Looking Back

10 Years Ago

March 20, 2003

Longtime Cheney football coach Tom Oswald announced his retirement after 25 years on the job with the Blackhawks. Compiling a 166-70-9 record at Cheney, Oswald said the time was right to step down. “I kind of had an idea this would be my last year – even before the football season this year,” he said. Oswald coached his son Drew and had one more year before being able to retire.

Facing significant cuts from the city in its budget, the future of how Cheney residents would recycle was up in the air. This news came following the suggestion that the center’s current $50,000 budget might have to be cut to $20,000.

Changes in rules enacted by the Washington State Supreme Court could have impact on local courts such as those currently operating in Medical Lake which were seen more as municipal money makers rather than dispensing justice.

Eastern Washington University’s men’s basketball team’s 18-12 record, and a runner-up finish in the Big Sky Conference tournament, earned the Eagles a berth in the National Invitational Tournament at Wyoming. The Eagles fell in the BSC title game 60-57 to Weber State.

20 Years Ago

March 1993 is missing from our archives.

30 Years Ago

March 17, 1983

Helmut Schmidt, who for eight years from 1974-82 served as the Chancelor of West Germany, was announced as a featured speaker at EWU’s fourth annual Academy-Business-Community Lecture Series.

Administrator Dr. Harold Robb said he supported a new early warning system that would alert the community prior to the release of criminal offenders from the institution.

After posting a 53-52 upset victory over Bellingham in the opening game of the State 2A basketball tournament in which Randall Stradling’s free throws were the difference, Cheney bounced back from a second-round loss to claim third place. The Blackhawks fell to Olympic 50-32 but earned a 62-57 win over O’Dea with Stradling scoring 26.

40 Years Ago

March 15, 1973

An investigation by both Cheney police and Eastern Washington State College campus safety was continuing into the March 7 death of Sharon Moses Bonner who was found with a single gunshot wound to the chest. Husband Larry J. Bonner was charged with the crime of first degree murder.

Inland Empire Telephone Company of Cheney announced its merger and consolidation with an office in Medical Lake.

The idea of whether new oak trees donated to the city by the American Legion could be planted in Cheney parks in recognition of the 1976 United States bi-centennial was discussed in a park board meeting.

Pullman put a surprising end to the Cheney basketball season by scoring a 58-36 shellacking of the Blackhawks in a playoff game played in Medical Lake. Cheney ended its season with a 17-6 record and junior Tim Labish being named to the All-Border League’s first team.

50 Years Ago

March,15 1963

Three candidates endorsed by the Alerting Citizens Group were elected to the Cheney School Board. Incumbent Carmen R. Stewart prevailed over Ted McMillan (691-567); Mrs. Henry Mumaw defeated the write-in effort of Mrs. Seiko Edamatsu (717-503) and Raymond Russell topped Raymond Songaylo by 71 votes.

Also on that that election night, L. Hilbrick out-polled Ed Sonneborn 76-57 for a seat on the Medical Lake School Board. The Liberty School District passed a $20,000 levy.

The board of directors of the Cheney School District became the latest group to sign on to Resolution No. 35. This was a measure adopted by eight other school districts in Spokane County that authorized them to receive an additional 17 cents per pupil per day of attendance from a 1 percent real estate sales tax levy.

A dispute over an illegally parked car owned by EWSC basketball player that was eventually impounded found its way to the court of Justice of the Peace Jack Crabb. Joe Allen was fined $2 by Crabb who later suspended the fine, but Allen would have to pay an undisclosed impound fee.