Articles from the July 21, 2016 edition


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  • Luella Joy Dow

    Updated Jul 21, 2016

    On July 15, 2016, Luella Joy Dow, 84, concluded the story of her life peacefully by saying "I just want to go home," and so she did. She was born on Dec. 12, 1931 to Dale and Grace Milner in Deer Park, Wash. She attended Williams Valley School, Deer Park High School and Whitworth College. Luella married Wallace Dow on Sept. 29, 1957, and moved to Cheney. She lived on their farm south of Cheney for almost 60 years. She loved the country and was fortunate to spend most of her...

  • Five candidates vie for Kevin Parker's seat

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Jul 21, 2016

    Three Republicans, a Democrat and an independent candidate provide 6th District voters choices in the upcoming primary elections Aug. 2. All five are running to replace outgoing Rep. Kevin Parker, who stepped down from his Position 1 House of Representatives seat May 3. Lynnette Vehrs is the lone Democrat in the race. She has spent 40 years in the medical profession, having recently retired from her alma mater, Washington State University, where she taught at the College of...

  • Passing the air refueling baton

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated Jul 21, 2016

    Col. Ryan Samuelson stood in front of hundreds of airmen, local dignitaries and family as he said, "I assume command." Samuelson took command of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing from Col. Brian McDaniel during a July 19 ceremony. McDaniel, who has been the commander of the 92nd for the last two years, will return to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., for his next assignment. Prior to taking command at Fairchild, Samuelson was head of the 379th Expeditionary Operations Group, 379th...

  • Churches

    Updated Jul 21, 2016

    Cheney Community Church Vacation Bible School (VBS) begins next Monday at Cheney Community Church. The dates are July 25 – 29. Hours: 9 a.m. – noon. The theme this year is, “Ocean Commotion, diving into Noah’s flood!” All children preschool (must be potty trained) through fifth grade are welcome. Don’t miss this exciting time. Come and bring a friend, too. The church is located at 1307 Third St. in Cheney. Call (509) 235-4841 for information or pre-registration forms. Registration for VBS is available on-site as well. Sunda...

  • Cheney resident's novel hits the bookshelves

    GRACE POHL, Staff Intern|Updated Jul 21, 2016

    A local Cheney resident and Eastern Washington University alumnus officially has a novel, “Joyride,” published for all to read. The author, Travis Laurence Naught, moved to Cheney in 2001 and has lived here ever since. He completed graduate work in sports psychology in 2007 at EWU and was also involved with the university’s men’s basketball team for 10 years. Naught has been through some obstacles along the way, being diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy as an infant, which has led him to be a quadriplegic wheelch...

  • Politicians might find 'bumper car therapy' beneficial in relieving polarization

    DON C. BRUNELL, Contributor|Updated Jul 21, 2016

    Over the last 35 years our family has vacationed at the same place on the beach. While the buildings have been refurbished, the complex remains largely unchanged. However, our entertainment has changed a lot. We still swim, jump the waves and build sandcastles, but our board games, puzzles and playing cards have been replaced with kids’ electronic tablets, smart phones and movies downloaded from the internet. We still take lots of pictures, but rather than taking them to f...

  • Imagine a conflict-free world, and take steps towards it

    TOM H. HASTINGS, Contributor|Updated Jul 21, 2016

    With our daily news running to atrocity after tragedy, Americans are frightened and angry. Some are resonating with hate talk radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh or quintessentially enraged TV bloviators like Bill O’Reilly. This gets them pushed toward candidates who use the same or similar self-righteous militarized rhetoric. It paints Americans as victims, the system as rigged against us, and the world full of ungrateful evil misfits who unjustly hate and attack us. This strand of candidates sees its exemplar in Donald Trump, o...

  • Solutions seem miles away in recent headline shootings

    PAUL DELANEY, Staff Reporter|Updated Jul 21, 2016

    Timing is everything, it is said. And the timing of author Heather MacDonald’s recently released book, “The War on Cops: How the New Attack on Law and Order Makes Everyone Less Safe,” is tragically so. The recent epidemic of those taking out their frustrations on law enforcement with the rash of murders of police officers, has made MacDonald’s book an off-the-charts best seller with an Amazon waiting list of up to two months. It’s also made MacDonald, a widely read author of...

  • Now is the time for third-party candidates to make a stand

    Updated Jul 21, 2016

    Many registered voters are not looking forward to this November’s presidential election, which will pit Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. According to a July 7 poll from the Pew Research Center, 43 percent of Democrats and 40 percent of Republicans surveyed said they were satisfied with their choices as president. The survey also says roughly four-in-10 voters (41 percent) say it is difficult to choose between Trump and Clinton “because neither would make a good pre...

  • Lucid Recreational plans August opening

    Updated Jul 21, 2016

    By PAUL DELANEY Staff Reporter For some, the July 1 deadline in the state of Washington that required merging medical marijuana into the recreational side is causing its share of problems. But for business owners Dennis Turner and Michael Schofield, it means opportunity. Cheney's only medical marijuana business, the former 3 Green Thumbs, will soon be rebranded, opening as Lucid Recreational at its new location in the Farmers and Merchants Center at the corner of First Avenue...

  • STEP project preliminary details are unveiled

    PAUL DELANEY, Staff Reporter|Updated Jul 21, 2016

    Five weeks after gaining approval from the state, and 13 months removed from an OK by the federal government, the Spokane Tribe of Indians officially unveiled plans for their casino and resort project in Airway Heights last week. In a July 14 news conference held at Spokane's Red Lion Inn at the Park, the tribe showed off preliminary designs from the project that has become known by its acronym name, STEP, or Spokane Tribe Economic Project. A full 10 years in the planning stag...

  • Welcome home Blackhawks

    AL STOVER|Updated Jul 21, 2016

    The Cheney High School Alumni Association sponored its annual all-class reunion picnic, July 17 at Salnave Park. Many former Cheney High School students flocked to the event to catch up with old classmates....

  • Eastern students in Nice, France are safe

    STAFF AND NEWS SERVICE REPORTS|Updated Jul 21, 2016

    The 15 Eastern Washington University students studying abroad in Nice, France remain safe and secure in residence halls at the University of Nice. The students are under the guidance of professor Florian Preisig and following the lead of the French authorities. The students are attending a four-week Intensive French Study program which is scheduled to end July 28. While the program at this time is scheduled to continue, EWU has offered to bring home any student wishing to return to the states before the end date. Counseling...

  • West Plains residents make GU's dean's list

    Updated Jul 21, 2016

    Several West Plains residents earned placement on Gonzaga University President’s List for the 2016 spring semester. Students must earn a 3.7 to 4.0 grade-point average to be listed. Cheney — Carlie Fox and Tyler Gustafson. Fairchild Air Force Base — Sarah Nix. Medical Lake —Cassandra Hiatt, Teresa Jensen, Cassi Nilles and Janine Warrington. Gonzaga University is a humanistic, private Catholic University providing a Jesuit education to more than 7,500 students. Situated along the Spokane River near downtown Spokane, Wash.,...

  • MLHS announces 2016 second semester honor roll

    Updated Jul 21, 2016

    Medical Lake High School announced its second semester honor roll for the 2016 school year. Seniors Principal’s Honor Roll Dara Abounorinejad, Nathan V. Braswell, Rikki . Byrnes, Emma L.Davis, Zoe S. Davis, Derek J. Dick, Claire L. Dormaier, Tyler T. Dunn, Isiah B. Farmen, Nehemiah J. Fields, Taylor L. Fields, Devin J. Gardenhire, Alexander A. Garza, Jamie K. Grantham, Boaz M. Guidry, Aryn R. Gygi, Peter A. Hansen, Cassidy A. Hillebrandt, Romana J. Hyde, Brooke A. Koenen ,Dawson G. Lack, Jessica M. Laird, Tao M. Leyden, R...

  • Roettger begins tenure as Cheney Schools superintendent

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated Jul 21, 2016

    The Rob Roettger era has officially begun. At its July 13 meeting, the Cheney School Board passed a resolution that designates Roettger as the Cheney School District superintendent. Roettger took over for Dr. Deb Clemens who has served as Cheney's superintendent from 2013-16 and recently became the new superintendent of the North Thurston School District. Roettger was previously the Lind-Ritzville Cooperative Schools superintendent from 2011-16. The board passed resolutions...

  • Golden yard

    John McCallum|Updated Jul 21, 2016

    Greg and Glenda Schmidt's sharp and well-maintained yard at 803 Golden Hills Drive has been selected as Cheney's Yard of the Month by the Cheney Kiwanis and Cheney Gardeners Club. For the work, the Schmidts receive a $25 gift certificate from Jarms Ace Hardware and a lovely sign for their front yard. Pictured above left to right is Glenda Schmidt, Cheney Kiwanis member Pat Isbell and Cheney Gardeners member Karen Smith....

  • Airway Heights acquires sewage lift station

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated Jul 21, 2016

    The Airway Heights City Council breezed through a light agenda at its July 18 meeting. In action items, council approved a settlement agreement between the city and Jim and Jill Cook. Through the agreement, the city acquired a lift station and property in the Aho subdivision for $24,000. City Attorney Stanley Schwartz explained that the lift station had been installed by developers. A homeowner’s association acquired the station after the development did not move along. The Cooks later took ownership of the facility from t...

  • Blue Waters, Bluegrass Festival enters 15th year

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated Jul 21, 2016

    The Blue Waters Bluegrass festival celebrates its 15th anniversary, Aug. 12-14 at Waterfront Park in Medical Lake. "We've seen festivals come and go," Kevin Brown, Blue Waters music director, said. "We've got a good group of people who have been involved for several years." Brown said the festival has had a steady growth in the last five years. He enjoys seeing new people coming to the festival for the first time. "One of my favorite things to see is families camping here for...

  • Cheney council awards road work contract for Betz, Washington

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Jul 21, 2016

    Drivers using Betz Road and Washington Street should be ready soon to follow a mantra sometimes used by the state Department of Transportation — expect delays. At its July 12 meeting, the Cheney City Council unanimously approved awarding an $881,307 contract to Shamrock Paving for arterial street preservation work on both projects. Because most of the work is being funded by federal dollars, Public Works Director Todd Ableman said both projects were subsequently tied together under one bid. Cheney was awarded $493,400 for W...

  • Chipster name misspelled

    Updated Jul 21, 2016

    One of the Cheney Chipster’s names was misspelled in the July 14 story on the toy-making group. George Grigel is the correct name of the individual who takes trucks to children in Third World countries. He travels with an organization called “Living Water International” digging water wells for villages....

  • Candidate Q&A - Position 2

    Updated Jul 21, 2016

    1. What is the most important issue facing the 6th District? 2. What three things will you do first if elected? Jeff Holy 1. Helping business grow, protecting homeowners, providing infrastructure for agriculture, properly funding education, providing resources for public safety and fighting for our share of state projects that help create living wage jobs – all these are that “single most important issue,” depending on which part of the 6th you’re standing in. 2. K-12 school funding will drive a large part of the budget...

  • Jeff Holy faces challenge from Shar Lichty for Position 2

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Jul 21, 2016

    When 6th District legislative Rep. Jeff Holy first ran for House of Representative Position 2 in 2012, he overcame a second place finish in the primary to Dennis Dellwo to defeat the Spokane Democrat in the general election with 57 percent of the vote. In 2014, he won the primary election with 93.90 of the vote. His opponent, Write In, garnered the other 6.10 percent. In 2016, the Cheney Republican again faces an actual challenger, this time in the person of Democrat Shar...

  • Candidate Q&A

    Updated Jul 21, 2016

    1. What is the most important issue facing the 6th District? 2. Three things will you do if elected? Lynnette Vehrs 1. Affordable quality health care is the important issue facing not only our constituents, but (also) the state. Many (people) are fearful of getting sick and losing their homes and jobs. 2. Passing House Bill 1321 and Senate Bill 5305 affirming health care as a human right. It is also critical to fully fund K-12 (education) as required by our constitution. Protect women’s full reproductive health care s...

  • Police nab armed robber

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Jul 21, 2016

    Cheney police feel confident they have arrested the individual who robbed the Dollar Tree store at gunpoint in May 2015 — but not before the same individual repeated his actions on Saturday, July 9. Police arrested and have charged Jeffrey J. Pool, 22, with two counts of first-degree armed robbery, four counts of second-degree assault and four counts of unlawful imprisonment. Cheney Police Chief John Hensley said the case is so solid that the Spokane County prosecuting attorney came to Cheney to review the evidence. ...

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