Articles from the March 31, 2022 edition


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  • Cheney comes from behind to beat Ferris

    Bob Kirkpatrick, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 31, 2022

    CHENEY- Maddie McDowell fanned 10 Saxons and the Blackhawks pulled out a 3-2 comeback win over Ferris at Cheney High School Monday afternoon. It's the fourth consecutive league victory for the team that finds itself at the top of the GSL standings with a 4-0 record. "It was a good fastpitch softball game," Head Coach Gary Blake said. "They went up 2-1, and we scored two in the bottom of the sixth and shut them down in the seventh inning." The game was a classic pitcher's duel...

  • Fairways may close front nine

    Matthew O. Stephens, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 31, 2022

    CHENEY – Water issues have been a topic of discussion for much of the West Plains, and Fairways Golf Course is facing similar issues that may force the closure of the front nine holes according to General Manager and Head Professional Dakota White. “So, this is going into year six of this water rate lawsuit with the city of Spokane,” White said. “It’s a class action lawsuit and it’s just been drug out for years now.” White said the city of Spokane has continued to increase the course’s water bill by adding fees on top of the...

  • Area leaders plan for 2022

    Matthew O. Stephens, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 31, 2022

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The West Plains Chamber of Commerce brought area leaders together on March 23 to give them a chance to speak about plans for this year. Executive Director Mark Losh welcomed a crowd of nearly 200 people into the Pavilion at Northern Quest Resort and Casino to listen to the panel of speakers. Panelists from the area included Mayor Chris Grover from Cheney who spoke about water issues facing the city. Grover also mentioned a water reclamation project that may b...

  • Airway City Council gives thumbs up on grants

    Matthew O. Stephens, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 31, 2022

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS – Airway Heights City Council announced two grant agreements supporting law enforcement activity during their March 28 study session. The grants accompanied service agreements that Police Chief Brad Richmond asked the council to accept. The service agreements with Mnati Consulting and Grassroots Therapy LLC were unanimously approved by council. Richmond deferred to Youth Engagement Specialist (YES) officer Patrick Carbaugh to explain a program he has developed and how it applies to grant funding. As an o...

  • Eastern receives funding for Cybersecurity programs

    Jonathan Olsen-Koziol, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 31, 2022

    CHENEY – Eastern Washington University has been awarded $2.8 million to bolster their Cybersecurity program. The money will be used to create an undergraduate degree in Cybersecurity as well as a master’s program for Cyber operations. Eastern not only focuses on Cybersecurity as a whole but how rural communities such as Cheney need to prepare for Cybersecurity breaches just like large corporations do. Any business that houses information can be a target. Cybersecurity issues can be anything as small as credit card phi...

  • Prom returns to Cheney High School

    Jonathan Olsen-Koziol, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 31, 2022

    CHENEY – Prom is finally returning for Cheney High School (CHS) seniors (and juniors) this year after two years of COVID-19 lockdown and protocols. This year’s dance is at the Spokane Convention Center on May 14 from 8 to 11 p.m. The theme is Dancing with the Stars. “We’re super-duper excited to hold prom for the high school,” CHS ASB President Jackson Redder said. “Excited for a sense of normalcy.” Redder said they started planning this year’s prom immediately after the state mask mandate was lifted. He said they’ve compare...

  • Cheney contracts for new server and email services

    Updated Mar 31, 2022

    By Jonathan Olsen-Koziol Cheney Free Press CHENEY – Cheney’s IT department is replacing the city’s aging servers and storage area network (SANS) systems. The servers are fast approaching their five-year lifespan. While it’s recommended replacement be closer to three years, Cindy Niemeier, city finance director, doesn’t see the need in upgrading technology that still works. “My question is, are they working? Okay? Then we’re not replacing them yet,” she said. Despite her concern about upgrading the current system before t...

  • Medical Lake appoints deputy administrator

    Matthew O. Stephens, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 31, 2022

    MEDICAL LAKE – Katy Allen is the new deputy administrator for the city of Medical Lake. The announcement came during the March 15 city council meeting. After asking former City Administrator Doug Ross to resign during the March 1 meeting, mayor Terri Cooper appointed Allen to the position. “It was just a time for a change,” Cooper said. “You know, after a couple of months (of Cooper’s tenure), I thought it wasn’t the best fit, so I’ve asked for Mr. Ross’s resignation. The mayor appoints the city administrator—i...

  • Washington schools perpetuate racism

    Mark Miloscia|Updated Mar 31, 2022

    The cult of social justice is perpetuating racism in the Clover Park School District with a new student discipline policy requiring staff to consider a student’s race and background before determining their punishment. Instead of disciplining students consistently based on conduct, as justice would require, it is mandating discrimination based on race. In other words, skin color determines whether one receives easy or harsh punishment for the same offense. Isn’t this the textbook definition of racism? This is happening in sch...

  • Democrats dishonest about gas tax hike

    Updated Mar 31, 2022

    With so much rhetoric about moving the state away from gas-powered vehicles to reduce CO2 emissions, one of the strangest claims made during the legislative session was that there was no increase in “gas taxes.” Various versions of this claim appeared. At best, it is misleading, but in many cases it is false. The transportation package specifically relies on an increase in taxes on gasoline as legislative documents and the Department of Ecology admit. The $17 billion transportation package has several funding sources. The...

  • Year 3 starts under gubernatorial edict

    Jason Mercier|Updated Mar 31, 2022

    Sorry to break the news, Washingtonians, but Year 3 of living under emergency orders by the governor will continue without meaningful legislative oversight. The House officially killed Senate Bill 5909 before adjourning. Although that bill as passed by the Senate was essentially fake reform, several amendments were introduced for the House floor debate to bring the policy back in line with what exists in the rest of the country by requiring affirmative legislative approval...

  • Vetoes erase local input on wind, solar farms

    Roger Harnack, The Journal|Updated Mar 31, 2022

    POMEROY – Two Eastern Washington lawmakers are irate that Gov. Jay Inslee is pushing wind and solar farms on the region without providing for local input. Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, and Rep. Mark Klicker, R-Walla Walla, said Monday, March 28, that it’s unconscionable the governor vetoed portions of House Bill 1812 that would give local leaders and opportunity to challenge wind and solar farm placement. The governor vetoed sections 19-22 of the bill establishing an ind...

  • Eastern hospital assault victim dies from injuries

    Matthew O. Stephens, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 31, 2022

    MEDICAL LAKE – An adult male who sustained injuries from a March 17 assault at Eastern State Hospital has died. An initial press release on March 23 reported at approximately 9:30 am., Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to Eastern State Hospital to a call of an assault. The hospital staff said that two patients were involved in a physical fight. Deputies learned the two men were arguing about something, which quickly escalated into a physical altercation. The suspect, 24-year-old Martay L. Ellis, had been det...

  • County bans local income taxes

    Roger Harnack, The Gazette|Updated Mar 31, 2022

    COLFAX—Whitman County is the most recent to join the bandwagon opposing a local income tax. On Monday, March 21, county commissioners unanimously voted to oppose any effort to implement a local income tax within its jurisdiction. Whitman County’s move follows similar action in 11 other counties in the state. Adjacent Lincoln, Spokane and Franklin Counties previously passed resolutions opposing any local income tax. The growing opposition comes on the continued efforts by Wes...

  • News Briefs

    Updated Mar 31, 2022

    City to study utility rates CHENEY – The City Council unanimously approved Resolution F-015 on Tuesday, March 22, to allocate over $90,000 to study residential and commercial water and utility rates. Cheney will contract with the FCS Group to perform the research, costing the city $92,565. “It’s always nice to have a third party come in and do an extensive rate study,” Public Works Director Todd Ableman said. The city has been contracting with FCS Group since 2009 to study utility rates. Ableman said the city’s emergency...

  • Nancy K. Madison

    Updated Mar 31, 2022

    Nancy K. Madison peacefully passed away March 18, 2022, at Hospice House in Spokane following a courageous and long battle with Scleroderma; she was surrounded by family. She was born April 27, 1943, in Cuba, NY to Ethelyn P. and Russel E. Eichelberger and raised in Friendship, NY where her mother taught kindergarten following her father's death in World War II. Nancy was a graduate of Friendship High School, SUNY College at Buffalo (BS), and Case Western Reserve University... Full story

  • Bi-County Honors Band and Choir take over Fox Theatre

    Jonathan Olsen-Koziol, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 31, 2022

    SPOKANE – Talented student musicians from Eastern Washington performed in front of a packed house in Spokane's Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox. Bi-county Honors Band and Choir featured the best high school and middle school musicians from Liberty, Almira-Coulee-Hartline, Reardan, Davenport, Wilbur, Creston, Odessa, Sprague, Lamont, Harrington, Lind, and Ritzville. Senior musicians had to audition for their spots while juniors were selected by their respective musical d...

  • Cardinals overpower Pirates, fall to Crimson Hawks

    Matthew O. Stephens, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 31, 2022

    MEDICAL LAKE – The Cardinals dominated both games of a double-header against Rogers High School on March 22. Medical Lake took game one by a score of 11-1, and then shut out the Pirates 10-0 in game two. Luke Dickey got the win for the Cardinals, striking out nine batters in just over five innings pitched. Dickey threw 88 pitches allowing one run and two walks in the game. According to Coach Austin Sharp, sticking to the game plan allowed the team to dominate both games w...

  • Boys Golf places fourth at invite

    Bob Kirkpatrick, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 31, 2022

    CHENEY—The Blackhawks turned in a solid outing on the links at Apple Tree Golf Course Monday, March 21, finishing in the middle of the pack shooting 359 as a team to open the season. West Valley finished first (318), Wenatchee shot 329 to place second and Eastmont took third place with a team score of 345. Jake Vallances carded an 81 to finish 11 over on the Par 72 course, which landed him in the ninth spot individually. Ben Rowe placed 20th with a round of 87. Alex Hinrichs shot 93 to place 25th and Chris Matthews f...

  • Boys Soccer struggling

    Bob Kirkpatrick, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 31, 2022

    CHENEY — The Blackhawks are off to one of their worst starts with seven consecutive losses, giving up 31 goals and recording just two. Cheney dropped a 2-1 match to West Valley, was dealt a 2-0 loss at home to Gonzaga Prep, were blanked by Lewis & Clark 7-0, lost 12-nil to Davis on the road and were held off the scoreboard in a 4-0 loss to Mead at home on Tuesday, March 23. The Blackhawks then suffered a 2-1 loss at Mt. Spokane on Friday, March 25 and dropped a 2-nil fuss at Pullman on March 26....

  • Girls Tennis blanks Medical Lake

    Bob Kirkpatrick, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 31, 2022

    CHENEY— The Blackhawks turned in a dominating performance vs Medical Lake Saturday, March 26, taking a 7-0 match from the Cardinals. The win moves Cheney to 2-2 on the season. “It was a great win to close out our non-league matches,” coach Linnea Love said. “We’re anticipating next week’s matches against U-High and G-Prep for our first league matches of the season.” Cheney found little resistance from Medical Lake with one match going to a tiebreaker at third doubles. Match results First Singles: Adrianna Wood (CHS) def. Au...

  • West Plains Police News

    Updated Mar 31, 2022

    Cheney/EWU Police Reports March 21 TV damaged on the 1000 block of West First Street. Attempted prescription fraud on the 100 block of F Street. Verbal dispute reported on the 100 block of First Street. March 22 Trespassing reported on the zero block of Simpson Parkway Copper and hand coils stolen from a fenced storage yard on the 100 block of A Street. 15-year-old male arrested for second degree assault on the 400 block of North Sixth Street. Involuntary committal due to mental health issues on the 2200 block of First...

  • Blackhawks take two on the diamond

    Bob Kirkpatrick, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 31, 2022

    CHENEY—Quinn Hubbs tossed a complete game shutout giving up four hits and striking out 13 Bears and Cheney beat Central Valley 1-0 at home Friday, March 25. It was the second win in as many games as the Blackhawks beat Lewis & Clark 5-3 on March 22 and evened their record at 2-2 on the season. “Lewis and Clark was a great game where Isaac Nesbitt threw 7 innings and Tate Heuschkel threw 2 scoreless for his first varsity win,” Coach Rob Beamer said. “The team really started...

  • Cheney Boys get nonleague win

    Bob Kirkpatrick, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 31, 2022

    CHENEY- Cheney is on a heater, posting its third win in a row on the courts. The Blackhawks latest victim, the Medical Lake Cardinals, had their wings clipped 6-1 at home on Saturday, March 26. "It was a beautiful day for tennis. Our families came out and supported us in full force and the boys played well," Coach Dan Estock said. "Medical Lake was our last non-league match-up before we start into the GSL schedule next week. I am really happy with the trajectory we are on. We...

  • Cardinal girls break school record

    Matthew O. Stephens, Cheney Free Press|Updated Mar 31, 2022

    WENATCHEE – Four runners from Medical Lake broke a Cardinal school record at the Ray Cochran Relays on Saturday, March 26. Head Coach Gene Blankenship said the meet doesn't fit the standard format of a lot of track and field events. "The format of this meet is that all events are scored as relays," Blankenship said. "Some are traditional relays using a baton which is passed from competitor to competitor and some were combined times or marks." According to Blankenship, the D...

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