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CHENEY — Interim Police Chief Rick Beghtol will hold a public forum at the Wren Pierson Center on July 12 between 6 and 7 p.m. “We are going to give a statement about what the department is doing and the changes we’ve gone through; what led up to those changes, etc. I want to address questions about certain things the public may be interested in,” Beghtol said. Beghtol said that he wants to clear up certain rumors and give the public a chance to reconnect with the department, hopefully to reestablish a clear line of communica...
CHENEY — The city council voted unanimously to approve an emergency resolution to purchase a new wildland fire truck during its June 27 meeting. The state budget included $175,000 for the emergency purchase of a replacement wildland firefighting vehicle, which Fire Chief Tom Jenkins said the department has allocated a grant for. “We did receive state approved funding in the form of a grant,” Jenkins said. “Thanks to Representative Joe Schmick who went to fight for us to replace the brush truck we lost last year.” Jenkins then...
CHENEY — The City Council held a public hearing for the purpose of adopting the Transportation Improvement Plan 2024-2029 at their regular meeting on June 27. The hearing was carried out and then the plan was approved unanimously by council. The proposal includes 5.8 miles of arterial improvements with 1.83 miles of funded local access street and 3.97 miles of Arterial Streets, according to a city memo. Streets included in the planning map are the intersection of Betz and Murphy Roads in the north of the city. The r...
Another edition of the American Legion Wood Bat Classic will bring dozens of youth teams from across the Northwest and Western Canada to Spokane starting June 30 through July 3. Medical Lake is hosting one of several AAA Senior Pods featuring the home-standing Spokane Cannons playing four games at Holliday Field. It’s one of seven pods in both Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. The Cheney Summer Hawks AA team is in the West Valley Pod with tournament play taking place at seven different sites....
CHENEY — Two new officers joined the Police Department as lateral transfers. Ian Sauve, 33, and Dennis Sanchez, 45, were sworn in and welcomed to the city June 5. Sauve previously worked more than six years with the Bellevue Police Department, where he specialized as a field training officer and served as an honor guard Member. “I was referred by two former coworkers who transferred from Bellevue,” Sauve said. “They raved about the positive atmosphere and how they love the men and women they work alongside. “After I did a r...
CHENEY — Two new officers joined the Police Department as lateral transfers. Ian Sauve, 33, and Dennis Sanchez, 45, were sworn in and welcomed to the city June 5. Sauve previously worked more than six years with the Bellevue Police Department, where he specialized as a field training officer and served as an honor guard Member. “I was referred by two former coworkers who transferred from Bellevue,” Sauve said. “They raved about the positive atmosphere and how they love the men and women they work alongside. “After I did a r...
CHENEY - Cheney Public Schools has selected a new assistant principal for Sunset Elementary pending board approval. Jaclyn Oscarson was selected after an interview process that allowed students, staff, and district leadership to interact with the candidates. Oscarson completed her principal internship at Mullan Road Elementary where she has worked as a 5th and 6th grade teacher for eight years. Oscarson received a Bachelor's in Elementary Education from Eastern Washington...
SPOKANE – Hungry veterans in Spokane Veteran’s Home can look forward to some home-cooked, beef-based meals for a while. The Spokane County Cattlemen donated 1,100 pounds of ground beef to the center at 222 E. Fifth Ave. on June 6, organization President Jim Wentland said. Wentland is the President of the Spokane County Cattlemen out of Medical Lake. “We’ve been doing this for three years running,” Wentland said. “Overall, we’ve donated a couple thousand pounds to these folks to help them receive good hearty healthy meals...
MEDICAL LAKE - Nearly four dozen students were recognized at the annual Medical Lake Dollars for Scholars scholarship program June 5. A total of $59,125 in scholarships were presented to 44 students by Medical Lake Dollars for Scholars volunteers and more than 15 community organizations, individuals and families. "The Medical Lake Dollars for Scholars has been an incredibly amazing opportunity for me," said Cameron Dickey, a 2021 graduate and four-year scholarship recipient...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – An Airway Heights man was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison on drug charges. The announcement was made in a June 5 press release by Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. Joseph William Baker, age 28, of Airway Heights, Washington was convicted of possession with intent to distribute five grams of pure methamphetamine. The conviction stems from a traffic stop on November 22, 2021. “I’m grateful for the professionalism and dedication of the federal and sta...
CHENEY – An experienced reporter has been named managing editor of the Cheney Free Press. Matthew O. Stephens, 41, of Spokane –formerly of Cheney – took over the newsroom beginning June 1. "It's good to have an experienced reporter back at the helm of the newspaper," Publisher Roger Harnack said. "Matthew's skills will help provide our readers with more, in-depth coverage of local people and events. "The region is growing at an incredible rate," Stephens said. "The peopl...
MEDICAL LAKE - Brooks Road will be closed for repairs starting June 8 and it will remain closed through September, 2023, according to Eric Jenkin, Project Manager. Brooks Road will have a hard closure at the railroad tracks just north of Medical Lake City limits in order to replace the drainage structure on the north side of the tracks. This means that no through-traffic of any kind will be allowed on the road for the duration of the project, impacting all local traffic or any...
Spokane International Airport has been awarded nearly $26 million in grant funding through the Airport Improvement Program by the Federal Aviation Administration. The funding will specifically be used for the West Terminal Ramp Expansion and Parallel Taxilane Project. The West Terminal Ramp Expansion and Parallel Taxilane Project begins this Spring and will expand the existing terminal ramp near the C Concourse terminal and add two new Remain Over-Night (RON) aircraft parking positions. A parallel taxilane will also be...
CHENEY – Want to go fishing at one of the area lakes but don’t have a license? Well, this weekend you’re in luck as “Free Fishing Weekend” opens state waters for anglers who don’t have a license. But if you don’t have a license, be careful what you catch this Saturday and Sunday, June 10-11. Game wardens will be on the lookout for fishermen catching salmon, sturgeon and steelhead in Eastern Washington waters without a license. That’s because state bureaucrats in Olympia have changed the rules relating to Free Fishing Weekend...
MEDICAL LAKE – State-planted trout are competing with goldfish for food in the four West Medical Lake ponds. As a result, state officials want use Rotenone in the ponds to eradicate the goldfish population. Although goldfish are the “target species” of the “naturally occurring” poison, Rotenone is highly toxic to all “gill-breathing organisms, state documents on its use show. Before poisoning the ponds – formed with the water level in West Medical Lake declines in warmer months – the state Department of Fish and Wildlife wa...
SPOKANE – A Spokane County will have a new superior court judge in July. Spokane City Council President Breean Beggs has been appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee to replace Spokane County Superior Court Judge Michael Price, who is retiring July 1. Beggs, who has practiced as a litigation attorney since 1991. His focus has been on civil rights, personal injury and employment. For the last 13 years, he has practiced at Paukert and Troppmann. And from 2004-2010, he served as the executive director for the Center for Justice in S...
CHENEY – Dozens of southern Spokane County residents filed to run for governmental offices during filing week, May 15-19, but no racers resulted. Candidates filed for seats open in the 2023 general election. The names of each candidate appear on the Aug. 1 primary ballot, with the Top 2 candidates advance to the Nov. 7 general election. However, since no local race had more than one candidate, all will advance to the general election. And at least one position, Cheney School Board Director No. 2, drew no candidates. H...
CHENEY — Banner Bank employee has been selected to receive the Banner’s Best award. This award is the highest level of recognition within the company and celebrates the bank’s top-performing employees. Rebecca Carrillo received the award for surpassing her professional goals, demonstrating excellence within her respective profession, and consistently delivering outstanding service to the Bank’s clients, communities and her colleagues. “Our Banner’s Best recipients are an excellent representation of the impressive talent we h...
CHENEY — Family Play & Learn Storytime on May 26 and 31, and every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday throughout the month of June from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the meeting room of the library at 610 First St. Children ages 2 to 5 and their families are welcome. Children will be able to play while learning during 30 minutes of reading picture books, singing songs, and learning fingerplays. This will be followed by 30 minutes of activities that explore the concepts of math, science, art, and literacy. Weed Control in Your Garden on M...
CHENEY — Betz Elementary School interim Principal Mary Stoyko will officially take the lead role at the school with the start of the next school year, July 1. Stoyko was officially selected for the job during the May 10 Cheney School Board meeting. “I am honored to continue my journey as a Betz Viking in the 23-24 school year as the principal of Betz Elementary,” Stoyko said. “I am a Betz Viking through and through, eager to serve Betz students, staff and the community in this new capacity.” Stoyko has been Betz assistant...
— Editor’s Note: Here is the first installment in the Police Department’s effort to introduce residents to local law enforcement officers. CHENEY — Officer Cheyanne Walters began her law enforcement career in the Air National Guard in 2018, while assigned to the 141st Security Forces Squadron. Walters, now 26, continued serving in the National Guard and joined Eastern Washington University Police Department in 2019, before staring with city police in 2020. She has worked in many different capacities since that time. “She’s...
CHENEY - Students from across the region exhibiting strong character traits were honored Friday, May 12, during a gala breakfast at EasternWashingotn University. The West Plains Partners Advancing Character Education Awards - often refered to as PACE - were presented to students from each school in the Cheney, Davenport and Medical Lake school districts, as well as others. Local award winners this year are Charlie Rajewski, Cheney High School; Cody Deines, Salnave Elementary S...
KAHLOTUS – The Snake River spring Chinook salmon fishing season is open. Below Little Goose Dam, fisherman can catch Chinook on Tuesdays and Fridays only. Below Ice Harbor Dam, the salmon fisher is open on Wednedays and Thursdays. The seasons opened May 2 and 3, respectively, and are expected to remain open until the catch quota limits out, state Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said. Below Little Goose Dam, Chinook fishing is allowed from the Texas Rapids boat launch upstream to the boundary below the dam. Below I...
CHENEY —After finishing her career on the court this past November, Eastern Washington volleyball senior Ka’ehukaiiha’amaina’e Keala earned the Student of the Year in the field of Recreation & Tourism Management. “I think I never was really afraid to ask questions, and that comes from the court, too,” Keala said. “If I don’t understand something, I have to ask or I would look dazed. “ I think a lot of my confidence was speaking up and me asking questions to further my career, academically and athletically, came from my proc...
CHENEY — A Spokane Valley woman is returning to the area to play women’s basketball for Eastern Washington University. Ellie Boni is transferring from San Jose State, Eastern women’s coach Joddie Gleason said earlier this week. “We are excited to welcome Ellie home,” Gleason said. “Ellie has successfully competed in the Mountain West Conference for several seasons and will bring that veteran toughness and experience to the program,.” Originally from Spokane Valley, she attended University High School, graduating in...
