Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 31
CHENEY – Evan Stinson, Cheney's 6'5" sophomore guard/forward, was selected First-Team All GSL League by 11 Greater Spokane League coaches. team. Stinson had an outstanding season for Cheney, holding his own against some of the states' best players. Playing in 16 of 19 game this season (missed three for COVID protocol), he scored 370 points (23.1 ave), shoot 55% from the field and 38% from the 3-point line. Stinson also made 72% of his free-throws and pulled down 88 r...
CHENEY – The Eagles dug themselves an early double-digit hole and could not dig their way out in a 67–58 loss to Sacramento State on Reese Court Saturday, Feb. 26. Eastern was ice cold out of the box, shooting 33% from the floor and trailed 22–9 at the end of the first quarter. But the Eagles heated up in the second quarter to get within five points, 37–32 at the half. The Hornets drained the first six points of the third quarter to widen the gap to double-digits, 43–32. A 14–10 Eastern run kept the Eagles in it, 53–46, head...
MEDICAL LAKE – Residents wanting to de-stress, connect, or learn more about the schools and the resources provided within the Medical Lake School District will have their questions answered at the Wellness Center at 317 N. Broad Street on March 7. The information session is part of the Help Unite Build (H.U.B.) program from 8-11 a.m. The school district’s Parent and Family Partner, Nikki Bauman, worked to develop a relationship with the wellness team and social workers to get this idea on the ground and operational. As the...
CHENEY – Washington’s indoor mask mandate is ending ahead of schedule. Governor Jay Islee made the announcement during a press conference on Monday, Feb. 28. The original date for removing the mandate was set for March 20, but has now been moved up to March 11. “We have good news today. We are turning a page in our fight against the COVID virus,” Inslee said. “This page will be based more on empowering individuals and families and protecting themselves ra-ther than based on government restrictions. We can do this because w...
CHENEY – Washington’s redistricting commission has finally settled on its new congressional and legislative district maps putting Cheney and the West Plains in the fifth congressional district. The West Plains will be in the sixth and ninth legislative districts. Cheney and most of south-eastern Washington will be in the ninth legislative district, while Medical Lake, Fairchild Air force Base, and Airway Heights reside in the sixth district. Current senators like Mark Schoesler will continue representing the new bou...
CHENEY – Cheney High School is officially searching for a new principal as of Feb.15. This search includes input from middle school and high school students from around the district via a Google survey that is available from the school district until March 3. “It is common practice, especially at the secondary level, to include students as part of the interview process for new administrators and teachers,”Kelly Niccolls, teaching and learning assistant director said in an email to the Cheney Free Press. “Students are the cen...
MEDICAL LAKE – Area residents can expect to find a variety of handmade goods at the Medical Lake craft fair as over 50 vendors will set up in the parking lot of the high school baseball field from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 19. This event comes together to help support a party celebrating all of the seniors graduating this year. It is only the second year the group has hosted the event as COVID hurdles forced the fair stoppage in 2020. Wendy Gilbert, who teaches at Hallett Elementary, said the committee had to choose alternat...
OLYMPIA – A Senate resolution honoring agronomist Bill Schillinger passed Feb. 21. Senate Resolution 8645 honors Schillinger for his service to farmers; it was introduced by Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville. Schillinger is a longtime research agronomist who retired from Washington State University in January. “It’s with sadness that we see Bill retiring but for all of the incredible work over 30 years, we wish Bill the very best and say, ‘Thank you,’” Schoesler said in a speech on the Senate floor two weeks ago. Schillinger...
CHENEY– Following the lead of Gov. Inslee relaxing the indoor mask mandate, the Cheney School District will lift its mask requirements on school buses at the same time as the indoor mask release on March 12. “Cheney Public Schools will follow the newest guidance and end mandatory masking in our schools and school buses starting on Monday, March 14, said Cheney School District Superintendent Rob Roettger. “As a reminder, some staff members and families will continue to wear masks indoors and on school buses after the manda...
I am so glad that the state mask mandate will be lifted soon. No, I am not against masks. I am actually very grateful for the caution and care our state and in turn Cheney School District has exercised during COVID. I am glad it will be lifted because maybe now our school board can get back to the critical work entrusted to them of overseeing the education of our children. Maybe they won’t have to be subjected to disrespectful disruptions to their work. I am a glad the mandate will be lifted because now maybe the Free P...
Washington’s Board of Natural Resources is considering banning timber harvesting on state lands. That is extremely unwise. Instead, the Board must insure its healthy forest policies incorporate all management tools including planting, thinning and logging. The board, established in 1957, sets policies to manage Washington’s 5.6 million acres granted by Congress in 1889. More than 3 million acres were designated as trust lands to support various public institutions of whi...
Freedom requires the politicians “to be dependent on the people alone,” (Federalist Paper No. 52, ¶2). When politicians are dependent on political parties, which are controlled by “a handful of tyrannical nobles,” government becomes the servant of the billionaire class, (Federalist Paper No. 39, ¶4). Lately, the state has laid claim to having the authority to control every aspect of an individual’s life. On any trumped-up pretext, the state has assumed the power to place the people under house arrest, to close the church...
Marie Jeanne Zabel, Spokane, Wash., passed away on Feb. 23, 2022, after struggling with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA). Marie was born in 1939 to Robert and Jeanne Melton in Norwalk, Calif. She graduated from Excelsior High School in Norwalk in 1957. Having met Ernest H. Gilmour in 1954, they wed in 1957 and went on to have three children: Ernest Henry Gilmour, William Bryce Gilmour, and Nadine Marie Gilmour (Madrazo). When Ernie Jr. was born, Marie decided to dedicate her... Full story
By The United States has a unique health care delivery system. Unlike other industrialized countries which all have some form of top-down, government-run system, the structure of medical care in the U.S. has evolved organically over the past 80 years. Half of all Americans receive their health insurance from their employer or their spouse’s employer. Over 40 percent of Americans receive their health insurance from the government through Medicare, Medicaid, and Obamacare. Advocates of a single-payer system in the U.S. b...
Patrick O'Brien Shea, 59, of Cheney, Wash., died of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 at home surrounded by his family. Born in Spokane, Wash. to Donald and Sharon Shea, he grew up on the farm in Tyler, Wash., where he helped with cattle and haying. Patrick attended Spokane Community College, graduating with a Degree in Invasive Cardiovascular Technology. His career was in Spokane in the cardiovascular field for 37 years starting in the EP Cath lab to... Full story
Well kids, I am here to tell you we must make it right with our non-human partners. You, my friends, are the capable and creative Geniuses who have inherited the planet. My generation, I am sad to say, screwed up. Yes, your parents, grandparents and I are responsible for this environmentally challenged earth. What we have bestowed upon you is unfair. But what now are you going to do about it? Since you were children we tried to teach you the philosophy of “give and take.” However, we neglected to instill in you the necessity...
You know, it didn’t really seem like the day was so auspicious. It was cold. There was snow on the ground there on the baseball diamond. But then, it’s winter in Alaska … Anchorage, actually, and it should be cold. First Saturday in March, 1973. More than 40 dog teams were there, getting lined out and harnessed by mushers and their handlers. I was one of those dog mushers. We had a couple of world champions to race against and a lot of folks like me … called “recreational” mushers by the big shots in racing. In my case, my...
OLYMPIA– Sen. Jeff Holy’s effort to reestablish public safety across Washington by halting an exodus of law-enforcement officers received strong support when it came before the Senate Ways and Means Committee yesterday. Officials with local-government organizations and law-enforcement agencies testified firmly in favor of the 6th District senator’s proposal, Senate Bill 5841, which would provide cities and counties with more funding to hire more officers. “The positive testimony clearly shows this would be an effecti...
OLYMPIA – A trio of transportation bills passed Friday night by the Senate, including the chamber’s supplemental transportation budget and a new package of transportation projects, received “no” votes from 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler. The Ritzville Republican was critical of the new package, saying it fails to benefit the entire state while relying on tax and fee increases that will impact people throughout Washington. “The new transportation projects approved by the Senate would do plenty for certain parts of our state...
Spokane County Sheriff Deputies close the highway at 16300 W. Medical Lake Four Lakes Road Tuesday afternoon, March 1, as the county SWAT Team investigates an incident at a residence. No additional information was available at press time....
CHENEY – The Eastern Washington University football team has brought on a new coach to tutor their wide receivers, according to an Eagles Feb. 28 press release. Greg Hardin makes his way to Cheney via Oregon State University, where he spent time as the Beavers graduate assistant. He also helped coach the wide receivers, cobbled together scouting reports, worked on passing game concepts, ran the scout defenses and even helped the Beavers recruit. Hardin spent time coaching receivers at Robert Morris University, where he h...
OLYMPIA – The Super Bowl’s most valuable player, an Eastern Washington native, was celebrated in a Senate resolution this week. Cooper Kupp, a Yakima native and former Eastern Washington University football standout, was celebrated in a resolution for his career, work ethic and humility. The resolution recognizing Kupp was sponsored by 6th District Sen. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney, and 14th District Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima. “Let’s talk about being a role model,” Sen. Holy said during a floor speech on the resolution. “Cooper K...
Cheney and Eastern Police Reports Feb. 22 1990 Mazda Sport pickup stolen from the 300 block of North Third Street and recovered the next day by Washington State Patrol Verbal dispute reported on the 300 block of North Third Street. Feb. 23 17-year-old female ran away from home on the 500 block of North Third Street and returned home later the same day. Verbal dispute reported on the 100 block of College Hill Street. Wallet found on the 2600 block of First Street. Amber S. Spiers, 35-year-old female arrested for shoplifting a...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – Fans of the Bulldogs were able to get photos taken with the men's and women's basketball teams during a meet and greet event on Feb. 27 at Northern Quest Resort and Casino. The event was also a send-off party for the teams as they are getting ready to compete in the West Coast Conference Tournament. Over 300 area residents signed up for photos with the team, and several participants won door prizes such as autographed posters and other memorabilia. Kids, p...
CHENEY — Four Eagles hit for double figures, but it wasn’t enough to get past the Sacramento State Hornets as Eastern dropped an 81-75 contest on Feb. 26 that featured 13 lead changes and six ties. Ethan Price led the Eagle attack with 18 points. Ryan Bergersen added 17 points and eight rebounds, Steele Venters drained 15 points and Angelo Allegri finished with 12. The loss drops Eastern to 9-9 in Big Sky Conference action and 15-14 overall. The Eagles are back on the hardwood at Reese Court March 3 when they host Nor...
