Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 307
CHENEY — Andy LaBolle, the owner of West Plains Roasters, made a generous gesture at the City Council meeting April 9 by presenting a donation totaling $18,500 to Cheney Cupboard. Expressing his fondness for the community, LaBolle shared, “My wife and I love Cheney.” He highlighted the support received from 53 sponsors, primarily local businesses spanning from Cheney and Airway Heights to Coeur d’Alene. The donation stemmed from a charity poker event hosted by West Plains Roasters on April 2 and 3, drawing in 65 attende...
CHENEY — The Cheney High School FFA club is gearing up for an evening of entertainment and community engagement as they host Bingo Night on Thursday, April 25. The 5 p.m. event aims to bring together students, families and community members for a fun-filled evening while supporting the club. Senior FFA membes Grace Klinkenberg, 18, and Lincoln Miller, 17, spoke about the efforts that have gone into making it a success. “We recently started an alumni group, to help donate to FFA,” Klinkenberg said. The idea stemmed from discu...
CHENEY — The Planning Commission met on Monday, April 8, to address the complexities surrounding construction and non-city-owned features in the right-of-way. City Administrator Mark Schuller led the presentation, highlighting the need for clarifying and simplifying regulations. Currently, these features are regulated under either a license or a permit, creating challenges for both applicants and city staff. “With five different chapters governing today, every project may have to obtain multiple permits for a scope of wor...
CHENEY – Brett Lucas took the lead at the Planning Commission Meeting on Monday, April 8, presenting the Capital Facilities Plan spanning 2024-29. The six-year plan aims to uphold the quality of life by identifying and addressing basic services over the next two decades, as mandated by the Growth Management Act. Lucas emphasized the significance of capital facilities, defining them as major, non-recurring expenditures with fixed assets costing $50,000 or more and possessing a useful life of at least 10 years. These f...
CHENEY — School District officials are expecting the growth in the student population to slow. During the April 10 School Board meeting, Finance Director Jamie Reed reported on the district’s financial status and enrollment trends. Reed noted that despite fluctuations in enrollment, the district is maintaining a consistent financial outlook. “We’re budgeting for flat enrollment,” Reed said, highlighting the stability amid shifting demographic patterns. A closer look at enrollment figures revealed that kindergarten and first...
CHENEY – The School Board meeting April 10 featured a detailed analysis of the community response to a special election bond proposal. Jenna Larson took the stage to go over the survey findings. The bond proposal, which aimed to address infrastructure needs within the district, elicited community engagement, she said. With multiple modes of distribution, the proposal garnered responses from 395 individuals. Of the respondents, 161 voted to approve the bond, while 167 voted to reject it, she said. Additionally, 24 individuals...
CHENEY — An apparent stalking incident prompted two local men to jump into action at about 9 p.m. Sunday, April 14. But, according to Police Chief Rick Beghtol, the good Samaritans couldn’t catch the man suspected of stalking a local woman. According to the chief, police received a report of a man allegedly following a woman in the 100 block of Erie Street. The woman, whose name has yet to be released publicly, confronted her alleged stalker, the chief said. And two other men stepped in to help her. Despite their eff...
CHENEY — Authorities are investigating an assault and robbery that occurred in the late hours of Friday, April 12. According to reports, the victim had their vehicle forcibly taken from them in the 10 block of North Seventh Street. The severity of the incident has led authorities to assert that should the suspects be identified, there is probable cause for charges including first-degree robbery, theft of a motor vehicle, theft of a firearm and general theft offenses, Police Chief Rick Beghtol said. The victim’s vehicle was...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – Tragedy struck the community last Thursday evening as a deadly house fire engulfed a residence on West Whitetip Avenue. At least one person was killed in the blaze; their identity has yet to be released. Fire Chief Mike Metzger said the fire occurred at approximately 7:03 p.m. April 4. It was promptly reported to authorities by a concerned neighbor who dialed 911, he said.. Upon arrival at the scene, emergency responders were met with a blaze that had already taken hold of the structure. Metzger said a s...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – City Council members grappled with a potential tax levy lid lift to bolster public safety initiatives during a meeting Monday, April 8. The proposal to create a new ordinance around a levy lid lift had its first reading, and was approved to be moved forward by unanimous vote to the next session. City Manager Albert Tripp delved into the intricacies of financing options to enhance longterm public safety. His proposal is a tax increase. There are three options for the tax increase: option one is $2.71 per $...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The City Council unanimously agreed April 1 to hire Liz Loomis Public Affairs to help market an August primary election ballot measure to raise funds for a public service tax. The ballot measure is a proposed levy lid lift that can be passed by a simple voter majority. The lift is needed to generate funding for more police officers. City Manager Albert Tripp, addressing the council, highlighted concerns raised by community members regarding under-staffing in law enforcement. “Seventy-six of the community mem...
MEDICAL LAKE – Owners of properties with “historic” value could face new regulations under an ordinance and agreement approved on first reading by the City Council. Under Ordinance No. 1122, consenting property owners could have their buildings placed on a historic register, managed jointly by the city and Spokane Historical Preservation. Prior to the vote, Spokane Historic Preservation’s Logan Camporeale presented a series of questions and answers regarding the agreement outlined in the ordinance. “Medical Lake and Spoka...
MEDICAL LAKE – The City Council on April 2 approved on first reading Ordinance No. 1123 addressing right-of-way management. The ordinance is aimed at enhancing the permitting and use requirements for right-of-way projects, and will be brought back for a second reading at an upcoming meeting. City Manager Sonny Weathers initiated the discussion by highlighting the necessity for updated risk management assessments. “Washington state conducted a risk management assessment,” Weathers said. “They noted it was out of date....
CHENEY – Residents across Eastern Washington woke up to an unexpected surprise on Friday, April 8, as snow blanketed various parts of the region. According to Steven Van Horn, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, the snowfall totals were particularly noteworthy for this time of year. "Rosalia saw an astonishing 4.8 inches of snow, marking a record for April snowfall in the area," Van Horn said. "We've been keeping records on Rosalia's weather since the late 1...
CHENEY – A recount of Cheney precinct 9014 ballots in the Feb. 13 special election remain unchanged following a requested recount. Election Manager Mike McLaughlin confirmed that Spokane County elections officials conducted the recount March 27 of precinct ballots cast for two levies and a bond measure. “No change,” McLaughlin said last week. Sharon Berg, one of the precinct residents who requested the recount, declined to comment on why she was involved. “The newspapers are kind of biased to a certain view,” she said. “I...
CHENEY — Eastern Washington University’s Police Department is gearing up for an assessment by a team of evaluators from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators arriving on April 27. The evaluation will scrutinize all facets of the department, including policies, procedures, management, operations and support services, according to Chief Jewell Day. The objective of this assessment is to ascertain whether the police department aligns with the group’s standards, marking a voluntary initi...
CHENEY – Residents are gearing up for a day of community spirit and civic pride as the annual Clean Sweep event approaches Saturday, April 13. From 8:30 a.m. to noon at Veteran’s Memorial Park, the event aims to not only beautify the city, but also foster a sense of togetherness. The agenda is packed with activities designed to make a positive impact on the community. Volunteers are encouraged to arrive at 8:30 a.m. to fuel up with coffee and refreshments before diving into their assignments. From 9 a.m. to noon, par...
CHENEY — Historic preservation efforts are facing both challenges and opportunities as the community grapples with maintaining its architectural heritage while accommodating modern needs. The National Park Service sent a survey to local governments to see if there were any problems with implementing the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards of Rehabilitation. “I think it’s part of a larger overview,” local preservation advocate Susan Beeman said. “Historic preservation has been a thing since the mid-1970s. They don’t change d...
MEDICAL LAKE – In a bid to revamp recreational services and enhance efficiency, the City Council unanimously approved a DaySmart Recreation Service Agreement during their recent meeting. City Manager Sonny Weathers addressed the council, highlighting that the current contract with Tyler Recreation is in its final year. He said the need to address unresolved issues and allocated a budget of $10,000 towards exploring new recreation software solutions. “We’ve budgeted $10,000 to look at new recreation software,” he said. ...
CHENEY – Prom season is fast approaching for Cheney High School students, and anticipation is building for a night of glamour and excitement. On Saturday, June 1, students will gather at Chateau Rive in the Flour Mill for an evening they won’t soon forget. Set against the backdrop of the Spokane River, Chateau Rive offers a picturesque setting for this year’s prom festivities. From 8-11 p.m., students will dance the night away in style, surrounded by elegant architecture and stunning views. As the DJ spins the lat est hits...
MEDICAL LAKE – Prom season is in full swing at Medical Lake High School, and students are gearing up for a night of elegance and excitement. From 7-10 p.m., Saturday, April 20, the halls of Medical Lake High School will transform into a dazzling wonderland for this year’s prom. As the music fills the air and couples take to the dance floor, there will be a sense of excitement and anticipation. From classic slow dances to upbeat tunes, the DJ will keep the energy high and the party going all night long....
SPOKANE VALLEY – A caller reported observing a man masturbating while sitting at the bus stop in the 5200 block of East Sprague Avenue. The suspect, identified as Julian R. Cuthbert, 51, was arrested for indecent exposure, and was found to have a previous conviction for indecent exposure in 2019 in addition to two other incidents where he was arrested for lewd acts in the last week. When Spokane Valley Deputies responded to the call, they observed Cuthbert, who matched the caller’s description, sitting at the covered bus stop...
SPOKANE VALLEY – A routine surveillance operation by Spokane Valley Deputies on April 5, 2024, led to the apprehension of two convicted felons found passed out in a reported stolen vehicle. The incident, characterized by attempted escape and potential drug involvement, resulted in the arrest of the male suspect, Dylon H. Nedeff, and the release of the female occupant pending further investigation. The discovery unfolded when a Deputy noticed a suspiciously parked 2017 Kia Soul in the 7800 block of E. Euclid Avenue. The v...
SPOKANE VALLEY – A pursuit involving a reckless driver ended in arrest after the suspect attempted to flee from deputies twice, ultimately crashing into a building. The driver, identified as 48-year-old Jeffrey T. Lane, faces two felony counts of Attempting to Elude a Law Enforcement Vehicle and DUI. The incident unfolded on April 3, 2024, around 8:05 am when a blue Honda Element sped past a patrol vehicle on E. Sprague Avenue, near Coleman Road. Despite attempts by law enforcement to conduct a traffic stop, Lane continued w...
SPOKANE VALLEY – On April 8, 2024, Spokane Valley Deputies swiftly responded to a report of a disorderly individual causing chaos near the intersection of N. Argonne and E. Knox. The incident escalated as the suspect, later identified as 49-year-old Jason L. Allen, exhibited erratic behavior and disregarded traffic safety, leading to his arrest for various charges, including drug possession. Deputies arrived on the scene around 6:40 am to find Allen yelling at passing vehicles, displaying signs of possible intoxication or s...
