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Students and staff refer to it as "Red Square." It's the point of intersection between two main hallways in Cheney High School. During class change times, it's more jammed up with bodies than vehicles during a Southern California rush hour - with progress measured in inches rather than feet. It's congestion created by the need to put over 1,200 students in a grade 9-12 facility originally built for 900. And it's just one of the reasons Cheney School District officials are...
When Bob Williams was just 9 years old his parents brought him from California to Kennewick. After a time, they came to Cheney. He said, "I started my business in body work in Cheney and I never quit..." Bob proved he truly liked cars. He attended an international Grande Finale in Las Vegas. His car was one of 50 chosen from 2,200 that competed throughout the year. His 1969 black Corvette won Class Championship, Custom Full Sport and was best sports car in the Grande Finale...
Fellowship Baptist Church youth are hosting a dinner and live auction on Friday, Feb. 13, at 6:30 p.m. to help raise funds for their upcoming mission trip. For $15 you will be served a four-course grilled chicken dinner, followed by an opportunity to bid on a variety of items on the auction block. For $1, you can also purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to win an iPad. Tickets for the dinner must be purchased in advance. For more information or to purchase tickets call...
All events are free unless posted otherwise. To get your event or meeting in the weekly What’s Happening section send an email with date, time, location and event to jmac@cheneyfreepress.com. City of Cheney • Jan. 30, Baby Play and Learn Storytime (ages 0 – 18 months), community library, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. • Feb. 2, Dance Class, Wren Pierson Community Center, 7:15 – 8:15 p.m. • Feb. 3, Senior Light Fitness, Wren Pierson Community Center, 9 – 10 a.m. • Feb. 4, Toddler Play and Learn Storytime (ages 1 1/2 – 3), community librar...
CHENEY Jan. 21 Second-degree theft was reported on the 600 block of First Street. A wallet and its contents were stolen from a building. Third-degree theft was reported on the 2400 block of University Lane. A cellphone was stolen. Jan. 22 Ronald L. Ricci Jr., 24, was arrested on the 2200 block of West First Street on a Spokane Superior Court warrant for first-degree stolen property, second-degree theft and malicious mischief. Jan. 23 Suspicious circumstances were reported on the 700 block of Betz. Possible child abuse....
SPOKANE COUNTY – Spokane County’s Engineering and Roads Department announced today that seasonal weight restrictions will begin within the next 1-3 weeks on county roads and continue until further notice. Roadway surfaces and the structures beneath the surface have become weakened during this winter’s cycle of freezing temperatures, followed by warmer temperatures and precipitation. As a result, roads are vulnerable to severe damage and the implementation of weight restrictions reduces the need for increased road maint...
What happened to the promise of keeping our tax rate at/or below $5 per $1,000 of assessment as we were told when we voted for the $79,000,000 bond just five years ago? With this new (Cheney High School) $44,885,830 bond the rate is projected to go to $5.79. In addition, within five years there will be a need for another elementary (about $18,000,000) since there are already portables in use at Windsor and Sunset. In 10 years the plan calls for another $42,900,000 for the rest of the High School. There is another way to take...
Last week I had the opportunity to do phoning as a volunteer for the Committee for Support of Good Schools. I called to encourage people to vote and to vote yes twice on the Cheney School District bond and levy measures. I was pleased and encouraged by the positive responses I received during the phoning. People were very supportive of the measures and of Cheney schools, with several telling me stories of their children and grandchildren having positive educational experiences in Cheney. I can add my own stories to theirs,...
As retired schoolteachers who have both taught and coached in the Cheney School District and had our sons attend school from kindergarten through high school graduation, we encourage the community to support our school district in the upcoming vote for the bond and levy measures. Local support of our school district is important for the continuance and improvement of our numerous school programs at all levels. Our Cheney School District has always had an outstanding reputation for being progressive and supporting our student...
I am writing in support of the Medical Lake School District levy. I was an educator and coach for 44 years, 24 at Medical Lake High School. During that time, four of my six children graduated from Medical Lake High School and they were foruntate to attend Medical Lake Schools. I believe the Medical Lake School District is a great place to educate children, as well as a great place to raise them. Many, many of our graduates have accomplished unbelievable goals as a result of their basic education here. The community always...
As a parent of three Cheney School District students as well as employee of the Cheney School District, I am encouraged by the everyday opportunities made available to both students and employees of our school district. My own children continue to grow and learn through the extra time and effort put forth by many school district employees. If our students are to experience the same level of educational opportunities, we need to pass the upcoming Educational Programs and Operations (Maintenance and Operations) Levy and the...
Half a nurse. That’s how much the state of Washington pays the Cheney School District in order to have a health care professional ready to address a sick or injured child at any one of the district’s eight schools. But in a district the size of Cheney, it takes three nurses to adequately meet student health needs. It also takes more than the state pays to provide teachers for class size reductions, all-day kindergarten, school counselors, student transportation and other needed functions essential to a good, well-rounded edu...
Tuesday Feb. 10, voters in the Cheney School District will be asked to approve a 21-year construction bond for renovations to the overcrowded Cheney High School. There is no doubt the renovations, a mixture of expansion and modifications, are not only much needed but long overdue in modernizing, alleviating overcrowding and enhancing safety at the 50-year-old building. The Cheney Free Press supports making these renovations. In order to pass the $44.88 million bond, 60 percent of 40 percent of voters who voted in the last...
Feed Cheney ‘Souper Bowl’ As the big day draws near, the Feed Cheney fundraiser “Souper Bowl of Caring” has now attracted eight local churches that will take special collections in soup pots on Feb.1, in an effort to meet the $6,000 annual budget of Feed Cheney. Those churches are United Church of Christ, United Methodist, Church of the Nazarene, Emmanuel Lutheran, St. Paul’s Episcopal, Cheney Faith Center, Cheney Community Church and St. Rose Catholic Church. Donations may also be made directly through the Feed Cheney we...
"What was the temperature yesterday in Cheney?" preschool teacher Patti Hendrickson asked the dozen or so students flitting about the Betz Elementary media center on Wednesday, Jan. 14. Hendrickson received no immediate answer from the students engaged in drawing pictures and other project activities. After a second try, a young girl raised her hand and said "31." "Thirty-one, and thank you for raising your hand," Hendrickson acknowledged. "And what was the temperature in...
Medical Lake Middle School honored six students who were selected for the January Partners Advancing Character Education (PACE) Student of the Month award. They received certificates and T-shirts and were treated to a special lunch Jan. 22 provided by Morning Brew and the school. January's PACE trait of the month was fairness. Name: Ashton Hamilton-Becker Grade: Sixth Favorite Subject: Math What fairness means to you: You treat everyone with respect and don't make fun of...
At 7 a.m., in a hallway next to the Medical Lake High School auditorium, the thumping echo of drums can be heard from the band room. This is the percussion ensemble, one of several groups from the Medical Lake High School band that are getting ready to perform in the annual high school solo/ensemble festival Feb. 7 at Rogers High School. Performers who finish first place in their categories advance to the state competition in April at Central Washington University in...
Cheney HS renovation master plan phase breakdown...
Cheney School District voters are being asked to renew the district’s Educational Programs and Operations (Maintenance and Operations) levy. Ballots were mailed last week, and need to either be postmarked or dropped off at local ballot drop off locations by end of the day, Feb. 10. If approved, the proposed levy will raise $9.3 million in 2016, $9.5 in 2017 and $9.7 million in 2017 through levy rates of $3.17, $3.14 and $3.11 per $1,000 of assessed property tax valuation. District Finance Director Kassidy Probert told the s...
Ballots for the renewal of the Medical Lake School District's maintenance and operations renewal levy went out last week. If passed, the measure would renew the district's operations and maintenance levy annually for three years (2016, 2017 and 2018) on all taxable property within the district. The levy rate will be $2.20 per $1,000 assessed property valuation and will bring in approximately $1.2 million to the district per year. Ballots are due Feb. 10. In 2012 the...
According to Article IX of the Washington State Constitution, the state’s “paramount duty” is to provide an “ample” and “uniform” education for all children. In 1977, Judge Robert Doran ruled that the state was in violation of the constitution because school districts were relying on local special levies to fund a large portion of the costs of the education system. The Legislature that year responded by passing the Basic Education Act, which defined what the state would pay for in terms of education and the Levy Lid Act,...
At its Jan. 14 meeting, the Airway Heights Planning Commission began its discussions on its 2015 work plan, goals and priorities. Due to the absences of Commission Chair Rita Osborne and Commissioner Aspen Monteleone, the commission tabled approving the 2015 work plan until the February meeting. Development Services Director Derrick Braaten presented a memorandum that explains some of the upcoming priorities for the city and staff in 2015. “The city is going through a big change in terms of participation, outreach and p...
At its Jan. 20 meeting, the Medical Lake City Council breezed through a quick agenda, as well as discussed the possibility of the city pursuing legal action against the state. In 2014, Mayor John Higgins spoke with legislators and representatives from the state institutions about funding for policing services for the city and the state institutions. The city has also written letters to elected officials and the Washington state Attorney General’s office about the issue. “In our letters we indicated that a lack of mov...
Cheney and other Spokane County cities have experienced extremely foggy conditions over the past week, not only reducing visibility but also creating slick conditions on local roadways....
In his quest to learn all he could about student habits at Cheney High School, resident and member of the Citizens Facility Advisory Committee Bill Johns said he went to the school one day during lunch and noticed school staff had only set up six chairs at each of the 31 round tables in the cafeteria, and none of the tables were full. Johns said he brought this to school district officials’ attention, asking them if they had any hard numbers on the number of students that utilized the cafeteria each day. “They said, ‘we...
