Articles from the May 23, 2024 edition


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  • My oh my, the Owyhee!

    PAUL DELANEY, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 23, 2024

    Its name comes from the most unlikely source. The solitude that surrounds it is immense. And the ever-changing river corridor scenery is, perhaps, unparalleled? A just right El Niño winter weather pattern where the storm track punishes California sometimes rewards whitewater rafters with both perfect water and weather on Oregon’s Owyhee River. Flowing 280 miles, the headwaters of this river originate in northern Nevada with the Owyhee’s name derived from an original spel...

  • Someone paid for your freedoms

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 23, 2024

    Disappointingly, many Americans are worried about silly first-world problems like where to go boating or what to barbecue over the upcoming weekend. Too many view this up coming three-day break as an excuse to eat, drink and party, never giving a thought as to why Memorial Day is observed. So while you’re anxiously awaiting the long weekend, take time to remember, understand and plan to observe Memorial Day. Memorial Day is dedicated to the men and women killed while serving i...

  • Honor the families of those who sacrificed

    DON C BRUNELL, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 23, 2024

    On Memorial Day, we traditionally honor Americans in our military who gave their lives in battle for our country. It is called the “Ultimate Sacrifice,” and they died protecting our freedoms and keeping us safe. In recent times, we have acknowledged our citizens in uniform who continue to suffer with permanent combat emotional and physical scars. They are alive largely because our battlefield survival is dramatically improving, and our accompanying rehabilitation expands. Thi...

  • Liberty girls in state fastpitch tournament

    Roger Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 23, 2024

    YAKIMA — The Liberty (Spangle) girls fastpitch team finished the season with a single loss. This week, the Lancers (22-1) will have an opportunity to show they deserve a shot at the state Class 2B title. The No. 5-ranked Lancers charge into the Gateway Sports Complex for the state fastpitch softball tournament Friday, May 24. They open tournament play at 10 a.m. on Field No. 3 against the No. 12-ranked Lake Roosevelt Raiders (18-5) from Coulee Dam. The Lancers are the top team out of the Northeast 2B League; the Raiders f...

  • Cardinals send six to state meet

    PAUL DELANEY, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 23, 2024

    YAKIMA - Medical Lake is sending six athletes to the state 1A track meet at Zaepfel Stadium this weekend. But it could have been a bigger number, lamented head Coach Gene Blankenship following the District 7 meet May 17 and 18 at Riverside High School. The Top 2 finishers from each event qualified to compete at Eisenhower High School's Zaepfel, but had a state qualifying number been attained they, too, would have been able to attend. As it stands the Cardinal girls are...

  • Veterans cemetery to observe Memorial Day

    Clare McGraw, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 22, 2024

    MEDICAL LAKE – The State Veterans Cemetery at Medical Lake will host its annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 27. Starting at 11 a.m., the event honors the service and sacrifice of U.S. veterans and their families. Due to limited on-site parking, attendees are encouraged to carpool. Overflow parking will be available on Ritchey Road. Pets and the use of tobacco products are prohibited on cemetery grounds. In preparation for the ceremony, members of the military will p...

  • Traffic stop results in two arrests

    Clare McGraw, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 22, 2024

    CHENEY – Two individuals were arrested on outstanding warrants during a routine traffic stop on May 13. Bonita Mullins, 56, was pulled over by officers on the 1900 block of 1st Street. During the stop, officers discovered that Mullins had an active warrant from the Department of Corrections for failing to respond to a probation summons, according to Cheney Police Department Public Information Officer Cheyanne Walters. Kyle Kiourkas, 28, a passenger in the vehicle, was also arrested after officers identified him as having a w...

  • Suspect arrested twice in two days

    Clare McGraw, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 22, 2024

    CHENEY – Brennan Anderson, 23, was arrested twice in two days for an outstanding warrant related to a domestic violence protection order. On May 16, Anderson was re ported to the police by a neighbor and was subsequently transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail, according to Cheney Police Department Public Information Officer Cheyanne Walters. However, Anderson was released and, the following day, an officer spotted him with his victim at a bus stop. Anderson was arrested again on May 17 and booked back into the S...

  • Professor awarded $480,000

    Clare McGraw, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 22, 2024

    CHENEY – Dr. Jason Ashley, an associate professor of physiology at Eastern Washington University, has received a $480,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the molecular mechanisms behind bone regeneration. This funding marks a significant milestone for both Ashley and the university’s growing research programs in molecular biology. In an interview, Ashley explained the basics of how bones naturally repair and remodel themselves at a molecular level. “Bones are dynamic organs that have a prote...

  • Schools grapple with enrollment dip

    Clare McGraw, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 22, 2024

    CHENEY – At the latest Cheney Public Schools board meeting held on May 8, concerns were raised regarding a dip in enrollment, particularly notable in elementary schools. Jamie Reed, responsible for the Financial and Enrollment Report, shed light on the situation, projecting a flat year for enrollment growth. “Under a lot of different models, it looks like next year will be a flat year, they will grow eventually, we are just lagging,” Reed remarked, underlining the anticipation for eventual growth despite the current downt...

  • Public Records

    Cheney Free Press|Updated May 22, 2024

    Cheney May 13 Bonita Mullins, 56, was arrested for a DOC escape warrant and Kyle Kiourkas, 28, was arrested for domestic violence order of protection violation warrant on the 1900 block of First St. Sexual assault on the 300 block of Erie St. Probable cause was not found regarding a reported fight on the 1000 block of Betz Road. Anthoney Whitehead, 47, was arrested for a driving while under the influence warrant on the 600 block of Mike McKeehan Way May 14 A fence was damaged on the 400 block of Simpson Parkway. Crisis on...

  • News Briefs

    Cheney Free Press|Updated May 22, 2024

    City updates container rules MEDICAL LAKE – The Medical Lake Planning Commission discussed updates to the city’s regulations on shipping containers during their meeting on May 16. The changes come after the city council approved a text change addressing the use and screening of shipping containers within city limits. “Last meeting, the city council approved the text change for the shipping containers,” said Elisa Rodriguez, the city planner. “Councilwoman Keli Shaffer suggested screening, and we already have six-foot...

  • Cheney considers joining Broadlinc

    Clare McGraw, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 22, 2024

    CHENEY – The City Council met on May 14 to discuss the possibility of joining the Spokane Re gional Broadband Public Development Authority (PDA). The meeting featured a presentation by Arianne Schmidt, the executive director of Broadlinc, outlining the benefits and mission of the PDA. Broadlinc was established in December 2022. It is governed by an in dependent board and includes towns, cities, and unincorporated areas of Spokane County. Schmidt explained, “It was created to em body the three-pronged mission of the PDA – t...

  • Alliance focuses on youth violence grants

    Clare McGraw, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 22, 2024

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS – At the recent West Plains Safety Alliance (WPSA) meeting, local leaders discussed the urgent need for enhanced crisis response teams and efforts to address youth violence through federal grants. Chief Brad Richmond of Airway Heights underscored the necessity of more intensive commitment. “We need more intensive commitment to enhance our crisis response teams,” Richmond said, referring to a $200,000 WA grant aimed at this initiative. Alise Mnati, the grant writer for Airway Heights, detailed the city...

  • Senator's grant assistance explained

    Clare McGraw, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 22, 2024

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS — Licett Garbe, the Eastern Washington Director for Senator Patty Murray’s office, addressed local leaders at the West Plains Safety Alliance meeting on May 16, emphasizing the resources available to smaller municipalities through federal grants. “We have access to significant funding fol lowing the fiscal year and the CDS cycle,” Garbe said. “We’re preparing for the next funding bill with a dedicated grants department, including a director and six interns.” Garbe highlighted the office’s commitment to a...

  • Girl - independent, free-spirited

    Venus Bratsveen, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 22, 2024

    I will always enjoy being called a girl. There are some who f ind the term girl, as referred to a woman, demeaning. When I think about it, however; I was never as free as I was when just a girl. I don’t find the term insulting. It is inclusive of all the generations of femalehood. (I may have just made that word up, but you get my meaning.) We go from playing with Barbies to side-eye ing boys to obsessing over men to caring for children and finally to enjoying our independence again. That’s not to say an adult woman doe...

  • Girls receive scholarships

    Cheney Free Press|Updated May 22, 2024

    CHENEY – Three Cheney High School students have been selection for computing scholar ships. Elsa Bertelsen, Joy Assonkin and Kenadie Boerger received Eastern the Washington Award for Aspirations in Computing on Saturday, May 18, from the National Center for Women and Information Technology. All three students were honored and recognized at an awards ceremony at University of Washington's Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Computer Science Building. Cheney teacher Adam Smith w...

  • Anna Marie (Albertson) Burnham

    Cheney Free Press|Updated May 22, 2024

    It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Anna Marie (Albert son) Burnham. Anna peacefully gave up her courageous battle with an illness at the age of 45 with her husband and son beside her on April 16, 2024. We now celebrate her life and rejoice as she is welcomed into Paradise by her Heavenly Father, and all her loved ones who have preceded her. Anna was born Nov. 29, 1978, in Spokane, Wash., to David M. and Mary Ellen (Peters) Albertson. She was raised in...

  • Tech Sgt. Aubrey Ray Henderson

    Cheney Free Press|Updated May 22, 2024

    Tech. Sgt. Aubrey Ray, USAF (Ret.), 81, went to his heavenly home with Jesus on May 7, 2024, in Medical Lake, Wash. Ray was born Jan. 4, 1943, in Langdale, Ala., to C.D. Henderson and Bertie Vira Baldwin. He was the youngest of their six children. Ray enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in July 1963 and retired in April 1984 with 20-plus years of honorable service to our country as the fuels su pervisor at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. Other duty assignments included, Homestead...

  • Candles on the ponderosa

    Margaret A. Swenson, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 22, 2024

    Unlike the wax candles on my coffee table, the candles on the ponderosa pines touched by May’s morning light glow as they reach as with reverence toward the Heavens. Gleaming with life, the candles contain the spring growth of the tree. David Douglas, the naturalist, named the magnificent giant whose name Ponderosa means ‘heavy wood.’ Native Americans revered the long needled, single flush, (one growth of candles per year) pine tree for many uses including pitch for adhesive, needles for tea, logs for canoes, and dried bark...

  • Fairchild conducts drill

    Cheney Free Press|Updated May 22, 2024

    FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE — Air men conducted a major response exercise May 22-23. During the exercise, residents and visitors at the base experienced heightened noise levels and witnessed emergency responses emanating from the exercise vicinity. The event provided an opportunity for emergency responders to engage in joint exercises with their counterparts from the local community. Additionally, it served as a litmus test for evaluating the readiness and professionalism of airmen’s training. The necessity for a MARE is man...

  • Cannons launch season

    PAUL DELANEY, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 22, 2024

    MEDICAL LAKE - His vacation lasted just about a week, if that, before Medical Lake baseball Coach Austin Sharp turned his focus to a summer job of running the AAA American Legion Cannons. Newly named as the West Plains Cannons - opting to drop Spokane from the title - the team opened its bid to return to the state playoffs for a fourth consecutive season May 19 with a non-league game 7-6 win at home against River City of Post Falls. Cheney's Brayden Martin drove in the...

  • Cheney baseball ousted in playoffs

    PAUL DELANEY, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 22, 2024

    CHENEY - The Cheney Blackhawks were playing some pretty good baseball recently, just not good enough to extend their season. Cheney (10-14) was ousted from postseason May 11 following a 9-6 loss in district play to Mount Spokane where they were unable to quell the Greater Spokane League co-champ Wildcats. A five-run fifth did in the Blackhawks who were led by Clayton Wood's two hits and three RBIs. That game followed Cheney's 7-0 win over University earlier in the day where...

  • Cheney tracksters off to state

    PAUL DELANEY, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 22, 2024

    CHENEY — There will be plenty of cheering to be done for Cheney athletes during this week’s state 2A, 3A and 4A track and field championships at Tacoma’s Mount Tahoma High School. The Blackhawks are represented in a dozen events following District 8 championships staged last week at Central Valley High School. “We had a better year at districts this year,” head coach Derek Slaughter wrote in an email. “It wasn’t 100 degrees and we had one more allocation for state.” The Greater Spokane League — a.k.a. District 8 — was...

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