesting and drew its share of attention. The 12-year-old's inspiration for his entry centered around his love of the book, "The Hobbit," by J. R. R. Tolkien. Kenady broke the mold of concocting generally sweet treats with his Hobbit House creation built from a loaf of Italian bread, lettuce, broccoli and...

  • CHS April students of the month

    Updated May 21, 2015

    Cheney High School officials have released the names of students selected as April Students of the Month. They are listed as follows along with the department they were selected in and their class standing. Siera Alsup, social studies, senior; Mary McCombie, social studies, senior; Yashuel Campos, math, senior; Olivia Cook, science, senior; Ashley Horton, engineering design, freshman; Anya Howko-Johnson, world languages, freshman; Francesca Iellamo, health and fitness,...

  • Eastern seniors to present visual design projects in a two-week exhibition

    PAUL DELANEY, Staff Reporter|Updated May 21, 2015

    Transferring the skills learned in college to the real world is one of the goals graduates want to have mastered by the time they are finished with their education, even when it comes to art. A trio of Eastern Washington University seniors who are wrapping up their degrees in the bachelor of fine arts program in visual design will put their skills on display - literally - in a two-week long exhibition of their work at the EWU Art Gallery. The gallery is located in the Art Buil...

  • Watchel receives "Spirit of Theater" drama award

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated May 21, 2015

    Skyler Watchel sat quietly as Cardinal Players adviser Janine Warrington and drama teacher Heidi Peterson gave a speech about the qualities and characteristics of the student who would receive the 2015 "Spirit of Theater" award. When Warrington announced Watchel's name, all eyes in the audience turned to him as he put his face in his hands. Watchel was one of many students honored as the Medical Lake High School drama department it's celebrated third annual T.O.M.L (Top of...

  • Cheney schools seeing end of year growth spurt

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated May 21, 2015

    At a time when enrollment tends to decline, full time equivalent student counts in the Cheney School District continue to grow. In a report presented to the Cheney school board at its regular meeting last Wednesday, Kassidy Probert, the district’s executive director of finance, said enrollment numbers for May were the second highest this school year, coming in at 4,180 full time equivalent students. Normally, the enrollment trend at this point in the school year is more down than up. “In the last two months we’ve actua...

  • Many seats, few candidates

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated May 21, 2015

    Twenty-five candidates filed for 21 West Plains seats up for election at the close of the filing period last Friday, meaning most seats will have one candidate for voters to chose from in the general election, Nov. 3. There will be several races to watch, of which the most interesting could shape up to be for two of three slots on the Cheney School Board. That number might have been three, but incumbent Rick Mount withdr ew his name late Friday afternoon. Mount, who has served since 1996, cited several reasons for his...

  • Good rides

    Jay McNall, c|Updated May 21, 2015

    Organizers of the second annual Stars, Stripes, Boots & Spurs Car Show held in Cheney last Sunday said the event was a great success with 38 entries and 12 trophies awarded. Trophies were awarded in Works in Progress, Customs, Classics, Vans, 4x4, Jeeps, Pickups (pictured above bottom), Antiques-pre 1940 (pictured above top), foreign, Rat Rods, V.W. and Drag Cars. The Antiques-pre 1940 trophy winner is a 1925 Model T owned by Roy Combs while the Pickup trophy winner is a 1957...

  • Airway Heights City Council approves police records management contract with county

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated May 21, 2015

    The Airway Heights Police Department is taking its partnership with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office to a different level. At its meeting Monday night, the Airway Heights City Council approved several items, one of which was a contract for the Police Department with the Sheriff’s Office’s to use their new records management system in 2016. Police Chief Lee Bennett explained that the department had been using Spillman Technologies’ Millennium software since 2003. Spillman stopped supporting Millennium in 2007 and Bennett...

  • Airway Heights Planning Commission says 'yes' to Highway 2 plan

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated May 21, 2015

    At its May 13 meeting, the Airway Heights Planning Commission finally passed a resolution recommending City Council approve the Highway 2 Safety and Revitalization Vision concept plan. The council approved the plan at its May 18 meeting. Development Services Director Derrick Braaten presented a draft of the plan in November. It included details from previous plans as well as concepts for a shared use path, increased vegetation, bike paths and a unified theme on both sides of the highway. The project encompasses the stretch...

  • Cheney reviewing Reid School demolition application

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated May 21, 2015

    The city of Cheney is currently holding a public comment period on an application from Bernardo Wills Architects on behalf of Eastern Washington University to demolish the former Robert Reid Laboratory School on campus. Built in 1959, Robert Reid Laboratory School first served the university's education department as a place where education students could observe teaching methods through windows on an observation deck. Up until its closure in 2009, the school was a collaborati...

  • Medical Lake Deer committee counts 27 deer in April census

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated May 21, 2015

    The Medical Lake Citizens Deer Advisory Committee recently conducted another deer count within city limits where they found 27 deer: two bucks, 10 doe and four yearlings — deer that are between 1-2 years old. This is up from last year’s number where Candace Bennett, Washington State Fish and Wildlife conflict specialist counted only 17 deer — 10 doe and seven yearlings — in the city. “This year’s count went well,” Bennett said. “I’m still waiting to hear from Eastern State Hospital and learn what they counted.” The com...

  • Volunteering to fix the 'whole family unit'

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated May 21, 2015

    Dealing with domestic violence can be complex and costly, let alone emotional. Since January 2013, A.R.M.S., Abuse Recovery Ministry Services, has been serving as the Cheney Municipal Court’s domestic violence advocate at no charge, handling cases ranging from assault to verbal abuse — where violence often begins. Saturday, May 30, some Cheney residents are hoping the rest of the community will help A.R.M.S. monetarily battle the violence that rips families apart by attending an auction at Amazing Grace Fellowship. Acc...

  • Clarifications and corrections

    Updated May 21, 2015

    A May 14 West Plains Brief stated Feed Cheney events take place the fourth Monday of the month. Feed Cheney’s meals actually take place on the last Monday of the month. As such, next month’s Feed Cheney will take place June 29. A May 7 story about Silver Lake milfoil mitigation contained incorrect information stating the Washington State Department of Ecology will provide property owners with potable water if the chemical 2,4-D is used to treat the lake due to the ineffectivness of Clearcast after the two treatments. It...

  • Wash down

    Jill Weiszmann|Updated May 21, 2015

    Kids got a chance to operate a fire hose during the Cheney Fire Department’s open house last Saturday. A steady flow of residents talked with firefighters, checked out their equipment from ladder trucks to medical kits and enjoyed hot dogs, popcorn and cold sodas....

  • Fire merger talks heat up

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated May 21, 2015

    At its Monday meeting, the Airway Heights City Council agreed to allow the Public Safety committee to reconvene with Spokane County Fire District 10’s board of commissioners in June. The two groups will meet to discuss different options for further consolidation between Fire District 10 and the Airway Heights Fire Department. The committee previously met with Fire District 10 back in December where it discussed options for both departments entering into a regional fire authority, annexation or contracting services with each o...

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