Articles from the February 1, 2018 edition


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  • Council approves labor contracts

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Feb 1, 2018

    It’s a new year, and three of the city of Cheney’s employee unions have new contracts — including wage increases — thanks to City Council action that took place at its Jan. 30 meeting. The council approved a new contract with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 77 for Light Department non-departmental supervisory employees and two American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) contracts for non-supervisor and supervisor employees. The first two contracts featured 3.5 per...

  • Ted Fausett,

    Updated Feb 1, 2018

    Ted Fausett, 66, passed away on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018 at his home in Cheney. Ted was quite the character. Born on May 3, 1951 in Wallace, Idaho, he spent most of his childhood and adolescence breaking the rules throughout Coeur d'Alene and Spokane. He graduated from Cheney High School in 1970 where he met his wonderful wife, Roxanne. He later started a trucking company and spent many years operating heavy machinery and doing excavation work. He also had an incredible passion... Full story

  • What's Happening On The West Plains

    Updated Feb 1, 2018

    Cheney • Feb. 2, Middle School Dance, Cheney Middle School, $5 with school I.D. • Feb. 8, Kiwanis Meeting with a guest speaker from Soldier’s Angels, Sessions Village Clubhouse 2229 N. Sixth St., 7 a.m. • Feb. 8, American Legion Ladies Auxiliary meeting, 116 College Ave., 6 p.m. Airway Heights • Feb. 2, 5 and 7, SAIL (Stay Active and Independent for Life) for active adults 65+, Airway Heights Community Center 13120 West 13th Ave., 9 – 10 a.m. • Feb. 4, Super Bowl showing at Airway Heights movie theater, free admission, ki... Full story

  • LOOKING BACK WITH THE CHENEY HISTORICAL MUSEUM

    Updated Feb 1, 2018

    One hundred years ago in 1918, the Spokane Greenhouse was built over Marshall Creek. It used the water to run the coal-fired steam heat. The greenhouse supplied the Davenport Hotel, as well as many florists and hotels in Spokane with fresh flowers year-round. Learn more about our area’s history at www.cheneymuseum.org....

  • Churches

    Updated Feb 1, 2018

    Cheney Congregational Church Cheney Congregational had their 135th annual meeting on Sunday and we are celebrating a new relationship with the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches (NACCC). This is an association of churches that prizes the autonomy of individual congregations while seeking out the advantages of friendship between congregations. Our congregation also got to celebrate the highest pledge drive we’ve known in years. On Feb. 4, we are taking a special offering for Feed Cheney through the “Soup...

  • Looking Back

    Updated Feb 1, 2018

    1 Years Ago Jan. 31, 2008 Storms struck the Inland Northwest that made for dangerous driving conditions and caused area schools to close. Snowstorms also caused widespread power outages to about 3,550 Medical Lake residents. The West Plains recorded over 12 inches over a weekend with more to follow. Marissa Wunderlich opened up a Cheney masseuse shop called "Cheney Sun Shop and Tanning Salon." The business was located at 2730 First St. Cheney Mayor Allan Gainer spoke before...

  • Voters urged to be counted in on the levy

    Updated Feb 1, 2018

    Our CHS motto this year, “Count me in!” reflects how CHS students take pride in being invested in their academics and extracurricular — every minute, every day. I have been involved in several CHS programs, one of which is Career and Technical Education. Through CTE, I discovered my passion for technology. Extracurricular activities such as CyberPatriot, continued the development of my skills outside the classroom. CHS is also one of few schools in the PNW that offers Cisco NetAcad, a specialized computer networking curri...

  • Cheney HS offers chances to be involved

    Updated Feb 1, 2018

    Throughout my four years at Cheney High School, I’ve been involved in several extracurricular sports including soccer, basketball, tennis and swimming. Some of my best memories from high school have been with my teammates at athletic events, particularly district and state swimming and all the bus rides in between. In addition to participating in Cheney activities, I’m also a part of the CHS Jazz 1 and Wind Ensemble. In both these top level ensembles, I have gotten to play at festivals and compete in competitions from the...

  • Vote no for the Cheney School District levy

    Updated Feb 1, 2018

    Hello Cheney School District. Didn’t we just vote for huge increases for the school district for multiple issues? Did we just not build two or three new buildings? Why are you coming back in less than a year to have us vote? Shouldn’t the school district wait until we see what they do this legislative session? With the McCleary ruling, the state has a primary mission to fund basic education. Should we be funding education further than basic education? Shouldn’t those extra programs be funded in some other means? How about...

  • Schools can only provide levy information

    Updated Feb 1, 2018

    When a school district submits a levy proposition to its voters, the role of the district is to provide an objective and fair presentation of facts to the community. Generally, this information is shared through an informational mailer that describes the levy and its impact on the school district and its taxpayers. Individual voters then decide whether to approve or reject the proposition. Under state law, a public entity, such as a school district, may not promote or oppose any ballot proposition. In last week’s edition o...

  • Cheney provides life-learning experiences

    Updated Feb 1, 2018

    Cheney High School has presented me with many opportunities to succeed and learn through clubs and activities outside of the classroom such as swim team (which is a privilege to have, not many schools are able to compete in swimming), language clubs to have a deeper understanding of different cultures and service clubs which teach students to love volunteering. Perhaps the most impactful has been my experience through Future Business Leaders of America. Over the last four years, FBLA has given me the opportunity to engage in...

  • The levy is important for outside learning

    Updated Feb 1, 2018

    On Tuesday, Feb. 13, a vote for a replacement Educational Programs and Operation Levy will be held. This levy, if passed, will help every single student in the Cheney School District. Since I participate in some activities funded by the levy, I would like to share why it is so important that it passes. Some of the programs and activities funded by this levy are extracurricular activities such as sports and clubs. I am a heavy participant in these. From cross country to track, from Future Business Leaders of America to school...

  • Watching live theater is now becoming my new favorite thing to do

    Grace Pohl, Staff Intern|Updated Feb 1, 2018

    Over the weekend, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the show “Motown” at the INB Performing Arts Center which is a part of the “Best of Broadway” series. Little fun fact for those students out there, if you show up two hours before the show time with your student ID, you get a major discount on tickets. I was able to score great seats for literally a third of the price. Going into the show, I didn’t really know much about it, other than I knew it would have some great music. I was right about the musical appeal, but...

  • Somebody had to know what Dr. Larry Nassar was doing

    Updated Feb 1, 2018

    The news that has come out about his involvement with the hundreds of gymnastics girls has been heartbreaking and disturbing on so many levels. And the worst part seems to be that people and institutions along the way knew about it and could’ve done something, but instead looked the other way. Since the sentencing of Nassar, the president of Michigan State University has stepped down and all the members of USA Gymnastics board of directors resigned after having pressure applied from the United States Olympic Committee (...

  • Blue Oyster Cult coming to Northern Quest

    Updated Feb 1, 2018

    As one of the greatest hard rock bands of the 1970s, Blue Öyster Cult will bring their intense sound and vivacious stage presence to Northern Quest Resort & Casino’s Pend Oreille Pavilion on Wednesday, April 11. Show time is 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $35/$45/$65 and go on sale Saturday, Feb. 3 at 9 a.m. Purchase tickets online at www.northernquest.com or call the Northern Quest Box Office at (509) 481-2800 or toll-free at (877) 871-6772. Box office hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. seven days a week. Known as a pioneer of hard ro...

  • News Briefs

    STAFF AND NEWS REPORTS|Updated Feb 1, 2018

    Feed Cheney and the Souper Bowl of Caring Feb. 4 is Super Bowl Sunday and volunteers with the nonprofit organization Feed Cheney are inviting the community to take part in the annual “Souper Bowl of Caring” to raise funds helping support local free food and grocery distribution efforts. The goal of the Souper Bowl of Caring, a nationwide fundraiser, is to create community awareness of Feed Cheney’s mission and how to get involved. All donations made to Feed Cheney will be used towards the $500 monthly food and supply expen...

  • Village Centre Cinemas holds Film Scholarship Contest

    Grace Pohl, Staff Intern|Updated Feb 1, 2018

    People who have any interest in the film industry will have a chance to show off their skills in the upcoming Film Scholarship Contest through the Village Centre Cinemas company. This marks the first year that the competition is being held. “We were looking at ways to get involved with the community,” Kim LiVecchi, Village Centre Cinemas marketing director said. “A lot of my friends from high school are still in the film industry and we thought this was a way for people who are excited about film to show off their skill...

  • Lynn Hickey named Eastern Washington's interim athletics director

    STAFF AND NEWS REPORTS|Updated Feb 1, 2018

    Eastern Washington University President Mary Cullinan has named veteran athletics administrator Lynn Hickey to serve as EWU's interim athletic director while the university begins a national search to permanently fill the position. Hickey, who will begin her duties at Eastern Feb. 12 replaces Bil Chaves, who took a similar post with the University of North Dakota. "I am very happy to bring a leader with Ms. Hickey's experience to our university," Cullinan said in a news...

  • Jace Bylenga named Activist in Residence at EWU

    Grace Pohl, Staff Intern|Updated Feb 1, 2018

    Jace Bylenga was recently introduced as the first male “Activist in Residence” (AIR) at Eastern Washington University. For the fifth year in a row, the Women’s and Gender Studies Program and the Women’s and Gender Education Center are the lead organizers of the AIR on EWU’s campus. According to the department’s website, the purpose of the AIR program is to: strengthen the commitment to community engagement for students, faculty and staff; enhance community partnerships and expand internship opportunities for EWU students; p...

  • Medical Lake school board is back to business

    PAUL DELANEY, Staff Reporter|Updated Feb 1, 2018

    The Medical Lake School Board got back to business and up to date for the new year at its Jan. 23 meeting. But it did not happen right away as the meetingtook place on School Board Appreciation Night. The board arrived to find a collection of gifts and tokens of appreciation from the community. They also took time out to mix and mingle with the audience over snacks. Superintendent Tim Ames read a proclamation from Washington Gov. Jay Inslee deeming January as School Directors...

  • Ad not from Cheney schools

    Updated Feb 1, 2018

    In the Jan. 25 issue of the Cheney Free Press, an informational document created by the Cheney Public Schools District was reproduced by the citizens committee as an advertisement and included the phrase “vote yes for kids.” The advertisement was not purchased by or reprinted on behalf of Cheney Public Schools....

  • Applications sought to fill Cheney Historic Preservation vacancy

    Updated Feb 1, 2018

    The city of Cheney is accepting applications to fill a vacant position on its Historic Preservation Commission. The commission is the appointed body charged with identifying and encouraging conservation of the community’s cultural resources. Members of this board are appointed by the mayor to three year terms. The current opening fills the remaining one year of a term that was vacated, and would be eligible for reappointment to a three-year term in January 2019. The major responsibility of the commission is to identify and a...

  • Oakes named Cheney's officer of the year

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Feb 1, 2018

    It's a tough shift for many, but Cheney police Officer Chris Oakes doesn't mind pulling patrol duty on the graveyard shift. The late night to early morning timeframe presents many challenges that day shifts don't often have - beginning with the obvious. "It's always dark, which is a challenge," Oakes, the department's 2017 Officer of the Year, said. It's the second time Oakes has received the award, being selected by his peers in 2014. The Tacoma-native has served with the dep...

  • Color Guard Cubs

    PAUL DELANEY|Updated Feb 1, 2018

    Members of Cub Scout Pack 353, based at Hutton Elementary School in Spokane, were on hand Jan. 25 to present colors at the Eastern Washington – North Dakota Big Sky Basketball game at Reese Court....

  • Merrick calls on history as his guide

    PAUL DELANEY, Staff Reporter|Updated Feb 1, 2018

    Being about as much of a Medical Lake native as one can be without having been born in or around the community, John Merrick will take that experience to heart as he sits on the City Council for the next four years. Merrick unseated incumbent Elizabeth Rosenbeck for Council Position 2. He garnered 57 percent of the vote in the general election. Arriving in town some 40 years ago as a 5-year-old, Merrick went all through school there, graduating from Medical Lake High School...

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