Articles from the January 21, 2021 edition


Sorted by date  Results 1 - 25 of 29

  • Cheney buys land near Utility Building

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Jan 21, 2021

    CHENEY — The city’s land holdings are slated to soon increase by just over 228 acres. That’s amount of acreage the City Council approved spending $360,710 to acquire at its first meeting in 2021 last Tuesday. The total acreage purchased from the Dare family includes seven separate parcels located in the vicinity of the city’s Utility Building/Recycling Center on Anderson Road, with several straddling Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific rail lines. Five of those parcels — totaling 209.49 acres — border the UP trac...

  • Updated Jan 21, 2021

     PDF

  • Eagle women lose in net action at Gonzaga

    Updated Jan 21, 2021

    SPOKANE —The Eastern Washington University women’s tennis team traveled to nearby Spokane to take on Gonzaga Jan. 17 and fell short of notching their first match win, dropping the decision 5-2 to begin the new season. The Eagles found some success defeating GU 2-1 in doubles play but could not respond in singles play. “This was a good start to the season and while we didn’t come away with the team win, I saw a lot to build upon, head coach Dustin Hinson said. “We played really well in doubles at all three spots to start the...

  • EWU men open tennis season against Gonzaga

    Updated Jan 21, 2021

    CHENEY – The Eastern Washington University men’s tennis team returns to competition, opening against the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Jan. 23. The Eagles look to compete against nine non-conference opponents and five Big Sky Conference foes, before concluding the season with the Big Sky Conference Championships on May 1-2 in Phoenix, Ariz. “We are very excited to get back on the tennis court and have been looking forward to this new schedule,” said head coach Jared Burnham. “It will be great to compete against some stronger teams and...

  • GSL adjusts Season 1 sports start times

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Jan 21, 2021

    SPOKANE – The Greater Spokane League has adjusted its sports schedule to comply with changes made to reopening phases by the state Department of Health. The changes were also made in conjunction with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association and apply to previously released Season 1 sports. “Due to our weather, field conditions and COVID-19 numbers, we have staggered the start date of the league’s Season 1 sports season,” officials said in a Jan. 15 release. Season 1 for volleyball and girls swimming and diving...

  • West Plains Police News

    Updated Jan 21, 2021

    CHENEY Jan. 11 No reports Jan. 12 Second-degree theft was reported on the zero hundred block of Simpson Parkway. Incident involved retail fraud. Domestic violence/verbal dispute was reported on the 1000 block of Betz Road. Third-degree theft/shoplifting was reported on the zero hundred block of Cheney-Spokane Road. Tools were reported stolen. Fourth-degree assault/domestic violence was reported on the 700 block of West 1st Street. Jan. 13 Daisy Anguiano, 25, was cited for third-degree driving while license suspended on the...

  • Use of police force elicits emotional testimony

    SYDNEY BROWN, Washington State Journal|Updated Jan 21, 2021

    OLYMPIA — A proposed ban on the use of chokeholds, unleashed K-9 dogs and other use-of-force tactics by law enforcement is just the beginning of an effort by several state lawmakers to address police violence and its impact on marginalized communities. If passed, House Bill 1054 would ban several tactics, including the use of tear gas on civilians, shooting at or pursuing a vehicle, and the use of military-grade equipment by officers. Several community activists testified in a public hearing this morning saying these c...

  • Richard Earl "Dick" Christenson

    Updated Jan 21, 2021

    Richard Earl "Dick" Christenson passed away Monday, Jan. 4, 2021 in Spokane Valley, Wash. He was born Aug. 29, 1930 in Ritzville, Wash. to Martin C. and Irene M. (Jones) Christenson. Graduating from Moses Lake High School in 1948, Dick received his B.A. in Education in 1952 and Masters of Education in 1961, both from Eastern Washington College of Education. Dick served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1952 through 1955, followed by eight years in the Army Reserve....

  • Capt. Donald E. Early

    Updated Jan 21, 2021

    Capt. Donald E. Early, (U.S. Air Force Ret.) 9/24/1940 – 1/11/2021. Don Early, avid outdoorsman, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather passed away peacefully on Jan. 11, 2021, at age 80. Don was born in the Florida Panhandle village of Niceville in 1940 to Grady Early and Katie (Wells). Graduating from high school but still too young to join the Navy, Don joined the Merchant Marines, serving for six months before turning 18 and enlisting in the Navy. T...

  • Xandra Leigh Victor

    Updated Jan 21, 2021

    Xandra Leigh Victor, (Age 56). Beloved daughter, mother, wife, stepmother and grandmother was born in 1964 to Brad and Diane McHenry. She passed away on New Year's Day, 2021 in Cheney, Wash. after a long chronic illness. She is survived by her mother Diane, her twin children Joe and Haile, husband Ardell, two step-children; Christina and Jared and grandchildren; Renee', Asher, Addy Jo and Zechariah. Also by various aunts, uncles, and cousins. Xanny grew up at Williams Lake, at...

  • Churches

    Updated Jan 21, 2021

    Cheney Congregational Church We have made the decision to suspend in-person Sunday morning worship for the time being. This is a difficult decision, and we make it with the whole Cheney community in mind. We will continue to host live Sunday morning services on Zoom at 10am. You can request a Zoom link through our website, www.cheneycongregational.org. You can find copies of the sermons on our website. We are also hosting outdoor “Fireside Chats” with groups of five to create social connection and combat the isolation of thi...

  • Managing a difficult insect pest on houseplants

    MELINDA MYERS, Contributor|Updated Jan 21, 2021

    A sticky substance on plant leaves, plant stands, and the floor are often the first clue alerting gardeners to a problem. If a closer look reveals bumps on the upper and lower surface of leaves and stems, it means scale insects have moved in to dine on your houseplants. Severe infestations can cause leaf yellowing, stunting and dieback of the plant. If you have battled these insects, you know they can be challenging to control. Arm yourself with an understanding of their...

  • Cheney students need community's levy support

    Updated Jan 21, 2021

    Dear Cheney School District voters, My children are grown and are no longer in school but all went through Cheney Public Schools. And I no longer work for the school district but did so for 23 years. Those are the very reasons I am asking you to vote for the upcoming replacement levy. The current students and staff need your vote. This past year has been a huge disruption as well as a huge challenge both for students and staff. One thing that is needed at this time that the replacement levy will provide is consistency;...

  • Levy dollars are about Cheney education future

    Updated Jan 21, 2021

    I am a retired Cheney Middle School teacher who worked for the Cheney School District for 30 years and in education for a total of 38 years. I have been involved with our local school district for the last five years with various bonds and levies. I have come to trust this leadership and administration, who have demonstrated a consistent pattern of genuine concern and an awareness of the importance of asking for support of taxpayer dollars. It is important to note that the two propositions in front of voters are replacement...

  • School levy does not serve the taxpayers

    Updated Jan 21, 2021

    The replacement Educational Programs and Operation Levy that Cheney School District is asking for a $1,700,000 increase over the old levy. The district and its supporters tout that students “currently enjoy... special programs such as visual and performing arts, extra-curricular sports and clubs...” (letter to editor Jan. 14). Currently? School activities have been shut down since last March. We are fast approaching a year. What happened to the money that was to support last years’ activities? What was the amount banke...

  • Cheney levy needed even in pandemic times

    Updated Jan 21, 2021

    When my husband, Rich, retired from the Air Force 28 years ago, we intentionally moved back to Cheney because we wanted our two daughters to attend Cheney public schools. I think other people move into our district for similar reasons. I am proud of all the schools, students, graduates, teachers, staff and administration. By supporting the levy we are investing in the future of our schools and our commitment to the students in our district. Investing in our schools is investing in our kids. Our kids need our support in these...

  • Access to democracy in the 2021 session

    SEN. MIKE PADDEN, Contributor|Updated Jan 21, 2021

    There’s an old story about Elizabeth Willing Powel, the wife of the Philadelphia mayor, asking Benjamin Franklin, as he left the Constitutional Convention, “Doctor, what have we got? A republic or a monarchy?” To which Ben Franklin supposedly answered: “A republic, if you can keep it.” This legislative session, which started on Jan. 11, will require you as a citizen to work harder than ever to keep our representative democracy…well…representative. Access to democracy is a major topic at the start of this year’s gathering of l...

  • City opens yard waste pad for storm debris

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Jan 21, 2021

    CHENEY — In response to last week’s windstorm, the city of Cheney will be opening its yard waste pad to residents for free disposal of trees, limbs and event created debris. The service began Tuesday, Jan. 19 and runs through Friday, Jan. 29 or until the pad reaches capacity. Weather permitting, hours of operation will be 11:30 a.m – 2:30 p.m. Jan. 19 – 23 and Jan. 26 – 29. Due to space constraints, some wait time may occur between vehicles. Please observe social distancing and mask requirements while on the city premises....

  • Pandemic may help spread access to Legislature

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Jan 21, 2021

    CHENEY – In what might be somewhat of an irony, keeping legislators out of Olympia during the recently started biennial legislative session could actually increase participation by the public. With COVID-19 health protocol restrictions limiting lawmakers and others access to the normal governing process, several organizations have actually worked to create better access to sessions, hearings and the ability to provide remote testimony. And early indications show it might be working easier than anticipated. In a recent e...

  • Cheney High School names December Students of the Month

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Jan 21, 2021

    CHENEY – High School officials have released a list of students named Students of the Month for December’s PACE (Partners Advancing Character Education) character trait: Caring. The students are Jenae Potter, Kaitlyn Burts, Tyler Flock, Valerie Hanes, Sean San Pedro, Savannah Palanuik, Deegan MacFarlane, Morgan Bro, Nicolas Monzingo, Ava Roettger, Kate Rogers, Carter Lefler, Camden Fraser, Austin Brown, Hope Konig, Natalie Emery, Logen Weekley, Kennedy Prescott, Aine Jessel, Isaac Johnson, Makenna Wieck, Samantha Habegger, Pe...

  • Eastern Washington University Gallery of Art presents: Intersections

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Jan 21, 2021

    CHENEY – Eastern Washington University Gallery of Art has resumed presenting exhibitions – this time via an online format. The gallery opens its 2021 season with Intersections - which features the works of artists Kate Walker and Caroline Earley. The presentation runs Jan. 27 – March 5, with both artists giving a lecture on their work Feb. 18 at noon via Zoom. According to a news release, the works of Walker and Earley are injected with humor and content related to socia...

  • Cheney schools continue reopening plans

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Jan 21, 2021

    CHENEY — School district re-opening plans for in-person instruction continued this week with a phased return of third-grade students beginning on Tuesday. Third-grade students from families electing to return to in-person instruction were to return in two different groups on different days, with students in Group A in class Jan. 19 and Jan. 21 and students in Group B back Jan. 20 and Jan. 22. Both groups will combine as all third-grade students return to in-person instruction Jan. 25. Also that day, fourth and fifth-grade s...

  • Commission to take up zoning issues

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Jan 21, 2021

    CHENEY — Sidelined by COVID-19 for most of 2020, the city’s Planning Commission reviewed an aggressive schedule of items for the coming year at its first meeting in 2021, Jan. 11. Senior planner Brett Lucas outlined three areas proposed for deliberations by the commission over the coming months, with an emphasis on zoning code text amendments. The other two were economic development and a time-honored sore spot among Cheney residents — parking, especially the blocks adjacent to the Eastern Washington University campus. Like...

  • Exceeding expectations: Winds knock out power to thousands in the West Plains

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Jan 21, 2021

    WEST PLAINS - National Weather Service forecasters warned last week that a strong cold front scheduled to pass through Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho beginning late Tuesday night and through Wednesday could bring strong winds, heavy rain and snow in the mountains - with winds potentially gusting into the 40 – 55 miles per hour range. They were a bit off as winds well exceeding those forecasted knocked down power lines, poles and trees leading to power disruptions to tho...

  • Council delays police contract

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Jan 21, 2021

    CHENEY — Deferment was the order of busines last Tuesday as the City Council elected to postpone decisions on three of seven agenda items — including a new contract with the Police Guild for 2021 – 2022. The two-year contract includes 2% cost of living adjustments in monthly salaries for 2021 and 2022 over the previous year’s amount. Other than that, City Administrator Mark Schuller said the contract included cleaning up language requiring employees to join guilds, unions or pay dues based on a recent court decision along w...

Page Down