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At the halfway point of the annual Christmas Gifts for Cheney Kids, drive organizers say they are ahead of last year’s number when it comes to children signing up, but behind in what they hope to give them on Dec. 16. Drive coordinator Elsy Lusk said as of Monday, Dec. 5, 105 children had signed up with the hopes of receiving presents this year. Last year at this time the drive had just 75 kids signed up, and ended up distributing gifts to over 200. “Last year, we had quite a bit more (at this time),” Lusk said regarding gift...
Thank you, Tom’s Turkey Drive and Union Gospel Mission in Spokane for providing turkeys to Feed Medical Lake and Pizza Factory (Jason and family) in Medical Lake for providing four complete meals. All meals and turkeys found deserving homes. Joanna Williams, director Feed Medical Lake...
To all those who attended our seventh annual Artists Studio Tour, a heartfelt “Thank you” is extended from the 21 artists who displayed their work this past Nov. 26. It was wonderful to see old friends, returning visitors and new attendees. Folks came from local towns and as far away as Rathdrum, Coeur d’Alene and other outlying areas. It brought us great joy to see you and to have your support for local artists. A shout-out also goes to the newspapers and other media who helped to get the word out about this year’s tour. W...
I am writing today in regards to the article “Cheney adopts one year union contract,” Dec. 1. I wonder, with the war on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), what are the far reaching implications, considering that our local eight-person union was affected just one month after this divisive election? Could instability of the ACA have a much larger impact than people realize? The Cadillac plans are basically a government subsidy that gives the option to employers to offer a “luxury” plan that covers more medical costs than other plan...
Attention all alienated grandparents in Washington state: after working very hard for many months, it’s possible that the grandparents visitation rights statewide Legislative Initiative 877, Children Need Grandparents, may fall short of the required signatures by the Dec. 20 deadline. If you signed this initiative we thank you and ask you to get involved in this next step. Don’t get discouraged because the next step for the restoration of grandparents visitation rights law, was discussed and decided on at the Nov. 15 wor...
I am responding to Mr. (Bill) Johns’ comments that Cheney High School does not “need” an auditorium. (Cheney Free Press, Nov. 24) I think Mr. Johns must not have any idea what the “needs” of drama, choir and band programs are. I volunteered to help last year with a CHS drama production and was able to see first-hand how difficult it is for our students to practice and perform. The kids painted sets in the hall — to hang in an auditorium they couldn’t rehearse in. They couldn’t fit the entire cast on the practice stage so bloc...
If you have ever ordered clothing, jewelry, gifts or any other merchandise by phone, computer, or mail chances are those items were delivered straight to your home. Most deliveries do not require a signature and are generally left at your front door even if no one is home to accept them. These packages will quickly catch the eye of “porch pirates,” and offer thieves that opportunity they are looking for to make an easy score. Thieves, looking to steal your packages will follow or watch for UPS, Fed Ex, U.S. Mail and oth...
Tis the season of giving. We’re all familiar with the practice of gift giving over this holiday season. There is also the aspect of charitable giving. In fact, many charitable organizations and non-profits look to this time of year for help strengthening their financial and other coffers. For some, the holidays are the time of year that accounts for much of their budget for the next year. Those who are able to give often do so more generously during this holiday season. As an example, the fifth-annual Giving Tuesday saw a r...
Cheney High marching band, color guard finish season The Cheney High School marching band and color guard wrapped-up a very successful season of regional competition. The band consists of 80 student musicians and color guard members and is directed by Rich Sonnemaker, Joss Wisswell and Heather Petro. Students began practice in August and refined their performances in various events until their last competition on Oct. 29, winning several awards along the way. This year’s show was titled, ”Syzygy,” and depicted the line-...
There are places where one wants, and expects, perfection in a product or service. The doctor conducting surgery, a pilot guiding you along at 35,000 feet, and the engineer who designed the high bridge one speeds across on the interstate are just a few. The expectation that the care received in a person's waning years is, perhaps, another, but one that maybe is not thought about until it's time to move into assisted care. And sometimes that is not up to standard. Except if one...
On Nov. 8 voters in Washington approved Initiative 1433, authorizing a gradual raising of the state’s minimum wage. Voters favored the measure by a 57.4 to 42.6 percent and it becomes law Jan. 1, 2017. Cheney Free Press business reporter Paul Delaney is seeking those affected by I-1433 to contact him for a story, or stories on the measure and how it will affect them, and consumers. Contact Paul via email at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com or phone at (509) 235-6184 by Friday, Dec. 16....
Airway Heights Library supervisor Stacy Kvamme reads Clemont Clark Moore's "Night Before Christmas" for the library's winter storytime activity during the Dec. 3 Airway Heights Winter Festival....
Zak Designs, located in Airway Heights, announced several recent internal promotions. Deanna Sellers has been promoted to vice president of the International Contract and Manufacturing Department and will oversee all product development and special projects as well as the art studio, production timeline, quality control, and social compliance departments. Samantha Youngs has been promoted to director of business development for the sales force and will focus on implementing the strategic vision for all of Zak’s business entit...
Hallett Elementary School students are doing their part to give back to their community during this holiday season. The school's Associated Student Body is collecting food for the Medical Lake Food Bank for its annual "Helping Others" project until Dec. 16. Hallett Principal Cindy McSmith said the project is "a wonderful way to encourage students to think about the needs of others and to take action to support those needs." It also allows students to consider donating items...
Note: This is a continuation of the honor roll that was printed in the Dec. 1 issue of the Cheney Free Press. 3.0-3.4 — Madeline N. Abendroth, Tatiana Y. Balakirev, Rhyan L. Clark, Isaic W. Cochrane, Isabella K. Diomede, Lindsay R. Hagreen, Kindel F. Heilman-Barrett, Colton J. Hodgen, Tzion D. Jennings, Taylor A. Lauterback, Taylor B. Mashtare, Dennis P. Medvedev, Anna M. Minka, Alexander P. Moskalenko, Maggie R. Mowreader, Jeremiah J. Olson, Lynn R. Port, Aeris M. Remacle, Ashley N. Thomson, Brynn L. Tobler, James D. W...
Medical Lake Middle School students arriving at school on Dec. 13 may notice their lockers are adorned with Christmas trees, ornaments, snowflakes and other holiday-inspired decorations. Four students - Kylie Pepperman, Kylie Metheny, Daytona Grundstrom and Lillionna Scott - got the ball rolling on a Secret Santa project for the school. These four and other students are going to be decorating their classmates' lockers. The idea for the project started when Pepperman and Methen...
The Cheney School Board voted 4-0 at a Dec. 1 workshop to officially “direct district administration to work with bond counsel to prepare a resolution submitting such capital projects and bonds to the district’s voters on Feb. 14, 2017.” In other words, the Cheney School District is trying a third time to get voters to approve a bond renovating the district’s high school. This time, however, the district’s $52 million proposal will also address overcrowding issues through expansion at three elementary schools, along wit...
CHENEY Nov. 28 Taking a motor vehicle without owner’s permission was reported on the 1000 block of Betz Road. The vehicle was a Subaru Legacy. Domestic violence/verbal dispute was reported on the 1000 block of Betz Road. A 15-year-old female was arrested at Cheney High School for fourth-degree assault. Second-degree theft was reported on the 800 block of Cedar Street. Cash was taken. Domestic violence/verbal dispute was reported on the 2600 block of Eaton Lane. Second-degree theft was reported on the 100 block of Alki S...
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes detectives are conducting a death investigation after the body of a deceased adult female was located in a car in the Walmart parking lot in Airway Heights. On Dec. 6, at approximately 11:45 a.m., Airway Heights Police Department detectives notified the Sheriff’s Office of a deceased female located inside a vehicle at Walmart. Sheriff’s Office information indicated the deceased, who has not been positively identified by the Spokane Medical Examiner’s Office, may be associa...
After arriving on a Cheney Fire Department ladder truck, Santa Claus hit the crowd at Cheney's annual tree lighting ceremony last Thursday at the library to distribute candy to all of the kids and even some adults. Hot cocoa, cookies and holiday music made the evening festive....
Snow information contacts Spokane County Hotline: (509) 477-2666 24-hour map: www.spokanecounty.org/863/Snowplowing-Sanding Department of Transportation Website: www.wsdot.com/winter/WinterOps City of Cheney Website: www.cityofcheney.org By AL STOVER Staff Reporter With a wet winter on the horizon, crews from Airway Heights and Medical Lake are prepared for when the snow falls. Medical Lake has a different fleet of plow trucks this year — a used road grader, which the city purchased in March, along with two used dump t...
The city of Airway Heights received an early Christmas present — a present that will benefit one of its road improvement projects. During a Nov. 21 City Council meeting, City Manager Albert Tripp announced that the city received a $2.3 million Transportation Improvement Board grant to help fund phase two of the “Garfield/Russell/Sprague Loop Project.” The city’s match for the grant, $255,325, will be paid for from Transportation Benefit District (TBD) funds. The estimated cost of the project’s second phase is over $2.5 mill...
The final piece in Cheney’s proposed $24.34 million 2017 budget is Public Works. Maybe that really should be final pieces. There are a total of 12 departments and funds that fall under the category of Public Works, including the Planning Department, Building Department, Transportation Funds along with water, solid waste and wastewater divisions. Projected revenues for these in 2017 total $7,510,700, with expenses coming in at $7,544,000. Charges for service make up most of that revenue stream, 75 percent, while operations a...
Isabella Babcock receives a hug from Santa Claus. Babcock and her parents, Jim and Natalie Babcock, were one of many families who attended the pancake breakfast during last Saturday's Airway Heights' Winter Festival....
The Airway Heights City Council wrapped up 2016 by going through some housekeeping items. At its Dec. 5 meeting - the final one of the year - council approved the second reading of an ordinance that adopts the $19.32 million budget for 2017. Council also approved an ordinance that sets positions, salaries and compensations for city employees for 2017. In other action items, council accepted the completion of the McFarlane Road Overlay Project. The project, which was finished in June, consisted of an approximately two-mile asp...
