Articles from the December 26, 2013 edition


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  • Cheney Council quickly wraps up 2013 business

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Dec 27, 2013

    With a bit more practice, the Cheney City Council could possibly one day break the one-minute mark with its final meeting of the year. Council took all of 1 minute, 14 seconds last Thursday to conclude business for 2013. The meeting was a continuation of the Dec. 10 meeting, and was called with only one agenda item in mind – paying bills. Council unanimously approved paying claims and vouchers totaling $609,450.56 last Thursday. In the last meeting of 2012 they took 1:44 to pay $538,271.35. The continuation of the Dec. 10 m...

  • Snowfall can rekindle fond, childhood memories

    Luella Dow, Contributor|Updated Dec 27, 2013

    My sister and I grew up on my grandfather's farm. He had horses. My mother would not let us ride them as she was afraid of horses. We had real winters then, not the lightly sprinkled snow that will have to do for this Christmas. Grandpa would hitch his horses to a big sleigh and off we'd go down the country road. A memory like that never goes away. I have another memory, a story told by my great aunt. She and the man she would marry took advantage of the "one horse open sleigh...

  • Blackhawks fall to Freeman, Lakeside in hoops action

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Dec 27, 2013

    The season’s second win is proving elusive for the Cheney High boys’ basketball team. The Blackhawks lost a pair of games last week to Northeast A League opponents, 76-57 Friday night at Freeman and 71-55 the next day at home to Lakeside. Cheney dug themselves early holes by starting slowly in both games, outscored 21-9 by the Scotties and 17-9 at home against the Eagles in the first quarter. Freeman was helped by a 40-point performance from Jake Phipps, 24 coming from 3-point range, with only one other player in double fig...

  • Pins don't equal wins for Medical Lake wrestlers vs. Chewelah

    Updated Dec 27, 2013

    Medical Lake got pins from Nick Reed at 106 pounds, Ricky Petersen (145), Eric Penn (170) and Ian O’Brien (220) but it wasn’t enough to overcome Chewelah’s wins in eight other classes as the visiting Cougars earned a 51-24 victory in the opening Northeast A League match last Thursday at Medical Lake. The Cardinals stay busy through the holidays with matches Dec. 23 at the Tri County Tournament at Central Valley and this Saturday, Dec. 28 in the M-2 tournament at Rogers High School in Spokane....

  • Cardinals finish week-one of NEA play with 1-1 record

    PAUL DELANEY, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 27, 2013

    Medical Lake got a 15-point night from Jordan Rohweder, plus 11 points each from Jaelon Stith and Cory Wagner as the Cardinals defeated Kettle Falls Friday night in a Northeast A League boy’s basketball game in Medical Lake. Stith also contributed 14 rebounds for a double-double. The game was the final one before the Christmas break and concluded the opening week of NEA play for the Cardinals (1-1 NEA, 2-6 overall) who opened play last Tuesday with a 52-43 loss to Riverside w...

  • Lady Hawks find scoring difficult in losses

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Dec 27, 2013

    If the Cheney girl’s basketball team is going to break into the win column again this season they are going to have to find ways to score more points. The Lady Hawks managed double digit scoring in just one of the eight quarters they played last week, losing 52-25 at Freeman Friday and 47-25 Saturday at home against Lakeside. Cheney stayed close to the Scotties in the first half Friday night, trailing 23-15 at the break before Freeman pulled away in the second half. Katie Vold led all scorers with 18 points while teammate S...

  • Medical Lake girls split opening week NEA games

    PAUL DELANEY, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 27, 2013

    The Medical Lake girl’s basketball team got its week, and the Northeast A League season off to a good start last week, battling through some early challenges and defensive pressure to score a 44-31 win over Riverside. But dealing with that same pressure Friday night was not as successful in a 58-42 loss to Kettle Falls. Between those two contests the Cardinal girls fell in a nonleague game versus Colville, 48-25. All three contests were at home for the Cardinals. “This was...

  • Seton Hall breaks away for 92-70 win in Eastern's East Coast trip

    NEWS SERVICE REPORTS|Updated Dec 27, 2013

    For the first half of last Sunday’s nonconference men’s basketball game between Eastern Washington and Seton Hall, it looked as though the Eagles were able to perform on the big stage. But something happened after the break where Eastern’s field goal shooting percentage dropped by 10 points and the Eagles lost 92-70 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. to the Pirates of the Big East. It was the first of a two-game road trip to the East Coast for Eastern which visits the University of Connecticut Saturday for a 10 a.m....

  • AFCA Honors Lee, Kupp on prestigious All-America Team

    Updated Dec 27, 2013

    FROM NEWS SERVICE REPORTS A pair of Eastern Washington University football players from the state of Washington – wide receiver Cooper Kupp and cornerback T.J. Lee III – have been selected to the American Football Coaches Association NCAA Football Championship Subdivision All-America team. A national committee of FCS coaches selects the prestigious 25-member squad, which was announced Dec. 23. Kupp, a freshman from Yakima, Wash. and Davis High School was the lone freshman or sophomore on the team after enjoying a rec...

  • Walla Walla CC's Chad Bodnar named new EWU soccer coach

    NEWS SERVICE REPORTS|Updated Dec 27, 2013

    Having turned Walla Walla Community College into a regional powerhouse, Chad Bodnar has been tabbed as the third head coach in the history of the Eastern Washington women's soccer program, EWU Athletic DirectorBill Chaves announced Monday, Dec. 23. Bodnar replaces 14-year head coach George Hageage, who stepped down at the conclusion of last season. "We are excited to have coach Bodnar join our Eagle family," Chaves said. "Chad's record and accomplishments at Walla Walla over...

  • Eastern women roll into break, Big Sky play on win streak

    PAUL DELANEY, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 27, 2013

    As members of the Eastern Washington women's basketball team head home for a little time off for the holidays, they finally appear to be pointed in the right direction, too, on the basketball court. Following wins last week over NAIA Northwest College 90-48 Tuesday, and an 81-66 win against Mountain West Boise State, Eastern (4-5) has now won four straight heading into the start of Big Sky Conference play this Sunday, Dec. 29 at 2 p.m. in Reese Court. "It's good to see us...

  • Towson tops Eastern in final seconds, 35-31

    PAUL DELANEY, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 27, 2013

    The start had Sam Houston 2012 written all over it. The middle was vintage Eastern Washington 2013. The finish was beyond comparison last Saturday as the Towson University Tigers rallied from 10 points down in the final 5 minutes, nine seconds, scoring the winning touchdown with 17 seconds remaining to defeat Eastern 35-31 in a Football Championship Subdivision semifinal playoff game. Backup quarterback Connor Frazier led the way in the second half for the Tigers following the...

  • Back-up QB puts up latest roadblock to Frisco for Eagles

    PAUL DELANEY, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 27, 2013

    If there was any upside to Eastern Washington University's football team's latest trip through the emotional wringer they took themselves and their fans on in last Saturday's 35-31 loss to Towson in the Football Championship Subdivision semifinals, there's more money for last minute Christmas gifts. After Connor Frazier broke out of his early funk – and a persisting Roos Field fog – to rally his Tiger teammates from Baltimore past the Eagles by scoring the go-ahead points wit...

  • Fire Departments hold graduation ceremony for recruits

    Al Stover, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 27, 2013

    Friends and family filled the Sunset Elementary school gym as fire departments from Cheney, Airway Heights, Medical Lake and Spokane County Fire District 10 held a ceremony for the 23 recruit firefighters who graduated from the West Plans Recruit Structural Academy 2013-2. The recruits went through a four-month academy that consisted of classes that helped them focus on basic firefighter skills, hazardous materials and other areas. In addition to learning their skills, recruits tested for professional credentials for Firefigh...

  • Cheney Free Press, West Plains Extra deadlines

    Updated Dec 27, 2013

    Because New Year’s Day falls on Wednesday Free Press Publishing is making deadline changes for its publications. Deadlines for classifieds to be published in the Jan. 2 West Plains Extra is Dec. 27, and for the Jan. 2 Cheney Free Press, must be received by Dec. 27. Deadlines for editorial content such as letters to the editor, West Plains Briefs, obituaries and church news is Dec. 27....

  • Libraries closed New Year's Day

    Updated Dec 27, 2013

    All Spokane County Library District facilities will be closed in observance of New Year’s Day, at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 31, and remain closed through Wednesday, Jan. 1. Regular hours resume Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014....

  • Holiday surprise

    John McCallum|Updated Dec 27, 2013

    Betz Elementary School seven-year-old Sydney Lincoln is a little surprised as she receives her winning picture from Cheney Postmaster Tom McGoldrick last Friday. Lincoln and four other area kids were winners in the post office's annual coloring contest. See page 12 for a list and pictures of the winners....

  • Almost 200 served by Christmas Gifts for Cheney Kids

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Dec 27, 2013

    Christmas Gifts for Cheney Kids gift distribution took place last Friday with 197 children, representing 84 families, receiving gifts at the Wren Pierson Community Center. That figure is 19 more children and eight more families than last year, although project coordinator Sally Shamp said in an email that several families did not show up to receive gifts, possibly because of the snow that fell Friday. Overall there were 655 gifts donated, along with 350 books, as well as over $1,650 in monetary contributions. Shamp said Feed...

  • West Plains Briefs

    Updated Dec 27, 2013

    CHS wrestling fundraiser Cheney High School wrestlers are having a fundraiser, Saturday Dec. 28 at Rosa’s Pizza in Cheney from 5-7 p.m. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for kids and includes bowling and pizza. There will be lots of silent auction items as well. Square dancing in Cheney The High-Flyers Square Dance Club in Cheney is the fastest growing club in the Inland Northwest, with a popular young teacher, Adam Christman. The High-Flyers are holding beginning square dance lessons starting Jan. 5 at 2 p.m. at City Hall. E... Full story

  • SCRAPS seeks public's help with recent incidents of animal cruelty

    Updated Dec 27, 2013

    Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service (SCRAPS) is seeking the public’s help in finding a person of interest in a recent animal cruelty investigation. On Thursday, Dec. 19 at approximately 7 p.m., a man tossed two balls of hamburger containing large chunks of glass over the fences of two different properties in the Spokane Valley. The incident happened near the corner of Vista and Buckeye. A witness has described the suspect as a white male in his 50’s, 6 feet tall, approximately 250 pounds, bald with a gray jac...

  • Cheney businesses on the move

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Dec 27, 2013

    Long-time Cheney businesses Jarms Hardware and Napa Auto Parts are moving to new locations soon. In Jarms' case, operations at their new location in the former Ben Franklin building have actually started, with employees beginning moving material the weekend of Dec. 14-15. At 23,383 square feet in building space and a 115,188 square foot lot size, the new location is considerably bigger than their current 1720 Second St. address, which runs 16,020 and 41,310 square feet...

  • Al Stover returns to Cheney, signs as reporter with Cheney Free Press

    Al Stover, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 27, 2013

    My name is Al Stover, and I am the new staff reporter with the Cheney Free Press. I recently moved back from Wolf Point, Mont., a small town in the northeast part of the state that 's known for hosting the Wild Horse Stampede Rodeo every year and not much else. I was previously the editor of "The Herald-News," which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. My coverage at The Herald-News, mainly consisted of news and sports. After an 18-hour train ride that included delays...

  • Healing tales

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated Dec 27, 2013

    Two years after his retirement, Dr. Jim Roloff published his first book, "Mending God's Creatures." Roloff, an alum of Eastern Washington University and Washington State University, had worked as a veterinarian for over 35 years. He operated the Medical Lake Veterinary Clinic from 1975-2011, selling the practice that final year. During his years as a veterinarian, people would ask Roloff about the things he saw throughout his career. According to Roloff, several people...

  • May the Peace of the Christmas season stay with you throughout the coming year...

    Updated Dec 27, 2013

    ...from the staff at the Cheney Free Press...

  • Snow angels needed

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Dec 27, 2013

    John Taves is looking for people who want to be snow angels. Not the kind who lie in the fresh powder and flail their arms and legs to create art, but those who are willing to help out those who can’t take care of their walks when the white stuff begins piling up. “Snow Angels” is a service Taves is trying to coordinate in Cheney in time for the first snowfall, which finally took place last Friday. The idea is to match volunteers, especially local students in need of community service hours, with Cheney residents who are u...

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